My dad came back into the living room after that awkward moment between the siblings, looking unusually cheerful. He was carrying a tray, which he placed on the coffee table between us. "Everyone dig in!" he announced proudly, revealing his famous lime jello. It jiggled slightly, the green hue looking more radioactive than appetizing.

I had to stifle a groan. I was never a fan of the stuff, but my dad loved making it, so I always ate some to make him happy. The siblings, on the other hand, looked at the jello like it was an alien life form.

"What the hell am I looking at?" Diego asked, not breaking eye contact with the quivering dessert.

"It's his lime jello," I explained, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Pretty good, actually."

"Is it?" Vanya asked, her voice laced with doubt as she leaned in closer to inspect the dish.

"Yeah, I make it with all homemade ingredients," my dad chimed in, his tone full of pride. He immediately launched into a detailed explanation of how he made it, step by step, from scratch. I sighed, knowing exactly where this was headed. I'd heard this story more times than I could count. I glanced at the siblings, who all looked like they were desperately trying to stay polite but were clearly uninterested.

Diego cut my dad off mid-sentence. "If I eat the damn jello, will you shut up?" he asked bluntly.

My dad nodded eagerly, stepping back with a satisfied smile, as if Diego had just given him the highest compliment. Diego leaned forward, cutting into the jello with a spoon, and dropped a wobbly piece onto his plate. He stared at it for a moment, like he was contemplating his life choices, before finally taking a hesitant bite.

While he was battling with the jello, Luther spoke up, changing the subject. "Who knew cats were so great to have?" He was smiling at me, and I couldn't help but smile back.

"She yours?" Vanya asked, shifting slightly as she looked over at Sushi, who was still lounging comfortably next to Luther.

"Yeah, her name's Sushi," I replied, feeling a bit proud as Vanya smiled.

"Food name. Neat," she said, and I smiled back, feeling a small connection forming between us.

Diego made a face of pure disgust, interrupting the moment. "This is horrible. Tastes like cat litter," he said, pushing the plate with the jello back onto the table as if it had personally offended him.

I couldn't help but laugh a little, knowing exactly how he felt. No one really liked my dad's jello, but he was so enthusiastic about it that we all just played along. I looked at my dad, who seemed completely unfazed by Diego's reaction, probably because he didn't notice it—or chose to ignore it.

"Is anyone here?" a voice called out from downstairs, breaking the brief moment of quiet. We all froze and looked at each other, the tone of the voice sparking a flash of recognition among the siblings. Then, we heard more footsteps echoing up the stairs.

"Hello?" the voice called again, a little louder this time.

We all got up and moved to the railing at the top of the staircase, peering down. A woman and a tall man were standing by the entrance, and Five was with them too. The woman had to be Allison, and the man beside her—Luther had mentioned someone named Klaus.

"Le petit mort, le petit mort," Klaus chimed in, his voice almost sing-song as he walked into the room. I couldn't help but scoff in amusement at the sound of it, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. We all watched them from above, unnoticed for the moment.

"You don't speak French," Allison said, turning to Klaus with an exasperated look.

A few seconds later, the three of them finally noticed us. Their eyes traveled up, locking onto the group of us standing at the top of the stairs—Diego, Luther, Vanya, and me.

"I know this is impossible, but... did we all get sexier?" Klaus asked, his tone dead serious as he took in the sight of his siblings.

We started descending the stairs, our footsteps echoing softly in the large, open space. As we walked down, I saw Allison's eyes light up when she spotted Vanya.

"Vanya..." Allison's voice trailed off, her expression softening into something like relief or maybe even happiness. She stepped forward, her pace quickening as she walked toward Vanya, who looked a bit more at ease than I'd seen her before.

"I can't believe I have a sister," Vanya said, her voice full of wonder as she moved closer to Allison. The two of them embraced, a real smile forming on Vanya's face as Allison returned the hug.

"I missed you..." Allison said, a genuine smile spreading across her face too.

"Glad someone did!" Vanya replied, her tone half-joking but tinged with something deeper.

