The Strange Case of the Swapped Sides

8

"It's like we said Thomas," said Patton. "Roman is gone. We woke up this morning and everything was swapped around and Roman had run off. He isn't in his room or any main part of the mind palace."

Thomas sighed.
"How did this even happen!"

Deceit cleared his throat and raised a hand.
"That would be... my fault. I was just planning scaring everyone, I didn't mean for this to happen."

Thomas narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?"

"Well, we were in this little imagination pocket Roman had made, and I was feeling a teensy bit mischievous, so I convinced him that he should show off by fighting an... old enemy of his."

Thomas shook him head.
"You mean-"

"The Dragon-Witch," finished the others, in synchronization.

Thomas felt a shock of anxiety pass through his body, stronger and less focu6 than he was used to. He stumbled back, falling to the floor. Virgil rushed to help him up. Thomas was shaking and fighting off tears.

"Thomas, Thomas look at me. Remember your breathing. It's going to be okay. We can fix this. I promise."
Virgil moved Thomas to a nearby chair and helped him sit down.

"It's not- it's not usually this- this bad. Why is it- why is it so bad?"

Virgil looked to the others, standing in a loose semicircle around him.
"I was worried about this. As much as I like not being the personification of anxiety, Roman isn't used to it. He can't control it, and it's going to get worse."

Thomas began to calm down, grasping at Virgil's hand. Patton watched, his thoughts moving in a precise line. An idea occurred to him.
"What if... what If Roman went back? What if he thinks it's his fault?"

Virgil nodded.
"Sounds like what I would do."

"Well then," Logan said, already running off. "Let's go save Ro!"

Patton pulled him back.
"We should probably get supplies or something first."

Logan blushed, embarassed.
"Right."