I apologize for my lack of updates and loss of schedule. I'm involved in another project taking up my free time. Plus I'm running out of ideas... Anyway, don't fret! This book is still active. It took me a while to upload this chapter because I didn't want to shorten it again.

~

This Saturday night was dark. It felt darker than usual... for Sam at least.

Actually, every day and night has been feeling darker than usual for him. The days could feel cloudy even if the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. To him the world feels as though it's losing its color.

Within the walls of Alastor's home, the air was thick with tension.

Tension... why does he always have to use the word 'tension'?!

What a word... tension... it was so overused in Sam's head. It was the only way he could properly describe the world around him and how it felt... tense.

Sam sat up in his bed. The room was dark other than the moonlight that subtly flooded the windows.

Of all the nights this was the one where he wished he could fall asleep easy.

When he checked on his sister a few hours ago, she was deep asleep. He couldn't help but envy it. At least she won't have to suffer through-

Suddenly a parade of loud booms, crackles, and cheers flooded his ears. He rolled his eyes enviously. While sadness washed over him, the citizens of New Orleans were celebrating the beginning of the new year, 1933.

Alastor was out tonight. Mimzy had invited him, Rosie, Vivienne, and a few others to her club to celebrate new year, which made for a very interesting and, at times, frustrating situation... Alastor had left Husker in charge of his household while he was gone.

While Edith enjoyed his company, smiling and laughing with him, Sam despised it. He didn't think the man had the qualities of a good caretaker at all.

The two didn't seem to get along very well, at least in Sam's eyes they didn't. He saw Husk as a weird and grumpy guy. He'd expect the same attitude from an old man, not a young one! Not to mention, he drinks all the time! Even near Edith! Both he and Alastor shared in the dissatisfaction of that point. Though, Sam was more upset than the other. How did Husk even get alcohol?! It was banned, wasn't it??

Or was he wrong?

Could he be wrong? Surely he wasn't.

His mind and thoughts used to be so sharp and clear, but now his brain is confused and fogged up.

A sea of mindless thoughts and turbulent emotions consumed him day and night...

Every day Sam spent in the confines of this house, it felt as though his mind fell into more disarray. Each day blended into the next, it was a horribly relentless cycle that he found himself in.

In fact, the days melted together so seamlessly, Sam could hardly comprehend the concept alone. It felt like the clock had fast forwarded from News Year's day straight to the hot summer.

It felt like he blinked before the darkness of his room became the harsh glare of the July sun burning his cheeks as he sat in the green grass on the front lawn.

His sister was gone with Alastor, as usual. It felt as though he never saw her anymore... By the time he woke up in the mornings the two would be gone already and by the time he realized they had returned in the evening, she was already asleep.

Over the months he eventually stopped trying to rekindle their relationship. To him, even the smallest of tasks were starting to feel like he was climbing a mountain. How could he reform and stabilize his relationships if he couldn't even find the energy to get out of bed in the morning?

It's mostly his own fault but that didn't make it hurt any less.

He was always trapped in the dark prison that is his own mind. It was as if he just could find the space in his the endless filing cabinets that made up his mind... they were all filled up with stuff and nonsense. Nonsense Sam would never have let take up his mind before now...

What's happening to him? First he was the pathetic captive of a murderer, now he's the worthless captive of his own mind?!

Sam sat in a chair in the library. There was nothing to distract him from his thoughts now that Alastor stopped having Rosie or Mimzy watch over him. Al knew Sam wouldn't try to run again. And he was right, he wouldn't.

The teen's eyes weren't fixed on anything in particular. In fact, his vision was blurred and unfocused.

He couldn't even see Edith in his peripheral vision, staring at him with a sad expression on her face.

This wasn't easy for her, having to witness her brother slowly become detached from reality and distant from everything around him. Edith felt uneasy whenever she looked at him like this. He was physically there but it was like he mentally wasn't... If you looked into his eyes, it was as if he was looking through you. It was unnerving.

"Edith?"

The girl turned her head around to see Alastor smiling down at her. "I said dinner is ready, my dear." The man said.

The eight year old nodded her head before turning back toward her brother. He wasn't facing her but she could tell he was lost in thought again. He probably couldn't even hear them.

Alastor saw how she stared at him intently. His own eyes narrowing at the sight of him. He truly was a mess.

The man put his hand on the young girl's shoulder and guided her to the dining room where there was food already waiting for her. Though, she didn't eat much of it. Her mind was focused on something else... or rather someone else.

Alastor took notice. Putting his own spoon down and looking towards her. "Something the matter, darling?" He asked, his calm voice concealing his annoyance. Though, he knew what she was thinking about. He was thinking about it himself.

"S-Sam..." the girl said timidly. Although she and Alastor had grown much closer as her reliance on him grew, she was still shy without her brother around, especially if what she was trying to talk about was about her brother. "He d-doesn't look very good... H-He's really s-skinny..."

Alastor knew her sentence was a keen observation. He had noticed such a detail as well. He was losing weight fast.

