(Let's see what the hotel is up to? Shall we~)

*Timeskip: 1 day later*

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*Suitcase's P.O.V*

A whole two weeks....

2 WEEKS! ........................

........................................................................................................

........................................................................................................

AND WE STILL HAVEN'T FOUND BALLOON! 

I'm so.... so... upset.

Why couldn't we find him? Why did Balloon make it hard to find him? ....

Did... Did Balloon not WANT to be found? Was he THAT upset at everyone that he didn't want to be found?

I suppose I understand... Balloon had to suffer for YEARS. Years of hate. Years of sadness. Years of self hurt. Years of self doubt. Years of .... of not being wanted...

If I was Balloon, I suppose I would feel the same. I would feel like I didn't belong and not want to be found by those who did me wrong.

*sigh* I don't know how we're going to find him... The forest is big.... 

Not only that.... But the search team is going to shrink today.

After lunch, the current contestants; me included; and the hosts will be leaving to head back to the show.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE! I WANT TO STAY AND HELP CONTINUE SHEARCHING FOR BALLOON!!! 

I feel something wet coming down my face. I'm crying. I'm pretty sure. 

What am I doing again? .......

.... I don't remember. Wait. Where am I exactly?

Am I in a room? Or was I just floating? I felt like both actually.

Wait. Am I having another episode? I think so? 

I can hear things... but I can't see where they're coming from. It sounds like it's all around me.

I still have no idea what's wrong with me. I see and hear things that nobody else can. I just... I just feel like I don't feel one with everyone else. Li-like I'm just not really there.

I have no clue how to explain this. 

I'll probably talk to somebody about this. Like TestTube. Maybe she can help me? I don't want to go to a psychiatrist. They freak me out. I have no clue why.... They just do. 

I know TestTube isn't the one to go to for things like this.... She's more of a science type of person. Not a mental illness type of person. But I trust her a lot better than an actual psychiatrist....

I should get up.... but... I'm still in my episode. I'm going to let this pass, before I head to TestTube. 

...... I wonder how long I'm going to have to wait this out...

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*"40 minutes" later*

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I think my vision is starting to clear. Thank goodness. I think my episodes are getting longer. I think this one was a good 35 minutes. 

I take a look at my surroundings. I'm in my room. On the floor... again. How do I always end up on the floor when I have my episodes?

Nevermind that. I have a sience geek to talk to. I get up and start making my way towards her room. Luckily. Us current players are all on the same floor, so I didn't need to head down to try and find her. 

I walk to room number '508'. That was TestTube and Lightbulb's room. After a good minute of walking, I make it to the door. I knock on the door to get somebody's attention.

I hear shuffling in the room. It's muffled, but that because's the door is still closed. I can now hear footsteps. Oh. The door is opening!

Behind the door is... 

Lightbulb?

"Oh. Hey there 'Case!", she greeted with a bright smile.

(/ *knee slap*/)

What was that? .... Nevermind. I probably just imagined that. 

"Hey Lightbulb!", I greeted back.

"What's up? You need anything?", she questioned.

"Yea. Actually... Is TestTube in there? Or... do you know where she is?", I asked.

"Testy? Um... She's not in here. I can tell you that.", she stated.

"Oh? She's not?", I pondered.

"Nope! But. I can tell you where she is!", she explained with glee. 

"Really? Where is she then?", I asked with urgence.

"She's in her lab!", she exclaimed.

Lab? TestTube has a lab? Woah! Didn't know that?

"She has a lab?", I inquire.

"Yep! It's underneath the vending machine!", she claimed.

"Oh. Really? Okay! Thanks Lightbulb!", I said as I turn aroun to leave.

"Happy to help! See ya!", Lightbulb said as she closes her door.

I start hading to the elevator to go down to the first floor. ......

I really hope Test Tube can help me with my... problem...

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*TestTube's P.O.V*

Golly. I'm exhausted. I haven't gotten a good 8 hours worth of rest in the past 2 days.

Luckily. I have coffee to help me! I take another sip of my nice white chocolate coffee. 

Mmmm~... that hits the spot. Now. Let's keep going on this experiment!

