It feels like there's a brick wall between us, I knock and press my ear to listen to the other side but there is nothing, only silence answers me.

I wish I had your comfort, your warm presence around again, but all I have left is your ignorance. You push me away every time I await your answer, as if you want this. Why do you do this to me? I stand here behind this wall and wait, but you still have yet to answer. Answer me.

-

This chapter will contain

- Manipulation - Force feeding (?)

If these contents trigger you please remove yourself from this chapter, thank you.

*This chapter was writing by Seán and beta read by C0smicC0re

*Art to be added -

A month until the party.

Balloon laid in their bed, fingers fiddling together as they laid on top of their stomach. Mind completely empty. It's been a three days since.. Nickel's incident. Balloon chewed on their bottom lip, come to think of it... if they really wanted Nickel to survive, they'd have to feed him. Nickel has been in the cold for three total days without food or water. Three whole days of sitting in the blistering cold, with possible frost bite. Balloon felt their skin grow goosebumps at the thought of themselves being stuck outside for that long. Balloon sat up and stared at the coat across the room, teeth hooked onto their lip still. They should hurry before anything else happened. Kicking their sheets off their legs, they picked up their feet and walked to their coat, pulling the sleeves over their arms and zipped it up. Standing beside their window they looked at the outside. Snow still covered the ground. They stepped out their room and walked down the stairs.

Only to be met with Baseball who sat on the couch. The two exchanged a stare that lead on for too long, too long for Balloon's comfort.

"Hey?"

"Hey."

Silence hung between them.

"..Going outside?" Baseball commented. Balloon almost completely forgotten about being covered up by a coat.

"I am? Oh uh.." Balloon, being stumped, shrugged, unsure how to even reply to the question for it being so sudden, that they didn't even have time to think of an excuse. Baseball only chuckled, before sighing through his nose.

"Hey, listen. I wanted to.. apologize for what happened." Balloon blinked. Slowly moving to the couch and sat down besides Baseball.

"What do you mean?"

Baseball chewed his tongue, "I mean, I'm sorry for what Nickel did."

Balloon scoffed, "You're sorry?"

"Yes, I am. I should've been able to control the situation, look, I want you to know Nickel can be.." he looked to the side, "A lot, but sometimes he can actually be a good guy. I'm not excusing his actions but I—" Baseball hesitated, "I don't want anyone picturing as the other as 'The bad guy'. You get what I mean?"

"..like when you shoved me into a stove."

Baseball went silent.

"You really care about him. Don't you? That's why you're defending him."

"Wait, no- I'm not defending anyone."

"You just were with him, never with me."

Baseball held his tongue.

"I'm..sorry. I'm sorry that I did that to you. I just saw you hold that- pan and I.. I reacted. I didn't want anyone hurt, but when it comes to him.." Baseball looked down into his lap, "I'm sorry, I'm making excuses."

"No, no it's ok. You care about him." Balloon sighed, "I just don't want you to think he's always what you perceive him as. And as much as you care, he should be held accountable for his actions, you know?"

Baseball slightly smiled, "Yeah, you're right."

"I know I am." Balloon smiled along with him, then a thought clicked in his head, "Hm, you know, now that we're talking about him, have you seen him recently?"

Baseball's smile faltered, "No, I haven't. He's still be gone.. I'm genuinely- worried. I just hope he hasn't gotten hurt. I'm considering calling the police- honestly I should've after the second day but this isn't the first time Nickel has ran away." Baseball sighed.

"Oh, really now?"

"No, he's had his moments where he gets upset with OJ, runs away, then comes back. But this time he didn't tell me, as if he really went through with his plan." Balloon only gave Baseball a small Pat of remorse on his shoulder.

"I'm sure he'll..show up eventually." Balloon cracked a weary smile, Baseball only nodded his head.

"You're right, I shouldn't over react. He's probably fine."

Balloon stood up, stuffing their hands into their pockets. "See? It'll be alright! Just gotta be patient with him, after all. He is Nickel!" The two laugh, before Balloon walked to the doors of Hotel OJ.

"Hey Balloon?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you, I needed to talk to someone."

"Oh." They glanced to Baseball, "You're welcome."



Nickel sniffled, legs shaking from the painful breeze. Lips becoming purple, chattering his teeth together. The tarp still draped over his lap, he managed to grab the edge of the cover with his teeth and pulled it up further over him. Sighing, he rested his head back against the stone wall. Looking up at the crack in the ceiling. Snowflakes dropping onto his face.

