It is a storming Friday night when Hannah Frost enters the dorm room she shares with Lori Fitzgerald holding four bags of popcorn in her arms. She sets them on the table as her roommate is setting up the DVD player. She empties the bags into a couple of bowls before falling back on the couch. "Do we know what movie we're doing yet?"

"Kaity said she will bring her choice with her," Lori informs her as she finishes up and joins her. "I am a bit nervous since last time it was her pick we ended up watching that really boring Salvador Dali biopic. But it's her turn and she just got out of the hospital so I suppose we could sit through one about Da Vinci if she brings it." She takes a handful of popcorn. "The only rule is no Dreamworks movies because of the inkling that our magic Disney book will not appreciate the gesture, especially after nearly a week of peace."

Hannah laughs at this, grabbing a handful herself. "After a week of being with Jess, I'm ready to spend my time with you guys."

"She's a piece of work, huh?"

"She is," Hannah admits. "But she's also scary good. Which will be necessary since Ben-"

"We're not talking about it," Lori cuts in forcefully. "We agreed it was forbidden ground. He didn't know before he put his name in. We will all be civil about this. And I will try to forgive the two of you for what might cause me my first literal heart attack." Hannah folds her arms and reluctantly gives a sigh of defeat, clearly not happy. "Thank you." There is a knock at their door. "It's open."

Charlie Prescott pokes his head in with a large smile and runs to get the seat next to Lori on the couch. Michael Harms follows and takes the other side with a laugh. Ben Prescott wheels in next with Andrew Parker following behind him and giving the girls a wave. Michael deposits all sorts of chocolate and candy on the table. "From Ben's secret stash," he informs the girls.

"Aww," Hannah coos as Ben adjusts his chair so he can see. "You really do love us!"

He smirks at her silliness, no tension between them at all. "I don't love anybody that much. I didn't part with it willingly, let me tell you." He reaches for a bag but Michael swats his hand away. "See?!"

"You had enough while Kaity was in the hospital," he lectures his roommate. "So we need to purge this supply you have built up. You'll thank me later."

"I really don't think he will," Andrew disagrees with a smile.

"For once Penn and Teller over there is right," Ben nods towards his roommate, who looks confused by the comment and goes to speak. He is interrupted though by Finch Hale entering with Rachel Ellis and Kaity Klingbeil, who seems to be back to her usual self. "Well, if it isn't the most beautiful girl outside the hospital at last." Most roll their eyes at his comment, but Kaity gives him a quick kiss.

"What are we watching?" Charlie inquires, noticing Kaity holding a box behind her back. "Are we finally watching Alice in Wonderland?"

"No," Kaity shuts him down with a huge smile. "I thought with the weather there was only one way to go." She proudly holds out a VHS copy of Nightmare on Elm Street ad gestures to it. "The classic."

"No," Lori instantly vetoes. "No horror movies." Charlie nods his head from next to her.

"You said the only rule was no DreamWorks movies," Kaity argues. "It's my turn and I can put on what I like."

"What is it?" Rachel asks Finch with a tug of her arm.

"Nightmare on Elm Street," the projection relays. Rachel rises.

"Listen, I love the time we spend together. I really do. But my audition is tomorrow and I still need to make sure I have everything memorized to the letter. I would just be listening to whatever movie we picked and this does not seem like the type that is good for listening."

"Way to bring up the fact you're blind to try and get out of this," Kaity calls her out. "I stuck to the rules. This is what I want to watch." Everyone turns to Lori, who takes a moment before speaking.

"Fine," she concedes. Charlie looks up at her in horror. "But every one of us who can't sleep tonight is coming to bother you about it." Kaity just shrugs that off and goes to put the movie in. Lori gives Charlie a comforting pat on the back. "We'll get through this together, buddy. Eyes closed the entire time."

"Am I excused?" Rachel reminds everyone.

"No," Lori says quickly. "This is Companion time. No Companion skips." The video starts playing as Rachel sits back grumpily, Finch offering her some candy to placate her. Lori holds Charlie's hand on one side and Michael's on the other when suddenly a sound echoes through the room that makes her heave a sigh of relief. "That would be the book. It looks like we might have to hold off for another time… or never. Everyone get ready to roll out. We'll try to keep mostly indoors due to rain, sending only a few with me in the preserve if necessary."

Kaity pauses it as the movie starts and just rolls her eyes at the leader as she runs to the first bedroom to grab the book, cradling it to her chest. "Thank you so much for having my back," she whispers to it before grabbing her raincoat as she heads back out.

XXX

Lori, Charlie, and Michael exit the theatre and make a dash across the parking lot towards the gym. Michael sports an umbrella while the other two are in their matching raincoats. There is a loud clanging noise over by the Physical Plant that causes the three to come to a halt. Lori shines her flashlight over in that direction to see just the side of the building. "Hello?" she inquires to the wind only to receive no answer.

She turns back to the others and shrugs. They start to keep running when a cry sounds from the same direction. Lori grinds to a halt, instantly concerned. She makes the sword appear in the hand not holding the flashlight and gestures for the other two to stay put. She creeps forward towards the side of the building as they watch tensely, eventually vanishing around the back.

The two hear her scream a moment later and they are off. "Lores!"

"Lori!" They peel around the corner and their own flashlights reveal nothing but pavement. "Lori!" Charlie calls frantically and the two look around the empty parking lot frantically. "LORI!"

"Buddy," Michael says from a spot where he's crouched, riddled with anxiety. "I don't think she can answer you." Charlie turns back to him and he holds up her shattered flashlight. "It was sitting on the sewer here."

"Then-then where is she?!" Charlie shouts, looking every which way. The parking lot is empty but there is no sign of anyone through the darkness and rain. "Lori?! Lori?! LORI?!"

He goes to keep shouting, worried out of his mind, when Michael puts a hand on his shoulder. "This can't be happening," Charlie shakes his head. "It can't happen to her. She doesn't have the book. She had the sword so she should have been able to- she beat a dragon. She beat a dragon and should have been able to-she can't send them back without the book."