I'm currently working on something that can help make painting a whole lot eaiser! 

Sure. Painting is fun. But when a big painting project comes, say like... re-painting a room. It usually takes 2-4 days to do that. But... hopefully with this new invention... painting a room will only take 1 day!

I'm working on making the handle when I hear a knock. Huh? 

Who is that? I'm not expecting Fan today. Who could that be?

I pull a latch to activate the suction tube. So whoever is outside can come in.

"AAAHHH!", I hear a feminine voice scream out.

"Oof! ... Ow...", I hear her groan in pain.

I walk over to see that it was Suitcase who was outside.

"Oh! G-Golly! Sorry Suitcase! Haha... Let me help you up!", I apologized.

I extend my hand out so I can help her up. She takes it and I hoisted her up.

"Thanks.... You really need to find a better way for people to get in...", Suitcase confessed.

"Haha.... I know. I need to make something so the travel down is a lot more comfortable...", I said, looking away.

I still haven't worked on that. I was too busy with other things that I completely forgot about making something so the tube is a little more comfotable. 

Then again..... This is a 'secret' lab I was suppose to have! *sigh* Great.... Now I need to add Suitcase to my 'Knows about my 'secret' lab' list....

"Suitcase.... who told you about my 'secret' lab?", I asked, in a mutter.

"Hm? Oh. Um... Lightbulb.", she snitched.

Of course.... Lightbulb told her... *sigh*

"... *sigh* of course she did....", I mutter.

"Hehehe... Don't be so hard on her.... she's just looking out for you.", she said.

"I know... It's just... she can be a little much. But. I love her.... as a really good freind.", I said.

It's true. Lightbulb isn't the 'brightest' of the bunch. Heh. That was good...

(/ *kneeslap*/)

But, she is a pretty good leader when she needs to be. She puts others first! Even if she is a little idiotic at times, she still has a heart of gold. That's what makes her a pretty nice friend.

"Anyways... Why are you here Suitcase?", I asked her.

"Oh! Right... Um... well... I know your not the one to go to for things like this... but I need help..", she confessed, looking away afterwards.

"Oh? What did you need help with? I'm sure I can try to help!", I exclaimed.

"W-w-well... you noticed I've been.... acting off at times... right?", she asked.

"Um... yea. You just sort of..... Sort of look like staring off to space, but deeper. You mutter things and shake for hours on end.", I confessed.

"Wait.... hours? I thought it was minutes!", she exclaimed.

"What? No. You usually sit there for maybe an hour or more...", I stated.

Did she not know that? Was she really under the influence that she was having these expriences for merely some minutes? Golly. This was pretty serious.

"What!? An hour!? But... but it doesn't feel that long....", Suitcase confessed.

"Hmm... Golly. This is confusing. Come with me. Let's see if we can figure this out!", I exclaimed.

"Wait... You-you want to help me?", she asked, aghast.

"Of course! I feel like I'm not much help in the search for Balloon. But. If I can help you, the it might feel like I helped Balloon a little bit!", I admitted.

I'm a scientist. My expertise is in science stuff! I'm not an outdoors person by anymeans. Of course, being on this show is helping change that...

Even so. I feel helpless in searching for him. I haven't gotten the proper time to explore every inch of the woods before now. I could've implimented some sort of device that helps locates a person's location without having a tracking device.

Balloon does have his phone. I know that.... But his tracker is off. How I know this? I've been in his room before. Just to do a small investigation to see if he left any clues to his whereabouts. 

What I found... Well... It didn't help find him. But... it revealed just how.... how depressed Balloon had been.

I searched is sock drawer and discovered a hidden department within it. I'm surprised nobody knew of this. Then again. I suppose nobody ever really payed attention to him or have been in his room. The only one whose been in his room, was Nickel.

When I asked him about the hidden department, he seemed shocked. He claimed he had no idea there even was one! So, naturally. I took a look. And what I found.... was shocking.

I found 2 notebooks. One seemed to be a diary. The other, a normal notebook. Seemed like Balloon had forgotten to take them with him.

His diary revealed a lot about Balloon. Entries went back as far as season one of Inanimate Insanity. And. When Balloon said 'act'... He meant 'act'. 

