The park is open once again, the police tape gone. There's candles lining the path to the clearing. There's also a note.
Margaret arrives early as she looks to the note near the path with a curious look. The note reads: ZGVpdHk=
Myla and Alex pull up shortly after. They're a bit early, but whatever.
Alex walks up to the path.
"This isn't weird at all..."
Margaret takes the note as she makes her way down the path.
A Black Ford F150 pulls up eventually. A cherry red Miata follows directly behind them and parks next to them.
Avery rolls down the window and sticks her head out, "WERE YOU FUCKING TAILGATING US???!?"
Cole is smiling wide and rolls down his window, "YEAH AND I HAVE BRICK" Cole grabs the brick from his center console and shows it to them.
Cupid just walks into the parking lot, not a vehicle in sight.
A small black car pulls up, and out comes Jamie. Oh god. The fucking brick.
"Oh god. The fucking brick." Avery pulls her head back in and rolls up the window.
"Oh God. The fucking brick." Cupid says.
"It's a fucking brick holy shit," says Malo.
"It's edible," Cole smiles. Poppy walks into the park, she ignores whatever it is that's happening here and heads down the path. Cole jumps out of his car and sprints over to Cupid and shows them the brick with a sliver of a corner chewed off, "I eated part of the brick"
"That's so hot." Cupid joked.
"That man's a fucking living himbo how is he still alive." Malo says.
"Luck." Avery replies.
"I fucking knew it!" Cole bounces on his heels and puts the brick in his pocket.
Avery waits for Malo to get out of the car first. Malo gets out first! Taking a good look at the others. She has her backpack on this time. There's something slightly sticking out of it. Avery climbs out of the same exact door Malo went (instead of her door) and fucking HIDES BEHIND HER.Malo looks back at Avery with a soft, understanding smile as they begin to walk towards the path.
"Everything's going to be alright."
Avery sighs and follows, grabbing Malo's HAND.
Cole takes the brick out of his pocket and puts it in Cupid's pocket. Cupid takes the brick out of his pocket and puts it in Cole's pocket.
Ayden parks his moped as he hops off. He’s wearing a astronaut space suit for some fucking reason as he heads down the path.
"Keep the brick," Cole puts it back in Cupid's pocket
Cupid takes the brick out of his pocket and puts it in Cole's pocket. "Why."
Jamie watches in awe, with a raised eyebrow and a horrified face. After a few seconds they just shake their head, and try to blink what just happened away. It was going to be a long night.
"Marriage," Cole puts the brick in Cupid's pocket and sprints towards the path. He fucking sprints after Cole, being weighed down by the brick. An approaches the group, having walked from her home to the park. But they have no idea what the fuck is going on, so she stays quiet and observes the group losing their minds over a brick. Jamie follows a ways behind, down the path. Path time. Yep. An goes with the group down the path. They love paths. Totally. Elizabeth arrives, heading down the path.
---
The path is lined with blue candles, the red pulsating light still in the trees. Margaret makes her way down the path, looking around and looking to the red lights and blue candles. Myla is a bit more nervous now. They still remember what happened. It's so weird to be back here.
"You ok Myla? You look a bit shaken and shit..." Alex asks.
"Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine. It's ok."
Ayden continues forward and through the path. Thank god his work uniform is warm.
Malo enters the path area, gazing at the candles with a raised eyebrow, still holding Avery's hand. Avery watches the red pulsating light as they pass. Malo tries to reassure Avery with a smile as best she can as they approach the clearing area.
Cole stops sprinting on the path and is fucking shivering. Cupid takes the brick out of his pocket, setting it on the ground next to the entrance and sprinting after Cole to try to tackle him. "Be warm." Cole is TACKLED and stumbles a little as he giggles.
Jamie continues walking down the path, towards the tables.
There's a figure standing at the edge of the clearing, wearing a cloak and mask. It's Roxy.
The mask is white and plastic, with a wide smile and blacked out nose. There's hearts around the eyes, which the bottom part of them simulate dripping. There's an umbrella on the forehead.
Theyre holding a candle.
After what felt like a solid year and a half of walking, Alex makes it to the clearing, Myla trailing close behind. "Uh, hello?"