By then, I'd reached the bottom of the stairs. I walked over to Five, who was standing just off to the side, watching the reunion unfold. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. It felt natural, comforting in a way I hadn't expected. What surprised me even more was that he didn't pull away—instead, he hugged me back.

"Glad you're back," I said softly as I pulled away, feeling a little lighter just from his presence.

Five gave me one of those rare smiles of his, the kind that made me wonder what was really going on behind those sharp eyes. He then turned his attention to Klaus.

"Klaus, is Ben here?" Five asked, his tone shifting to something more serious.

"Oh, uh... no. No, unfortunately, ghosts can't time travel," Klaus replied with a shrug, leaning casually against the wall as if he was discussing the weather.

Ben? My mind raced. They hadn't mentioned another sibling before. It was like every time I thought I was catching up, something else got thrown into the mix. I kept quiet, though, just listening and watching, trying to piece together this ever-complicated puzzle of their family.

"Who's this?" I heard Klaus ask, pointing at me.

"Y/n Gussman," Five answered before I could. "Elliot's daughter," Luther added.

"The guy upstairs whose jello tastes like shit?" Diego replied, grinning. I playfully hit Diego's arm, making him laugh.

Klaus walked over to me, his smile wide. "Well, hello," he said, his tone warm and welcoming. Before I could react, he pulled me into a hug like we were old friends. I looked at Five, confused, but I still hugged Klaus back. He stepped back and looked me over, then glanced at his family. "Gosh, look at you! She's precious," Klaus said, reaching out to fix my hair, his voice full of exaggerated affection. I couldn't help but smile at his playful energy.

"Alright, then, let's get down to business," Five said, grabbing my hand and leading me toward the stairs. The others followed us up into the living room, where we all took our seats. Five remained standing, preparing to address everyone.

"Alright, first off, I want to say I'm sorry. I know I really screwed the pooch on this whole going-back-in-time-and-getting-stuck-thing," Five began, his voice tinged with a rare hint of regret. I could see from everyone's faces that they agreed with him.

"But the real kicker is... we brought the end of the world here with us," Five said, his tone grave.

"Oh my god, again?!" Klaus exclaimed, turning to face Five. All the siblings, including me, stared at him. "You all knew? Why am I always the last one to find out about the end of the... oh my god!"

"What?" Vanya asked, her voice full of concern.

"My cult is gonna be so pissed, Five," Klaus groaned, taking a sip of his drink.

Wait, did he just say he had a cult? "What cult?" I asked, needing confirmation.

"I told 'em we had till 2019," Klaus said, waving his drink around as if it were no big deal.

"We have until Monday. We have six days," Five corrected, clearly unimpressed with Klaus's cult situation.

Klaus shrugged, sipping his drink again. "Is it Vanya?"

"Klaus!" Allison shouted, appalled.

"What?! It's usually Vanya!" Klaus retorted, his tone defensive. Allison fell silent and turned her gaze back to Five.

"Do you even have leads, Five?" Vanya asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Diego handed a file over to Five, who passed it to Vanya. Allison leaned over to look at it too.

"Yeah, we have one," Diego said, his voice steady, but I could sense the tension in the room rising.

I felt paralyzed, overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation. The talk of the world ending in just six days was too much for me to handle. I rose from my seat as the conversation continued around the table, my mind spinning. Five's family was absorbed in examining the file Diego handed them, discussing their next moves, and I needed to escape the intensity of it all.

Five's hand gently grasped my arm as I attempted to leave. "You okay?" he asked, his concern evident in his eyes.

I forced a smile, trying to mask my turmoil. "I just need some air. This is a lot to take in, and you and your family need to talk."

Five scrutinized me for a moment before nodding in understanding. "Okay. I'll be here when you get back."

I removed his hand from my arm and headed down the stairs. I felt his gaze on me, but I didn't look back. Stepping outside, the sun's warmth hit me, but it did little to ease the cold knot of anxiety in my chest. The sight of people going about their lives, oblivious to the impending doom, felt almost mocking. My thoughts turned to Bri, my dad, Five, and what would become of us. I wiped away a tear as it slid down my cheek.