How Balloon used to be in season 1. He really was acting. Early entries showed how it was hard being the 'manipulator' role. He beileved that's how reality tv worked. Everyone had a role to play. 

And because of this... it all led to backlash and hate. More entries showed how sorry he was for trying to use everyone. He wanted to apologized. And he did. But nobody took him seriously.

Then. We got to the more recent entries. .... They were nothing but how awful he was being treated and how upset he was because of it. The more recent one... was the day before he ran away.

Moving on the the other notebook. When I looked through it. It was filled with beautiful poems. I had no idea Balloon was such a poet! Some of the poems were happy. Some were more filled with anger.

.... But most of them were sad poems. About half of his notebook; that were filled anyways; were sad poems. His last one was the most interesting.

The poem was about 'goodbyes'. It's ironic isn't it? The poem was about saying 'goodbye' and now. Now he's gone. I wonder if there was a connection with that? 

Not the point. There was one final thing in that hidden department.... when I pulled it out... I was shocked. It was a knife. He had a knife in his drawer, and Nickel didn't know!

When I showed this to Nickel.... his face went into a shocked expression. He didn't think Balloon would keep a knife! None of did when I told them, well.. other than Trophy.

Nobody could've guessed that Balloon would hurt himself like this. Self-harm to take the pain away. 

It really was too late for apologizes. 

".... Are you okay TestTube?", I can hear Suitcase ask.

"Hmm? Ah. I'm okay. Just.... thinking about things.", I reply.

"Oh.", she said.

"Anyways. Let's go. We need to figure out why you're having these 'episodes' as you call them!", I exclaimed.

"Okay!", she said.

We walk to another part of my lab. This part doesn't have much. It's where I do tests on my experiements! I'm not 100% sure on what I'm looking for or what I'm doing. But. I'm determined to help!

We make it to the door to my testing room. I open the door and Suitcase walks inside. I follow behind her. .... (why did this feel like one of those fanfics where I'm some sort of evil scientist experiementing on my friends????)

(/ YOU TOO!/)

(TestTube: AH! GOLLY GEE! WHO ARE YOU!?)

(/ ..... nobody important. just... don't break the 4th wall... I can't keep fixing this!)

(TestTube: 4th wall?)

(/ nevermind. just get back to the bo- i mean.... just go.../)

.... I'm sure this was nothing! I'm not an evil scientist! I'm nothing like those fanfic versions of me that Fan reads from time to time. 

Anyways. Let's get to work on what is going on in Suitcase's mind!

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*2 hours later*

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Alright. I finished the testing phase! Now. All I have to do is wait for my laptop to come up with the solution for Suitcase! 

In the meantime. We have to get ready for one last search. Well... for us current players anyways. We have to head back to the show later today. 

I know Suitcase is rather upset by this, but... you know what they say! The show must go on! After dinner, we have to leave. Currently, it's around lunch time. 

We should head up for some lunch! I know she must be hungry after hours of tests.

"Suitcase. Would you like to head back up? It's lunch time.", I asked her.

"Hmm? Um.... sure...", she responded.

So, we head back to the main part of the lab. Once there, we use the tube to head back up to the surface. I should find a different way out rather than the tube. It's so weird going back up via the tube.

Nevermind that however. I'll add that to the 'Things I should probably fix/upgrade soon' list. 

Now we're back up on the surface. Ah. Fresh air! How lovely.

"Alrighty! Let's head back Suitcase!", I said.

"Yea. Let's go.", She said, a little upset. 

Hmm... She must have Balloon still in her mind. I can't blame her. They were rather close friends on the show. 

We start making our way to the hotel. I wonder what my cousin has made for us today? Or, what he ordered today? Honestly, it's either home cooked food, or take out. 

OJ's been a bit of a mess lately, so we've been getting a little more take out than normally. I don't fully mind of course. I understand why this is.

OJ is the manger of the hotel. He has a lot of responsibility on his plate. He's always stressed in a lot of ways. Learning about Balloon and having him run away.... I'm pretty sure set him over the edge. 

