Chapter 6 - A Bitter Pill To Swallow
Ten Years Ago...
At the house in the woods, leaves crunch underfoot as Yuki step out into the clearing.
Young Yuki: See? It's right where we said.
Young Dan: Holy crud...
Dan had a red sweater with a short classic cut hair now.
Young Andy: You guys were for real?
Andy looks shock as she has long pig tails with overalls and a black t-shirt.
Young Jane: Told you so!
She huffed.
Ava grinned in her leather vest and her black tank top. Having two curly pig tails with her natural dark hair.
Young Ava: Aw, man! Is this where the monster grabbed you?!
Jane shrugs.
Young Jane: Yeah, it was right in the door there.
Ava beamed.
Young Ava: Cooool.....
Noah had short middle parted hair with a striped green sweater and a white t-shirt underneath.
Young Noah: It's not cool!, Jane, I can't believe you came here and didn't tell me! You could have gotten hurt!
Noah frowned. Though, Jane smiles.
Young Jane: It's okay. Yuki was here to protect me.
Noah frowns.
Young Noah: Y-yeah, I know, but-
Lucas asked.
Young Lucas: So what exactly happened again?
Lucas has nicely come to the side hair, a black suit jacket with red and black stripe vest underneath and a t-shirt under that.
Young Yuki: Jane and I got close to the door, and then Redfield tried to suck us in, like a big vacuum.
Stacy would say shocked.
Young Stacy: Wait, Redfield? How do you know its name?
Young Stacy has pass the shoulder brown hair, black t-shirt with flowers and a white knitted vest over it.
Young Yuki: I asked and he scratched it out on the floor.
Jane says angrily.
Young Jane: And then he stole my necklace!
Ava smirks.
Young Ava: Aaaah, that's so creeepy! I love it!
Lily calls from nearby, poking something with her foot.
Young Lily: Aww, there's a dead bird over here! This place is weird! I want to leave!
Young Lily has wavey dark hair, with a magenta hair band, magenta jacket and striped blue shirt underneath.
Andy glares.
Young Andy: No way! Let's go in there and kick that thing's butt!
Yuki isn't sure as he suggest differently.
Young Yuki: I think we should...stay out here.
Stacy agrees.
Young Stacy: Yuki's right.
Ava frowns at this.
Young Ava: But what if we got someone older to come and record it on their new phone? We could send it to those ghost hunter guys on TV!
Stacy glares at her.
Young Stacy: No way! I am not going in a creepy hole to get eaten, especially with my parents!
Lily frowns now.
Young Lily: Well, I'm not going if Stacy doesn't.
Ava glares at them both now.
Young Ava: You guys never want to do anything cool!
A high-pitched cry suddenly pierces the air!
TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Jane says surprised now.
Young Jane: That's my whistle! Mr. Red, he's- he's makin fun of us!
The whistle toots cheerfully from inside the house, as if daring you to come after it.
Noah says angrily now.
Young Noah: Well, that settles it. Now we're definitely not going in.
Jane blinks a lot.
Young Jane: What? Why?
Noah says annoyed at her.
Young Noah: Uh cause it's obviously a trap!
Stacy agrees nodding.
Young Stacy: Exactly!
Ava frowns now at this.
Young Ava: Dang it... you guys are right...
Young Yuki sighs.
Young Yuki: Sorry, Jane.
Jane balls up her fists her face reddening as the mocking whistle continues. She stamps her foot. Screaming at the house now.
Young Jane: Screw you, Mr. Red!
But as they all turn to go, the whistling suddenly dies down... and they all hear another sound from inside...Almost a creepy whisper...
Voice: ...wait...
They all glance back, something tiny flies out from inside the house, bounces off Jane's chest and lands in her hands. Jane blinks realizing it's her whistle now.
Young Jane: M-my whistle?
Voice: ....give back...stay....sorry....
Dan says alarmed now.
Young Dan: Dude!
Lucas gasps now.
Young Lucas: What kind of monster apologizes?
Andy stares and ask.
Young Andy: Sh-should we... talk to it?
Everyone exchanges hesitant glances. Yuki summons the courage and step forward.
Young Yuki: M-Mister Red? Why did you grab Jane and me?
Redfield's Voice: ...sorry....lonely....
Dan frowns now.
Young Dan: Aww. He sounds sad.
Stacy just glares at this.
Young Stacy: Oh yeah, that's not weird. You guys are so gullible! I can't believe you just-
But before Stacy can finish, a gust of golden leaves blows through the clearing! Lily's eyes widen alarmed.
Young Lily: G-guys, look!
Lily points at a bundle of slender vines, which are moving on their own! They snake across the clearing, seizing hold of the dead bird. The bird's body shudders as hair-thin roots permeate the dead flesh like veins. It flops onto its side, tiny feet clawing at the air. Andy says stun now.
Young Andy: No frickin way!
Chirping, the bird jerkily gets to its feet. It looks up at Yuki, bright amber flames burning where its eyes should be. Lucas smiles impressed.
Young Lucas: ...Wow...
Ava would say excited now.
Young Ava: Did you guys SEE that?!
Yuki blinks surprised now.
Young Yuki: Mr. Red brought the bird back to life...
Lily frowns at this.
Young Lily: Is it alive? It looks sick or something. I don't think I like this...
Dan says smiling at this.
Young Dan: Are you kidding? This is amazing!
Stacy blinks at this.
Young Stacy: I still don't know...
Dan looks to Yuki and Jane now.
Young Dan: Well, Yuki and Jane are the ones who got grabbed.
Lucas nodded.
Young Lucas: Yeah, true. What do you guys think?
Jane blinks and thinks.
Young Jane: Um... hm...
Jane is unsure looking to Yuki now. Which he stares at her then looks at the others.
Young Yuki: I think we should... Be really careful. Mr. Red might seem cool. But it could also be a trick. We don't know anything about him.
Stacy smiles as she agrees.
Young Stacy: Yeah!
Ava frowns at this.
Young Ava: But I want to be friends with him!
Yuki shrugs and says after.
Young Yuki: Let's make a deal. We'll all come back here tomorrow. But we'll be careful and stick together.
Andy smiles as she nods.
Young Andy: That's a good rule. We only play with Mr. Red if everyone's okay with it.
Lucas smiles as he nods.
Young Lucas: That way we can watch out for each other.
Stacy grins now as she says after.
Young Stacy: That sounds good to me. Everyone agree? Nobody visits Mr. Red alone?
Yuki gives a soft smile now which puts the famous quote of this story.
Young Yuki: Yeah.
