CHAPTER ONE ━━  THE KIDS ARE (AREN'T) ALRIGHT

TK didn't believe that the worst was to come, because he thought his worst had already happened. He thought God had already stricken him down with his powerful hand, the hand of Misfortune he began to call it, and carry the baggage that most would in life. Or at least, that's what the adults said in church. That everything bad or unjust happened to everyone for a reason. A reason unknown, unbalanced with the construction grievance and death, and unrelenting on whoever. And Lord knew he was tired, he knew.

But, personally, TK didn't really believe that. He didn't think he would for some time.

His father was a man of science and he put down that there are facts and there is make-believe. One of his make-believes was religion, outrightly disrespecting it instead of attempting to understand it, considering it wasn't real to him. There was no person in the sky, no evidence of anything being beyond the clouds, no one would be able to tell him that there was a God. Because he believed there wasn't.

Despite that TK attended church twice because of his mother once and another time for Julius Chapman, one of his best friends he would like to think, for a event they had but mostly to support him. The people there seemed pretty nice, decent enough but not good enough for him to come back, but something about them was suffocating. It was like they wouldn't allow him to breathe or speak what he wanted to say—what he believed. And he would never go willingly, especially if his mom began to stop believing it, he would never go without a good reason. It just wasn't for him.

Maybe it was because it lacked something he could find elsewhere, or maybe because he believed that his father was right. There is no God. Only what science tells is what is. And what is, is truly a mystery within itself because he knew that whatever his father did in the WNL kept him home for what it felt like years before he finally resigned. There were times that him, his mother, his father, and his twin brother had joyful moments whether it was in their small bungalow or it was outside; in the town where there wasn't much to do but there was at the same time. It was only what you did and who you did it with that made it...fun. Exciting. His inner child loved those moments, placing them inside of a tiny box inside of his mind, and held them tighter.

It was pure joy, for some years, until the worse happened. And it hurt for some time: but he tries to believe it doesn't anymore but sometimes it still does. Very badly.

But he didn't cry. He was taught to not cry. To be a man, once his father was gone. And now that he was gone...he couldn't risk being weak.

Ever since his father's death it made him fear becoming weak, because now his only role model was gone. And he could only rely on himself and build up this wall of protection; this numbness would shield him from what is the next worst to come.

That is what he feared, the worst coming back and adding more shit to his life, the grip on his bike handles got tighter from the thought of it. He peered up at the night sky; something about it was looming or much more eerie. It made the trees appear much more terrifying or rather much more taller, even the small home of Sigmund Pasternak didn't give him comfort. Though, usually it would.

"Are you still thinking about what they said?"

TK turned to the voice to find Sigmund, or Iggy, Pasternak on his left giving him a pat on his shoulder. He gave a curt nod in his direction as a response, but he couldn't find it in him not to care about what they said. Or rather what the assholes that bullied him had spat at him today after school. He tries not to let what they say bother him but he always dwells on it after. Pretending he doesn't care but he does.

In front of the garage door, the boy beside TK, a preteen boy on his bike sighed but in a annoyed tone. "Oh, fuck those assholes!" He spat at TK with a tiredness in his voice. "They only did it cause I wasn't there, they're all scary. A bunch of pussies that probably piss the bed still."

He glanced at Santiago "Saint" Vásquez, he could feel the boy getting angry at the situation despite not knowing what was said or even what happened. But he could tell from the bruise on TK's cheek. A purple mark laid there which only made his aggressive friend much worse.

Ramiro Ladrón, or Dénny, nodded his head in agreement with a snort. "They're a bunch of la perras. Idiotic fuckin' parasites that can't pass the 8th grade. You know whatever they said ain't true, right?" He attempted to comfort TK with a shoulder pat but the boy barely nodded.

Julius Chapman then slightly grimaced at the curse words, as he didn't like cursing as it went against what he believed, but grabbed the boy's face, searching for any other bruises. "Are you sure, you're okay? Did they hit you anywhere else?" He skimmed the boy's face but there were no more bruises. The Addams boy didn't really mind the touching of Julius because that's just what he did, at least to him. But today he wasn't really feeling it.

TK struggled out of his grip, almost falling off his bike. "Y—Yeah. I'm good, I promise." He rubbed his cheek where the bruise lied, flinching at the pain but he tried to play it off like it was okay. "You don't have to check. I'm fine."

"Oh. Sorry." Julius apologized, he wasn't good with social cues.

Saint was still not happy with knowing these dickheads got away with jumping one of his best friends, mumbling something under his breath. TK didn't hear it but he knew it couldn't be anything good.

TK glanced at his friend but decided to shake his head, giving his attention to Menachem Arger. Or rather Madden. "Are we gonna play with our Atari's tomorrow? I know it's a school night but maybe we can convince Iggy's mom to let us play until 8?" He asked, since Madden usually had to watch his brother on school nights. But he always made an exception for TK, he always did. 

The Jewish boy shrugged. "Yeah, maybe. I dunno. Depends on if my parents notice me or keep their attention on Oli for the rest of the day." He hummed for a bit before speaking again. "Actually, they won't. Oli's got this appointment so they won't be home until 5 and won't notice I'm gone until 9, so, yeah we can."

"That's honestly bullshit your parents don't notice you for that long. What's your secret?" Saint asked, full of curiosity about how he could go unnoticed that long. "Because my dad's always up my fuckin' ass."

Madden answered with a smug smile. "The world is full of bullshit, my friend."

It was weird wanting your parents not to notice you. He didn't understand why Saint would want that, but he guessed he could at the same time. Because TK knew that Madden wished his parents did notice him. And it hurt him that they didn't—even if he could joke about it now. He would be sad later.

TK turned to Julius. "Okay, what about you Julius?"

But this time, the boy shook his head. "Can't. Curfew at 7 pm. Nonnegotiable."

Saint scoffed, smacking his teeth. "Oh, come on man! Can you not be a fuckin' goody-two-shoes church boy for one second and break a rule. We're your friends! Come on! God's gotta cut you some slack for that!" He stomped his foot but the Chapman shook his head.

"No. I can't! It's nonnegotiable, my mom set a curfew! And God wouldn't—"

"Fuck Go—"

Dénny quickly hushed him with a smack across the head. "No digas eso tonto." He scolded the boy almost like a older brother but Saint just rolled his eyes. He didn't really care, and TK could tell, but at least Julius didn't understand what he was going to say.

"Whatever," Saint took his bike out of park and pointed at TK. "Tell me tomorrow what those assholes said, Theo. Because I'm ripping those motherfuckers heads off and putting them on a stick."