"What's the password?" Roxy asks. Margaret appears shortly behind as she looks to the figure. Myla looks at Alex. She looks back at them. They ignored the note at the start. Whoops.
“Deity,” Margaret says.
Roxy steps out of the way. "Continue to the tables and take a seat."
Margaret makes her way to the table area. Alex and Myla follow Margaret. Roxy walks back into her place.
Malo walks up with Avery
"Whats the password"
Poppy walks up
"Uhh..." Avery glances over her shoulder and looks back to Roxy, sighing. "Deity, right?"
"Ok go to the tables and take a seat" Roxy shuffles out of the way
"William afton five nights at freddy's 3" says Avery
"Wow." Roxy replies.
Malo looked nervous, but just for a moment as she holds her hand and heads down to the tables, "Hey springtrap is good"
"I didn't say he wasn't!!!"
"Nice mask," Poppy says to Roxy as she walks past. Cole sprints past Roxy as they step to the side with Cupid on his back like a fucking goblin. Ayden tries to walk past Roxy with success.
---
There's a couple of tables and chairs like last time, same amount of food too. This time, however, there's a small stage with candles on it and a pedestal. There's some banners with some sort of symbol resembling a smiley face with an anarchy symbol over it.
Lucille is behind the pedestal and Raine is sitting on the stage next to her, holding his head.
Lucille is wearing a blue dress with a black jacket over it. She's also got on blue makeup and blue tinted, heart-shaped sunglasses. Blue flowers are in her hair and some under her eyes. Striped leggings and combat boots.
Raine is wearing a black hoodie with a red shirt under it and black jeans. Black hiking boots, gloves. Different glasses, though, they're circular.
"Huh. You didn't tell me we'd be getting food." Alex says.
"Oh, uh, yeah, forgot. Sorry." Myla replies. Alex sits down, Myla sits opposite of her.
Raine coughs a little bit.
Malo enters with Avery, heading to a table. Avery sits down with Malo, shuffling close. Firm handhold.
Alex looks at Raine. "You alright, uh..." She looks at Myla. "Who is that, by the way?"
"It's Raine, I think? I don't know, man, my memory is fuckin-"
"No no, good enough." She looks at Raine again. "Are you alright, Raine?"
"I'll be fine," Raine smiles. Poppy walks in and just sits down at a random table.
"You want any food, Avy?" Malo asks Avery.
"I'd probably vomit so no."
She nods "Fair enough.."
Cole sprints into the table area and stands near a table away from everyone with Cupid. Margaret pulls out what looks to be a watermelon goodie back of sweets and candy. Alex is looking around. Huh, she didn't expect anyone to show up, really. Didn't this park have a bear attack or something a couple days ago? Whatever.
An's here too. She followed everyone so discreetly. The only person they recognize is Margaret, but at the same time social anxiety is making this situation difficult. So they just... stand towards the back nearby the tables. Observing.
Ayden sits down at a table close to the front. Myla can't help but keep looking at Alex. She was gone for so long, god... She looks like she's okay, though..
Avery STARES at Raine. Raine is too zoned out to notice. Kiera's in a corner just sitting and playing with grass. Alex is also looking at Raine. She feels weird. But, to be fair, this is a group of people Myla met. They're probably just high or something, who knows. An notices certain people focusing intensely on another person. But, they barely know their names or faces. So she didn't say anything about it.
Lucille cracks her knuckles as Roxy runs back to the stage and sits next to Raine. Lucille looks down at the two of them and nods. Raine heads over and shakily grabs a bowl of... orange tic tacs? Roxy grabs enough dice for everyone and gives each person one. They're d20s.
Lucille smiles, and says one word.
"Roll."
Everyone does so.
"I'm gonna eat the dice," says Cole. Avery seems slightly shaken with her roll.
"These are most likely made with resin. Don't." Alex says.
"Crunchy munchy."
"Everyone who got lower than ten, take a tic tac from the bowl. This is the beginning of your initiation into the cult, the beginning of infiltration." Lucille gestures to the bowl that Raine's holding. They look exactly like tic tacs.
Alex is staring at the bowl. Hm.