Everyone plays together.Lily smiles big.
Young Lily: Agreed!
Ava beams now as she says after.
Young Ava: Sweet. Let's pound it.
As the group puts their fists together in a circle, Yuki and Jane lock eyes. She smiles, clutching her whistle tightly. Dan would announce after.
Young Dan: Sweet. Back to my house for lunch? Mom's making mac and cheese!
Ava says in a pleasant surprise.
Young Ava: Oh man, we gotta go! Mrs. Pierce makes it with hot dog pieces!
As the group turns to head home, Jane calls out over her shoulder.
Young Jane: Bye, Mr. Red! We'll come back and play with you again tomorrow!
The once-dead bird screeches a farewell, its amber eyes burning bright in the shadow of the tree.
Back in the present.
Lucas sits in the principal's office. At the end of a long school day, Principal Flores calls Lucas into her office.
Lucas frowns.
Lucas 3: You wanted to see me?
Principal Flores frowns back.
Principal Flores: Lucas, come on in.
Nervously, Lucas takes a seat at a lonely chair in the middle of the room.
Principal Flores: I thought you ought to be the first to hear the news about Mr. Cooper... Considering you were there for the attack.
Lucas heart jumps at the memory of the snake... then sinks with dread.
Lucas 3: Don't tell me he's...
Principal Flores: Mr. Cooper is stable. The EMTs were able to administer an anti-venom... thanks to your quick actions.
Lucas blinks a little.
Lucas 3: Uh, it was nothing. Really.
The principal smiled at him.
Principal Flores: It was certainly not nothing. The hospital said another ten minutes, and Mr. Cooper could have died. He's lucky you were there.
Lucas frowns a little.
Lucas 3: Yeah...lucky...
Principal Flores: Now, there is still the question of how a rattlesnake got into Mr. Cooper's desk in the first place...
Lucas's eyes widen.
Lucas 3: Um, d-do you have any theories?
Principal Flores frowns.
Principal Flores: Well, to be honest, I was hoping you could help with that. Have you heard anything? Chatter in the hall? An odd text message?
Lucas blinks.
Lucas 3: Me? Wait, I don't understand. Am I not a suspect?
The principal blinks shocked at this.
Principal Flores: What? No, of course not! I mean, if you were any other student, sure. But we all know you're not capable of something like this! Besides, with all your extracurriculars, I bet you barely have enough free time to catch a movie, let alone a rattlesnake.
Lucas smiles a bit.
Lucas 3: Hah... Uh, yeah. Good point...
Principal Flores: So, any ideas?
Lucas thinks about that, but can't really be sure about this.
Lucas 3: I think...I have no clue.
The principal would sigh now.
Principal Flores: I was afraid you'd say that. Damn. I mean, darn. Actually, no, I do mean damn. It's bad enough we've got bears and wild dogs. Now we have snakes, too?
Lucas says after.
Lucas 3: Um, if I hear anything, I'll let you know.
The Principal nods and turns toward her computer.
Principal Flores: Thank you, Lucas. That'll be all.
Lucas would rise to leave and as his hand is on the doorknob. The principal would say something to rattle him.
Principal Flores: Oh, by the way... I got an email from Mr. Cooper about setting up a meeting with your parents, but he didn't say why. Any idea what that's about?
Lucas's eyes widen as he slowly turns back around to look at her. Shocked he would make up something he can come up with.
Lucas 3: Oh, uh, Mr. Cooper wanted to talk to m parents about some scholarship. I, uh, I forget the name. But that's what we were talking about. Yesterday morning. Before the... uh, before what happened.
The principal stares at him oddly for a moment.
Principal Flores: Hm.
Lucas could feel some sweat forming on his forehead. Till the principal smiles and says after.
Principal Flores: Well, that sounds promising. We'll have to ask him about it after he wakes up.
Lucas's eyes widen at the news now.
Lucas 3: Wait, wakes up? What do you mean?
Principal Flores blinks stun for a moment.
Principal Flores: Oh gosh, did I leave that part out? Mr. Cooper is still unresponsive, I'm afraid. But the doctors say...
The rest of what the principal said disappears beneath the roar of blood pounding through Lucas's ears. His nerves drop a bit...
Later...Outside the school by the parking area. Yuki would go after class to meet up with his friends and discover an unwelcome addition to the group.
Britney glares.
Britney: What the hell took you so long, Yuki?
Yuki snaps right back at her in general to all of them.
Yuki 4: What's she doing here?
Lucas 3: Good question.
Ava 3: She didn't suffer a major concussion and wander here in a semi-conscious fugue. I already asked.
Britney rolls her eyes.
Britney: What I'm doing here is leaving, don't worry. I just came by to...
Britney pauses, and Stacy nudges her with her foot. Britney scowls, continuing through clenched teeth.
Britney: ...to invite you to my party at my house this Saturday.
Noah blinks.
Noah 3: Wow. Did not expect that.
Andy raises a eye brow.
Andy 3: You sure about that concussion?
Yuki just stares at her shocked.
Yuki 4: You're inviting us to your party? Sounds... Suspicious... Why the hell would you want us at your party? Sounds like the setup for a prank or something.
Britney grins at him.
Britney: Great! Then don't come.
Stacy completely cuts that off as she smiles.
Stacy 3: Come on, guys! Britney told me she's trying to turn over a new leaf and stop being such a jerk to people. Right, Brit?
Britney says angrily.
Britney: Yeah. Totally.
Ava 3: Well, this is more weird to add to the weird pile. Are we sure this isn't Mr. Re-
Andy nudges Ava hard in the ribs, jerking his head at Britney. Ava crosses her arms, glaring at him.
Ava 3: Okay, but we're gonna have a talk about all this later.
Noah blinks and says after.
Noah 3: Yeah! We'll talk about that, uh, school project. For that class we have. That Britney isn't in.
Britney glares at them.
Britney: Okay, whatever you're talking about? Yeah, I super don't care.
Lily smiles at Britney.
Lily 3: We're... really all invited to your party?
Britney looks at Lily, her expression softening a little.
Britney: Yeah, really. Does that mean you're coming?
Lily nods as she says after.
Lily 3: O-of course! I would love to!
Britney grins now.
Britney: Great! Make sure you save me a dance.
With a final glare at Stacy, Britney stalks away toward the bus stop. Yuki pulls Stacy aside, lowering his voice so the others can't hear.
Yuki 4: Okay, what the hell just happened? Either I got transported into opposite land, or-
Stacy beams a smile.
Stacy 3: I got her phone, Yuki! The video's gone!
Yuki blinks stun.
