Todd Wants Key's Face

Sam: Hey, no problem - if you need someone to talk to, Sarah, you know my number, and I get out from work at nine. *he leaves*

Sarah: *watches him go, then turns to her mother* Come on, let's go inside... *leads Key back into the house*

Key: *stares at the ground as they walk, tears still flowing freely*

meanwhile

Claire: *was finishing up dinner, and goes upstairs to wake Harry. She gently shakes his shoulder* Harry, food's ready...

Harry: Mhkay... *he gets out of bed, then takes his cane, standing up. He walks down the stairs* ... Where's Sam...?

Sam: *knocks on the door*

Claire: *follows him down* That must be him. *hurries to go open the door and let Sam in*

Sam: ...Hey again, Mom...

Harry: Sam! Where were you? D;

Sam: ... I was... I was just visiting Sarah. I need to talk to Mom for a bit.

Harry: Well, okay then... *he moves back over to his chair and sits down*

Claire: ... *pulls him into the kitchen so she can finish the food* ...so, what happened?

Sam: He was murdered... he was shot in his side, and then he fell off the roof and broke his neck...

Claire: Oh my god... I never thought he'd go like that...

Sam: Me neither... Mrs... Ms. Huntings was especially upset, understandably... how did dad deal with the news? I mean... I'm sure he heard me on the phone...

Claire: He, um... He didn't believe me. Nothing I said would chance his mind... <:/

Sam: ... Do you think he'll get it eventually?

Claire: I don't know... We can try telling him again later, but he and Todd were so close... I don't know how willing he'll be to accept that his best friend is gone.

Sam: ... I think normally, he'd be able to... but as he is NOW... well...

Claire: Exactly... can you go set the table? Food's almost done...

Sam: Uh-huh - *goes to do so* I really hope Sarah'll be okay... I mean, she wasn't as bad as Ms. Huntings, but it was still BAD...

Claire: *nods, putting food on plates* I know they were close... it must have been hard...

Sam: Mhm... He's the reason why Sarah got interested in the career she has now... what, with the stunts and whatnot. DAD! DINNER'S READY!

Harry: *he comes, slowly dragging his feet forward with the help of the cane, then carefully sits down at the table* Hello, Sam... when did you get here?

Sam: *he sighs*

Claire: He's been here for a little while, Harry... *sets the plates down on the table, and sits down*

Sam: *sits down last*

Harry: Oh... how come no one told me?

Sam: You just can't remember, Dad.

Harry: ... Sorry...

Claire: It's okay, Harry. Now, it's time to eat.

up

Sam: *he gets on one knee, kneeling down next to Key, rubbing her back comfortingly* ... did you guys call the police? <:(

Todd: *dead*

meanwhile

Harry: *still staring blankly ahead. He speaks quietly* ... Todd's not dead...

Sarah: *nods* Y-Yeah... they should be here any minute now...

Key: *cries*

meanwhile

Claire: <:( ...We'll see, Harry... I'm not too sure right now...

Sam: ... Are you gonna be okay? <:(

Todd: *dead*

meanwhile

Harry: He's NOT... Todd CAN'T die...!

Sarah: I-I dunno... I'm m-more worried about Mom...

Key: *seems to calm down a little, still resting against Sarah's shoulder. she reaches over once again and brushes the snow off Todd's face* ....

meanwhile

Claire: ... *grabs a chair and sets it down in front of Harry, then sits in it* I thought that too, Harry... But he's just as mortal as the rest of us...

Sam: Y'know, I KNOW people had gotten more used to him... some people thought of him as nothing more than a kind old man...

Todd: *dead*

meanwhile

Harry: *he shakes his head* ... he's not dead... he... he CAN'T...

Sarah: Because that's all he WAS... a kind old man...

Key: ...

meanwhile

Claire: ... *takes one of his hands in both of hers, and rubs the back of it with his thumb* We'll see... <:(

Sam: ...

Todd: *dead*

*A police car drives up, parking against the curb. Out of it comes two policemen*

Policeman 1: Tsk tsk... MURDER... to think the Green Flu made people value life more... did any one of you see the murderer?

Policeman 2: *ready to take notes*

meanwhile

Harry: *quietly* ... He's not...

Key: *meekly raises a hand* I-I saw him...

Sarah: ?? Y-You did?? D:>

Key: *nods* ...

meanwhile

Claire: ...Okay, Harry. He's not dead.

Policeman 1: Alright ma'am, would you please come over here so my partner can take notes on what this man looks like?

Policeman 2: We need a good description, ma'am.

Todd: *dead*

Sam: *he sighs sadly*

meanwhile

Harry: ...Th-that's right...

Sarah: *stands up, helping Key up* <:(

Key: *stands up with her, and goes to the second policeman* ...he was a large man... red hair and a full beard... he w-was wearing a red sweater and blank sweatpants. *her hands clench into fists as she describes the man, now wishing she had caused him more pain* ...is that enough information?

meanwhile

Claire: <:( ...

