You can have my isolation

The moment he had heard movement outside the door, Tic was wide awake. He had nearly fallen asleep before; tired by the same thoughts running through his head, yearning for an escape. His breathing was held back in deep breaths, his eyes wide and alert. There was something outside the door, shifting, and he feared it would come inside.

But the room remained unentered, untouched. Tic's breathing relaxed slightly, sure that maybe that wasn't Larkin standing there. But the ruler would be, soon, and the thought drained Tic of all feeling. He really did want for Larkin to know the truth, but didn't want to risk denial or punishment. If he just acted passively, maybe things would go alright.

He stared hard across the room, to the high windows along the wall, with his back away from the entrance. He watched the veil of blue light resting on the floor, through a vision shrouded by the white of the pillow. The Moons were bright tonight, and he wondered if he should pray. No, he thought, they didn't care for him anyway.

But sooner than he had hoped, a new movement had pierced his silence. This one was certain; the dull scraping of the knob was turned, and the presence of something powerful walked inside. Tic's hand clenched hard onto the pillow's end, eyes shutting tightly. He could feel the man approaching behind him, the silent footsteps patting the floor. He suppressed the trepidation that had taken his body, breathing in stifled breaths. He was rigid, teeth gritting behind his lips -- as though preparing himself to be struck.