Darkness.
A faint ringing buzzed in his ears.
Tobey's body felt heavy, like he was drifting alone in the middle of an endless ocean. His head throbbed, and for a moment, he wondered if he had actually crossed over to the other side.
Then—voices.
Muffled at first. Like whispers underwater. Slowly growing clearer.
Rick's voice. Calm. Steady. Unbothered, as always.
Shalit's voice. Worried. Restless. Muttering something about him.
And then… another sound.
A low, steady purring.
An icy dread crept up his spine.
His fingers twitched.
His eyelids fluttered.
And when his vision finally returned—
The first thing he saw—
—were two glowing, unblinking eyes staring directly into his soul.
Bella.
Sitting comfortably on his chest.
Like a demon perched on its victim, moments before delivering judgment.
Tobey, weakly:
"Miss… or Mister Cat… please get off my chest."
Bella blinked.
Nodded.
Did not move.
Tobey:
"So you understand me… but choose violence. Cool. Fine. I'll give you a treat if you get off me."
Bella instantly hopped off.
Of course. Bribery worked.
Tobey exhaled, still feeling fried from the short-circuit. He needed something. Something to revive him.
Sugar.
Yeah. That sounded right.
Tobey, determined:
"My brain needs a power source… Sugar? Yep, that'll do."
[Narrator, dramatically]
March forward, my commander! Victory lies in glucose!
He stepped into the hallway. Mission: Activate Brain.
Then—he froze.
His parents' voices drifted from inside his dad's room.
Tobey, whispering:
"Finally. Luck's on my side. I'll just go grab some sugar and—"
But his feet wouldn't move.
Curiosity locked him in place.
A choice stood before him:
• Go full stealth and eavesdrop.
• Ignore it and sprint for sugar.
• Stand there like an NPC and get caught.
Tobey swallowed.
This… was a dangerous crossroads.
He listened in.
Mother: "Nuh-uh."
Father: "Yuh-huh."
Mother: "Nuh-uh."
Father: "Yuh-huh."
Tobey, in his head, unimpressed:
"What is this? Some ancient marital chant? Yuh-huh, nuh-uh… like I care. I should just go get the sugar."
He turned to leave—
Then stopped.
Mother, quieter now:
"…Stop looking at me like that."
Tobey, curious:
"I think I should wait a bit."
Father, smooth:
"So you admit it?"
A pause.
A long one.
Then—
Mother, whispering:
"…Come closer."
Tobey's brain combusted.
Tobey, mentally screaming:
"Not on my watch! I won't let you eat Father, Mother!"
BANG BANG BANG—
Tobey, yelling outside the door:
"HEY! Where's the sugar?!"
Mother flinched.
Father groaned.
Father, deadpan:
"…Tobey."
Mother, muttering:
"Perfect timing, as always."
Tobey, still loud:
"I need it for my brain!"
Father rubbed his temples.
Father, sighing:
"I should've kept a better eye on him."
Father, raising an eyebrow:
"Why sugar?"
Mother, arms crossed:
"I did tell you, Rick."
Father: "I know."
Tobey, proudly:
"It's pure glucose! Helps my brain!"
Father, skeptical:
"Logical. But how do you know that?"
Tobey, shrugging:
"Mom bought books."
Father turned to Mother.
Mother, casually:
"Yes, but they were for me. I don't know much about first aid."
Father, smirking:
"And yet he's the one using them."
Without warning, Father reached into the void and pulled out—
a lollipop.
Tobey's eyes lit up like a dragon spotting gold.
Father tossed it.
Tobey snatched it midair like a sugar-starved ninja, unwrapped it in one go, and—
Dropped the wrapper on the floor.
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Tobey looked up.
Father was already staring. Eyes filled with disappointment. Judgment. Dad-level rage.
Tobey blinked.
Processed.
Picked up the wrapper.
Tobey, quick:
"Sorry, my bad."
He shuffled over to the trash can like a guilty gremlin.
Father, casually:
"Mother, you should buy a book on how to be a good housewife."
Pause.
Mother BURST out laughing.
"Alright. I'll buy a book on being a good housewife—if you get one on 'How to Survive a Wife's Wrath' first."
Father, chuckling:
"Fair deal."
Tobey squinted.
Father was clearly joking about him reading Mother's books.
But Mother?
She completely missed it.
Tobey, groaning:
"Aww man, why?"
Father, pointing to his room:
"Now go back to your dungeon."
Tobey, dramatic:
"Yes, master."
As he returned to his room, his brain slowly pieced things together.
Tobey, muttering:
"Father knows how to handle Mother without wasting energy…
He definitely read that book."
His eyes narrowed.
"Back to square one.
Tonight… we steal the key and the supplies."