So, not being able to cook is understandable. Cooking requires lots of focus and concentration. OJ and Paper both don't have that at the moment. Both are way too worried about Balloon and each other. 

Pretty sure they have a crush on each other. I always knew my cousin was gay. Well... he's bisexual. But, Salt having this HUGE obsession over OJ... I think made him stop finding girls attractive... in some sort of way.

But I can think about that later. For now. We should head inside the hotel and eat! Yes. We made it the hotel while I thought about OJ having a crush on Paper. 

*GASP* I SHOULD TEASE HIM ABOUT IT! Golly. That sounds like an amazing idea! I'm such an amazing cousin. 

Alright. Let's go inside and get some food!

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*OJ's P.O.V*

*sigh* Man.... Being a hotel manger is fucking hard.

In both good ways... and bad ways.

I love my job. Don't get me wrong!

It's just.... *sigh* It comes with too much responsibility that I can handle.

I'm so glad I have Paper by my side. I don't know what I would do with out him...

~*dreamy sigh*~ He's the best. He's so calm and kind. He sees the best in people, even the worst ones! He helps people whenever they need help. Gosh. I could go on on how amazing and adorable Paper is!

......

"OJ? OJ!", I hear somebody shout.

"Huh? Oh. Paper! You need anything?", I asked gleefully.

"Um...... Your hand is on the stove....", he panicked.

..... WHAT!? I look over... HOLY SHIT!?

"AH!", I yell in shock.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I WAS BURNING MY FUCKING HAND! OW!!!

"Ow.... Hehe.... Thanks Paper....", I thanked in pain.

"N-no problem O-OJ! ... You okay? You had your hand on that for a good minute!", he admitted.

"Oh... U-um.. Yea! I-I'm ok! Hahah...", I stuttered.

"You sure? You was deep in some sort of thought when I called out to you.", he asked.

..... SHIT! WAS I DAYDREAMING ABOUT PAPER AGAIN!? 

Ugh...... This was the 5th time this week I daydreamed about Paper!

"Y-Yea..... I'm good.. ow.... I just need some ice or something....", I said, wincing in pain.

"Is everything okay in here? We heard shouting!", I hear somebody ask.

Me and Paper turn around and we see Suitcase and TestTube by the kitchen door. Oh. What perfect timing! 

"Y-yea! Everything is okay! I... um.. I-I just burnt my hand.... haha..", I confessed.

"Oh golly OJ! Are you okay? Would you like me to take a look at it?", TestTube asked.

YES! THE PERFECT GETAWAY! I NEED TO GET OUT BEFORE I START THINKING ABOUT PAPER AGAIN! 

"Um. Sure! Thanks TestTube!", I say as I walk towards her.

"Ok! Let's go to the infirmary then!", she exclaimed.

"Alright. See ya in a bit Paper!", I say as I wave my good hand 'good-bye' to him.

"Oh. Okay! See ya OJ! I'll serve lunch!", he said. (did he have a bit of blush on his face? ... nvm)

Me and TestTube begin walking out the kitchen and start making our way to the infirmary on the 1st floor. It's not too far, just a little passed the pool area.

After a few short minutes, we make it to the infirmary. We walk in and I sit on one of the beds. Testy goes to a cabinet and pulls out a bandage. She then goes to the little cooler and pulls out an ice pack. 

She heads back to me. She has a smug look on her face... What's on her mind?

"So... how's that burn of yours?", she asked.

"Um... it stings... a lot... hehe...", I confessed.

"Good to know... anyways.... what's up with you and Paper~ hmm?", she asked smugly.

.... Oh.. OH.... she's playing THAT game is she? Well... TWO can play that game!

"We're pretty good... How's Fan doing? hmm~", I asked with a smug tone.

"M-Me and F-Fan are fine. Thank you for a-asking.", she answers, with a tint of blush on her.

Hehe... I'm soo winning this battle. 

"Good to know! Good to know... have you asked him out yet?", I asked cutting to the chase.

"W-W-WHAT!? OJ! That's cheating!", she exclaimed, a blushing mess now.

Ha! I win this time. One point for me~.

"Haha! No it's not! You did it before! Remember back in high school?", I pointed out.