Policeman 2: *taking notes*

Policeman 1: We'll try to work with this. Once we have enough suspects, we'll take you down to the precinct and you can tell us if we got the right guy, alright?

Policeman 2: Right, we also called the guys at the morgue - they'll be here to pick up the body.

Policeman 1: *he nods, then walks over to examine the body, studying the bullet wound, the broken neck* ...

Policeman 2: *takes down many notes* ...

Sam: *he pulls Sarah into a friendly hug*

meanwhile

Harry: ... I'm feeling kind of tired... I'm gonna go upstairs and take a nap... you can call me down when dinner's ready... *he slowly, carefully gets up, then, using his cane, he walks upstairs to the bedroom*

Sarah: *leans against him, feeling worn out--it was too much to handle all at once...*

Key: *waits silently, staring at Todd's body, as if she could will him back to life* ...

meanwhile

Claire: *sadly watches him go upstairs, then goes into the kitchen to keep working on dinner, wondering what had happened...*

Todd: *dead*

Policemen: *they eventually finish their investigation and leave in time for the people from the morgue to arrive to take the body*

Morgue People: *start wrapping the body in a tarp*

Sam: *still hugging Sarah* ...

Sarah: ....

Key: *looks away when they wrap up the body, her sobs coming back*

Sarah: <:( ... *holds a hand out to her mother*

Key: *takes it*

Sarah: *pulls her into the hug*

Sam: *hugs them both* ...I'm so sorry this happened...

Morgue People: *drive away with the body*

Key: *only nods, crying again*

Sarah: *hugs her tightly* We'll be okay, mom... shh... *to Sam* no one could've seen this coming...

Sam: ... I-I need to get back to my parents - tell them what happened... you'll be okay here, right? <:(

Sarah: *nods* We'll be fine... Thanks for coming. <:(

Key: *is still crying*

up

Sam: Hahah, no. :P

Harry: Who're you...?

Sam: Sam, Dad.

Harry: How th'hell didjou get in our house... D;

Sam: C'mon, Dad, I'm your SON... <:/

meanwhile

Todd: *he lays unmoving in the snow, his life cut short be the only successful gunman. Just as he predicted, he had died in the same way his father did*

Claire: Harry, you know Sam... <:/

meanwhile

Key: *fails to find any signs of life. She can't deny it anymore--Todd was gone. Forever. She sobs, words unable to define her sorrow. She only cries over him, mourning him, remembering all those years they had together--and how there wouldn't be any more*

Harry: ... right... yeah... m'sorry, Sam...

Sam: It's okay Dad, it's not your fault. <:(

meanwhile

Todd: *is dead. Snow falls on his body and Key*

Guy: *he decides that he shouldn't be hiding - he KILLED that bastard! He wanted the world to know! So he comes out of his hiding place and approaches Key, waving his gun around like some toy* HAHA! CRY ALL YOU WANT dog, THAT CHILD-MURDERING frackER IS DEAD! DEAD!! HAHAHA!!

Claire: ... *sighs* That's pretty much how he acts every day now...

meanwhile

Key: *her sobs slow, and she turns to look at him over her shoulder, glaring furiously at him (HE did it...). she stands up, fists clenched so tightly that her claws dug into the palm of her hand, and faces him, almost shaking with fury* Y-You did this...

Sam: *gives her a one-armed hug* I'm sorry, Mom...

Harry: *is very confused about what's going on, so he stares blankly at the ground*

meanwhile

Guy: *gives her a toothy grin* And proud of it, too... the whole NATION'LL be proud - everyone HATES the guy anyway.

Todd: *dead*

Claire: *puts an arm around him as well* Don't apologize, it's not your fault...

meanwhile

Key: *at this, she lunges towards him, grabbing his gun-wielding arm and twisting it painfully, screaming at him* HE HAD A DAUGHTER! HE HAD FAMILY, FRIENDS, JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE!! YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO KILL HIM, YOU BASTARD!!

Sam: I know... but if I don't apologize for this, who will...? <:(

Harry: ...

meanwhile

Todd: *dead*

Guy: *cries out in pain and tries jerking his wrist out of her grip* H-hey, lady, lemme go! D8>

Claire: No apologies are needed... we just have to make the most of it.

meanwhile

Key: *speaks very quietly, looking him right in the eyes, her gaze unforgiving, but her voice breaking* Be glad I'm n-not like you. *lets go of his wrist* ...LEAVE.

