Chapter Sixteen:

The drive to Nick's house was slow and steady. He kept his high beams on in an attempt to driver around the compasses as if they were tiny potholes that would destroy the tires he maintained so well. While they drove Alexys kicked off her heels, massaged her feet, and told the terrifying tale of what the Church of Stillhet had tried to do—saving the details of her journal for Alex when they were alone.

As Alex listened to the horrifying details he couldn't help but feel incredible amounts of guilt washing over him. He had been so swept up with Luke and so swept up with finding Zelda that he left his best best friend alone in such a dangerous situation. The troubling part was that he didn't even find Zelda! He recalled him convincing Luke to "check for Zelda" at the welcome sign but they didn't even make it. They just ran back to the school only to have to duck for cover under a pavilion as more of the compasses fell from the sky.

Alexys looked back to Alex and they exchanged a knowing glance. He looked around to the companions with them and knew he had to try to figure out a way to get her alone. There was a missing element to the story he needed to know.

The rest of the car ride was spent with Luke and Nick exchanging shock at what had happened. There were plans to talk to the Dean and Nick finally asked for the weather guy's phone number. It seemed suddenly the two had become outraged enough to want to take charge and make change.

When they arrived to Nick's house they were surprised by what they saw. Alexys realized she had never once visited his home and he never much talked about it. She knew that his family owned many properties in Greendale with this being one of them. It was an old duplex with a large rectangle front that protruded forward and contained a single garage door and above that two squares of three windows stacked directly on top of one another. Two other rectangles of house were positioned slightly behind the first were the exact mirror of each other with red staircases that lead up to red doors. The house was brown but in the dark of night it appeared it could have been black. There was an ancient quality that made it both great and mysterious.

Nick bounded up the left steps, "My aunt and uncle are letting me stay here while they travel. I'm supposed to be the 'landlord' but the other tenant moved out a few months ago so it's been just me. I left the other side in good condition so you two can take it over, if you want. Just need the keys from upstairs."

They followed him, Alexys using the help of Alex and Nick to get up the stairs with her aching feet. She looked to Alex, "Can you help me get out of this thing, though? Before you go? Zelda will kill me if I do anything to damage it."

"Of course, I'll absolutely help you."

Nick flipped a switch and a carpeted staircase was made visible toward the second floor. Everyone took off their shoes and continued up with excitement at what Nick's living situation would be like. When they reached the second floor their excitement diminished to an almost "duh" capacity. There wasn't anything surprising about his home. It was very Nick. To the right of the steps was the living room that had a very basic, modern design. There were some very Nick details but overall it was simple. The couch looked big and comfy and the TV was large and the curtains were dark and there were some candles that seemed left over from when his family was home.

In front of them was the kitchen that split the area by a large diagonal in the floor that shifted it from carpet to hardwood. The kitchen was simple too. The walls were decorated with a white rectangle of brick layering, the cabinets, fridge, and even oven were all black. The counters and island top were a dark granite and surrounding the island were little stools. The coolest part was the hanging lights but even that was a basic design.

There was evidence of him getting ready before the dance. Some clothes were laid around along with a few bowls in the sink. Alexys found herself smiling. She couldn't shake the feeling of intimacy with being allowed to enter his home. It was nice.

"My uh, my bedrooms in here. That door over there is the bathroom. I've got some clothes you can change into in that drawer," Nick lead them down a short hallway. "We'll be just out here."

Alexys opened the door to the left and waited for Alex to enter before shutting it. They silently screamed out their emotions over what had happened before looking around the room. He owned a king-sized bed with a dark bed set. The furniture was a dark wood and the curtains were blackout curtains. The carpet was the same fresh, soft beige but there was another carpet that looked more like a comfy sweater than anything else. She leaned down to pick it up. It was a sweater.

"Tell me everything!"

"Okay, okay," she pulled her velvet bag off her shoulder and threw it on the bed, "They wanted that. They wanted to know what I knew. They wanted Father Blackwood to have me."

Alex made sure to look in the opposite direction while Alexys worked to unfasten herself from the dress, "How do they know about the journal?"

"I don't know! Maybe they saw me drawing the symbols on the signs? Oh—! Garrett told me that Father Blackwood is going to be the new Religions professor as 'payment' for something."

