Willy and Lottie slept soundly in the bed. Well, almost.

Willy was snoring loudly, keeping Lottie awake. The woman never slept much as it was, but it still bothered her. She was upright in her bed, thinking about her shop. Not much people had been in there the past couple of days, and it was driving her up the wall. How was she going to make money if no one was going to buy anything?

But that wasn't the only thing that was on her mind.

The woman couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something very wrong indeed. Her gut was telling her she needed to get up and take a look around, but her legs wouldn't let her move. Was something wrong? Was it her imagination?

Her questions ceased when her alert system vibrated next to her.

"Hello?" She said, despite the fact that Willy was sound asleep. There was silence over the phone.

"Hello?" She repeated. Finally someone spoke.

"L-Lottie?" Patch's voice sounded over the phone. Lottie turned the lamp on next to her bed.

"Patch sweetie! Just how ARE you tonight?"

"U-Uh I'm f-fine. B-But-"

"That's FABULOUS! I am having SUCH a hard time sleeping, since ol' WILLY here won't stop SNORING-"

"L-Lottie please! Let me sp-speak!"

"... Okay... Is everything alright?" Lottie asked, her legs falling over off the bed as she sat up. Willy's eyes opened up slightly, but he said nothing yet.

"Y-You and W-Willy need to c-c-come to the C-Clinic r-right away!" Lottie's eyes widened a bit.

"Why?"

"I-I have Maddie here, a-and... Y-you should come..." Patch's voice said sympathetically. Lottie nudged Willy, and she held the Alert System to her face.

"Maddie's still in bed."

"N-No she wasn't..."

"But I-"

"P-Please, I w-will explain w-when you get h-here..." Patch said, hanging up. Lottie help the system to her cheek, not saying anything. Patch never hangs up like that, and he has never sounded so upset. Willy was sitting up, still half asleep.

"What's wrong?" He yawned. Lottie put her alert system down and looked over at Willy.

"We have to get to the clinic." Lottie said, jumping off the bed and racing downstairs. Willy didn't get up right away.

"DO WE HAVE TO?" He called.

"YES! OUR DAUGHTER IS IN THERE!" Lottie shrieked from downstairs. Willy's eyes widened.

"MADDIE?"

"WHO ELSE CLUCKLEHEAD?"

"HOLY FLAPYAK!" Willy screamed, flying off the bed.

Patch tapped his pencil on the counter impatiently. She had been awake for half an hour now. He tested her over and over. There was no doubt about it.

"Patch?" Maddie said. She was looking straight ahead, but not at him. Patch turned to her slowly. Her hair still had streaks of mud in it, and he tried his best to wash it out in the sinks. Dried tears stained her face, and she had a thick blanket around her to keep her warm. A tear slide down her face, and he wasn't sure if she was aware of it. Patch bit his lip at the sight. Maddie hasn't cried since Stardos went missing.

"Yes Maddie?" He said softly. Maddie gripped her soaked pajama pants.

"Are... Are they coming?" She asked, trying not to sound all choked up. Patch nodded, not that it was any use.

"Y-Yes... Th-they are on the w-way..." He said nervously. Maddie nodded slowly, not releasing her grip on her pajamas. She bit her lower lip, trying not to let tears fall from her eyes. Patch sighed softly and he walked over, sitting next to the girl. He put his arm around her, trying to calm her a bit. She didn't like it, and tried to pull herself away.

"M-Maddie-"

"Please don't... I don't want sympathy." She said, her voice cracking. Patch's face fell even more when her lower lip quivered a bit.

Why can't I do anything about this? What kind of doctor am I?

"MADDIE!" Lottie screamed as she barged on through the door with Willy close behind. Patch shot up from his seat, and Maddie looked over slightly, but not at her parents.

"Mom?" She called out. Willy looked at Patch angrily.

"What's wrong? Is she alright?" He questioned.

"Why isn't she LOOKING over here?" Lottie asked, trying to walk over there, but the doctor stuck his arm out.

"Th-there is s-something I have t-to t-t-tell you..." He said in a low, sad voice. Lottie and Willy leaned in, and he began to speak.

"Stardos, your back!" Magnar squeaked, hopping up and down excitedly on the tattered couch. Dastardos floated on in, a warm smile on his face at the little pinata. He leaned down, holding out the life candy in his ghostly hand. Magnar squeaked happily, hopping off the couch and to Dastardos's hand, where he snatched the life candy right out. He tore the wrapper and ate the candy quickly, looking up at Dastardos afterward. Dastardos scratched the little guy behind his papery ears.

You have no idea about the things I have to do for you... He thought to himself as Magnar purred at his touch.

Lottie and Willy stood there, dumbfounded. Lottie had tears in her eyes.

"No..." She said. Patch tried not to bite his lip. He nodded.

"I-I'm sorry... B-but... Maddie is..." Lottie took a deep breath, taking in the news, and Willy shook his head.

"There's no way... She can't be blind!"