A Charmed Story - Part Nine:
I, Myself And The Elders
Chapter 8

"Ok..." Paige sighed, after a long pause, feeling really frustrated. They had been discussing about what to do for several minutes since Chris and Steve had left, and they had not found any agreement. The worst was that...
"Time is still running, guys, and as long as we do not do anything, Rhashirk has the advantage," Phoebe said, supported by Cole's nods of agreement.
"Definitely, we need to do something. And I personally think that baits are not gonna work this time. This demon is not stupid, people. To begin with, he was an Elder, and he knows all your tricks. And he won't fall on the same trap again. We used Christopher as a bait before, and he will be ready for that, if we try it again now," he said.
Piper sighed, quite frustrated: "So what do you suggest, Mister? Or do you only have objections?"
Cole looked back at her, hurt, but said nothing. He understood what that woman had to live through with a son like Chris around. He shook his head.
Nicki was holding Veronica's hands between hers, as she listened attentively and tried to come up with some idea, but fear was blocking her.
Leo started to pace around pensively. They were right... It was not a good idea that he himself acted as a bait, but what about Andrew? He could not risk him... And Cole was right too... Baits would not work. He raised his eyes to meet the sisters' and Cole's: "Listen... There's something I don't understand. Julian said that Rhashirk is after our family. But then... why is he kidnapping Elders?"
Phoebe frowned, thoughtfully too: "Well... Probably he wants both things. He wants to govern the world, I guess. But he knows that finishing with the Elders is not enough, as long as our family lives."
Andrew shook his head: "No. I think there is something else. I think he has something against your family, more than mere interest. And kidnapping Elders is a good way to attract your attention. And don't forget that he already tried to do so before... This isn't the first time that he tries to kill you!"
"I agree," Paige said, clasping her hands, "he's not interested in the Elders at all. I guess he does not really mind them. He just wanted to show his strength with this action, and make us fall into action, want it or not. I mean... Kidnapping Elders is not like just kidnapping an innocent... It is something serious, guys."
"And he wants us to go and save them..." Cole said.
"And you suggest that we do not move at all!" Piper exclaimed, really angry.
Cole shook his head again: "I never said that."
"No, you implied it with your words!"
Leo went to her, and pressed her shoulder tenderly: "Relax... Everything's gonna be ok, honey." Then he turned to the others: "Ok, what we need to do is bring Chris and Steve back. I don't think it is actually a good idea to let them act on their own. And maybe we should..."
"Do you think that we could kill him? It's not easy to kill an Elder..." Nicki asked, suddenly. All the faces turned to her, in shock. "I mean..." she went on, feeling Veronica's eyes on her, "If he was an Elder..."
Cole, sighed, disappointed: "If the source couldn't kill him... If he had to send him to another plane... No one can."

°°°°°°°°°°

"Still unconscious?" Rhashirk asked, appearing more than pissed off. He approached the boy and looked at him intensively.
Tom held the breath back, wishing that he was really unconscious. He could feel his heart beating so fast, that he thought he would finally pass out. But it did not happen, unfortunately. And he could feel the intense odour coming from the demon's breath. He wanted to cough, then sneeze and also puke, but tried to keep all that under control. However, it must have not worked.
"He must be very weak... Leave him alone, he's just a boy," Odin said, staring at Rhashirk beggingly.
The demon smirked and went nearer: "He's not a boy anymore... All boys become adults, and he's trying hard to appear as one." Then he squatted by his side and pinched his cheek, making Tom use all his strength to hide the pain. "A very good actor, that he is..." Rhashirk went on, grinning now.
Then he stood up again and looked at the Elders: "And you are really bad liars." He shook his head. He could feel that Tom was not weak at all, he would have been able to get his powers. But it had been impossible.
Then he turned to him again, fast, and Tom flinched instinctively, opening his eyes. Rhashirk started to laugh very soundly, making all the prisoners thrill in fear.
"I am not gonna kick you, young man... That's not my style."
Tom trembled, unable to take his eyes from him, as he bent his legs. "W-w-w... What do you want from me...?" he asked, looking at Odin, and Steve's mother in search for help.
Rhashirk freed him with a movement of his hand, and Tom could feel the pain in his wrists when his wounds were in direct contact with the air. But he had no time for more, Rhashirk pulled him on his feet.
"What do you think I want from a little brat like you, that was able to find a way into my place?" he said menacingly, flinching his teeth, as he dragged him away.
"Leave him alone!" the Elders cried again, in panic. But Rhashirk did not listen.