Yuki 4: What?! Stacy... That's amazing! You're finally free!
Stacy nodded.
Stacy 3: Right?! I can barely believe it!
Yuki asks wondering.
Yuki 4: How the hell did you get her phone?
Stacy frowns a bit.
Stacy 3: That's... uh, kinda the complicated part...
Ava 3: Not to break up this fun whispering thing you've got going on, but visiting hours are over in, like, ninety minutes.
Noah 3: Yeah, we gonna go see Dan or what?
Yuki blinks and says after.
Yuki 4: Sorry! We're coming.
Stacy 3: I can fit five in my car... Lucas, can you drive someone?
Lucas starts at the sound of his name and looks around.
Lucas 3: Huh? Oh, yeah, sure.
Stacy unlocks her car, letting Ava, Andy, Lily and Noah pile inside.
Andy 3: Yo, Ava, lemme trade you for the front. These shoulders don't like the backseat.
Ava 3: Fight me, Kang.
Yuki looks over to Lucas now.
Yuki 4: Guess that means it's you and me, Lucas.
Lucas says a bit spaced out.
Lucas 3: Hm? Oh, okay.
Yuki gets into Lucas's car, and he follows Stacy out of the parking lot...
While on the road... The inside of Lucas's car is silent as Lucas stares through the windshield, hardly seeming to notice Yuki there.
Yuki 4: Hey... Are you alright?
Lucas 3: I'm fine.
Yuki frowns a little.
Yuki 4: Are you sure? Because... You really don't seem fine. I know you were already having a hard time before all this Mr. Red stuff came back. I can't imagine how stressed you must be now.
Lucas sighs.
Lucas 3: It's definitely not the best way to start the school year, but... I'm handling it. Really.
Yuki 4: You know you can talk to me, right? I'm a part of this too. I know what you're going through right now.
A bitter laugh escaped Lucas, and he shakes his head as if trying to clear it.
Lucas 3: Sorry. Just... I don't think you can help with this. I screwed up, Yuki. I screwed up badly, and I... I'm scared of what you'd think of me if you knew what I've done.
Yuki blinks a little.
Yuki 4: Lucas...
Lucas's hands shake on the steering wheel. He sniffs, reaching up to quickly wipe at his eyes.
Lucas 3: Sorry, would you hand me a tissue?
Yuki blinks and nods as he goes for the glove compartment.
Yuki 4: Yeah, of course! Are they in here, or...?
Yuki open the glove compartment.
Lucas's eyes widen and screams now.
Lucas 3: Wait, no!
Lucas lunges over to stop Yuki, yanking the steering wheel in the process! The car swerves toward the right lane! Yuki's nerves drops a little.
Yuki 4: Lucas!
Yuki quickly grabs a hold of the steering wheel and jerk it to the left again, just managing to stay inside the left lane. Calming Yuki's nerves a little.
Yuki 4: Phew! What the hell, Lucas!? I was just looking in the...
Yuki pause, his gaze drifting down to the now open glove compartment. Inside, he sees several small plastic bottles with white caps. Lucas whispers to Yuki.
Lucas 3: Don't...
Lucas looses some nerves. Yuki picks one up turning it to the read the label. Yuki's eyes widen.
Yuki 4: Lucas, are these... focus pills?
Lucas frowns a bit.
Lucas 3: Yes...but-
Yuki looks at him upset now.
Yuki 4: The label has your mom's name... why'd she prescribe so many? There are, like, five bottles in here!
Lucas 3: She... she didn't. Last month I... I stole a page from her prescription pad.
Yuki snap at him now.
Yuki 4: You what?! What the hell possessed you to do that?
Lucas stares at him and back on the rode a lot.
Lucas 3: I... I just...Yuki, my mom came to the U.S. when she was nineteen, and she had nothing. She worked three jobs to put herself through college. She got a full ride to Harvard Medical. That's where she met my dad, who already had three patents under his belt. Now? He was twenty.
Yuki stares at him and asks.
Yuki 4: So your parents are geniuses.... What's that got to do with anything? I assume there's an excuse coming up?
Lucas 3: I...I know nothing can excuse what I did. I just want you to understand... Everything I do is measured against them. At your age, I'd won an international prize for science. At your age, I'd started my own company. I'm already so far behind them, and... and they can't hide how disappointed they are. I can see it every time they look at me.
Yuki sighs and says after.
Yuki 4: So... you decided that this was the solution?
Lucas shrugs.
Lucas 3: I couldn't think of anything else to do. I was already overloaded on classes, I wasn't sleeping...I was at my limit, and I could feel myself slipping. I had to get some... help. The first week... It was amazing! I had so much energy, and I never got distracted. I finished two college apps in one night! But it didn't last. Suddenly, I was paranoid all the time, and I couldn't sleep, even when I tried. Then, Mr. Cooper got suspicious...
Yuki exclaimed now.
Yuki 4: So that's what you guys were arguing about! But wait, that means... Oh God, Lucas, the snake...
Lucas 3: It's the only explanation that makes sense. Mr. Red put that snake in Mr. Cooper's desk to protect me. It's my fault he's in th ehospital, and it'll be my fault if he dies.
Yuki frowns now.
Yuki 4: So what are you gonna do now?
Lucas 3: I'm going to get rid of the pills, and I'm going to do whatever I can to stop Mr. Red from hurting anyone else. After that... I don't know. I'm so sorry, Yuki. I know I have no right to ask anything of you, but... but please, don't tell anyone what I did. Please give me time to fix this.
Yuki sighs out now.
Yuki 4: Lucas...I understand why you did it. Your parents hold you up to an impossible standard. Of course you cracked under the pressure!
Lucas 3: That doesn't excuse what I did.
Yuki agrees as he says to him.
Yuki 4: No, it doesn't... but you deserve a chance to make things right.
Lucas blinks a bit.
Lucas 3: Does that mean...
Yuki 4: I'll keep your secret. At least for now.
Lucas nods.
Lucas 3: Thank you, Yuki. I swear, I'm going to do everything I can to fix this.
Lucas pulls off the highway and turns into town...
Lucas finds a parking space off Main Street. Yuki gets out, spotting Stacy's car partway down the block.
Yuki 4: Looks like the others beat us here. You ready to head in?
Lucas held a hand up.
Lucas 3: Hang on.
Looking back in the car, Yuki sees Lucas loading the pill bottles into an old fast food bag.
Lucas 3: There's something I have to do first...
The two went into a narrow alley across the street from the hospital, Lucas stuffs the bag of pill bottles into a large trash can.
Lucas 3: There. I'm done taking shortcuts.
