Grojband belongs to Todd Kauffman, Mark Thornton, and Fresh TV.
/
Meanwhile, Trina was alone in the restroom, smiling widely as she stared at her own reflection. "This day keeps getting better!" She squealed, "Grojband's in the hospital, and now they're gonna turn to dust!"
"Your fault." A voice said, making her turn around to find no one was there.
"Hello?" Trina called.
"Your fault…" It chanted, "Your fault!"
"Whoev's you are," she began, "You're not scaring me!" She turned back to see Corey staring back at her. She screamed and punched the mirror, causing it to shatter. "Crud…" she gasped, "I cut my hand…" She went to a neighboring sink and rinsed her handoff, glass and blood flowing to the drain. "Calm down, Trina…" she muttered, "You're just seeing things. You're going insane because you're bored." Suddenly, the faucet started to sputter and red fluid poured out, causing her to yelp and yank her hands away, splattering the red substance on the walls.
"This isn't real!" She cried.
"Your fault." The voice uttered, Corey's image appearing in the mirror.
"Corey?!" Trina spat.
"Your fault." He uttered, "Your fault. Your fault."
"I did nothing!" She screamed.
"Your fault." A new voice said, "Your fault."
"Seriously, stop it!" Trina shouted, "You're freaking me out!" She felt a hand on her shoulder, making her turn around to stare into Laney's dead eyes. She jumped back, falling on her butt as she scooted away.
"Your fault." Laney uttered.
"You're supposed to dead, or asleep!" Trina said.
"Your fault!" Two voices chanted.
"Great, the twins are on this too." The teenager groaned. But her annoyance turned to fear as two pair of hands reached and pulled at her limbs and clothes. She screamed and slapped the hands away, turning around to glare only at an empty space. She panted as she looked around; she was alone once more. The broken mirror was whole, water flowed from the faucet, and no Grojband was in sight. "What the what?" she gasped. She stood and shut the water off, staring at her reflection in the mirror she thought she smashed. She stared at her hand to find no cuts or blood.
"I think I'm going nuts." She uttered as she left the restroom, "What was all that?" She held her arms as she walked, replaying the scene. "It might've been all in my head…" she uttered, "I mean, I didn't do anything…I didn't."
/
Later, Trina rejoined everyone in the waiting room, sitting beside her father as he held his hand in his hands. "I don't know if I can take this anymore…" Mr. Riffin uttered, "Corey's been in the OR too long…"
"It'll be okay Mr. Riffin;" Mr. Penn comforted, "Your son will pull through."
"Yeah," Mr. Kujira added, "I mean, our kids went through worse stuff than this. Remember that time they were in the Indie Indie 400?"
"I know they would survive that," Mr. Riffin replied, "Your son is a bright boy."
"And what about the Queen Bee pageant?" Mrs. Penn reminded, "All that time, and not one bee sting."
"That is true…" Mr. Riffin admitted.
"And let's not forget the time they were stuck in that infant penitentiary." Mr. Kujira groaned.
"So, I am sure that your boy and our kids will be okay." Mr. Penn assured, "A little worse for wear, but they will be okay."
"I just still have my doubts." Mr. Riffin uttered, "I know our kids got into some pretty weird stuff; possibly more than we would know. But to be caught in an explosion like that…I just…"
"Mr. Riffin," A doctor said as he walked in. Mr. Riffin instantly rushed over, the other parents tagging along.
"How's my son?" He asked.
"Your son will be okay," The doctor said, "Only suffered a few minor burns and a sprain. We were able to remove the foreign objects without problem. However, there is one problem."
"What?" He gasped.
"Your son's brainwaves show that he will be in a deep sleep," the doctor explained, "As in when the effects of anesthesia wear off, he won't wake up."
"So, he's in a coma?" Mr. Riffin uttered, tears starting to flow.
"Not necessarily a coma," The doctor said, "But something we persons in the medical field fear. Something known as, 'Four-Man Bridge Syndrome'. Your son and the rest of his band will turn to dust within the week if we don't wake them up."
"What if we forced them to break up their little band?" Mr. Penn asked, "Would that do anything?"