".... *sigh* I suppose you have a point...... (not fair tho).", she gave in.

"But in all seriousness... Do you have a crush on Paper?", she asked.

".... Yea... I have a bit of a crush Paper..", I confessed, with a blush on my face.

"Hah. Knew it. He's a good one for you!", she exclaimed.

I was still blushing at that fact as TestTube put the ice pack on my hand. Ow! That stings!

"Ow.....", I wince in pain.

"Sorry. This should help with the pain. I'm gonna wrap it up with this bandage. The pack should last about 2 days. So when that comes, you're gonna need a new ice pack. Okay?", she explained to me.

"Yea. Don't worry. I have a little bit of medical knowledge in my brain. I can handle myself when you leave!", I said.

"Hehe... I know that OJ.", she stated.

"... So. Are you going to confess to Fan soon?", I asked.

I've noticed them growing close. And I'm proud of them! Especially TestTube! She's always been super nerdy and antisocial growing up. She usually stayed on the side when we hung out with family. I always made time to hangout with her.

That's why we're close! We always had each others back. Sure, we grew a little distant over the years.... But. Now that we are back together... We can make up for lost time!

"... U-um... M-maybe... I... I haven't figure that out yet.", she confessed with a blush on her face.

"Heh. Well. I wish you luck with that. Whenever you get to.", I said.

"Thanks OJ... I wish you luck with Paper when you ask him out.", she replied. 

"Heh. Thanks Tube. Now... let's go eat some lunch... shall we?", I asked her,

"Of course OJ! Let's go.", she replied.

So. We headed back to the kitchen to join the others for lunch... Hopefully our search goes better this time around.... 

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*Timeskip: After dinner.*

*Time: 7:30 pm*

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This time was also a bust. No luck in finding Balloon... Again.

*sigh* I really hope he's okay out there... where ever he is.

Dinner just ended. It's just about time to say goodbye to our extra help... They're heading back to the show tonight.

Everyone is at the meeting room. I'm up on the stage, about to give an announcement.

"Okay everyone. Listen up!", I begin.

Everyone who was having side conversations stopped to pay attention. I'm surprised. Normally, I would need to say that at least 3 times before I got everyone's attention.

Actually, why am I surprised? They've done this these past two weeks. I suppose this whole thing surrounding Balloon was an emergency. 

"Thank you for your attention. Now. For some news.", I started again.

"As you know... It's been two whole weeks since Balloon has been missing. And within those weeks. We've all our best to search for him.", I stated.

"I am proud of us for doing our best to search for him! However.... Our extra pair of eyes must go.", I continue.

As I said those lines, Mephone stood up. Then he came up to the stage to say a few things.

"It is a shame that we have to leave you all. But. The show must go on! I promise. We will continue to seach for Balloon in our free time. For now. I believe in all you in the hotel to find Balloon.", Mephone spoke.

As he said this. Mepad and Toilet stood up and began to walk towards the door. Soon, the remaining contestants minus Apple and Marshmallow stood up and began to head towards the door.

"Thank you again for trying to help us. Good luck on the show. And we'll see you soon.", I announce.

Mephone doesn't say anything and walks towards the door. Everyone waves goodbye to the remaining 6 contestants of Inanimate Insanity season 2 as they all wave back.

After a good 30 seconds... they leave to head back to the contestant grounds.

"This concludes our meeting for tonight. We will have another one after breakfast tomorrrow to rearrange teams and continue our search.", I concluded our meeting.

As I said this. Everyone got up and left the room to do... whatever they do for the night before they all head to bed.

I make sure that everyone is out of the room and not listening in. 

............................................................................................................

............................................................................................................

Good. Nobody is around. 

Time to make a call.........

I pull out my phone.

I dial in certain numbers into my phone.

It's ringing.

...................

...................

...................

Finally. Somebody picks up.

"Missing Person Police Department. How may I serve you this fine evening?"

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*End of Chapter 17*

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LOOK! 

A NEW CHAPTER!

AND IT'S EARLY!

(sort of.)

AND IT'S MY LONGEST CHAPTER! WOAH!

Anyways. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

See you tomorrow!