Sam: ... Right... <:(

Harry: I dreamed of being a bird once... I think last night - I didn't need to use my cane and having a shootty memory was alright...

meanwhile

Guy: D8> *He quickly runs off*

Todd: *dead*

Claire: That sounds like a nice dream, Harry...

meanwhile

Key: *watches the man run, then turns back to look at Todd, kneeling down on the ground next to him again. She gently brushes some newly-fallen snow off his face, trying to force herself not to cry--Todd wouldn't have wanted her to cry*

Sarah: *is running along the roofs on her way back from work when she sees her mom on the ground near their house. Finding this extremely odd, she hops off the roof and jogs up to her* Mom, what's-- *stops in her tracks, seeing who lay in front of her mother, and wishing it wasn't true* ...No, no, mom, he can't... please tell me he's not...

Harry: Oh, it was... at least, I think it was... I can't exactly remember...

Sam: *he sighs* So do you mind if I stay over here for dinner?

meanwhile

Todd: *unfortunately for Sarah, Todd is dead. His blood was now staining the snow where he was shot*

Claire: Not at all, I was just about to start on that... keep your father company, would you? <:/ *goes into the kitchen*

meanwhile

Key: S-Sarah... call Claire... a-a-and the police...

Sarah: *is still staring at Todd, frozen in shock*

Key: Sarah... Sarah, GO...!

Sarah: ?? *looks up at Key, then nods* R-Right-- *runs inside, the full realization still not hitting her. She grabs the phone and calls 911, telling them the situation, and as soon as that call was finished, she dials the number to the Gatzsky's home*

Sam: Right - *hears the phone go off* ? *he picks it up* Hello?

meanwhile

Todd: *dead*

Sarah: SAM? Oh my god--It's DAD, he's... Dad's DEAD...

meanwhile

Key: *breaks down again as she brushes some more snow off him, trying to keep it off his face. her tears fall into the snow and freeze there*

Sam: DEAD?? MR. HUNTINGS?? OH G - OH HELL - I'll try coming over right now - hold on! *hangs up the phone and shouts to his mother* MOM! SARAH JUST CALLED - SHE SAID MR. HUNTINGS IS DEAD! D8>

Harry: *he hears the words, but is unable to process the information. Dead...? No. Todd can't die - he had spent too long helping Todd - helping him LIVE... Todd was alive. He had to be. Happily living. His friend. Yes. Harry stared blankly ahead, his mind stuck in a cycle of denial* ...

meanwhile

Todd: *no matter how many times Key brushes it away, snow falls on his body*

A wind: *blows through the area, around Key, through her hair, then parting*

Claire: *runs out of the room* WHAT?! Y-YOU'RE NOT--Oh my GOD... *looks at Harry--she can't leave him, not right now* Sam--Sam, you have to go, I can't leave Harry on his own..!! D:>

meanwhile

Sarah: *puts the phone down as soon as Sam hangs up, and runs back outside, slowing to a halt as she approaches her* ...

Key: *stops when the wind blows, and shivers, her sobs only intensifying*

Sarah: *kneels down next to her mother and hugs her tightly the realization slowly coming to her--her father was dead. he was gone*

Key: *sobs inconsolably into Sarah's shoulder*

Sam: *he nods sadly, then runs out, over to the Huntings's home*

meanwhile

Todd: *dead*

*soon...*

Sam: *runs over, panting. He looks at Todd's body in horror* What... what happened...? What kind of monster would just SHOOT him...??

Sarah: *looks up at Sam, eyes red from crying. there is a bitterness in her voice* I-I don't know... some PSYCHO...

Key: *is still sobbing uncontrollably*

up

Todd: FFFFFF...! DX

Harry: Claire - any eights?

Sam: XP

Claire: ...Yup. *hands him an eight* Todd, do you have a two?

Key: *waits*

Sarah: *waits*

Todd: FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!! *gives Claire both his twos*

Harry: *he laughs at this* XDDD

Sam: XD;;;

Claire: Well, that means I win. ^^ *puts down all four 2s*

Sarah: EVERY TIME! XDDD

Key: I think we can officially dub you "Master of the Board Games." XD

Todd: And card games. DX

Sam: Yaayy Mom!

Harry: Goddamnit... DX

Claire: ^^;

Sarah: *puts her cards down* Sooo... now what?

Key: *starts gathering up the cards to shuffle them together again* Weee couuuuld... talk about plans after we get home?

Harry: Well, we already know what's gonna happen...

Todd: Oh yeah?

Harry: We'll go home after the bomb is sent off here, then we'll plan for the future of the rest of the world - perhaps just send soldiers out to do what we've done here to the rest of the world...

Sam: :P

Claire: *nods* Have to take it one step at a time, you know?

Sarah: Cool... As long as we don't have smokers trying to kill us.

Key: Well, we won't have to deal with those anymore.

Todd: ^^

Harry: Well... here's to nearly curing France, eh?

Sam: Yay! ^^

20 YEARS LATER

Sam: *he is visiting his parents - he feels that he needs to, especially since his father had developed Alzheimer's. He knocks on the door*

meanwhile

Harry: *was asleep in a chair in the living room - he is stirred awake by the knocking* Whahngh...?

