Month One, Week Two
The poor high school senior was still feeling the same emotions she had on the first day. He was on her watch that day, while mom and dad were at work. Lincoln had left to go to Clyde's- and never came back. She only later called them and that's when the horror really began. According to the McBrides, little Lincoln Loud did not meet his destination.
Lori's first instinct as the boss of the sisters was to call the police. This was over a week ago, and there still had been no trace of his whereabouts. Wherever he was, he wasn't close enough.
Lori was there for a while, sitting, and not knowing how long she'd been out. Hell, not even caring. They looked her away, berated her for not guiding him to her house. It wasn't her fault, for Clyde had a thing for Lori, and she didn't want to deal with it.
"You were supposed to be watching him! You let him go by himself!"
Lori had countered it with, "But he usually goes walking to Clyde's! How could we have known?!"
They then ignored her, which to her felt like she was disgraced.
Lincoln...
Crickets chirped, and the cold air swept through her in this average night. She only wished there was a strong enough breeze to take her away from this nightmare. Not even Bobby could be able to help her this time. Lori wondered how Ronnie Anne was holding up at the moment.
The eyeliner was washed away, leaving only the black to distort under the eyes, something that Lucy enjoyed. And that she did.
"Boo," she quietly moaned, scaring Lori completely.
"LUCY!"
"Come inside, Lori. Its past ten."
"I couldn't sleep... I still think about him."
"We're in your room, talking. Luna sent me to bring you in."
"What's there to talk about? I screwed up big time, and he's gone..."
Lucy grabbed her arm. "We can decide that up there. Let's go."
Lori reluctantly left her spot, and was led back by the tiny goth.
Everyone but Lily was there, chatting away about the same topic; the disappearance of Lincoln Loud.
"Ah, Lori's here.. " Luan was on the floor alongside Luna. Lynn and the twins took up Lori's bed, while Leni, who did not want to partake in tonight's conversation, was asleep. Lisa appeared from behind Lori's bed.
"Greetings," she said. "Okay, everyone, there..." The same update was still holding onto its streak. "There have been no sightings of Lincoln, within a fifty mile radius." She sighed.
"Keep looking, Lisa," Luna commented.
"I'm doing the best I can. Anyways, that's my report as of yet. I will partake in slumber once more." Lisa was done for the night, and left the others to talk amongst themselves.
It all felt unrealistic. Luan's jokes had ceased, and Lori found herself actually missing them. The guarantee that Luan was well and happy was always through her laughter. Was.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Lynn called out.
"No, we've done all we can, which isn't much, or enough, dudes."
"Everyone, I think its time we sleep. Twins, Lucy, Lynn, go on."
Only Luan and Luna remained in the room. "What about us?"
Leni raised up, still under her covers. "I wanna get some beauty sleep..."
"Okay, Luan, we'll talk tomorrow actually. Dismissed."
The comedienne looked back at Luna, who returned a nod at her. "Goodnight..."
Luna gulped, knowing what the likely reason for this was. "Did you catch me?"
"Not me, but Leni. She saw you drinking. Luna, you're fifteen! What the hell are you thinking?"
"It helps me, dude. I like it."
"Luna, its gonna kill you. Stop with your bullshit. Chew some gum or something, but not this."
"Its better than just moping around in your sadness!" Luna growled. "Unlike some people."
Lori was hit with it, struck hard once more. "I- I don't-"
"You're grieving alone, and more everyday. I drink to avoid all that feel shit. I don't need it, it'll only kill. Luan's barely fine, and Lynn's still leaving Lucy alone at night. Shit's fucked, fam."
"Luna-"
The rocker only disregarded, pushing past Lori, out of her room. "Bloody hell. I'm going to sleep."
Lori was immobilized in her spot, left with the garbage of it all.
Night
Lucy was alone once more, losing count after the sixth day. The missing sound of the ball hitting the wall had made her feel off, and naked in the vulnerable sense. It was quiet, but strange with no Lynn Loud's snoring throughout the night. They made her feel safe, even if it was annoying. It was a guarantee that Lynn would forever be here, and never leave the goth, who secretly hoped nothing would change.