Yuki smiles a bit.
Yuki 4: This is good, Lucas... I'm proud of you.
Lucas smiles at him.
Lucas 3: Thanks, Yuki.
Yuki stands beside Lucas, not sure what else to say... until someone clears their throat at the end of the alley.
Ava 3: Sooooooo... you guys know Dan's not in that garbage can, right?
Yuki nearly jumps as he looks at her.
Yuki 4: Jeez, Ava! What are you doing out here?
Ava 3: Waiting for you guys, so I can lead you to the weird back room they've got Dan in. What are you doing in this creepy-
Suddenly, everyone is interrupted by a sudden noise from inside one of the garbage cans. A muffled, insistent scratching...
Lucas blinks.
Lucas 3: What on earth...
Yuki stares now.
Yuki 4: It's... It's probably just a raccoon or something, right?
Ava shrugs.
Ava 3: We thinking regular raccoon, or supernaturally-controlled attack raccoon?
Yuki glares at her.
Yuki 4: Not. Helping.
Lucas frowns a bit.
Lucas 3: Should we... check?
The three exchange looks for a moment.
Yuki 4: One of us should...
Ava 3: Probs, unless you want some poor, unsuspecting waiter to get a faceful of evil raccoon when he's taking out the garbage.
Yuki glares and says after.
Yuki 4: I've got this.
Steeling himself, Yuki stride up to the trash can and fling back the lid. Looking over he would say alarmed.
Yuki 4: Oh my god...
Lucas 3: What? What is it?!
Wordlessly, Yuki beckon his friends over. They edge up to look, and there, nestled among the crumpled newspapers and takeout containers is...
Black Kitten: Prrow?
It's a black kitten with bright gold eyes. Yuki blinks surprised.
Yuki 4: Oh...
Lucas feels the same as Yuki.
Lucas 3: My...
Ava says shocked.
Ava 3: KITTY.
The kitten flattens her ears and back away, baring tiny fangs.
Black Kitten: HIISSSSSSSS!
Yuki 4: Whoa! It's okay, kitty, we won't hurt you, promise.
Yuki reach out, holding his hand very still as the kitten creeps forward to sniff his fingers.
Black Kitten: Mrr...
Watching you suspiciously, the kitten puts one paw on Yuki's hand... then the other. When nothing terrible happens, she climbs into Yuki's palm.
Yuki smiles now holding the kitten.
Yuki 4: See? You're okay.
Black Kitten: prrrrrrr....
The kitten's purr rumbles softly against his hand as he gently lift her out of the garbage can. Ava would say happily.
Ava 3: Kittyyyyyyy!
Lucas smiles.
Lucas 3: I think we broke Ava.
Ava smiles as she says after.
Ava 3: Did you guys know that cats can sense evil spirits? Also, lookit her little paws!
Yuki frowns now.
Yuki 3: She's so skinny...I think she's a stray.
Ava frowns as well.
Ava 3: Okay, as much as a black cat is super on-brand for me, my dad is crazy allergic.
Lucas sighs as he says after.
Lucas 3: Ugh, our terrier hates cats... maybe the vet's office down the block can find a home for her?
Ava says after.
Ava 3: No way, Yuki is going to take this cat home and also let me come over and play with said kitten every day. Possibly twice a day. Right, Yuki?
Yuki smiles big and says after petting the kitten.
Yuki 4: Looks like I have a cat now.
Black Kitten purrs happily and chortles a bit. Yuki hold the kitten up to his face and she headbutts his chin softly.
Lucas 3: Alright, that's pretty adorable. What are you going to name her?
Ava throws out all sorts of names!
Ava 3: Cattywampus! Grimalkin! Oooooh, what about Jiji?
Yuki thinks on it and says after.
Yuki: I'll name her...Jiji.
Jiji: Mew!
Yuki's nerves went up a little more.
Yuki 4: You might be the cutest, tiniest thing I've ever seen in my life. I'm gonna spoil you rotten! C'mon Jiji, we're gonna go visit our friend Dan.
Lucas blinks a bit at that.
Lucas 3: Uh, I don't think you can bring a cat into the hospital.
Unzipping Yuki's school bag, he gently place Jiji on top of his textbooks, then close the zipper partway.
Yuki 4: Cat? What cat?
Ava smirks.
Ava 3: I don't see any cat. Are you feeling okay, Lucas?
Lucas says simply.
Lucas 3: Fine, but when security comes to throw us out, I don't know any of you people.
Giggling, Yuki head across the street toward Westchester General...
In the hospital....
Everyone goes into Dan's room who's on his bed out in a coma still.
Ava leads Yuki to a small room at the back of the hospital. All the others are there, clustered around the bed where Dan lies still and quiet.
Yuki frowns looking down at him.
Yuki 3: Oh, Dan...
Andy stands up, and Yuki sits down in his empty chair. Beside Yuki the heart rate monitor beeps out a soft, regular rhythm.
Ava sighs.
Ava 3: Jeez... He looks so... it's like something drained the life out of him.
Yuki 4: Can he... I mean, does he know we're here?
Andy 3: Dunno. Nurse was here a minute ago. He said Dan's in a vegetative state.
Lucas 3: Is it... do they know what caused it?
Lily 3: They have no idea. He just... he just won't wake up.
Stacy sniffles, hugging herself and looking up at the ceiling to try and hold the tears back.
Stacy 3: Guys... what if he never wakes up?
Lucas moves to stand by Stacy, putting an arm around her shoulders. Lily squeezes Stacy's hand.
Lily 3: Th-the nurse also said we should talk to him, though. He said that Dan might be able to hear us.
Noah stares.
Noah 3: It's probably crap. They always say that to make you feel better.
Ava 3: Does it work?
Noah frowns.
Noah 3: ...Yeah, kinda.
Yuki reach out, squeezing Dan's hand in his own. For a moment, Yuki feels a slight pressure as Dan squeezes back. A barely audible whisper escaped his lips.
Dan 2: Yuki...
Yuki blinks and smiles a bit.
Yuki 4: He does know we're here. Dan if you can hear me... We're going to make this right. I swear, we'll make Redfield pay for what he did to you, and we'll keep him from hurting anyone else. We'll find a way to bring you back, Dan. And this time, we're all going to be there for each other.
The tiniest hint of a smile curves the corner of Dan's lips, and he seems to relax ever so slightly. Andy calls out after.
Andy 3: Uh... Yuki? Your backpack is angry.
Looking down, Yuki sees a tiny black paw sticking out of the top of his bag, swiping blindly at Andy's leg. Yuki smiles and says after.