"I know," Michael rubs his back. "I know. We need to get inside and get in touch with the others." He starts leading Charlie back towards the dorms. "This is the last thing we need right now. Hannah's going to lose it, so we need to keep it together for her. We need to figure this one out ourselves."

"She's okay right?" Charlie asks suddenly, still looking over his shoulder at the spot. "She has to be okay right? I mean all the villains need her dead, but maybe-"

"Hey," Michael kneels in front of him. "Don't think like that. We need to be tough if we're going to save her. I need you to be strong, okay?"

Charlie is nearly in tears. "She's my best friend." Michael pulls him in for a hug. "She's all of my best friends."

"I know, buddy. I know. She's tough. She will do whatever it takes until we find her or she escapes. It'll- it has to be okay. I got your back in the meantime… like always." Charlie pulls back, a little calmer, and Michael rises with a sad smile. He goes to ruffle Charlie's hair, but forces himself to stop. Instead the two take off at a run back towards the dorms to gather everyone and try to figure out what to do without their leader.

XXX

So follow me down

Lori stands with the glowing Disney Encyclopedia. She sighs and pulls out her phone.
Where to?
Outta this town

Charlie examines his map and grabs his flashlight.
With you
Girl, you're movin way

Hannah is typing away at her computer.
Too slow

So follow me down

Michael grabs his first aid backpack and throws it on his shoulders.
Which way?

Rachel is performing on stage when her phone rumbles in her boot.
Down, down, down

Ben looks at his phone, adjusting his tie.
I'll show you around

Kaity is drawing pictures of the group absently in her dorm room.
Okay

Andrew runs out the door, nearly tripping, removing his magician's cap from his head.
There's a place we gotta go

Finch puts the two fingers to her temple and her eyes glaze over.

Follow me, follow me

Lori, Charlie, Hannah, Michael, Ben, Kaity, Finch, Rachel, and Andrew are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces.
Fa la la la la

Follow me, follow me

Fa la la la la

Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground.

Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

Episode Three: Are You a Gambling Man?

XXX

Lori opens her eyes slowly, groaning as she comes to. She quickly realizes something's off as she sees she is somewhere completely devoid of light outside a circle coming from a hole at least three hundred feet above her and her nose wrinkles at the stench. Something seems to hit her and she desperately tries to rise, only to be stopped by the fact that both of her hands are chained to a pipe behind her back.

"I thought that might come in handy," a voice says merrily and she instantly goes white. She desperately struggles and tries to rise. "Waste not, want not you know?" The chains just keep clanging against the pipe as she tries to get up, nearly hyperventilating in fear. The sword appears in her hand, but she has no way to swing it properly to do what she needs it to do.

"Please…" she manages, crying despite herself.

"You see, I've heard a lot about you Lori Fitzgerald." At that voice saying her name she breaks. She stops struggling and shrinks back as far into the wall as she can, literally trembling despite herself. "I was sent here to kill you, but the other villains thought that would be letting you off too easy. You've done quite a number on a few of them they're not willing to forgive you for so easily. So my orders are to take my time… and have fun with it. It's the least I could do since I apparently mean so much to you."

At that, a figure steps into the light and reveals himself to be exactly who she feared. Oogie Boogie himself towers over her with a sadistic smile on his face as he shakes his hands. "Let's see what the dice has in store." He throws it down and it rolls to hit her boot, stopping at five and two respectively. "Seven!" he exclaims and she flinches, absolutely no fight in her. He puts a hand under his chin, frowning. "It's not my favorite but it'll do." He walks closer to her as she shrinks back even farther, sobbing silently. He then coughs hard and bugs fly from his mouth onto her shirt. She panics as the bugs start to crawl all over her skin- down her arm and legs with some even climbing up her face. "I'll be back in a bit for Round Two. Enjoy!"

With that he vanishes back into the darkness, leaving an absolutely panicked and frantic Lori struggling against the chains to shake the bugs off in any way she can, letting out a scream as one crawls into her shirt. She keeps screaming and shaking before finally breaking into sobs once again as the bugs start to bite her.

XXX

Meanwhile, all of Lori's Companions have gathered back in her dorm room clearly beside themselves with worry. Hannah is pacing with both hands on her head while Kaity is taking deep breaths to try and keep calm. "Are you sure you can't track her?"

Finch shakes her head, clearly disappointed in herself. "Something is really throwing off the signal wherever she is. I can sense her but I only get fragments of where. They have her in a blind spot and as soon as I find out where I'll correct it."

"What's the plan here?" Rachel asks with folded arms. "Is it like all hands on deck or can I be dismissed since I have the audition-"

"Are you serious?" Kaity glares at her. "Lori's missing and all you can focus on is your audition?"

"Everyone needs to just take a deep breath," Charlie tries to calm everyone down, but no one is listening.

Ben, meanwhile, just seems angry as he stares at Michael and Charlie. "Are we sure it's a character?"

Hannah turns to him. "I don't think DIZ would-"

"Why not? They have before," he questions fiercely, nodding towards his brother.

"That was Commander Intense and Crazy," Finch reminds him gently. He glares at her and she adds, "Though it was DIZ who released him and didn't prevent the kidnapping."

"Exactly," he nods. He turns to Andrew. "So now's the time to come clean Parker."

"Excuse me?" Andrew asks in shock, unable to believe what was just said to him.

"Ben," Kaity warns, but she waves her off.

"You heard me. Now is the time to come clean about what you've really been up to." Andrew just stares in shock, but Ben continues. "I know you're with DIZ. You coming along when you did was too much of a coincidence. Why would someone go to college for magic? Why would they instantly fall in with us? Why won't you tell us anything about yourself?"

"I don't know what to tell you," Andrew defends himself. "I'm allowed to keep things to myself. I don't know any of you everything… everything about any of you."