I heard the door open behind me and sensed who it was without turning. My dad's voice, filled with concern, broke through my spiral of fear. "Y/n, what's wrong?"

I turned to him and threw my arms around his neck, burying my face in his chest. I began to cry, the tears spilling uncontrollably. "Hey, hey... why the tears?" His voice was gentle as he cradled me, stroking my hair soothingly.

I pulled back slightly, my face flushed and wet with tears. "I'm scared, Dad..."

He looked at me with a mixture of worry and sadness. "I know... I am too."

"What if we don't make it?" I asked, my voice quivering with the enormity of my fear.

"Don't think like that, Y/n." His tone was firm, but his eyes betrayed his own fears. I remained silent, overwhelmed by the anxiety that gripped me.

"I don't want to lose you, Dad," I said, my tears continuing to fall as my body shook with sobs.

He tightened his embrace, pulling me closer. "I won't let anything happen to us," he promised softly.

"But you don't know that... What if Five and his family can't do it? What if they fail or—"

"Y/n..." He cut me off gently. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

He sighed deeply, his voice softening as he spoke. "When your mother died, I promised myself I wouldn't let anything happen to you. I can't bear the thought of losing my only daughter. I'm here, and you're still here. Five and his family will fix this. I believe they can."

I nodded, finding some comfort in his words. The reassurance wasn't perfect, but it helped me hold onto a fragile hope. "I love you, Dad," I said softly, resting my head against his chest.

"I love you too, Y/n," he replied, holding me tightly. The warmth of his embrace gave me a sliver of solace amidst the chaos.

After the heartfelt conversation with my dad, I felt a mix of relief and renewed anxiety. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the street. The usual evening bustle had started to settle down, leaving the air eerily quiet.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. My dad stood beside me, his presence a comforting anchor amid the turmoil. We both looked out at the neighborhood, each lost in our own thoughts.

"Dad, I know we've talked a lot about everything that's happening," I began, breaking the silence. "But... what if we don't have enough time? What if Five and his family can't stop this apocalypse?"

My dad turned to face me, his expression thoughtful. "Y/n, I understand how frightening this is. But remember, they've faced challenges like this before. They've managed to come through. They're not perfect, but they're determined."

I nodded, appreciating his attempt to reassure me. "I just wish I felt more confident. It feels like everything is on the line and we're just waiting to see what happens."

He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It's natural to feel that way. But sometimes, the best thing we can do is to support each other and trust that those who are working to fix things will do their best. We've already shown a lot of strength just by facing this together."

I looked up at him, seeing the worry etched on his face but also the determination. "I'm really scared, Dad. I'm scared for you, for me, for everyone. I know we're doing everything we can, but it still feels so uncertain."

He nodded, his eyes softening. "I'm scared too, Y/n. But I have to believe that we'll find a way through this. The important thing is that we stick together. We've always been a team, and we need to continue being one."

A chill breeze swept by, making me shiver slightly. My dad reached out, wrapping his arm around me in a protective hug. I leaned into him, drawing warmth and comfort from his embrace.

"I know it's a lot to handle," he said softly. "But we've been through tough times before. We've always found a way to get through them. This is no different. We just need to hold onto hope and keep moving forward."

I took another deep breath, feeling a bit steadier with his words. "Thanks, Dad. I guess it helps to remember that we're not alone in this."

He smiled, gently squeezing my shoulder. "Exactly. We have each other, and that makes all the difference. We'll face whatever comes our way together."

As we stood there, side by side, the weight of the situation didn't completely lift, but it felt a bit lighter knowing we had each other to rely on. We watched as the last rays of sunlight faded, the reality of the coming days settling in. But for now, we had our shared strength and the hope that, together, we could face whatever the future held.

With a final squeeze of my shoulder, my dad gave me a reassuring nod. "Let's head back inside. They'll need our support."