°°°°°°°°°°

Angela had listened to her husband with a mixture of interest and fear. He had told her about the trouble Chris had, of course without any details. Michael would have never told her that Chris had killed that Elder or what else he had done. But what Michael said was enough to understand, how much this young man had gone through. And now, when he told her that those Elders were mistrusting Chris, Angela could imagine how much he suffered.
"And you're afraid that he...?" she wasn't able to end this thought.
But Michael knew what she wanted to say, anyway. "I don't know," he answered, "I'm just afraid that he could do something stupid out of his desperation."
"He really means a lot to you, right?"
Michael looked at her with and indescribable expression. He was confused and scared, and annoyed about that question and answer game... But mostly he was afraid. "Yes... YES he DOES!" he exclaimed angry and louder than he had planed. "He saved us, damn it! We owe him our lives, our freedom! And yes, I do care about him, because he isn't only the one who saved us... He's the best friend I ever had! And not because he saved me... He's my friend because he opened his heart to me, even if he didn't know me... he trusted me. And now I'm sure that I DO know him... And I really don't get why those freaks up there don't trust him... 'cause they are always searching for the Greater Good... and if you ask me, it's inside Chris! Deep inside that man lies the Greater Good and no where else!"
Angela stared at her husband kind of shocked. She had never heard him talking like that. She had never seen him that distressed. And that made her feel sorry, because all this was just for her.
"I'm sorry," she tried to apologise.
Now Michael was completely confused: "What???? WHY???"
"Because it's all for me... If I didn't know, and if I wouldn't be so... scared of all this, you would find a way to go to help him... I'm sorry..."
Michael couldn't help smiling about her words. He hugged her and whispered to her ear: "Oh Angy I love you soooooo much... and there is NO reason to feel sorry."
"There is," she said, "but there shouldn't... So, if you want to go, than do it. And don't tell me that you don't want to, because I know you do."
He sighed, nodding. Then he kissed her.

°°°°°°°°°°

Bianca was sitting on the sofa, with little Hope in her arms, as Victor held a sleeping Chris and looked at him in wonder. That little thing... was gonna grow so smart!
They had been silent for a while, thoughtful, both of them. Victor thought that it was really weird, now that he knew that this little baby would not actually be the Chris he knew, but the one he had met recently... Christopher. Just a couple of hours talking with him had been enough to make him realise how different they actually were. Even with the same genes! It was just the circumstances that surrounded them, the ones that had shaped both men. And both of them in their own ways, were really wonderful. He finally raised his head and met a smiley Bianca staring at him.
"It's like a miracle, isn't it?" she asked softly, since Hope had finally fallen asleep, and Wyatt was deeply sleeping by her side on the sofa.
Victor half-smiled, and nodded: "And you talk about miracles..." Then he chuckled softly: "I remember the times I've spend with my little daughters, when they were like this. I regret that I left them. I thought magic was like a curse, I could not bear it... It was too much for me."
Bianca listened to him silently, understanding that man perfectly well, as he went on: "After the years, they all have helped me realise how wonderful this is. It's like a blessing..."
"Actually it can be like a curse too, sometimes," the woman replied, staring at little Wyatt, as all the memories of her past came to her mind. 'That timeline is still there... You two were on my list...' she just kept remembering the words of the angel of death. It had been a dream... she tried to convince herself that it had been a dream, but... she knew it was true.
"You mean, because this little child had that horrible premonition?" Victor asked, sadly.
Bianca nodded after a while. "And Wyatt had to feel it too."
"I know... They are just children. They should not have to go through all this. But I guess they're destined to make a better world for the other kids!"
Bianca smiled slightly, and then nodded: "I guess so..."