"..." Avery gives a shakey sigh. "Alright." She stands up and pulls Malo with her. "I don't care what roll you got, you're doing this with me, okay?? Please..?"
Malo comes along with Avery, giving a small and worried nod with her as she comes along, "Of course, I'm fine with that."
Alex grabs one and sniffs it. It doesn't really smell minty. Roxy sits on the stage and kicks her legs. An feels... concerned. But its just a tic tac. They take one. They don't quite eat it yet. She wants to see what everyone else does first.
Cole gets Cupid off of his back and walks over to the bowl and grabs one and stares at it intently. Ayden grabs one. “Huh.”
Alex puts the tic tac in her mouth, moving it under her tongue and pretending to swallow it.
Margaret just watches the others take their tic tac. Avery approaches the bowl, grabs two, and holds one out to Malo. Lucille can feel... something unnatural lurking around. Lucille looks around, not too concerned. Malo holds the one handed to her, and looks at Avery with a small smile of reassurance. Avery swallows hers. Malo swallows hers moments after.
Myla is looking at Alex. She just ate a tic tac, right? Just for immersion. Nothing to worry about.
"Eh, can't be worse than car oil" Cole tosses the pill in his mouth and swallows it instantly.
Something felt weird. Its just their superstition though, right? ..An puts the tic tac in her mouth, but doesn't quite swallow it. She doesn't normally swallow tic tacs right away, why should she now?
Ayden the tic tac. Get fucked white boy.
Cole walks back over to Cupid and vibes.
Alex looks at Myla. "W a t e r," she blinks in Morse Code. Myla hands her a bottle of water. "Excuse me for a second." Alex gets up, moving to a point where people can still see her, but not that well. She spits the pill onto the water bottle, and walks back.
Poppy raises an eyebrow at the tic tacs but takes one, she examines it for a minute before shrugging and taking it. An's been unnoticed basically the whole time. They were grateful for it here. They bring a hand up to her mouth and cough ever so softly, spitting out the tictac. She hated sour things more than any other flavor. Fuck the LARP, they weren't taking an orange tictac for a LARP. Gross as it may be, she slipped it into their pocket until they could find a trash can later.
Alex looks around. "I never really liked oranges. Mint is better in my opinion."
"Where's the brick?" Cole asks.
Everyone who ingested the R053 pill, disguised as an orange tic tac, would begin to feel... increasingly tired. A bad headache coming on. And then.. where are they, actually? Who are they? Wh.. The woman before them, Lucille, that's all they know. They know happiness now.
Malo, on the other hand, would JUST get the headache. 'Avery' grabs a table for support.
Myla looks at Alex. She seems alright, thank God. They pull their phone out.
Malo doesn't look too hot as the headache hit, immediately starting to flinch and hold her head with a sharp gasp, "W..Whg-"
'Cole' rests his head on his table as he groans. Alex is concerned. She doesn't do anything, she's sure they saw her spitting the pill onto that bottle. She looks at Myla. 'Ayden' just rests his head on his table. Margaret looks around worried at the others.
Raine starts coughing, like, a lot. Setting down the bowl of pills, they start to cough up blood. He looks around at everyone. "It worked." He smiles. Wide. Almost as wide as Lucille. He starts laughing, nearly hysterically. And then? Nothing. It just stands there, a blank slate. What the fuck did Myla bring Alex into. She's considering fleeing. Kiera looks around, concerned.
Ellie goes to Raine. "Are you okay?? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Malo's knees weaken as she gives another raspy gasp, nearly starting to tumble to the ground but gripping onto something nearby.
An noticed the shift in behavior from everyone who took the tictac. Ohh, they thought, this is some acting thing isn't it? Part of the story? The group must have forgotten to tell her. She then sat down in a nearby chair, head in their hands. It just so happened to be nearby Margaret. "Hi, Margaret... nice to see you again."
“Oh! Hey An! Nice too see you. You roll high I assume?” Margaret asks.
"Not high enough, apparently... got a 9." Their head was resting on the table looking up at her, before she got a bit closer and whispered, hardly audibly: "I have no idea what's going on."
“You ok? What’s the matter?” Margaret looks around and thinks what the heck is the matter with everyone else?
