The smell of eggs and toast pulled Caelum from a restless sleep.
In the kitchen, Kieran was humming. Smiling. Cooking breakfast.
Like he hadn't shattered everything the night before.
Like Caelum hadn't crawled into the shower, trembling.
Like the bruises on his legs didn't still throb.
"Morning, sunshine," Kieran said without turning around.
Caelum stared at him, unsure whether to speak… or run.
"You slept so well," Kieran continued, flipping a fried egg with practiced ease. "I think that mattress really agrees with you."
Caelum's voice caught in his throat. "Yeah."
That was all he could manage.
Kieran turned around, eyes bright. "Come eat with me. I made your favorite."
His favorite?
Caelum didn't remember ever telling him what that was.
He moved toward the table, every step dragging. The wood of the chair creaked as he sat, legs stiff. His body screamed with every motion, but Kieran didn't seem to notice.
Or maybe he did. Maybe that was the point.
"You're quiet," Kieran said, sitting across from him. "Something bothering you?" "Did I offend you?"
Caelum looked at the eggs. Then at Kieran.
How could he ask?
Do you remember what you did to me last night?
Do you remember punching me until I bled? Until I cried?
Do you even remember locking the door and walking away like I was nothing? Like I was trash?
"No" Caelum lied, pushing the eggs around his plate. "Just tired."
Kieran reached out, brushing Caelum's hand lightly.
"You know I'd never hurt you, right?"
Caelum froze.
The words were gentle. So gentle.
Like a whisper over a blade. Caelum's eyes begin to water... he's scared.
Kieran punches Caelum across his face and pulls him up. The difference in size is clear now.
"What is wrong with you?! What have I done to deserve this silence?! I already called in work, I'm staying with you the whole week." He released his shirt. Caelum was still. Trembling in fear, he cries.
"What's wrong, darling?" Kieran says genuinely worried. "I didn't yell at you, did I?"
Caelum was shocked. Is Kieran going crazy? What is happening to him?
Caelum decided to play along "No you didn't" he said while forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Kieran smiled back, relieved. He leaned in and kissed Caelum's forehead, then began clearing the plates like nothing had happened.
Caelum's hands were shaking under the table.
He couldn't keep doing this.
He couldn't keep pretending.
But he also couldn't risk doing anything else.
He watched Kieran rinse the dishes. Humming again. That same eerie, sweet melody he always seemed to hum when things were... wrong.
Caelum's mind raced.
He needed a plan.
An escape.
He couldn't just sit here waiting for the next switch.
Maybe he won't remember hitting me tomorrow.
Maybe next time, he won't stop.
Then—
A soft buzzing. A phone. His phone. From across the counter.
Kieran paused.
"Ah. You got a message," he said casually, wiping his hands on a dishcloth.
Caelum's heart dropped.
He hadn't seen his phone in days.
Kieran picked it up, looked at the screen, then smiled.
"Charles says hi."
And just like that, the smile fell from Kieran's face.
"I thought we agreed—no secrets."
He put the phone down, slowly. Deliberately.
Caelum swallowed hard.
"I didn't... I wasn't—"
"Are you trying to leave me, Caelum?"
"No no... I'm not. I'll always be here, remember?" Caelum said, forcing tears back in.
He couldn't hold it anymore. The fear got to him. Caelum— broke down crying, Kieran —Genuinely shocked ran to him, arms wide open and confused.
"What's wrong darling?" Kieran whispers, voice shaking as he held him.
"You! You're what's wrong! You're not the man I fell for! What's going on Kieran! LOOK at me! LOOK AT ME!!" He cries out.
The room fell silent. Kieran slowly sits on the floor, confused. He struggles to speak
"I...I...I didn't do this, did I...?" "I didn't hurt you...did I?"
"You did! He screams out
You broke my legs! You treated me like nothing! NOTHING!" Caelum screams out.
His voice echoed off the walls, Cracking... He was weak
Kieran, dazed and broken, hold Caelum's hands. Tears ran down his cheeks. His eyes glowing, his nose running
"Please don't leave me" he whispers.
Then louder
"I'll change! I'll fix whatever has gone wrong! I'll make it up! Please don't go!" He cried out.
Caelum, brushes his hands across his face, he can't stay angry at him...not in this situation.
"I won't leave" he said softly
Just...please...stop hitting...me... I'm reaching my lim—" he passes out mid sentence.
Kieran sat there, staring at Caelum's weak body laying there lifeless. Kieran shook him, confused. He panicked. Full-blown panic.
"What's going on? Wake up! WAKE UP!!"
His voice trembled as he picked up Caelum's phone to call the only person he could think of. Charles.
Crying, his voice was shaking. He struggled to hide it but couldn't.
"Charles!" He screamed. Voice shaking.
"Caelum just passed out! Please...please come over now! Please..." He continued crying.
Still shaken, he got blankets, sheets, pillows... everything to make his love comfortable. He thought of cooking something, so when he gets up, he'll eat... Maybe food will make him feel better...he always liked my cooking . He thought.
Charles got to the apartment with, a personal doctor of the boss's, and froze at the sight of the boss.
His boss, laid there battered. His eyes swollen shut, his legs twisted unnaturally...his arms were covered in bites and deep cuts. His once flawless skin, covered in wounds.
Charles looked up at Kieran.
A monster. Dark scattering hair, dark circles and rumpled office wear covered in tears and sweat...
"What happened here?" He said as he slowly pulled out his gun.
Kieran stammered. Not producing any meaningful sentences. Just mumbles and fragments...
"SPEAK!" Charlesyells out, pointing the gun to his head. " Who did this to our boss?!"
"The boss could've ended you! Killed you! With no traces! But he didn't! Because he loved you!" He yells out.
Kieran, crying profusely, collapses to the ground. He tries to speak but...
"Look at him!
LOOK at his lifeless body! He had been fighting for his life and never involved you! How dare you?! He cocked his gun.
"Say hello to the devil when you see him"
The shot rang out.