4.
"Guys I'm worried about Ren." Haruka had been pacing the floor for so long her boots were starting to wear into the already thin carpet.
"Why?" Otoya felt he should ask.
His girlfriend was naturally a worrywart but she tended to pay extra attention to Ren and his destructive behavior from time to time. It would've bothered any other guy to have his significant other doting on another guy like she doted on Ren, But Ren was his friend and had been for years. So naturally there was nothing for him to worry about.
"He's been running around with that girl since we got here." Said Haruka.
"So? That's Ren. He's been with far worse." Said Masato. He supposed old habits did die hard. "We all remember the one from a few summer's ago."
"The one that keyed her name into the side of his car or the one that slept with one of his brother's just to get to him?"
"Point proven. Besides, this is a small town. If push comes to shove we could go out and find him if we wanted to."
"True," Tokiya nodded lazily. "That chick isn't someone Ren would go for anyway. She's a stiff with no sex appeal."
"Who's a stiff with no sex appeal?"
Heads turned as Ren opened the door to Otoya and Haruka's room, holding it open as Piper carted in an arm load of tubberware containers. She sat them down ontot he nearest surface, which happened to be a little old table with cigarette burns on it, and turned to the group expectantly.
"Oh… um… Syo." Wasn't the best but it would do.
"Hey man, fuck you."
"You know you have plenty sex appeal, calm down." Natsuki waved it off for the smaller boy. "You're the best cuddler."
Syo blushed but otherwise said nothing to scold the gentle giant.
"What's in those containers?" Cecil asked above the rising commotion. "And where did you go, Ren?"
"Dinner at Piper's brother's place, and those are left overs for you guys."
"Wait, what?" The group asked in union.
"You went to one of their houses?" Haruka asked in horror. "You could've been hurt!"
"He didn't eat Mrs. Johnson's overly dry cobbler so he's just fine." Piper spoke. "I have to go, you guys can give me back the containers when I see you all again."
"And when will that be?" Asked Ren.
"In a couple of days or so. My brother and I will come back for you guys and escort you to your new homes." Replied Piper.
"Whoa, new homes? We thought you were with her trying to get our things back! You know, contacting our families?"
Piper glanced at Ren before curtly excusing herself and departing with haste. The rest was up to him.
"You seem to be getting along well with her," Masato said. "All I ask is that you don't create a mess for us to clean up."
Ren huffed at his friend, though he couldn't disagree if he wanted to. He and Masato grew up together, and even as kids Ren found himself in situations that could've easily been avoided. He always found himself in Masato's kindness as the boy would try to help him out in any ways he could.
But not without scolding him of course.
Ren didn't know who was worse, Haruka or Masato.
"You were with them in their home, we don't know these people, Ren!"
Ren busied himself with setting out the various containers, taking note of his friends many protests. He could've told them where he was going, but the thought of them over worrying and babying him didn't appeal to Ren in the least bit. He was capable of taking care of himself, for the most part.
He turned on the radio, raising the volume before approaching his friends.
"I have something I need to tell you guys."
XXX
"Ya'll seen Ren? Is he running late again?"
"He might be. Did you hear about what happened?"
"No, what happened now?"
"Apparently his dad bribed Seira with money to break up with him and she took it."
"No. She. Did. Not."
"She really did. She's off at some university now. That was probably the reason why she was invited on their trip."
"Yeah, and I heard his dad is trying to arrange for him to marry one of his partner's daughters. A rich, pretty broad."
"Well no wonder Ren has been so distant. Bless his heart. If he doesn't join us tonight I'll completely understand."
XXX
Ren stirred from his rest uneasy. He felt exhausted, both physically and mentally. The previous night had been rough on him, emotionally mostly. At fist his friends didn't believe him, and giving the fat that he didn't believe a word that left Piper's mouth originally he couldn't blame them. But the more he explained and connected the missing pieces, the more things slowly made more sense. He closed his eyes as he tried to force the images of their crumbling resolve from his mind. All of them struck with the realization that their homes, families, other friends and old lives were long gone.
They had lives worth living, people who actually cared about them. Ren felt their pain and immediately hated himself for it.
He laid back into the pillows with a gruff sigh, staring at the ceiling.
How had their lives gone so wrong? And why were they chosen and their families weren't?
"Ren?"
He turned when Haruka's soft voice beckoned him.
"Are you okay?" She asked as she walked further into his room, shutting the door behind her.
"I'm fine." He replied.
"No you're not."
"And what if I am? I do like to be alone sometimes, Haruka."
"I think we've had enough alone time to last us a lifetime." She paused as she took a seat at the foot of the bed. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"I wanted to make sure I had all the information first. And I knew there would no turning back once I said everything. Admit it, you didn't even believe the bull shit Piper was talking about back at the hospital. Who would?" Ren shook his head in defeat. "How's Syo?"
He remembered the younger boy having a break down at the thought of his lost twin, their bond broken.
"He's doing the best he can. Natsuki said he had a few nightmares last night. Poor thing woke up screaming for his brother." Said Haruka.
"And how are you?"
Haruka pursed her lips together before speaking again. "I'm ok too. I loved my grandmother, and if what you said is true I wouldn't want her to live in a world like this." She said.