"What? There's only four days left before winter break? Why now?" Alex went back in his mind to think of all the odd stuff that had happened with the Dean before looking to her again, "We missed our chance to see the Doctor but at least now we know what the 'awakening' is."

"What is it?" Alexys wondered, grabbing some clothes from the drawer Nick indicated.

"The compasses. I just wonder how they did it and made more come down. There's no doubt that Father Blackwood, the Church of Stillhet, the compasses, and the Dean are all connected but how? They're definitely using some form of mind control to make followers. Did you see how upset Luke was about Vaughn? They're actually friends!" Alex exclaimed.

"You're right. But how do we narrow down which ones?" Alexys wondered, letting out a deep breath, "There are a lot…like a lot a lot of creatures that use that or hypnosis or even technology to control people! Even the Doctor can do it. We have no clue where to begin."

"I think I have a clue," Alex smirked to himself.

"What?" She moved so that Alex would know she was done dressing.

"Abed would definitely know where to start," Alex smirked.

Alexys looked at him with a tightlipped expression—clearly still not over the meeting with Abed and Troy—as she nodded, "He would know. But do you think enough of the show has enough of the history we need?"

"I'm positive," Alex smiled before moving to help Alexys take the circlet out from her hair, "What happened with you and Nick?"

Alexys frowned, looking into the mirror to look at Alex, "Leonard told him about me dancing with Professor Smythe. He was…crying. I really hurt him. I don't know how he can be so nice to me right now."

"It's because you're an incredible person and he loves you," Alex smiled.

"Oh, I don't know," Alexys blushed, "We haven't really said those words yet."

"Well, you don't need to say those words for it to be true. It's obvious the way he looks at you. Yes, it's upsetting that you were dancing alone, in an empty hallway, while he sang to you…" each time he added a detail he gave Alexys a pointed look, "But it's not something that he can harbor against you. He just needs to express himself and figure out why it's happening?"

"How do I explain that me and him were married in a past life?" she frowned.

Alex looked away with a loss of words, "You're on your own with that one."

Alexys laughed then gave Alex a huge hug, "I was so worried about you."

"You? About me! I'm worried about you now! I can't believe I left you behind like that. I am so sorry," he stepped back to look into her eyes, "I promise."

"I promise too," Alexys smiled, "We've got each other and, no matter what happens, that is an advantage."

They stepped back and looked to each other with certainty. Alex extended his right hand, Alexys placed her left hand to her chest, and they completed their handshake together. Tap. Tap.

A knock on the door came from Luke, "Hey, guys. We ordered some pizza. Nick's getting it now."

"Yes!" they both shouted and left the room.

By the time they finished eating an hour had passed. Alex was exhausted and so Nick walked them to the other side of the house. He gave them tips and information they would need to know along with the promise that a cleaner would come in a few days to spruce it up anyway. Alex genuinely gave his thanks to the man then they entered the home. It was the exact same layout as Nick's just on the first floor.

The décor was a bit warmer and homier.

It was exactly what Alex needed after the turn of events.

Strong arms wrapped around Alex so tight he had hardly any chance to prepare. He looked back to see it was Luke around him and with that knowledge he returned the embrace with the same strength. He felt Luke's shaky breath along with a moisture that promised tears. Once again Alex had that guilty feeling for bringing Luke into this sort of mess. The last thing he wanted was for the man to get hurt.

"Alex," he whispered his name as he pulled away and held onto the man's face tightly, "I don't know what's going on and…I'm afraid."

"Luke…I-I'm so sorry. I should have never put you in danger like that. I shouldn't ha—"

"No! No, you did the right thing. You did what I want you to keep doing. I want you to call me, to ask me to help you, to do whatever! I'm afraid because I don't want you to get hurt. I feel horrible that I pulled you away from your cousin and she got wrapped in the middle of that…but I don't know what I would do if something like that happened to you. I don't know what I'd do if I suddenly saw you with those assholes," he pulled slightly with the intention of wiping his nose with his sleeve but Alex stopped him.

The two laughed as they realized the clothes they were wearing were still really, really nice. Alex walked toward the living room and grabbed Luke a tissue from a box that was sitting on the edge, "Don't worry about me. I am very confident in my ability to not be persuaded by religion."

"I believe it," Luke wiped at his face before throwing out the tissue and taking off his blazer. "Shit! We left our coats at the coat check."

