Chapter 5: The Mark

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!"

In a frantic mode, they broke through the window. They're back in the room where they did the game. They hoped that Eren would still be here but he was nowhere in sight.

They quickly exited through the door and into the hallway. Looking both opposite ways, Usami suggested they split up to search on both ends. "Rin, you go that way, I'll go this way."

Rin gave him his nod, agreeing to the idea.

They run in opposite directions.

Usami was the one to have found a passed out Eren with a bleeding neck and a broken necklace beside him. Concerned, he rushes to Eren's side. He reached for his handkerchief from his pocket and placed it over the wound, trying to stop bleeding. "Rin, I found him!" Usami yelled, hoping his voice was loud enough for Rin to hear. His eyes wandered to the necklace. He swiftly grabbed it and put it in his shirt pocket.

Rin immediately dashes to where Usami is. His blood ran cold when he found them. "What happened to Eren?!"

"I don't know!" Usami snapped back with an unintended irritation and anger in his voice. "Help me get him up! We need to take him to the hospital!" They pulled up the unconscious Eren and laid him on Usami's back. "Now, let's go!"

"You guys go ahead to the car first! I'll go get our things!"

"What! No! We can come back for them later! Right now, Eren needs help! Hey!"

"I'll be quick!"

Rin hurriedly went back to grab their things while Usami cursed under his breath, forcing himself to hasten up.

~~~~~

"It's a good thing that the bite wasn't deep as we thought it would be, and that he didn't lose a lot of blood. He must have lost consciousness from shock. There is no need to worry. He will wake up soon but I suggest he stays overnight for further observation."

The two students let out a sigh, relaxing from the tension. They were glad their friend was going to be alright.

Rin clenched a fist. 'This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't….'

"However, there is something that I find odd." The doctor spoke again, "Yes, the bite wasn't life-threatening but it was deep enough to leave a scar. And what baffles me more, by the looks of the bite, it's human. A really large human if you base it on the abnormal size of the bite."

"What!" Rin and Usami exclaimed simultaneously. "Doctor, are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I am certain it's a human bite. Just what exactly happened?"

The two looked at each other before Usami spoke up. "Uhm, we were playing this game and it wasn't some typical game. And we were doing it somewhere a bit far and deserted."

The doctor raised a brow, eyeing the two. "You don't seem to want to share what has happened to me but you better report this to the authorities. What happened to your friend can be and is considered assault." The doctor rebukes, "I want to be honest; I thought your friend was doing drugs and that's why he's attacked but I tested him, he's clean."

"Eren would never do drugs! He's much of a goody-two-shoes to do that. We're reckless, I know, but we're not that reckless as to destroy our future." Rin defends. How dare this doctor think such things about his friend.

"I know, and I apologize for that. If you don't want to say what happened, that's fine. But you better talk about this with your friend. Now, I need one of you to stay with the patient for tonight. Call for a doctor if there's something wrong with the patient. Please, excuse me." The doctor nodded his head to them and left the room.

Rin, looking depressed, went right next to the unconscious Eren. Pulling a chair, he slumps down. He finally relaxed from all the tension, his body feeling heavy as he sighed in relief that Eren is going to be okay and that the doctor didn't interrogate them further. Thinking of what happened or the worse that could happen, he feels terrible. "This is my fault." He utters, "This wouldn't have happened if only I haven't —"

"Blaming yourself isn't going to make Eren feel better." Usami cuts him, irritated that Rin would think of it as his fault. "I know Eren would never blame you for any of this. If anything, he would most probably blame himself for this, thinking that this is his fault that this happened to us." He emphasizes on the 'us', pointing at himself and then, Rin.

Eren groans and stir from his sleep, slowly opening his eyes. "Hey, you two." He was immediately engulfed in a hug. He patted them both on their backs.

"I'm glad you're okay, Eren." Rin admitted as they both pulled away. "What happened to you? We suddenly heard your scream and Usami found you unconscious. And your neck was bleeding."

"What?" Eren reaches and touches the bondage around his neck. He felt a bit of sting. "Ow. What the hell happened to me?"

"That's what we would like to know so that should be our line!" Rin shots back, "What happened to you after we were thrown out?"

Eren looked down, trying to focus to recall, then back at the two. "I…. I don't remember."

"What do you mean you don't remember?"

"I remember doing the sèance with you two, and then backing out at the last minute, and wanting to go home. After that, my mind is blank. I don't remember you two being thrown out as you said."

"Do you think there was someone with us?" Usami concluded but with uncertainty. "I mean, there has to be someone who was with us at that time. 'Cause, really, how were we thrown out if there's only us there? And since we were playing with an ouija board, they probably thought that it would be fun to scare us."

"Then how would you explain Eren's finger glued to the planchette?"

"I'm sorry about this, Eren, since you don't remember anything. I suspect that Eren was trying to prank us. This is just what I think so I could be wrong. I guess we'll only know if Eren remembers."

"Guys!" Eren butted in, not liking to be excluded in the conversation. "I don't remember any of that nor do I want to remember, okay? Since it's done, let's just forget all about it and move on."

The two looked at each other. "If you say so." Usami spoke and Rin agreed.

"Now, how long am I supposed to stay?"

"Just for tonight. The doctor said your injury isn't fatal but he said it will leave a permanent mark though."

"Like a scar?" Eren chimes, "I like scars."

"If you consider a human bite to be a scar, then yes, it's a scar." Rin said sarcastically under his breath. He turned to Usami. "And you better get home and feed his dog. You'll have to order take-out for yourself tonight and I'll stay with Eren."

"Yeah, yeah." Usami reached inside his pocket and took out the necklace. "Eren, your necklace snapped." he placed it on Eren's palm who looked at it sadly.

"It's bound to happen. I have had this since I was little after all. Do me a favor and put it on my nightstand."

Usami nods. "I'll come back tomorrow."

"In the meantime, I'll head down to the cafeteria. I'm sure Eren's hungry right now."

"Bring lots of food, Rin!" The said person piped up.

Then, the two left the room.

Just a few steps away from the room, Rin talks as they continue to walk. "Do you really believe Eren was trying to prank us back then? If he was, I must sign him up for theater because he's good."

"Obviously, not." Usami contradicts, "Eren pranking us? Don't make me laugh. He can't keep a straight face if he was planning something. He's too much of an open book. I only said those things because there was nothing we could do. And even if we went and have the police involved with this as the doctor strongly suggested, we will be the ones questioned. Why the hell were we in that place, is what I think would be the first question."

"So we should just forget about this?"

"I think we should. For our sake."