Of course, that wish turned on her, and Lynn had deserted the room, taking over the room where Lincoln used to sleep, nevermore.
"Sigh," she softly called, into the darkness. Lucy was trying a new sleeping position. She twisted and turned for about an hour, until she was too sad to move. A seemingly repeating cycle that began on the day he went missing.
As for Lynn, she was on Lincoln's bed, positioned on her side.
Your dreams, I wanna know you're alive. I want you to let me know you're still here...
Half her face was buried in his pillow, and she clenched onto the damn rabbit with such fierce. Lynn was angry, yet broken by losing him.
In truth, she felt he was the sibling she was closest to. The two shared more of the same interests, bike races, a couple of sports games here and there, and actually spending time together when the others were interested in their own things.
"Lynn, I'm glad I have you to play with," he shared, as their video game session had ended. "You know, cause everyone else-"
"Geez, wimp. You don't have to say it. But... I get it. I..." Lynn coughed intentionally. "Sorry, sore throat."
Lincoln saw through the white lie, but laughed it off. She smiled once his face returned to the screen, and the pause menu disappeared. She was happy that she was there to fill whatever the others left empty. Lori was merely trying to buy him off with trips to the comic book store; even at that, it still wasn't enough for the boy.
All these favors, and they never returned the debt. It angered Lynn.
She got angry again, and threw the stuffed rabbit with her good arm, not caring where it impacted. Surely, the wall took it offensively. She missed him, and there was no replacing him. If anything, the true person to blame here was-
No, that's what her mourning parents said. Lori was the one, the one who never looked after him. Careless, bitchy, and more. Lynn's blood was boiling, for she took him away from them all. Then, Lynn cried through the pillow.
Nothing mattered. Lincoln was gone, nothing Lynn would end up doing could bring him back. She calmed, taking a couple of breathers. The thirteen year old went flat silent, but fell asleep way long after.
Month One, Week Four
Leni held her textbooks protected in her crossed hands. She strolled past all the shouting kids, making her way from the halls of Royal Woods high. She turned every now and then, seeing everyone happy and cheerful, huddled in squads, laughing together.
Luan was in front, closer to the parking lot. Leni did not call out to her, but Lori was not inside Vanzilla when they both got there.
"Hey, Leni. How was school?" Luan tried to force a fake smile, one of which Leni was smart enough to recognize. Leni placed her sunglasses on, ignoring the funny girl.
"Leni?"
"I'm fine," she answered, with slight hint of some pain in the words.
Lori and Luna then arrived side to side. "Sorry we're late, you guys."
Luan kept her eyes on Leni.
"Thank god its the weekend. I can use some rest now."
Luan texted Leni during the ride home.
Is everything okay? You don't seem like yourself :/
Leni's phone buzzed, and she saw it, but did not reply back. The four had never spoken through the entire ride. Luan stared out the window, observing the still-standing houses, trees, and the green sppts she spotted. It was all beautiful, normal, but not inside and around her house. The entire atmosphere was composed of the family's sadness, and even outside, they reeked of it.
Luna was in a rush to get inside, probably to get to her stash of Jack. Lori stayed in the van, letting her mind drift into her building-up guilt.
She laid herself down, taking both front seats for herself. She was trying not to beeak again. All day, it was on her mind. How she failed, what could have been prevented, and all that. Lynn Loud Sr. and Rita would not dare look at her in her eyes.
Luan was behind Leni, and pulled her by her favorite attire. "Like, what's your problem, Luan?"
"Tell me what's bothering you! Leni, you're acting strange now. Not that you weren't before, but you tried to keep a good head about-"
Leni covered her face, turning away from Luan. It was true, Leni did her best, and tried to keep hope and happiness alive. Happy endings happened in all the romantic films she watched, so why couldn't a happy family ending happen now? Why didn't it? The more the days went by, the darker, but clearer it became for her to finally avert her eyes, and understand a horrible truth.
