"I've found you!" The Angel cried.

Christine shrieked with laughter as the Angel tossed her in the air.

Raoul laughed too.

"We found you, Lotte!" Raoul crowed with triumph.

It was more like the Angel had found her. Raoul was way over by the front yard when he heard the Angel find Christine.

The Angel set her down with the small girl struggling to stop giggling.

"Who's still hiding?" Christine asked.

Raoul gave her a wide smile. "We still gotta find Ubaldo and Jammes. Carly and Meg are looking in the house."

Christine nodded.

The two of them set out to find their friends.

Raoul carefully crept so he wouldn't make too much noise. Maybe if they didn't hear them coming, they wouldn't try so hard to keep out of sight.

Raoul turned to Christine, to suggest the idea to her, before getting distracted. Her hair was moving. It wasn't the wind, because it wasn't windy out, Raoul was sure.

An invisible hand seemed to stroke her wild curls. It Raoul a moment to figure out it must be the Angel.

"What?" Christine asked.

Before Raoul could answer, Christine gasped. "Found you!" She squealed.

Jammes came out from under some bushes, scowling. Ubaldo, apparently hiding with her, sheepishly followed.

"No fair!" Jammes whined. "The Angel likes you best! He let you win!"

Christine frowned at her friend. "That's not true! We won fair and square!"

"Fair and Square" The Angel sang softly. What looked like a breeze ruffled through Christine's hair, causing her to laugh.

That seemed to make Jammes even madder. "He always helps you win! I bet he helped nobody else look!"

Christine scrunched up her face and Raoul knew that meant she was mad too.

"He's all of our friend! And not just me!" Christine cried. She turned to Raoul with anxiety in her big blue eyes. "Raoul, you don't think I'm a cheater, do you?"

Raoul was stuck. On one hand, The Angel did seem to only help if it meant Christine got to win. On the other, Raoul didn't want to hurt any of his friend's feelings.

"Well…" He started.

Now all of his friends were staring at him. Jammes still looked mad and Christine looked nervous. Raoul turned to Ubaldo. They boys made eye contact. Raoul tried to ask him what to do with his eyes. Ubaldo solemnly nodded his head. Raoul gulped.

He had to tell the truth.

"Well, he does like playing with you the best, Lotte." Raoul answered.

Christine gasped in betrayal. Raoul felt his cheeks flush with guilt.

"See! I told you Chrissy-" Jammes exclaimed.

Christine turned to her, face red with anger and embarrassment, and face all scrunched up. "Whatever! I'm gonna go find Carly and Meg and go home! You guys can play with the Angel by yourselves if you want to so bad!" Christine huffed and stomped off towards the house.

"Chriiiiiiiiiistiiiiiiiiine." The Angel sang.

There was a rush of energy that nearly knocked all three remaining kids off their feet as the Angel rushed to follow their friend.

Raoul steadied himself and sighed.

He'd have to think of a way to apologize later.

The bright fluorescent lights glared down at the players.

It made it made hard for Raoul to actually see what was going on.

Next to him, Christine was bouncing in her seat. Raoul couldn't help but grin at her excitement.

Piangi had a pensive look on his face. Raoul was a little uneasy with him there. It had been so long since they've hung out. He reminded himself he has nothing against Piangi.

The game was 21 to 24, and they were losing.

But, there was plenty of time to recover points.

The cheerleaders didn't appear to agree. Raoul swears he saw Carlotta on her phone.

Meg was the only one who didn't look bored out of her mind. Christine was doing a better job at showing school spirit and she could barely tell which one was their Team.

Raoul made a mental note to bring this up at a student council meeting. It was embarrassing.

Christine nudges Raoul's shoulder.

"Look! It's James!" Christine squealed.

Raoul looked where she was pointing and flashed her a smile.

James was currently benched, but he was focused on the game. His brows were drawn tight, and he leaned forward. Raoul had to admire his dedication.

Christine's face glowed with excitement. "I hope they get to play soon!" She said before turning her attention back to the game.

Raoul couldn't think of anything to reply with so he turned back to the game.

Just as Raoul turned, something happened.

Something bad.

One player tripped over another.

Things happened so fast, all Raoul could catch was a crunch and a scream.

The referee's whistle screamed along with the crowd and the game stopped.

"What happened?! Is he all right?" Christine asked.

Raoul could only gape at the ball court.

A few staff members hustled over to the student and helped him out of the gym.

The coach moved to follow, but before he left, he jerkily gestured for James to join the game.

James looked momentarily stunned before quickly doing as he was asked.

The crowd fell into an uneasy hush.

And the game continued.

The two teams got into position for the jump ball.

Raoul's eyes wandered over to Meg. She turned, smiled, and stuck out her tongue, For a minute Raoul thought it was directed at him. He was about to wave or make a face or something when Christine waved back, and Raoul quickly looked away, feeling foolish.

By the time Raoul paid attention to the game, their team had the ball.

"Yeah Go Wolves!" Raoul yelled.

Christine clapped and called out and Piangi made a howling noise. A good portion of the bleachers joined in cheering on the team.

