Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino.
TxcPizza: Thank you!
Your Saving Grace Is Here: I'm unfamiliar with ARG or the story you mentioned. As for the school, yes. With limited space in the big city, everything is in one building. People think of Lisa as being fat because she's young in the show and hasn't lost her baby fat. Then there's her profession, which isn't physically active. And thank you!
kokomo: No Such Luck has nothing to do with this story.
U. N. Owen: Jump-scares would be challenging to pull off when written, as they are based entirely on visual elements. I like that you picked up on the elevator scene. Knowing people might expect something to happen in a closed-off space, I used it to build tension rather than have something happen.
Izaya Orihara 101101: I appreciate the interest! For this story, realism is essential. Otherwise, the more outlandish aspects won't stand out as much.
Restless
By LolaPresents (Editing by Catspeaker)
Chapter 3
Lori's mind weighed heavy as she lay in bed that night, thinking about what they'd learned. More specifically, what they didn't. While she wasn't sure about her other sisters, she, Leni, and Lisa had all been affected deeply by their past. In addition, they didn't appear to have any physical abnormalities that might cause such hallucinations.
As the oldest and supposedly the most mature, Lori assumed her guilt intensified because she was in charge at the time. However, after leaving for college, that role had passed down to Leni. Still, Lori felt like she should've done something more despite Leni's presence that day. However, even with her older sister there, she could understand Leni feeling a deep sense of regret as well.
Lisa's involvement was minimal at best, considering her age at the time, yet she was the most intelligent of them. Despite her many reasonable interjections, she must feel some guilt. Of that, Lori was sure. Who could blame her when everyone tuned out her advice? It was unfortunate her objections hadn't alleviated her guilt.
In thinking about who to see next, the choice was clear. Lynn was the most likely to be affected adversely by the events in the woods that day. Her suggestion provoked everyone, letting her competitive edge override her judgment, something even Lynn couldn't navigate easily. Undoubtedly, regret should be foremost on her mind.
Blowing a soft puff of air in resignation, Lori knew tomorrow would be another long day filled with emotional discussions and soul-searching. But it was something she had to do. If her other sisters had similar visions, they weren't talking about them, which concerned Lori as keeping things bottled up often led to disastrous ends.
Nothing ominous happened the rest of the day other than the ever-present subversive feelings, which was a good sign. However, her mind was still clouded and anxious. And, even with Bobby snoring next to her, her eyes flicked open at the slightest noise. But eventually, exhaustion overtook her, and she fell into a restless slumber.
The alarm woke the young couple that morning, and after trading some morning affection, they sluggishly rose to begin their days. While Bobby took a shower and got dressed for work, Lori put her robe on and made breakfast for Miguel and Selena, relieved that nothing bizarre had accosted her during the night.
Despite her respite, Lori kept an eye on her children, looking for signs of distress or anxiety. The last thing she wanted was to involve them in the family nightmare. But other than Miguel still being sleepy from staying up late with a flashlight to read comics under his covers and Selena attempting to assert her will upon him, everything seemed normal.
After breakfast, Lori gave them hugs and kisses, whether they wanted them or not, and sent them off to get dressed for school. As she was rinsing the morning's dishes, Bobby wandered into the kitchen to grab leftovers as he always did and talk to his wife before asking her how she slept that night.
"So, babe?" queried Lori's concerned husband, buttoning his shirt. "Any nightmares?"
"No," chirped Lori with a hint of enthusiasm. "Though I did have a hard time falling asleep."
"I'm sorry," apologized Bobby, adjusting his work smock. "Was I snoring again?"
"Yes, but that's alright," assured Lori with a broad smile, draping herself around his neck. "The sound of your snoring helped lull me to sleep."
"I love you, babe," Bobby whispered before pulling her into a thorough kiss.
As usual, the kids wandered into the living room at precisely the wrong time. At least, according to them. In their eyes, their parents were too old to display affection publicly.
"Ew, gross!" complained Selena as she moved past the kitchen. "They're doing it again, Migs!"
"Who cares..." muttered the boy with a skateboard under one arm. "Let's just get to school."
"Oh, right," chuckled Selena. "You've got a hot date with Cheryl, don't you?"
"Oh, shut up," barked Miguel. "I wish."
Having only two kids, rather than eleven, made it much easier for Lori and Bobby to be a part of their children's lives. With that came a constant awareness of what they were doing or thinking, something Lori and her siblings lacked as children, and Lori hoped their knowledge would help guide their kids down the right path.
"No, you don't," chided Lori, wagging her finger. "Not at your age."
"Listen to your mother, kids," Bobby joined in. "Now, get ready to go."
"Wait, Bobby..." sighed Lori, leaning against the counter. "There's something I need to ask of you."