"I said I'm fine, Luan!" Leni shoved her, and Luan fell to the floor.
"Ow!"
Leni stood over her like the Eiffel Tower.
"You hurt me..."
"I didn't mean to..." Leni helped her up.
"Leni, don't lock me out." She grabbed her hand and led the blonde girl to the kitchen. "Tell me what's bothering you."
"He's not coming back, is he?"
Luan only glared, speechless.
"I knew it. I should've known better..."
"Leni, he'll be returned to us. You'll see..." Luan tried to ease her pain with a hug- And felt Leni's chest smack into her. "Oh, um, sorry-"
Leni made a tiny squeak. "Wait, what- Oh, like, I-" She took Luan's hand.
"Uh, Leni?"
"That was nice," she gently whispered, placing Luan's hand on her, and rubbed around.
"Leni!" Luan retracted, stunned by Leni's arousing action. "Oh, my god!" The disgusted Luan fled to her room.
Lynn was locked in his room again. She sat in his bed, motionless, constantly looking at the door, hoping he'd come in, and kick her out. She'd take that pain instead, not this hell she was enduring.
She removed her jersey, revealing the tank top underneath. She fell back, and closed her eyes. In her mind, she pictured him walking over to her.
He set himself right beside her, and welcomed her with a gentle, but deep hug. In this little scenario, Lynn was rendered frozen, heart growing warmer, and all the happiness of the world was at her disposal.
"Lincoln, is it really you?!" Her eyes were downgraded, becoming unclear with the blurry vision of her tears.
"Its me, Lynn. Thanks for keeping my bed warm until I returned, and for keeping Bun-Bun company."
Lynn let out a girly cry, and pulled Lincoln closer to her. "I missed you... I missed you so much..." She locked onto his hands. "Don't you ever leave me again."
Lincoln leaned closer, and kissed the ecstatic athlete. Lynn blushed completely, heart racing wildly, like it would get during her P.E. exercises. She happliy returned his affection.
"I'll never leave you", he whispered into her ear as she made lip contact with his neck. His hands made their way underneath her tank top. She moaned, and was getting excited. "What are you doing?"
Lincoln removed his pants, and underwear. "I want to show you how grateful I am." Lynn's shorts and boxers were removed, and she gasped at the feel of Lincoln inserting himself into her.
"Oh, God..." She placed her hands on his back, pushing him further onto her. Lynn finally removed her top, and readied herself for her first time.
Lincoln thrusted himself, and kept a steady rate. Lynn was biting her own lip, rather than moaning. She rubbed around all over his body. His hands met her nipples, and were toyed. Lynn wished she had developed, for she wanted him to have better playthings.
His dick inside her made her feel so damn good, that she was squirming around like a worm. No, his dick was the big worm squirming within her, and she was beginning to-
Lynn opened her eyes, feeling wet underneath. She pulled the covers, and saw that her hand was underneath the shorts, wet with some sticky liquid that covered a bit of her shorts. But then, she looked around. No, there was no Lincoln. No happy moment. No nothing.
Luna snuck with two bottles, and headed out back to drink in her loneliness. The garage was the sweet spot, and she had not been caught, except by Lori. Lori, the one who drove her to this. She took a big sip, and fell to the floor. "Fuck..."
She kept on drinking, and went on to drown herself out in this newly made world.
Lucy entered Lisa's room. "Hi, do you have a second?"
Lisa set down her precious chemicals. "What is the occasion?"
There was no one talk to, and Lucy began to feel more alone. "Lynn's not been-"
"Sleeping in her room? I noticed, she misses him that much. Can you blame her?"
"I understand that, but I miss her now, too."
Lisa squinted her eyes. "Oh, I see... No one to tell your poems or something as such?"
"Yes..."
"His bed can hold two, so maybe-"
"Its not that... Its that-" Lucy's fingers moved about, her way of trying to keep herself together. "She left me..."
