I heard a bump from my closet and stuffed my pillow over my head. Katelyn had been kicking the closet all night.

I was having a sleepover with Garroth, Laurence, Katelyn, Aaron, Kawaii~Chan, Kim and Zane.

We've been in bed for about 2 hours, and I hadn't slept yet. I was alone on my bed, cold. The girls were laying on the ground in sleeping bags while all the boys were in the living room.

Katelyn kicked again and I groaned. "Who's even asleep?" I mumbled.

"Not me." Was the whispered response, and I took the pillow off my head, glancing at my door.

"Aaron? What are you doing up?" I sat up and slid to the edge of my bed. I sat there with my legs to the side.

"Garroth snores like a bear. I haven't had a wink yet."

I sighed quietly. "Me neither. Katelyn kicking the wall."

Aaron motioned his head and I complied, stepping over my friends and out the door, Aaron shutting it behind me.

As soon as we faced each other, he reached down and cupped my face, tipping my chin up and pressing his lips to mine softly. I smiled against the kiss and put my hands on his neck.

We pulled away, still close.

"I've been wanting to do that all day." He breathed with a small smile.

I laughed lightly. "Me too."

Aaron and I have been dating for a few months, but because of me getting bullied and a few people having crushes on me, we've kept it a secret.

I've mostly gotten bullied for being pescatarian (vegetarian but also eating fish), not going near water, and being short. Garroth and Laurence have a crush on me, and it brings teasing my way quite often, each word a jab in my side.

All of us are enrolled at Phoenix University, a college right on the shores of Phoenix Drop City.

He went lower and kissed me lightly again. It turned to two kisses, the first slow and sweet, the second a little quicker and passionate.

We broke off at the sound of a thump and a groan.

Aaron sighed, looking down and putting his hands at my neck. "Looks like Laurence fell off the couch again." I snorted a stifled laugh and we snuck down the stairs, peeking over the edge.

Laurence was now getting cuddled by Garroth in his sleep and it seemed Laurence fell right back asleep.

I bounced on the balls of my feet with a huge smile and Aaron dragged my upstairs with a hand on my mouth so I didn't scream.

Once back where we had kissed, he smirked and took his hand off my mouth after I took a few breaths.

"Too bad it's a sleepover with more than just the two of us. The guys aren't the only ones who need cuddles." He winked and I smiled, remembering how cold I was in bed.

I held his hands and stepped on my tippy-toes to kiss him softly, then pecking quickly. "You can get some tomorrow." We said our good nights and went our separate ways.

Finally, I had been getting some sleep, when I heard a floorboard creek. My consciousness was restored and I internally freaked out, though I kept my hands steady and eyes closed, breathing even.

Stupid brain! There's nothing there scaredy-cat!

I readjusted my position and fell asleep again soon after.

In the morning, I finished stretching and called to the girls. "Katelyn? Come on Kim wake up, guys." I rubbed my eyes and was shocked when I saw the floors empty and clean.

Was the sleepover a dream?

I shook my head and got up, opening the door. Aaron was no dream. What is going on here?

I went downstairs and saw that all their stuff was gone and the blankets were evenly folded on the couch. Normally I have them in the closet, and I noticed the Cheetos fingers on one blanket.

The ones Dante made when we all watched a movie before bed.

Aaron had been sitting beside me to the right, Katelyn on the left. It was dark and we held hands under the blankets.

The movie was still on halfway through, and what started as me singing gleefully to the music, was now a quiet whisper as I struggled to stay awake.

Eventually, I fell asleep but was constantly woken up by the bag of Cheetos.

What the hell happened, are where the hell are my friends?

I ran around my house, jumping from the kitchen to the bathroom, to the front and back yards.

Their cars were still parked across the street, their toothbrushes were cleaned and dried sitting orderly at my sink, and the dishwasher was still full.

Where. The, fuck. Is. My. Family.

Not sure how, but I ended up wailing and sobbing on my bed.

I just wanted Aaron to hug me and tell me everything was alright, have Garroth or Laurence punch a wall, Katelyn to glare at him before joining in the hug, and the others to watch like it was entertainment - just like we normally do.

But normal is way too much to ask for.

Because what made me freak out originally was the seashell and hook symbol of the Trench on the side of my house.

The ones who will kill them for answers, and if they don't have any they'll be tortured until they find who does have them.

Me.

They're still after the Pearl Estuary.

And those bitches will pay for taking my family away from me.

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Word count: 938