Bobby considered his wife. Seldom did she ask for favors, so whatever it was must be important. However, Lori hadn't mentioned any such thing, and he was left clueless. Sure, she'd had a few bad dreams, but who didn't occasionally? He had to admit, though, with Leni having similar experiences, there was clearly something amiss.
"Sure, what?" Bobby asked seriously, giving his wife his undivided attention. "Whatever you need, babe."
Lori closed her eyes momentarily to bask in his concession before looking him in the eye. Her husband loved her tremendously and never said no to her. But a small part of her wished he would at some point. Being catered to was nice, but there were times when Lori began to feel like she was denying Bobby something.
"Bobby..." she said tentatively. "I'm going to stay with Leni for a few days to handle a family matter. You'll have to pick the kids up at the bus stop and look after them until I get back. Can you do that for me?"
Bobby looked back in surprise, responding with worry, "Babe, where is this coming from? What do you mean you're leaving for a few days? What am I supposed to tell Miguel and Selena?"
Lori gave a weak smile in return, "Bobby, please, I can't get into this right now."
Bobby sighed as he looked back at his wife, his eyes searching to hers, wanting to know more, "This is about your nightmares, isn't it? Babe, can't you tell me anything about this? Anything at all?"
Lori looked thoughtful and slowly shook her head.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, booboo-bear," Lori cooed. "At least, not right now. Maybe when this is all over."
"I see," sighed Bobby. "I guess I don't have much choice, do I?"
"No," chirped Lori, stepping back into his arms and kissing him apologetically. "Not this time."
After a few farewells, Bobby led his children to the bus stop and opened shop while Lori packed a bag. Taking a few days worth of clothes and some personal effects, she stepped from the apartment and headed to the parking lot where her old red car waited. She hated leaving her family for so long, but it was unfortunately necessary.
Lori grabbed a bite at a local Denny's on the city's outskirts before heading onto the highway leading home, then sang along to the radio to keep herself alert. Near the end of the trip, she stopped again, closer to Royal Woods, to eat lunch. While she knew Leni would happily feed her, Lori didn't like being dependent on anyone.
The red convertible pulled into the mall parking lot shortly after noon, and Lori made her way into Leni's store. Seeing people engaging in shopping and mingling gave her a sense of normalcy that had eluded her for the past several days. Sighing contentedly, Lori then made her way to Leni's office and announced herself.
"Oh, hi!" chirped Leni, answering her door. "I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon. Is everything alright?"
"No, not really," groaned Lori, taking a seat after being let in. "Listen..." Lori requested, laying her hands and purse in her lap as she considered her sister. "You know as well as I do that something strange is happening, and we need to find a solution," she reminded and informed her sister. "I need to ask that you let me stay with you for a few days while I do so."
"Well, sure, Lori," Leni muttered. "You're not only my sister but my best friend. I could never turn you away. But..." sighed the troubled girl. "Where would we even start?"
"Lynn," stated Lori as if the choice was obvious. "She started it all, and I haven't heard from her in so long I fear she might be trying to face things on her own. You know how independent and strong-willed she is."
"Yeah..." sighed Leni, sitting in the other chair. "Things must be awful for her. I can't even imagine..."
The two sisters sat idly, looking at each other as if some unspoken communication were happening. Guilt and regret over not staying in touch with their sisters over the years settled between them.
"Well," prodded Lori, fiddling with her purse. "When should we do this?"
"It'll have to be after work today," Leni announced. "I can't leave two days in a row. In the meantime, I'll call Chaz and tell him you're on the way and to help you get situated before then."
"That'd be great," responded Lori as she stood and prepared to head for her sister's apartment. "Pick me up there on your way home from work, and we'll see Lynn together."
"Sounds good!" chirped Leni, already slipping back into workaholic mode. "See you then!"
Many expected Lynn to achieve great things in the sports world. Though it wasn't initially apparent, Lynn's attitude and goals began to change during the years following the incident. While she still enjoyed fitness and sports, her aggressive nature dwindled, which cost her greatly. During her varsity year, she sustained a knee injury due to being careless.
After high school, Lynn worked at a local convenience store while living at home. At least, long enough to get a car and a deposit toward a loft. Her involvement in the incident left her empty inside, and she never dated, let alone married. Instead, she faced a life of solitude, which seemed a fitting atonement for her actions.
Eventually, she saved a sizeable nest egg, and when the family-owned pet store on the ground floor of their building closed shop, Lynn bought it and converted it into a modest fitness center and boxing ring. During the day, she continued working at the convenience store for stability. But in the evening, she ran Lynn's Basement.
Lynn's Basement contained two main rooms and a short hallway. The old showroom became a workout center, visible from the street, and the old storage room became a makeshift boxing area. One side of the hallway housed her office and a supply closet, while the other housed the bathrooms and changing rooms.
