"So, Bailey didn't bite Louise." Phil said slowly. "So, who did she bite? Or did she bite no one?"
"If it helps I know that Bailey did indeed bite someone else." Louise said.
"How do you know that?" PJ asked, confused.
"I was there, how could I not know?"
"Are you gonna tell us then?" Dan asked, impatient.
"Sure, but it's not a fun tale." Louise said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Bailey was coming to visit me, she needed more of those green vials. Turns out they didn't work as well as I had thought they would. She came in mid day, and we hung out for a bit, enjoying each other's company, when suddenly two AC agents busted into the room."
"So that van was them!" Phil said.
"Yeah, it was." PJ said, nodding.
"When they entered the room the taller one talked into what I think was a headset. They said something like 'We've found the suspect.', while the other came over and grabbed me by the neck, putting me into a headlock. Not fun."
"I never would have guessed, Louise."
"Shut up Dan, this is a traumatic memory." Phil said.
"Thanks, Phil, but it's all coated in layers of confusion, so thinking about it only feels like a bad dream, I'll be alright."
"Okay, Louise, if you say so." Phil said, looking unsure.
"I do say so. Anyway, while I was in a headlock Bailey was backing away, into the wall. Then the agent choked me a little too hard, and I passed out. I think I heard Bailey call my name. A little later I woke again, still in a headlock, albit less strict. I think they agents thought I was out, so I stayed quiet. Bailey was backing away from the other agent, in fear, but the agent wasn't advancing. They were just lying there, not moving. Then it hit me, Bailey had bit the other agent out of self defence. The agent with their hand around my neck pulled out their stun gun and fired it at Bailey, as she cowered in the corner. Bailey passed out." Louise's eyes were a bit watery as she recounted all of this.
"Wow…" PJ said, clearly shocked.
"But wait, there's more. After she passed out the agent holding me put me down and walked over to their friend. They stood over them, silently crying, them picking up their body and taking it out of the room. I tried to walk, or crawl, but I made it about 2 feet before they came back. The agent picked me up, and walked me out of the room. I thought they would take me to their van, which I thought was outside, but no. Instead the took me to my secret room. It came with the building, I never used it though, because the opening and closing mechanism was crap." Louise laughed, her tears now slowly running down her face. Phil sat down and hugged her.
"We learned that the hard way." Dan added.
"Yeah, I probably should have fixed it long ago. Anyways, they chained me up to the wall, using the picture hooks that sat there, and a lot of duct tape. After feeling satisfied they set up the cameras and left the room, closing the hatch and leaving me in darkness. I think I passed out after that. Next thing I know I'm in the hospital and PJ is telling me what happened to you guys." By now PJ had come over to give Louise hus as well.
"That's…"
"Really horrible." Dan said, finishing Phil's sentence. He joined Phil, and now PJ too, in giving Louise a hug.
"Thankfully I barely remember anything else about it, so I can remove myself from the situation and not be quite so terrified."
Louise said, trying for a smile, but her tears wouldn't disappear. Talking about such things would make a person do that. Although hugs from all of your friends certainly helps. Hugs can't make things better. Hugs can't fix things. But they can give you the strength to fix them yourself.