"That is the worst action you could do!" The doctor began, "Yes, that may wake your children up, but your children have attached themselves to music; to break them up will trigger 'Dream Shatter disease'! Let's just say that I wouldn't do that if you want your kids to be three dimensional."
"Isn't there something you could do!?" Mrs. Kujira asked.
"It's all up to them," The doctor answered, "There is nothing we can do; we don't have the technology to enter into their mind and tell them to wake up."
"Can we at least see them?" Mr. Riffin asked.
"Yes," The doctor said as he led the group out, "I've put them all in the same room."
"Wait," Larry piped up, "How did you know they're all in the band?"
"My daughter went nuts for them when they played for Slugfest." The doctor explained.
/
Later, the group reached Grojband's room, the parents trying hard to keep it together at the sight. "Corey…" Mr. Riffin whimpered.
"He'll heal well," The doctor reported, "It's just that we have to wake them up in a few weeks time."
"So, what?" Mr. Penn began, "Do we have to bring noise makers and air horns every time we visit?"
"I wouldn't go to such extremes…" The doctor advised, "Just talk to them. It worked on several coma patients, so that should work on them."
"That's the best you could offer!?" Mrs. Penn shouted, "What kind of doctor are you!?"
"Mrs. Penn," The doctor uttered, "Please keep it down."
"She doesn't have to keep it down!" Mrs. Kujira joined, "And I don't have to either! Our children are rotting away, and all you could suggest is talking?! You have no idea how close we were of losing them when they were born!"
"Laney is my only daughter," Mrs. Penn began, "I cannot lose her!"
"Ladies, please!" The doctor tried to calm down, "There's no need to be hysterical."
"What about when your own daughter is in this situation?!" Mrs. Penn shouted.
"You would be shouting too!" Mrs. Kujira pointed out.
"Honey…" Mr. Penn uttered.
"Please calm down…" Mr. Kujira said.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!" Both mothers yelled. As the mothers argued with the doctor, Mr. Riffin stared at all four children, his brown eyes looking on with deep pity.
"Mr. Riffin," Carrie spoke up, "I'm sure Grojband's gonna be okay." But Mr. Riffin ignored her as he pulled a chair up to his son's bedside, staring at the body with watery eyes. He reached out and brushed back the blue hair.
"It's funny…" he muttered, "I forget what the top of his head looks like because of his beanie. Where's his beanie?"
"The doctor might have it?" Trina suggested as she turn just in time to see the doctor being slammed on the floor by Mrs. Penn. "How about I run home and get a set of clothes for Corey?" She suggested, "Y'know, when he gets out?"
"Good idea," Her dad agreed, "Maybe your friends could give you a lift?"
"Sure!" Mina piped up, "I'll be more than happy to drive Trina!"
"Wait," Carrie said, "Can I come with?"
"Sure," Her big sister said, "The more, the merrier!"
"Alright, let's get going," Trina said as she left, "We'll be back soon, dad." Carrie and Mina looked at each other, and then rushed after her, giving off quick, 'good-byes'.
"Trina," Mina asked as the Beff sisters caught up, "What's wrong? Usually, you would insist that Nick would join us."
"Never mind that," Carrie said, "You would never suggest doing stuff for your brother, let alone something nice!"
"It's nothing…" Trina uttered, "Nothing at all. Just thought I do something nice before he turns to dust…"
"Well, that's nice of you!" Mina said with a grin, "I'm sure Corey will appreciate you!"
"Hold it," The Newman front-man uttered, "I'm not convinced! Something's definitely wigging you out! So, spill it!"
"Carrie," Her older sister scolded as they reached the elevators, pressing the 'down' button, "She and her dad are just a little shocked…I mean, I would be in their position if you and the Newmans were gonna be dust bunnies in a week, and there was nothing we could do to stop it."
"This is Trina we're talking about." Carrie said as she pointed to her.
"Good point." Mina agreed. The doors slid open and Trina yelped as she jumped back, her eyes pin-pointed to the elevator. Mina and Carrie looked inside to see a delivery man with a dolly full of boxes stare at them before walking out. The two sisters picked up Trina and the trio entered the elevator, looking over Trina as she twitched a little.
/
To be continued.