Myla looks at Alex. "We should, uhm, go talk for a bit, on that clearing over there."
Alex nods. They both get up and leave. They don't want to risk anything.
Acedia ('Avery') stands up straight, rolls his shoulders, and despite the pain, grabs Malo to help her up. He looks at her with slit pupils and a small, smug smirk. She wheezes, and seems dazed out of her mind, giving a small whimper as she's grabbed and helped up, "Hh.."
As for everyone else...
If they were paying attention, they'd start to notice Lucille becoming. Taller. Her eyes become darker. Her limbs becoming longer. Lucille's jaw basically unhinges, revealing teeth, sharp like needles. Something comes out from her back. Long, dark tendrils, covered in what appear to be.. bones.? of some kind. Everyone feels that same unsettling feeling from when they met Lucille. Something... Something is dreadfully wrong.
---
Myla looks at Alex, worried. "D-DID YOU FUCKING TAKE IT?! ARE YOU OKAY? I- FUCK- UGH-"
"Myla, shut up. I asked for that water bottle for a reason." Alex pulls it out, pill inside. "So. What's going on? Did this happen last meeting or?" Alex is constantly looking back into the table area. If needed, she'll beat someone up. Not even for herself, just for Myla.
"N-No. I don't know, I just-" They're hyperventilating.
"Hey, calm down. If needed we'll just get out of here, ok? I'd say we're better off waiting here until... whatever is going on is over-" Alex looks at the table area again. What the fuck, what the fuck, what the FUCK?! "Myla, I don't fucking care, just... FUCK!" She grabs their arm and runs towards the path.
---
Willow arrives not long after! She's holding the container of cookies, and excited about the meeting, though wary. The path closes behind Willow, long, dark tendrils blocking the way. Impossible to get through. She shudders, looking back.
"Huh. Huuuuhm. That's new. I think." She takes note of this, and begins to walk faster, though doesn't display much concern. Alex and Myla come running, until they stumble upon Willow.
"what- I- hello? Alex, Myla?"
"HOLY SHIT, WILLOW." Alex yells, "DON'T GO IN, I DON'T FUCKING KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BUT-"
"Hey guys like, the path just closed behind me which is pretty weird-" Willow says. Alex isn't like this. She saw something. Something she can't describe.
"T-The path... What...?" Myla says.
"Yea I don't think you can go back this way. Of course I haven't tried. But like, imagine if a like.. massive mean squid was suddenly behind you and won't move?" Willow says, "Also what? Is something happening..? I brought cookies-"
Alex is looking around. What the fuck is going on. She's having a panic attack.
"Are you ok..?"
Myla also looks around, they try to pry their eyes from... whatever this is. Fuck.
"I- I don't understand, what's going.. on..? You seem really scared-" Willow sets the container of cookies down, and tries to comfort her, but is unsure of what to do. Alex is constantly looking down the path. She should've stayed at the cemetery, to be honest. Fuck. "I- I don't think we can go back this way, Alex- we can try?"
Alex is yelling at Willow. "DID YOU BRING THE FUCKING BATTERIES?!"
"Are the others ok-" Willow asks, "Uh, yes? AA, like you asked-"
Alex has a plan, in case it all goes to shit. Willow holds out the batteries, and Alex grabs them.
"Really, what's going on-" Willow asks.
"I don't know-" Alex's sobbing slightly. "Just... Blue haired girl and... Fuck..."
"Lucy..?"
---
Elizabeth looks at Lucille, eyes widening. "What the fuck is happening-" Kiera gets up quickly, trying to use her crutches to run the fuck away!
Acedia hugs Malo, trying to hide her face in his chest. He stays silent. Margaret holds An’s hand to comfort her as she looks to Lucy with fear. Malo is stiff and silent. Acedia's chest can feel the slighest inch of dampness.
An was just about to nod and let Margaret know they're only acting, until they notice Lucille. "What... is that...?" They get the feeling its a good idea to keep acting for just a little more. But stay alert, stay aware. She's in danger and they know it.
