Back To Our Roots, Book One

XLVII. He... Does Something Good?

"What do you think's going on?"

Blaine, Nick, and Jeff were catching the others up on what was happening with Kurt. The dorm, full as it was with eight people, felt empty without him.

"We don't know. We were hoping one of you would," Blaine said helplessly.

"It sounds like some kind of dissociation," Matt said.

Sebastian immediately looked over at him. "I know because my brother's a doctor. And that's actually true this time," Matt reassured.

"You're sure?" he asked worriedly.

"One hundred precent."

Sebastian nodded, relieved.

"But what's dissociation?" Jeff asked.

"It's like... I can't really describe it. It's sort of like being detached from life." Matt sighed. "You know what, just Google it."

He pulled out his phone, typing it in.

"Dissociation. 'Disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions, and identity,'" Nick read over his shoulder.

"He's definitely disconnected from his surroundings. He says it feels like he's in a dream," Jeff confirmed.

There was a rapid knocking at the door, immediately attracting their attention.

Blaine stood up, closest to the door, and opened it. An extremely worried Hunter was there.

He almost slammed the door back in his face, but Hunter put his hand on it and stopped him.

"Wait, guys, I know you hate me, but you all love Kurt so I'm here," Hunter said rapidly.

"What'd you do?" Blaine asked accusingly.

"I left the dorm for a minute, I swear, and I left my key in there because Kurt was inside. I knocked on the door when I got back, but he didn't answer. He didn't leave, his phone rings from inside the dorm if you call it. And I certainly hope I'm overreacting-"

"Get to the point."

"Guys, he's been saying it feels like he's in a dream. That he wants to wake up. You know what always wakes you up in a dream?"

"You die," Thad answered almost immediately, going pale. "Whenever you're just about to die in a dream, it jerks you awake."

There was a silence as they comprehended it.

Blaine bolted out of the room, running to his dorm. When he got there, he pulled out his key and unlocked the door with shaking hands.

It couldn't happen.

This wasn't happening.

He pushed the door open. The dorm was empty, the door to the bathroom shut.

"Kurt? Kurt, answer me!" Blaine called worriedly.

No response.

Blaine tried the doorknob, but it was locked.

"Blaine, move. I got it," Hunter said.

"How?" Blaine asked, stepping aside.

"My father didn't get kicked out of the army and arrested for raising me on military grounds for nothing," Hunter said, kicking the door in.

Hunter looked into the room before Blaine did, freezing.

"What? What's wrong? Hunter?" Blaine asked, trying to see.

Hunter shook his head, grabbing Blaine's arm.

"What the hell? Let me go, I need to see if he's okay!"

"He isn't. You can't see it, Blaine."

"Why not? You're not my boss, you can't stop me!"

"Why not?" Hunter repeated. "You'll see it when you close your eyes. You'll see it when you try to sleep. You'll see it when you finally fall asleep, when you jerk awake seconds later, terrified."

Blaine stopped fighting against him. "Dude, are you okay?"

"Not important. I'm going to call an ambulance."