𝓐𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷 𝔁 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻 (but you're Ashlyn) 𝕊𝔹𝔾

Episode 56

>>>>>Sleepover at the Clark's<<<<<

Aiden's parents had invited everyone over to their place, intending for us to unwind after a long day at the hospital. I sighed internally. Each time I stepped into this house, overwhelmed by its size, it felt like stepping into another world. It didn't feel like my kind of place—not that any place really ever did.

As people began to shuffle around, Aiden was sent on a mission to gather pillows and blankets from upstairs. I wandered through the room, examining the extravagant decorations that adorned the walls.
That's when I noticed a large photograph showcasing Aiden and his parents. Something about it pulled at me; this boy in the picture didn't resemble the Aiden I knew. His hair was jet black, his eyes dark, but the unsettling part was that there was no smile on his face.

"I don't like that photo," I stated plainly. I startled a bit when Aiden suddenly appeared beside me, his usual cheery grin replaced with something I found unsettling.

I preferred the vibrant version of him, not this—whatever this was. He chuckled softly and replied, "It was before I realized how much fun dying my hair was."

"Anyway," he asked, trying to shift the mood. "Should we swim or play games first?"

Just then, my gaze fell on another frame resting on a nearby table; it depicted all of us laughing and splashing in the pool. I didn't even notice him take this... That day had been fun, the cold water a refreshing reprieve from the heat. As Aiden started discussing game options with the group, my dad called me over to deliberate on what to eat.

​Aiden's smile, that mask of perpetual cheerfulness he wore, sometimes grated on my nerves.​ It reminded me of how much he seemed to care, which was exhausting. My thoughts wandered back to that day in the janitor's closet—his lips, the shared moment... 

Ugh! I shook my head, steering myself back to reality as everyone moved into the living room to talk.

My mom breaking the silence caused me to focus. "Okay..." she rubbed the back of her neck, clearly uncomfortable. "I think everyone has the gist of the situation... somewhat."

"This is crazy," Aiden's mom interjected, lifting her glass of wine as if it could somehow ease her stress. "I haven't been this stressed since our publisher accidentally printed an extra ten thousand copies."

"Agreed..." Aiden's dad chimed in, his voice heavy. "So, the Tyler boy... has a tree stuck in him... and isn't dead... at least not here? Is he still... alive... in the other... place?"
I shifted uncomfortably on the floor, muttering, "...we don't know."

Aiden, ever ready to contribute, piped up, and we all turned our attention to him. "Maybe we just have dimension clones, and if one dies, then another is made?"

"Or, assuming souls are a thing, then we could be separated from our physical bodies? ...So we don't die from physical injuries there?" Logan shot back, his voice brimming with intellect.
Taylor, overwhelmed, buried her face in a pillow, mumbling, "If that's the case, then why are the phantoms chasing us?""Let's just focus on the hard facts for now," my dad commanded, quieting the room.

 Little Lily, who had been pretending to listen to music, randomly blurted something about removing things like a splinter before her mom whisked her away. Surprisingly, I didn't mind that idea.

Others seemed to echo my thoughts as my mom smoothly said, "She was right, though. If Tyler is still alive and on the tree, then it will be extremely painful for the kids to get him off. They need something like a sedative, just in case." "How are we going to get that?" one of the adults queried."...We might be able to take care of it," came the voice of the elderly grandpa seated at the back, and I could sense the collective disbelief in the room.

I raised an eyebrow. Where would Logan's grandparents even find something like sedatives? They seemed more like sweet, innocent florists to me.

"I'll make a few phone calls. Where was the bag dropped off for the kids?" the old man stood up, determined."How are you going to get sedatives?" my dad pressed.
"That doesn't really matter. As long as they are acquired, the tree situation can be resolved, right?"
"...I'll send you a screenshot of the location," my dad replied, sounding hesitant. 

As everyone continued to discuss possible plans, I felt the familiar weight of anxiety settling back in. I would talk to Logan about it later, I resolved.

"While he does that, we need to figure out how to get the kids safe from the 'centipede-ish' monster?" 

Ben's dad spoke up, breaking through my spiraling thoughts. "I... think I might have an idea.."

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