Lego House

xvii. Help?

Roselle hates the insistent cold air. It traps her in her arms, flying all around her and making her shiver. Michael's asleep, but he doesn't look peaceful. She's too used to seeing people asleep with the calmest expressions, like nothing could hurt them, that seeing him in so much pain in his sleep causes her heart to break.

It could be his leg, which they had only just managed to stop from bleeding out. But it is probably the fact that they escaped the confinements of Mr Maust's building. And then Pyllagement entirely. And now there's no way in unless they both want to die.

And they don't.

He stirs, bumps his head on Rose's leg, and wakes up. Slowly but surely. "Hey, sleepy-head."

"Hey, gorgeous." Roselle doubts he can see her face in the dark, but she turns away anyway, to let her hair hide her blushing cheeks. His voice is sleepily husky, and his eyes are only half open. "Are we safe?"

"In a mass of bushes and sticks? Yes, I believe we are." Michael sighs and nods, his heading tapping against her thigh. Silence fills the space, with only the rustle of the leaves and faint chirping resounding. "I keep going back to the fact that we left a seven year old in there." Michael groans, twisting away from her and onto his back, his hands behind his head.

"Don't remind me." He's fully awake now, and she can just see his eyes, so alive and jumbled with thoughts. That's Michael. Always thinking, and never needing to shield his 'thinking face' from the world. Roselle isn't sure if he realises he has a thinking face. Or if he realises he can hide it.

"We can't go back to save them."

"I know."

"So, what are you thinking?"

"That you should sleep." She sighs but she knows he's right. She attempts to stop a yawn from escaping her lips, but fails. Michael laughs. "Here," he says, and sits up. He dusts off his jeans then rubs his thumb along Rose's cheek. "Lay down," he whispers.

She falls asleep almost immediately. First, she thinks about Michael. Then Irisa. Then she sleeps.

Other Jarrett is back in actual Jarrett's head. Confusing, yes. "Don't just leave Autumn there, Jarrett!"

"You've gone to referring to me as you now, huh? Not, the robot." He rolls his eyes, then lifts up his arm. It flickers. "I'm fading, that's why I'm here."

"Fading?"

"Yes, you idiot. This isn't a bloody permanent thing. There needs to be regular injections. They're trying to improve them, so they don't happen so often, I think. But, y'know - you're the test run besides the rats. So they don't really know how long it'll last on you." Jarrett's lips part. "Stay put until your father comes. Then tell him you need another injection."

Robot Jarrett's entire body flickers. "Or not," actual Jarrett says, smirking, as Robot Jarrett flashes out of existence. Jarrett's head spins like it did when he was injected. Then he's back, and Autumn is in front of him, and he reaches out to hug her.

She slaps him across the face. "Don't go near me, you robot!" she shrieks. He presses his eyes shut and exhales loudly. She can slap.

"You always did love calling people names, didn't you?" His voice is back to normal, and she gasps. Then she shakes her head, widens her eyes with a stern expression and presses a finger to her lips. The door opens.

"Pedro," Autumn breathes.

"There are no cameras in here. But, Jar, I know it's you." He's holding two syringes, and Jarrett knows exactly what for. "Bringing the lot of you here, risking my life - it apparently means nothing to your stupid father. So I'm going to do something for you. One thing. And never again." He exhales nervously and empties both syringes.