"But we'd tell you if you asked," Ben counters. "So why don't you tell me Andrew. Who are you?" Andrew stutters, clearly uncomfortable and unable to get coherent words out. "Here's what I think. You can't tell us because you don't have one. You don't touch us because you'd phase right through us. And you mix up those words like a complete idiot because something crossed your wires. You're a projection for DIZ."

"That is absolutely ridiculous," Andrew clenches his fists, getting angry for the first time. But then he notices how everyone else is now looking at him- everyone has at least a small degree of suspicion and refuses to come to his aid. "You can't be serious, guys? We need to find Lori right now and…and…"

Ben then reaches for him and he pulls back, clutching his arm to his chest. "Stop please… please stop. I don't… I can't…" He starts hyperventilating and Ben leans forward but Kaity jerks his chair back so he can't reach. Andrew shrinks into a corner, breathing deeply to try and steady himself.

"That's enough," Kaity scolds her boyfriend. "He's right about one thing. We need to focus on Lori, not torturing him." Charlie tries to cut in, but someone beats him to it.

"And I did touch him once accidently," Rachel chimes in. "He's solid."

"So is Finch sometimes," Ben is not convinced by this display. "Here's the thing though. I honestly believe you care about Lori in some capacity. So you failed in protecting us from DIZ last time, but don't let it happen to her again."

Andrew is now furious. Charlie tries to get between everyone, but Finch cautiously tugs him back. "How dare you? How. Dare. You. Caleb was my first friend and-"

"Enough!" Hannah steps between the two. "That is enough! Lori would be furious if she knew what was going on. We need to start searching. Finch should take a few to look at maps of campus and see if there are any hidden characters. The rest of us will start from where she vanished and canvas outward. She needs our help. Focus on that."

Charlie again tries to say something, but Michael nudges him towards the door before he gets a chance. He just gives a huff of frustration and allows himself to be lead out. Andrew just heads out- ignoring everyone. Kaity is putting on her rain jacket when Ben wheels in front of her. She can instantly read his look and gives him a serious look of her own. "I'm going," she tells him.

"You just got out of the hospital," he begins. "It's pouring out."

"It's Lori," is all Kaity needs to say to counter him. She then finishes putting on her coat and heads out the door to play her part, Ben following behind her with a sigh.

XXX

Lori is shivering up a storm, trying desperately to scratch some of the bites the bugs have left, when the dice hit her shoe and make up eleven. A flash then suddenly blinds her. She looks up to see Oogie Boogie with a Polaroid camera snapping some photos of her. She tries to turn her head, but is unable to get away from him in any capacity.

"Oh, perfect," he smiles as he shakes the photos out. "I found this little toy in that building as well- so many good things to borrow. I figured I would have a few souvenirs to show the other villains when they get here. I could almost even get some of your blood on them and sell them for a nice price." His smile becomes large and he moves towards her. She flattens against the wall and can only flinch as he rips her rain jacket off to expose her arms.

She then lets out a cry as he uses the photo itself to make a cut in her arm after pinning her back, letting blood drip onto the five he has taken. She can only watch in pure horror as he kisses one of them. "Perfect," he purrs. "This is going to be a hot ticket item alright."

He then stands up and takes in her trembling form. "You look good," he compliments her as he flips through the photos. "I'm going to put these somewhere safe, but I'll be back in a bit for another roll of the dice." He heads off back into the shadow and she desperately tries to get away, pulling and tugging against the chains until her hands are torn up and she is basically out of strength. She then just leans against the wall, panting loudly in pure terror.

"They'll find me," she whispers to herself- holding on to the last hope she has. "They'll find me. They'll find me. They'll find me. They'll find me."

XXX

The next morning, Hannah quietly gets ready to head out once again after a few necessary but reluctant hours of sleep. She looks at the empty bed across from hers and lets out a sad sigh, playing with the end of her skirt. There is an urgent knock at the door and she dares to hope, running to it. Her face falls when she sees Jess on the other side though.

"Hello," Jess greets her as she looks over a clipboard. "You ready to run some of your debate answers. We want to make sure you are polished and-"

"It's going to have to wait," Hannah interrupts, trying to be polite. "Something came up with Lori- an emergency. I'll send you a text when I'm free." Jess just stares at her in a blank fashion, betraying no emotion. Hannah rolls her eyes- rapidly having lost her patience. "She's my roommate. She comes before this campaign always, alright? I'll do whatever you want when she's safe. I have to go." She pushes past Jess to start down the hallway, leaving the girl to just stare after her with the gears clearly turning in her head.

Hannah opens the door to the boys' dorm and finds Michael, Charlie and Finch crouched at the table studying a map of campus. "Anything new?" she asks as she sits on the floor with them. Charlie shakes his head at her.

"We checked the 'secret places' we could think of on the map," Michael explains. "She's not in the library basement or the theatre trapdoor or even the creepy animal labs they never use in the Science Center. And we lost a whole evening so she might not even be on campus anymore."

"She's here," Finch disagrees, fingers going to her temple but eyes not glazing over. "That much I know. I just can't pinpoint where!"

"Then we need to accept wherever it is isn't on any of these maps," Charlie reasons. "So I think we need to find-"

"Do you think there's any possibility DIZ took her?" Hannah interrupts. "Ben may be onto something- not with the Andrew but with the DIZ."

"We could go confront them," Michael suggests. "Maybe if we get into a meeting with them and Finch is able to sweep their base we'll at least know for sure if she's with them. And if she's not maybe we can inquire about help."

"I think that might just be wasting our time," Charlie warns. "I don't see why they would take Lori, especially without the book. They have nothing to gain and it just makes sense that a character appears and she vanishes because of said character. Also if Finch can't find her they won't be able to either. And Lori would rather we left her then make a deal with DIZ in any capacity."

"I think we should talk to them," Hannah disagrees. Charlie opens his mouth but she just gives him a look. "Lori's not here. We don't know what she would want. Let's head down there. Text the others to take a break from searching and meet us in front of Groote Hall." Michael and Finch nod, rising. Charlie reluctantly follows after them, giving a last nervous glance at the map.