"Luce, Lynn did not leave you..."
"YES, SHE DID!"
Baby Lily switched to her crying mode. "LUCY! I JUST- GET OUT!"
The goth was thrown out by her, something that was impossible and unlike Lisa. Lucy looked down to the floor, leaving herself weak enough to cry.
Month Two, Week One
Lori was out, something about Luna going out drinking again. Luan found Leni alone for the first time since that little touching thing happened. "Hi..."
Luan closed the door gently behind her, locking it.
"Luan, why did you lock the door?"
Luan only proceeded to Leni, and jumped on her. "I need something." She touched Leni's face, and then leaned in.
Lori was on her way back, driving angrily. The drunk was slurring her words, pointing around and burping.
"Luna, you are literally disgusting!"
"Wuhhhtehhva, duuuhhdee..." Luna still had the empty beer bottle in her hand, thinking it was not empty yet.
Lori wasted no time after pulling up the driveway, and pulled Luna out with such an explosive rage that fueled her tonight. "Let's go, drunky."
Luna was blindly stumbling about, and Lori felt that she was merely dragging a tumbleweed in a horribly windy day. She stopped at the door, which was opened by Lynn.
"You found her?"
"Move," Lori barked as she dragged Luna inside, ready to deliver a punishment. "I've told you, Luna. Time and time again, I've told you to not drink anymore. Do you realize the freaking consequences of your actions?"
"Ackkkshunns... yuhh diww duhhzzz..."
Lynn moved out of the way, watching Lori forcibly throw Luna onto the sofa. "Don't move, I'm telling mom and dad about this."
"Heeiiit yoooouuu, day heiit youu."
"Lynn, watch her." Lori turned her back to them, a damn horrible mistake. She dropped her phone as the glass split into pieces, after the beer bottle smashed onto her back, courtesy of Luna. Lori fell, holding her big opened cut.
"Lori, you're bleeding!"
"Ugh, get her under control! Leni, get the first aid kit!"
Leni pushed Luan to rhe floor. "Yeah, it's them. Go, get out."
Luan rushed to the door. "Will this ever happen again?"
Leni winked at her.
"Leni, hurry up!" Lori was done screaming now.
Lynn had already tied the drunk's arms, and Luna was struggling about. "Luhhh muhhh gewww."
"Quiet, Slurry."
Leni came down with the white kit. "Oh, my gosh, Lori! What happened?"
She tilted her head to Luna. "Hurry and patch me up..." Leni removed Lori's girdle piece, and examined the inflicted cut.
"Oh, my gosh, does it hurt?"
"LENI, HURRY!"
Leni did her motherly thing she was naturally gifted with, wiping away the visible blood and patching up Lori's back. Clearly it hurt, as Lori twitched about, seething. "Okay, done."
"Lynn, take Luna to my room."
Luna was already out for the night. "I think its too late for a chat."
Lori growled at this. "Then, take her back to her room, then."
Lynn had no problem carrying the knocked out drunk upstairs. Leni stayed with Lori, who was now silent. "Are you okay?"
"I'm not good at handling this anymore..."
"What do you mean?"
"We're all falling apart, and I don't even feel like I'm progressing with Luna. I've told her countless times to not drink. What else can I do? What else am I supposed to do?"
Leni rubbed the tense Lori's shoulders. "Try another method, like my own."
"You mean the soft way? Gee, I never figured it could work. It never has before..."
"Its worth trying, Lori."
"Maybe you're right. I'll try it..."
Month Two, Week Two
Lynn sat in the principal's office, looking around. The clock hung behind her, ticking its low but constant noise that had a secret power of driving anyone insane- she wished she had a tennis ball so that she may break it. In front of her was the brown desk, set up with papers, pencils, and a computer on its back to her. Her first time here, and she was bored already.
The room only contained her, and she smacked her feet onto each other while she waited for him. Principal Huggins was outside, speaking to the teacher who had witnessed Lynn's little violent display.
