The Darkness Consumes

Chapter 3 A deal is a deal

~

After dinner, the ward felt quieter, like everything was winding down whether you wanted it to or not.

The hallways were dim, the lights not quite as harsh, and most of the other patients had scattered off to their rooms or were lingering in the common area half-watching the TV.

Viv didn't care for the movie playing but the noise kept the silence from swallowing the place whole.

He wandered back toward the hallway eventually, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his grey hoodie, thinking about nothing in particular and everything all at once.

His first full day was finally wrapping up, and it felt like he'd already been here for a week.

The walls were starting to feel too familiar.

The routines, too predictable. He hated that.

As he turned the corner near the nurses' station, he saw Carla scribbling something onto a clipboard. She looked the same as always—tired but nice, with a face that tried too hard to stay cheerful. Viv paused a few steps from her, not really planning to stop but kind of doing it anyway.

"Hey," he said, voice low and casual, like it didn't matter.

Carla looked up, smiling with her usual practiced warmth. "Hey, Viviano. You okay?"

He cringed at the name. "Viv."

"Huh?"

"It's Viv," he muttered. "Just Viv."

"Sorry," she chuckled bashfully. "What can I help you with... Viv?"

He shrugged. "Nothing important, I was just wondering... can I call home? Well... my brother?"

Her expression softened immediately, which already gave him a bad feeling.

She tucked the clipboard against her chest like she needed to brace herself to say no.

"There's a strict 48-hour wait before any personal calls or family visits," she said gently, like she thought saying it softly would make it less annoying.

"Just until we've had time to assess and get you settled in. "

Viv blinked. "Seriously?"

"I know, I know," she added quickly, raising one hand like a peace offering. "It sucks. But it's standard. Just two days. Then we'll talk about who you'd like to call or see, okay?"

Viv clenched his jaw but gave a stiff nod. "Yeah. Whatever."

He didn't wait for her to say anything else.

Just turned and walked off, stomach tightening in frustration.

He wasn't even trying to have some deep heart-to-heart with Matteo, because he knew he would probably never open up to his brother again.

Why would he when it landed him in this place?

But honestly, all he really wanted was to hear a familiar voice.

He just wanted something that reminded him that the outside world still existed.

That he hadn't been totally swallowed up by these pale walls and scripted routines.

Two days felt like forever.

Viv pushed open the door to his room with the same kind of energy you'd use to close a book you hated—half bored, half over it. The air inside was dim and stale, the overhead light buzzing faintly like it was just as tired of existing as everyone else in this god forsaken place.

Ash was already there, standing by his bed with his back to Viv, tugging off his hoodie and folding it like he was some kind of neat freak.

Viv caught a glance at the edge of a tattoo on Ash's slender upper arm before it disappeared under the short sleeve of his white shirt.

Something black and sharp-lined—maybe a word, maybe just a design.

He didn't care enough to squint and find out.

Viv dropped onto his own bed without saying a word.

The mattress groaned under his weight, the kind of groan that reminded him this bed had seen way too many broken people try to sleep their way through recovery.

He kicked off his shoes, shoved the blanket up, and got under it without even changing.

What was the point? It's not like he really gave a shit.

The silence stretched again, thick and awkward like it had earlier. Just the occasional creak of bedsprings and the hum of air through the vent. Viv stared at the ceiling. Same ceiling as this morning. Same cracks. It still looked like it might collapse if someone sneezed too hard.

Then, finally, Ash spoke.

"What's your name?"

His voice was soft again, like earlier in the cafeteria. No edge, no pressure. Just floating in the space between them like dust.

Viv turned his head slightly on the pillow but didn't look over. "Viv."

A pause.

"Is that short for something?"

Viv sighed through his nose. "Yeah."

"Are you gonna tell me?"

"No."

"Oh," Ash murmured.

Viv just rolled his eyes.

Another pause.

"You're kinda rude... Viviano," Ash replied.

Viv snapped his head to one side and although he couldn't really make out his roommate because of the dark, he was hoping Ash could feel the daggers. "How the hell do you know my name?"

"It's written on the board hanging off your bed," Ash said, like it was totally obvious.

Fuck. It was.

"So then why ask?" Viv asked with a clenched jaw.

"Just trying to make conversation."

"Oh, now you're trying to make conversation?" Viv scoffed.

"Chill. I think your name is cool and just wanted to hear you say it so I didn't botch the pronunciation," Ash said, like he actually meant it. Still staring up at the ceiling. Still not looking at him.

Viv didn't say anything. He didn't know if it was "cool." He hated the name. It was so... elderly. It came from his grandfather. He hated it with a passion.