His clothing began to fit him looser than normal and his eyes had a sunken-in look. Al didn't pretend to not know why. The teen wasn't eating. He was malnourished and it was frustrating. It wasn't like he didn't have anything to eat. He just refused to eat what was given to him.

He was surviving off of the little 'regular' food Alastor brought home from time to time like cereal, fruit, vegetables, berries, those kinds of things. It was enough to give him energy but Alastor didn't keep it stocked because he simply didn't need to. He had a new method of feeding Edith. Samuel just decided to dig into something no one wanted him to see.

This diet of his wasn't going to last forever. The lack of proper nutrition and nourishment would catch up eventually.

Alastor couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let one of them die first. He wouldn't let one of them die first. That would destroy everything he's been working towards. All his plans.

After he and Edith had finished their dinner, Alastor was quick to clear the table and begin preparing another meal. This one would be made of what Samuel would call 'real food'.

He wasn't happy about it.

He and Samuel had been in a silent battle over who would cave first. Samuel refused to eat what Alastor made from his victims and Alastor did his best to keep the kid's food access limited. Though, the man didn't expect him to last so long and to let his own health to deteriorate like this.

Normally Alastor would let him starve himself but for the sake of his plans he had no choice but to give in.

~

Sam sat at the table, clutching his empty stomach as he eyed at the stew in front of him. His face was tired and his eyes had dark circles around them, looking like he hadn't slept in weeks. His facial expressions portrayed a deep level of distrust, caution, and suspicion.

For Sam, the atmosphere felt oppressive.

Alastor stood over him, his annoyance was concealed by his twisted smile. He had finally caved and gave the teen the normal meal he wanted but yet he didn't seem to appreciate it.

"Samuel." Alastor's stern voice slashed through the silence like a knife. "You need to eat now."

The teen flinched at his harsh tone. With every word, it felt like his eardrums could explode.

He didn't respond. Instead he continued to stare at the dish in front of him. His mind was racing with thoughts of the what Alastor could have possibly hidden in this meal. He was terrified by the mere thought of consuming another meal tainted with the dark sin of murder.

Alastor caught on to this quickly. "Rest assured, it's a rabbit I caught during my outing last night. You're free to relax."

It wasn't a lie. The contents were indeed rabbit, but that fact only frustrated Alastor more. He had planned to use that rabbit in a ritual, but here he was, forced to use it in order to feed the pathetically stubborn young man by his side.

He was growing irritated with Samuel's stubbornness. Throughout the weeks he watched as the teen's health began to decline.

Al wasn't above seeing him suffer. In fact, he saw it as a well-deserved punishment for his stubbornness and 'rebellion' of sorts. A fitting cause and effect.

However, he couldn't just stand by and let the kid deteriorate and die on his watch. He couldn't have that. What would papers say?!

Another minute went by and the teen didn't move an inch. His eyes were filled with fear and wariness but also the slightest hint of anger. He wanted to get up, swing around and attack Alastor. Attack him for putting him in this situation. Exposing him to this fear he oh-so hated feeling. To defy him and break free from the strong grip he found himself trapped within.

However, the fear of what would happen if he did do anything of that sort was what kept him glued to his seat with his head down.

"I won't ask again."

Alastor's words were a threat and Sam knew it. He never felt so trapped in his life... but what could he do?

With his spirit crushed by the weight of his despair, Sam finally lifted his spoon and took a hesitant bite of the well-seasoned stew.

His heart pounded in his ears. He was fully expecting the familiar taste of human flesh to surround his taste buds. Though, he was pleasantly surprised when rabbit was what he tasted.

His hunger hit him like a brick and he began eating faster and faster sometimes even putting a new spoonful in his mouth before the previous had gone.

His fear had turned to relief. Finally he had something in his stomach other than emptiness. It was a wonderful feeling he had missed. It was hard for him to believe that this is how he once lived every day.

Even though Alastor was still standing behind him, for a split second things felt normal again like none of past months had ever happened. Though, Sam knew this current time of peace was fragile and wouldn't last long. The darkness and distrust still lurked.

The eventual fall of this peace was inevitable, but for now, Sam embraced it.

And though he wouldn't openly admit it, Alastor did too.

~

HAZBIN HOTEL THEORY BELOW ⬇️

I just thought of something. I don't think Husk actually knew 100% that Alastor made a deal with someone.

Yall! He was talking about MIMZY! He was just saying how Mimzy goes running to him everytime she's in trouble! I think Husk was referring to Mimzy having him on leash but he SUSPECTED Alastor made a deal with someone and the way Alastor reacting to Husk saying he was on a leash CONFIRMED HIS SUSPICIONS

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT!

Why would Alastor tell Husk about his deal?? It's clear that Alastor just thinks of Husk and a pawn and pet and Husk doesn't really like him anyway because of this.

I HIGHLY DOUBT Alastor would've told Husker about his deal. Like- the great RADIO DEMON being on a LEASH??? I doubt Alastor would risk telling anyone in case the information spread somehow.

What do y'all think???