O U T | The Group Chat

CHAPTER 6

PART 2
"RECLAIM"

The sun was slowly coming down from its most prideful moments at the top of the sky and was now creeping towards the horizon while losing some of its power in an immersive theatrical play of colors that flooded the city with their warmth. They managed to slip into the second floor and Isaac's apartment through the halfway drawn blinds where they danced on the walls with the fizzling lights from all the neons. Larry squinted his eyes when a ray of sunset angled itself to land perfectly on his face and shuffled on the couch, moving slightly to keep the blinding sensation out of his sight.

Isaac was in the kitchen rather loudly making tea for all of them. Larry couldn't tell if he was intentionally bumping his hands into every single object on his way and whether or not it was to keep his tired mind aware of the others around him but regardless - he didn't mind and could even appreciate it. He himself was laying by a corner of the dirty couch he'd grown much attached to during his many stays at his friend's house so now it was a special reminder of his safety and was doing a great job at keeping him grounded in reality. And that was hard from time to time since by the beanbag on his left sat he stanger man who he'd just escaped the lab with. He stayed uneasily still. Almost as if he was self-conscious even about his chest moving up too much while he was breathing. Only his eyes showed the discomfort and distant fear as they'd frantically jump around his surroundings from time to time and stall on each of the other people in the room momentarily.
Nick was sitting on the swivel chair by Isaac's desk to which he was turned backwards. He looked tired and the creases on his forehead showed the days of fatigue Larry's absence had caused him.

Once he had the brewed tea in his hands, Isaac quietly strolled back into the room and gave each man their mug. As the tallest approached the stranger he gave him an odd look filled with suspicion but after Isaac offered him one of his softer smiles and nudged at him with the mug, he finally took it. He remained motionless with it in his hands, staring at everyone else in the room and after he saw them sip on their hot beverages he finally decided to taste his own.

Isaac sat on the floor by Larry's legs, leaning his back against the bottom part of the couch and sighed into his drink.

Larry was desperately trying to stay awake. He was pretty sure he could count the amount of hours he'd slept in the past week on his fingers and the whole escape had drained all the reservoir of energy he might've had stored in him since his damn birth. The exhaustion was only now setting in him, biting his bones and mixing in his brain to numb his mind and try to force him to rest.

Finally Nick cleared his throat and turned to put his mug on the desk behind him.

"Okay, I know we're tip-toeing around this whole situation for... Some reason I guess... But I just want you to know I will not sleep unless I hear at least a brief explanation of what happened"

Isaac frowned "Couldn't we wait till mor-"

"Okay" Larry sighed deeply and looked up while blinking hardly to try and water his eyes "I better say everything I remember now. We can then collect the details tomorrow and later on"

And so he began. He described everything since the moment he begrudgingly stepped into the lab to start what was to become the worst shift of his life. He told them about his encounters with the guards, how he was forced to partake in the experiment which was about killing the man he managed to bring home in the end. He detailed their escape and when he was finally done all the street lamps were already on and warm, their tea was cold and the sun was a forgotten daydream.

"Do you— Think that they will come for you?" Isaac muttered after Larry was finally done.

He had no idea. Nothing like this has ever happened before and quite frankly, he was terrified thinking about to what lengths the lab management would go if they were to search for him.

"No idea" he managed to breathe out while leaning back into the couch.

He knew the stakes were high. Knew that from the moment he decided to rebel against the facilitie's core rules.

"I guess we'll find out at some point" Nick spoke "But what is more important right now is who the hell really is he?" he nudged his head at the stranger who was still stuck in the same position. As he saw the attention shift to him he seemed to push himself into the floor more, his eyes sharpened.

Larry sighed.

"I don't know. The folder lacks any background information about him and with all the manipulation of his tissue and genetic code that had been done it was impossible for me to recreate any possible samples" his chest deflated as he eyed the book laying on Isaac's desk.

"Okay but can he just..." Isaac stopped for a moment "Is it safe to keep him here with us?"

Larry glanced at the stranger who sent him a very brief confused look before shifting his stare elsewhere. He hummed to himself "I don't really know" both of his friends momentarily tensed up "But he's been cooperating well so far and the drug has been wearing off, I can tell, so he should only be calmer"

"Do we know his name?"

Larry felt weird describing and talking about the man as if he wasn't sitting two meters away from them "No..." he shifted on the couch so he could properly look at the stranger.

"Hey" he said softly while passing him a timid smile. The other tilted his head but remained silent "Can you tell us your name?"

He seemed to be thinking hard as he looked to the floor, confusion filling his eyes for the moment before they went dark as his face scrunched up in something akin to annoyance and fear "I... I don't really know it" his voice came out hoarse but warm. It wasn't really what Larry expected but somehow managed to ease a portion of his nerves.

"That's fine" he encouraged.

"The folder about you was titled 'T' though.. Do you maybe remember any name that starts with T and sounds familiar?" Isaac butt in with his voice soft as well.

The other looked down to think again.

"Tanner?"

"Yeah?"

"You sure about this?"

"Of course? It's a great opportunity. Not many people were given it. What's the worst that could happen?"

"I- Maybe... – Tanner?" he finally looked up at them with a questioning stare.

"Sounds alright to me," Isaac replied.

"Yeah. That sounds right" Larry smiled and for the first time, the other tried returning the expression even if his was a lot more narrow.

"We should sleep" Nick mumbled "Or at least I'm going to otherwise I'll be out of it for the next week. I haven't slept well in like ages!"

Larry's eyes sombered "I'm sorry that you had to wait here with ... Like no information at all"

"Oh come on now don't even start. You've just managed to pull the most ballsy move of the century and you're worried about Nick's tired ass which - to be honest - would've been just as whiny any other day" Isaac cocked a side smile "We're just glad to have you back"

"And just like that I look like a selfish asshole. Thanks Isaac" Nick grumbled but smiled nonetheless.

Larry felt his chest swell with comfort as a vague sense of joy settled quietly in his stomach. He was so busy with trying to get out of the lab he didn't even let himself think of his friends too much. He might've had a breakdown otherwise. But now, with their tired but bright as ever faces in front of him he finally felt at peace.

They scattered around the house to sleep. No one bothered to even think about changing or stepping anywhere close to a shower so within fifteen minutes all the lights had been turned off and the house was slowly tuning into the steady hum of the city at night. Larry shifted under his covers that wrapped him tightly in a fluffy heat none of the lab beds could provide. They smelled of Isaac's washing powder and fabric softener and lulled his anxious mind with their familiarity. He breathed out heavily and closed his eyes. He was finally safe.