"So, where does the name come from?" Ash asked out of nowhere, voice soft but cutting through the dark like a whisper with a purpose.

Viv blinked at the ceiling. "What?"

"Your name. Viviano, right? It sounds... foreign. Where are you from?"

"Italy," Viv muttered, already regretting answering.

"You're Italian?" Ash sounded almost surprised. "That's cool."

"I guess."

"You don't think so?" Ash pressed gently.

Viv shifted under the covers, sighing. "I kinda just wanna sleep."

There was a beat of silence. Then Ash said, just a little quieter, "Oh. Sorry. Guess you get kinda tired when you don't eat."

Viv sat up halfway, his blanket bunching around his waist. "Seriously? That again?" His voice sharpened without him meaning it to. "I already told you—I don't have a fucking eating disorder."

Ash didn't flinch. He just turned his head slightly on the pillow, eyes unreadable in the dim light. "I never said you did."

Viv scoffed. "Yes, you did. At breakfast. You asked if I had one."

"I asked a question," Ash said calmly, not rising to the bite in Viv's voice. "I didn't accuse you. I asked. You gave an answer."

Viv stared at him for a second, jaw clenched, the argument stuck somewhere between his chest and his throat.

He hated that Ash was right—and even more that he'd said it without sounding smug or mean.

Just factual. Like the conversation wasn't meant to be a fight, but Viv had gone and made it one anyway.

"Whatever... Ash," he muttered, flopping back onto his pillow with a thud, hoping his roommate would be annoyed that he knew his name.

But Ash just chuckled under his break. "Done your own research, I see."

"Didn't have to," Viv snapped back accidentally, not wanting to seem like he cared about Ash in the slightest. "The nurse said it this morning. That's how I know. Not that I care."

Silence.

Viv huffed. "What's it short for anyway?"

"It's just Ash," the roomie replied quietly.

"Ash what?"

"Just Ash."

"It has to be short for something," Viv muttered. "Nobody's called just Ash."

"Well," Ash sighed tiredly, "clearly I'm special."

"Special," Viv mumbled with a roll of his eyes. "Sure."

Ash didn't say anything else after that, probably sensing that Viv was kinda getting hot headed from the lack of food and the desire to sleep. Viv styed silent too. He just glared up above. The ceiling didn't have answers, but at least it didn't talk back.

Viv slept like a goddamn log that night. It was the kind of sleep that knocked him out cold and held him there, heavy and dreamless. No thoughts, no noise, just a black void and the feeling of not existing for a while. It was the best thing he'd experienced since walking into this place.

Until the door creaked open and that same male nurse barged in like it was a military drill.

"Alright, up. Breakfast time," the nurse barked, no name, no manners, just routine.

Viv groaned and rolled onto his side, dragging the blanket over his head like that would make him disappear. "Not hungry," he mumbled, voice muffled by the pillow.

"You still gotta come down," the nurse said flatly.

Viv didn't move. Didn't even lift his head.

The footsteps shuffled away. No argument.

Just the sound of Ash quietly getting out of bed, his bare feet padding against the floor.

Viv could hear the rustle of him pulling a hoodie on, the soft zip of the front.

He thought that would be it, the blissful silence again.

.. but then Ash's voice broke through it, hesitant and quiet.

"You probably shouldn't skip. They'll write it down or whatever... could make things worse."

Viv peeked out from under the blanket, just enough to wordlessly glare in Ash's direction.

Ash looked uncomfortable, fingers tightening on the edge of his sleeve like he was debating saying more. Then he just nodded and left without another word.

Viv let himself sink into the mattress again, a satisfied sigh leaving his chest. Peace. Finally. No cafeteria. No forced small talk. No eyes watching him like he was about to explode. He was just about to drift back into sleep—

The door banged open again.

The same nurse stood there, this time not bothering to hide the irritation on his face. "I said get up," he snapped. "You can't just skip scheduled meals. Get dressed."

Viv didn't even open his eyes. "You gonna feed me through a tube if I don't?"

There was a pause. Then the nurse's voice dropped, sharper now. "You want this on your chart? You want the psychs thinking you're noncompliant on day two?"

Viv clenched his teeth and let out a long, slow breath through his nose. His peace was officially ruined but he still didn't move. He just buried deeper into the blanket like it was a shield, like if he stayed still enough, maybe the guy would just give up and leave.

"I don't care," Viv said flatly, his voice rough from sleep. "Put whatever the hell you want on my chart. I'm fucking tired and I'm going back to sleep."

