That night, once hearing his parents, Ike and Beatrix were in bed, Quentin got up and climbed out the window.
This better be real and not a prank. . .

~

Theodore flinched, his head hurt but the medication should kick in soon.
His dad brought him a glass of water.
"Here, should help Teddy: It will be bedtime soon."
Theodore nods, picking up the glass that now felt so heavy.
"No need to drink it all. . . Just sips, don't worry. . ."
Theodore nods, think he was finally getting use to water once again though it still tasted. . . Yuck.
"Done?"
"Mhm. . ."
. . .
Robert pulled him close gently, Theodore sighing as he listened to the radio.
"We won't be sending you to school for a while. . . A long while. . ."
Theodore nods.
"I'm. . . Dad, I'm tired. . ."
Theodore didn't bother to try and fight back, his eyeslids were heavy, Robert ran hand through his hair.
"Go to sleep. . ."
. . .
Robert picked up Theodore and took him to his room.

=

Quentin arrived back at the house, the house somehow looked more scary; Just this looming shadow in the night.
Climbing the fence, he stood at the back door and tapped it.
"Lisa. . . It's Quentin, you there?"
. . .
The door opened, Lisa peaking out; Wearing a nightgown, socks and slippers.
"Come in, and be quiet. . ."
Quentin nods, following her in and taking in the house that was now washed in darkness.
"This place looks worse at night. . ."
"I know. . . It use to not bother me, but now. . ."
Lisa and Quentin then heard footsteps.
Crouched down, they moved slowly through the house to the living room where the fire was going, and where her father was working.

Peaking out into the room, the basement door hung open and the iron gate door thing he had installed.
"See. . .?"
"Nobody installs that unless they have something to hide. . ."
Lisa nods.
Robert then came out, running his hands through his hair and rubbing his eyes.
"I can fix it. . . I know I can; I'm on the right track.", Lisa and Quentin hid under tables, Robert passed them and went upstairs,"Adelle, before you head to bed and I join you. . .", Lisa nods, as does Quentin as they crept down to the basement.

~

"Jesus, no offence but your dad seems to really. . ."
He froze, Lisa gasped.
On the table; Franklin Peterson!
His face was bloody and bruised, probably from when he and Theodore were attacked but his skin was pale, his arm had this. . . Strange purple lightning looking veins that travelled up his neck.
Lisa whimpered, holding Quentin's arm as they approached.
"Is he. . .?"
"No. . ."
His chest was rising and falling.
"Alive. . ."
"I told you but-"
Footsteps.

They rushed under the stairs.
Robert came into view, approaching the table and Franklin.
"Breathing is normalised. . . Vitals mostly stable. . ."
He scribbled something down,"I'll make this right. . . And make this never happen again, and those brats will pay."
Snap.
Fuck.
Robert broke the tip of the pen, ink exploding everywhere.
"Fucking piece of shit. . .", he turned to the sink, washing his hands and that gave Quentin and Lisa the chance to slip upstairs.
"Lisa."
They froze.
Robert's voice hallow and stone cold.
"Go back to bed; I'm working."
. . .

In the kitchen, Lisa shuddered and Quentin shook,"I see what you mean. . . How does-?", "Theodore isn't in a position to know, and Dad's drugging him to knock him out cold, he won't wake up at night.", Quentin nods.
"Can you help me. . .?"
. . .
"I will."

~

Quentin left the background, he needed to get home and think.
. . .
He froze.
Someone's watching.
Don't look back.
But Quentin couldn't help it, turned only to feel his blood go cold, his stomach twisting and his heart racing.
Robert stood in the front room, the darkness of the room making him look more scary and intimidating.
He simply raised his hand, pointing at his eyes and then at him.
Quentin ran home, as fast as he could and not looking back.