Claire: I've got it, Harry... *goes to open the door* Oh, Sam! Nice to see you. :)

Sam: Hey, Mom. ^^ How're you? How's Dad? :)

Harry: *stares blankly at nothing in front of him* ...

Claire: He's doing alright, same as last time you visited... come in. :) *steps aside to let him into the house*

Sam: Well, glad to know he hasn't gotten any worse, then. ^^; *he steps in and cranes his neck to see his father sitting in the chair* Hey, Dad!

Harry: ...

Sam: It's me, Sam! <:/

Harry: ... oh... hello, Sam...

Claire: *closes the door* ...He knows it's you, he just needs a bit of a nudge to remember...

Sam: *smiles at her sadly* I know... so, uh... so I think I've finally got a lead on that drug lord I've been tracking down...

Harry: ... You... you've been throwing yourself into bullets... haven't you? Izzat what you do... Sam?

Sam: I WEAR a bullet-proof vest, Dad, it's not like I don't know what I'm doing! D:

Harry: ...You stop it... you just stop that...

Claire: Harry, it's okay, he's keeping everybody safe... *to Sam* I hope you find him soon...

Harry: What're we talking about...?

Sam: I hope so too - I'm tired of all this bullshoot getting thrown around because of this guy...

meanwhile

Todd: *happy to have finally gotten a job, coming home from his first day of work as a janitor at a prison, he runs home on the roofs of different homes, running to his house - running to tell Key about his day*

Guy: *he hides, gun ready, waiting for the perfect time to strike. Ironically, the man was psychotic like Todd, and had been holding onto a grudge against the X-WD for far too long*

Claire: *nods in agreement* So, how's everything else going?

meanwhile

Key: *comes out of their house, remembering that this was about the time that Todd said he would be coming home. She waits outside, smiling when she sees him approach the house*

Sam: Oh, y'know, love the job, hate the suck-y apartment I have to live in right now - not that I'm a complainer or anything. :P

Harry: ...Mmh... *fiddles with his cane*

meanwhile

Todd: *he gets to the neighbor's roof when a shot rings out - it hits him in the side, and he loses his balance from the pain and the daze it caused. He falls, falls, and lands with a sickening crackle sounding out - his neck has snapped. Todd lied motionless in the snow - dead*

Guy: *he quickly runs off to hide, now satisfied to be the one to finally murder that child-killer*

Claire: *jokingly* You could always come back to live with us. :P

meanwhile

Key: *can only watch as Todd falls to his death. It takes her a moment to register what has happened, but when it finally hits her, she runs out to him, falling to her knees in the snow next to him (oh please god let him live, please, please, PLEASE!), she puts her ear to his chest, listening for a heartbeat, breathing, ANYTHING...!!*

up

Sam: I'm happy to be going home soon - it's gonna be AWESOME.

Todd: ... I DO miss America a bit, yeah.

Harry: I don't miss the paperwork. XP

Sarah: I don't think anyone misses paperwork. D:

Claire: I don't mind it. :P

Sarah: ...You're weeeeeird.

Harry: What is wroooong with yooouuu? D;

Todd: XD

Sam: XD;;

Claire: At least I'm not scared of planes. :P

Sarah: *snickers*

Harry: Don't make fun of my fear of planes. <__<

Sam: XDDDD;;;

Todd: ^^;

Claire: I'm just comparing both our claims and trying to figure out which one's more outlandish. :P

Sarah: I think the planes win. ^^;

Key: *comes back with the cards* What about planes...?

Harry: Planes CRASH.

Todd: We're just talking about things. In other news, CARDS!

Sam: Yaayy! :D

Claire: ^^;

Key: ^^ *takes them out and starts shuffling them*

Sarah: :D *hops on one of the beds*

Todd: *sits on the bed with Sarah* :D

Sam: ^^ *also gets on the bed, forming a half circle*

Harry: *he sighs, then sits on the bed as well*

Claire: *sits on the edge of the bed* :)

Key: *finishes shuffling and then deals the cards*

Todd: Alright guys, who goes first? :P

Sam: Let's let Mom go first! :D

Harry: NO. |:(

Key: *laughs*

Claire: It's not my fault I'm awesome. :P

Sarah: Ahahah...

Claire: ...what?

Sarah: You never talk like that. :P

Claire: ... :P

Todd: Claire can go first since she's "awesome". XD

Sam: :P

Harry: Fiiiiine. |:C

Claire: ^^ Sam, do you have any twos?

Sarah: >_>

Key: >_>

Sam: D8 ... *gives her a two* ... Why are you... so...?

Harry: I knew it.

Todd: XDDD;

Sarah: ...maybe she's a psychic.

Claire: Or maybe I'm just that lucky? ^^;

Key: XP Todd, do you have any fives...?

Todd: Nnnope. Fishing are you.

Sam: XD;

Harry: *waits silently* ...

Key: Mmuuuh. *takes a card*

Sarah: Sam, do you have a seven? ._.