The overwhelming need to cry is felt by anyone in the general vicinity, aside from Acedia probably. Eyes are. Everywhere. to the people who didn't take the pills. Everywhere they look. There are eyes. Everywhere. Eyes. The urge to stare into them, the urge to look, it hurts but you can't stop looking. The headache the eyes give is strong, it hurts, it burrows into their mind.
Acedia hugs Malo tight, nuzzling her gently. Kiera whimpers and falls to the floor, shaking and trying to close her eyes to avoid the eyes. Margaret looks to An’s eyes only trying to not look at the eyes around. Elizabeth groans and stares, panicking.
Raine... no, Claire looks up at Lucille with a smile. This is her God.
An returns Margaret's gaze. They're used to suppressing the urge to cry, but this time it felt so much harder. It felt suffocating. She didn't need to see them cry though. That was the only thing going through An's mind. "What the hell is going on...?" they whisper.
Margaret whispers back, “I have no idea. Let just keep calm… we will get though this”
Malo seems to cry! Into Acedia. Pat pat pat pat. He's trying to comfort her as best as possible.
Max ('Cole') is vibin with his head still on the table. Ripley ('Poppy') is just sorta there at the moment staring into space with tears running down their face, it seems shes struggling to process the chaos.
An nods. She's suddenly grateful to have ran into Margaret just days before. They hold onto her hand as a reflex of both comfort and terror. Malo remains still and silent.
The urge to cry is gone, basically.
Lucille tilts her head, more slits becoming visible, though they don't open. Anyone who didn't take the pills and looked into the eyes at any point would feel a presence in their mind.
Though, it will remain dormant for now. 🙂
Kiera is still crying their eyes out. "What just happened-" They mutter, trying to get back up and run away. Margaret and An are just staring at each other and nothing else.
Elizabeth looks around shakily. "R-Raine are you okay-" She says nervously. Claire doesn't reply.
---
Myla feels a bit calmer. That weird sensation of being watched is gone.
"Can- can I hug you- do you need.." Willow is clearly not well rehearsed in comfort.
Same applies to Alex. She wipes the tears off of her eyes. "No. I feel... somewhat better. Let's go check on the others really quick..."
"Ok, ok, I'll bring the cookies still-" Willow picks up the container, opting to follow Myla and Alex. Myla and Alex go down the path, heading straight towards the table area.
---
Myla and Alex walk in. Myla is clearly shaken, and Alex has a bit of runny makeup. What the fuck just happened.
"Hey guys I'm not sure what's going on but Alex seemed pretty scared so.. shame..? Also I brought.. cookies.. uh-" Willow says.
"...something changed... but I'm scared to look away from you.." On a totally unrelated note, An thought Margaret's eyes were beautiful. Thank you, Margaret. For having such pretty eyes, especially in comparison to whatever the FUCK just happened. Kiera tries to hide behind a tree, shaking a lot
Willow starts looking and people's faces. Charlie Wonka ('Ayden') continues to rest her head on the table.
"Is this.. a bad time.. for cookies- or.. anything-" Willow asks. Alex stares at Lucy. She's not really scared anymore. She just stares. What the fuck did she do.
Lucille's returned to her regular form by now. She walks over to Kiera. "Are you alright, doll?" Myla is dead quiet. They're shaking, basically. Fucking hell.
”Its like a storm… it will hopefully just pass though…” Margaret says. Ripley snaps back into reality shaking it's head, they look around looking confused.
Kiera looks up at Lucille nervously. "W-what;s happening whats happenign whats happening-" They repeat, panicking.
Willow walks over to the table, just setting the cookies down. Clearly, something happened, but by complete luck and bad timing, they missed everything. Lucille picks up Kiera.
Acedia stands up, keeping Malo as comforted and held as possible. He looks around, clearly calm.
Alex is still standing up. Myla is at this point a statue. Fucking hell.
Kiera's shaking in Lucille's arms. "Y-you looked all scary and there were eyes everywhere-"
"It'll be okay." Lucille assures her.
"W-was it real- I'm so confused-" Kiera sobs.
Myla grabs their phone. Max picks his head up and looks around at everyone with a manic grin and also looks fucking feral and ready to murder someone. Malo is fucking clinging to Acedia quite a bit.
