I looked back at Casey. I saw her staring at nothing, which she was most likely looking at her [Status]. She looks like she was going through a flashback instead, though.

'Do I look like that every time I look at my [Status]? I must look crazy! Well, I suppose everyone will look like this once they check their [Status]. This will be the new norm in this new world of mine.'

While staring at her, I saw her shake her head in hopelessness and put her head in her knees. Almost like she was giving up in life.

I stood up and went up to her. I sat next to her and rubbed her back. 

"Are you okay? If you're not, then say so. Don't be like my mom, trying to stay strong without anyone there to keep her up. If you need help, say so."

"..."

"If you wan-"

"What am I supposed to do?"

I was a bit startled when she actually started talking, but I shrugged it off quickly and answered her.

"What do you mean?"

"You know what's outside? We just got enslaved, and we apparently can't escape. Especially not with our strength. I don't want my daughter in this mess. It would be a different story if it were just me, but my daughter? I don't even know if my siblings are still alive. I know they are strong but…"

She clutched her head tighter to her legs and started shaking.

"I want better for her. She can't be here with me. Not with me. She has to leave. I'll make sure of it. If I don't….."

She started whispering and muttering quietly to herself. 

Suddenly, she stopped shaking.

"Casey?"

I waited for her to answer me, but she didn't. So I started shaking her.

"Casey!"

This time, she looked at me but still didn't say anything.

'That's better. I was getting worried for a second there.'

"You have nothing to worry about. I have somewhat of a plan going on. We will all get out of here, but you have to stay calm and listen to me."

She kept staring at me and didn't answer. It started to form an awkward silence around us, but suddenly she smiled.

"I’m supposed to be the adult around here, yet here you are, helping little ol' me."

She reached out to my head and started running her hand along my hair. I let her do so, since I guessed it would help calm her down. And it did.

"You are like a son to me. You are my child, just like Michelle. Even though I didn't give birth to you, I still treat you like you are my own."

She let go of my head and waved her hand at me, as if telling me to 'shoo'. 

"I'm better now, go off and tell your sisters about your plan, then come back and inform me later. I need to be alone for a few seconds."

"Okay."

I stood up and went to look for Michelle and Kayla.

'Sisters? I guess me and Michelle are a part of her family now. Either that or she is going further down the rabbit hole…. Hopefully it's the former.'

Walking through the aisles, looking for my 'sisters', I hear a groan. I looked at where I heard the noise from, and it was from the 'Employee's Only' room. 

I slowly reach out to the door. I place my right hand on the door knob and my left hand out to blast anything.

'Just in case.'

I opened the door slowly, only to see Michelle sitting on the floor with her head against the wall with Kayla's head on her shoulder.

Once I realized there weren't any threats, I put my left hand down and leaned against the door frame. 

"Chilling with your girlfriend?" 

My sister looked up at me and sighed, putting her back against the wall. 

"So you knew?"

'I mean….I knew as soon as you introduced me to her as your 'friend'. So yeah, I knew, but I'll play around for now.'

"No, but now you just confirmed it."

"And my dumbass just let it out, huh?"

"No, I was just kidding, I knew everything since you introduced her to me."

"How?"

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"You've got to have a good gaydar nowadays. Especially with what's going on. I can't get tricked by a femboy, now can I?"

"I guess you've got a good point. We weren't really hiding it anyway. Just kept it more down low."

I got off the frame and sat across from them. 

"Did Mom know? It looked like she did."

She nodded. I looked at her face and saw tears going down her cheeks, yet she was smiling broadly. 

"She didn't care, all she said was 'I want you to be happy. I'm glad that you found the one for you. Still, use protection!' After that day, I never felt more grateful for Mom then."

Losing her smile slowly, she raised her hands to her eyes and looked at them. 

"I still can't believe that what's happening right now is even happening at all."

Clenching and closing her fingers in her palms, she placed them slowly back on the floor near her thighs.

She lifted her head off the wall and stared at me. She squinted, looking as if she was debating whether I was real or not. She gave up once she realized I was. 

"I have you, Kayla, and Casey. You guys are what is keeping me up. Remember that, Ethan."

I looked back at her, and I couldn't help but wonder what 'pillars' are keeping me up.

'Would that be Michelle and Mom? But other than that? What about after that? I guess the unknown and magic? I always liked watching anime and reading manga. It will keep me occupied for a while, but once that feeling is gone, I will be nothing but dust once those pillars stop holding me.'

"I'll remember."