And with that, Saint began to bike away with Dénny close behind as they lived the farthest but stayed close together. They decided it was easier to ride with each other, especially at night, and place bets on who could bike the fastest and who would lose their comic book first due to being the slowest. TK thought their wins was pretty even.

"I'd wish he'd stop cursing so much," Julius commented as he got on his bike. "God doesn't like that nor does he like people saying his name in vain."

Madden shrugged, "God is the least of our worries, dude. Remember the project we gotta finish tomorrow?"

"Oh, pancakes! You're right. I gotta get my section done tonight." Julius hurried to put his bike out of park and bike away. "Bye, Madden! Bye, TK! Bye, Iggy!" He shouted as his body fell into the fog that surrounded the street that led into another neighborhood on Franklin St.

He disappeared and so did his voice; something about it was unsettling to TK. Something made him get a bad feeling in his gut. Maybe he had been him watching too many horror movies due to Dénny. Specifically, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, that movie gave him nightmares for weeks. He definitely should've listened to his mom when she told him five times he can never watch it. She always knew best but Saint's rebel influence rubbed off on him a bit.

For a moment, something felt wrong. There was this odd feeling of being watched that left him frozen for a second before letting go an exasperated gulp that was louder than the metal squeaks of his bike. Something is out there, there is something watching them. He could feel it's eyes behind the raggedy wooden fence the Pasternaks had but more deeper behind the wooded area that surrounded the house to protect them from whatever predators lied inside of those woods. There is something out there. But he does not know what and he does not know if he's watched too many horror movies or if he's right.

And he doesn't wish to be right.

"TK? Can you hear me?"

The boy flinched for a moment, feeling a arm over his shoulders that belonged to Madden, as he finally stopped staring off into the cursed Wilderness and stepped back into reality. "Oh, yeah, sorry. I spaced out."

Iggy pursed his lips, he could tell his friend was unnerved by something. "If you're scared it's okay. Dénny scared me too, by making us watch those movies, obviously." He tried to cheer him up or at least comfort him in some way. Watching a movie about a killer doll, Child's Play Two, wasn't fun for Iggy either. Especially since one of his sisters had a life size doll from her birthday.

Madden snickered a little. "Or maybe it's because you live next to the cursed Wilderness." But the boy immediately retracts his statement and rubs TK's arm. "I'm just joshing ya' TK, if you wanna ride home with me we can. My parents won't care, you know they love you, right? Probably even more than me." But the last part was muttered, almost silent, a hushed cry for help. But only TK heard it.

TK shook his head, despite feeling unnerved. "I think I can get home okay." Iggy was right. It was just because they watched a horror movie prior.

"You sure?" Madden asked, he was unsure about TK going alone.

TK nodded but then looked at the boy with a sly expression. "I'll give you ten bucks if you go into the cursed Wilderness for ten seconds?" TK joked with a slight chuckle, making Madden shove him playfully. He knew he wouldn't go in but it was fun to joke about it. But Iggy looked quite uncomfortable from it.

But Iggy didn't say anything. He just let it go, like he always did.

"Alright, well see ya' TK. Bye, Iggy." Madden unlatched his bike from the ground, not biking away from the garage of Sigmund Pasternak. All that was left was Iggy and TK.

TK got ready to leave on his bike, but first he thought of something. "You know we don't actually think the Wilderness is cursed by your house? It's just something stupid that the kids at school say."

Iggy nodded, the light in his face came back slightly. "Yeah, I know. Thanks."

"And, you know, I'd defend you from any cursed monster things that came out of there." TK pointed at the woods behind the worn down fences that surrounded Iggy's home. "I'm cool like that."

Iggy smiled at that. "And then we can capture it and make it our own monster pet! I've always wanted a pet monster, could you imagine what we could do? No bullies, no parents telling us what to do, no curfews and definitely no more homework on Friday's from Mr. Crumpskin!" He began to ramble about the things he could do with a monster pet.

TK laughed at that, as did Iggy, he loved his weird friend and his longing to want monster pets. Honestly it sounded pretty cool to him.

"But seriously, nothing's gonna come out of there. You'll be fine," He reassured his friend and got an idea, taking off one of his jaded bracelets around his small wrists. "Here. It's for protection." He put the bracelet on his friend, as it was a little tight on him but it fit. That's all that mattered.

"Thanks, TK." Iggy now had a great big smile on his face.

"Iggy! Hurry up and come inside, Mom said you need to take out the trash. Your nerd stuff can wait!" A little girl's voice was heard from inside but was loud enough to be heard out the cracked window in the living room. Iggy sighed knowing that Ann-Marie wouldn't stop bothering about it until he actually did it, like she was his mom. Or she was his boss or something.

"I'm coming!" Iggy yelled, he rolled his eyes though.

"Mom said now!"

"I already said—"

"Bye, Iggs!" TK now decided to ride off, and as he rode off, Iggy waved at him as he began to walk toward his front door. He yelled a quick bye before going inside his home.

Exiting the driveway, he watched the home get smaller before he turned to view where he was going. He was now all alone. Darkness surrounded the streets and the wooded areas on the sides of road made him feel as if everything watched him from inside. That all of the animals were watching him bike away.

TK was riding in the giant fog, the lonely dark road, very much alone. And the feeling of comfort was now all gone, the feeling of joy now resided. There was something deep inside him that told him to bike faster but he didn't. He kept going at a normal pace because he assumed Iggy was right, there was nothing to be worried over. There was nothing to be afraid about because it was just because of the movie they'd watched over his house, in his basement that was quite homey but small. He turned, going down his usual shortcut Ashdown Road which caused him to cut through the wilderness a bit but he still managed.

He never payed attention to the fence he went through, with a giant yellow sign that said: WNL PROPERTY. But he for some reason payed attention to it today. He didn't know why but something in his gut dropped at it.

There was something about tonight that was different. Something was unsettling. There was something that made him feel small, like a mouse running away from a predator. But that predator didn't seem to show itself—it stalked him. Maybe he was just being paranoid but he could feel something watching him. There is something in the Wilderness. There is something watching him. He knows it but he tries to deny it. But he cannot.

The light on his bike flickered, before turning off completely, he looks down at it as it struggles to turn on. For a moment it doesn't but then, after a long second, it finally does.

TK looks up and sees a disfigured body attempting to cross in the middle of the road. It had a wide smile outstretching across its face with the blackest eyes.