Yuki 4: Sorry! We had to sneak her past the front desk. Everyone... meet Jiji.
Yuki unzip his bag and Jiji immediately springs out, clawing her way up to the side of Dan's bed!
Jiji: Hissss!
Noah blinks a bit.
Noah 3: Whoa! Is that your cat, Yuki? It seems kinda... feral.
Ava smirks.
Ava 3: Naw, Jiji talks tough, but inside she's a lil love muffin.
Andy smirks at that.
Andy 3: Kinda like you?
Ava glares at Andy and hisses at him. Jiji scampers up the bed. She raises a paw, batting softly at Dan's earlobe.
Jiji: Mrrow?
When Dan doesn't respond, Jiji nestles against the side of his neck, curling into a tiny black ball. Purring softly against him now.
Dan's nerves went up now....
Dan is now coping...
Yuki says after.
Yuki 4: Has anyone else been here to see him?
Noah 3: We ran into Dan's mom on the way in, but she was on the phone with someone named Dr. Chambal.
Lucas 3: Another doctor? Are they bringing in some kind of specialist or something?
Lily frowns.
Lily 3: Actually, based on what they were saying, I think she may have been Dan's therapist.
Yuki's eyes widen.
Yuki 4: Dan was seeing a therapist? Do you think she knows something about all this?
Stacy frowns at this.
Stacy 3: Who knows? He never told me about any of this. He wasn't one for talking about feelings.
Andy frowns as well now.
Andy 3: Dan, buddy... I wish you could tell us what happened.
Dan 3: Nnnn....
Dan's head turns, just a few degrees to the right. Yuki follow the motion... and see Dan's clothes folded neatly on the bedside table.
Yuki 4: Wait a second...
Yuki feel in the pocket of Dan's jeans and pull out his cell phone now.
Yuki 4: He didn't tell us what was going on...
Andy blinks now.
Andy 3: ... But maybe he told someone else.
Yuki nodded.
Yuki 4: He did send all of us those weird texts the night he disappeared... His other texts could tell us more.
Stacy blinks.
Stacy 3: Dan... You really want us to go through your phone?
After several seconds, Dan's head moves again. The ghost of a nod.
Lucas 3: What do you think, Yuki?
Yuki sits next to Dan and looks back at his phone as he nods and opens it.
Yuki 4: We should... Find out what happened. Let's do it. It seems like Dan wants us to know, and this is the only way he can tell us.
Stacy would scoot next to Yuki so they can share this a loud with the others.
Yuki 4: Okay, so when did all this stuff start? Stacy, you said before that Dan was having breakdowns at football games, right? When was that?
Stacy 3: Sometime around last September, I think.
Stacy reads over Yuki's shoulder as he scroll backwards through Dan's life, rewinding across days...weeks...months...
DAN'S PHONE
Saturday, September 17 11:09am
Stacy3: Hey dan, its stacy...r u doing alright?
Dan3: yeah, what do you mean?
stacy3: i saw u after the game last night...
Dan3: ?
Stacy3: crying? under the bleachers?
Dan3: lol what? must've been somebody else
Stacy3: im pretty sure it was you
Dan3: well I'm pretty sure it wasn't lol
Stacy3: then they looked a lot like you. and had your same jersey#. and afterwards im pretty sure they stole ur car
Dan3: I'm fine.
Stacy3: ok just... i hope u know u can talk to me about anything
Sunday, September 18 1:42pm
Mom: Everything okay, kiddo?
Dan3: yeah why
Mom: My mom senses are tingling. Also I found Picard meowing outside your door this morning, and you only kick him out when you're upset.
Dan3: I'm okay...just school stress and stuff. I didn't sleep super great last night.
Mom: Are you having nightmares again?
Dan3: no, and no offense, but can we please not do the talk again
Mom: The Talk?
Dan3: the one where I tell you a bunch of stuff that makes you look at me like a sick puppy and u try to convince me to see a shrink and I say no and we argue
Mom: Ouch.
Dan3: sorry...im just tired
Mom: Look, I know you don't want to talk to a therapist [because you're stubborn and you are your father's son] But I worry about you. and I want you to be okay.
Dan3: I know
Mom: What do you think about something like this? New App Places Therapy at your Fingert...Read the whole story at weblink below.
Dan3: what is this? texting with a therapist? seems kinda cheesy...
Mom: Just think about it.
Thursday, September 29 2:19am
Emily: Hi there
Do you prefer Daniel, or Dan?
Dan3: dan is fine
Emily: Well Dan, my name is Dr. Emily Chambal and I'll be your Lighthouse counselor. How are you feeling?
Dan3: what like now or in general?
Emily: Let's start with now.
Dan3: idk...hungry?
Emily: Same. I'm eating nachos!
Dan3: aw man. Now I want nachos.
Emily: Yes, so does my German Shpherd.
Dan3: lol
Emily: So how have you been feeling lately?
Dan3: idk...hard to describe. kind of alone i guess?
Emily: Alone like sad?
Dan3: no. more like...scared
Back at the hospital..
Yuki frowns at this.
Yuki 4: What did Dan have to be afraid of? This was long before all the creepy stuff started happening...right?
Stacy frowns more.
Stacy 3: Hm... Skip ahead to November, just after Thanksgiving break. Dan was out of school for a couple days in a row and... I don't know. Something about it felt weird to me.
Yuki nods and looks back at the phone.
Yuki 4: Okay, let's see...
DAN'S PHONE TEXT
Wednesday, November 30 9:14am
Mom: Dan, I'm trying to be respectful and give you your space but it's been three days. I'm getting worried. And the school is calling. And you have half our cups and bowls in there. Please open the door.
Dan3: tomorrow
Wednesday, November 30 3:17pm
Emily: Is this the first time you've had an episode like this?
Dan3: never this long idk what's wrong with me. im just lying here shaking.
Emily: Did something happen that might have set this off?
Dan3: sort of. we went to my uncle's cabin for thxgiving and i started having nightmares
Emily: Were they about what happened? The incident when you were a kid?
Dan3: yeah
Emily: Are you ready to talk about that yet?
Dan3: no
Emily: That's fine, no rush. You don't have to answer this, but I have one other question. Would you describe this incident as negative? Or violent?
Dan3: yes...understatement of the century
Emily: And would you say, before this episode, that it's been a while since you last thought about it?
Dan3: sort of... I think about it a lot. but I try not to it got better for a few years...i just pretended it happened to someone else'
Emily: But visiting your uncle's cabin brought it back for you? And then it all came rushing back to you? Sound about right?