A gap to the outside.

His stomach growled loudly, Nickel leaning over and sobbed, he was hungry, and the hunger was eating away at him. He was left with this hunger, he wasn't sure how long he has been out here, he was too focused on escaping. For the last couple of nights he would pull and tug at the chain around his neck, leaning forward, attempting to run, but it would leave him gasping and choking. A dark bruise created on his neck. He had grown weak and tired.

"Wake up." His eyes shot open, hearing that ridiculously squeaky voice sent terror through him. Looking up, his face turned more pale than it already was. Balloon stood infront of Nickel with a paper bag and their coat taken off, only to be hung on their forearm. They walked up to Nickel's frail state. And kicked the tarp off of him. Nickel's legs becoming purple, much more stiffer and dark. The wound on his thigh covered in dried up blood, leaving Balloon to crack a faint smile before looking away. Nickel's eyes were wide with fear, they had begun to water, shaking his head while looking down.

"Please.." Nickel's voice was sore, raspy. "Don't do anything.."

"Oh, don't be like that. I'm just giving you food." They stood up, dropped the brown bag and kicked it slightly. Knocking the food over and onto the floor. Nickel stared down at the food. There was an apple, a sandwich that was now scattered around on the ground, and a few chocolates. Nickel looked up at Balloon with a look that was unreadable.

"How am I suppose to eat this?" Nickel said, tilting his head as if to motion to his arms. Balloon chuckled.

"With your mouth, of course." Balloon noticed the lack of emotion on Nickel's face, causing them to sigh and knelt down to Nickel's level, shoving him to the ground. "I wasn't kidding, Eat." Nickel grunted, falling to his side and looked at the food. Frowning.

"You're not serious.."

"Why wouldn't I be. Eat. Or I'll force you."

Nickel was hesitant, was he really going to do this? To eat off the floor like an animal? At this point, he had no other option. His stomach twisted in pain. Slowly unhinging his jaw and sunk his teeth into the apple, biting a chunk of it and chewed. Laying his head onto glass covered floor. Like a kicked dog.

Balloon turned their attention back to the coat that hung from their arm, taking it off, they forced Nickel back up.

"Ow! Watch it!" Nickel cursed, only to realize the coat they originally had was put onto him, zipped up. Nickel looked at Balloon in confusion, why were they doing this? Why with the food, why with the coat? Did they want him to stay alive or not? Nickel croaked out a weak "why", much to Balloon's amusement. They were silent, as if to think.

"Why?" They let out a bold laugh, "Why? Oh wow! That's a good one." They leaned into Nickel, "You really think I'm gonna let you die? This easily? Nickel, tell me why I'd do that when I can have fun hurting you like you did to me. I'm gonna force you to go through all the pain you caused me. I'll make sure that you're still alive until I feel like I've had enough. And that won't be until a long..." They grasped his chain, yanking it, "..long time." Nickel felt his throat close up, his eyes burning before tears rolled out, and he cried. He cried like a child. A sad, pathetic, child. Balloon stood up, letting go of the chain and dusted off their hand. "Don't do that. Don't cry in front of me, you'll waste your time." Balloon turned away, "You should be more grateful."

"You'll never get away with this- Baseball will look for me! He'll- he'll find me.." Nickel choked, voice cracking.

"Oh will he? Tell me Nickel, you think he actually CARES for you?"

"Of course he does! He's..my best friend." His head hung low.

Balloon had known how much of a bond he and Baseball had together, their bond went together like icing on cake. If Balloon really wanted to make Nickel to be driven to insanity, they'd have to take that away. The only way to make things easier; "Awh..your best friend? You'd think they'd start looking for you right now the moment you left last night. But.. he didn't, no one has. Face it Nickel, Baseball will be glad that you're gone." was to break him first. Nickel shook his head in denial, how could he? He would never be glad that his friend was gone, not in a million years, he thought. He couldn't

-

Surprise Did you miss me laaaaaaaaa😛😛 I've taken a long break and honestly I feel A LOT better than I originally did ending HD.

This time I will be taking breaks, I won't be pressuring myself to push out new chapters every like hour lol, and I'll learn to enjoy writing again. Because in all honesty I still love Helium Deflates, as much as I hated how I was treated and how much it weighed me down I feel as if I can handle it a lot better than I did before. Thank you all for your patience. See you soon.