The other team drove down the court but soon is trapped by a Garnier high defender.

"David! Over here!" James called.

The other player, David looked at James. And promptly passed the ball to another defender. And lost the said ball.

"Oh, bullshit!" Christine burst, startling Raoul and Piangi both. "Did you see that?! That was bullshit! James was open! Is he fucking blind!" Christine raged.

Raoul, surprised by the sudden anger, nodded. "Yeah. Total bullshit." Raoul agreed.

"Are you kidding me?" James seethed from the court.

Raoul felt bad for the guy.

The other team scores an easy basket and the ball returned to Garnier High.

Once again, nobody passed the ball to James.

And the other team scores another basket.

"Boooo! Somebody score already!" Someone yelled from the bleachers. Raoul shot an annoyed look in their direction. Assholes.

"C'mon Wolves! You can do it!" Meg half-heartedly cheered.

Carlotta scoffed. "Ugh. This blows." She sneered.

Raoul couldn't help but glare at her. At least Meg was trying to be positive.

"Why is nobody passing to James!?" Christine simmered. Raoul couldn't do anything but shrug. He didn't keep up with James anymore. Guilt curled in his gut.

James seemed to get madder and madder on the court as his team ignored him.

"I can't believe this…" Piangi muttered.

"I know! Can people be more stupid!" Christine agreed.

On the court, James got into a defensive stance, looking madder than a firecracker.

One of the other team players passes, allowing James to snatch the ball out of the air.

Raoul was not prepared for the high-pitched shriek of triumph that emitted from Christine.

Raoul was suddenly assaulted with the memory of Christine's voice lessons when they were kids. He often would go to her house in search of a playmate only to have to wait until she was done with her lessons. He remembers the awe he felt as her voice went higher and higher…

He also remembered how the woods sparked a deep, impenetrable fear of music, the thing she used to covet more than anything, and how she begged them to turn the sound off in the hospital.

Raoul snapped back to the present by James's whoop of triumph.

James sprinted for the three-point line, defenders scrambling to get to him. He shoots as Garnier player slammed into him from the side.

James stumbled but didn't fall.

then, the ball went through the basket with a swish.

Raoul was prepared for Christine's high pitched squealing this time.

The bleachers lit up with cheers.

They awarded James a free throw which he scores easily.

Christine is physically jumping in her seat, Piangi is hollering, and Raoul feels himself stand up and clap.

Everyone is cheering.

Raoul turns to look at Christine and she's glowing.

And that's when the lights shut off.

Raoul could feel the darkness seep into his skin, his eyes, his mouth. It's cold and thick and Raoul can barely breathe through it. The dark shouldn't feel like that. Not at school, not in the gym, surrounded by people. The hair on his arm rises and he feels the chill ghost over his arms, his neck, every bit of bare skin it can find.

Raoul' ears are ringing from the silence.

Why is it so quiet? Why weren't people panicking about the lights? Where did all the noise go?

That's when Raoul hears it.

He hears him.

"Have you forgotten your angel?"

The silky voice slithered into Raoul's ear. His throat tightened so much he couldn't breathe. His chest compressed and his entire body tightened.

No.

Not here not here not here notherenotherenothere-

Christine's soul-piercing scream wrenched Raoul out of his ingrained terror.

The lights come flooding back, casting shadows on Piangi's frozen pale face.

Raoul stared at him.

He heard it too.

Then Christine was falling forward.

Raoul's attention snapped back to her, and he rushed to catch her.

The two of them crumpled to the floor of the bleachers, Christine hysterical animal like wailing cutting Raoul to the core.

He couldn't speak.

Raoul wrapped his violently shaking arms around her to comfort but her wild sobbing didn't stop. Not even close.

Raoul buried his face in the top of her head as he cradled her against his chest.

It's ok, he tried to tell her. It will be all right.

"We need to get her out of here." Said Meg. Raoul jumped, not realizing that she stood next to them. Raoul looked up and saw Piangi and James standing behind her, faces grim and white. Even further behind was Carlotta, whose scowl was trembling and throat convulsing with swallows.

Raoul nodded his head at all them and stood. He kept Christine's against his chest as they made their way to the parking lot.

The crisp air wasn't as soothing as Raoul would have liked.

Christine's sobbing was slowly turning into pained moans.

"We should get her out of here," Piangi suggest. His voice trembled ever so slightly.

Raoul was about to snap that, obviously, they should get her home, but Christine shifted underneath his protective arm and he turned his attention to him.

Christine looked up from Raoul's chest and stared him in the eyes.

"He's there" She chokes out.

Raoul couldn't see them but he knew everyone froze.

He was searching for some answer, some comfort he could offer her, but Christine's eyes were quicker than him.

It made sense they would seek the woods.

Christine howled at the sight. Tears and snot dripped down her face and she clutched Raoul like her life depended on it.

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" James snapped. He hurried over to Christine and put his arms around her.

"I'm bringing her home." James barked. "You guys- figure it out."

And with that James still shielding Christine, hurriedly walked them to his car and away from the woods.

An awkward pause engulfed them.