Dan3: yes
Emily: Okay. Well I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?
Dan3: good please
Emily: The good news is, I think you're making progress. And I think we might have an idea of what we're dealing with now. The bad news is, from everything you've told me over the last couple weeks, it sounds like you might be dealing with symptoms of dissociation that manifest with some forms of PTSD
Dan3: what does that mean?
Emily: It means this may get worse before it gets better. But I do believe it will get better. I hope you do too.
Back in the hospital...
Yuki stares sadden by this as he says after.
Yuki 4: Looks like the next big batch is around February...
Stacy sighs.
Stacy 3: Oh, no. Winter formal...
Yuki asks her.
Yuki 4: What happened?
Stacy 3: After the dance, there was a big party at Seth's house. I found Dan freaking out in the bathroom, but then I left for a minute, and he just took off...
DAN'S PHONE TEXT
Friday, Februaray 10 2:18am
Stacy3: Dan? i left to get towels and u disappeared, where r u
Dan3: I'm fine, I walked home
Stacy3: ur clearly NOT fine wtf is going on with u?! talk to me!!
Dan3: just leave me alone
Stacy3: okay.
Friday, February 10 9:14am
Mom: You came home kinda late last night. Everything okay, kiddo?
Dan3: ya im fine
Mom: Are you sure? Do you want to talk about it?
Dan3: NO. for the millionth time: I AM FINE
Saturday, February 11 4:15pm
Dan3: I did something dumb the other night...
Emily: What happened?
Dan3: i went to a party even though i was feeling bad i had a freakout, and i was really crappy to someone who was trying to help me two people actually
Emily: Have you had any more episodes recently?
Dan3: sort of... ive been having nightmares all week also, as I was coming home from the party, i went by the woods...and i thought i saw something. I guess i twas probably just a hallucination but it really freaked me out. p sure i ran most of the way home
Emily: These woods... are they near where your original incident took place?
Dan3 yeah
Emily: Okay, let me ask you this... How do you feel when you see a forest? Or when you think about being inside one?
Dan3: bad
Emily: bad how?
Dan3: like I cant breathe
Emily: Do you think the woods might be a trigger for you? You see a bunch of dark trees and you start thinking about what happened?
Dan3: yeah! Like at my uncle's cabin!
Emily: If that's the case, then I think I have an idea for how we might start to deal with this. Let me run something by you...
Back at the hospital...
Stacy 3: After that... I think my last text with Dan was in June.
DAN'S PHONE TEXT
Monday, June 5 4:15pm
Stacy3: Hi Dan. I was thinking about you today. It's been a few months since we talked and I'm sad with how we left things off. I hope you're doing okay.
Dan3: Hi stacy. I'm good
I mean I wasnt before, but I think im getting better. I can't talk now but...soon?
Stacy3: that'd be great
Dan3: have a good summer vacation!
Stacy3: u too dan
Monday, June 5 6:15 pm
Dan3: New record!
Emily: Woo!
Dan3: this time I went right up to the treeline & stood there for 10 minutes.
Emily: That's great! I'm happy that you're making so much progress.
Dan3: its not enough though. i still have to go inside i have to see the place where it happened. i have to face it.
Emily: Remember not to push yourself too hard, okay? If this starts to stress you out too much, there are always other methods we can try. Just take it one day at a time.
Back in the hospital...
Yuki frowns a bit at this.
Yuki 4: It's mostly little texts after that, all throughout the summer. One step into the woods... a picnic five feet inside...He was working his way up to it. Working his way up to...Last week.
DAN'S TEXT PHONE
Sunday 3:15pm
Mom: You have everything you need?
Dan3: yep
Mom: Toothbrush? Underwear? Blanket?
Dan3: yep yep yep
Mom: Okay. Have fun, stay safe! You want me to come and pick you up from Tony's tomorrow?
Dan3: you don't have to do that. i'll walk
Mom: K. Call if you change your mind?
Dan3: lol, you're acting like this is some huge deal. i've crashed at Tony's house like a million times
Mom: Not for years! I'm just so happy to see that you're doing better. I love you.
Dan3: thanks mom. love u too. see u tomorrow.
5:15pm
Dan3: Hi Dr. Chambal. I'm standing on the edge of the woods for what I hope is going to be the last time. Just wanted to say thank you for all your help.I'm going in there tonight. And this time, I'm going all the way to where it happened. To end this once and for all. I'm going to walk into that house and tell Mr. Red he's not real. And he never was. And he doesn't scare me anymore.
10:15pm
Emily: Hi Dan. Sorry, Sundays are my day off, just saw your messages. I'm glad I've been helpful to you, but I hope you understand that trauma isn't something you can just fix with one grand gesture. Dealing with what happened is going to take a lifetime of work that may not ever stop. But it will get easier. There are also limits to what a mental health professional can do via text, and I do still strongly encourage you to consider traditional therapy as a long term treatment option. Also, I hope that if you're staying safe and taking a buddy. You have a lot of people who care about you, and there are other dangerous things out there besides bad memories. take care, talk soon.
10:47pm
Emily: wait I just re-read your last text. who's Mr. Red? Dan? Who is Mr. Red? Are you there? Dan???
Back at the hospital....
Yuki puts down Dan's phone, his hands shaking a little now.
Yuki 4: Oh, Dan... I'm so sorry. I promise, we're going to find a way to help you, And... And when you wake up, we're going to be here for you. Whatever you need.
Yuki squeezes Dan's hand... And he lets out a long sigh.
Dan 3: Hhhhhh....
Noah says glaring a bit.
Noah 3: We'll help more than that quack doctor. She told Dan it was all in his mind! She's the reason he went to face Mr. Red!
Lily snaps at Noah now.
Lily 3: That's not fair, Noah. Dr. Chambal didn't tell him to do that. She did the best she could with the information Dan gave her.
Lucas frowns a little.
Lucas 3: And it did seem like she was helping him. It seemed like he was getting better at dealing with everything, until...
Ava 3: ...Until Mr. Red ruined everything. Again.
Yuki nodded sadly.
Yuki 4: Everything that's happened... it seems like it all started when Dan went inside the ruins.
Stacy 3: That makes sense... I mean, that's how it all started ten years ago, right?
Yuki 4: First one of us goes in, and it wakes him up. Then more of us show up, and his power grows.
Noah blinks a bit.
Noah 3: So, what... Mr. Red used Dan as bait to lure us into the woods? To increase his power?
Yuki shrugs a little.
Yuki 4: That dirt monster did say I was supposed to bring everyone.
