The silence stretched for a couple of minutes as Allan and the strange figure refused to be the first to break it.
Until-
*Knock, Knock*
"Son, are you okay in there?" Allan's father had heard the sudden commotion created by his outburst and decided to check on him.
"Uh, yeah, I'm fine. Sorry I'm having a hard time sleeping," Allan responded in a hurried tone.
"You sure? It sounded like you were arguing with someone," Allan's father asked as he tried to open the door, rattling the handle and making Allan feel very anxious.
"I…I'm fine, Dad; you don't have to come in. I just had a nightmare," Allan replied in a weird tone.
Behind the door, Allan's dad narrowed his eyes. Not convinced by his son's explanation, he knew there was something else happening other than his son having a nightmare. After all, he had been young once too; how could he forget the dangerous excitement of sneaking girls into his room late at night… or was it guys? His son wasn't really the type to talk about his preferences, and since he had never introduced anyone to the family, no one really knew. Either way, it didn't matter to him; this was his son, nothing would change in his perspective of him, as he would support and love him the same way as always.
"Uh-hu…well, that's fine, just make sure to be careful and use protection. Oh, and make sure that whoever is with you leaves before sunrise," he said with an amused tone, and a small smirk forming in his mouth. "I'll leave the backdoor unlocked…do not let your mother or sister find out, alright?"
Allan was confused and mortified at the same time by his father's conclusion. Never in a million years would he have thought he'd find himself in this scenario. His dad really thought he had been spending the night with someone in his room?!
Other than a creepy figure claiming to be protecting him, of course.
"What?!...no, that's not what happened!" Allan hurried to correct his father before his mind spiraled in a weird direction.
Even the figure, somehow, managed to look offended at the notion of being confused as Allan's late-night companion. Which, technically…he was, just not the sort of company his father was thinking of.
As Allan approached the door to clarify his father's misunderstanding, a sharp pain started invading his ears. The ringing he had felt in his dream returned. His ears felt as if they were about to rupture, and a sudden feeling of dread filled his body.
He was shaking; he felt as if he was losing control of his own body. His heart started beating faster and louder, almost overshadowing the ringing.
The figure immediately moved as it realized what was happening, appearing beside Allan, who had already fallen to his knees in shock. Placing its hand on Allan's shoulder, it immediately alleviated his condition. As Allan started raising his head, his only worry was his father's condition. After all, Allan had already, somewhat, gotten used to the feeling, but not his father.
'Dad!'
Allan immediately sprinted towards his room's door while mentally preparing himself for the worst. To his relief, after opening the door, he found the outside of his room empty, as his father had already left after reminding him to be discreet with his…late-night company.
Allan felt as if minutes had passed after the ringing assaulted his ears, but in reality, it hadn't even been more than a couple of seconds.
As Allan turned back to his room, he saw the figure staring out the window, visibly tense and ready. It looked like it was prepared to act at a moment's notice if whatever it was staring at decided to make a move.
Allan did not know what to feel. Should he be scared? terrified? surprised? After all, this was the first time something like this had ever happened. He knew this feeling very well; it was the same as when the beings trying to consume his inheritance invaded his dreams. He had never felt this outside of them.
"Kid…go back to sleep; I'll explain everything tomorrow," the figure said as it kept staring in the same direction, not breaking "eye" contact with whatever was looking back at it.
"You don't have to worry about anything tonight; I'll take care of it. For now, just go back to bed and rest," the figure stated.
Allan could swear he heard a tone of anger in its voice. It was as if the figure was furious all of a sudden. Not towards Allan, but towards what had dared so openly announce itself to him, despite the obviously powerful being standing next to him.
Allan had many questions, but ultimately decided to follow its instructions and walked to the bed.
He knew the figure would protect him. After all, the figure could be many things, but it had never once broken its word about protecting Allan from the things that tried to consume him this past month. It was actually very reliable in that regard.
As Allan started wrapping himself with his blanket, the figure suddenly disappeared. Allan couldn't tell if the figure dissolved back into the shadows, or if it moved faster than his eyes could register.
In the end, he decided not to worry about it too much, as he left it all in the figure's capable hands.