Claire: *waits*

Sam: DX *gives Sarah a seven*

Todd: Key, so you have a nine?

Harry: *waiting*

Key: Nope. Fish. :P

Sarah: *waits* ^^

Claire: *waits*

up

Todd: So NOW what?

meanwhile

Harry: I have been in a helicopter. I annoyed the pilot.

Sam: XD;

Sarah: MmmmIdunno. Would you guys be going out at all, since they're shooting the cure out here soon? :/

Key: I actually have no idea.

meanwhile

Claire: How are you scared of airplanes then...?

Todd: We'd have to ask Harry. :/

meanwhile

Harry: Because I have no idea what the pilot's doing.

Sam: Uh... that makes... sense. ^^;

Sarah: Thennn... can we go ask Harry?

Key: Guess so. :P

meanwhile

Claire: ...only a little. Do you think the pilot'll crash the plane of purpose? :P

Todd: Right then - please open the door, Key. :P

meanwhile

Harry: MAYBE. 8C

Sam: I feel really bad for laughing at this... XDDD;;;;

Key: :P *opens the door*

Sarah: *dashes out*

meanwhile

Claire: *chuckles a bit* Harryyyy... you have nothing to worry about... :P

Todd: *walks out with his family to the Gatzsky's room*

meanwhile

Harry: THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE THINKS. BUT PLANES CRASH. 8C

Sam: *trying not to laugh*

Claire: It's a proven fact that planes crash less than cars! XDD

Sarah: *knocks on the door* Halluuuu~?

Key: XD;

Harry: |8C *opens the door* Oh hello. :)

Sam: Hi, Sarah! ^^

Todd: Hey, we were wondering if we had to go out today, since, y'know, BOMB.

Harry: Well... I... don't THINK we do... what do you think, Claire?

Claire: I don't think it's really necessary, unless we need to go out to do more preparations... though I doubt we'd need to do even that.

Key: Oh, alright.

Sarah: :D

Todd: So then... we can just chillax until the bomb is dropped. :D

Harry: Indeed.

Sam: *glomps Sarah* Yaaayy!

Sarah: !!? *nearly falls over, but manages to catch herself* Jeez, Sam. Warn me before you tackle me. XD;;

Key: Heheh. XD; So, must we amuse ourselves with another game of Uno? :P

Todd: Nnnoooo...! D8

Harry: Do you want to play something, Todd?

Todd: Yyyeeessss...! D8

Sam: XD;

Sarah: *laughs at this* Maybe we should play something that doesn't have a board. :P

Key: Well, what do you suggest?

Sarah: Do we have Twister? :D

Claire: Half of us can't see in color, Sarah. ^^;

Sarah: ...Ohhh, right.

Todd: Well, we played hide and seek last time...

Sam: Playing in HERE isn't such a good idea.

Harry: We could play Go Fish...

Key: Thhhhhat might work.

Sarah: YAY. Hopefully your mom doesn't beat us all again, Sam. XP

Claire: >_>;

Sam: Probably will. :P

Todd; Huzzah! I'll retrieve the - no I can't open doors.

Harry: Key? Will you, maybe?

Sarah: Oh, I can--

Key: No, it's okay. The cards are in our room, right?

Sarah: They should be. D:

Todd: Yup.

Harry: So...

Sam: So AWESOME. :D

Sarah: XDDD

Key: XP *leaves to get the cards*

Claire: >_>

up

Todd: Mm'got kidnapped... scientist waited 'till I was drugged... then he... *he yawns* then he tried to... remake the cure... by getting info from... torturing me... *he smiles sleepily, not even realizing what he just said*

Sarah: *her jaw drops, horrified* Th-they DID that to you...!?

Todd: Mmm... strapped a d'vice... to m'head... made loud, high-pitched sounds... *he yawns again* s'the reas'n why th'cure 'xists... b'they dun teach you that... in school... *he finally passes out*

Sarah: ... *hadn't known ANY of this--it came as a complete shock to her. obtaining the cure by torturing her father...? she tried not to imagine how that must have felt* ...

Todd: *fast asleep, he forgets telling Sarah these things, as he wasn't exactly all too conscious when he did. He slept with a blissful smile as his daughter thought over the shocking revealing of the past*

Sarah: *tries to go back to sleep, hoping she won't have nightmares*

*the next morning*

Todd: *still quite asleep*

meanwhile

Harry: *up early, speaking with the science and tech team over the phone*

Sam: *asleep*

Sarah: *wakes up suddenly, awakened by a high-pitched noise in her dream. She looks around for the source, panicking for a moment, before realizing it had just been a nightmare. She looks at her dad--she needs to talk to him*

Key: *is still asleep*

meanwhile

Claire: *waking up, she looks at Harry* what are you working on...?