Lily 3: So we don't give him what he wants. We all just stay out of the woods, and that way things don't get any worse!
Lucas and Yuki exchanges a worried glance at each other.
Lucas 3: I think things are already worse. I think... in his sick way, Mr. Red has been doing us favors. To get on our good side.
Andy blinks a bit now.
Andy 3: Huh? Favors? Like what?
Yuki sighs.
Yuki 4: Like the bear attack, Andy. And the crows that attack Clint and Jocelyn.
Lily frowns lightly.
Lily 3: Those could have been coincidences. When your town is surrounded by the woods, animal attacks just happen sometimes.
Stacy shifts uncomfortably chewing on her lip.
Stacy 3: Not... like this.
Stacy finally tells everyone about Britney's blackmail... and then tells everyone about the tree creature that attacked her.
Stacy 3: And then it just... threw me the bag, and her phone fell right out.
Yuki's eyes widen.
Yuki 4: It gave you Britney's phone?! Mr. Red knew about the blackmail, and he helped you get the video!
Stacy sighs.
Stacy 3: I don't know how, but... yeah. Seems like.
Ava 3: Okay, that explains why Britney invited us to a party, but it doesn't explain why she suddenly decided to stop being a jerk to Lily.
Yuki ponders this.
Yuki 4: Wait, do you think Mr. Red can affect people's minds?
Lily's eyes widen startled.
Lily 3: N-no way! There's no proof that Mr. Red can do anything like that!
Ava 3: Okay, but you've gotta admit there's something wrong there. She's actually totally-
Lily glares now.
Lily 3: She's just acting like she used to! Before she started hanging out with monsters like Jocelyn and Clint!
Lily's voice rises to a shout, and Dan seems to flinch back from the sound, his brow furrowing as if in pain.
Dan 3: Nnnn...don't...
Jiji suddenly jumps up, scampering to the foot of the bed. She turns, fur puffing up as she growls at Dan.
Noah blinks.
Noah 3: Holy...
Lucas's eyes widen.
Lucas 3: Dan?!
Yuki looks over to Dan now.
Yuki 4: Dan... can you hear us? Are you there?
Dan speaks again, his voice barely a whisper. Yuki lean closer, straining to hear...And Dan's hand suddenly clamps around Yuki's wrist hard!
Yuki exclaimed now.
Yuki 4: Dan! What are you-
Dan 3: Don't...fight...
Yuki's eyes widen and he tries to pull away, but Dan's grip becomes painfully tight! The beeping from the heart rate monitor speeds up, the beat fast and irregular.
Yuki 4: Ow! Dan, let go! You're hurting me!
Dan 3: No... helping...help friends...
Andy lunges forward, grabbing hold of Dan's arm!
Andy 3: Hey! Let g--
Dan's free hand twitches, and Andy goes flying backward!
Andy 3: Whoa!
Andy slams right into Ava and Noah, knocking them all to the ground!
Ava 3: Aaahhh!
Noah 3: The hell?!
The lights in the room start to flicker now as Stacy says after.
Stacy 3: Oh my god...
The lights continue to flicker as Dan slowly sits up. When he speaks, his voice is not his own... but a terrible, cold whisper that seems to fill the room.
Dan 3: All... better now... everyone... together...
Yuki 4: No...
The lights in the room go black now. Yuki struggles horribly to try and get loose from Dan, but Dan wont let him go at all.
Lily 3: Yuki, what do we do?!
Yuki winces and says to Lily.
Yuki 4: Lily... Stay back! He's too strong! I don't want you to get hurt.
Lily frowns and asks after.
Lily 3: O-okay, but what do we do? We have to-
Dan 3: Staaaaaayyy...
Wind howls from nowhere as, before all your eyes, the room warps and stretches, the back wall falling away into darkness! Lucas yells out.
Lucas 3: Yuki!
Everyone huddle together against the wind, and the monitor's beeps continue to quicken, until they blend into an unsteady keening sound...
Yuki frowns and tries to talk to Dan, while struggling, his wrist pretty bruised now.
Yuki 4: Dan... Dan, if you're in there, please! Let me go!
Dan 3: Don't go... all better now... now we play...
Yuki 4: Better?! How the hell are things better?!
Dan 3: No... I helped...all better now...
Ava glares now.
Ava 3: Yeah, this is not my idea of better! So how about you get the hell away from us!
Ava gestures wildly, and the chair besides her flies toward Dan! He growls, and the chair deflects, shattering as it tumbles down the black tunnel.
Yuki blinks as he says after.
Yuki 4: Ava... that's it! Use your powers!
Andy blinks a bit.
Andy 3: Her what now?!
Ava glares at them.
Ava 3: Uh, I just tried! It didn't work!
Yuki explained.
Yuki 4: No, not like that! Use your powers on me!
Ava blinks a bit now.
Ava 3: What?!
Yuki 4: Use your powers to pull me over to you!
Ava frowns.
Ava 3: I... I can't! What if I hurt you?
Yuki makes this much more reasonable now.
Yuki 4: You really think you can make things worse right now?
Ava nodes, clenching her hands into fists... her breath coming fast and ragged.
Ava 3: C'mon, c'mon...WORK, YOU STUPID--
Yuki is suddenly yanked backward, and his wrist tears free of Dan's grip!
Dan 3: NO!
Yuki crash into Ava, knocking her down again, and the light suddenly floods the room... By the time everyone's eyes adjusted, the hospital room has returned to normal.
Dan 3: Not...better...
Dan's nerves dropped...
Dan lets out a long, shuddering sigh. His body goes limp, and he falls bonelessly back onto the mattress.
Lily frowns now.
Lily 3: Is... is it over?
Yuki wince at the purpling bruises on his wrist now as Lucas edges forward. He checks the monitor besides Dan's bed, then feels his forehead.
Lucas 3: Looks like it... for now.
Stacy looks around.
Stacy 3: Is anyone hurt?
Ava glares at this.
Ava 3: Only on my everywhere. Next time, I want a plan where no one bodyslams me onto dingy linoleum.
Yuki sighs.
Yuki 4: Sorry... at least it worked, right?
Noah frowns a little.
Noah 3: Yeah, so what the hell was...
Noah pauses as a nurse hurries in to look at Dan's heart monitor. He looks from the monitor to Dan, his brow furrowing. Yuki blinks.
Yuki 4: We were, um, just leaving. Sorry.
Yuki furtively scoop Jiji back into his bag before the nurse sees her. As everyone files out the door, Yuki look back, watching as the nurse picksup a piece of splintered chair, a perplexed look on his face.
They all gather in the deserted hospital lobby and take turns signing out of the visitor log.
