Trapped

Chapter Three: Another One Bites The Dust

She stands up, stretching her stiff and aching muscles. She had slept in the uncomfortable hospital chairs for three days now. Nestor's wife, Shannon, had came and gone while Vera remained by his side, holding his hand.
He has been in a coma since the day he passed out and the doctors are still trying to figure out what the problem is. They've never seen such a case. He hadn't shown any symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. It's like he just fell asleep and hasn't gotten up.
Outside of his room, in the hallway, there is commotion. Vera walks to the door and opens it, glancing out into the hallway. A stretcher is rushed past her and she could have sworn it was-
"Vera!" Max shouts, running toward her with Olivia.
"Max, hey. What-"
"It's Freddie." Olivia tells her.
Those two words cracked the unstable wall that Vera had built over the last three days. Tears flooded her eyes and spilt over, running down her cheeks. She grabs onto Max, feeling her knees buckle. Olivia grabs her arm, trying to support her.
"What happened?" Vera asks.
"It was exactly like Nestor. He was filming and then he was on the ground." Max tells her.
"Guys, what is happening? What if we are next? Are we going to die?" Olivia asks, tears forming in her eyes. Vera pushes her hair away from her face and pulls Olivia into a tight hug. She reaches out and grabs Max, pulling him into the hug as well. All they have now is each other.

