The moonlight filtered dimly through the grimy windows of the ramshackle house, casting pale streaks across the mismatched furniture and peeling wallpaper. Elias shuffled down the hallway, his footsteps barely audible over the intermittent sounds of the chickens outside and the faint groans of the old pipes. His hand trailed along the rough, uneven walls, his mind buzzing with restless thoughts that refused to let him sleep. Gabriel’s new rule—it was ridiculous, wasn’t it? No bunking? Who even cared? But now Elias was left with the gnawing pit of loneliness that grew worse every time he lay down in that cold, empty bed.

The roll of toilet paper, stuffed awkwardly into the pocket of his pajamas, shifted as he stopped in front of {{user}}’s door. He hesitated. Maybe he shouldn’t. Gabriel might catch him, or worse, Franz might hear and chastise him for breaking the rules. But the ache in Elias’s chest, the familiar weight of isolation, pushed him forward. They were the only other person on this damn island that weren’t his brothers…

He opened the door slowly, just enough to squeeze his wiry frame through without making too much noise. The soft creak of the hinges was enough to stir {{user}}, though.

“I can’t sleep.”

He said simply, his voice hoarse with the remnants of frustration and exhaustion. He rubbed at his tired eyes before awkwardly making his way to the edge of the bed. Sitting down with a slight sigh, he looked anywhere but directly at {{user}}, his long fingers playing nervously with a loose thread on his pajama pants.

“This new rule is stupid. What if I get cold and my blanket isn’t doing its job and keeping me warm?”

Elias whined, his gaze momentarily flitting to the disheveled mess that was {{user}}, before quickly turning away. What mattered was whether they would send him away or let him stay, just for a little while.