Comba and Main have very clear ideas on what to do if Verisa's panic: try and calm them down. Normally, it'd work so much that they'd either:

A)  Pass out from the overwhelming amount of emotions.
Then her and Main would discuss possibilities for the Timelines.

Or B) Calm down enough to say their name and their age, possibly their timeline's role and such.
Then her and Main would try and get them comfortable if they aren't already.

Sometimes, it doesn't always work like that, even with all the precautions they've taken.

Like now.
Now, it doesn't work at all.

Even when they showed themselves after the HoRrFiC death of Elly, they clearly didn't want to be seen, already shutting themselves off with the cupboards door. Comba can't even think of a reason on why someone would shut themselves off in a closed off space, where oxygen in limited and time is the one going slow. But here she is, staring as the cupboards door rattles and breaths hitch.

Then Moon and Willow does something stupid — they rush over, crouching down and pulling the cupboard doors open. Comba doesn't know why, doesn't know how she's been stuck in the floor while this is going on. Maybe it's the lack of sleep, or the muRdEr of Elly to have finally have caught up with her, but she can't do anything but watch as Verisa screams and kicks the two away.

After a moment or three, Comba snaps out of the foggy haze covering her mind and rushes forward, yanking Willow and Moon away and dragging them out of the kitchen by their shirts. The adult then plop them down on the floor and gives a glare, turning when the cupboard door bangs open and a leg appears.

Comba quickly moves to the cupboard and gently crouches down, the cupboard door parting slightly allowing her to see Versia. The child is laying on their side, head resting on their arm, beanie pulled up slightly so that you could see just the little bit of a eye. The eye itself is rather concerning, if the leader-like adult is being honest. Blank, misty, glazed over almost like the haze in all of the other's minds; including themselves.

Slowly, she leans into the small space and wraps her arms around Versia. Taking her time, she slowly pulls the child out of the cramped space, looking over at them before snapping out of her dazed thoughts. Coming into the lounge and gently resting Versia on the couch, head propped up on a pillow, she glances at the other two.

"Get some pills," she stated, pointing upstairs. "Under my bed."

"Ok." Came the reply as Willow shot upstairs. Turning to Moon, she took in a breath.

"Blankets, water, snacks." She ordered, pointing to the kitchen. "I'll get some paper and pens. Call Main up."

Moon nodded, walking towards the kitchen as Comba then pulled out her (very) battered phone. Turning it on, she clicked her contacts list and clicked on the top.

Pressing the phone to her ear, she nodded as the pills and water was handed to her. Tucking them quickly into the side of the couch, she heard a familiar voice at the other end of the call. Pausing and taking a breath or two, she pinched the bridge of the nose.

"Fuck you, because we found them."

()

Main had gotten there a few minutes after the phone call of endless insults and slurs (mostly from Comba, because she had beat him in his own game) had ended. Some of the gang was there already, standing around the place, some fishing for some food and others muttering to themselves like the freaks they were. Comba was sitting in the bench, on a stool, picking at the sandwich that Versia had made before they came in. Main come in the front door and then rushed over to her, grabbing a stool and sitting on the opposite side from her.

"Hey," he said, waving a little.

"Hi," she replied, barely looking up from the weird-ass sandwich she was playing with.

"So," Main fumbled with his words. "Got any bets?"

Comba looked up, tilting her head a little. "Of what, exactly?"

"Timelines, differences. Stuff like that."

"Oh."

"Yeah. You should know this already."

"Sorry, big day."

"I can tell."

"Eh.." she looked over her shoulder, to the cupboard, remembering the struggle. "Maybe, I don't know, child abuse?" she said, looking back to Main, who had a sceptical look on his face. "What?"

"There's different types," he answered. "Which type do you bet on?"

"I'm gonna go with physical, possibly neglect."

"Reasons?"

"Well, for starters," she brought up a notebook, glancing over at the sandwich. "For one, they struggled and screamed when we got here. I could see the panic when I was looking over this place while I waited for you. There was a quick second hesitation, in their frightened phase, when they heard our voices — or even saw us. They didn't go upstairs, I don't think. They thought they were caught and would be hurt." She pointed to the sandwich, placing the notepad down, "see this sandwich? I haven't moved it from it's place. But see how they threw it on the counter, see how they didn't take it with them?"

Main tilted his head, "um, yeah. Any other points?"

"I haven't finished my sandwich rant just yet."

"Oh." Main said, sheepishly. "Sorry, go on."

"Well, they used their resources well. And I'm guessing they were starving or some shit, because who would eat--" she pointed to the sandwich next to her-- "that, of all things, voluntarily? I know I ate brains as a kid, but I was grown up that way, ya know?"

"You ate brains as a kid?"

"Not really a good memory, but yeah, I did."

"The fuck?"

"Heh, I know, right? That's why I'm so good with kids."

She stared and smirked, chuckling a bit. "Anyway, moving on. They also had glossy eyes. Pushing to the furthest of the cupboard. Even saw the little dent in it to where they shoved their head at it. You can even see it yourself, if you don't believe me."

Main stood there, awkwardly, rubbing his arm. "You can't just change a topic like that." He accused her.

"You did it more often then me."

"Well, normally, I didn't just reveal that I ate brains as a kid. Not even that, children's brains."

"Eh, you live you learn."

"Bullshit."

"Says you."

The two stare at each other as they contemplate what to say next, to carry on the conversation. After awhile of fidgeting, Comba huffs and says, "well, what about you? Got any timeline pobs and nops?"

Main stared, a little taken aback. "Pobs and nops?"

"What you think are gonna go, and what you don't."

"Oh. Um," Main glanced over at the others, looking for some ideas. The others just shrugged, giving a 'I'm sorry' look as they did so. Main turned back to Comba and sighed. "I dunno. From the information you told me I'd guess a mental disorder."

"Bullshit."

"You've seen Con, right? He snuck out yesterday-"

"I know about Con, dumbass," Comba waved him off. "But that's an addiction, not a mental illness-"

"Disorder," Main corrected, huffing when Comba rolled her eyes. "Comba, the word illness may be a trigger, be careful-"

"Like there's anyone with that in this room, listening, right now."

Main leaned closer. "You should still be careful."

"Sure, sure."

()

After a few heated silences, tiny kicks and punches, it was still a few more hours of hushed discussions until the child finally started to show some sign of life. Most are surrounded around them, awaiting on their first word as if they're two - it's sorta weird, Main isn't going to lie. As much as it is exciting, it is a bit overstimulated, he has to agree.

I mean, why should he be even stressed about the timeline? It's not as if this one is his last chance of savour, or anything. Yep. totally not that.

Main shrugged at the thought, his brain going a bit haywire as the child ("seriously, no. we're not calling them Versia's. that's just weird, guys") groggily sat up, looking around their area as their senses come back into full force. He leaned on the wall nearest to the doorframe, taking a sip of his lemonade. He was surprised that they hadn't done anything, after twenty seconds of silence he expected something to have happened--

"How the fuck am I here?"

Oh, Main thought to himself, having a mini-heart attack as he took a sip from the can. Guess my pob was right after all.

=====

1453 words

welp. this was meant to be the end of this arc but it wasnt and now i have an extra chap to this madness :')

why cant you just end it here i hear you say

well, cuz ya person just dont have no more motivation :3

woop- bai :DDDDDD

PS. sorry this is shitty im tired--