As they head down the stairs they find Jess waiting at the bottom. "I told you later Jess," Hannah frowns and just walks past her.

"I just want to-"

"Later!" Michael blows past her as well, but Charlie comes to a brief stop as he sees her, face lighting up with recognition.

"You're Jess T-"

"Charlie! Come on!" Hannah shouts from the doorway. Charlie continues to stare at Jess though, making her squirm a bit.

"You should go with them," she tells him. He nods and starts to follow them- almost reluctantly. "Please don't tell anyone," she adds. "I don't want-"

"I won't. I promise," he vows, leaving her to watch the three of them go. She fumbles with the strap of her bag and heads out in the other direction.

"That was way too close. I can't blow this one."

XXX

A few moments later, Rachel stands with her arms crossed waiting. She lets out a huff as she hears Ben and Kaity whisper to one another next to her. "I'm fine. Ben, you know I'll let you know if I can't take it anymore."

"I'm just worried about-"

"Listen," Rachel interrupts. "I've listened to the two of you go through this routine all morning. He's worried but she's going to stick to it. But he's worried. But she's going to stick to it. It's just a never-ending circle. We get it. Stow it."

"Someone's grumpy this morning," Kaity digs. "Don't worry. You'll get to your audition just fine after we burst in here and get Lori back from these assholes." At that, Hannah comes running up with Michael, Finch, and a reluctant Charlie bringing up the end of the line. A moment later Andrew arrives from the other direction, shaking leaves out of his hair. "Let's do this."

The group throws the doors opens and takes the stairs down to the basement- Finch basically carrying Ben's wheelchair. "This way," Finch leads them through the hallway with confidence- blowing past all the slack-jawed soldiers that the group is here. She opens the door to the office of Commander Abbot, who rises to her feet upon seeing all of them.

"To what do I owe this visit?" she inquires in her heavy accent. "I was under the impression-"

"Stow it," Ben leads aggressively. "We're looking for Lori and we know you had something to do with it. Also, we are well aware he's a projection of yours." He points a finger at Andrew, who just rolls his eyes and sticks to the back of the room.

"I have no idea what you are talking about… on both counts," Abbot answers him a little confused. "Do you mean to tell me that Lori Fitzgerald is missing?"

"Don't play coy with-"

Finch puts a hand on Ben's arm. "She's not here. I just scanned the floor and checked all security messages for the past twenty-four hours. They're in the dark. I also couldn't find information on any projection outside myself."

"Big surprise," Andrew huffs to himself. Hannah at least has the decency to flash him an apologetic look for a moment. Ben just looks unsure how to continue from there, making Charlie throw his hands up.

"So you are telling me that your leader has gone missing?" Abbot posits. "Was a character active?" The group nods. "This is not good. This is not good at all. You must let me lend you our services. We need to find her before the worst happens. How long has she been missing?"

Everyone hesitates on answering, unsure what to do or say without a leader. "Since last night," Rachel speaks up. Charlie literally smacks his forehead. "She went missing behind the Physical Plant. We've looked everywhere and have no idea where she went- including all the secret areas on all campus maps. We need help."

"But not from them," Charlie sighs. Hannah gives him a look and he just shrugs.

Abbot nods and starts scribbling notes down. "We will mobilize immediately to help canvas the area- especially the preserve. I just need the book brought into my-"

"Now why would you need that?" Michael questions harshly. Abbot can see the tide turning slightly and puts her hands up.

"Listen, I have no interest in the text. But it is the best way of tracking her we have. That book will do anything to try and protect her. We plug it in to the right program and it helps us find her."

"Or it gives you control of the book," Andrew counters with a glare. Charlie nods, clearly having his back. Michael seems to be on their side as well. The rest don't seem as convinced though.

"I need the book to find your friend," she tells the group of them. "I imagine you don't want to bury another one." The whole room seems shaken by this quite a bit in different ways- all taking her words in. "May I borrow it?"

Hannah turns to Charlie. "Go get the book."

He takes a step back, eyes narrowing. "No."

"Charlie, got get the book," Ben commands his little brother.

"Now hold on a minute," Michael steps in front of the little guy. "I think we need to make sure we think this through before we-"

"It is the right thing," Hannah crosses her arms.

"I think we're all getting a little too hostile," Andrew puts his hands up.

"You stay out of this," Ben fires his way.

Andrew points at him. "I'm ignoring you."

"Why's that? I'm telling the truth about you? Who are you Andrew Parker?"

"Stop trying to make this about me! I refuse to join in or fight back! I'm going to be the bigger person!"

"I do think we're pulling focus from what's important," Michael agrees.

"No we're not," Rachel argues. "He needs to get the book now so we can find Lori now. Unless you have no plans of living up to your Hippocratic Oath."

"Unnecessary," Michael points a finger at her before realizing it does no good. "I am trying to do what's best for Lori."

"Clearly not if you're keeping the one person who can find her from being able to do so, Harms," Ben wheels towards him and stares at Charlie. Charlie just defiantly stares back. "Finch, go grab the book since my brother won't."

"Ben, that's really not necessary," Kaity warns him of his crossing a line, hand going to her forehead. No one notices her grab the desk for support.

"It completely is," Ben disagrees.

"Do that and I'll never forgive you," Charlie warns. "I won't want anything to do with you anymore."

"You'll forgive me the second you have your best friend back," Ben calls his bluff. "I never thought you of all people would keep her from being found safe and sound."

"You don't get to talk to him like that," Andrew speaks before Charlie can. "Everyone's talking but no one is listening to one another. I think-"

"We don't care what you think," Rachel says harshly. "We want whatever will get this done fastest. Some of us have lives to get back to… unlike yourself! Because I don't count pulling a rabbit out of a hat as a life." Andrew holds himself back, not wanting to get dirty himself. "Wow. What a coward." He almost looks stricken at this but still holds his tongue.

"He's too good for that kind of talk," Ben mocks. "I'm so glad everyone is starting to see right through you, DIZ v3.0."

