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The door opened slowly. It didn’t just echo, it lingered. Too long. Like the sound itself decided not to stop. He stepped into the bathroom.
“Everything will be okay…”
The lights were off, leaving the room coated in darkness. Each corner disappeared into shadow.
The sink dripped faintly, each drop puncturing the air. Almost enough to make him flinch.
The mirror sat on the opposite side of the room from where he stood in front of the doorway. He could make out his reflection in the dark. Clearer than the room itself. Like it was closer.
“Everything will be okay…”
Sunny didn’t move. He couldn’t.
Shadows stretched across the room like a spider web. Shadows darker than black. They pulsed in and out. Growing. Swelling… then collapsing back in on themselves.
The inky blackness curled and cut, like a living thing thrashing across the sleek tiles, the wall, and even the air itself.
“Everything will be okay…”
His heart tripped over itself.
Something stood right in the middle of the room. Enveloped in the shadow’s web. Caught like a fly.
Head hung low. Hands gripping the sides of its head.
Basil.
Each breath he took produced a coarse sound. Grating and rough in Sunny’s head.
He muttered to himself. Again and again…
“Everything will be okay…”
The door clicked shut behind Sunny.
It didn’t sound like it closed.
It sounded like it always had been.
Basil stopped.
Silence fell over the room. The dripping stopped. Sunny couldn’t hear his own breathing.
Basil turned slowly, eyes wide and his hands still on his head. Looking over his shoulder to see Sunny.
“O-oh…”
Basil stuttered. Breathy. Shaky.
“It’s you… Sunny…”
The words sounded stretched. Too much space between them.
He turned around fully. His posture held tight like a wounded animal.
Motionless.
Sunny held his breath — without thinking.
“You’re here…”
The shadows pulsed.
“I’m so glad…”
Basil smiled. Not reaching his eyes.
“You…”
Basil shivered.
“You can see it too, can’t you?”
The air tightened. A faint crackle. Like static crawling under his skin.
His head pounded. As if the dark was too bright to look at. Burning.
“Something…”
Basil’s voice shook.
“Behind you…”
Sunny didn’t move.
Basil was looking straight through him.
Sunny’s eyes stayed locked, unblinking.
“Sunny…”
Basil gripped his shirt.
The shadows curled around his feet.
“Why do you look so scared?”
He didn’t answer. Couldn’t.
Each breath hurt.
“Sunny…”
Basil smiled wider.
“Everything is okay now, isn't it?”
The dark deepened. Like the room had less of itself.
Every part of him tensed. Screamed.
He slid his foot backwards. Towards the door.
“W… wait…”
Basil’s voice came weak. Muffled by shadow.
Sunny’s breath shook. Eyes still on Basil.
“P-please Sunny…”
Weaker.
He found the doorknob behind him.
“Don't leave me…”
Fading.
He swallowed.
“Not again…”
He froze.
His hand tightened around the doorknob.
Basil’s sobs carried through the room. Through him.
His grip faltered.
Then fell. His arm dropping to his side.
A quiet thud rang out from behind him.
He turned back.
Basil had dropped to his knees.
“Don't…”
His voice was thin. And right in Sunny’s ear.
“Leave…”
Basil looked down, hands covering his face.
Sunny’s ears rang. A constant itch he couldn't scratch.
He stood there, breath heavy. Like it had to push against the shadow-laden air.
He clenched his fist for a second.
Then stepped forward.
He flinched. His head pounded. A wedge driven into it.
His hand raised instinctively, hot against his forehead.
“Sunny…”
Basil cried into his hands.
Sunny opened his eyes again.
And froze.
“P-please…”
A shape in the dark.
One eye.
Watching.
His hands shook.
“E… Everything will be okay…”
The shadows split into teeth.
Wrapping around Basil.
“...please…”
Basil's voice slurred together. He began to shake violently.
Sunny’s breath quickened.
“Why…?”
He grit his teeth.
“Is there…?”
His vision went fuzzy. He could only make out the shape of Basil.
And the eye staring at him from the dark.
He took a step. Then collapsed to his knees in front of Basil.
Shaky, he set his hand on his shoulder.
His ears stopped ringing.
And the dark weakened.
“H-huh?”
Basil looked up. Eyes still shaky.
“Sunny…?”
The shadows pulsed weakly.
“You…”
He blinked.
“You're still…”
Sunny tried to smile. He kept his eyes on Basil, ignoring the eye that still stared at him. And the pain in his head.
“B-Basil…”
His voice strained.
Basil's breath hitched.
“S… Sunny…”
The teeth began to fade. Each pulse beating weaker.
Basil's hands hovered, shaking, by Sunny's sides.
Sunny stared silently for a moment. Then his arm moved, slow and unstead, around Basil.
Basil's expression collapsed. Tears flowed freely again as he pushed himself into Sunny.
His hands dug into his back as he dampened Sunny’s shirt.
And slowly…
The world faded back in.
The inky web of shadows shrank in on itself.
Then vanished.
What light was in the room returned.
He could hear Basil’s muffled sobs. His breaths. His heartbeat.
He sighed, rubbing his hand gently across Basil’s back.
But back in the corner of his eye…
The ache in his head.
The dark still watched.
The air didn't feel normal again.
It just stopped moving.
Basil’s breaths sounded slowly.
He was shaking less. Or maybe just differently.
Like he didn't know how he felt.
“I…”
His voice broke.
“Thought you left…”
He sniffled.
Sunny didn't answer. He didn't need to.
The faucet dripped. Too loud against the silence.
Basil held Sunny tighter. Not letting go.
Like he was afraid to.