Chapter Text
For a second it's like the world's light shutters. All everyone sees from Andrew and Neil smoking on the roof to Kevin practicing on the court is a sudden darkness before their bodies shutter and they find themselves in a room full of couches, beanbags, and mics. The screen seen in front of them is large, and from what Andrew can notice despite his shock, it’s about the same size as a movie theater screen.
“Oh what the hell-“ Allison’s voice shrieks as she almost trips when she lands in the room, her hands coming up to stop the towel wrapped around his head from falling.
Similar curses fall out of everyone else’s mouth as they land. And it’s only until gigantic letters appear on the screen that everyone quiets down as they read.
“Prepare for the sightings of Andrew Minyards and Neil Josten’s futures. Any attempt at leaving before the end of the viewings will result in punishments….” Matt whispers to himself as he reads the screen, his expression worried and skeptical.
“Seriously? What is the bullshit?” Aaron curses. “The future? Like hell that’s true.”
Andrew agrees, but it’s not like he’s gonna admit that to his brother. Andrew looks to Neil and sees him staring at the screen hysterically. A tight feeling musters in Andrews chest but he pushes it aside. They are nothing and they have nothing, nothing that warrants the comfort Andrew’s dead heart seems to want to give.
Neil looks to him, and from his slightly calmed down expression, he noticed Andrew’s askance of wellness anyways.
Aaron scowls at the two. He doesn’t care what they say about that “nothing” bullshit. No level of words can disguise their actions.
Nicky lets out a shaky laugh. “Punishments? What kind of punishments?”
Renee shakes her head wordlessly. The darkness in her eyes that only a few can see becomes more pronounced. She would usually try to offer comfort, but what kind of comfort can she give? She doesn’t know where they are, who took us, how they took us, and what they may face if they fight back. She decided to try anyways.
“Okay. Let’s all find a seat, we don’t know who took us but seeing as they are apparently capable of teleporting us, we should not test our luck and try to escape.” Renee says, projecting her voice.
Allison scowls. “You really saying you believe this?”
Renee opens her mouth to speak but Kevin answers first. “Don’t be difficult. It’s best to comply in this situation.” His voice is ragged and almost breathless from the hard exercise he was apparently doing earlier.
Andrew shrugs his shoulders a little as he looks at Neil. Neil gets the message and they both take a seat on a couch beside each other but not touching.
Aarons voice is angry as he looks at Kevin. “Yeah I’m sure you think it’s best to comply. Muscle memory, is it?”
Dan gasps somewhere in the background but Andrew just fights hard to not roll his eyes. Aaron in Andrew’s opinion has no right to speak about cowardliness.
Renee raises her hands and it speaks volumes of her power that everyone actually quiets down to hear her speak. “Everyone calm down. Let’s just take a seat and make a decision from there. We are getting no where fighting like this.”
Neil snorts. It’s the kind of speech that reminds him of those Disney movies Matt made him watch. Andrew’s eyes flicker to him before moving back to look at the screen with false apathy.
Everyone with mumbles under their breath find themselves a seat. Matt is sitting on a beanbag chair with Dan, Kevin is on a love chair in the corner, Aaron sits on the second beanbag chair next to the couch Andrew and Neil are on, and Allison and Renee sit on the second couch. Nicky does a dramatic flop onto the love chair next to Kevin. The divide between the upperclassman and the monsters is a heavy weight.
Once everyone is seated another message pops up on the screen along with the image of a clock ticking. It reads 7:42 A.M.
“8:00 A.M. the first viewing will commence. Every two hours will result in a break. Breaks last 45 minutes. Lunch will start at 12:45 P.M. and end at 1:45 P.M. Everyone will receive two requests for additional breaks every 10 viewings. Good luck and enjoy.”
Everyone’s body tenses as Nicky mutters, trying to lighten the mood. “Strict schedule, did Kevin make it?”
Kevin’s lips curls up but as he was about to insult Nicky back, the screen turns on.