Cradles
Chapter 5- Cradles
Freak woke up alone.
Well, technically he was never alone as Flame was always there with him. However, over time Freak and Flame felt like one in the same, one was never without the other. The extension of himself was currently curled up by a bowl across the white room. Freak saw his own bowl still sitting on the metal table to his right. He hadn’t noticed it before, but the entire room smelled and tasted like the heavy cleaner his aunt had him clean with, it almost choked him.
He turned to get off the cot, hopping off with a small wince. His joints ached from sitting still for so long. He hissed at the cold concrete floor but tip-toed across it to reach his other self.
“What are you doing?” Freak hissed.
“The nice one gave me meat!” He saw some leftover cubes of meat in the bowl. Freak held out his arm for Flame to climb up. The snake slithered around his neck, under the unruly mat that was his hair.
“What now?”
As soon as he said that the pair heard a door open and light footsteps. Looking towards the noise they saw a staircase in the wall on the opposite side of the room. Helen emerged and quickly spotted them.
“Oh, you’re awake.” They stated plainly. Freak only stared. “I have a room set up for you, Eyeless will have to clear you first, but it’s available.”
“Why?”
“Incase you would like to stay.”
“Why are you so sure we’ll stay?” Helen was quiet for a moment after that, before replying carefully.
“I just… Have a feeling. I can’t explain it.” Another silence stretched on between them. They stare at each other, Freak so still that the only sign he was alive is the slight rise and fall of his chest and shoulders.
“I do hope you are not aggravating my patient.” The light, slightly raspy voice Freak recognized as E.J. came from the stair way. Their eyes snapped to the figure. “I’m glad to see you awake. Are you hungry again?” The masked figure asked. Freak gave a slow nod. “I see, please come at least sit down. You need to take it easy.”
Freak carefully walked back to the cot, never turning his back to the pair. E.J. said nothing and went to prepare more soup and another drink for the child and snake, while Helen carefully walked over to the cot.
“How are you feeling?” They asked.
“We’re fine.” Helen nodded. E.J. came back with a warm bowl and cool pouch. He sat it them down and picked up the bowl from the night before. Freak hissed angrily, making the man freeze.
He knew there was still food in the bowl, so why were they taking it?
“It isn’t good.” Eyeless tried to reason, but that didn’t deter the child who continued to hiss.
“Freak,” Helen interjected, “Flame was slithering in it earlier, after you had gone to sleep, and it has been sitting out all night. It’s not good anymore.” They explained softly.
“Flame isssn’t dirty! Food isss food!” The child continued to hiss. Despite not understanding exactly what he said, Helen continued.
“It could make you even more sick.” The child continued to glare, “We are not trying to with hold food from you, Eyeless even brought you more soup to replace it. It’s hot too.” Helen picked up the bowl, careful not to burn their hands on the sides, offering it to the hissing child. Freak eyed them with suspicion but slowly reached for the bowl. “Careful it’s really hot.”
Freak snatched the bowl and held it close. He opened his mouth to breath in its scent, tongue flicking a bit. It seemed fine, so he took the spoon and began to eat. E.J. walked over to the kitchenette to dispose of the old soup and brought back a cloth bowl holder.
“Here, use this.” The demon handed Freak the cloth. He stared at it for a moment before snatching it too and placing his bowl in it.
“Eyeless has a treatment plan set up for you ok? We’ll mostly start with the malnutrition first, but when you’re healthier we’ll be able to help more.” Helen informed, then looked to the aforementioned demon to explain further.
“I have looked into some supplements for the vitamin deficiencies, I should have them soon. Until then, whenever you’re hungry drink one of these.” He pointed to the pouch of red liquid, “For bigger meals we will stick to the soup for now. Hopefully we should be able to switch to more hardy foods over the next few months, though it will be gradual.” He explained.
Freak continued to eat the soup, staring E.J. down with wide uncanny eyes. Anyone else would have been put off, but the two (2) proxies were used to it by now. Many other proxies had a habit of staring, whether for intimidation or lack of eyelids. E.J. left to stock the fridge with more red pouches, so Freak could easily grab them until he was cleared to leave the infirmary.
“You said I have a room.” Freak stated softly.
“Yes.”
“Is there room for Flame?”
“There should be.”
Silence stretched on between them. Freak put down his empty bowl and took the pouch, slowly sipping the thick liquid through the tube like opening.
“Are others gonna come here?”
“Others?”
“E.J. mentioned there’s another Jack here, so there’s gotta be others right?” Helen thought for a moment.
“There are others, but they won’t come down here unless they’re hurt. Eyeless won’t let them bother you though.” Freak nodded, going back to sipping his drink. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while.
Freak couldn’t help but study Helen once more, now that he wasn’t freezing to death. They had a calm, almost icy demeaner and didn’t show much emotion, if any. He figured they were in their early 20’s, considering the lack of wrinkles or grey hairs, but they acted much more mature than that.
Freak wondered if that’s what he would be like when he grew up.
He wouldn’t, not if Helen could help it.