*^Clear^*
I have to say, I was scared out of my wits. I didn't want to be a part of this "Plan," I wanted to be somewhat normal! But I knew I couldn't be. I let Alex take my hand and I gave his a squeeze. He was scared too, I could feel it. Nothing ever seemed right anymore.

Some doctor I recognized from before came in and looked over Carter. I really couldn't believe I'd saved him without killing myself. It seemed unreal. The doctor told us that Carter was doing very well, and we should expect him to get out of the hospital soon. Then he left.

It was getting late, and I was tired. I leaned my head on Alex's shoulder and closed my eyes. It was great that Carter would be okay, but something wasn't right... something was just completely wrong... I couldn't figure it out, so I fell asleep with one of Alex's arms around me.

*-Carter-*
Everything was a blur to me. Last thing I remember was seeing the look of petrification on Alex's face, and then feeling the impact of Clear as she shoved me to the ground. I guess I kinda blacked out then, and if I woke up, I don't remember it.

I came to drowsily. The sun was coming up outside my window, and my friends were sleeping in the chairs next to my bed, Alex with his arm around Clear. I smiled to myself. They looked kinda cute together... then I remembered Terry and felt sad. Of all the ways she could have gone... a bus. Her death was so sudden. At least she didn't have to suffer a lot, like Tod or Miss Lewton. I still missed her.

I tried to sit up, but I felt dizzy and lay back down. The ceiling tiles made interesting patterns... woah, what was I thinking? I must have been delusional or something. I tried to see pictures in the little dots on the ceiling. My mind didn't seem to have the capacity to do anything for more than five minutes, and it was six AM. How was I supposed to last until Clear and Alex woke up? I tried to go back to sleep, but my limited attention span didn't even allow me to do that!

"This sucks royally," I said to myself. I repeated it to myself in French as well. That's how bored I was. I watched TV for about ten minutes before getting tired of it. I couldn't stand it! This was agonizing, lying here in a hospital in a foreign country. About as fun as being the loser in the championship game. And being the one that could have made the touchdown, but didn't, and now everyone hates you... Argh. I couldn't stand it. I felt like screaming. Some nurse came in and left me a tray of some unrecognizable food. Even in other countries, hospital food looked weird. I was hungry, but I couldn't pay attention even to food! I wanted out. Out of France. Out of the Plan, out of here!

*^Clear^*
As I held Alex's hand that night, I could feel the awful scars left by the live wire he'd grabbed when he saved me... I'll never be able to fully repay him for that. I know sometimes it hurts him just to hold a pencil, but Alex is strong. We'll beat this together, me, Alex, and Carter.

I woke up around seven and the first thing I saw was Carter, sitting up in his bed with a goofy smile on his face.

"It's about time you woke up," he said, some irritation in his voice.

"How long have you been awake?" I asked.

"Almost forever, and it's killing me," Carter answered. He suddenly got embarassed. "Sorry." Anything that makes reference to death had us all petrified.

"No, it's okay," I told Carter. I noticed a barely touched tray of strange hospital food nearby. "You're not hungry?"

"I'm famished!" Carter exclaimed. "But I can't stay focused on one taske for more than five minutes! It's sooooo annoying!" Carter was right. Even though he was seventeen, his attention span seemed to be that of a three-year-old. His eyes darted around to every corner of the room, his left foot was twitching in an urge to get up and run around, and he tapped his fingers on the bed's railing. He desperately needed to go for a walk or something, but I wasn't sure he was allowed. "C'mon Clear, let's go somewhere. Alex will be fine."

Alex would be fine, but would I? I was next, I knew it, but would Carter be well enough to intervene? I was so unsure. The three of us would have to be together 24/7! We needed a fourth person who would understand our situation. I began hatching a plan...

"Well Clear? Are we going or not?" Carter interrupted my thoughts.

"I don't think so," I muttered, my heart panging as Carter's face fell. I explained my thoughts. Carter was mad that I would doubt him, but I let him get out of bed and walk around the room, which made him happy.

The first place Carter went was the window. He wanted to go outside, of course, but... I was to scared to let him leave the room. This threw a whole new twist on everything. With Carter unable to stay still, we'd be open to new dangers... But what could happen in a hospital? Then my mind flooded with a whole list of things that could happen, and I suddenly felt like shit. We'd never be able to get home.

Alex slowly woke up a few minutes later. He was tired and groggy, yet still managed to be himself, unlike Carter.

"What's up with him?" Alex asked me, referring to Carter. I explained it to him and he sighed heavily, obviously sharing my thoughts. "Carter," Alex barked in a stern tone.

Carter ran over and jumped on the bed, grinning like an idiot. "Heya Alex! Sleep well?"

"Could've been better," Alex mumbled. "But we need to talk. All three of us."

~*Alex*~
I was sick of this. We had to get hom ASAP, and Carter was well... nevermind.

"We have to go home," I told them. "Fast. Carter, sit still." Carter's incessant bouncing on the bed was getting on my nerves. He stopped. "We all have to stick together, no matter what. It's Clear's turn, Carter, so we have to make sure she's okay, got it?" Carter nodded quickly. "Whoever's turn it is, we have to protect them. That means for as long as possible, the three of us have to stick together. Carter, cut it out." He was drumming on the edge of his bed with his hands, which ceased at my order. Why was he so stupified? If this kept up, I was worried he'd start getting in the way.

"Hey Alex," Carter said, "why are you so pissed off at me? I'm not doing anything bad."

I sighed. "I'm not pissed at you. I'm just annoyed by this whole situation right now, and your unfortunate lack of attention isn't helping," I answered, trying to be as discreet as possible. Truth was, he was pissing me off, but a rift in our group was the last thing we needed.

Clear was staring at her shoes. I hadn't really helped her much by confirming that she was next. I really liked her, and hated to see her sad. I felt awful about the whole thing. Carter was still indginant about what I'd said.

"But I can't help it," he said. Was it just me, or did it sound kinda like a whine? "I don't know what's wrong with me! I hate it too you know! And another thing..."

I rubbed my eyes with my fingertips. I was trying to ignore Carter's voice, but it wasn't working. I was thisclose to exploding at him. Which I promptly did.

"Carter, SHUT UP!" I yelled. "You don't have to tell me! I know it's not your fault you're acting like this! Just... try not to!" I was about to blast off again, when Clear stopped me with a hand on my forearm.

"Alex, calm down!" she hissed angrily. "You're in a hospital! There are other people in danger of death too, not just us... not just me. Have a little respect."

I apologized quickly and leaned back in my chair. I hadn't slept well at all the night before, and I guess I was on edge. None of this was going well, and I hated it. Why did I have to have that premonition? Why couldn't we have all died on the plane like we were supposed to? At least then we wouldn't be running from fate all the time...