°°°°°°°°°°

It was already three o'clock in the morning, when Michael stood in front of the Halliwell manor.
His discussion with his wife had last a little longer. He really didn't want to leave her like that, but she convinced him that it was ok, that she understood him.
Now he stood there, watching the house and thinking about how stupid this was. The Halliwells were surely deeply asleep. But then, when he was about to turn back again, he saw a light flashing on in the attic. And a few moments later, it went off again.
He sighed. Then he went to the door and knocked. It took not long till he heard some steps from inside. Then the door was opened by...
"Nicki?" he asked surprised.
"Hey Mike," the girl said confused, "what are you doing here?"
He sighed again: "Ok listen, I know it's not the time to make a visit, but I need to talk to Chris, so I thought someone can bring me to the school and..."
"Wait... stop..." now she was the one who sighed, "he isn't at the school, but... I think it's better you come in first..."
Michael nodded and entered, a bad feeling forming in his stomach. He observed her closing the door and then followed her to the living room. There they all sat, Piper and Leo, Cole and Phoebe, Paige, that girlfriend of Tom... Veronica, and another person who seemed to be an Elder. They all looked up when he went in.
"Hey," he said shyly waving his hand.
Cole shook his head: "Mike, what are you doing here?"
Michael looked from one to the other: "I'm here because I'm worried... about Chris..."

°°°°°°°°°°

Odin looked to Elenia helpless. "What will he do to him?" she asked, with fear in her voice.
Rhashirk had pulled him away from their sight a few minutes ago. For a while they still could hear him yelling, but then the sound got lost in the distance.
"I don't know," Odin said, "I hope he does not the same to him like he did to your son."
Elenia sighed. She still felt guilty that she wasn't there for her son. She should have... But the Elders who know her story had decided that it's better when she would not intervened. She could have cursed more trouble, if she had returned like this, than she would have helped.
Now Elenia thought that her fellows had been completely wrong. She wasn't there for her son, when he needed her most. How should she ever be able to look him in the eyes again. A sigh escaped her lips as she thought about him. She missed him so much.
"It isn't too late," Odin said suddenly, as if he had guessed what she was thinking about. "You know I never agreed with the others," he added when she looked at him again. "From my close contact to the Halliwells I know now how important family is... If this is over, you should talk to him, no matter what the others are saying." Elenia swallowed, then nodded.

°°°°°°°°°°

Tom sighed, while the pain slowly left his body. He was bound to a chair, like you can find it at a dentist. His wrist and feet were bound and also his chest so that he could only breath with difficulties. Everything around him was blinding white. And there was a lamp or something above him which shone so bright that his eyes hurt.
He knew that place very well, he knew it from Steve's dreams he had shared accidentally, from his memories. He shivered thinking about that.
He had to get out of there, but how?
Rhashirk had tortured him a while, with that light and with something that had send an unbearable pain through his whole body. He didn't know how he had made that, but it was horrible.
But now the demon was gone. He had left him a couple of minutes ago, so that he had a chance to relax a little. He still felt the pain inside him, but slowly his mind became more and more clear.
He tried to look around, but the light was to bright, he couldn't identify anything of his surrounding.
He sighed. "Oh Steve... I'm so sorry," he muttered. Then he closed his eyes, while a tear ran over his cheek.
He had been so stupid to try this alone. Veronica had been right, he should have talked to the Halliwells. This was just too huge for him alone.
Veronica... He hoped that she wasn't pulled into that dimension like him, that she was save... And if that's so, he hoped that she asked someone for help... Because he really had no idea how he could get out of this alone.
Then he thought about the Elders... If they had been caught too, then the Halliwells must already try to find them... and with them they had to find him too. Again he sighed.
He opened his eyes a little, again trying to see something. But it was impossible. There was only that blinding white light.
"I'm sorry," he muttered again," but I have to try it..." He closed his eyes again and concentrated on his friend. He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't hear how Rhashirk returned. He didn't noticed him while the demon walked around him, observing him. He didn't noticed him until he again felt that unbearable strong pain...

