Research

Chapter Six

"Open the door, Mark, it's me!" Henry's voice echoed passed the left door.

"How do I know you're not one of your dumb robots?" Mark glared at the door before hovering a finger over the A key.

"Really!?" Henry shouted. "Well... actually that's not too far off... from what I made before... but. But no! It's me! C'mon just open the door!"

Mark clicked the key and as soon as the door was halfway up he saw Henry rush through the opening and to Michael's side. He had passed out at some point while waiting for Henry to arrive, most likely from lack of oxygen. He was breathing now, though, and the coughs were sparse.

"He needs to go to the hospital," Mark said when Henry pulled Michael's body back against the chair. His skin was pale like he had been dying. Probably was.

He looked cold.

"Hospital won't help," Henry grumbled and forced one of Michael's eyes open, taking a tiny flashlight from a key chain and turning it on.

"I guess..." Mark sighed and watched the two closely. "What's uh... how come he has white irises and silver eyes? I mean... I know your eyes are pretty close to silver but at least they have color."

"I don't know," Henry shrugged and let go of Michael's eyelid and grabbed his jaw, opening his mouth and flashing the light in there. It was coated in the same black gunk he had spat out earlier. "He got it from his dad."

"William?" Mark asked.

"Yeah."

"You uh... you two were friends?"

"Yep."

"Or... more than... that?"

Henry released Michael's jaw and glared at Mark with his light blue eyes. "Shut up."

"Is he okay?" Mark asked, ignoring Henry's demand.

"His father had something weird going on with him," Henry said, "that made him act weird when he was anywhere where 'paranormal happenings' occurred. I think this might be it."

"And because of all the killings here, you think he's seeing ghosts?" Before Henry could say anything, Mark continued. "Are you saying there's ghosts in our apartment?"

Henry didn't answer, he just shook Michael slightly, probably seeing if it'd stir him.

"Are there ghosts in my apartment?"

Henry looked up. He shrugged. "Probably. Want me to come with? It's nearing six."

"Please. I don't think I can carry Michael myself."

Henry nodded and stood up, combing his fingers through his dirty-blond hair before bending down and picking Michael up. He shifted the younger man in his hold so they'd both be comfortable on their way out.

"This is the only way your strength will be useful," Mark said as he followed Henry out the door of the office and down the hallway. They passed by Bonnie in the hallway. He wanted to die when he realized that Bonnie wasn't actually turned off as it watched them with its magenta eyes as they walked passed it out of the pizzeria. Even Chica was watching them from the kitchen. Maybe they really are haunted...

"That's the only thing I worked out for actually. William was always up to weird shit and sometimes his weird robot chicken legs stopped working," Henry snorted as they reached his black truck. "And of course the weirdo never pulled around his wheelchair just in case because of his huge ego, so someone had to help him around."

Henry laughed lightly when Mark gave him an odd look. He made an awkward stance, shifting Michael's weight into one arm so he could grab his keys and unlock the truck. Mark grabbed and opened the back door, allowing Henry to set Michael in the back seat before closing the door. He gestured to the passenger before walking around the truck and getting in the driver's seat.