The nurse didn't respond right away, but Viv could feel the tension in the room shift, like the guy was weighing how far he could push without getting written up himself.

"You're making this harder than it needs to be," the nurse said eventually, his tone clipped and annoyed.

"Just get up, eat something, and check the box for cooperation. That's all anyone expects."

Viv finally cracked one eye open, staring at the ceiling with complete disinterest. "Why would I do that? To impress someone? Earn a sticker?" He scoffed. "Not hungry. Not going."

A long silence followed. The kind of silence that meant the nurse had given up trying to reason and was now deciding whether it was worth escalating. Eventually, Viv heard footsteps retreating back toward the door.

"Fine," the nurse muttered under his breath. "Your problem."

The door clicked shut behind him.

Viv exhaled into the quiet, his body already relaxing again.

He knew he was being difficult. He knew they'd probably circle back later with some dumb therapist talk about "choosing to engage" or "avoiding isolation," but none of it mattered.

Not today. All he wanted was the silence that he craved so much.

He wanted a bed. Preferably his own, but this would have to do.

He wanted nothing but the dark. He didn't need a tray of microwaved eggs and watery oatmeal to function. He needed to be left alone.

And for a few precious minutes, he was.

Viv had started to drift back into that half-sleep where the world felt far enough away to tolerate, the door creaked open again—quieter this time. Softer footsteps. Lighter energy.

"Viv," a soft female voice said. He knew it was nurse Carla instantly. Her voice was warm, but edged with something firmer. "Hey. Can we talk for a sec?"

He didn't respond. Just stayed wrapped up in his cocoon of blankets like a human burrito of disinterest.

"I heard you didn't go to breakfast," she added after a moment.

"No shit," he mumbled into his pillow.

There was a pause, then the sound of her walking in further, stopping somewhere near the foot of his bed.

"Look, I get it. Everything's new. You probably feel like you've been dropped into the middle of someone else's messed up routine.

But you need to come with me, okay? Just stand up. That's all I'm asking."

Viv stayed curled on his side. His voice came out flat. "I'm not hungry. I don't wanna go."

"You don't have to eat," Carla said gently. "But showing up? That matters. Skipping things like meals or therapy? It builds a picture. One that might not be accurate."

"I don't care about their picture," he snapped, sharper than he meant to. "They can draw whatever the hell they want. I didn't ask to be here, remember?"

Carla sighed. "I know. But you are here. And what you do while you're here? It really does matters, Viviano. Even if it doesn't feel like it right now."

He didn't answer, especially because she called him Viviano instead of Viv like he had asked her to the night before.

"You've made it through your first day. That's something.

" Her voice softened again. "How about you just come stretch your legs?

You don't have to talk to anyone. You don't even have to look at anyone.

Just get out of bed for five minutes. Then you can come back and sleep for the rest of the day if you want. Deal?"

Viv stared at her for a long second. She was trying. He could tell. She wasn't like the other guy, the one who was always barking orders like Viv was a problem to fix. He blinked across at her. "All day?" he asked in a small voice.

She hesitated momentarily, probably realising that she kind of messed up, but eventually nodded with a sigh. "A deal is a deal."

"You swear?"

"I swear," she nodded. "Just come down to the dinner hall, have something to eat or drink, stay there for a few minutes and then you can come back here and sleep the day away."

Viv stared up at the ceiling a second longer, jaw tight.

He hated being told what to do, hated that just existing in this place came with rules and expectations and people watching his every move like he might snap and start flipping tables.

But something about the way Carla said it, all calm and patient, like she actually meant it.

.. well, it cut through a bit of the static in his head.

He shoved the blanket off with a groan, not dramatic but not subtle either. His legs felt heavy when he swung them over the side of the bed, like his body was punishing him for even thinking about cooperating.

"Fine," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "But only 'cause I don't want you coming back in here again."

Carla gave a small smile, just one side of her mouth curling. "Fair enough."

Viv stood slowly, bones cracking like they hadn't moved in years.

He didn't bother fixing his hair or looking in the mirror.

Just pulled on his hoodie over yesterday's shirt and jammed his feet into his sneakers.

He didn't want breakfast. He didn't want conversation.

But if getting up bought him a full day of peace and sleep, maybe it was worth it.

As he followed Carla out into the hallway, his eyes still half-closed, he muttered under his breath, "Still think the food's gonna suck."

Carla laughed quietly. "It does."

And somehow, that made Viv feel a tiny bit better.

The next few hours blurred together. Carla kept her word.

After a few minutes in the dinner hall, Viv was allowed to retreat to his room, the promise of sleep hanging over him like a shield.

