Darkness.
A faint ringing buzzed in his ears.
Tobey's body felt heavy, like he was floating in the middle of an ocean. His head throbbed, and for a moment, he questioned if he had crossed over to the other side.
Then—voices.
Muffled at first, like whispers through water, slowly becoming clearer.
Rick's voice. Calm. Steady. Completely unbothered.
Shalit's voice. Worried. Restless. Muttering something about Tobey.
Then… another sound.
A low, steady purring.
A sudden, creeping sense of dread crawled up Tobey's spine.
His fingers twitched.
His eyelids fluttered.
And as his vision blinked back into focus—
The first thing he saw—
—were two glowing, unblinking eyes staring directly into his soul.
Bella.
Sitting comfortably on his chest.
Like a demon perching on its victim before delivering judgment.
[Tobey, weakly]
"Miss… or Mister Cat… please get off my chest."
Bella blinked.
Nodded.
Did not move.
[Tobey, sighing]
"So you understand me… but why say no? Ok, fine. I'll give you a treat if you get off me."
Bella hopped off immediately.
Of course, bribery worked.
Tobey let out a breath, his brain still fried from the short-circuit. He needed something—something to bring him back to full functionality.
Sugar.
Yeah. That sounded right.
[Tobey, determined]
"My brain needs some kind of power source… Sugar? Yeah, sugar might help."
[Narrator, dramatically]
"March forward, my commander!"
Tobey stepped into the hallway; his mission clear.
Then—he froze.
His parents' voices drifted from inside his dad's room.
[Tobey, whispering]
"Finally, luck is on my side. Now I'll just go get some sugar—"
But his feet refused to move.
Curiosity tightened its grip on him.
A choice lay before him.
Go full stealth mode and eavesdrop.Ignore it and rush straight for the sugar.Stand there like an idiot and risk getting caught.
Tobey swallowed.
This… was a dangerous crossroads.
Tobey heard his parents' voices from inside the room.
[Mother]
"Nuh-uh."
[Father]
"Yuh-huh."
[Mother]
"Nuh-uh."
[Father]
"Yuh-huh."
[Tobey, in his mind, unimpressed]
"What is this? Some ancient ritual? Yuh-huh, nuh-uh—like I care. I should just go get my sugar… I think Father's under hypnosis again. Meh."
He turned to leave—
Then froze.
[Mother, quieter now]
"…Stop looking at me like that."
[Tobey]
"I think I should wait a bit."
[Father, smoothly]
"So you admit it?"
A pause.
A long pause.
Then, in the smallest voice—
[Mother, whispering]
"…Come closer."
Tobey's brain short-circuited.
[Tobey, in his mind, panicked]
"Not on my watch! I won't let you eat Father, Mother!"
BANG BANG BANG—
[Tobey, loudly from outside the room]
"HEY! Where's the sugar?!"
[Mother]jerked up.
[Father]groaned, tilting his head back.
[Father, deadpan]
"…Tobey."
[Mother, muttering]
"Perfect timing, as always."
[Tobey, still yelling]
"I need it for my brain!"
[Father]rubbed his temples.
[Father, sighing]
"I should've kept a better eye on him."
[Father, sighing]
"I should've kept a better eye on him."
[Father, raising an eyebrow]
"Why sugar?"
[Mother, crossing her arms]
"I did tell you, Rick."
[Father]
"I know."
[Tobey, confidently]
"It's pure glucose! It should help with my head."
[Father, skeptical]
"Logical, yes… But how do you know that?"
[Tobey, shrugging]
"Mom bought some books."
[Father]turned his gaze to [Mother].
[Mother, casually]
"Yes, but they were for me. I don't have much knowledge on first aid."
[Father, smirking]
"And somehow, he's the one using them."
Without warning, Father reached into the void of existence—and pulled out a lollipop.
Tobey's eyes sparkled like a dragon finding a hoard of gold.
[Father] tossed the lollipop.
Tobey caught it with expert precision, ripped the wrapper off in a second, and—
Threw the wrapper straight onto the floor.
Silence.
A very dangerous silence.
Tobey looked up.
[Father] was already staring at him.
His eyes burned with judgment. Disappointment. Pure, silent, fatherly rage.
Tobey blinked.
Tobey processed.
Tobey picked up the wrapper.
[Tobey, quickly]
"Sorry, my bad."
And with the guilt of a criminal caught in the act, he shuffled toward the trash bin.
[Father, casually]
"[Mother], you should buy a book on how to become a good housewife."
For a second—silence.
Then—laughter.
[Mother] BURST out laughing.
[Mother, smirking]
"Alright, I'll buy a book on being a good housewife… but only if you buy a book on 'How to Survive a Wife's Wrath' first."
[Father, chuckling]
"Fair deal."
Tobey squinted.
He knew Father was talking about him reading Mother's books.
But Mother?
She completely missed it.
[Tobey, groaning]
"Aww man, why?"
[Father, gesturing toward Tobey's room]
"Now go back to your dungeon."
[Tobey, dramatically]
"Yes, master."
As he walked back to his room, his mind quietly processed everything.
[Tobey, in his mind]
"Father knows how to handle Mother without wasting much energy… I think he actually read that book."
[Tobey, muttering to himself]
"Now, back to square one… Tonight, we steal the key and supplies."