Crush Culture [M.Wheeler]

[30] IT BURNS

"Alright. I'm 3.6 inches, what do you got?" Bob calls, looking down at the map. "I'm not sure. Nori?" Mike asks, holding the measuring tape.

"I don't even know how to read this thing! Mrs. Byers?" She yells. "Hold on." Joyce responds, making her way to another path of the house. "Twenty-one feet, four inches." She says.

"What about Tippecanoe to Danford Creek?" Bob asks. She sighs. "Danford? Where's Danford?" Joyce stammers.

"Dining room." Will states. Joyce follows through, stopping. "Sixteen feet, ten inches." She informs. "What about Danford to Jordan?"

"Oh, come on. This has gotta be enough." She says in exhaustion. "It's not. It's... it's really not." He shakes his head. Mike and Nori share a look from across the room, then follow them.

"Okay. Can't you figure it out?" She questions. "Well, it's hard. The ratio isn't exactly one-to-one." He stammers. "I mean, if you're twisting my arm, and you are twisting my arm, I would say that the X is..." he trails off.

"...maybe a half mile southeast of Danford?" He smiles. "Thank you. Thank you." Joyce pecks him on the cheek, taking the map and running off.

Will, Mike, and Nori glance around at each other, before following. "What? Are we...we really going?" Bob asks, standing up.

***

"There's nothing. There's nothing here." Mike comments as they sit in the car, Nori asleep, leaning against his shoulder. "Are..Are we close?" Joyce asks.

"We're in the vicinity." Bob responds. "What's that mean, the vicinity?" She asks, clearly stressed. "It means we're close. I don't know. It's not precise." He explains.

"But we did all that work." She complains. "I told you, the scale ratio is not exactly one-to-one. We need to take—"

"Turn right." Will says. "What?" Joyce truns around. "I saw him." He states. "Where?"

"Not here. In my now-memories." He explains. "In your what?" Bob furrows his eyebrows. "Mike, what's going on?" Nori asks tiredly as her eyes shoot open from the loud yelling.

"Turn right!" Will screams. Joyce quickly spins around, causing everyone in the car to scream. Will flies into Nori, pushing her closer to Mike while they break through a sign.

Joyce stops the car abruptly at the sight of Jim's car. The screaming stops, leaving only their heavy breathing. "What a fun way to wake up." Nori mutters, sitting back up and rubbing her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Joyce asks the kids, who nod. "Superspy." Mike realizes. "What's Jim doing here? Joyce?" Bob inquires. "Boys, Elle, I need you to stay here." Joyce ignores his question.

"No. Mom, Mom, Mom, it's not safe." Will refuses. "That's why i need you to stay here! Stay here!" She repeats, slamming the door shut while her and Bob walk out.

Despite being told not to leave the car, Nori, Mike, and Will step out, looking down at the grass. "Do you see anything? I mean, in your now-memories?" Mike speaks up.

Will shakes his head no. Suddenly, they hear cars approaching loudly. Multiple vans pull up, causing the kids to fearfully eye each other.

They begin to swarm into the tunnel in large hasmat suits, making sure Mike, Will, And Nori stayed back. Unexpectedly, Will clutches onto his stomach, falling down in pain.

"Will? Will, you okay?" Mike asks worriedly. "Will, Will!" Nori bends down beside him. Will flips over, letting out an ear piercing scream while he shakes without stop, as if he were having a seizure.

Nori and Mike back away in fear, completely shocked and confused.

***

"I'm right here. Just hold on." Joyce cries as they push Will through the hospital. Nori struggles to keep up with them, holding Mike's hand tightly.

"Vitals?" A nurse asks. "Heart rate 220 Temperature's 106." They continue to feel around, trying to figure out what could be wrong with the boy. "Will, where does it hurt?"

"All over!" He screams while they cut open his shirt to check for any burns. "She says he feels like he's burning. Check for burns." Dr. Sam Owens instructs.

"I don't see anything." The ER doctor responds. "Where does it hurt the most, Will?"

"Everywhere! Everywhere!"

Nori covers her mouth, tears spilling out while Mike stands beside her in shock. They inject Will with a needle, calming him down and putting him to sleep.