Margaret looks to An and whispers, “Let’s just leave… it will be ok.” An can vaguely hear voices around them... but right now, she doesn't give a fuck. They want out. Now. Throat feeling impossibly dry, all she can do is nod in reply and hold onto Margaret hand a little tighter. Margaret looks to An and nods, holding her hand as they stand up and start to walk to the path.
Willow goes to climb a nearby tree, sitting near the top and watching, nervous, as per usual.
Lucille brings Kiera up to the stage, holding her. Claire and Roxy stay at Lucille's side.
She laughs, smiling inhumanly wide.
Kiera seems confused but clings to Lucille. "W-what's Deity in Death-"
"What the fuck is this." Alex says. Max stares at Lucille like a feral animal.
Acedia turns to look at Lucille, grinning slightly, "A cult, obviously."
"Wow, no shit. But what the FUCK were those 'tic tacs' or whatever." Alex asks.
"Oh so it IS just what they said but real. Man I feel like I should've seen this coming." Willow mutters to herself.
"Okay Mr. Furry Feline Fleabag." Lucille says to Acedia.
He holds out his hand to Lucille, making a talking motion. "Mimimimimimi! Shhh. It's a rough night."
"A cult??" Kiera looks at Lucille. "R-really?"
"It's only a cult if we're wrong. Do you believe what you just saw, Kiera? Did you see my Divinity? We aren't wrong." Lucille says.
Alex motions for Myla to go. She can handle herself well, but Myla is just... fuck.
"D-Divinity? Are you a God too?"
Lucille nods.
"L-like Fenrir?"
"I'm more than Fenrir could ever be," Lucille smiles.
Acedia chuckles, "I mean, it's a cult right now. Get a few more people, that'll be a congregation!"
"That's a big fuckin word" Max mutters as he stares at them.
Kiera looks confused but lays its head on Lucilles chest. "A-are you in my head-"
"Why would I need to be?" Lucille asks.
"I- I dunno-"
Charlie starts humming a tune, not paying attention to anything.
Willow debates the fact that leaving would be a good idea, but isn't entirely sure how too now that An, Margaret, and Myla left.
Max is patting himself down as he mutters, "Do I have anything to murder someone"
Claire stares at Max in disgust. Lucille stares at Max and sees something in him. Max snaps to staring at Claire with murderous intent.
Lucille looks to Claire, "Give him a gun" Claire does so???????
Max takes it and stares at it with a manic smile, "Thank you, can I kill someone now?"
"So basically if I tell you to kill someone do it" Lucille says.
Max nods, "Understood"
Acedia starts trying to sneak away. With Malo. Subtly.
---
Margaret and An make it to the path as they walk down it “Are you ok?”
"The fuck do you think-?" An snaps back at her. That was rude. They close their eyes for a second, finally looking and turning away from her. "No, sorry- uncalled for, you didn't do anything... but no, not really. Are you?"
Myla runs past the two of them, they don't wanna stick around at all.
“No I’m not ok. But I’ll internalize it until we get out of here”
"...lets take after her example. And get the fuck out of here. This might be the most unnerving path I've ever seen..."
“Yea” Margaret holds An’s hand tight and starts to run to both of their pace, “Do you have a car?”
"I walked here, but I have one at the house... I figured I wouldn't need one. Didn't expect to be nearly drugged at a LARP meeting."
“We’ll do know where your house is? Can I stay for the night?”
"Of course! I think I'd feel better if you did." An smiles just a bit to themselves in spite of the utter chaos occuring around her. "I'll know at least one sane person here will be safe."
“T-thanks” They keep running until they make it to the entrance
---
Acedia and Malo run out of the path! Acedia reaches into Malo's pockets and pulls out the keys. He runs over to the truck, opens up the passenger side door, and tries to help Malo in. She takes the help as best she can, trying to bite back the faintest whimper as she gets in. Once Malo is in, Acedia takes a step back. "Wait here for a moment, alright?"
"..Okay." Malo replies. "If I die or s-something.. hhaha, I'm going to. Haunt you. I guess.."
"If you die, you'll just come to Hell with me~." He chuckles, clearly just teasing. "You'll be fine."