Todd: *waking up* Mmn... *sits up and stretches a bit* ... g'morning, Sarah. ^^

meanwhile

Harry: *turns from the phoneand speaks to Claire in a quiet voice * Talking about the bomb. *turns back to the phone* Yeah, we have about sixty people here with us... so about that many gas masks.

Sam: *asleep*

Sarah: ...morning... Dad. can I talk to you?

Key: *waking up* mm..?

meanwhile

Claire: *mouths an "oh," then stretches, trying to stifle a yawn*

Todd: About what? :)

meanwhile

Harry: Right, just warn us when you launch it, alright? Alright. *hangs up*

Sam: mmuh...?

Sarah: ...About how they got the cure out of you.

Key: !! H-How do you know about that...??

meanwhile

Claire: So, everything's ready to go?

Todd: ... how DO you know about that...? D:

meanwhile

Harry: Yup. They're going to ship about sixty gas masks over here. Once we have them, I'll call them so they can launch the bomb.

Sam: So... so we can go home soon?

Harry: Very soon, Sam. :)

Sarah: *mumbled* You don't pay attention to what you say when you're half asleep...

Key: ...

meanwhile

Claire: <:)

Todd: Oh god... oh god, how much did I TELL you? D8>

meanwhile

Harry: Soon... which means soon another plane. DX

Sarah: :/ You'll just have to crush Mom's hand again, Dad.

Sarah: ...You told me you were kidnapped while you were drugged... and that they TORTURED you... with something attached to your head that made NOISE....

Key: *closes her eyes tightly, trying to shut out the bloody images* ...

meanwhile

Claire: As long as it's not my right hand. I actually USE that.

Todd: ... Oh gosh... well, I guess there's no taking that info back now... <:/

meanwhile

Harry: Then I will sit on your left.

Sam: ^^;

Sarah: ...how much did it hurt?

Key: ...

meanwhile

Claire: Thank you. :P

Todd: Um... so much that I don't exactly remember what happened...

meanwhile

Harry: Just don't let the plane crash. 8C

Sam: ^^;;;

Key: ...

Sarah: *looks at her mom* ... Do you know?

Key: *shakes her head* N-No.

meanwhile

Claire: You need to tell that to the pilot, Harry. XD;

Todd: It's not important, Sarah - what's done is done, and if it didn't happen, we wouldn't all be together. <:/

meanwhile

Harry: Claire, it's NOT A GOOD THING TO BE ON A PLANE. DX

Sam: :/ *pats his father on the back*

Sarah: ... *nods*

Key: *is glad Sarah didn't pester her for any answers*

meanwhile

Claire: Remind me to never put you in a helicopter.

up

Todd: Uuuhhh...

*there is a knocking on the door*

Todd: ANSWERING THE DOOR! THAT IS OUR ADVENTURE! >8D

Harry: XD; *gets up to answer the door - he's greeted by a French Hunter* ! .__.

Hunter: Ah... uh... is... is Todd Huntings here?

Todd: That's me. Why? Need some help? D:

Hunter: You can say this thing...

Sam: *feels a bit apprehensive of the Hunter, due to its monstrous looks* D: ...

Sarah: *still has an arm around him, she watches the Hunter warily*

Key: *looks at Todd, then at the Hunter, wondering what he wants*

Claire: *looks at Todd expectantly, waiting to see if he'll go*

Todd: What do you need help with? <:/

Hunter: I am... am LOST, Monsieur... what I am, I do not know. Do you know?

Todd: Ah... You're an X-WD, buddy. <:(

Hunter: An... an ex-dub-you-dee?

Todd: Like a... like - like you were CURED, y'know? You were INFECTED - infected with a DISEASE...

Hunter: And... and somehow, I 'ave these... claws? And my face... it is of the phantom...

Todd: <:(

Sam: <:/

Harry: ... It's something to get used to.

Key: ...The disease changes you for life... but you learn to just keep going. <:/

Sarah: *hopes this hunter won't try taking the same escape her dad tried*

Claire: <:/

Hunter: I am... I am to live like this? As a monster?? D8>

Todd: Look, guy, think of it this way - you're lucky. There are others here who have it MUCH worse than you. Be thankful.

Hunter: ...

Harry: ... <:/

Sam: <:(

Key: *nods, agreeing with Todd*

Claire: <:/ ...

Sarah: ... You have friends here, y'know. People you can talk to.

Hunter: Yes... I know this...

Todd: You know what else? Therapy always helps. I know that sounds mean, but really, I saw a therapist... uh... five, actually... but anyway, I saw therapists, and they helped me a TON.

Harry: Yes. Professional help is always a good idea.

Sam: :)

Sarah: You'll be better before you know it ^^

Claire: *gives the Hunter a friendly smile*

Key: ^^

Hunter: Ah... I... I thank you.

ONE MONTH LATER, NIGHT

Harry: *knocks on the door - more like POUNDS. He tightly held a cell phone in his other hand*

Todd: *opens the door* Aaahhh what what WHAT. WHAT DO YOU WANT. WHAT'S WITH ALL THE POUNDING? We're trying to sleep... D;

Harry: I'm sorry, Todd - I had to tell you all. I have two large pieces of information.