"I'm going to let him know to meet us when Christine is safe." Piangi announced, taking out his phone.

"T-That's a good idea." Raoul replied lamely. The uncomfortable atmosphere sat on his skin like an itch.

There wasn't anything else to do but wait for James.

James's car rolling up to the car parking lot marked the beginning of the end to a terrible night.

The lot was empty now that the game was over. The mandune noises from the woods induced a feeling of eerie nostalgia.

The short boy stepped out of his car and walked over to the group who were all gathered around Carlotta's car.

It surprised Raoul the tall girl stuck around. She had clarified that she wanted nothing to do with them. Maybe now that-
"So we all agree he's back right?" Piangi stated.
Raoul's stomach lurched and he released the breath he didn't know he was holding in surprise.

"I think it's obvious that the Angel is back and isn't happy." Piangi continued.

Carlotta scoffed. Every one turned to look at her.
Her usual scowl deepened, and she opened her mouth to speak.
"Does it really matter?" Carlotta demanded.

Raoul was dumbfounded. What does it matter? What does it matter the supernatural entity that haunted their childhood and traumatized their friend was back? What does it matter ?

"It's not as if we can do anything about it. So what he's here? What are supposed to do, ask him to fuck off? Use please and thank you?" Carlotta demanded. She tossed her hair over her shoulder in an irritated gesture. "He can't touch us outside of the house. Who cares what kind of mood he's in." Carlotta finished.

"Um, obviously he can reach us outside of the house, dickhead. Seriously, Carlotta? Are you that desperate to pretend you aren't scared too? So what if he's here?" Meg seethed. She made a wide gesture to the school and them. "Hel fucking oh bitch! It matters because it doesn't look like he intends to leave us the fuck alone, that's why it fucking matters! Did you see Christine? She could hardly fucking breathe! So don't sit here and fucking act like it affects nobody." Meg ranted.

"We should get help." James spoke up. Both Carlotta and Meg huffed at the suggestion.

"Seriously," James pressed "do you guys not remember what happened when we didn't? Christine went missing for two weeks!"

"I think no one will forget that," Raoul replied.

There was a small pause, everyone digesting what was said and thinking about what they should say. It seemed obvious to Raoul that the only way to solve their problem was to take it head-on. Doing nothing ended up with Christine kidnapped and they already tried getting help. The image of Phil's face when Raoul told him flashed behind his eyelids. It solved nothing. If they want the Angel gone, they'd have to do it themselves.

When Raoul voiced that opinion, it didn't go over so well.

"That is the absolute dumbest fucking thing I've ever fucking heard!" Carlotta shrieked.

"I think it's a great idea." Meg countered coolly. "And at least Raoul has an idea that doesn't involve shoving your head in the sand, Carly."

Carlotta's flinch at her old nickname was so quick Raoul almost missed it.

"That doesn't change the fact it's not a good idea," Piangi said defensively. "Going up against a powerful force with no advantage only works in movies."

"Which is why we should find somebody who knows what they're doing!" James insisted.

"And where the hell are we going to find that James? Our resident expert here wants nothing to do with a solution!" Raoul should, flinging his hand toward Piangi.

Piangi's cheeks heated.

"F-fuck you, Raoul! You think you and Meg will swoop in and solve all of our problems?! Well newsflash asshole, it's not that easy! If we steer clear of the woods, we should be fine!" Piangi cried.

"Doing nothing led to Christine going missing for two weeks!" Raoul growled.

"No, what led to Christine disappearing was the fact she was in the woods. Alone. With the Angel. The exact thing you seem to think we should do." Piangi argues.

Raoul felt the rage and frustration well up in his throat.

"How dare you-" Raoul snarled.

"Oh, my god! Raoul! Seriously, you're all acting like Christine fucking died that day!" Carlotta's voice burst forth cutting whatever Raoul was about to say shortly.

Carlotta looked towards the woods. "Christine isn't dead," she said in a low voice "She's here and has fucking feelings too. You know how humiliating that shit show in the gym must have been? Not to mention she can't even look at the woods without losing it. What would she think of your little plan, Raoul? You think she'd be psyched that you and Meg plan on gallivanting into the woods to throw down with the fucking ghost that ruined her life?" Carlotta demanded.

"Technically, it's not a ghost- "Piangi weakly corrected.

"Ugh! Whatever Ubaldo! I'm fucking out of here, Do you want a ride home or what?" Carlotta asked Piangi.

He gave a stunned nod and followed her inside her car.

He paused right before getting into Carlotta's car.

"The only way for us to protect ourselves, to protect Christine, is to know what happened in those woods. We're all running blind here and she's the only person with any answers. Think about that." Piangi said.

He got into the car. Carlotta gave the rest of them one last glare before driving off.

The remaining three stood in silence.

"I'm gonna go too," James stated blandly. "I have to figure out how to explain why I didn't come back to the game."

He stalked off to his car, leaving only Meg and Raoul.

"We should get going," Raoul said.

Meg sighed. "Yeah. We should."

"Talk to you later?" Raoul asked.

Meg didn't bother to reply.