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Augustus Porter couldn't sleep. He had been tossing and turning all night, haunted by the events of just hours prior. Ms. Noceda had ushered them all inside and made them feel as comfortable and welcome as possible, but Gus was tense. He had seen everything. Everything Belos had ever done. Every grimwalker, every murder, every awful event Belos relived, he lived too. And then he watched him die. They all did. The once great, respected emperor, thwarted by a malevolent child god. Spattered against the wall like a bothersome fly.
Well, when he put it like that, no wonder he couldn't sleep. He should have been ecstatic. He'd wanted to go to the human realm for so long- years. But with the circumstances, he wasn't too thrilled at all. He missed his father. His classmates. His human treasures. Normalcy.
At least he had Emmiline Bailey Marcostimo, lovingly nicknamed Millie, and his friends. Luz, Vee and Amity were all cuddled up together, and Hunter and Willow had Gus sandwiched between them. He supposed they felt the need to protect him, which he appreciated to an extent. They were all sound asleep, everyone tangled together in a pile. Gus had no idea how they could sleep soundly through what had happened. Well- maybe Hunter. He always seemed ready to collapse long before everyone else.
Gus couldn't lay down anymore. He wriggled out from between Willow and Hunter, being careful not to disturb anyone else, or any palisman. After he was successfully up, he gently scooped up Millie to carry with him.
He stumbled into the kitchen, taking in his dim surroundings. The couches, the coffee table, the weird box he'd seen glowing before. Luz had a nice home. A nice, human home. She had explained once or twice why exactly she left, but… her mother was so nice. Her house was nice, too. He couldn't fathom why she'd left it all- though he supposed if she hadn't, he may be dead right now.
He stumbled out the front door, sitting down on the porch. The human rain was nice. It didn't hurt when he touched it, it wasn't destructive. It was refreshing, nice. And surprisingly quiet out.
He sat, staring at the rain for maybe hours. Or maybe just a few minutes. He couldn't tell. He started to sob again, and he sobbed until his throat and face hurt from grimacing and hyperventilating. He wiped his face on his sleeve before promptly jerking his hand away. This wasn't his shirt. It was actually Luz's. Almost everything he was wearing was Luz's. His clothes were torn, and dirty. Ms. Noceda said she would wash them and patch them up. He just wanted to be in his own bed, or up with his dad. He'd do anything to watch awful programs on the crystal ball with his dad. He wondered what his dad was doing right now. And King. And Eda. All of the CATS. Or if any of them were still alive.
He watched Hunter desperately try to wake Darius. Judging from how Darius and the other coven heads were comatose, or almost there, he assumed the same was happening to his father. And the rest of the isles. But the draining spell was abruptly stopped. Maybe there was hope. If they could escape fast enough, maybe they would escape whatever sick... game... the collector was forcing them to play.
He could hope. He did hope. It was all he had. His friends, Millie, and hope.
His butt was starting to ache, and the cold seeped into his bones. But Millie was starting to shake. Before he could get up, he heard the door open, and froze in fear.
"...Gus?" Ms. Noceda said quietly. "What are you doing in the rain, mijo?"
"Oh. I'm sorry Ms…. Um… Ms. Luz's mom. I… couldn't sleep." He mumbled, avoiding eye contact with her.
"It's cold outside, you might get sick. Would you like to come inside? I can make you some tea." Gus had no idea what tea was. But he guessed it was better than being alone outside. He slowly got up, ignoring how his legs ached as he stood. He let Camila guide him and Millie inside, and watched as she prepared whatever tea was for him. He figured out it was some kind of hot human drink. And, once he was able to try it, he did enjoy it. Camila didn't ask any questions, which he was glad about. She gave him a change of pants, pet Millie, and asked him to come to her if he couldn't sleep again.
After he changed his pants, feeling… better, he laid down wherever he was able, and Millie decided to curl up with Flapjack and Ghost. He was surprisingly tired. That tea stuff worked well.
It was still raining. He could hear everyone's breathing. They all seemed so… calm. It was peaceful. He was actually looking forward to what they were going to do tomorrow. Camila could make more human foods, and Luz could explain human things, like culture.
Hearing the others calmly breathe was oddly soothing to him. They were alright, physically anyway. Maybe things would be okay. They'd find a way out of this. After checking on everyone once again, he rolled over and got some sleep, looking forward to what tomorrow would bring.