Mitch's POV

To this day I wonder how we all had the exact same question at the exact same time. And, uh, how Eli could sound so done with life.

“None of you are schizophrenic.” He deadpanned. “If you were, you'd know by now.”

The sound of him shifting around came through the speaker. 

“Besides, they're all saying the same shit, right? That we all fucking died and now we're here.”

A pause, and then he spoke again.

“Fine, you do the explaining then, madame picky.”

“Eliza,” Mattheus’ voice broke.

“Uh…you okay, buddy?” I asked.

“...Fine. Focus on the task at hand.” He seriously sounded like he was gonna cry.

“You sure?”

“What's up?” Alex asked.

“He just sounds upset, is all…”

“I will be fine.” He insisted.

“We’re all gonna die—” Rain spoke up. “I don’t wanna die—”

“No, we’re not.” Alex’s face darkened.

“They keep saying we will,” Sarah replied. “But what can we do to stop it?”

“Should we even trust them?” I noticed Alex quivering ever so slightly as he spoke. “Maybe we all, like, did drugs and don’t remember it—”

“Who has access to drugs?!” Eli sounded…excited?

“Nobody!” I chimed in. “Nobody has any drugs!”

“Matthew, why are you being so loud?!” My mom yelled from downstairs.

“Sorry, Mama!”

I lowered my voice.

“But seriously, we didn’t do drugs, guys…”

“Let me know if you find any—”

“No, TigerEli.”

“Boo.”

“Can you lot please focus?!” Mattheus suddenly yelled, making me wince a little. “There are many more important matters to attend to than medicine!”

“Don’t yell at meeeee…” I whined, which made him sigh and mumble an apology.

“Mine says we need a strategy,” Eli spoke up again, more serious this time. “But she says there’s a bunch she can’t say, so it’s gunna be complicated.”

“That’s fucking great.” Alex finally took a swig of his water. 

“Eliza is right. We…the curse won’t permit us to speak on too much. But perhaps there’s another way to get you the information…”

“Then figure it out, dipshit.” Blondie McBlondeface snapped, seemingly at his, with impeccable timing.

“Alex, check your phone,” Rain cut in. “Mr. and Mrs. Henderson just texted me.”

“Fucking hell, right now?”

He looked at his phone and raised a brow.

“Great, it’s a ‘we need to talk’ day.” He and Rain groaned in sync.

“Do you need to go?” Sarah asked.

“Probably…” Rain sighed.

“I’ll drive you…”

“Lemme walk you home, Alex.” I offered.

“At a time like this?!” Mattheus got all panicky again.

“Hey, we got lives, buddy!!”

“We can talk later,” Eli sighed. “I hear Dad pulling up, anyhow. Love you guys.”

He hung up quick, like he always did when his Dad came home.

_______________________________________________________________

I shot a few glances at Alex as we walked back to his place; he was quiet, but not his usual quiet. And not even his grumpy quiet. He was…

…Actually, I hadn’t seen him like that in a long time.

“Alessio,” Mattheus sighed. “Does he still not speak about his worries?”

“Not really,” I mumbled; when Alex looked at me, I flashed him a grin.

“How’s my favorite blondie baby holding up??”

I got a disgusted face out of that, at least.

“Never call me that again.”

“Aleeeeex…”

He shook his head and looked away.

“...Alex, buddy…”

“What?” He didn’t give his usual snappiness, he just…sounded defeated.

After a few seconds, I reached out and patted his shoulder.

“You can break into my room any time you’re freaked out, okay?”

He shot me a look—he was clearly forcing his agitation—and sighed.

“Whatever.”

Luckily, I knew that meant “Thanks.”

_______________________________________________________________

When I got home, I was greeted by the sight of my mother standing before me, arms crossed.

“Well?”

Here we go….I thought to myself and resisted the urge to sigh.

“Weeeell?” I put on my best smile; she rolled her eyes and took a step forward.

“What was the issue this time?”

Oh, Alex. I scrambled for a lie for a good ten seconds before replying.

“Bad dreams, is all.” I kept my cool, though.

“Is that it?” She rolled her eyes. “You kids and your pointless problems…”

I kept up my smile and attempted to step around her.

“Well, I gotta—”

“Not so fast.”

She reached out and grabbed my arm, hard. I winced and immediately started wondering what I did to make her mad this time when she leaned in.

“Are you even aware that you’re alive?”

I blinked a couple times in confusion, tilting my head as I tried to come up with a response.

“You’re so incompetent, it makes me sick.”

She abruptly shoved me against the wall.

“What’s happening?” Mattheus suddenly piped up; I barely heard him over my heart pounding in my ears.

“Listen here. You’re nothing but a pathetic excuse of a tax writeoff. You’re a mistake and I regret ever having you.” 

She leaned back, glare icy.

“But you’re going to do what I say when your father and I divorce, do you understand? Do everything I tell you. You know what happens if you disobey.”

Oh.

Uh-oh.

Whenever she tells me to do something without questioning her…well, it’s never good, that’s for sure.

“Do you understand, boy?!”

I quickly nodded as I swallowed a lump in my throat.

“Answer me!!”

“I do!” I forced out, attempting to keep my breathing steady.

“Good.” She finally let go of me. “Now go to your room and don’t bother me.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice.

_______________________________________________________________

“What in the god’s name just happened?!”

I was currently curled up on my bed, trying to steady my breathing—which wasn’t working very well as I rubbed the sore spot on my arm.

“What a wretched excuse for a mother,” Mattheus seemed freaked out, but also angry. “How dare she…”

I whimpered—I know, I know, kinda pathetic—and took in a shaky breath.

“It’s fine,” I whispered. “You should meet the others’ parents.”

I didn’t realize I was tearing up until I couldn’t see very well; I quickly rubbed my eyes as I hiccuped a little.

“I’m sorry,” He offered; I just shook my head.

“Don’t…w-worry about it. I’m…f-fine.”

Seriously, I’d be okay. I just…needed a minute. It was stupid to get all freaked out, I know, but…it was also stupid to grab me like that! Seriously, she could’ve just…I dunno. Not done that?

I was startled out of my crying from a vibration in my pocket; pulling out my phone, I found Alex had texted me.

Lex: Big problem

Uh-oh. Him too…?

Me: What’s up??

Lex: Can we crash at your place tonight

Lex: I’ll explain then

Crap. I couldn’t ask mom anything in this condition, but I also couldn’t just turn him away…

Me: Can’t ask at this very second but I’m sure it’ll be fine!

Lex: K. Thanks.

I felt a pit in my stomach as I set my phone to the side; luckily, I still had some time to get myself together so he didn’t have any questions. Glancing down at my arm, I realized I’d need to bust out my long-sleeved pajamas and other stuff for a while again.