He gasps and swerves off the road and into the Wilderness, he falls off his bike and tumbles down into it deeper than he would ever go. Even for ten bucks, he'd never go as far as he just fallen in. He groans in pain, unfamiliar with his surroundings fot a moment, before he realizes where he's at and immediately—he attempts to get up.

He yelped in pain on accident, covering his mouth and looking back to the road. It doesn't come. He's glad, but he realizes that his leg is trapped, or rather entangled, inside of his bike. There was no blood. But there was great pain, his ankle was twisted in a very unnatural position. He didn't know how he would get home now, all he wanted was to get home. He just wanted to go home. He doesn't know what that was but he didn't care. He wanted to go. He needed to go, he needed too.

He begins to feel like he's going to cry but he doesn't; he wipes his glossy eyes and tries to get his leg from out of the spikes within the bike but it pained him to do. He lets out a small cry of pain, of frustration, of fear. It hurt so bad, it hurt so much every time he touched the bike all he felt was more pain. A different kind of pain.

But as he tries to free his leg from it again, something moves through the bushes causing a loud crack from a branch. He almost snapped his own neck looking in the same direction of whatever he heard.

Again, it is heard. This time it's on his right, running past him feral like. Almost like it was trying to find the best angle to approach him. Something is out there. It was coming. It was coming. And there was nothing he could do. Nothing he could do.

In this moment, TK wanted to cry his eyes out. There was nothing more than him wanting to just give up and begin to weep. Wail so loud that he woke the forest animals that slept in the cursed Wilderness. But he didn't, he couldn't. Something in him stopped him from doing so. And he wasn't about to give up his location to fucking cry? No. Those would not be his last words.

Another run through the bushes in front of him his heard, but he tries to ignore it. He won't let it scare him into thinking he's gave up. The prey is fighting back, he will not die without fighting. That is what his dad always told him.

This time, with determination in his veins, he actually gets his broken ankle out of the bike spikes. But as he does, his ankle is pushed out and now the bone is very more apparent and out of his leg now. He lets out a pained breath and begins to feel faint as he looks at it. There was blood everywhere, dripping down his leg and splattered on his bike. The sight of it made him feel like he was about to throw up or pass out. Or maybe both.

As he attempted to get up, something made him feel...bad. It was the silence.

Despite being loud whatever was surrounding him suddenly had stopped. He didn't know why or what it was but he knew something wasn't right. Something hadn't been right this entire night but now he knew there was something wronger. It became too quiet.

Turning around, he sees something behind him that makes him freeze. He cannot move at its sight, something in his eyes break, and he only lets out a trembling breath. It lets out a deep guttural roar and pounces at the young boy who screams louder than he's ever done in his life.

There is a struggle heard, TK screams and shouts but it is not heard. The light on the bike gets lighter, it gets bigger. It gets brighter. And bigger, and suddenly it shines brighter than the full moon and as soon as it gets bright enough to light the entire town up, it becomes back faint and dim.

And TK is gone.

It is gone.

There was something out there and it has claimed another victim.

ABBOT RESIDENCE [LIVING ROOM]
9:08 AM | MONDAY
NOVEMBER 9th, 1995.
(TW: Child abuse, homophobia, and misogyny.)

       It is something about the world that Willow Abbot couldn't wrap her head around. It was confusing to say the least, the way it was and why it was that way. She doesn't dwell on it but it makes her question why people are they way they are. Why are they are so insufferable? Why are they such pieces of shit? She doesn't really get why they are. But what she doesn't get even more is why her alarm clock isn't blaring. Or why she isn't even in her room when she awakens.

She stirs, glancing around her place on the couch, and she doesn't attempt in any way to get up. Falling right back asleep instead of getting up and preparing for school. And for a minute she is sound asleep.

That is until a scream is heard.

It was almost like Will had some type of spidey sense, they way she'd gotten up. She didn't know why she gotten up so fast but quickly she rubbed her eyes from eye crust, hearing another scream with a loud whip sound before it.

It sounded a lot like Jorge. "What the fuck..." she murmured and got up, going into the kitchen.

The stench of it made her nose hairs flair, something about it reeks of spoiled milk and piss, but when she sees the scene before her. She sees why it smells like that.

The sight of her young brother, Jorge, pant-less with his arm being held up by their step-father with a belt in his another hand. His bottom had been red with small cuts due to the metal part of the belt being used, something about it made Will cringe. Spoiled milk was spilled all over the dirty tile floor, along with piss that was obviously from her brother, and the carton was discarded in the trash poorly. As Will walked in the belt hit the boy's bottom again, making him yelp in more pain. "What did I tell you about lettin' that milk go to waste? Huh?!" Another strike. More tears poured down his cheek. He screams out again, his tiny voice cracked as he didn't know if he could take it anymore.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Jorge screams, but it isn't enough. It will never be enough.

Anger fills the teen up, she grits her teeth and immediately starts balling her fist. Out of instinct she just snaps.

"Get off him!" Will yells out, throwing a punch at her step-father. It hits the man in the face, but he casually shakes it off, dropping her brother and slapping the girl to the ground. She falls, hard, feeling a metallic taste in her cheek but before she knows it, she's kicked in her gut.

All of the wind is knocked out of her. Another kick, she feels the metallic taste get more apparent. And lastly, a hard kick to the face that makes her yelp and clutch her nose. Everything hurts for a moment, and it still does as she stays on the ground.

Her step-father points a finger at her. "You're gonna learn when to stay out of things. Because now you've learned him five more lashes."

"No! Stop—get the fuck off him! St—Stop!" she tries but she can't. She only watches on the ground crippled from her pain. She watches her brother get five more lashes in his bottom, and one last one on his face. And then their step-father leaves the room. She blacks out for a second, her vision blurred by the trauma she's endured. It hurts to think for a couple seconds because she feels she couldn't, but she tries to get up, falling flat on her face again.

"Fuck." She spits out blood on the kitchen floor. Will finds it in herself to get up, but her brother is already gone. Daniel, their step-father, must've taken him to his room. Or maybe in the bath. She didn't really know. Usually after the beatings, he would make them take baths.

Holding her stomach as she stands up, she feels the blood under both of her nostrils. It doesn't faze her as much. She trails into the living room slowly then into her shared room with her sister, the girl is fast asleep. But Will has to intervene her sleep as it is a school day and they had to be ready some hours ago.

"Bell, get up," She wakes up the girl, the younger stirs and gets up. "It's time to get up, we're late."

