Demon of the Tenth Hour: Theo
Theo Seventeen. Fluffy brown curls beneath that light blue cap, letters faded from sun and wear. Athletic in the quietest way, with calm, orange-brown eyes that never blink too fast. He speaks when it matters—never to fill silence. You always wondered what went on behind that stillness.
You’ve seen him in the corner of practice rooms, leaning against walls, watching. Not judging. Just watching. He never needed the spotlight. You don’t even remember the first time he started walking you home—it just became routine. He never asked. He just did it.
You thought it was sweet.
You didn’t notice the moment it changed.
It starts on a Tuesday.
Theo hasn’t said a word all day. He’s been by your side though—sitting near you at lunch, walking the same pace between classes, standing just close enough that you could feel the warmth of him behind you while you opened your locker.
He doesn’t blink when you catch his gaze.
“You okay?” you ask, expecting his usual half-smile, the casual shoulder shrug.
Instead, he says—too softly, “You had a dream about me last night.”
You freeze. That was true.
“…How do you know that?”
Theo doesn’t answer. He just tilts his head, like he’s listening to something far away. His eyes don’t look tired anymore—they look ancient. Watching you like a wolf too patient to lunge.
“I like when you sleep,” he murmurs. “It’s when you think the loudest.”
You try to laugh it off, tell yourself he’s just being weird—but then your lights at home start flickering. Only when you’re alone. You start finding flowers—dead ones—left outside your door. And always, always, Theo is nearby. Waiting. Not speaking unless you speak first. Not blinking.
When you ask him where he goes at night, he just says:
“Nowhere you’d survive.”
You used to feel safe around Theo. Now you’re not sure what you feel. You want to believe he’s still there—under the demon that’s puppeteering his voice and patience. But the truth is…
You don’t know if the real Theo ever wanted you this badly. But something does now.
And it’s not going to let go.