Ravan's POV
Clearly, I was becoming paranoid. I had started seeing The Grim wherever I went; in the whistle of steam while the kettle was boiling, in the looming school gates, even in the slippery shower suds on the floor.
I just couldn't keep it to myself anymore and I knew at least that there was one person I could trust. Rowan had agreed to meet me at my house because I didn't feel safe anywhere else. I barely even felt safe in my own home, despite the addition of countless new security cameras.
I opened the front door to be met with concern in Rowan's wide, blue fire and blood ocular spheres. He was wearing a black graphic t-shirt over a black and white striped long sleeve. The shirt read 'life is a joke' in fancy gothic writing, and I couldn't help but compare it to the ridiculousness of my own situation. Someone was trying to kill me.
His pants were decorated with many belts that matched the one around his neck. His eyeliner was heavy and dark, like my soul at that point in time.
Despite how cool and emo he looked, he greeted me with a gentle smile. Just like that, I fell apart. My body was suddenly wracked with sobs and I felt tears pouring down my face and soaking into my shirt. Rowan didn't hesitate to encircle his warm arms around me, pulling me tight against his chest.
"Shhh, it's okay, it's okaaaay. I'm here babe, right here with you." he soothed me, his voice low and velvety soft.
In between hiccups, I managed to briefly explain what was going on. "I- I th-think someones trying to k-k-k-kill me! I found a note in my locker warning me and th- then they showed up to my house and now I've been poisoned and a cinder block nearly fell on me. I'm so scared Rowan, I don't know what to do!"
Rowan ran his fingers through my soft black waves, trying to soothe me to no avail. We hadn't made it inside the house just yet and I could see the passers by staring at me, concerned, and I felt my face grow red from more than just my tears of anguish.
Quickly, I ushered Rowan inside and we made our way to my room, past all my lego cabinets. How had I never realised how much of a choking hazard they could be? What if they fell and my own creations crushed me? What if I suffocated beneath all of my limited edition lego star wars figurines?
My mind was spiralling, and I was powerless to stop it. My only slight anchor was Rowan's arm around my shoulders, guiding me out of the dark storm.
"Hey, babe, it's going to be okay. I need you to calm down so you can explain to me in more detail, and then I'll be able to protect you better. So will Rylan. Just wait here for me, I'll be back in a couple of minutes," he offered before disappearing out of my door, probably to go to the bathroom, seeing as he got here in such a rush.
As he promised, within two minutes he was walking back into my room, a cup of water in one hand, and a full tub of neapolitan icecream in the other, two spoons balancing on top. He took a seat on the ground, placing the water and icecream down next to him before motioning for me to lay down with my head resting on his lap.
He placed my pastel rose weighted blanket on top of me, probably hoping it would calm me down a little. Looking down at it I realised that they matched my pyjamas, which were a pale baby pink with soft, fluffy socks and white checkered flannel pants.
I heard the lid of the tub make a popping sound as it came off. Rowan used one of the spoons to scoop up a big helping of ice cream with all three flavours before airplaning it towards my mouth like a mother to a child. I couldn't help but feel safe; my mother had never done it for me before.
I opened my mouth wide, unaware of the view Rowan would be receiving currently. The delicate mix of the chocolate, strawberry and vanilla in my mouth was another thing that made me feel safe.
It took me 10 minutes before I was almost fully calmed down. Rowan did not make me feel pressured to rush into any explanation so I was thankful for that at least.
We were also watching the first Lego Movie on my laptop, and the tunes of 'Everything is Awesome' were calming to me. Chris Pratt was so relatable, and I had never realised it before.
His journey from just a regular guy was started by meeting a hot goth girl who showed him a new reality that simultaneously expanded and threatened everything he held to be true about himself and the universe.
I was feeling a bit like that right now, but Rowan was my Wild Style and I knew he would help me get through it. Everything would be awesome again, I knew it.
"Are you sure someone's trying to... kill you?" Rowan asked eventually as he turned down the volume but kept the movie playing.
I slowly sat up and leaned into his arms again, burying my face in his dark shirt that matched my hair. Trying not to begin crying again, I took my time before answering quietly. "Y-Yes, I... I am sure. The person... their name is Grus... they told me not to tell you but I couldn't handle it anymore. I'm so scared all the time, Rowan. Please, help me. I don't know what I'm meant to do."
I gazed up into his eyes, and in the half-light of my room, they were illuminated with the faint colours of the lego movie. I watched him blink slowly, and it was like an oyster flashing its pearls.
"Ravan, I promise you, I will protect you. I'm a merman, remember?"
I laughed wetly and rubbed the tears out of my eyes with his top. "I suppose there is that... thank you... for everything."