So she punched a bully, so what?
Huggins came in, as foosteps preceded away. "Lynn Loud, do you know why you're here today?" He sat in his chair, not moving his eyes away from the girl.
"I know exactly why I'm here."
"Then, by all means, do enlighten me."
She felt uncomfortable returning his stare. They were of a serious, strict expression, too strangely familiar to that of Lori's. Lynn could not take it, really. "I punched a girl, that's why I'm here."
"Yes. According to the written statement of the victim and the teacher who saw it, you randomly came up to her and punched her. Why is that?"
Lynn had both hands on the arms of the chair, and locked onto them in a tight manner. "She was harassing me, Principal Huggins. She had been doing it for awhile."
"That's no excuse to physically attack her. You broke her nose, and her mother has been notified already. This is not okay, not in any way, Loud."
She pictured Lori's essence being there, telling her off like he was now. She wanted to vent, she wanted to rage. She stuggled, and as soon as she decided she was going to unleash, she was cut off.
His voice grew soft, calm. "I know about what happened awhile back, about your brother. I'm gonna vut you some slack here, you're not normally a troublemaker here. But I'm gonna have to suspend you for three days. And that's it. It'll give you more than enough time to think about your actions."
Later
"Why would you even?! What's wrong with you?!"
Lynn blocked Lori out with her music, which Luna labeled as Lynn's type of music. Her head was against the window, and she closed her eyes, glad to not hear Lori's arguing.
Lori gave up, discontinuing her unheard words.
Maybe there was no fixing this, whatever it was going to become of it. Maybe it didn't need saving. She stayed in the van, shooing Lynn away. Her mind went to its drifting phase, going back to the first day it began.
"Oh, my Lincoln! My baby boy!" Rita, Lynn Sr., and a detective were in the kitchen. Lori was just outside, closely listening in on them.
"Is there anyplace he could have gone to?"
"Well, we know he has two close best friends, so maybe he may be there. Here, let me write down the names..."
"Anything that helps, Mr. Loud. I promise you, we will do our best to find your little boy."
"Thank you so much."
Lori was covering her mouth, trying to hold back the tears.
It still felt like it was just yesterday. Her stomach turned, and made her feel like she truly was reliving it.
Night
Luan wiped her mouth, once coming into her room. Mr. Coconuts had been placed back in his confinement, and had not been touched or held by the funny girl. He was now dead to her. "Hi, Luna."
The rocker was laid down, ready to sleep. She took no notice to Luan, only blasting out to her music, like she always had.
Luan switched off the lights. "Goodnight, then..."
And with that, their bond had begun to shatter.
Lynn was fingering herself in Lincoln's bed, moaning about, hard at work. She was thinking about him, wanting him to be inside of her. She was whsipering his name the more she toyed with herself. "Lincoln... Lincoln... Ahhhh..." Lynn squirt the white liquid, which she wasn't familar with. Whatever it was, she knew she liked it.
The room was dark, the door was locked, not that anyone would actually walk in on her. She was now starting to believe it. The insane journey started here; maybe Lincoln was here all along, aiding her.
She worn herself out, and wiped the love ooze on the covers. She smiled, and fell asleep happily.
Month Four, Week Two
It was done. No one listened to her, maybe due to her responsibility skills, which was the card up everyone's sleeves. Apart from that, only Luna gave Lori a real hard time.
She pushed her off the bed, while Lori slept. "YOU LOST HIM!"
Leni turned the lamp on. "Luna, please stop!"
Lori went back down after she tried to get up, kicked by Luna. "Tell me you're not drinking again..."
"Like you care."
"Luna, please..." Leni was up, slowly lifting her arms as she grew closer to her. "Its not her fault, you can't keep blaming her, even though some of us do. I don't blame her..."
"She-"
"Luna, please be reasonable. How could any of us have known?"
The rocker's eyes shifted between the two. "No, its her fault. Its all her fault."