"Look, I'm sorry for-"
"Stop apologizing, Ren. You apologize more than anyone I know. This isn't anyone's fault… none of us asked for this."
"I just feel bad for you guys. You had families you loved, and they loved you. I can't imagine the void knowing has caused."
"Ren, your family loved you too."
He scoffed.
"We don't ask to be born, and we don't pick our parents. My grandmother always used to say kids don't come with a manual. You just have to-"
The phone suddenly began to ring.
Ren sat up stiffly in bed, eyeing the phone as it continued to ring. Unable to move from his spot.
"Hello?" Haruka answered, as calmly as she could muster.
"Hello Miss Haruka, may I speak to Ren?"
It was Piper.
"Sure, hold on." Haruka held out the receiver for the stunned boy to take. "Remember the rules, we have to always answer the phone. And it's Piper."
Ren sighed as he pressed the hard plastic to his ear. "Yeah..?"
"I need you all dressed within the hour. Once you are done, you all can meet my brother and I at the welcome center."
"Alright," He said, dryly.
"Oh, and Ren?"
"Yes?'
"If you told them, it is best to move on and not dwell. Remember, be happy and enjoy life in Wayward Pines."
The line went dead.
XXX
"Is that lady carrying a pie?'
"Yeah but apparently everything she bakes can kill you so don't go near it."
"What do you think they want with us?"
"I don't know, maybe they want to harvest our organs. Or maybe they're cannibals."
"Why? Why would you say that?"
"Leave him alone, you know he's sensitive."
"Welcome!"
The hushed whispers and elbow jabs ceased as Holly approached them with her large, million dollar smile. Her 50s styled dress hugged her small waist, and was just as bright as the lipstick she wore.
"Ren, it's nice to see you again. And it's nice to finally meet the rest of you. I am Holly, and this is my husband Benjamin. You all already know his sister, Piper."
Piper smiled quietly from her brother's side. She ditched the full suit for a pair of dress pants and a simple, pale blue blouse.
"Why are we here?" Tokiya asked, hands deep in his pockets.
"We are going to give you all a quick tour of our little town before showing you to your new homes." Said Holly.
"Thank you so much for being patient, you are going to love them." Said Benjamin, smiling just as brightly as his wife.
"Well, it's not like we have much of a choice now do we?"
Piper shot Ren a glare that could kill, to which he smirked at.
Things were turning into an awkward game of cat and mouse.
"Shall we begin?" The blonde asked through a forced smile.
"Lead the way, boss lady."
Ren officially lost interest in the so called tour before they even rounded the first corner into town. Everyone, he did notice, was either footing it like they were or were on bikes. There were no cars, no cellphones, no internet. And the technology they did have was extremely limited, the previous models or prototypes of what they used to consider modern. He wondered about the townsfolk, their lives and goals before Wayward Pines.
Haruka and Otoya were attending Juilliard together in the upper west side of Manhattan, while Masato and Cecil were working on taking over their family businesses. Tokiya was off at some fancy art institute, and Natsuki and Syo were doing the basics at a community college not far from their old high school. They all had something going for them. Goals they were working towards. Now what were they going to do Things they were planning to spend the rest of their lives going were no longer an option.
What was he going to do?
Ren wasn't doing much with his life back then. Outside of a few college classes at the community college, his life revolved around good lays, great friends, and expensive liquor.
It was just one of the many unanswered questions, and the list just seemed to keep growing.
Another thing, Ren noted, was that there were very few young children. Back home he couldn't got to a coffee shop without having little kids running around everywhere, but here? The so called children were not much younger than he and his friends were.
"Were are the children?" Ren asked as they passed a empty playground.
Holly gave him a cautious glance from over her shoulder. "You will find all of that out once you meet Ringo." She replied vaguely.
"And when will that be?"
The sooner Ren met all the important people, the sooner he could attempt to blend in and try to live as normally as possible.
"In about a week or so. He's been quite busy these days."
Ren sighed inwardly as he and his friends continued to trot along. His feet were beginning to hurt, other than wondering around looking for the welcome center and police station this 'over exerting himself since being awake' thing was becoming a trend and it was starting to take its toll.
He couldn't recall being this out of shape before, but then again being suspended in animation for two thousand years would probably leave lasting effects on anyone.
"You okay, Ren?" Otoya asked, resting a hand on his arm. "You look a bit pale."
"Yeah… I'm good."
He was not.
Ren was far from it.
Sweat had long since covered his brow, only now he noticed the sway in his stride and shallow breaths. If he didn't know any better, Otoya's hand was probably keeping him in place.
"No you're not," Masato argued. "We need to get you to the hospital before you fall out somewhere."
"We need to take him to the hospital." Natsuki said, joining Masato in holding their friend.
"Of course!" Holly nodded. "Ben will do one final walk through your homes so you can return to them instead of the hotel. Piper and I will join you."
Worry filled Piper's bright blue eyes but she said nothing as she and Holly led the way to the only medial facility in town. The last thing Ren saw before darkness eventually consumed him were those azure orbs on him, stray strands of gold clinging to thick lashes.