Yuki 4: Okay... what the hell was all that?
Lily 3: Bad. It was bad.
Lucas 3: Yeah, can we talk about that... thing? Was that...
Yuki 4: It was him.
Stacy 3: I never thought... I mean, it felt so real.
Noah nodded.
Noah 3: It was real.
Andy 3: Also, uh... Ava has freaky mind powers now?
Ava 3: Apparently.
Andy lets out a sigh, cracking his knuckles nervously.
Andy 3: I don't know about you guys, but I'm gonna need about ten square feet of pizza to process all this. You guys in?
Yuki said after.
Yuki 4: One sec. The rest of us need to sign out.
Yuki walks up to the desk, Ava and Lily close behind. As he reach for a pen he notice a clipboard next to the sign out sheet.
Yuki 4: Daniel Pierce, unresponsive..Rebecca Fisher, unresponsive...Marcus Tuttle, unresponsive... Charlest Cooper, unresponsive...
Suddenly, the clipboard is snatched away, and an irritated looking nurse glares at you.
Yuki 4: Uh, sorry. I... was looking for the sign out sheet.
The nurse grabs her sweat and walks away, leaving the desk unattended.
Ava smirks now.
Ava 3: Nice, she left the computer logged in. Here's our chance to do some digging.
Lily's eyes widen.
Lily 3: Y-you want to break into the hospital's private records?!
Ava 3: There's, like, a dozen other people in comas who've been admitted over the last week. We want to know why.
Lily wrings her hands nervously... then nods.
Lily 3: I-If you're gonna do it, I'll help. But you better decide fast!
Yuki nodded as he said after.
Yuki 4: Let's do it. If it can help us save Dan, I say we got for it.
Ava 3: Should we all put our hands in or something? Do a little cheer?
Yuki smirks.
Yuki 4: I know you're being sarcastic, but I would make you do it if we weren't short on time. Lily, can you help us navigate the hospital's file system?
Lily 3: You can count on me!
While Ava organizes the rest of their friend's into watch positions, Yuki and Lily creep behind the counter.
Yuki 4: Okay, what are we looking for?
Lily's fingers dance across the keyboard as she searches through the computer's directory.
Lily 3: One second... here.
She points at an icon that reads inpatient records. Yuki open it up and sort by most recent. Ava appears beside you.
Ava 3: Everyone's in their sports...find anything good yet?
Yuki 4: Yup, see, this is the same list I saw. Look at this, all patients unresponsive, all admitted in the last week. Oh, if you click on them there's more specifics.
Lily 3: Found near Nightingale Ave...This one was picked up near the tree line on Aspen Street... Yuki, these are all-
Yuki 4: The streets surrounding the woods. Yeah,I know.
Ava 3: What's that?
She taps the bottom of the screen and Yuki scroll down.
Yuki 4: Looks like some notes from a Dr. Montrese in Pathology... Experiencing a resurgence of similar epidemics in Westchester's history...
Ava 3: Doc listed out some dates for us, that's handy. Whoa, starting in the 1800s?
Lily 3: 1800s, the 1970s...
Yuki 4: ... And ten years ago...
Ava 3: Wuh oh, that's the signal!
Yuki glance around. Lucas is waving his hands wildly.
Yuki 4: Crap. Hang on.
Yuki move to close the window but something else catches his eyes.
Lily would call out to him.
Lily 3: What are you waiting for, come on!
Yuki 4: Just... One more minute!
Yuki hit print and close the window. Ava and Lily move to the other side of the counter, blocking Yuki from view.
Ava 3: Yuki, seriously...
Over their shoulder, you can see the nurse headed Yuki's way. Yuki duck down, staring up at the printer... There's just one page left...
Lily call out now.
Lily 3: Yuki!
The printer settles and Yuki snatch the papers up, stuffing them into a nearby manila folder and tucking them into his own shirt. He would crawl out from behind the counter, just as the nurse's feet appear in front of him.
Yuki act fast...
Yuki 4: Oh there's my contact! Good thing I found it. These things are expensive, huh?
He smiles up at the nurse, as he mime picking up something off the floor before scrambling to his feet and hurrying away.
Yuki would rejoin his friends and they all exit the hospital now..
Lucas 3: I hope whatever you found was worth it. That was a close call.
Yuki 4: Don't worry, we got something.
Ava 3: Like, hey, how about the fact that all of those other patients were also found around the woods?
Lily 3: Or that this isn't the first time there's been an epidemic of this kind...
Noah 3: I'd say that's some pretty good info.
Yuki 4: Not to mention...
Yuki motion everyone to come closer, and pull the folder out of his shirt now.
Andy blinks.
Andy 3: So what does that say?
Yuki flips the file open, and everyone takes turns reading it all.
Andy 3: It's reports of the other epidemics. Looks like the doctor wrote some notes up top here...
Stacy 3: ... some cause for concern. In each past incident, the influx of coma patients is closely followed by a massacre.
Lucas 3: It's unclear how these events are related, and the deaths that follow are not always of such volume. See article B, from November 3rd, 2007
Noah 3: November 3rd...
Andy reaches over to squeeze Noah's shoulder.
Lily frowns.
Lily 3: Each time, the events are the same. A sudden influx of unresponsive patients, followed by the death of one or more persons, followed by quiet.
Yuki looks concerned now.
Yuki 4: Everything leads back to Redfield...
A tense silence falls over the group.
Stacy 3: It just keeps getting worse... how are we supposed to do anything about this?
Lucas 3: There must be a way. We just...
Lucas trails off, and no one else speaks for a long time. Everyone seems adrift, lost within their own fears. Yuki takes a deep breath...
Yuki 4: Guys... I know we can get through this. We just have to be brave. I'm more terrified than I've ever been in my life. I honestly don't know if I have the strength to handle all of this. But I'm going to keep going, because I have to. The stakes are too high to do anything else. We all need to make the choice, right now, to not give up until this is over.
The tension hangs in the air for a minute longer. For a moment, Yuki worry it's never going to break. Till Andy breaks it.
Andy 3: Okay, but I asked about pizza, like, forever ago... So can we take care of that first?
Ava 3: Yeah, I'm gonna need an entire pizza just for me.
Lucas smiles.
Lucas 3: Pizza Mega?
Stacy 3: Obviously.
Noah smiles a little.
Noah 3: We haven't been there in ages... think they still have those little honey packets for the crust?
Lily 3: I wonder if anyone's beaten my high score on the Meteor Madness cabinet.
Smiling they made their way out into the night all together to go eat.
To be continued...