I shook my head slightly as I felt my projection again join my body.

"Oh god," I blinked heavily for a moment before shaking myself out of a drowsy state. "Being in someone's mind for so long has side effects." I blinked a couple more times before looking over at Lili who was having the same effects.

"Tell me about it." She held her head in her left hand as her eyes were shut gently. "Makes my head a little dizzy, but I think that might be because we're not in Boyd's weird floating land." I snapped my attention toward Boyd as the man was shockingly silent at that moment. He still held the single piece of chalk in his hand, but now he was just staring at the wall before him as he stood there.

"Speaking of Boyd." I walked over toward the man slowly as I wasn't sure of what kind of state he was in just yet. "Hey there, buddy," I observed him carefully to ensure he didn't make any sudden movements as I approached him. "Doing alright there?" The man soundlessly turned away from the wall and reached into his pocket before pulling out a ring of keys. He picked a single one and put it in the lock easily before opening the gate and taking slow steps inside. "Boyd?"

"Delivery." The man walked away from the wall like some kind of zombie before walking into a small garden area in front of the asylum. I panicked and followed him quickly as I realized he was still quite under the control of whatever brainwashing he was put through.

"Boyd! Buddy!" I rushed to get in front of the man as he kept walking toward the front doors of the asylum. "Can we talk about this in a not-so-fire-friendly way? Like without milk bottles of destruction?" I put out both my hands and placed them firmly on his chest as I tried my best to get the taller man to stop. I got it so that he could stop making progress, but his feet were still moving as if nothing was even in his path. "Lils! A little help!"

"Here," Lili rushed up beside us as she was digging for something in her jacket pocket. "The most basic form of brainwashing is hypnosis. If we can snap him out of it by using our own form of hypnosis, then maybe we can get him to be a little more Boyd-like."

"You're brilliant, Lils!" I smiled wide as I kept pushing Boyd back from his destination. "Take a crack at it! But quick, I don't know how long I can keep him like this." Quickly, Lili pulled out a green and black string that had a small charm on it. She move so she was beside me and not too far from Boyd's face.

"Listen to the sound of my voice, Boyd." Lili spoke soft and gentle as she focused on the man before us. "Listen very closely." The man's eyes seemed to focus on the string for a moment before glossing over. "That's it, Boyd. Keep your focus on the bracelet." I dropped my hands from Boyd's chest as he stopped trying to move closer toward the asylum.

"You've got him." I smiled proudly as Lili nodded in reply.

"When I snap my fingers, I want you to relax. There is nothing to harm you any more. I want you to revert back to yourself. Understood?" Boyd's head nodded once in a slow motion as his eyes stayed on the swinging bracelet. "Alright. On a count of three. One," Lili looked over toward me and nodded as I moved quickly to hold Boyd's arms down to his sides. "Two," After a small moment of silence, Lili snapped her fingers and I felt Boyd jump suddenly.

"What? Where? How?" I struggled with the man to keep his arms down as it was obvious his brain was having a panicked reaction to the hypnosis release. "I didn't do anything bad, doc! I swear! No more milk! I promise!"

"Boyd," Lili's voice was stern and caused the man to snap his attention to her rather quickly. "Do you know where you are?"

"T-The asylum."

"Do you know what day it is?"

"Like," The man hesitated for a moment before answering. "June 16th, right? Yeah, June 16th."

"That was my first day at camp." I released my grasp on Boyd slowly before sharing a concerned look with Lili.

Whoever did this is definitely a camp member. They waited for me to show up. They knew I was coming.

Milla and Sasha were unaware of you being an Aquato. Ford didn't realize that you were there either. Who else would have known? You hid everything well the day and all.

Either Ford knew I was coming, Sasha and Milla forgot, or-.

"Oleander." Lili's voice dripped with venom as I snapped my attention toward her. "He's the only one left. Ford reacted so drastically when he saw you. I've known Milla and Sasha my whole life, they would never harm children, especially Milla."

"But Oleander, with his mind, he would."

"The meat flowers too!" I gave Lili a curious look as she seemed to have connected all the dots. "In his mind and in my dreams, remember! And in your mind too! He must have been projecting them onto us over time! He's obsessed with meat. Has to deal with something with his dad, I guess, but it all makes sense!" My eyes widened as I looked up toward the asylum.

Crazy doctor and a Psychonaut Agent. One that's not as highly decorated but has access to the upcoming agents of the world. The two have something planned.