°°°°°°°°°°

Belthazor had led them to a small layer, which was surely not his. Then he nodded at Julian and grabbed Chris hand. Before the Elder could react he flamed out.
When they materialised again they were in a huge cave which looked more like the home of the source of all evil. But after all the things that had happened, he doubted that this was really his 'home'. A second later Julian and Steve shimmered in.
Chris looked at the demon kind of angry: "Ok, what should that be?"
"Do you really think I want you to know where this place is exactly?" Belthazor asked back grinning.
Chris looked at him with narrowed eyes, but said nothing. Then he walked around a little examining the stuff that was spread around. "Nice place," he finally said.
Steve, who was still scared, looked at Chris confused. He couldn't believe that his friend trusted that demon, but he did... it was clear that he - the Elder - trusted the source of all evil.
"So..." Chris said sitting down on a stool made of stone, "how can I go to that plane of darkness?"
Belthazor smiled: "I like people who don't waste their time with useless talks." Then he took a rolled piece of old paper and sat down next to Chris. He made a table appear in front of them and unrolled the paper.
Steve and Julian observed them from the distance. Steve was simply afraid to move closer and Julian knew that those things they were discussing weren't his business. They stood there side by side for a couple of minutes, when suddenly Steve felt a strong headache. Holding his head he sank down on an old chair, moaning in pain.
"CHRIS!" Julian exclaimed. The Elder and the demon jumped up and ran over to him.
"Steve?" Chris asked worried.
Also Belthazor had knelt down next to the young man and took his hand. Chris noticed that with surprise, but he hadn't the time to pay much attention to that gesture. "Steve, are you ok?" he asked again.
"No," his friend mumbled under his breath, "it's... it's Tom..." Then he suddenly yelled in agony before passing out.

°°°°°°°°°°

A few minutes later Steve had gained back his conscious. He felt a little dizzy but he convinced Chris that he was alright and that he should end for what they had come to that place. And anyway, he wasn't in the mood of talking after feeling that kind of pain again, even if he knew it wasn't really him who suffered this time. But that little fact hurt him even more.
So Chris and Belthazor had returned to the table for another 10 minutes, while Julian took care of Steve. He really tried to make him feel better. Then Steve saw how Chris and Belthazor shook hands... 'They really shook hands?' he thought but kept silent. He felt the anger rose inside him. He had trusted that Elder, but know he felt kind of betrayed.
Whatever... Chris returned to him with a weak smile. "How do you feel?" he asked still worried.
"Fine," Steve answered shortly.
Chris nodded and then he turned to Julian: "Alright, bring us home..."
The colored witch nodded, grabbed their hands and shimmered them back to the manor.
When they arrived in the hallway, Julian wasn't their anymore. Chris rose his eyebrows, he hadn't expect it any different. He sighed and went to the living room.
"Ok, can you now explain that to me?" Steve asked frustrated following him.
Chris turned around: "Don't worry, I promise I'll explain that to you in every little detail but we don't have time for that now..."
"Chris!" Piper exclaimed relieved when they entered while he was still talking. She jumped up to hug him the same second as Chris realised that Michael was there, too. He looked at him frowning, but before he could say anything, Steve rose to speak again.
The young man was still confused and angry. Not only because his friend didn't told him that before, but also because he knew that Tom was suffering this moment, and he wasn't able to help him. So Steve asked without thinking about the others in the room, he asked the question he needed to be answered: "No Chris... I don't plan to just get over this... I mean, you're an Elder... how can you trust the source of all evil?"
"WHAT?" Piper, Paige, Leo, Nicki and Veronica exclaimed at the same time, while Cole shook his head with a sigh. Andrew on the other hand, just observed him silently. Not even a frown appeared on his face.