Todd: Mmnnn Keeyy... Harry's trying to tell us crap... D;

Key: *sits up, yawning widely* It couldn't wait...? D;

Sarah: mmmuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhh.... *puts her pillow over her head*

Harry: Again - I'm very sorry, but this is important - they're going to be launching a cure bomb soon.

Todd: Mm a cure bomb...? 'Bout time...

Harry: Right. There's that, and another thing is... our science and tech teams have collaborated in order to create a chip that will completely shut down the infected part of an X-WD's brain.

Todd: So in other words...

Harry: No more violent fits if you get hurt.

Key: ! They can DO that...?

Sarah: *is interested, despite how tired she is. she takes the pillow off her head to look over at Harry* Does it WORK?

Harry: They don't know yet. It hasn't been tested. Todd... you... were the first X-WD... they've specifically asked for YOU.

Todd: How do they know that...? D;|

Harry: Files, plus information from me.

Todd: ... I don't know, Harry... I already had my "experiment gone horribly wrong" for my life...

Harry: ... Todd... PLEASE...

Sarah: ...wait--what? D:/

Key: Not now, Sarah... Todd, you don't have to do this if you don't want to...

Todd: Harry... this... this is to HELP people, right?

Harry: Right.

Todd: ... and they wouldn't... HURT me... or do anything against my will or anything... right?

Harry: Of course not. The room will be under surveillance the entire time. You'll be safe, Todd.

Todd: Well... well okay, then.

Key: *bites her lip nervously--she remembers that first experiment like it was yesterday, and it wasn't a pleasant memory* ...

Sarah: *frowns at her mother's worried look and her father's apparent hesitation--what had HAPPENED before..?*

Harry: Goodnight, everyone. We'll be coming home soon. *leaves*

Todd: *shuts the door. He's silent* ...

Key: ... Todd... Todd, come back to sleep...

Sarah: *is now very curious about why the "first time" one had run had turned ...

Todd: Mm... y-yeah... yeah... *he could already feel the tranquilizer gnawing at his consciousness, and with a yawn, he climbed into bed, staring up at the ceiling, becoming somewhat dazed*

Me: "dazed" as in, he's so tired, he'll say anything. Like to Sarah. About certain first times.

Key: *has already fallen asleep again*

Sarah: ...dad, what did you mean by "experiment gone horribly wrong"?

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Harry: I don't entirely remember... I THINK we did...

Todd: Then we should use it! D:

Harry: I've forgotten where it is...

Sam: *continues hugging Sarah, finding comfort in doing so*

Claire: Well, we'll just have to go find it. Or see if someone else knows where it is.

Key: Maybe someone else is dealing with it already...?

Sarah: *rests her head on Sam's, still rubbing his shoulder* ...

Sam: *hugs, calming down a bit*

Harry: Yeah, like the soldier who actually found it and told me about it...

Todd: *notices Sarah and Sam hugging, and the fact that they were, as well as the way they were hugging, struck him as very cute, and he nudges Harry*

Harry: Huhwha? *notices what he'd looking at* <:)

Key: *notices Todd and Harry looking and looks over as well* <:)

Sarah: *can't see the adults, as the flashlight wasn't shining on them, so she doesn't notice them looking. she continues rubbing Sam's shoulder, hoping he'd calm down*

Claire: *wonders what's up with the silence and looks around. she catches a glimpe of the kids and smiles, then turns her attention to the others* Well, who's going out?

Harry: I'll go. I might be able to go and activate the generator, and I can see well enough to not trip on anything.

Todd: Well alrighty.

Harry: *leaves*

Sam: *hugging Sarah*

Claire: *looks outside the room, shining the flashlight around the hallway to make sure everything was okay outside*

Sarah: *quietly, to Sam* You doing okay?

Key: *sits, watching the kids with a smile on her face*

Everything: *is okay outside*

Sam: *still hugging* Y-yeah... I'm better now...

Todd: *watches the kids. <:)

Sarah: *nods* Good. *still hugs him, despite his positive answer*

Claire: *comes back into the room, sitting on the edge of the other bed* I'm shutting this off to save batteries, okay? *flips the flashlight off* Who knows when we'll need it again.

Key: mhmm...

Todd: *still watching the kids* Good idea, Claire.

Sam: *he continues to hug Sarah* Sarah... were you ever scared of the dark?

Key: *watches them quietly*

Claire: *wishes she could see the kids, but she knew that shining the flashlight on them would only make them feel awkward, so she doesn't*

Sarah: *still hugging* Oh yeah, mhmm. Definitely...

Todd: *also watches quietly*

Sam: And... and you grew up... and you weren't afraid of the dark anymore?

Key: ...

Todd: ...