Will grabs some green cargo pants with a grey tank top. Something about it told her to. It just made sense for today. The broken window in her room told her that the air was definitely not for tank top weather but she still went into the bathroom to wear if none the less. She brushes her teeth, gets in the shower, and gets out wearing her clothes for the day. She spots Jorge in his room with their older brother, who is missing like always, and sees him ready for school with his backpack on.

He stays quiet on the bed, laid in the fetal position with his thumb in his mouth, she taps his shoulder and he takes it as a sign to get up.

With all the children ready for school, Will puts her worn out converses on and pulls her backpack on her back. It was a normal morning, nothing was really different.

She leads the kids out the front door, that was quite ridged and would break with the right pull, grabbing the car keys. But before she can leave Daniel decides to say something before she leaves.

"Tell that little shit that he needs to bring back a new carton of milk, tonight." He demanded to the girl and she wanted to say Get it yourself but he kept speaking. "And stop dressing like some dyke. Present yourself as a woman. Learn how to cook or something." He sat on the couch, watched the television with a beer in his head. Will didn't know where her mother was but knowing her she probably was still in bed. She should've made her get up this morning.

Will doesn't listen but the man goes on. "Your mother didn't buy you those expensive dresses for no reason."

Will could feel this itching anger that fueled her to the top. She felt if she would burst at any second from the causal homophobia to the weird feeling of him being misogynistic. She couldn't take this bullshit anymore, and usually she would argue, but she was late. Or more like her siblings was late cause Will couldn't give a fuck about her education.

"Whatever," She muttered and left the home, slamming the door behind her.

As she gets in the car, Jorge sucks on his thumb but looks at her from the back with scared eyes. "Is he mad still?"

Will shook her head. "Don't worry about it, mi mundo. I'll take care of it. He's not mad anymore." She always took care of everything. She would find a way to get milk by tonight, she always did find a way.

"Don't let him push you into a room like that again, or too Bell, if he does wake me up. Or come get me." She tells the two children and they nod. She only lost this time because it was early in the morning. She would've had him any other time.

"Or me!" Bell added, despite her little size she was always like a protector too. "I'll protect you, el hermano. Don't worry."

"And remember what I told you—"

"Fuck Daniel." Her two siblings repeated from the back, she chucked at them. They were fast learners she gave them that. And had great memory.

Nodding, she began to drive off. Jorge had his head in a book and sucked on his thumb while she drive with Isabela laying on his shoulder. Looking at them in the rearview mirror, she still stands on her opinion of the world. The world is a evil fucking place. Just like people. Or maybe people were just worse. People in this town everywhere are just fucking terrible. They are only here just to make her life hard, to make her and her siblings life harder than it needed to be. And she won't change her beliefs. She never will.

Fuck change.

WINTERSET MIDDLE SCHOOL [HALLWAYS]
9:15 AM | MONDAY
NOVEMBER 9th, 1995.

Something had been wrong. Iggy could feel that there was something wrong here, or maybe that something had been missing? Or someone? He didn't realize what it was as he wasn't as focused on it right this moment. He was more focused on the fact Julius had apparently been stressed over his side of the project that him, Madden, and TK were doing together.

"I don't see why you're so stressed out," Iggy told Julius, trying to hopefully unnerve him. "You've gotten A's on his projects before, you've practically aced this."

Madden nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you've got this man."

Julius only muttered some prayer, closing his eyes and crossing his heart. Madden looked at him a bit weird but he glanced at Iggy who shrugged. He didn't judge the boy, everyone had a coping mechanism. Everyone did something to try and get past their own fears or anxiety...so why should he judge? He may not be the closest to him but they're still friends.

As they walked, Iggy began to feel a bit off again. Like something was missing. It was such a weird feeling that he couldn't ignore it. It's like...someone was missing.

As they walked into English, Iggy put his books down on his seat. "Wait, you guys. Where's TK?"

Madden put his stuff next to Iggy's seat, as did Julius but on the left, and he glanced around for a moment. "Isn't he...." He searched around the room but couldn't find the short boy. Something about that scared him, it made him feel weird, and Iggy could tell.

"Maybe he's late," Iggy added, trying to help.

Madden shook his head. "Nah...TK is never late. Especially on a project due date, that just isn't him." The boys eyes were in a slight panic.

"He didn't go with you this morning?" Iggy asked, concerned now. Usually TK and Madden rode their bikes together to school every morning. So it was odd that he just...hadn't noticed that.

"I...." The Arger boy stammered. "I thought he maybe came early, I don't know."

"Maybe the Beast ate him." A bigger boy came into the conversation uninvited. Iggy recognized the boy to be none other than one of the people that bullied TK, along with them, Tate Homewood. "Could use less of you little queers."

The teen boy then shoved Iggy out of his way and smacked Julius on the back of the head. There was a mutter of what could be described as fucking nerds but that was it for the terror of Tate Homewood for this period at least as the teacher begins to enter the room. Iggy sighed not because of the shove but because of what he said about TK. He couldn't believe someone would say that about someone who could be possibly missing! Well, maybe that was him being dramatic but still! It was just terrible. It made Iggy want to say something but he couldn't. It's like his mouth wouldn't let him speak. Maybe that is what's wrong with him; he just takes it. He takes everything and never fights back. He is a worm that will never turn.

Madden gives Tate a middle finger when his back is turned. "Piece of shit." He murmurs under his breath, but Iggy heard it. He agrees, they are pieces of shit.

"They shouldn't say that," Julius suddenly speaks up, rubbing that back of his head.

"Yeah, they're—"

"The Beast is nothing to play about." Julius interrupted, his words dark and serious. "It is not a play thing. It is serious, he does not know what he is talking about."

Iggy furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?" He was confused on where all that came from so suddenly. It unnerved him honestly.

"My dad told me so. It's not holy."

Madden glanced at Iggy, he said it all in his face. It was probably just some church...demon? Iggy didn't really know but he could tell Madden was getting a little annoyed or something. Though, the Pasternak boy just wanted to hear Julius out.

Julius tried to grab all their hands. "Come. Let's all say a pray—"

Before they could even think of doing that, Mr. Johnson began his lesson. Or at least his half lesson he prepared today since everyone would be presenting their projects for the other half of class. Iggy noticed the time, he couldn't stop staring at the clock. Soon 5 minutes passed, another 5, then 10. Still no TK. There was no sign of his friend that he was worried about, he didn't want to assume the worst but something had to happen. Someone did something, TK wasn't just 20 minutes late to class. He never did that. He wouldn't allow that to happen. Iggy didn't know what was going on because his mind was everywhere but the lesson, he barely got any notes down and he barely listened to the projects everyone was presenting.