And sleep, he did—like he hadn't in weeks.

His body felt heavy but at ease, the kind of exhaustion that didn't come from running around but from just..

. existing in this place. It was the kind of sleep that didn't require effort, that just pulled him under without any questions or interruptions.

But of course, nothing was ever that simple.

Ash came and went throughout the day, his presence flickering in and out like an annoying shadow.

Viv could hear the door creak open, the soft shuffle of footsteps, then the quiet rustle of clothes as Ash pulled his hoodie on or took it off or dug through his things.

Every time the door opened, Viv's eyes snapped open, just for a second, the constant movement grating against the stillness he was trying to preserve.

Ash wasn't exactly loud, but the subtlety of his movements—his hesitation before leaving, the way he lingered—kept breaking Viv's fragile peace.

Viv could feel the tension in the air each time, the question of whether Ash was going to say something, do something.

But he never did. It was always just the door opening, the pause, and then the door closing again.

It was like Ash was trying not to disturb him, but Viv didn't need more of that, not right now.

He just wanted to be left alone. He didn't need the constant reminder that someone else was in the room, like Ash was always hovering on the edge of a conversation Viv didn't want to have. It fucking sucked having a roomie.

Still, Viv didn't say anything. He just closed his eyes again, trying to focus on the feeling of being fully submerged in sleep, blocking out the irritation creeping up his spine.

He didn't care if Ash was too shy to talk or if he was just trying to be polite.

Viv had no interest in whatever the hell was going on in Ash's head.

He just wanted silence. But that, of course, was something that was never fully granted in this place.

It was kinda late by the time Viv finally stirred again. His body was still heavy with sleep, but it wasn't the good kind anymore. It was the groggy, half-conscious kind where you're still drifting between dreams and waking up but your body feels too stubborn to let go of either.

He rolled over lazily, trying to adjust the pillow under his head, but that's when he saw it—a small slice of chocolate cake sitting on the little table between the two beds on top of a piece of tissue.

The table was too small for anything substantial, just enough space for a few odds and ends, but the cake was there, almost too neatly placed, leaning a little bit closer to Viv's side of the table.

It was just sitting there, tempting and completely out of place.

Viv blinked, still half asleep. He wasn't sure if his mind was playing tricks on him. Was that really chocolate cake? And who the hell would put it there? He looked at it for a second longer, trying to piece it together in his foggy brain, then glanced over at Ash's bed.

Ash was there now. When he had come in, Viv didn't know.

But by the looks of it, it was passed lights outs.

Ash was under the blanket, breathing evenly.

Fast asleep. His features were softened, his lips slightly parted, and even with the dim light in the room, Viv could tell he hadn't been awake in a while.

Viv turned back to the cake. The sight of it made his stomach growl, but there was this weird knot of suspicion in his chest. Ash didn't seem like the kind of guy who would just leave a slice of cake out like that.

It felt like something you'd do for someone you were.

.. looking out for, but Viv couldn't figure out why Ash would do that for him.

They weren't friends. They weren't anything. Hell, they barely even spoke.

For a moment, he just stared at the cake, wondering if it was some weird apology or if Ash was just trying to be nice in a way that Viv didn't know how to interpret.

Maybe it was a small peace offering after their awkwardness earlier.

But then again, maybe he was overthinking it. Ash probably wasn't that deep.

Viv sat up slowly, still not fully awake, and reached for the cake, carefully peeling off a small corner.

He didn't care that it was probably meant for someone else or that he should be questioning the sudden appearance of it.

He didn't care about any of that. He was finally hungry, and, in the end, a slice of chocolate cake was just too tempting to ignore.

As he took the first bite, the sweetness hit his tongue in a way that almost made him forget the frustration and annoyance from earlier.

He closed his eyes for a second, letting the chocolate melt in his mouth.

It wasn't bad. In fact, it was pretty damn good.

Whoever had made it, they definitely knew their desserts.

Or... maybe it was just because he hadn't eaten in a long fucking time.

Viv glanced over at Ash once more, but the other boy hadn't moved. His steady breathing continued, the only sign that he was still alive in the room.

With a quiet sigh, Viv finished the rest of the slice and leaned back against his pillow, his stomach feeling slightly full for the first time in what felt like days. The comfort from the cake didn't last long, but it was enough to settle him for now.

It wasn't much. But for some reason, it felt like a quiet kind of understanding.

Or maybe it was just a weird, unspoken truce between two people who didn't know how to exist in the same space.

Either way, Viv closed his eyes and let the weight of sleep pull him under again, his mind still circling the mystery of the cake, even if he was too tired to care about it anymore.