"Ben," Kaity chastises him, hand still clutching the table as she sweats and closes her eyes.

"Kaity's right," Hannah agrees. "Stop with the personal attacks. We all have one goal here. We're family. We just need to the right thing together… which is bringing her the book."

"Over my dead body," Charlie says with a shocking amount of venom.

"Finch, go get the book," Ben orders again much more fiercely.

Finch takes a long minute to look over the situation before nodding. "Affirmative." She goes to leave but Michael stands in front of the door. "Stand aside, Michael Harms."

"We're not doing anything until we all agree on it." Everyone is soon shouting and pointing fingers at one another, Ben even trying to hit Andrew with his wheelchair. Abbot just watches, not wanting to get involved in the slightest. There is suddenly a loud thud that interrupts things though, and they all turn to see Kaity has fallen to the floor.

"Kaity!" they all cry and run over to her- Ben louder and more frantic than the others. Michael quickly gets in and checks her pulse, giving Ben a nod. Her boyfriend lets out a sigh of relief as Finch picks her up gently. "I knew this was too much for her," he sighs.

"Let's get her back to the room," Michael decides. "We need to make her comfortable and get her some water. She just over-exerted herself too soon out the gate. It's going to be okay, Prescott." Abbot goes to speak but he waves a hand at her as the group starts out of her office. "We'll be in touch."

"We'll be back with the book," Hannah adds.

"No we won't," Charlie tags on the end. They all head back upstairs, leaving a very confused and almost slightly amused Abbot who just takes her seat again with a large smile. When they head out of the hall and start down the path towards the dorms Charlie comes to a halt with a frown.

"I've had enough of this," he decides, seeing from the clock it's nearly noon. "We've wasted so much time!" He paces for a moment at war with himself before making a clear decision with fierce determination. "It's time to do this myself. It's time we go with my plan instead of going nowhere!" They are all out of sight now, none of them having noticed his absence. He starts down another pathway towards the art building. "Hold on Lori. I'm going to save you this time."

XXX

Lori is slumped against the wall, completely drained but unable to drift off for some relief. She barely even notices the dice hit her blood soaked sock- shoes having been discarded a few hours ago. "Three," Oogie Boogie coos. "This is one of my favorites." He steps into the light and Lori doesn't even look at him anymore.

"My friends are coming," she manages to croak. "And when they do…"

"You've been saying that for the last three rolls," Oogie reminds her. "And yet it's just you and me down here. They're nowhere to be found." Lori just closes her eyes as he moves closer. "They're not coming. You're never going to be saved by anyone."

"They'll come. They have to come."

"They don't have to do anything. Without you, they'll be better off."

Lori actually manages a glare. "You can do whatever you want physically, but I'm not letting you screw around with my head. They're my family. They will look until they find me and when they do I'm going to step on every bug in that ugly burlap sack of yours."

He hits the wall with a cry of pure fury behind her so hard it completely breaks her strength. She is back to squeezing her eyes shut with tears leaking through.

"Please, please, please, please…"

"I've had enough with your mouth for now," Oogie growls. She gives the smallest of nods and he just laughs as he grabs her head so she's looking at him- patting a fresh looking bruise on her cheek. "I'm just looking for a certain number before I end you agony. I hope it'll come soon. But in the meantime, I'll give you a bit of a break." He breathes on her and she instantly slumps over unconscious.

XXX

Jess is exiting the art building, looking every which way before she does so, and makes a bolt for the dorms. She is surprised when Charlie comes running up to her however. "Charlie," she says with a high degree of being uncomfortable. "What-what can I do for you?"

"I need your help," he cuts right to the chase. "Lori has been kidnapped and they have her somewhere on campus that's not on any of the maps."

"Wh-wh-what?" Jess tries to process. "Lori's been-"

"Kidnapped," Charlie repeats. "I think so. She has to have been. It's why Hannah's been ignoring you all day."

"But who would-?"

"A Disney character," Charlie explains. "We chase Disney characters from a magic book Lori accidently opened on her first day without knowing what he would do." She just stares at him like he's crazy, making him sigh. "I-I literally do not have time for this. Okay, you do well with logic from what Hannah's told me. So just think it through. None of this crazy stuff on campus started until Lori got here- sea monsters, lions on campus, and the entire Science Center going down in flames a few months ago. And it's too crazy to almost be real. Lori has a magic book and we're her Companions. That's why we're always together and going off suspiciously. That's why we're so close because we go through what we do. It makes sense."

"I wouldn't quite say that," Jess disagrees, clearly hesitant.

"I know you can see it," Charlie disagrees. "Because your position means you see more than anyone else. And I'm sorry for what we've been putting you and your family through these past couple years. I swear we're doing the best we can." Jess doesn't say anything. "Listen, I would love to take this step-by-step, but I need to save my best friend. She vanished behind the Physical Plant yesterday and I have not stop thinking about her since. I need you to give me the benefit of the doubt."

Jess finally speaks up. "I cannot deny the depth of your concern and the fact that you seem to believe what you're saying. Plus it does match Hannah's behavior from earlier coupled with the events you mentioned." She bites her lip and takes a moment before speaking slowly. "Even if I was slightly convinced, what do you need me for?"

"Because I know who you are- despite your best efforts- and I need a campus expert," Charlie reasons. "She is nowhere on the map so I need someone who is better than any map. I need someone who grew up on campus and knows every nook and cranny. I need Jessica Timmermans, the daughter of President Timmermans." She takes a deep breath at hearing her full name. "I need you."

She is hesitant, looking down and playing with the strap of her bag. Charlie seems to accept this and starts to walk away with a hung head. "Did you say Physical Plant?" He turns back and nods, unsure where she's going. "Then I think I know exactly where she is."

He gives a hint of a smile. "You'll help?"