The boy noticed Madden was chewing on his fingernails, he must've been nervous too. He then took a look at Julius and the boy looked as if he was on the urge of vomiting or maybe crying. He looked so anxious, so scared, muttering prayers under his breath. Iggy didn't really know if it was from TK or the project. Or rather both since TK being missing meant they'd have to do it on their own.

But either way, all his friends were nervous. He didn't like this. He really did not like this. He was not okay with this, he was not.

He felt so....scared. Maybe with a tinge of guilt, since he saw TK leave his home last night. Maybe he should've did something or maybe he should've let him stay the night. Or maybe he should've biked with him home—Iggy tries to shake these thoughts away.

These bad thoughts, they were only him being pessimistic. TK would be okay. He shouldn't worry, right?

"Sigmund Pasternak, Julius Chapman, Theodore Addams, and Menachem Arger," The teacher listed off, snapping Iggy out of his thoughts. "It is now your turn to present."

Julius glanced at his partners, he looked extremely nervous but held his own. "Mr. Johnson, could we get a pass? One of our partners isn't here."

Mr. Johnson shrugged. "And? That's your responsibility. Not mines. And I told you four boys that you'll get points takes off if a person's part is missing—"

Can the following please report to the principal's office; Menachem Arger, Julius Chapman, Sigmund Pasternak, Santiago Vásquez, and Ramiro Ladrón. Thank you - the intercom shuts off as soon as it turned on. Iggy glances at his friends and they all look at him with the same look. Something bad has happened. But maybe it was something completely unrelated to TK, maybe he's okay.

Yeah, he's okay. He will be.

The three boys gather their things, trying to ignore the glare of Mr. Johnson and leave the classroom. Without a word, they all walk down the hallway to the principal's office. They didn't really have anything to talk about. They were too on edge on what might have happened. Mostly because of TK.

What Iggy didn't expect was to see the Sheriff with his other two friends, questioning them about the last whereabouts of Theodore Karim Addams. Or much more known as TK. His best friend. The friend he's known since 3rd grade, his first and only friend got a long time until he met his other friends. To hear that made his heart stop for a moment, almost like he couldn't breath. That made his skin crawl, he felt uncomfortable in the seat next to the rest of his friends.

(Yeah, he'll be okay.)

He isn't okay. He is not okay.

He is gone.

WINTERSET HIGH [LUNCHROOM]
11:28 AM | MONDAY
NOVEMBER 9th, 1995.

Lunch. The time of the day Esther can do whatever the hell she pleases. The best part of the day if she would like to comment even further. She may hang out with her friends, go into the bathrooms to smoke, or just...leave. Because that's what she did. It was like playtime for high-schoolers.

This time around she strictly came to eat, maybe smoke after, and hang around her friends in the lunchroom. She didn't usually stay in the giant lunchroom filled with hundreds of other teenagers who were the most judgmental, high pedestal, entitled group of people she ever met. Well, except for a select few that she deemed alright. Or that had regular human emotions and empathy unlike her 300 other companions that occupied the school building. Maybe she was being dramatic, though she couldn't care if she was, but she was only telling the truth. People were...weird. Annoying. Selfish. And kind of jackasses.

Or maybe it was just the people in this town. She wouldn't be surprised if that were true.

She picks at her sloppy joy with her plastic spork but doesn't in the slightest decide to eat it. Everything about it makes her stomach upset. "You really eat this shit?" She asked her friend from across the table who was indeed eating it.

Emmett shrugged. "Hard to let good food go to waste," he took another large bite.

"It's not even real meat." Jesse commented from the side of Esther's table.

"Still delicious."

Esther gagged from her position. "Whatever you say buddy." She decides to take a spill of her apple juice, which was actually really good. Almost tasted like the one at home.

"So how is being all alone in Calculus treating you Ese Ese?" Jesse now turned her attention to the Pasternak girl, she only chuckled and rolled her eyes. Ever since Esther cursed out the calculus teacher in that class for making a racially ambiguous statement about a student in class, she was instead kicked out.

She called bullshit on the situation because the teacher should've been at least fired or put on leave for what they'd said. It was wrong! But, no, they decided to give the troubled girl three days of detention and a class switch. Which meant no more seeing her friends, Jesse, in calculus anymore. She was bummed about it for a while and still kind of is, considering she did the right thing, but she rather would be in Mr. Moore's classroom than a racist one.

She shrugged. "I think I like being without the racist and weekend homework monster we call Mrs. Benson." Her sarcasm was so loud the whole cafeteria could hear it.

Jesse laughed. "So you don't miss us?"

"Maybe," Esther had a smug look. "Sometimes, but I definitely don't miss you getting me in trouble for passing notes to your boyfriend."

"Oh come on! That totally wasn't—"

"Yes it is!" Esther chuckled, trying to sound angry but it only made Jesse giggle even harder.

"It is not my fault, Devin has a loud mouth." She told her friend, holding her hand under the table. "You know how he is, it's Devin! And I promise I'll make it up to you! I promise."

"Hmmm," Esther rubbed her fake chin hairs. "With what may that be?"

Jesse smiled. "I'll make your favorite mixtape," she told the girl who looked at her confused but amused.

"How are you gonna make me my favorite mixtape?"

"You'll see." The Myers girl winked at her. "A magician never tells her secrets—"

Suddenly the girl yelped as a teenage boy, Devin Barton, started to kiss her all over her neck and pick her up from her seat. Devin Barton was Winterset's golden boy, dare if you say It Boy whatever that meant. He was the boy everyone talked about and the teen that everyone could get a good laugh from. Well, maybe except Esther. She found nothing he said amusing. She found his popularity facade quite boring and just predictable. Maybe it was because she knew most of the popular students were homophobic jackasses who constantly attempted to bully her in middle school.

She didn't remember Devin trying but she certainly didn't like him for hanging around those people..

"Hey, m'lady." Devin greets his girlfriend, now putting her down. As he does, he gets on one knee and kisses her hand. "What would thou like?"

Jesses giggled. "Oh, get up you big dummy!" She smacks his arm playfully and he gets up. Now he is holding her hand tightly.

Esther searches for Emmett and he is still sat across the table. She puts her hand under her chin, bored out of her mind and obviously unamused. He just gives her the same look but pulls out a baggie of weed. Her eyes light up: fucking perfect.

"What are you doing babe? Why you sitting over here?" Devin asked her, confused because she usually sat with him where the "popular" kids sat. "You leaving me already?"

