Anthony's POV
"Anthony?"
"Hi Joven," I said.
"This is my fault," He said.
"How could you have done this?"
"I…I went into that damn abandoned house," He started, "Sohinki got killed, Lasercorn got bit, then you. And now…"
"Don't worry," I said, "I'll be fine."
"You're lying," He said.
"You can't blame yourself for everything," I said.
"Maybe you're right," He said, "Anyways, Laser wants to go search for Sohinki's body, to give him a proper burial."
"Are you going to do it?"
"Not me," He said, "I can barely leave my room, let alone leave the office. They're everywhere, Anthony. Damn it, I'm scared."
"You're safe in here, Joven," I said.
"No," He mumbled, "No…"
It took me a moment to realize he wasn't talking to me.
"Not again…" He said.
"Joven?"
He squeaked.
"Joven," I repeated, "What's wrong?"
"Anthony, help," He said, "They're everywhere."
Ian's POV
Anthony stayed in his room the rest of the morning. He was too afraid to go anywhere.
"Ian?" He asked.
"Yeah, buddy," I said, "I'm here."
"Do…do you think I've been a shitty friend?"
"You think you've been a bad friend?!" I said, "Dude, I shot you."
"Sometimes…I feel like I treat you like shit," He said, "I don't mean it."
"Did you have another one of those dreams?"
Anthony told me a few times about a reoccurring dream he has where I call him a horrible friend and leave, or something to that effect.
"Yeah," He said.
"Anthony, you may be an asshole sometimes," I half joked, "But, you're there when I need you."
Joven's POV
Laser's body was the worst. His face sliced open, his guts were exposed, somehow still alive. The voice said: kill me, please, end the suffering.
"Joven," Laser interrupted my thoughts.
I looked up at him, cringing from his image in the dream.
"Did you think about what we discussed earlier?" He asked.
"Yeah," I said solemnly, "I have to go, don't I?"
He shook his head.
"Anthony told me what happened earlier," He said, "Joven, you're in no shape to…"
"I HAVE to," I interrupted, "He was my best friend."
I winced, remembering my meeting with him yesterday. The abyss, the blackness he showed me…
Laser's POV
"Joven…Joshua?" I said, "Wh..what's wrong?"
I saw that he was tearing up.
"You wouldn't believe it," He said.
"Maybe not," I admitted, "But I'll listen."
He sighed.
"Yesterday, when I went into that room," He started, "I was ready to end it. I… couldn't take the guilt anymore. I was so close…then Sohinki showed up."
"What?!"
"He was a ghost," He said, "A spirit, something. Anyways…"
He explained the rest of Sohinki's visit, including the abyss.
"Have you told Wes?" I asked.
He shook his head. I remembered back a while ago when Joven told me his most valuable secret…
Joven and I were hanging out at his house. Wes was gone.
"Hey Laser," Joven asked.
"Yeah," I said, concentrating on a video game.
"We're…friends right?"
"Of course," I said.
"Can…can I tell you something?"
"Anything."
"I…I like Wes," He said.
"Well, I like him too," I said, not realizing what he meant.
He sighed in frustration. I paused the game.
"All right man, spit it out," I said, "What's REALLY on your mind?"
"I really REALLY like Wes," He said, "Like…I have a…crush on him."
"Are you…"
"I don't know," He said, "Maybe?"
"It's okay," I said, "But does Wes…"
"NO," He said, "And I hope he never does."
I was ecstatic that Joven trusted me enough to keep his secret.
"How are you and Wes doing?" I asked.
"Great," He said, "I guess I owe it to you, buddy."
I chuckled. My accidental slip to Wes really helped.
"Yeah, sorry," I said.
"You guys should go out," Wes imitated from the doorway, "Joven already likes you."
"You dickhead," Joven said.
Wes went over by Joven.
"Joven listen," I said, "I can get Ian or Mari to go. You don't have to."
"It's a good idea, Jovie," Wes said, his arm around Joven.
Joven nodded.
"Okay then," He said.
Wes's POV
Laser left, and I was stuck with Joven, and my guilt. My eyes quickly filled with tears.
"Are you okay?" Joven asked.
"Yeah," I said, looking away.
"You're crying," He said, "Now what the hell happened?"
"It's not what happened," I said, "It's…what I did."