~~~~~

"Rin is taking his sweet time." He said to himself, coming out of the bathroom. He returned to bed, lying on his back. He grabs the control and strolls through channel to channel. Minutes into wandering through channels, Eren noticed something from the corner of his eye.

The bathroom light is on.

That's strange, he's sure he turned it off. Nevertheless, he got off, turned the lights off and back to the bed, continuing to search through channels. Not even a minute, he took another look. He's startled that the light's on once again.

Eren took a breath before slowly walking to the bathroom and took a look inside. Nothing. He reached for the switch and killed the light and closed the door behind him. He went back to the bed and tried to keep his focus on the tv.

His eyes keep peeks at the bottom of the bathroom door where there's a small gap, feeling anxious.

The door creaked open. Eren screeches at the sudden noise and movement to which Rin retaliates with a yell and almost throws their dinner at him. "What the heck is wrong with you, Eren? Why the heck are you screaming?" He closed the door. He noticed the show on the television. "That's it, no more horror movies for you! It's making you restless!"

Eren looked at the tv then to the remote which he had forgotten that he was holding. He shook his head. "I wasn't watching any horror movies, I swear!" He shook his head, waving his hands in front of him in defense. "The light in the bathroom keeps turning on even after I killed it twice!"

"Yeah, sure. Save that story idea for your fanfics. Now, sit your butt down." Rin said, placing the bag of food on the table. "Let's eat while the food's still hot. You need as much rest as you can. Knowing you, you will most likely work on your lesson plans or fanfic drafts or unfinished arts the moment we get home."

[dream]

Eh?

I'm just standing in the middle of the room.

I first noticed I'm in a different clothing; it had a nice regal blue hue, the deep neckline of it leaving barely anything for the imagination as they windowed the front, and the side. The hem at the skirt of it showed a short slit decorated with fine lace that went up to the waist, accentuating my figure.

Why the fuck am I in a nightgown! And where am I? I'm supposed to be at the hospital.

From the dark sky outside, it's still night time, dimming the room I'm in which gives me an uncomfortable vibe. From the looks of the room, it's a bedroom in a Medieval Era design but in a much dark theme. How did I even get here?

I'm hearing something from the outside, some sort of screams. I headed to the terrace. I didn't bother to look for a robe because despite the little clothing, I don't feel cold. Quite the contrary, I feel a bit hot. I smell and see smoke from below. Leaning over the railing to see what's going on down there, my eyes went wide at the horrifying scene.

I want to vomit.

Bodies being dismembered while still conscious, then thrown into the fire. The screams of agony send me shivers. People pushed into tight-space cages or being thrown into pits filled with boiling lava. Demon-looking animals chasing and hunting them down like some sports before being devoured. Bodies are also tied upside-down and have their throats slit, tons of blood spill almost immediately and stored into barrels. The gruesome and torturous sights of human suffering. What is this place?