Sarah: *nods* Mhmm. I was scared until I learned there was nothing to be scared of.

Me: You mean Claire? XDDDDDDDDDD;;;

Todd: ...

Sam: ... It... it really came that easily to you? D:

Me: shut up, it's 1:30am.

Key: ...

Claire: ...

Sarah: Well, no... not really... It wasn't just a sudden realization or anything... but... eventually I just managed to convince myself.

Me: XD;;;;

Todd: ...

Sam: So when I get older... I won't be afraid of the dark anymore? <:D

Me: *pawnch* XCCCCC

Key: ...

Claire: ...

Sarah: *smiles, even though he can't see it* Mhmm. You just have to remember that the lack of light can't hurt you. *grins* Just maybe trip you and make you fall over. :P

Sam: *he giggles at her words*

Light: *flickers back on dimly*

Todd: Oh! And we're back!

Sarah: ! *lifts her head off of San's, but still keeps an arm around him* Yay! :D

Claire: Phew. Now we just need Harry to remember where the generator is, and we'll be set.

Key: *nods*

Harry: *enters the room again* Hey. So the generator works.

Todd: We know. XD

Sam: :P

Claire: Good work. ;)

Sarah: heheh.

Key: So... Now that THAT adventure's over with...

Todd: ... we go on ANOTHER one! >8D

Harry: Uh -

Todd: YES! >8D

Sam: XD;

Sarah: YAY, ADVENTURE! >8D

Key: Okay, so what IS the adventure? XD

Claire: ^^;

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Harry: Again. *puts another card down*

Todd: Again?

Sam: Mom's good at winning games. :P *puts another card down*

Sarah: Yeah, REALLY. *draws a card, then puts it down*

Key: *puts down a card* :P

Claire: ^^; *puts a card down* Uno.

Harry: OH my god, somebody stop this woman. *puts down a card*

Sam: *puts down a skip* XD

Todd: Go Claire! :D

Sarah: OH COME ON! D:>

Key: *puts down a reverse* >:D

Claire: Ah! D:

Sarah: THANK YOU. *puts down a card*

Claire: >___<

Sam: *puts down a card*

Harry: *puts down a draw two card* ha-HAH! >:D

Todd: XD

Claire: D:> *takes two cards*

Key: *puts down a card* XDD

Sarah: >:3 *puts down a card*

Sam: *puts down a card*

Harry: *puts down a card* XP

Todd: Go team!

Claire: *puts down a reverse* XP

Key: >:C

Sarah: XD;;

Harry: XC *puts down a card*

Sam: *puts down a card* XD

Todd: Hooray for the winning person!

Sarah: Again, totally not me! *puts down a card* :P

Key: *puts down a card* Aaand...

Claire: *puts down a card* Uno. Again. ^^;

Harry: DX *puts down a card*

Sam: *puts down a card* XDD;

Todd: YAAAY. :D

Sarah: *puts down a card* Mooommm....! D:>

Key: DX *puts down a card*

Claire: *puts down her last card* Aha.

Harry: ... you win again, Claire. DX

Sam: Congratulations, Mom. :P

Todd: WOOOOOOO!!

Claire: *laughs at Todd's cheering*

Sarah: *glares at her stack of cards* >XC

Key: XD; *nudges Sarah* It's okayy. You'll get another chance... :P

Harry: Sure you do - Claire'll just win that time, too. XD;

Sam: XP

Todd: Sooo now what? :P

Thunder: KRAA-KOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM

*the power goes out and all the lights shut off*

Claire: Uh oh.

Sarah: OHMYGODWHATJUSTHAPPENED?? D8

Key: Todd, can you still see? D:

Sam: *grips Sarah tightly* 8C !!!???!!

Todd: Yeah, woah - all the yellow got a shade darker, so I'm guessing the lights went out. D:

Harry: Yup. I can still see too, by the way.

Key: Okay, because everything got REALLY dim all of a sudden.

Sarah: Sam--c-can't breathe. D8

Claire: Can any of you guys find the flashlight? There should be one in one of the drawers. D:

Sam: *he loosens his hug, though just a bit*

Todd: I will - *he walks over and searches through the drawers until he finds the flashlight Claire spoke of. He then hands the thing to her* And here we are. One flashlight.

Harry: Good job.

Todd: I try.

Claire: Thank you very much. *flips it on, and shines it around until she finds the kids* You guys okay?

Sarah: *puts an arm around Sam* Besides the fact that i'm being suffocated, I'm fine. D;

Key: >____>

Sam: I-I'm sorry, Mom - I let my f-f-fears get to m-me again...

Harry: <:/

Todd: Well, we're safe, alright?

Claire: It's okay, Sam... that happens sometimes. *to Harry* Do you remember if we found a backup generator?

Sarah: *rubs Sam's shoulder, trying to comfort him*

Key: *can't see as well as Todd and Harry, so she sits back down on the edge of the bed to avoud tripping on something* ...

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