She shrugs- trying to make it seem like it's no big deal. "Only so Hannah will buckle down and practice for the debate. The fastest and most logical way for it to occur is for me to provide you with the assistance you desire." She is a little taken aback by his wide smile and how he grabs her hand dragging her along behind him when he takes off at a run. She pulls it away instantly. "I am perfectly capable of following you without you help," she tells him a little coldly. He doesn't seem to mind though and starts running, causing her to do the same to keep up. "Is this necessary?"

"It is when your best friend needs you."

XXX

Everyone has gathered in Kaity's bedroom around her bed as she is sitting up with an ice pack against her head. "I'm fine, guys. Really," she assures them. "We need to get back and-"

"You're staying here," Ben says in a tone that leaves no room for argument. "You need to take it easy right now. I'm not going through that with you again."

Rachel feels her watch and frowns. "I need to use the washroom," she says as she pushes past everyone to leave the room.

Kaity sighs. "If I agree, will you go back out there?" Ben nods, kissing her forehead. "Then I'll stay in bed for the rest of the day. Scout's honor."

Ben turns to the group, noticing for the first time that his brother isn't there. "Where's Charlie?"

"Right here," his little brother steps into the entryway of the bedroom, book in his arms. Hannah smiles and goes to grab it, but he takes a step back.

"Give Hannah the book Charlie," Ben orders. Charlie just shakes his head.

"No. I won't." Jess comes up next to him and shrinks under everyone's surprised looks.

"What are you doing here?" Hannah questions. "I told you-"

"She's with me," Charlie counters, taking control of the room. Everyone just looks at him in confusion. "Now I have listened all day to everyone argue and yell at one another in ways that completely wasted time my best friend might not have. It's my turn now." He gestures to Jess. "I stopped dragging my feet and remembered the task at hand. Jess knows where Lori probably is. We're skipping the middle man to go get her."

Everyone suddenly has a barrage of questions but Kaity speaks first. "You told her?" Charlie nods. "Like you told her everything without Lori's permission?"

"Yes. I did. Because unlike what some of you said earlier I do know what Lori would want. I know because I am her very best friend who has been on this journey with her since Day One. I hate throwing that around, you know I do, but I think I have to here. She will be okay with this since it will get us to her. I know she will. She will never be okay with you giving DIZ the book. She will never be okay with you turning to them when we have a much better and more efficient option right here. But a lot of you are so scared you're not letting yourself see that. And I get it because I'm really scared to. But I'm letting it drive me rather than rule me like she would and I think that's the crucial difference. So I need to step up and speak for Lori while she can't speak for herself. I'm taking charge. Jess is going to take us to her location."

Everyone just stares at him, absolutely floored. Michael is the first to find his words. "And how does Jess know where she is? And how did you know that she knew?"

Charlie turns to Jess and she hesitates, looking almost ready to full on bolt out of the room. He gives her a kind smile. "You would have to tell her eventually. Honesty is important between political allies."

Jess nods and turns to the group. "My full name is Jessica Harper Timmermans." Everyone realizes what this means and reacts accordingly. "My father is President William Timmermans of Trinity College. I have lived here my whole life. I know every nook and cranny." She locks eyes with Hannah. "I didn't want anyone to know for our campaign- including you. After freshman year I dyed my hair and started living on campus to get away from that. I wanted to be my own person and I thought… I thought being your Vice President was a good start. Only the first name of the Vice President goes on the ballot."

"That's why you didn't run yourself," Hannah deduces. Jess nods.

"So wait," Ben cuts into the moment. "You told the President's daughter, knowing full well who she was, about our whole little thing we have going? Knowing she can run to Dad and-"

Jess flinches. "I wouldn't-"

"Yes I did," Charlie saves her the grief. "Because when I was kidnapped Lori and the rest of you did everything in your power to find me and bring me home. I wouldn't be able to call myself her best friend if I didn't do the same." He turns to Jess with a nod. "Let's get ready to move out. You'll lead the way." Jess nods and starts for the door. Charlie follows her and after a brief beat Andrew and Michael are with them. Finch takes a moment before tagging along and a beat later Hannah follows. Ben turns to Kaity, who kisses him.

"Go save her, hero." With that, he wheels himself into the hallway where everyone else has waited. Charlie looks the group over and then notices something off.

"Where'd Rachel go? I saw her walking down the hallway in a hurry on my way over."

"But… she went to the bathroom," Hannah relays confused. "If… she went to her audition," she realizes. "She snuck off to go do her audition because she thought we'd fight her on it."

"Which we would," Andrew can't help but speak up. "She was right about that."

"But she ran out on Lori," Charlie says sadly. "After everything she did for her."

"I'll go talk to her," Finch starts down the hallway with determination. "I will meet up with you in a few minutes."

XXX

Rachel is sitting in the hallway of the theatre rehearsing her lines. She then hears footsteps stop in front of her and sighs. "I had to do it Finch. I spent the whole day doing stuff for Lori. Now it's time to think about me."

"You could have at least told us," Finch says in a tone that conveys great disappointment. "I along with the others am quite upset that you chose to sneak off rather than being honest with us."

"I knew you guys wouldn't get it. You're all so obsessed with Lori and doing whatever it is she needs you'd drop out of school for her or even die for her. I signed up for being a Companion but not for putting Lori before myself like the rest of you do. I don't hang on her every word of whim. But that's okay because it is what I need to do to make sure I end up where I want to be. I'm the odd one out and I accept that."

Finch slides down the wall next to her. "I've learned a lot in the year since I've been activated. I learned what a family and love is and that it means putting someone else before your self. It doesn't come right away though- you have to build it and take care of it." She takes a beat before speaking again. "We don't do what we do because we are obsessed with Lori and our roles as her Companions. She inspires loyalty, not demands it of us. We do it because we love Lori. And she loves us." She then rises and looks down at Rachel. "Because if you were missing right now would she go to this audition or would she not stop until she found you and you were safe? Even if you were what you consider to be- the 'odd one out'."

Rachel still seems very hesitant. "Finch… I just…"

"We'll be by where she went missing. No matter what you decide you will be a member of this family. But I'd give some thought into what exactly that means for you. You've always been a little hesitant and you get as much love as you do. Can you imagine if you embraced it?" With that, she heads out and leaves Rachel alone with her thoughts. She sits there for a moment going back and forth before a girl steps out of the theatre.