Chris rolled his eyes. That was the kind of distraction, they really didn't need that moment... "Look..." he started, noticing how the inquiring and accusing eyes of the people around him were fixed on him. He did not know how to explain it, and less in a moment like that. It was too difficult to think clearly with all the things that were going on, and undoubtedly, it was not the best moment for that. But they needed an answer... His parents were looking at him puzzled, as if he had betrayed them or something worse. They did really need an explanation, as well as Steve. Nicki and Veronica were more than interested in the answer too, and Paige was so shocked she did not know what to say.
"Look..." Chris quickly looked for his uncle in search of help, but help came from a different place.
"He knows what he does!" It was Michael. He had stood up and walked towards Chris.
Steve folded his arms on his chest and looked at Michael, angrily: "Well, he must be nuts then, and you don't have any idea of what this life is, so shut up!"
"Steve!" Nicki exclaimed, seeing Chris's face. Of course, there must have been some explanation. She could not believe that Chris was having deals with the source of all evil. But she turned to look at the faces of the others and started to worry... Could he?? Could he be betraying his own family?
"What!" Steve cried, angrier and angrier. "All the things that happened to us, all this time... Gosh, even to his family here, look! And he was behind all of them, and pretending that he cared for me, for us!" He had now tears in his eyes, and could not notice Chris's puzzled and hurt countenance.
Michael wanted to hit that boy who had yelled at his friend that way, and hurt him so much, but he knew that was not the best solution. Besides, the young man had had a truly bad experience before...
"Steve, that is not true..." Chris said feebly, lowering his eyes, and feeling Michael's hand grabbing his arm kindly.
"Of course it's not," his friend said, supporting Chris. "He has gone through hell for you, for all of you..." He looked around, from one to another, expecting some reaction.
Cole looked at him, pondering what he should say, as he saw how Piper and Leo exchanged concerned looks. "I know he's doing what he has to. Please, trust him. It's Chris, you know what he's like. Just trust him, and he'll explain later," he said, trying to give the less information he could.
Chris looked at him grateful, and swallowed: "Believe him... I'd never do something that hurt any of you. ANY."
"Oh, yeah, making deals with the source of all evil is something completely inoffensive," Steve remarked with sarcasm. Nicki went to him and held his arm firmly, warningly.
"Honey..." Piper said, still shocked, "I trust you. We do... But we don't understand..."
Paige nodded at her sister's words, as Cole looked at Phoebe, not knowing what to do.
Chris was at the verge of tears, but held them back with a great effort. "He's helping us... He's our only hope now, so please, just trust me. I'll explain everything when this is done..." he said.
Michael pressed his arm warmly and Cole nodded, waiting for the others' reactions.
Steve was so mad that the only thing he let go was a laugh full of sarcasm, but said nothing. Nicki didn't either, but Veronica stood up and went to him. "Is this gonna save Tom?" she asked with a firm voice. Chris looked at her in silence for a moment, and then nodded, hesitantly.
"Then, go the hell with him and do what you have to do, and when he's safe we'll have time to tell you off about all this mess." Her look was so determined, so strong, that it infused reassurance in Chris. He nodded and looked at his parents.
Leo smiled feebly and gravely: "Go ahead."
"But come safe," Piper concluded.
Chris nodded: "Well, actually I need your help... I need a potion."
"I'll take care of that," Phoebe said and jumped up. She had kept silent all the time, unsure what to do or say. She knew about Belthazor, she knew that Chris and Cole trusted him and why... but... she just couldn't share that trust with them, at least not completely.
"Thanks," Chris muttered, giving her a sheet of paper.
His aunt patted his shoulder and looked at him reassuringly. "Don't worry," she whispered.
Chris nodded and followed her with his eyes, while she went to the kitchen. Then he turned to Steve: "I know that you're angry at me... but... Did Tom send you any information that could be useful?"
"What?" Veronica exclaimed while Nicki looked at him with worried eyes.
Steve looked at the Elder-witch angrily, but then shook his head. "He was telling something about the Elders, about Odin and Silas... but then..." he sighed, "I guess at the moment he's suffering like I did." Veronica swallowed by these words shivering, and Nicki hugged her.

