Madhouse

[Chapter 18]

"Yeah, someone's trying to get revenge." Thatcher confirmed, nodding.

"Do you think it's one of the hosts?" Natsuki suggested.

"I don't know." Thatcher confessed, rubbing the back of his head.

Nolan guided Sienna to a couch, as they found themselves unsuccessful with finding his little sister, Laney. Sienna settled herself down, sighing.

"Um, Nolan. Do you remember the incident three years ago?" She questioned, facing his direction.

"Yeah.." He muttered.

"I was supposed to be there for her. Lucia Hamilton." Sienna sobbed, collapsing her head to her hands. "I was supposed to be her friend.." She added.

"Instead I was too busy fixing my own crap." Sienna whimpered.

Nolan shuffle off the couch, confronting Sienna with a sympathetic smile. "Don't go too hard on yourself." He murmured, patting her shoulder. 

"But I was there, y'know?" She sighed, hanging her head.

"There, as in?"

"I was on the roof with her.. when she jumped." Sienna sniffled.

Three years ago

Lucia climbed onto the top of the fence that blocked any students from injuring themselves on the rooftop. Except she wanted to hurt herself. She wanted to leave this place.. all her problems too. She took in a breath, about to leap, when a cry startled her.

"Wait!" 

"Huh?" She muttered, glancing back, spotting Sienna watching in horror.

"Lucia! Please don't do this." Sienna begged, her own pain reflecting off Lucia's eyes. 

Lucia paused, sighing. "What's the point, Sienna?"

"Please!" She repeated herself.

"Nobody cares about me- everybody hates me. I'm a problem to them so I'm getting rid of myself. 'I'm a waste of space'." She repeated Natsuki's words, as tears streamed down her face.

"I love you, Lucia! You're a joy in my life- my best friend!" Sienna sobbed.

"No, you don't. I didn't ask for your help anyways." Lucia frowned. "I'm leaving the world.." 

"What about your step-sister? What would she think of this?" Sienna blurted out.

"It's better this way.." Lucia breathed. Taking a breath, she leapt off, causing Sienna to shriek.

Sienna leapt forward, attempting to grasp hold, to stop her. But she was gone..

Present

"I did nothing to help." Sienna hung her head, while Nolan did his best to calm her down. 

"Sienna.." He pulled her in for a hug, wrapping his scrawny arms around her. Sienna sniffed, accepting his comforting gesture with a smile.

"Hey, Nolan?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we just stay like this for a little bit..?" She murmured. 

"Yeah, of course." Nolan nodded. He loved her as a friend. Nothing more.

Laney's wail brought them to a pause, startling Nolan. "Laney?"

"Nolan! J-Jenny.. she's gone." Laney whimpered, running into her brother's arms. Nolan hugged her tightly, gently stroking his hands through her ginger curls. Such beauty.. 

"Stay strong for me." Nolan murmured. 

"I will." She nodded, as Jaxon exchanged a smile with the two.

⋆﹥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━﹤⋆

Natsuki and Thatcher made their to the door, attempting to open it. Thatcher grunted with frustration, rolling his eyes. "Something's blocking it." He muttered.

"What? But how- only the host is inside, and she's dead." Natsuki added.

"Let's just try the other room." He suggested, shrugging. "The one that's connected to the room we're trying to get into." Thatcher explained.

"Alright." Natsuki nodded.

The two silently made their way down the way, arriving to the next room. "It's locked." Natsuki groaned, returning to Thatcher's side.

"Who locked it though..?"

"Probably the host." Natsuki murmured.

"She's dead?" Thatcher tilted his head.

"Yes, but there's three." Natsuki nodded.

"Well.. the purple one said it was one of us." She blinked.

"And you believe him..?" Thatcher frowned.

"I don't know what to believe." Natsuki confessed. She felt overwhelmed. She just wanted to go home.

How will they get into the door?

Find out in Chapter 19!

(I apologize for making this so long.. tell me if I should stop or not.)