Jesse shook her head, a tight smile. "No, Dev. I was just talking to—" she looks where Esther sat but the girl is now long gone. She trails off and just shakes off whatever emotion she just felt.

Esther walks the halls with Emmett on her right. "Are you sure this is good dude? Because last time—"

"Yeah, yeah, princess I'm sure it's good pot." Emmett cut her off.

"Don't ever call me princess again." She shoved her friend, pulling a middle finger out after he shoves her in retaliation. They laugh and Esther dismisses the boredom she had earlier. Usually Jesse wouldn't just be taken away like that from them—but they were in two different social hierarchies she guessed. She was even surprised Jesse even hanged out with the two "troubled losers" of the school.

But then again, she didn't really care for titles.

Everyone I would like to alert you all to please be on the lookout for a young boy named Theodore Addams, if you've seen him or recognize that name. Please report your findings to the police immediately, thank you all - the intercom turns off but it lingers for a moment. The loud ping hurting her ears but the information was the part that made her hear stank a bit. Esther furrows her brows at the name, she definitely remembered it somewhere. She believes it's one of her little brother's friends.

She finds herself feeling uneasy, a boy gone missing in Winterset? A boy that was her brother's friend? What made it even worse was that he was someone she felt a bit overprotective of. Someone that she knew. A kid that she knew. A kid that she surprisingly liked. She tried to brush it off, but it doesn't work. She feels unnerved, almost like she can't believe it.

She feels uneasy for the rest of the school day.

SOMEWHERE EAST IN THE WILDERNESS
1:24 PM | MONDAY
NOVEMBER 9th, 1995.

       Tiny steps of a little girl spoiled the soil beneath her, branches snapped as well. She stopped for a moment in the wilderness, she does not know where she is going or how far she is from the Bad Place but she hopes she's far. Very far.

Her feet were bruised from the ground, it seemed to be quite more painful than she remembered. She looks forward and sees a road in her direction, it is quite long and open, she looks to her left and sees a building. It looks rundown and very small compared to the Bad Place. Are all buildings like this? She didn't know if they were or not but she didn't want to risk exposing herself so she settled for the building. And she honestly didn't care. She just needed to get away.

She strides to the building, outside of it looks abandoned and much more filthy than the wilderness is. As soon as she decides to go in; she stops suddenly. Something has told her to stop. Yes? She asked Him, mentally of course. A light flickers in the building at Him speaking, she becomes afraid from his lack of answer. She doesn't want to die because of His mistake.

Hide, she hears Him tell her.

Her movements suddenly become swift, and she crouches, moving faster than light as she makes it behind a rock. She lets out a pant; He tells her they are coming out the house. She waits for a long moment.

Safe, he tells her, she nods and peers from above the rock. There is nobody in sight.

She now walks much faster in pace to go inside of the building, she goes through the undone door and stares at the unfinished walls. Is these what houses look like all the time? If so, she would rather live in the wilderness with Him. Or Nathan. Her friend that she talks to her in head, or Him. She doesn't know if she would consider him a friend but he is someone close to her. Someone that helps her. So maybe, he is her friend. She walks through the building and finds many tools on ground which confuses her a bit. She doesn't know what they are but she knows they fix things. That's what the Bad People told her.

What is this? She asked him but he doesn't respond. He's as confused as she is. Great.

She wished He knew more, but He barely knew anything. It was disappointing but at least he wasn't lying to her. She hated when people lied to her. And furthermore she hated when people got in her way. She picks up one of the tools, it weighs much more than she expects it too. Staring blankly at it she examines it before she feels something.

She felt a tingle go down her spine from Him and she immediately knew what it meant.

She drops the tool and, in a fluid fashion, jumps straight onto the wall. She moves on the celling and stays there with a hardened glare on her face.

She waits, and waits, until a man with a orange tin hat comes in. She assumes this was the man Nathan talked about earlier. He wasn't that big but he was taller than her, just very skinny. Not as skinny as her but skinny. She sees the man examining his tools with confusion as he realizes it's been misplaced. He will find her. He will if she doesn't do something soon, she needs to think quick before he finds her and does whatever he pleases with her. Like the Bad People do. She cannot trust it. She will not trust he won't catch on and find her.

With a swift move, his tool is moved into her hand by an unnatural force and she falls on the man, swinging the tool into the top of his head. A loud crack is heard, blood splatters all over her face and her long unkept black hair flows down as she hits the ground. Her eyes blink unnaturally, a white inner eyelid blinking twice, and she pants lightly. The man groans in pain as he falls to the floor but she snaps his neck. She glared at the now dead man, she doesn't regret what she's done.

Quickly she searches the man and finds a sandwich in his pocket, she bites into it and begins eating like a feral animal. She does not regret it.

He could've hurt her. He probably would have.

It is her above all.

It always will be.

But as she eats, she turns as another noise is heard.

EXIT OF WINTERSET MIDDLE SCHOOL
3:55 PM | MONDAY
NOVEMBER 9th, 1995.

Bullshit was quite the word to describe how Saint felt about being pulled in from the cops. It wasn't his first time being questioned by officers or even speaking to them but he never would've thought it would land him in a situation like this. A situation where his best friend is missing and no one knows absolutely nothing about it and no one is doing anything about it but informing people. It pissed him off.

But what especially made him grit his teeth was the face the sheriff, Petro, told them they need to stay home. Stay home? Fucking stay home?!

"I cannot believe this bullshit!" Saint begins to pace around the group. "I mean, fuck! What do they want us to do just lie down and wait for him to be found dead in a ditch somewhere? Fuck that."

"Don't say that," Iggy tried to be positive but Saint was feeling everything but positive right now.

Saint glared at Iggy. "What the fuck else do you want me to say? He's in fuckin' fairy land all safe and sound?! Be realistic." His voice was loud, aggressive, and obviously filled with hurt. It made Iggy flinch but eventually just stayed silent with pursed lips.

"Exactly, he's right. We gotta be realistic. It's my fucking friend that's missing. And I don't want to find him dead somewhere when we had the chance to do something!" Madden added to the boy's aggression which backed the Pasternak boy into a wall. Or at least it felt like it.

"Saint, calm down, you're hurting my head." Dénny rubbed the creases on his forehead. "You can't be yellin' at everyone. That ain't gonna help one bit."

"Well what do you suggest?" Saint asked, he was tired of just standing around. He knew what he wanted to do but he needed to know if they were on the same page.

