Lost in Time ~ Five Hargreeves

Chapter 16

"You know, it's rude not to let someone finish their sentence," Riley complained.

"It's Klaus and Diego. They'll get over it."

Riley rolled their eyes.

They and Five began searching the house for Vanya.

"No sign of Vanya," Five reported after the couple searched the whole house along with Diego and Klaus.

"She's not in any of the rooms."

"She's not downstairs, either."

"Well, I'm out," Diego explained.

He walked past the other three and Riley, Klaus and Five looked after him in surprise.

"Wait."

"Wait. Wait."

"Where are you going?" Riley wanted to know.

"Vanya's still out there, and so are Hazel and Cha-Cha," Five reminded his brother.

"I know," Diego replied and stopped for a moment. "I'm gonna get my things and then I'm outta here. I got some unfinished business with those fools."

As Diego walked away from his siblings, Riley wanted to say something, but decided against it.

"Hey, did Dad say anything about the apocalypse when you spoke to him?" Five addressed Klaus. "Any clues as to how it happened?"

"No. No clues. Truly terrific shave. But no clues."

"Well–" "Jeez," Riley and Five muttered at the same time.

Five stepped around Riley and walked down the stairs to the entrance hall.

"You know, come to think of it," said Klaus and followed the teenager down the stairs. "– he did mention something about my potential, and how I've barely even scratched the surface of my–"

"How did he know about the apocalypse?" Five asked loudly.

"I don't know, but listen. This whole jumping through time thing of yours, how did– How did you know how to do that?"

"I didn't," Five answered and paused briefly in the entrance hall. "You'd realize that if you were actually sober."

"Hey, I'm sober," Klaus defended himself. "I've been sober for two… almost two days now."

Five, who had almost crossed the room, turned to his brother.

"Yeah, two days."

"It feels like 45 years."

"Who are you kidding, Klaus? I've seen you fidgeting all day."

"Well, I guess we're both fighting our addictions, then," Klaus replied.

"I'm not an addict."

"Yeah, you are. You're addicted to a drug called the apocalypse."

"You're wrong."

"First sign. Denial," said Klaus.

He turned around, but for Five the conversation wasn't over yet and he jumped right in front of Klaus.

"You and I, we're not the same."

Klaus chuckled.

"I've seen that look in the eye of someone who doesn't know who they are without their high anymore. Trust me. You gotta just let it go."

Five and Klaus looked at each other in silence for a moment before Five threw the glass eye against the wall, causing it to break into a small shards.

Then Five left the room.