~ Wings ~ Sanders Sides ~

~ Chapter Fourteen ~ Virgil ~

When I head downstairs the next morning, I immediately know something is off. I look around.

Logan is at the table, textbooks strewn around him along with his journal and computer. To my surprise, Hailey is next to him, pointing at things and conversing with him. Remy and Emile are snuggling up on the couch, watching Aladdin with Roman.

Then I look at the kitchen, where Patton is normally whipping up whatever is for breakfast, but it's empty. I try to shrug it off, but there are alarm bells going off in my head. Since I know better than to ignore them, I go back upstairs wordlessly.

When I reach Patton's door, I knock. "You there, Pat?" I call out. No response. I knock again. Still nothing. I open the door hesitantly, not knowing what I'll find.

When I step inside, the room is still. I start to worry. It's not like Patton to run off without an explanation, so the only other option is that—

No. I wake up later than everyone else, so he might have gone outside. I head back downstairs.

This time, Logan notices me. "Good morning, Virgil," he says, glancing up. "Is everything alright? You seem worried, more so than usual."

"Did Patton come downstairs?" I ask, not even trying to hide my rising panic.

"No, why?" Hailey replies. "Is he not in his room?" I shake my head.

"Virgil, he probably just ran off," Roman assures, his voice and eyes full of care. "There's no need to work yourself up over this."

"He doesn't normally run off!" I protest.

"He also does not normally withdraw himself from the group or be startled by any and all sudden noises and sensations," Logan replies. "And yet he has done both of those things. I would not be surprised if he has run off."

"But what if he didn't?!" I nearly scream as tears prick my eyes. I can tell that I'm about to have a panic attack, despite my best efforts not to. "What if— what if Deceit has him a-and he's hurting him and I can't d-do anything to st-stop him!!" I'm unaware of Logan standing in front of me until his hand is on my shoulder.

"Virgil, you are being irrational. Breathe," he instructs. "In for four seconds. Hold for seven seconds. Out for eight seconds. Ok?" I follow the exercise, one that I know by heart.

When I'm calm enough, I say, "It's still a possibility.."

"Would it make you feel better if we asked them?" Logan asks, a glimmer of worry in his eyes. I nod. "Very well, then. We shall pay the others a visit."

"Can I come?" Roman asks excitedly, a hand on the hilt of his sword.

Reluctantly, I shake my head. "You tend to turn any little thing into a way bigger deal than it needs to be."

"You do that, too."

"Yeah, true, which is why I'm bringing Logan. He knows how to keep a level head." Is that a hint of blush in Logan's cheeks?

Roman pouts, but says, "Fiine, you can take Logan with you."

I take Logan's hand off my shoulder, then rush upstairs to the boundary. You better not have taken him..