Carrie decided to spook him by jumping the bowl, the blood block smearing the tip of his nose, “Boo!” she chuckled. Jordan sneered and reeled back, wiping his nose. Chris and Alek chuckled beside. “You need to relax!” Carrie pats his head. Jordan's eyes focused behind Carrie and on an ajar cabinet. Where he saw four medicine bottles. He wasn't close enough to read the labels, and he didn't want to draw more attention to himself, so he swallowed his questions and smiled.

“I’ll make you some, Alek. You still don’t look too good” she doted on Alek, who was still struggling to stay in the air. “I’ll make you two coffee as well! Go and sit down before he collapses” she shooed them out of the kitchen. They went to a booth, Jordan leaving Alek and Chris at the table before going to peer through the kitchen window. She was just putting the cup into the microwave with no funny business as far as he could see. What he had missed before peeking in was Carrie sprinkling a white powder atop the gelatinous blood before pouring it into a mug to absorb.

Ketamine.

Satisfied by what he saw, Jordan went back to the table to sit.

“So you got me out of my death bed to chastise my friend?” Alek sat on one side of the booth with his legs laid out on the whole seat. Jordan let out an exasperated sigh.

“I..I must be going insane”

“We have to find out what this is before it gets any worse. Could he be allergic to something?” Chris offered. Carrie came out to make the coffee with a sprinkle of special powder before turning to serve it. They took their first sips while she stood next to the table. “Agh. Bitter. Is there any sugar?” he asked Carrie.

“Is it? I like bitter coffee” Jordan stared into his mug.

“No, sorry. They’re all being used by other tables” She apologized.

“Okay. I’ll drink it anyway. I’ve gotten at most two hours of sleep in the past three days” He relented into his cup. Carrie scattered. They sipped on their hot drinks, brainstorming ideas.

Detergent changes?

No.

A new weather allergy?

He doesn’t think he can get allergies.

Bad insect bite reaction? Bedbugs? Bees?

No? But that doesn’t stop Alek from getting the creepy crawlies.

The time passed quickly as they eased into their seats, getting refill after refill on their drinks. The place practically emptied out after lunch, and the sky began to grow dark. This time when Carrie came for refills, the human boys covered the top of their mugs with their hands.

“That’s enough, I feel nauseous” Jordan chuckled.

“It’s not working for my exhaustion. If anything I feel even more tired” Chris snickered, slumping a little. Alek, however, offered up his mug to be refilled. He was now able to set his feet on the floor. This excited all three of them, urging him to drink more. The weather had turned for the worst, rain pummeling the glass windows.

Shortly after, Jordan and Chris began acting strangely while Alek only started to feel slightly drowsy. Sitting limply in their seats, a blissful smile on their faces. Except for Alek.

“I’m glad it’s not because of Carrie. She really seems niiiice” Chris grasped Aleks hand from across the table like a drunk partner, resting his forehead on the table. Jordan nodded along. Alek chuckled politely. Were they that relieved?

Thunder shook the restaurant, making them all jump. Jordan in particular yelped, slowly followed by him crying.

Falling into sharp and long sobs, shaking into a panic attack. Alek sat still, still not knowing how to comfort others. Also, he was beginning to feel too inebriated to care. Luckily, Chris tried. Sliding to his side, hushing him with his head on Jordan's shoulder. This seemed to ease him into an even sniffle with his eyes closed.

“Gotta...stay awake for Al” Jordan pried his eye open with his fingers.

“Hehe. His name is Alek” Chris mumbled. Alek sat with his feet on the floor and his head on the table. The room was spinning, and he thought he saw Carrie a few times, for her only to disappear with a blink. He didn't care to think about his situation anymore, nor the fact that they were likely drugged. In fact, he felt like he could walk on his own.

“잘 자...” (goodnighhhttt) Chris murmured into Jordan's shirt as they slumped over onto the table. They were asleep.

Where was Alek? Wasn’t he supposed to be home? Home...exit. He had to leave this mysterious room. He’d be able to get some fresh air as well. He stumbled out, not feeling any pain in his limbs or the dull throbbing of a headache. He didn't know which way was up as the rain pounded on his skin. Nor did he realize when he hit the concrete, his vision flipping with lights.

He was being picked up. By who, he didn't recognize. His head lolled to the side, his arms and legs hanging loosely from their arms as he faded into the black unconsciousness.