"You need not to pity those vermin. They're earthly parasites that deserve to be here, they deserve to burn in Hell."

A voice spoke from behind me.I felt large, hot hands wrap themselves around my waist, the heat of them soaking into my already warm body. I let out a gasp, both from surprise and a sudden embarrassment I felt.

The person behind me, holding onto me, made my body turn to face him. Despite the fire blaring beneath us, burning countless human bodies by the second, the man's face remained dark and unseen. Just as I was about to say something, maybe scream for help or beg for answers, they were put to stop when he leaned down to my level. Placing his surprisingly soft lips against mine.

I tried pushing him back, but regardless of my efforts, I can never move him even by an inch. The more I do so, the more I try to deny him and push him back, the more eager he is to kiss me. He dragged my body further into the terrace, my back hitting the high banisters that filled his frame more than my own. His lips never left mine, nipping and sucking on my lips as his large fingers snaked up the slits of my nightgown, feeling the skin of my thighs underneath.

I let out a shaky moan, feeling my insides throb and burn. Once I did, he took it as an opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth, inviting my tongue into a slow but pleasurable dance. The lewd sounds that I'm making, that seemed to encourage him further. Inserting his thighs in between mine, my legs were forced open as he cupped my ass to have me dangle on his leg, practically rubbing myself there. "Oh god —"

A nip on my lip, then he traced his lips to leave another nibble on my ear. "I am no god." He whispered with his deep husky voice that sent shivers up and down on my spine to settle in my groin. I let out a shiver as I felt teeth sink into my neck, and I could only stay still there in sweet pleasure, the only thing keeping me from dropping to my knees was his support on my body, keeping me leveraged on his thigh.

"Ah!" I palmed his firm chest. "Please, stop."

"The more you struggle, the more I want to make you cry."

That made me bite the insides of my mouth in my effort to keep myself quiet, but it only elicited a satisfied chuckle from him. Then, he continued his exploration of my body. His hands went up to my waist, lifting the smooth fabric along with every subtle brush of his rough fingers on my skin. Another shiver, and maybe just a little more until my body turns completely into goo in his hands.

Gosh! Just what is he doing to me!

I felt his hands cup my chest, his thumbs teasing my nipples and the moan I soon let out was muffled as his lips returned to tease mine once again. 'More.' I thought, dangerously so. With whatever strength I had left in my arms, I slipped them around his neck, closing my eyes, and pressing my body further into him. At this point, the cries and pleas for help were all muffled into silence, leaving me there yearning more for his touch.

Slowly opening my eyes, I stared deeply into his glowing turquoise eyes. Were his eyes open the whole time he's kissing me?

"Eren." He removed his lips from mine to whisper my name. The darkness covering his face is gradually unwrapping.

" —en!"

"Eren!"

[dream end]

Eren's been shaken awake by Rin who had a red embarrassed face on. Eren blinks before sitting up. He looks at Rin. "What's wrong with you?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.

Rin hesitated to answer. "I don't know what you are dreaming about but you were moaning and touching yourself in your sleep. And um…" He bashfully pointed at Eren's lower region.

When said person looked down, he immediately excused himself to the bathroom. He slammed his back against the door. He looked at his tent, feeling the throbbing sensation of his dick. He tried recalling what he had dreamed about that had him like this but nothing, his mind's blank. He better take care of this before Usami comes.

Rin tried to calm himself down the moment Eren dashed to the bathroom, no doubt, to release himself. Setting aside his awkwardness, his eyes observe around the room. 'It's no longer here.' He was getting bored so he went out for a bit but when he returned, he found Eren moaning and whimpering in delight, drenched in sweat, and touching his privates. He thought he saw a shadow hovering on top of his friend. Though it vanished quickly, making him second guess if he did see it or not.

'No! I did see it!' Rin reprimanded himself. 'I thought I stopped seeing these things. Maybe that board had affected him too.'

Board?

The ouija board! Rin remembered, the board wasn't where they left it! He was in a haste. Maybe he overlooked it?

'No, it was nowhere to be seen! The room was dim but it was not that dark.'

Eren stepped out of the bathroom. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that, Rin." He apologized.

Rin shook his head, still flustered. "It's fine. From the looks of it, you at least had a good rest. We should get ready. Usami will be here soon."

It was over an hour later when there was a knock on the door. Rin opened the door. "Hello, you gays!" Usami greets enthusiastically, pulling someone into the room. "Look who visited early in the morning and was chirping like a chicken when he heard that his beloved childhood friend's at the hospital."

Eren's face brightened when he saw who it was. "Kaiden!"