I nodded, feeling a sense of resolve. As we walked back to the house, I knew that no matter how uncertain the future seemed, we would face it together—with courage and hope guiding us through.

———

As my dad and I walked back up the stairs, we were met with a chaotic scene. The family was still deep in discussion, but the arguments had shifted to an almost absurd level. I froze as I took in the scene before me.

"Diego's been stalking Lee Harvey Oswald," Luther was saying.

"And you're working for Jack Ruby!" Diego shot back.

"Allison has been very involved in local politics," Klaus added.

"Okay. You started a cult!" Allison accused Klaus.

"And I'm just a nanny on a farm," Vanya interjected defensively. "I don't have anything to do with that."

"Well, maybe we do, we just don't know yet," Allison replied.

The arguments were escalating, and I could feel my frustration building. The constant bickering was overwhelming, and I couldn't stand to see them all tearing each other apart. I let out a sharp whistle with my fingers, which cut through the noise and brought everyone's attention to me and my dad standing by the stairs.

"Do you all hear yourselves?" I said, my voice cutting through the tension. Everyone went silent, their faces turning towards me with a mix of surprise and confusion. "Everything you're talking about connects to the president. That's not just a coincidence, right?" I continued, glancing around at each of them.

"Luther works for some guy call Ruby," I said, watching as Luther looked down, his expression troubled.

"Allison is protesting the government," I went on.

"And Klaus has a cult," I added, noting Klaus's awkward shift. "You're all connected in some way, and you're all here for a reason, right?"

The room fell into a heavy silence. Each of them seemed to be processing my words, their faces reflecting a mix of realization and contemplation.

"Think about it," I said, taking a deep breath. "You were all sent here, all involved in different aspects of this mess. Maybe there's something you're not all seeing, something that ties this all together."

The room fell into an unsettling silence after I spoke. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions reflecting a mix of confusion and realization. It was as if my words had pulled them out of their individual arguments and into a collective shock. Five was the first to break the silence, but what he said was even more jarring.

"You all die," he said, his voice flat and cold.

The words hit me like a physical blow. I glanced at my dad, and he met my gaze with an expression of shared concern. We both turned our attention back to the group, watching as their faces, including Five's, hardened into serious expressions.

"I was there," Five continued, his voice trembling slightly. "I saw it. I want to forget it, but I can't. I watched Russian nukes vaporize the world with all of you in it... in a way that never happened until we brought it here."

His confession sent a shiver down my spine. The weight of his words was heavy, and I could see the strain on his face. He was struggling with the burden of what he had witnessed. "Hazel gave his life to save us, so you need to listen to me and Y/n," Five said, his voice gaining a hint of desperation.

I took a step toward him and gently took his hand in mine, offering a silent gesture of support. He looked at me with a mix of gratitude and pain, nodding slightly as if my presence provided him some comfort.

The room remained quiet as everyone absorbed Five's revelation. I could feel the tension in the air, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Five's demeanor was different now; he seemed more vulnerable than ever. His usual confident exterior was cracked, revealing the torment he was hiding.

As I looked at him, I saw a depth of sorrow and guilt in his eyes. It was clear that he felt responsible for the impending doom, even though I knew it wasn't entirely his fault. I wanted to reassure him that he wasn't alone, but words felt inadequate in the face of such despair.

"I don't know if everything we've experienced here is connected," Five's voice grew louder, filled with a newfound determination. "I don't know if there's a reason for any of it. But Dad will."

He turned to the rest of the family, his eyes searching for their understanding. "We need to talk to him before everyone and everything we know is dead."

As Five spoke, I tightened my grip on his hand, feeling the urgency in his touch. His need to hold on was palpable, and I realized that he was afraid of losing not just the world but also me.

I looked down at our joined hands, seeing the raw vulnerability in his expression. I didn't want to lose him either, and the thought of facing the end without him was almost too much to bear. The stakes were high, and the weight of our responsibilities pressed down on us both.

_______________________________

WORDS WRITTEN: 3417