"Dr. John will see you now Rachel." Rachel nods at her and rises, allowing herself to be led into the theatre- her mind seemingly made up.

XXX

A minute later, Jess leads everyone to the manhole behind the Physical Plant. "If they vanished back here they had to have taken her into here. It leads to a bunch of tunnels that run under the campus." She starts to pull it off and Finch makes the process a lot faster. "I played down here when I was a kid in my Explorer Phase. If he has her though I'm only taking one person down there with me." Everyone goes to object but she raises her hand. "They have your friend and stand to gain a lot if they kill her. Too many people means too much noise and that means he does something drastic. To avoid the situation I go down there with one person and we sneak up on them, okay?"

No one seems able to argue with her and looks at one another when there is the sound of someone running in their direction. They all turn to see Rachel running their way only to come to a stop when she full on crashes into Hannah, nearly sending them both to the ground. "Sorry! I'm sorry!" Finch helps her up to her feet. "I'm sorry but I'm here. I told them I had a family emergency and rescheduled. I'm sorry and I'm here. I'm here."

Finch smiles at her best friend and everyone looks proud of her. She takes a moment before clearing her throat awkwardly. "So… what are we doing?"

"I'm taking one person down with me to get Lori," Jess explains. "Who am I taking? And I'm going to tell you now it's not going to be the blind girl." Everyone looks at one another after a minute of offense at her comment but then settles on looking for Charlie to take the lead on this one.

He thinks it over a moment before making the call. "You're taking Michael. She might need medical attention and he can navigate down there swift as anything." Michael nods, accepting the book from Charlie and falling in beside Jess. "The rest of us will be here for her when she gets out. Text us if anything comes up and we need to switch tactics." Michael gives a nod as Jess starts to descend the stairs into the hole with him following a moment later. Everyone just looks down, waiting nervously.

"It looks like you could have had your audition," Finch notes to Rachel. "I apologize-"

"No," Rachel cuts her off. "I'm supposed to be here." She takes a beat, listening to Hannah begin to pace and everyone's worried breathing before nodding. "Yeah. I need to be here."

XXX

Jess leads the way through the dark tunnel with occasional dim lights above them with Michael right behind her. She turns to whisper to him. "So there's another drop coming up soon. If he really wanted to tuck her away-"

"That's where he'd go," Michael whispers back. Jess nods.

"What's the plan once we find her?" she can't help but ask. "We should figure that out now."

"Get her the book is all we need to do. I'm afraid we'll have to make it up on the spot depending on who we're dealing with."

"I'm not very good at that," Jess admits to him. "So I might not be the biggest help unfortunately. I like plans and organization- having everything factored to the minute detail. I don't do so well when things don't go the way I planned them to be."

Michael can't help but shake his head. "Yeah, I've seen that."

"I'm sorry about that," Jess picks up on instantly. "I get bent out of shape very easily and I'm not good with the people thing at all. I like concrete things and other human beings are anything but. So I feel like I never act or say the right thing- like with you. None of the charisma of daddy dearest I'm afraid," she adds with clear self-loathing.

"I forgive you," Michael shrugs, making her look at him in surprise. "I'm willing to start over right now with this right here- that you are Jess Timmermans and the fact that you are not a people person you are still willing to help me save one of my best friends just because."

She can't help but smile at that. "Thank you Michael Harms." They both come to the halt at the sound of laughter echoing through the tunnel. "I know that voice."

"I do too. It definitely sounded like a villain though." They hear it again and Jess gives the look of something clicking.

"It's Oogie Boogie." Michael gives her a questioning look. "Trust me. I've only seen the movie a couple of times a while back, but it has to be. And I think that means I know what we can do."

Michael looks at her and nods. "Let's hear it then."

XXX

Lori watches as the dice bounce off her foot and flinches at the cheering Oogie Boogie unleashes. "Snake eyes! What I've been waiting for!" He practically starts dancing and she takes a deep breath at what she can guess this means. "It looks like out time together has finally reach its end." He leans over her threateningly, hands clasping around her neck. She quickly starts choking, but has not energy left to struggle. "This has been fun, but-"

"Oh no," an overly feminine voice says from above them. Oogie backs off to look in that direction while Lori catches her breath, coughing. "I seem to have stumbled into this area quite by accident. Oh, and it's so cold." A bare leg suddenly appears in the light, obviously a girl's. "If only there was someone to… hold me and keep me warm. Maybe a real man made out of… bugs."

Oogie looks at the leg and back at Lori a few times before slicking the top of his sack back. "Stay here." He moves towards the leg and begins to tickle it, hearing laughter from above. The leg pulls away from him with a coy giggle and he gives Lori an eerie smile. "Be right back." He climbs the ladder and soon disappears, leaving a very confused Lori by herself.

"No he won't," Michael disagrees as he drops down in front of her. Her face instantly lights up at the sight of him as he takes a deep breath at the sight of her. "Oh, Lori."

"I'm so happy to see you, Doctor." He makes his way over to her and frowns at the chains. "It's been rough, but nothing that can't wait until I'm out of here." He can instantly see how weary she is and pulls the book out of his backpack.

"Then let's take care of this first. I know it's breaking the rules a bit if I turn the pages, but hopefully it will make an exception so we can get you out of this hellhole." He starts flipping through pages quickly.

"Stop!" he does so on a page with a glowing poem. Lori sighs with relief and almost smirks at the words. "I'm just sorry I won't get to see his stupid face when I do this. You aren't comprehending the position that you're in You're hopeless You're finished You haven't got a prayer" With that, she leans her head against the wall and Michael puts the book away. He pulls out a metal nail file and starts shaving away at the chains.

"This might take a few minutes, but it should work." Suddenly, someone drops down behind them and Lori screams, burying her head in his arm. He turns defensively only to see it is merely Jess- pants leg rolled up and holding one of her shoes. He kisses the top of Lori's head. "It's okay. It's okay. It's a friend. You're safe."