I looked over toward Boyd who had walked over toward the main steps of the asylum and sat there with a small thud.

And they were using campers and patients to achieve whatever goal that is.

"Boyd," I walked over toward the man with a new plan in mind as the man gave me a curious look. "Do you remember ever meeting a man named Agent Morceau Oleander?"

"Agent man." Boyd put his head in his hands before shaking his head slowly. "Small man with the metals. I was frightened. Frightened!" He dropped his hands from his head before wrapping his arms around himself. "Agent man, agent man." Boyd started mumbling to himself as he sat himself up in front of the asylum doors. "No more treatment. No more, please. No more watches." I looked over toward Lili who stepped forward and seemed to assess the situation.

"He's still fragile from the hypnosis. He was made a sleeper agent and it seems his mind knew something was wrong. It sounds like his defense mechanisms started to fight themselves and drove him mad over it all. Well, madder than he already was to end up in a place like this." Lili shook her head a little before walking back toward me. "He's fighting everything that's coming back to him and it seems the last thing he saw was a 'small agent man' and a watch."

"Oleander brainwashed him."

"Using the basic form of hypnosis too." I took a deep breath before releasing it slowly.

"A Psychonaut is stealing brains and making brain soldiers out of patients. In the name of what though? What's his goal here?"

"I don't know, Raz." Lili's voice was soft as she shook her head slowly. "That's the thing, Coach has always been a bit on the crazy side, but this? This is beyond even his form of crazy."

"He probably has untreated trauma then. Some kind of brain response is driving him toward something. Maybe revenge?"

"Revenge against what though? Who is he after?" I gave Lili a serious look as the information sunk further into my brain.

"Guess we find that out for ourselves. But for now, we should meet up with Ford again. He's probably got more information on the patients here and possibly dirt on Coach's history."

"Are you sure you want to go back into the submarine? You didn't seem to enjoy it very much." I shrugged as I looked back toward where we came from.

"Got any better ideas? We need information. Especially if we're going to have to poke around some brains again."

"Good thinking." Lili nodded before suddenly presenting a closed fist to me. "Oh yeah, for you." I gave her a confused look before presenting her with an open palm. She dropped the small bracelet she used to hypnotize Boyd into my hand. I looked over the bracelet and noticed it had green and black thread intertwining. A single small skull charm was in the center of it as it seemed to be a connection between her style and my own. I smiled at the bracelet before slipping it over my gloved hand and letting it rest on my right wrist.

"Finally broke and got me a friendship bracelet, huh?" I looked up toward Lili who had crossed her arms over her chest as a blush tickled her cheeks pink.

"I-I actually made it before the more crazy stuff started here. Not like I broke and made it for you after you kept insisting on one." I couldn't help but give her a small smile and chuckle as she turned her head away from me so I couldn't look her in the eyes. "Don't look at me like that!"

"Look at you like what?" My smile only widened as she huffed and turned toward the submarine. She started walking away from me, but I followed quickly after her with a smirk. "Not going to let me say thank you and I love it?" I chuckled as she reached out and punched me in the shoulder.

"Shut up, Aquato!"

"Love you too, Zanotto." Lili stopped right before the submarine entryway before turning toward me and shoving me into it. I couldn't help but laugh as it was still obvious she was embarrassed about it all. "No need to be bashful, Lils!"

"I'll kill you! It's a threat and a promise, Razputin!"

"Aw, not gonna say love you too?" I smiled wide as it was obvious the girl was turning beet red.

"Be happy that I like you to begin with."

"I'll take it!"

"Dork." Lili mentally closed the entrance to the submarine with ease before walking over to the pilot's seat. "Now, sit and don't try and make yourself too water sick, okay?"

"As long as you don't gun it, I'll be fine." I sat down in my original seat before looking over toward Lili with a small smile. "I do love the bracelet though, Lils. Seriously, thank you." I noticed a soft smile take over her lips as she didn't notice I was watching her reaction this time around.

"You're welcome, I guess." She said it dismissively, but it was obvious that me enjoying the gift meant a lot to her. I felt a flutter in my chest as a small blush of my own took over my cheeks. I moved to strap myself in as a comfortable silence took over us.

I like you too, Zanotto.

I smiled to myself as I made sure the thought stayed with me while she focused on starting up the submarine once more.

I really do.