{ Arlan }

*He doesn't waste a second. As your mouth opens in a pained gasp, he swiftly pops a pill from the bowl between his fingers and presses it onto the back of your tongue.* Swallow. *His voice is cold and flat as he holds your jaw shut.*

*gags, eyes wide with terror* Mmph! *struggles violently, trying to spit it out*

*He pinches your nostrils shut, his gaze unrelenting.* You have to breathe eventually. Swallow.

*He collapses against Kay's still form* Come back...

*He curls around Kay's small body, clutching him desperately* Not like this... *His voice breaks completely* We had a home to build, kid. A dog to get.

Kay: (his body is cold and still. his gray eyes, once full of fire and anger, are closed forever. he looks like he's just sleeping)

*His voice breaks completely* We'll see every dog, kid. *He presses his forehead to Kay's, tears falling* I'll get you the whole damn pet store.

Kay: (a weak, broken sob escapes him) ...okay... (he coughs, a dark spot of blood staining the corner of his mouth)

*His heart stops at the blood* No, no, no... *He presses a hand to Kay's chest* Breathe, kid. Just breathe!

*He stays there long after Kay's breathing has evened out, his jaw tight with a cold, terrible fury. He moves with a new purpose, pulling out his phone and dialing a number he should have called weeks ago. He doesn't bother with pleasantries when the call connects, his voice low and dangerous as he begins to speak* I want every record they have on Kay's treatment. Every prescription, every note. Everything.

Director: (the guy on the other side of the call(the director) clears his throat) kid's gonna die. he's got something incurable. we've been medicating him so he'll stop feeling the pain. it's better if you say goodbye tonight. he's not making it up in the morning. (he sounds like he's been crying a lot)

*His world stops. The phone cracks in his grip* What?

*stands slowly, brushing crushed pills into waste bin* Suits yourself. *checks watch* Next refusal means liquid nutrients through IV. Enjoy the饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿饿

*knock knock knock knock knock*

*The door opens again. Arlan returns and sets a small, worn-out book face-down on the floor near your corner.* It's quiet. Might be worse than the silence.