"I dunno but all this yellin' just making people more scared." Dénny concluded, trying to be reasonable. He just wanted peace and quiet to think but Saint wasn't feeling for that. "Just be quiet and let us think."

Saint huffed, he was irritated and he wasn't trying to reason. He usually didn't take his anger out on his friends but he was in pain, one of his best friends were gone. His location was unknown. And nobody was doing anything. So excuse him for feeling angry because the sheriff told him that it's under control and probably a false alarm. What a shitty police force they had in a shittier town.

"Well I'm tired of thinking! I want to be doing!" Saint told his friend with an aggressive tone but Dénny was a calm person. He wouldn't let his friend anger him because he knew it was coming from a place from anger. "We've been sitting here for an hour staring at fuckin' rocks like we're vegetables!"

"What else can we do?" Julius asked, he was overwhelmed by all the yelling and cursing.

"We can try and find him," Iggy suddenly voiced, everyone looked in his direction. "I know what road he used to get home, and it's not far from my house. We can all go and look for him in the woods next to it."

Saint nodded, slapping Iggy's shoulder. "Oh, yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about. This is why you're my favorite." He praised the boy who gave him a tight smile but glanced at everyone else in their group.

Dénny shrugged. "I mean, yeah sure. As long as everyone doesn't do anything dumb and shit. Then I'm all for looking for him. It's TK we're talking about."

"You know I'm on board, he's my best and only real friend ever since my parents just said fuck me." Madden agreed quite easily. Saint was surprised the boy had it in him. "I'm ready to find him."

Saint then looked at Julius who immediately shook his head, he grabbed his books and began to walk away. "Guys—I just—No, I can't." He stuttered anxiously with fear laced in his voice. "Maybe we can all pray for him to come back? I did that when my dog ran away and—"

"Ughhh! You can't be serious?!" Saint groaned in response after hearing the word pray. He was tired of all this praying nonsense, yes he did get the whole Christian thing. But that wouldn't help. They needed him with them, together as a unit to find TK.

"Like you cannot be actually serious!"

Julius awkwardly stands still. "I am?"

"What do you mean you're not gonna come? We need everyone to find him!" Iggy now is the one yelling but only in disbelief that Julius isn't coming.

"I just don't...." Julius trails off but doesn't continue with his statement.

"You just what? Cat got your tongue?" Saint taunted the boy who only became even more anxious. But he couldn't tell nor did he probably care at the moment. Like he never did. "Or is it God telling you that—"

"I'm scared!" Julius finally yelled, books clutched in his arms tightly against his chest. Tears appearing in his vision. "I'm scared, guys. What if something is out there? What if there's a demon out there like my dad told me and that same demon took TK and it'll take us to the deepest depths of Hell. Like this isn't safe! It isn't at all and all of this missing stuff is really scaring me!"

"And I...I don't wanna die and go to Hell." Julius sniffled. "I'm sorry but I—I can't."

Julius begins to walk away from the group, but Saint scoffed. So much for Boyshit rules, girls drool! It was embarrassing watching the Chapman boy walk away in his polo collared shirt and khakis. But it angered Saint to see him just give up so easily and walk away? They needed everyone to find TK and he was just walking away, how could he?

"Julius! Come back, we need you!" Iggy yelled but the boy didn't budge. He kept going.

So much for their one and only rule—"What happened to never go alone? The first rule of Boyshit?! Huh, Chapman?? You can't just give up!" But the shouts Saint were doing, didn't being the boy back. In fact it made him go even faster, Saint didn't know if it was cause of guilt or the fear he just finally explained. Whatever it was, Saint was over it. They didn't need him. Julius kept walking until he wasn't visibly in sight anymore.

Saint scoffed. "Well, fuck him. We don't need him, Boyshit is all right here," He turned to his group of friends, his giant short jeans hitting his ankles and off brand sneakers tapping against the ground. They didn't need him. They'll be fine on their own.

Madden nodded in agreement. "Yeah, fuck it. We gotta find our friend."

"So what's the plan, Iggy? What you got in mind?"

CECE'S CONVENIENCE
6:32 PM | MONDAY
NOVEMBER 9th, 1995.

       It was almost time for Daniel to get back from work and Will had still not found a way to get twelve bucks for a carton of fucking milk. She had no idea why getting money was harder than it should be but she was being to get hopeless. She didn't want to endure another beating or endure a sight of her brother being beaten. So she had to come up with money quick.

Or beg the local person behind the register to give her it for free.

Of course he wasn't buying it.

"—so, you're telling me you're that broke you can't pay for a carton of milk?" He asked, tauntingly as if it was an insult to the girl. She could feel her patience growing thin but she was trying to be as nice as possible.

"Listen here you motherfuck—sir," She corrected herself but the man only raised a brow. "I am really in need—like very much in need. My kids are outside and on the edge of dying from dehydration!"

The man glanced at them. "They look fine to me."

"You're not listening to me, I really—"

"Look, ma'am or...whatever you are," Will tries to ignore that. "I'm not giving out any free handouts for every homeless immigrant I come across, you might need to find another store because this one just isn't the one for you—"

Will grabs the man by his collar dragging him close to her face. "Listen here you motherfucker! I'm not a fuckin' homeless immigrant, all I'm trying to get is a carton of fucking milk and a Reese Pieces but you're making it extremely hard not to bash your head in on this counter and take it myself." She gritted her teeth with anger, she was tired of the constant disrespect from the man.

The man looked annoyingly unthreatened by that. "If you don't let go of me, I'm calling the police."

Will immediately let go and huffed. She couldn't get into an incident with the police, though she half debated on bashing his head on the counter, she couldn't. Especially not with the sheriff who she's so buddy buddy with.

Trailing out the store, the girl slumps on the parking lot ground. She puts her hands on her face, her frustration was eating away at her so violently that she feel like she would explode. Like if she screams everything would explode in her vicinity. "Fuck!" She screams anyway, next to her brother and sister who only stare at their older sister on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"Will, are you okay?" Jorge asked with large eyes and his sister just nods. She doesn't want him to worry.

"Are you sure?" Isabela rebuffed.

Will nods. "Y—Yeah, I'm just frustrated. And very fuckin' pissed."

"Is it because of the me?" Jorge asked but Will didn't think twice before shaking his head, he would never be the reason.

"No, no, mi mundo. You aren't the reason....life just sucks, okay?" Will tried to explain to her younger siblings. "It sucks and sometimes it's nothing we can do about it sucking."

Jorge nodded, he seemed to get what she was saying. "I understand."

