𝓐𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷 𝔁 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻 (but you're Ashlyn) 𝕊𝔹𝔾

Episode 53-54

>>>>>><Yeah... no. I have no idea what to call this chapter. Sry y'all><<<<<<<<

We swung the hospital doors open, and the urgency in the air was palpable.
"Guys!!" "Emma!!"
"We need to talk... now."

Once we gathered around, the atmosphere shifted as everyone sensed the seriousness of the moment.
 "W-Wait—wait, wait.... Hold on..." Logan stuttered, his anxiety evident as he buried his face in his knees. "How are they seeing the phantoms when they didn't go to Savannah?"
That's when my mom spoke up. "We'll figure that out later... ​Right now, we need to focus on what to do with Tyler." She rubbed the back of her neck nervously, clearly feeling the weight of the situation.​

"....So, if I understand correctly—if we were to place supplies where you guys were last, you'll be able to use them?"

I gave him a confirming nod, feeling slightly more hopeful.

"Emma, do you think you can talk to the others while I take Ashlyn to town?"
"I think so..."
The others began to stand up, except for Taylor, who remained seated, trying not to cry.
"Wait! I wanna come too!" Aiden exclaimed, his eagerness undeniable.
"Yeah—me too, please!" Logan chimed in, clearly not wanting to be left behind.

It didn't take all three of us to show my dad where we were last night, so I was sure it would be fine; I couldn't help but think that Aiden just wanted to escape the hospital's tedium.


"Your parents will panic if you leave right now—" Hero Dad appeared at the perfect moment, rescuing me from having to explain why they couldn't join us as he grabbed my side and pulled me toward the exit. "And we don't have the time to explain to them."

"Don't worry, we'll be fine. Keep me updated!" I shouted back from the entrance, adrenaline coursing through me as I exited the building, ready to face whatever awaited us. 

Balancing my responsibilities as a fighter against phantoms and my desire to help my friends stirred a sense of purpose within me, even amidst the chaos.

~~~ON THE WAY TO THE GAS STATION~~~

We stopped by a friend of my dad's to gather some supplies, and I could feel the weight of the moment bearing down on us. Once we had everything we needed, arms full of flashlights, pistols, duct tape, and more, I noticed the concerned look on the guy's face.

 "Hey uh—Mike? What are you doing with all of this?" he asked, his brow furrowed with worry.

"I can't explain it right now. Can you just ring me up quickly?" my dad replied, urgency in his voice.
As we sped down the road, my dad turned to me, keeping his eyes firmly on the road. "Y'all made it to the gas station near the school?"
"Yeah," I nodded, feeling a pit in my stomach. "But we can't just leave the bag in the store and then leave..."
"I know. I'll see if we can park nearby and place it in the woods near the gas station," he assured me.
I let out a slow exhale, the weight of finally having proper supplies settling on my shoulders. But would it even matter against something as terrifying as those phantoms? The vivid memory of the huge spider-legged phantom clawing from the shadows haunted my thoughts.

~~~~TIME SKIP WHEN THEY ARE HIDING THE BAG OF SUPPLIES~~~~

I walked over with my dad to the nearby trees and bushes close to the gas station, but there was an unsettling feeling gnawing at me, like the time we got into that fight with those other kids at the arcade.

"Alright..." my dad said as he placed the bag down in a bush. "That should be hidden for a while."

I crossed my arms over my chest, the discomfort palpable as I glanced around. My dad noticed my unease and looked up at me. "You 'kay, kiddo?"
"...I'm not sure," I admitted, letting out a sigh. "I'm gonna give the others a call."

 

​In that moment, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were stepping deeper into a dangerous game, where every decision could lead to either salvation or peril.

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