Lori looks up and tilts her head at the sight of Jess. "Who the hell is this?"

Jess crosses her arms. "Jess Timmermans- the girl who just saved your life. Nice to meet you too." She steps towards them. "He vanished into darkness just like you said. I managed to pull these off his person first though." She sadly holds up the photos he took of Lori. "You said nothing could go back with him."

"You did good," Michael tells her, unnerved by the pictures and returning to his work.

"He's gone?" Lori asks, sounding so small that Jess shrinks a bit at her previous reaction.

"Yeah," she says softly as she can. "He's gone." She then rips the pictures into shreds to emphasize that point, sending them to the ground before grinding them into the water with her shoed foot. She looks at Michael for prompting and he nods to assure her she did the right thing.

Lori's face goes blank as she processes those words, eyes going glassy. "He's gone," she whispers. "He's gone." And then it hits her like a freight train and she starts sobbing just as Michael frees her. She puts her hands to her face and just cries heaving sobs that make Jess take a few steps away from her- looking to Michael in desperation as she is unsure what to do.

He yanks the chains off gently and helps her to her feet. "Come on. Let's not make you another moment down here, Lores." He gently starts to help her forward with a hand on her back, spotting her as she slowly and shakily starts up the ladder. Jess notices her rain gear in the corner and after a moment of thought is sure to grab it before following them up as well.

XXX

Everyone stands at the manhole, just waiting. They hears the noises of something hitting metal and all lean forward as Jess is the first to stick her head out. She regards them all briefly before speaking. "We found her." They all let out the breath they had been holding. "It was Oogie Boogie." Andrew and Charlie are the only ones to react to that as Hannah helps Jess out.

"What?" Ben questions their reaction harshly.

"Oogie Boogie is the villain Lori is the most afraid of," Charlie explains quickly. "She literally could only watch the movie once he scares her so much. For her to be trapped down there with him by herself… it must have been-"

"Torture," Rachel surmises. Everyone looks at the hole again. "Then we'd better be prepared for how she might be when she comes up."

Hannah shakes her head. "She'll be fine. She has to be fine. She's Lori."

"I should go," Jess dismisses herself. No one pays her mind as she starts back for campus except Charlie who grabs her arm. She instantly shrugs him off but he has her attention.

"Thank you," he tells her sincerely. "Thank you for saving my best friend."

"It was nothing really," she dismisses him, handing him Lori's rain muddy gear before heading off. He then turns his attention back to where everyone else's is- the hole.

Michael sticks his head up next and they can instantly tell its bad from his expression. He climbs out and kneels to stick a hand down, grunting as he helps pull a trembling Lori out of the hole as well. Everyone can instantly see how badly shaken she is and all react with sadness as they take her black and blue form in. Her skin is covered in red dots, she is soaking wet with ripped clothing, bloody socks, her hands are red and raw, her face is bruised, she has a large cut on her arm, and she is covered in mud. Michael tries to help her up, but she pulls back and remains on her hands and knees.

"Back up and give her some space," Michael orders and everyone instantly listens. He puts a hand out especially to block a reluctant Charlie. She dry heaves and spits on the ground as her hands tremble from her weight before breaking down into sobs that almost seem to spasm out of her body. No one knows what to say or do at the sight of their leader like this.

Hannah finally can't take it anymore, crying herself, and takes a step forward to move towards her roommate and comfort her. Someone quickly walks past her though with more determination and she is surprised to see it is Andrew. She halts her movement as he kneels right in front of Lori, smiling at her sadly. She notices him after a moment. "Fitz," he says gently as possible and she manages to slowly sit up on her knees to look at him.

For a long moment they just stare at one another intensely as she cries into her arm, gasping for air. And then he lunges for her suddenly, pulling her into a tight hug with her head under his chin. No one seems more surprised than her and as she relaxes into it she feels him pull away. His breathing is much quicker and he's desperately trying to keep himself under control and be there for her- giving her a pained smile that shows he's in agony. The effect on her is immediate however as she stares at him, tears having finally stopped and her breathing becoming more steady. She reaches out but stops herself, instead letting her hand drop back to her side.

"It's going to be okay," she promises him, wiping her eyes and pulling herself together slowly. "Everything's going to be okay," she says stronger and to everyone. She takes a slow deep breath and manages to smile at him. He gives her a sincere one back.

Their moment ends when Charlie launches himself into Lori's arms, the both of them clinging to one another. Her smile becomes a laugh and everyone relaxes in seeing that she seems to be alright for now- Andrew getting back up on his feet. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you," she whispers to her best friend.

"I am too," he makes clear, holding her for another minute before finally pulling away. Michael sticks a hand out and pulls her to her feet, supporting her when she sways a bit. "Let's get you back," Charlie makes the call as Hannah hugs her. "We can save all the mushy stuff for when you're warm."

Lori gives him an impressed look as everyone falls in line with his words, leading her off as Michael takes off his jacket to wrap around her. "Charlie Prescott led us very well in you absence," Finch informs her. "He would have made you proud."

She ruffles his hair, making him beam. "I am."

Hannah notices Andrew in the back of the pack and drifts to walk next to him. "Are you okay?" she can't help but ask. "I know that was… big for you."

"I'm fine now," he assures her, seeming almost confused and at odd with himself. "Which is honestly more shocking then if I was hyperventilating and had to bolt."

"Good. Because you pulled her from the edge single-handedly. You shouldn't have to feel bad about that, Andrew." With that, she drifts back towards her roommate who is laughing at something Rachel has said. Andrew just stares at the whole group of them, especially Lori.

"Doesn't mean any of you apologized though," he can't help but mutter under his breath. He instantly seems ashamed at the thought and shakes off any frustration or anger, returning to watching what's more important to him with nothing but relief- Lori.

XXX

Tune in next week as the debate for Student Council President is on. Hannah and Ben have promised to be civil, but can they really?