-𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖞 - 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

𝘅𝗹. fail-safe

❝Release me from this curse I'm in.❞

-disturbia, rihanna

LILA WAS ABRUPTLY WOKEN UP BY ROBIN IN THE WHEELER'S BASEMENT. She didn't even have time to adjust to the new environment before the girls (her and Nancy) started talking about their plan for Victor Creel, who they suspected knew at least something about it. Knowing Max was somewhere here, she adjusted faster than she would've on a normal day. Nothing about these days were normal.

"Thanks to Nancy's newspaper minions, we are now rock-star psychology students at the University of Notre Dame. Nancy is now Ruth, and I'm Rose," Robin explained. Steve questioned her name choice; Dustin complimented her GPA.

"So we called Pennhurst Asylum, told them we'd like to speak with Victor Creel for a thesis we're co-writing on paranoid schizophrenics, to which they said no." The big words had finally started to register in Lila's brain. "But we landed a three o'clock with the director."

Robin added on. "Now, all we have to do is charm him and convince him to let us talk to Victor," she optimistically said. It sounded way easier in words than actions.

"Then maybe we can rid Max of this curse," Nancy solemnly guessed. Their plan was a far reach, but it was something. Something was better than nothing. Something was a leap of faith.

Steve inhaled sharply. "Yeah, about that. We've been doing our Victor Creel homework and. . . uh, we've got some questions." This was probably while Lila was asleep since she didn't recall an ounce of it. She had mixed feelings about that — glad they let her sleep more, but almost. . . confused on why they wouldn't include her. Lila could get smart thoughts in the moment if she tried hard enough. Perhaps they discussed something without her.

"Lots of questions," Lucas confirmed.

"So do we. Hopefully Victor has the answers."

"Wait. . . wait. . . wait a second," Steve suddenly stuttered, looking down at the folders that held their fake information. His eyes met Nancy's. "Where's mine?"

Without uttering a word, (it was almost like the two had telepathic thoughts) she got up, exiting the basement. Her foots were loud on the wood steps as were Steve's when he followed her out. Shortly after, Robin's rushing steps too.

It was left with the kids only in the basement, while the adults went to do whatever adults did. Silence consumed for a moment while some of them pondered on how Steve practically rushed after Nancy. Trying not to think too much of it, Lila brought up a new topic. "So. . . what exactly is this Victor Creel homework?"

Lucas was the first one to speak up. "When you were sleeping, we were doing research about Victor Creel. Who he is, what he did, all that."

"Without me?" she quickly asked. Lila had stunned Dustin and Lucas into silence with that question. It wasn't her intention, but she didn't want to be left behind for a third time. The first was her choice, but the second wasn't.