Alex tried to think if he had left anything important in his pockets but knew he was fine, "We can just go back tomorrow and get it. I'm sure we're not the only ones."

"You're right," Luke kissed the top of Alex's head, "I'm exhausted. Come on, Nick said we could find a change of clothes in the master bedroom. He said since no one's using it yet they've been putting their extra stuff down here."

"This all is extra stuff?" Alex motioned toward the living room.

"No," he chuckled, "That's all for the realtors."

When Alex and Luke left Alexys remained sitting on the couch with her legs propped up on the ottoman. Her feet were blistered and bruised from having little experience in heels and then deciding to dance and sprint in them. She knew Nick would come back with a discussion for her she did not know how to handle but she knew she had to.

The door opened and she listened patiently as he walked up the stairs. When he got to the top he walked to the kitchen to open the freezer. He said not a word.

"Nick…I know a lot has happened but we still need to talk. I am s—"

He turned around to reveal he was holding a rag filled with ice for her. He gave her a brief smile as he moved to sit on the couch beside her, "But your legs here."

She looked nervously to him but obliged.

Immediately he began icing the tender spots of her feet.

"Nick, why are you being so nice to me right now?"

"Because…I can't imagine what life would be like without you. Hearing what had happened while I saw red instead of seeing you were in danger? I feel so…guilty. You danced with the guy…so what? Did you kiss him?" Nick looked at her with eyes afraid of the answer.

"No," she shook her head with full honesty.

"And you didn't do any more than that?"

She pushed his arm lightly to show her offense, "Of course not!"

He chuckled, looking down with a small smile before looking back to her, "Okay then. It's not a big deal."

"It's not a big deal?" she raised a brow, knowing that it had been a very, very big deal before.

"It's not," he leaned over to kiss her forehead as he took her hand, "I just need to know. Are you with me?"

She nodded her head, "I'm with you."

"You're with me, I'm with you," he smiled.

She repeated what he said, "You're with me, I'm with you."

"Good, now let's get some rest," he kissed her again.

In the morning everything felt like a dream. Nick, Luke, and Alex made breakfast together while Alexys slept in late. Luke made eggs, Nick cooked bacon, while Alex made pancakes and they listened to music that Alex really enjoyed. Alexys woke up by the time it was done and they all sat on the couch and ate the meal together.

When they were up to it, they decided to do what they did the morning after the Bonfire. With large bags they walked around collecting the compasses that had fallen the night before. Other people in the neighborhood worked to sweep them out of the road while some promised the town would do it. Once Nick's neighborhood was clean they returned to the Spellman home to finish the same work.

Nick and Luke kept the compasses and promised to get them to the weather guy—who Alexys had given them the number for. They kissed with goodbyes and left with a wave. Alex and Alexys ran inside.

"Aunties!"

But there was no answer.

They rushed up to Alexys' room and pulled the compasses they had hidden in their pockets. She rushed to the secret hiding place and pulled out the bag with the old ones inside. To their surprise the ones in the bag had popped open too. Together they dropped the contents on the bed to compare. They found it was the exact same.

"If it's the exact same why bother having them drop again?" Alexys wondered.

"They did it because we got rid of most of them the first time around. I still think this is to get the Doctor's attention. How do you do that? With lots of cracks and Time Fissures."

"Oh, right! The Time Fissures. How does this make that?" she wondered looking over the item in hand.

"It most likely has some sort of travel element to it. We just have to figure out what it does."

It was just as she had remembered seeing the first time it was in the Doctor's palm. It looked like a golden fob watch on the outside but the inside resembled some sort of stop watch with all the tiny ticks. It had no numbers but it had a small dial on the inside and a tiny arrow that pointed to one of the ticks. She moved the dial backward 0.0001 of centimeter and when she did she found the dial became a button.

She pressed the button and WAP.

"How do you do that? With lots of cracks and Time Fissures."

Alexys jumped, accidently making her press the button again.

"It most likely has some sort of travel element to it. We just have to figure out what it does."

Alexys threw the thing away from her and onto the bed as she ran toward the other side of the room.

Alex looked to her in a shock, "What happened! What's wrong!"

"I know what it does!" she cried out.

"What! What?" Alex shouted, throwing the thing onto the bed as she had.

Alexys pointed and with horror yelled as if she were yelling at a spider crawling on the floor, "It goes backward in time!"