It's December fourth, Winter is now really starting. Winter...

I love the cold, and I am going to love January and Febuary, but December has two holidays and I can't...

I sit up from my bed, breathing heavily. I have to keep them safe. I have to. They say they're safe but they're lying. Lying!

"Keep it together Wilson," I mutter to myself, "You can't be Mr. Nothing like this."

I take slow, steady breaths, trying to calm down as I try to block it out. Try to ignore the thoughts about...

That demon from when I first arrived, he was there on the Fourth of July, but who did he make a deal with? Who!?! Whoever it is, they are the one who took Tiffany away, and I will find them. Then I'll-

I'll-

...

I don't know actually. I don't expect to actually get that far. I dunno what the, like... point is anymore. Maybe I should just... quit? I have been constantly reminded how useless my magic is as of late. I got really stiffed on my spells. Healing? Guardian's Aura? Excuse me, but I want something useful! Not this trash.

I just don't get it. What if someone does get hurt.

They're lying.

They're lying. They are gonna get hurt. I know they are. Emmret came for me. The others are next! Catherine is next! Shelby is next! Henry, Jackie, and Beth, they're all in danger! I'll lose them all! Just like Tiffany! Just like my sister!

My hands tremble. Just talk to her. Just once talk to her and I'll feel better right? Right?

I call her.

"Hello?" Tiffany answers.

"I'm freaking out man," I reply.

"Hey hey it's OK Wilson," she reassures me with her ever calming voice, always reassuring, and always there for me, "Tell me what's wrong."

"They're gonna get hurt," I reply, "And I'm going to lose them all."

"Wilson your mom smokes weed away from you," Tiffany assures me, "You've never caught a whiff of second hand smoke."

"I can't," I shake my head, "I can't anymore Tiffany. I can't lose anyone else."

"Wilson you didn't lose me," Tiffany chuckles.

"I did!" I exclaim, "And don't you dare call it a mild disagreement when it's irreperable brain damage that I will never be able to fix! I-"

Wait.

"I'm dreaming aren't I?" I sigh.

"Of course," Tiffany replies, "I hate you. Why would I answer?"

"Why do I even have you in my contacts?" I sigh.

"You need me," Tiffany chuckles, "You can't function without me."

"Then why did you do this?" I demand, crying.

"Wilson I can't answer that," Tiffany sighs, "I'm not real. I can tell you what I want you to do."

"What?" Wilson asks.

"Same thing I said before," Tiffany chuckles, "Jump."

"Just like you told me to at the Fourth of July?" I inquire.

"Do it," Tiffany demands, "Don't let me down..."

I snap awake in a cold sweat, crying. I can't do this anymore. I just can't. I sit up, shaking, a shooting pain in my arms and look down to see bite marks up the length of my forearms.

What the actual fuck?

Agh! That hurts! My arms! My arms!

They're covered in red marks, fortunately there's no blood, the marks deep into my flesh, some bruised and blue, others more shallow, merely red and sore.

More.

I need to...

I think about Tiffany and what to cry more. If I just...

More.

More!

More! More! More!

I desperately chow on my arms, bruising the flesh with each blissfully painful bite as the pain makes the thoughts of Tiffany go away. I feel so much better as I bite. Bite. Bite. If I keep biting the pain goes away.

I-

"My God Mr. Nothing!" A voice exclaims.

I turn to see a young man with a shaved head, wearing blue pants and a green t-shirt. He appears to be of Pacific Islander descent, and stands taller than me at six foot two. His brown eyes hold shock and concern as his beefy body blocks the doorway. He looks down at my arms and then looks me in the eyes.

"You didn't see," I glare putting on my jacket, "Anything. Do you understand?"

"Mr. Nothing what the fuck?" He demands.

"Did you come needing assistance?" I dodge the question, "Or what?"

"I was gonna ask for advice on something," He explains, "But your arms Mr. Nothing! Your arms!"

"My problems are nothing," I explain, "Have a seat sir. Lollipop?"

I offer him a cherry treat only for him to shake his head, "Dude you looked like you were... You belong in a mental facility or have the weirdest fetish I've ever seen."

"Can it be both?" I joke with a chuckle, before sternly replying, "But in all seriousness, no one is to know about this... what is your name?"

"Tyrone," he replies, "And you?"

"Wilson if you prefer that," I shrug, "But relax. I'm fine, and I can't go to a facility."

"Dude I can't just leave after what I've seen," Tyrone sighs, "I need to like... tell someone."

"Tyrone, buddy," I plead, about to vomit. If I'm not here then no one's protecting. If no one is protecting, kids are getting hurt! I can't allow that! With desperation and fear I beg, "Please, I beg of you, don't tell anyone what you've seen. It was in my sleep I'll just tie my arms down tomorrow. OK? Please I have to work as Mr. Nothing."

"How long has this been going on?" Tyrone asks.

"I did have nightmares before I came here," I explain, "And I would wake up just... chowing on my arms. You actually woke me up when you came in here. Why are you here?"

Tyrone sighs and sits down, beginning to explain, nervously, "I... OK so... how do I..."

"You can tell me," I assure him.

"Alright," Tyrone takes a deep breath and asks, "I'm on the football team and-"

I interrupt, "I'm gonna stop you right there. You're like Emmret, right?"

"Emmret?" Tyrone asks, "That bastard? He had what happened on Halloween coming. He's a bully man."

"So you're not one for parties?" I inquire.

"They just don't interest me," Tyrone shrugs, "I mean the drinking age is 21 and I'm not gonna break the law."

"Very good," I smile, knowing I am Mr. Nothing, and knowing I am worthless, but happy to meet someone who understands, "Continue."

"So basically Emmret beat the shit out of the quarterback and-" Tyrone begins to explain but I open my palm upward to indicate I wish to speak.

"There is nothing I can do about that," I sigh, "Emmret is the one who broke my leg, but my leg should be OK if I... I should be able to handle it tomorrow actually."

"So what do we do?" Tyrone demands, "Emmret is out of control. He thinks he's invincible. It's like he has some supernatural power. The quarterback just lost all strength when Emmret attacked, and since he's so important to the football team the coach won't do shit."

I think, looking out the window at the snow. Lost his strength? Could this power be the opposite of mine? I heal and have Guardian's Aura and he has some sort of inverse aura? I guess him and I counter each other. Great now I'm even more useless!

I take a deep breath and sigh, "I cannot do anything about Emmret unless something is done about the coach. So, simply prove the coach is hiding this and the rest is easy."

"I can record what he says at practice," Tyrone explains, "Thanks."

"Thank you for telling me of this threat," I reply, "That all?"

He nods and begins to leave before turning to ask, "Can I ask you something?"

"Who you asking?" I inquire.

"Wilson," Tyrone replies.

"Fine," I sigh, remembering that Ms. Evergreen told me to make another male friend.

"Are you going to be OK if I leave?" Tyrone inquires.

I nod, and respond, "Yeah dude. Don't worry."

Tyrone smiles and replies, "I'll see you later dude."

"See you later," I reply, turning to face him from the window, unsure if I should do anything.

Tyrone does instead, gesturing for a high five.

I return, and he exits with a wave. I take a deep breath, clenching my fist. I open my locket, on the other side, the back, to reveal of photo of me and Tiffany with a little girl, not even ten.

"If I had saved her it would've saved you too," I mutter, almost crying, "I'll avenge you. I swear."

I close the locket and sit on my bed, muttering to myself, "Keep it together Mr. Nothing. You have work to do now."

I change into my day clothes, close my locket, and check my notes on the names of threats. I then proceed to open my door, indicating that Mr. Nothing is free to talk...