"Luna... We're all hurting... Lori is, too. Don't make her suffer more..." Leni gently made the contact. "Luna, please. She isn't the bad guy, here."
Luna's foot came off of Lori. "Whatever dudes..." She sped out, not looking back.
Leni helped her closest sister up. "I'm sorry she did that..."
"Is she right? Did I really-"
"Lori, its not your fault. In time, they'll all forgive you, you're one of us after all."
"How do you-" It then hit her. Leni went through it, time and time again, with all her tiny errors here and there. But Leni kept seeing the bright within darkness, so maybe she was right. "...Oh, Leni."
"You know I love you, and we'll get through this together. Lincoln will be brought back to us, and we'll all be having a party for him."
"I couldn't ask for a better sister, Leni. Thank you."
The two returned to their beds, after Leni locked the door, to prevent another Luna incident.
Month Four, Week Four - One Week Before Shattered
Lori took a walk, heading down a few blocks. She felt she needed to get out of the house, and just relax. This was more of Lynn's thing, and if it helped her, it could help Lori as well.
It was around 6 o'clock, a steady part of the day. The streets and sidewalks around were nearly vacant, which helped Lori. She had her blue sweater on, both hands on pockets. She only cared about going forward, and nothing was enteriny her mind. She reached the fourth block, when something happened.
A pair of hands seized onto her, one covered her mouth, and the other around her waist. "MMMMMPHHHHH!" Lori tried to get out of this grip lock, but the person behind her was now pulling her away from the street. Lori did her best to land a kick.
Then, she was flipped right to the ground, finding herself behind a house she knew was empty. She turned to this violator, who wore a black mask, and seemed like a brute in size.
"Guhhh! He-" She was punched, and her resistance stopped completely.
Minutes Later
Lori, engulfed with a headache, jumped up once awaking, remembering where things were left off. She took a look around, not seeing the masked assailant anywhere around. But she felt her bottom was cold, and realized why; her shorts were pulled down to her feet, and blood was visible.
"No, no, no!" She had a hard time walking straight. She pulled up her shorts, and was slowly taking steps to the sidewalk. "Someone! Huhhh... Help!"
She grew dizzy at the though of being raped. A middle aged woman had rushed from the opposite side of the street, talking, but Lori could not make out her words. In a minute, she was trying to accept it, understand what just happened. Everything was rushing inside, and Lori was being bombarded with the shock.
Her eyes moved around the place, trying to get a grip back on stable ground. "Luhhh... Lincoln... Where's Lincoln- Where is.. " She dropped to her knees, as the woman dialed 911.
Lincoln, where is... Its my fault, its my punishment. I deserved to be raped. I earned this...
Now
They never found the guy behind the atrocious act. Lori reconnected back with mom and dad, both of them being concerned for her safety and well-being. She assured them everything was fine, even if it wasnt.
Lori sat alone in the kitchen, tapping her fingers on the surface, humming slowly. Then, the phone rang. She picked it up.
"Loud residence? We have some new information concerning one Lincoln Loud. if you could kindly come down to the station so that we may share our findings?"
Lori hung up, and with such excitement, she screamed to the others.
"THEY HAVE NEWS ABOUT LINCOLN! I'LL BE BACK, YOU GUYS!"
She sped away from the driveway, and arrived ten minutes later to the station- Where she got the bad news. He was found dead already, but the news had come late, and there was nothing else after that.
He was dead... He... was...
She then left as quickly as she came, in complete distraught. Lori waited for nothing in the comfort of her seat. She looked in the mirror, and saw Lincoln there. He waved at her.
"Lincoln?! They said you were dead!"
He shook his head. "I'm here, Lori. I've always been here. Take me home now?"
She smiled, and nodded frantically. "Of course, whatever you want!"
And with that, Lori drove back home.
The happy ending for everyone was here. Leni was right, and hope was once again restored. It was over, and Lori survived the maelstrom. She looked back at him, and she found reason to be happy again.
AN: I'm a moron.