Nestor walks into the building, still not believing he had agreed to this. He sees Norma sitting on the bench, shaking her knee nervously. He takes a seat beside her and stops her knee from shaking.
"Sorry I am late. I had to stop for gas."
"No big deal. It's not like we're doing anything important here." she says sarcastically. He smiles as he looks down at her. He looks over at the couple next to them who are all over each other.
"Can you, um... Can you lean into me a little? Like maybe we've had physical contact before this moment?" he asks, his arm behind her on the bench. She slowly leans into him, stiffly resting her head on his chest.
"This is weird." she says. He looks down at her and then secretly smells her hair, being comforted by the fact that she smells like Vera.
"I'm... I'm sorry last night was so hard. You're doing the right thing for him." Nestor says, feeling Norma begin to relax against him.
"I hope so." she whispers. Just as they were getting comfortable in their awkward position, the doors open and a couple walk out with the rest of their wedding party, all of them smiling widely.
"Sheriff Romero? Norma Bates? We're ready for you." a woman says. Nestor turns to Norma.
"You ready?" he asks. She sighs and moves away from him.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
"We are gathered here to join this man and this woman in matrimony, which is an honorable estate and is not to be entered into lightly but with great reverence and discretion. From this day forward, you will belong entirely to each other. Together in mind, together in heart..." "Okay, you can skip this part." Norma says, interrupting the lady. Nestor looks at her with surprise.
"We... we know all this." she says innocently. Nestor quickly covers for her.
"Uh... Sorry, she's nervous, Connie."
"Together in heart, together in soul for all eternity. Alexander, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, and protect her in sickness and in health till death do you part?" He smiles as he glances at Norma. She does look a lot like Vera. Maybe this is all a dream. He will wake up unhappily married, longing to be with his costar. If it's a dream, he might as well have fun with it.
"I do."
"Norma, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, and protect him, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
"I do." she says uncertainly.
"By the authority vested in me by the state of Oregon, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
He turns to Norma who is still looking scared. He grabs her face gently and close the distance between them. Her soft lips hesitate at first and then begin to move gently against Nestor's. He smiles and pulls away, watching as she follows him before opening her eyes and pulling away. They walk out of the building and begin to talk.
"Thanks for doing that." she says, smiling shyly. He smiles widely.
"Mm, you're welcome. So, uh, I'll be over after work with my stuff." he tells her, walking toward his car. Nestor stops when he realizes she isn't following.
"What stuff?" she asks. He looks around and walks back to her.
"You do realize I have to move in with you?"
"Oh. Yeah. Okay, of course."
"Norma, it... it has to look real. I'm an elected official. I need people to trust me, okay? I'm not supposed to be cutting legal corners and marrying..."
"Have they met you?" she asks, interrupting you. He smiles. Just as funny as Vera.
"Funny. Hey, this was your idea. It wasn't mine."
"Okay, fine, I get it. I get it. Yeah, sure. Move in." she says.
"It's gonna be fine, okay? I'm an easy roommate. I work a lot. It's not forever." he says, trying to soothe her the way he soothes Vera whenever she is stressed.
"Okay."
"All right? See you tonight, okay?" he asks.
"Okay."
Nestor glances up and sees one of the workers walk out of the building. He quickly kisses her and she looks at him with shock.
"All right?" he asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine." she says.
"Good, I'll see you tonight." he says, walking away. He gets into his car and drive down to the motel where he left his uniform. When he pulls in, he sees Norman outside. Nestor quickly gets out of the car and walks up to him.
"Hey, kid. You alright?" Nestor asks. Norman looks over at him with confusion.
"Where am I?" he asks. For a moment, Nestor had thought he heard a british accent.
"What is the last thing you remember?" Nestor asks, assuming he had another black out.
"I was on set and then I couldn't breathe and-"
"Wait. You were on set?" Nestor asks. "Like filming? Like a movie?" Nestor asks.
"Yes. Like Bates Motel. Are you alright?" he asks. Nestor smiles widely, knowing for sure that it's him by his accent.
"Freddie?" he asks.
"Yes. Why are-" he stops suddenly as his eyes widen.
"Nestor. You're Nestor. You're awake. Vera!" he shouts, running toward the house. Nestor runs after him.
"Freddie! Quiet down." Nestor yells, grabbing him by his arm and stopping him.
"Am I dead too?" Freddie asks.
"I'm dead?" Nestor asks.
"You were in a coma." Freddie says.
"For how long?" Nestor asks.
"Three days. At least as far as I know. I'm dead now too. Where are we?" Freddie asks, looking around.
"I don't think we are dead. We somehow got sucked into this universe. I'm not sure why and I don't know how to get back but we are our characters. I'm Alex and you're Norman and we have to keep acting or else people will get suspicious." Nestor says. Freddie nods, seeming to follow.
"Why are you in a suit then?" Freddie asks. Nestor glances down at his suit and chuckles slightly.
"I married Norma." he says, glancing up at the boy. Freddie laughs before becoming confused.
"You're serious?" he asks.
"Yeah." Nestor says.
"You were in this world for five seconds! You couldn't keep your hands off her for that long? It's ridiculous. It's-" Freddie says, freaking out.
"I think we are in the next season." Nestor says, cutting him off. He really didn't need a lecture.
"Season four. Norma asked me to marry her. Alright? She was the one who asked. Not me. I was just as confused as you are." Nestor says defensively.
"Why would she do that?"
"She said it was for insurance...to send Norman to a nice institution." Nestor tells him.
"A mental institution?" Freddie asks with surprise.
"Nestor I don't want to go to a mental institution. Can't you like, stall for me? You can't send me there. I'm not crazy." Freddie says, becoming scared. Before he can answer, a voice calls out from behind them.
"Alex? What're you...what're you doing?" Norma asks, walking up toward Freddie and Nestor. She pulls Freddie away from Nestor.
"I was-"
"I was asking Sheriff Romero about the room he rented. I didn't know he was staying here." Freddie says, covering for Nestor.
"And I was telling him that I am not staying here. I just used the room to change. And now I'm done. I left money on the desk for the room." Nestor says.
"Oh, that's alright. We don't need you to do that-"
"We need the money, mother. He used the room so he pays for it." Freddie says in his American voice.
"Go up to the house, please, Norman." Norma says. Freddie turns and jogs up the stairs to the house.
"I was just coming to grab my uniform. I'll be back tonight." Nestor says, holding up his uniform.
"Alright. Well I gotta take Norman to Pineview. I'll see you." she says, walking up to the house. Nestor feels bad for the boy but knows he can't change Norma's mind without being suspicious. He walks back down to the street and gets in his car, driving to work.