Malo shakily looks down at her phone, giving a deep, exaggerated sigh as she holds onto the seat.
"Hhewasright.."
Acedia shuts the door and then runs over to Myla and Alex's car, knocking on the window.
Myla has locked themselves in their own car. They are hyperventilating so much, it's a surprise that the car has enough fresh air left for them to breathe. Alex makes it to the car. She doesn't tell Myla to drive. She wants to wait. Just a moment. "Fucking hell, they pulled a fucking gun out or something, uh... Don't you have anything useful besides poison in your backpa- Sorry, knapsack?"
"Uh, I mean, I have like, a knife? Water laced with an extremely lethal amount of cyanide? Uh-" Myla rolls the window down upon seeing Acedia. "Uhh... hi?"
"Hi." It's Avery! Just with vaguely glowing, all white eyes with black cat-like pupils instead of her normal eyes :] "Fair warning, pretty sure the new version of Cole has an itchier trigger finger than a cowboy on 7 pints of pure alcohol, so try to get out of here as fast as possible? Like, he was SCANNING for someone to kill! So... Don't wait too long now!"
Myla stares at Acedia. "What-"
"What part are you confused about?"
"I'm confused about EVERYTHING, really...?"
"I can explain!" Acedia smiles, "Sorta."
"I'm... all ears, I guess."
"So, you know those tictacs?"
"Yeah, Alex was told to eat one..." Myla says, "Pretty sure she spat it out, though."
"Oh, I know. I noticed. Good thing, too! Else she wouldn't be Alex anymore. Personality? Memories? Gone! Like Cole. And Ayden. And Raine. And that brit lass who I JUST met today..." He holds out his hand, smiling. "Acedia Lamb, by the way."
They shake his hand. "Myla LaFleur... Wait, uh, what do you mean just, gone?"
"I mean replaced. Same body, completely new person."
"Should've added something that smelled like mint to whatever that was. Almost had me, to be honest." Alex says, "Most tictacs are processed in the same factory, so it's bound that the minty smell of the mint ones would permeate within the other flavors. For someone who could seemingly make a pill that can just, alter someones personality, I'm shocked they didn't consider that."
He stares at Alex. "....Right. A smarty. Good to know."
"Sorry, I just watch a ton of "How It's Made" when I'm not tired, so..." Alex sighs, "Alexandria LaFleur, by the way. Nice to meet you."
"Siblings? Great!...I'm gonna head off before quote unquote Cole runs out here guns blazing, right? Good night, you two! Try not to die before the next time we speak!" Acedia gives a thumbs up, walking backwards for a bit before turning and running over to the F150. He climbs into the driver's side of the truck and starts it up. SPEEDING OFF.
Hm. That was... interesting. Alex has the weird urge to go back in, but holds it back. Curiosity killed the cat. She looks at Myla. "Lets just go. Pretty sure we're better off at home." Myla nods, they're still really fucking traumatized, and starts to drive back.
---
They get home, where Alex doesn't even wait till Myla is out of the car until she starts to scream.
"QUE PORRA FOI AQUILO?! EU SABIA QUE TU FUMAVA MAS MENINA EU NAO PEDI PRA ENTRA NUM GRUPO DE MACONHEIRO!"
"E-Eu nao sei, foi mo do nada e so... porra."
"Olha. Eu to nem ai se voce fica saindo com esses caras e fica tomando adderall ou sei la que bosta era aquilo. So... nao to envolvida nisso. Ce sabe que foi assim que a mae-"
"CALA A TUA BOCA. NAO FALA NADA SOBRE ELA."
"Myla, tu tem que aceitar aquilo. Foi tipo, 6 anos atras? Tu so nao cresce e isso so fica doendo sabe-"
"EU TE FALEI PRA CALAR A BOCA!" Myla gets out of the car, slamming the door, and heading inside.
---
Some Time Later
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Alex was still thinking about the fight. It was just another fight, but this time it felt different. She was doing this for Myla's own good. They just need to stop thinking about their parents.
That's when she remembered what Acedia told Myla. About the "tic-tacs". She still had that bottle where she spat the one she got out, doesn't she?
Maybe this will help them. She just wants them happy.
Alex just wants her siblings to be happy.