17.

Waking up to a brightness and nothing else initially is refreshing, then it is confusing, panic inducing even ... where it is that he wakes is somewhere he does not know. It'll take a moment or two until he recognizes it for what it surely must be, and it is confirmed when a nurse comes near and asks him as to if he knows where he is. Then he realizes why his waking moment had felt so refreshing. It comes rushing back to him, it all comes back.

The darkness, the panic and fear, the spotlight, trapeze artists, a strong man, the dancers and of course the ringmaster. The decision too ... oh hell ... the decision and then the hours that followed ... all in darkness. He chose her, why did he choose her? The only girl out of five friends. They all liked her and not just as a friend and of course he knew this for he surely liked her at least as much as any of the others.

He had even used her name in getting Alex to agree to go take on the challenge and had observed her having moments with the others over the preceding years.

How he wishes that none of them went. He didn't know what any of them were to be in for, how could he? He thought it was a game, a silly challenge blown out of all proportion to the point that it may not even actually exist. Oh, how wrong he was. That doesn't matter now. He got out, he is alive, he may be injured, but can't be sure. The most important thing is that she is alive too, but then again it all feels so surreal. Had anything he experienced after exiting the room actually happen? It must have, she was there.

But where is she now? And the other three? As it so happens, not that Gary could know in this moment, the rest of the gang are in the hospital canteen and have all yet to go home. It is closing in on midday, it is quite likely that families are at least beginning to wonder as to what is going on. Yeah, each had an excuse as to where they would be spending the night, most however would have been expected home by now.

Gary's family have already been informed as to where he is so it will only be a matter of time before the same will come for the others. Before any of that happens, four of the five indeed sit together and the sit together around a table as they have done so many times before as a five piece.

Yeah, this time is different, very different. They have never been in a hospital canteen before and they are rarely one person down. They each are hungry too and despite that and the fact that they do have food in front of them, this is not a moment to down sustenance. This is not a day for very much at all.

Each of the four sit in silence, all having picked a spot to stare a hole into. Out of the four, or even five if they all were to be sitting together, the one who under regular circumstances would be least likely to end a silent moment like this would be Alex, though that in itself is probably why it should be Alex that breaks the silence in the here and now. For a moment or two his eyes dart from one friend to another then to the other and not one of the other three notice Alex doing this.

'You guys ... my brother was there ... in the darkness ... he was there in my room ...'

Each of the friends are fully aware of what happened to Alex's brother. They know of the blame he places upon himself. The know of the blame he feels his parent place upon him. They would never openly speak of such a thing unless Alex himself were to bring it up and of course, they always will be there for Alex. Such a thing is ever so difficult to move on from.

His eyes well up and a single tear rolls down his right cheek. 'It's bad enough I struggle every day but ... you don't know what it's like at home. Sometimes I hear Declan in the house, sometimes I hear him out back. I even see him sometimes when I'm with you guys ... I ... I ... it never before came close to being anything like what happened last night.'

His friends try console him and they give him space too to continue.

'Declan is gone ... I've always known he was gone ... but last night ... last night it was so ... so ...'

'Real ...' Trebor interjects.

'Yeah ...'

Before talking about the previous night can go any further, an orderly approaches.

'Excuse me all but I know that you all would like to know that your friend is awake.'

Hesitation only lasts mere seconds, and a proper moment can soon be shared between them all as a full group of five. For the first time since before they all had been bundled into the back of a van, there is no fear, there is no negativity. It is a joyous moment. All five friends are alive, they are well, and they are together.

The moment can only last for so long, and it soon is over ... far too quick for any of their likings. Gary's parents have arrived. His four friends tell him they'll see him soon, they know he has some explaining to do as they each in turn will too. They give him space and begin to make a move towards the exit of the hospital.

Quietness has returned as has a dread. They'll get through it for the worst has surely passed. There will be no remark about money. All five are more than aware that there is no money to be offered to them. Last night was not the challenge they expected it to be. If anything, they can consider themselves lucky to a degree that none of them had been bought for a fee only to become a victim for someone with a fetish for removing skin from a living person or anything else of the likes.

An exit indeed is soon made though when it happens it is incomplete for when three of the friends makes it to the outside of the hospital, a question is asked.

'Where is Keith?'

'I don't know ... he was with us just a few seconds ago.'

Yeah, Keith is nowhere to be seen. He had been with them all at Gary's bedside. Four of them had made a move together and only three have come to be outside together.