He suddenly scoots over and wraps his arms around his sister—his warm captivating her completely. She felt comfortable in his warmth and it wasn't long before Isabela joined the hug on her right. Will felt tears stain his brother's jacket as he began to cry of it frustration. Her frustration turned into pitiful sadness but it held anger. The group of three siblings hugged under the Cece's Convenience as the lights in it flickered from off and on because of the terrible wiring. Eventually all the letters stopped working except for one c, an I, and a e that looked like a x due to the way the letters had became worn down.

Life really wasn't fair. It truly fucking wasn't. Maybe life did suck. Maybe it did have shitty people that were out to get them. Maybe they lived in a shitty town that had nothing to offer them but dumbasses and Christian fanatics. But they had each other. That's what mattered.

They would always have each other.

ASHDOWN ROAD
8:04 PM | MONDAY
NOVEMBER 9th, 1995.

Rain poured on the coat of Dénny's. He never really favored the rain as it was always a annoyance sometimes when standing in it. You couldn't really see and you couldn't really not get wet. But once inside you could kind of enjoy it. It's calming if not relaxing to the souls if he wanted to go there. He believed it was nice if he wasn't in its wrath which was...right now.

The whole group had been here, minus Julius, as Iggy had led them to the road where TK usually took his ride home on. The Pasternak boy seemed to be right because Dénny noticed that there were bike marks in the street that led into the cursed Wilderness.

"Is this it?" Madden asked, squinting under his hoodie.

Iggy nodded. "Should be. I've rode with him a couple of times this way." Dénny didn't really question Iggy's rightness about something because usually he always was right.

"You guys ready?" Saint asked his friends, turning in his flashlight as it began to get darker. "Or are y'all ditching like Chapman did earlier?"

Dénny shook his head. "We're ready, man. Just don't do anything stupid and definitely don't split up. Everyone stay together, we can't lose nobody else." He tried to reason with them all and set rules so they would stay safe but they seem to all nod in agreement. Hopefully they would find their friend in here.

Finally, after staring for a moment, they all went inside the woods. Dénny led the group mainly through the thickness of it because, though Iggy knew his way around he guessed, the boy was too scared. So he stepped up to help. Dénny had always been the type to do things like that for his friends, he would never just...force them into doing something they were uncomfortable with. That wasn't right. Which is why he's kinda dwelling on the Julius situation that happened earlier.

He wished he could've maybe stopped it because he was usually good at defusing things but Saint just wasn't budging. He was just being aggressive to everyone despite who they were. A part of Dénny got that but another part made him annoyed. Insulting everyone did no good and only made them more nervous.

Which is probably why Julius left.

Hopefully, Dénny can try and talk to Julius later about the situation and make amends. He wouldn't blame Julius if he didn't want to hang with them anymore. Not after what happened.

"TK? TK?!" Dénny shouts out in the Wilderness. But no one answers. "Addams!" He shines his light every which way but he only sees the woods get thicker.

"Theo? Man, where are you?!" Madden calls out.

"TK, come out! We're here to save you!" Iggy yells out in hope he's just hiding. "TK?!"

"TK! If you don't come out...I'll kill you! Come out, man. We're here!" Saint shouts. "TK?!"

Dénny hears movement on his left and shines his light to it but only sees a bush. "TK?!" He begins to shine the flashlight every which direction but suddenly heard something.

"Dénny!" It sounded like TK.

"I'm here...I'm right here!"

Dénny's brows furrowed. "TK?" What did he mean he was right here?

"Come over here! I'm right here!" TK's voice was heard on his left, something moved on his left. Something seemed to be hiding over there. He didn't know what it was but it sounded like TK. Maybe it was him.

"Guys, did you hear that?" Dénny asked his friends but they all shook their heads.

Iggy shook his head. "Hear what??"

"Only shit I hear is this fuckin' rain—"

Just then a quick movement was heard from to the right of the group. They all turn over to their right and Dénny shines his light on whatever it was. Again, another moment is heard but whatever it is has to be quick. Maybe it was an animal? A rabbit maybe? Dénny didn't know but he was getting nervous. He pushed most of the boys behind as it all suddenly stopped.

"The fuck?" Saint muttered in the front with Dénny. He had brash knuckles on his fingers ready to swing if anything came out. He believed his knuckles solved everything....just like Dénny used too. Which made him immediately attached to Saint as he was once like him.

"Stay behind me." Dénny ordered but Saint shook his head.

"Fuck no man, if you die. I'm dying right with you." Saint exclaimed loyally. That was something the boy would never give up; his loyalty.

Dénny just shrugged and slowly, he moved his light all around them. It seemed whatever was stalking them had stopped. Or maybe it had just been waiting for another time to strike. But then whatever is watching them suddenly jumps out the bushes in the size of a small girl with long black hair. They all look at her; she's panting with blood all over her uniform and face, she lies on the ground in pain it seems. She looks up at them helpless like she can't do anything else to stop whatever is hurting.

Her eyes scream for help and fear, Dénny didn't know what she was scared of but it definitely wasn't them. Something else had scared her. Hurt her. But he couldn't tell what or where she was that hurt her. Everything about this just was strange. And kind of unnerving as her eyes closed with another inner white eyelid as she stared at them. What the fuck? What is this girl?

He may not have known much but he did know one thing.

Shit is starting to get weird.

━━

AUTHORS NOTE:
Soooooo, first chapter!!!! WHOOPING CHEERING!!!! This is actually just an introduction chapter to most of the characters and how their lives kinda are before shit hits the fan as it does. There's a lot of foreshadowing, parallels, hints to what may happen in later seasons, and just....lots. Literally ever little thing means something in this tiny chapter so be on the lookout!

We get slight Six content but we don't exactly know what happened to her, whete she been, or what she's done. (Yes, she's killed a man but she's a girlfailure! Support her!) and I've done that on purpose. Giggles evilly. So we will come to find out together how long she's been escaped and what she's all done and what's happened to her! Flashbacks are bigggg for her in this season.

Will and her siblings are 🫶🏾. They're just too cute and honestly a really sad story. Family dynamics are gonna be quite important so don't worry, others will be explored soon!

Honestly the only character I couldn't introduce is Essie and that's because she didn't really fit in this chapter....oh but trust, she's a big role in the next. And the next one will kinda be crazy.

But now for the questions of the chapter: Who do you think Six will stay over?

Is Julius wrong for being scared? Is Saint wrong for being angry?

Any dynamics you like?

WORD COUNT.
11326