°°°°°°°°°°

"Thanks," Rhashirk said with a smirk and threw Tom to a corner of the cave. He didn't chain him. It wasn't necessary, the young witch wasn't able to move anyway.
Then he turned to the unconscious Silas and knelt down next to him.
"You bastard, go away from him!" Odin exclaimed trying to get free and help his friend.
But Rhashirk didn't even listen. He just put his hand on Silas chest and a bluish light appeared moving from the Elder to the demon. When it was done, Rhashirk orbed away.
Elenia, who was the closest to Tom rushed over to him as far as she could. But she couldn't reach him. "Tom... TOM!" she called for him.
Odin observed the young witch worried. Tom wasn't moving. He just lied there, his body covered with scratches, and his leg twisted in an unnatural way. His eyes were open, but he just stared into the nothing, like he wouldn't notices what happened around him.
"Oh my God, " Elenia muttered, when she saw a single tear running down Tom's cheek. She knew him since he had been two years old, when he and his father moved in next to her family, and it hurt her to see him like that. But that was nothing compared to how hurt and guilty she felt because she knew her own son had suffered the same way.

°°°°°°°°°°

In a short moment of silence, Michael gestured to his friend that he wanted to talk to him for a moment, alone. So, to the dislike of the others they left to the hallway.
"What are you doing here, Mike?" Chris asked as soon as they where out of sight.
Michael turned to look at him: "I was worried... I mean... all the things you told me, I... I was just afraid that you would go too far to save them..."
Chris sighed, lowering his eyes. Actually he had asked himself the same question while Belthazor was leading them to his 'base'. But...
"Don't worry," he said and looked at his friend again, smiling weakly. "Maybe I don't want to be one of them anymore, but... I have a family to take care of... I would never risk to leave them alone."
Michael let out some air and smiled relieved. "That's good to hear man... Because... I would really miss you..."
Chris couldn't help smiling widely. He hugged the man tightly, it was good to have such a good friend like him. Even if he had some trouble with Angela at the moment, Michael really cared about him. And the other way round it was the same.
When they parted Michael looked at his friend frowning.
"What?" Chris asked.
The man shook his head: "Don't quit your job up there, you're meant to be there, Chris."
"Well... I think that's something we should discuss..."
"Have you seen that other Elder inside there? He is still believing in you, you can see it in his eyes. Even since he heard about your demonic friend..."
"Michael I..."
At that moment, they heard Phoebe from the living room: "Potion is ready!" Chris sighed and then they both returned to the others.
"Ok," anything else you need?" Phoebe asked as soon as they returned.
Chris took the potion from her and put it into his jeans-pocket. "Well," he said then, "I can't do this alone, even if it is actually maybe possible... but it's to risky to try it... I need a witch coming with me."
Piper, who was still not sure about where those new facts about the source would lead them to, rose to speak: "Then... what exactly is your plan?"
Chris felt all the eyes focused on him and that made him feel uncomfortable. "Well..." he said, "I planed to go to that other plain and vanquish that bastard."
"That easy? So what do you need our help for?" Paige snapped.
The Elder-witch rolled his eyes: "Of course that is not THAT easy... There is a spell, which must be cast by a witch and an Elder. That spell will block his powers, but only for a couple of minutes. Hopefully enough time to..."
"And that potion?" Steve asked still angry.
"It's not for him, it's for..." Chris couldn't finish his sentence. At that moment bluish lights appeared in front of his chest. Sensing something familiar, Chris stretched out his arms just in time to catch his brother and prevent him from falling.
"Wyatt? What are you doing here?" Piper asked surprised and worried, rushing over to him.
But the boy just hold strongly onto his brother, crying: "Demon, demon!"
Chris eyes darkened immediately, and before he could make a clear thought he was orbing to L.A.!
"CHRIS, ARE YOU NUTS!" Piper yelled after him. Then she turned around to her husband: "Why had he to take Wyatt with him?"

°°°°°°°°°°

When Chris orbed into his grandfathers apartment the whole place was a complete mess. "BIANCA!" he yelled, starting to panic, while his brother was crying into his shoulder.
Then he heard a moan from underneath the sofa which was turned upside down. Chris moved it away telekinetically, to find Victor lying there, wounded by a fireball.
"Oh my God," he muttered. He knelt down next to him, placing Wyatt to his side and started to heal the man.
Wyatt watched him interested. And when the golden light appeared the little boy did imitate his brother. He placed his small hands next to Chris's and then to the Elder-witch's surprise the light intensified. His little brother was really helping with his own healing powers. Chris, despite all the worry and desperation, couldn't help feeling proud of him.
Then it was done and Victor sat up. "Are you alright?" Chris asked concerned. His grandfather nodded. "What happened?" the Elder-witch asked then.
"I don't know... Baby-Chris was crying and Bianca tried to calm him down... and then there was that man... he orbed in and we both thought it would be you but... I'm sorry Chris, I tried to stop him but... he took them... The last thing I saw was how Wyatt orbed away and then he..."
Chris swallowed. Inside he felt his world broke into pieces, but he knew he had to be strong for him, and also for Wyatt who was crying again. "It's ok," he barely managed to say, "I'm sure you did everything you could." He sighed: "Can I leave you alone? I don't think he will return to you."
Victor nodded. But, when Chris took Wyatt and was about to leave, he grasped his hand: "I'm sure you will find them... alive..."
His grandson swallowed again. "I hope so," he said and orbed with Wyatt away.

°°°°°°°°°°

When Chris returned to the manor, he looked around and felt like hit by a deja vu. The whole living room was destroyed. He spotted Veronica crashed into the table, Nicki was lying next to the wall, the rest of a picture frame around her, and Steve was lying in the doorway to the kitchen. The others were gone.
Chris felt like losing the ground under his feet, like he was falling into a deep dark hole with no end. Feeling like he had lost everything, he sank down to his knees and started to cry uncontrollably.

(Chapter 8 written by Belén and Chrissy.W.x)