a/n: prepare for more branching subplots… starting now!
Chapter 6
The first thing that tipped the professor off that something was wrong was the silence. London was never silent, even in these dark times. He searched the room for his hat, touching what seemed to be a bandage wrapped around his ear.
"What is th-?" He stopped mid-sentence, tensing.
Layton could hardly hear his own voice.
No. It can't be… He thought, feeling terror start to seep in. He couldn't be going deaf. That was impossible.
Despite the pain, he struggled out of the bed, hobbling to the door. He grabbed a curtain rod leaning against the wall, using it as a cane to help him stand. The wall must have crushed part of his leg as well. This was worse than he thought.
He found himself in a long hallway that was a little familiar. Almost like… the hospital where they met the "future" Doctor Schrader. But how could it still be there? He'd assumed all of the underground London had been destroyed when the fortress blew up. After all, there had no reports of there being anything left. Perhaps the set-up was even more extensive than he knew.
Katarina seemed to be waiting outside of another room for something. Her eyes widened behind the dark frames of her glasses when she saw him.
"Profes-"She stopped when she saw the bandage. "I'm-"
"I know." He replied, not realizing how loud he was actually speaking. "It's unfortunate, but I'll have to persevere through it. Where's Clive?"
Seeming a bit uncomfortable, she pointed to the door. "Some woman is talking to him. I don't know what she wants though."
"Seems we'll be waiting then." The professor grunted as he leaned against the wall as pain surged through his body.
…
The scientist looked over the city with dismay. People were blaming this on Clive but Dimitri knew that wasn't right. This was Bill's fault and partially his own. For being careless scientists who didn't care who got hurt during their work.
Subject 3 bounced around the room, picking up the cigarette stubs and other trash that littered the tiny flat. "Ever thoughta cleanin' after yerself?"
He sighed, glancing at the former test experiment. "Is there any point to it?"
"Nah, but it would make it smell betta fer those 'f us with sensitive noses." The rabbit retorted, tossing the trash out the window.
He rolled his eyes, glancing at the row of pictures pinned to the walls of Claire and Bill when they were scientists. It struck him hard in his heart.
"Are you finally ready to receive the consequences of your actions, Bill?"
…
Flora finished the letter early the next morning as it took up to seven pages. Carefully, she folded the papers and squeezed them into the puzzle patterned envelopes.
"I hope he gets this." She thought aloud as she stuck it into the mailbox and crossed her fingers. "It's starting to get lonely around here…"
a/n: poor professor. Headcanon: Dimitri totally adopted Subject 3 because he felt bad about all the tests he had to go through.