By The Way, Danplan Oneshots

Cuckoo's Nest (4)

"H-Hosuh..." Jay wrestled against his grip and Hosuh let out a small noise, shakily pressing the knife against his cheek. His twisted features flickered between confusion and fear and Jay clung onto the latter.

"I know you're scared." Jay wasn't used to talking people down, certainly not someone who was unstable with a knife, but he felt the grip slacken on his throat. "But I'm never going to hurt you, or lock you up, ever." Hosuh dropped the blade and stumbled away, hugging himself.

"No...no he was my friend...what am I doing?" Hosuh was mumbling as Jay peeled himself from the wall, shuddering at the dampness of blood clinging to his skin. He turned his attention back to his friend. He was crouched on the floor, shaking.

"He was sorry, but how far does that go?" His whisper grew louder, apparently unaware that Jay was next to him. "I wouldn't stay close to me for long? Would you? I mean..." insane laughter broke out from his lips, twisting through the halls. Jay felt himself shiver, the laugh cutting through his bones.

"I wouldn't." The laughter died abruptly. "I wouldn't."

Frozen, Jay could watched as Hosuh drew on the ground with the last of the blood on his fingers. The drawing was a crude sad face, the frown long and clown-like. Hosuh hummed gently, nails digging into the floor. In some kind of horrible, unnatural way the image in front of Jay was beautiful, yet unsettling, frightening.

"I would." Jay didn't know he spoke the words, it was more of an instinct. Hosuh looked up at him in disbelief.

"You will get me out of here? Away?" He whispered. "Away from them all?"

"Yes." Jay held out his hand, ignoring the blood stained on Hosuh's fingers. Time paused.

"Ok." Hosuh blinked, taking his hand. It was cold against his own. "Ok." He repeated.

And so they began to walk down the corridor, Jay carefully leading his friend the way he came. Hosuh moved twitchily, pausing for minutes at a time, but Jay was patient. He was getting Hosuh away from here, and that was what mattered.

"Go away...birds...look away..." he murmured, his eyes widening. Jay held his hand harder, heart clenching at the lost look in his eyes.

"Come on. It's fine." Jay tugged gently, but Hosuh pulled back, shaking his head.

"They're there! All staring...coming for me!" Hosuh suddenly screamed, pressing himself against the wall. Trembling, his hand pointed to empty space, eye flinching. "They're coming...so many..." Hosuh suddenly clamped his hands over his ears, screaming "shut up! Shut up!"

"Hosuh!" Jay felt fear spark within him - they were so close, only a flight of stairs away. Hosuh shook his head, stumbling backwards.

"Get them away!" Hosuh clung onto his clothes, falling to the floor. Jay, after some hesitation, placed a hand on his back, rubbing circles. He felt Hosuh freeze.

"I'll keep them away, alright?" Jay told him, forcing his voice to stay even and calm. There were echoing footsteps coming towards them but Jay ignored them, focusing on the trembling form in front of him. At first he thought he was shaking with fear, but when Hosuh looked up his eyes were full of laughter, mouth stretching into a large smile. Jay wanted to run away from the piercing blue gaze, but rooted himself to the ground. If he ran, he would leave Hosuh in the dust again. He would be just as bad as –

"Hosuh? Jay?"

Hosuh's laugh, which had been steadily growing in volume, ceased immediately. Jay turned around with a slight snarl, eyes blazing. The broken friend at his side served as a catalyst to his anger, lighting it to an undying flame.

"What are you doing here?" He asked Daniel and Stephen. Stephen didn't answer, just staring with wide eyes at Hosuh, and the blood that covered him. Daniel opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off by a loud wail from Hosuh. It was a broken, fearful noise that struck a chord in them all.

"They're going to take me back..." Hosuh whispered. He buried his head into Jay's shoulder, only talking at a volume that he could hear. Still, he kept one glassy eye on them both, full of distrust. Jay shushed him, helping him get to his feet.

"Oh God..." Stephen murmured. "Hosuh...I –"

"Save it." Jay cut him off. Hosuh shifted until he hid himself behind Jay, burying his head in his neck. Daniel took a step forward but Jay moved back, towards the stairs, towards the final door to freedom.

"What do you think you are doing?" Daniel shouted, making Hosuh flinch. Jay narrowed his eyes.

"I'm taking him to a safer place."

"He's getting help here –"

"Help?" Jay gestured the chaos surrounding them with a small laugh. "You really think this is help? Tell me Daniel, does he really look better? Does he look like he's happy, like he's cured, like he fucking free?!" Jay let out a frustrated yell, pointing to the blood on his clothes. "Tell me that this is okay, that this is what helps everyone! Let's just lock everyone up, shall we? Who knows, if they are fucking broken enough, we might get a refund! One less fucking problem to worry about!" Jay snarled. Daniel shook his head, but Jay didn't want to hear it.

"Well done." Jay hissed, glaring at Daniel and Stephen. "I hope you're happy with yourselves. In making your life that bit easier, you have left another's in ruins, in destruction and in blood."

Jay watched as Stephen brought a hand to his mouth, shaking. His eyes weren't leaving Hosuh. Daniel was staring at Jay, but any fight or confidence had melted out of his expression, replaced with despair.

With a small smile at Hosuh, he began to lead him to the exit. With satisfaction, he didn't hear any following footsteps.

Hosuh's eyes lost some of their haunted look once Daniel and Stephen weren't so close, his grip lessening. He knew Hosuh had seen the sunlight leaking through the windows; bright and hopeful, creating a crossed path.

"Oh, and if you dare come near us again," Jay turned to Stephen and Daniel for one last time. "I'll kill you both."

And he meant it.

Nothing would stand in his way anymore, not when Hosuh's mind was on the edge of being shattered altogether. Because, as they stepped into the fresh sunlight, the hopeful smile Hosuh gave, as he stared at the sky in awe, was free. Jay would do anything to keep it that way. And if anyone – anyone at all – dared take that away?

He'd kill them gladly.

Because Hosuh was worth every single drop of blood spilt along the way.