••••

It takes both Tina and Loveth bouncing on my bed to wake me finally. I was dead to the world, sunk deep into sleep, and yet my mind refuses to rest. Nightmares cling to me like a koala. Demons were tearing apart everyone I care about, ripping off limbs with casual brutality, feasting as if it's nothing more than a meal. The screams echo endlessly in my head, folding over one another until they blur into a single, unbearable sound.

It took me a moment to realize the scream was mine.

I jolt upright in bed, my chest heaving as air rushes painfully back into my lungs. My shirt clings to me, soaked through with sweat, and my heart feels like it's trying to break free of my ribs. For a few seconds, I don't know where I am. The shadows in my room even feel wrong to me, too deep and too sharp. Until the familiar shape of my dresser and the faint glow of morning light steady me.

"' Bout time," Loveth said with an exasperated voice. She was trying to look annoyed, but she failed at it, because she couldn't hide the worry in her voice.

She's standing at the foot of the bed, her arms crossed, with her brow creased. Tina is beside her, sitting casually on the mattress, but her eyes give her away. They're both watching me too closely.

"What were you dreaming about?" Tina asks, nudging me with her elbow, "That had you moaning, tossing, and turning like that, huh?" She finishes with a wink, but there's concern under the teasing.

I groan and drop back against my pillow, dragging my hands over my face. My thoughts feel thick and sluggish, as though I'm wading through fog.

"Nothing worth repeating," I mutter, my voice rough.

I stay there for a moment, letting my vision clear and the room settle. The nightmare still clings to the edges of my mind, like smoke that refuses to dissipate. When I finally push myself up and swing my legs over the side of the bed, that's when I notice something else entirely.

I realize I'm still wearing yesterday's clothes.

The realization barely registers before habit takes over. I reach for the hem of my shirt and pull it over my head, tossing it aside without thinking. Only when cool air hits my skin do I remember that I'm not alone.

"Hey…wait until I get out of here before you do that," Loveth snaps.

Her voice is sharp, but when I glance over, she's staring at my now well-developed chest blatantly.

It hits me then that she hasn't seen me like this before. Well….not really. And the fact that it didn't even occur to me not to strip while my sister and a girl I'm close with, says more about how exhausted I am than anything else.

How tired do you have to be to strip without thinking, with your sister in the room, and Tina watching?

Usually, I'd catch myself instantly. Normally, I'm sharper than this. But the remnants of last night's terror still ripple through me, leaving my thoughts disorganized and slow to react.

"Your brother's built pretty well, huh?" Tina says lightly, glancing at Loveth with a grin.

Loveth's face goes red in an instant. She spins around and bolts for the door, muttering something under her breath before disappearing into the hall.

I exhale slowly, rubbing the back of my neck.

I finish getting dressed in silence, my mind drifting back to Lela's blue room. The memory rises unbidden, and too vivid in my mind, I look down at my left arm, half-expecting to see something wrong.

But I found nothing; my arm is excellent.

No blue veins. No pain. No lingering sensation at all. Other than being tired, I actually feel… good. I'm feeling better than before, even. Stronger.

There isn't even a hint of a hangover that was supposed to be there after yesterday's drinking, which makes me wonder how Tina and Loveth can be so lively after everything they drank last night.

Tina watches me button my shirt, her expression unreadable, then she follows me out into the living room, where the Christmas tree stands lit and proud. I noticed everyone else is already gathered; they're all just waiting for me. Nancy has a digital camcorder out, filming as gifts are passed around and wrapping paper piles up on the floor.

The morning feels warm and loud in the best way—voices overlapping, laughter bubbling up unexpectedly. For a moment, I forget all about the nightmares, the unanswered questions, and everything lurking just beneath the surface.

I give Nancy and Tina matching turquoise necklaces made with blue and green stones, with earrings to match. I picked them carefully, knowing how well the colors would bring out their eyes. They both light up when they open them, put them on immediately, and admire themselves in the mirror.

For Loveth, I went with clothes—things I knew she'd like but might not buy for herself.

I get hugs from all three women, quick kisses on the cheek in thanks. Tina lingers a second longer than necessary, her lips brushing my cheek—and then her tongue, just briefly—before she pulls back with a mischievous grin.

I pretend not to notice. She knows better….

Mom's gift is simpler, but it's a tradition. I gave her a card, and inside was a handwritten:

To Mom, who has always been there for me whenever I've needed her. One date to any restaurant of your choice, tomorrow night, the 26th of December.

This year, I added another line:

May the night fill you with new memories, new hopes, and start a brighter future.

She doesn't even make it through the card before she starts tearing up. She hugs me tightly, telling me she can't wait, her voice thick with emotion.

The rest of the gifts follow. Tina and Nancy gave me a $100 Steam gift card. Loveth gives me a book in a series she swears I'll love, along with the latest Dungeons & Dragons manual. The books by Brandon Sanderson—one of my favorites—so I already know she's right.

Mom admits, as always, that she never knows what to get me, so she hands over an Amazon gift card with an apologetic smile.

I shower while breakfast is cooking, letting the hot water wash away the last remnants of sleep. By the time I step out, I feel fully awake—refreshed, grounded.

Still, part of my mind keeps circling around Vage's message: The computer voice, the Demons, and my new children, as in, plural…..

I pause on that with a towel in hand.

I'm going to be a father….

The words still feel unreal, like they belong to someone else.

The smell of breakfast pulls me back to the present. I step into the kitchen and realize just how hungry I am. I eat fast—too fast—then go back for seconds, surprising everyone, including myself.

"Must be that new body of his," Mom murmurs, and the others nod in agreement.

We spend the afternoon together playing games, laughing, and enjoying the quiet comfort of being in the same space. Tina and Nancy wear their jewelry all day, and it looks even better on them than I imagined. Loveth changes into her new clothes, and I have to admit—my sister looks really good in those tight jeans and T-shirt.

Eventually, Tina and Loveth head out to shop for dinner, leaving me alone with Mom and Nancy. I tried to help them in the kitchen, but I was quickly shooed away.

With nothing else to do, I retreat to my room and fire up my laptop, tethering it to my phone for internet. A new email waits for me.

From Stephanie.

The subject line reads: Thanks!

There's a link inside. Normally, I wouldn't click something like that without thinking, but Stephanie's smarter than that. The page loads slowly, asking for a username and password—both included in the email.

Despite my phone's weak signal, the video buffers quickly. Stephanie must've compressed it properly.

The video opens with one of the twins in front of the camera. I can't tell which—Stephanie or Stacy.

"Nick, we opened your Christmas present this morning," she says, smiling brightly, "and we can't thank you enough."

I remember the peripheral I sent them, something I noticed they didn't have for their gaming system.

"Since we can't say it enough—and you're not here for us to thank you," she continues, "we thought we'd show you."

The camera is set down. The other twin steps into view, wearing a small teddy that leaves very little to the imagination.

I immediately turn my laptop away from the door.

The two sisters face each other, smile at the camera, and then…..(Sorry, I had to cut this part because it included some yuri.)

"You know," a voice says from my doorway, "you don't need to watch porn to get off."

I curse under my breath, slamming the pause button of my laptop.

I really should've turned the volume down….

_______

Merry Christmas to everyone! Thank you for your support and the lovely gifts. I truly love you all! (Saranghae🫰🫶🏼😘)

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