After arriving home that day around four o'clock, Lynn changed into something more comfortable, ate a quick meal, and headed downstairs to her fitness center to get ready for the evening's customers. She didn't have many, so she needed to maintain her day job. However, those she had were loyal and eager to learn.
Lynn sat at her messy desk, reviewing her ledger and schedule, which she hated doing. Paperwork was never her thing, but it was a necessary part of running a business. Maybe, if she were brighter, her business would be doing better, but she was satisfied with its current state. It brought in extra money and kept her mind occupied.
Lynn had only hung the two clipboards back on the wall and walked out of her office to open for the evening when she heard a noise from the supply room like some small animal was running around, trapped inside.
Furrowing her brow, she stopped and stared at the door, which was closed and securely locked, as she held the keys.
"What the fuck?" Lynn stammered as she unlocked the door and opened it, expecting a rat to run out.
Nothing emerged from the room except darkness and chilling cold air. After nervously turning on the light, Lynn nearly jumped out of her skin. For a brief moment, she thought there had been somebody there. But when her eyes adjusted to the light, only a tarp covering a broken bench press greeted her. As Lynn nervously laughed it off, the noise sounded again.
Only this time, it was different.
Stiffening defensively, Lynn clenched her fists, ready to stand her ground should someone surprise her, and listened intently. The sound began slow and quietly, building over time. It was a redundant swooshing noise, accompanied by faint creaking, which unnerved the young woman intensely. She'd heard it before, a long time ago. Nothing in the supply closet could have made that noise. Yet it continued.
*creak, whoosh, creak*
As if Lynn wasn't already on edge, the overhead bulb flickered several times before going entirely dim, sending sparks flying from the fixture's base. The sound had stopped all at once too. Startled, she gasped sharply, then flicked the switch a few times before giving up and stepping back to close the door, complaining about the building's shoddy construction.
But before she could, the bulb suddenly flicked on again, but with higher intensity, bathing the room in almost blinding bright white light. Before Lynn could recover, she heard a shaking and vibrating coming from the walls and shelves around her. She knew what was coming next.
The various balls and tools lying on the shelves began launching in numerous directions, threatening to injure her. Stepping into the hallway, Lynn slammed the door shut and locked it as the hallway lights started flickering, casting an ominous atmosphere upon the hall.
"Oh, hell no..." muttered Lynn as she backpedaled. "Not this shit again..."
While Lynn was the strongest and most self-assured of her sisters, what came next proved too much, even for her. Without warning, she found breathing challenging, as something was forming in her throat, a heavy, oppressive weight that began to close off her windpipe. Her hands flew to her neck, grasping at something she couldn't touch as it strangled her from inside, worming its way up into her mouth.
Coughing and gagging, Lynn ran into the sizeable multi-stalled restroom, staring at herself in the mirror. Her neck appeared engorged beyond average capacity, and her color was fading. Barely able to breathe, she suddenly felt the urge to vomit. Bracing herself against the sink basin, she opened her mouth and coughed wildly.
Blood splattered against the white porcelain bowl as something rough but malleable slid from her mouth. Nearly choking to death and unable to speak, much less scream for help, Lynn grabbed the object and pulled while staring at the mirror. Fear and utter panic gripped her as she pulled a long, bloody rope from inside her.
Falling to her knees and resting her head against the nearest wall, Lynn tugged hand after hand of the slick, sticky rope from within her. And, as it slid forth, it became increasingly covered in sick, pinkish-red material. If it didn't stop soon, she knew she would die. Already her focus was waning, and her eyesight blurred due to oxygen deprivation.
Throughout it all, she struggled with the feeling that maybe, just maybe, she deserved this.
As Lynn's consciousness began to fade and she lost strength, she slumped onto the floor, rolled onto her back, and stared at the flickering lights as they grew increasingly dim, casting eerie shadows across the room. Her eyes became heavy and slowly began to close. And, for the briefest moment, she thought she could see someone standing over her.
Lori and Leni arrived at Lynn's Basement around four-thirty that afternoon. Leni secured her car after parking along the street, and the two girls headed into the building. While the sign in the door still showed "closed," they knew their sister wouldn't begrudge them for entering, and they boldly wandered into the facility.
"Hello?" called Leni. "Anyone here?"
"Lynn?" Lori repeated a few times before heading off to find her. "It's Lori. Are you here?"
After checking her office and the changing rooms, the girls moved further down the hall when they heard muffled noises from the bathroom. Though they were relieved to find their sister present, her silence and their unanswered calls worried them. It was only after opening the restroom door that the reality of the situation dawned on them.
"Lynn!" screamed Lori, rushing to their sister's side. "Are you alright? Speak to me!" she demanded, shaking Lynn violently.
Slowly, Lynn's eyes opened, and she looked around with a dazed expression. There was no sign of the rope, and she could breathe again. Never so happy to see anyone, she sat up and threw her arms around Lori's neck, silent tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Fuck, am I glad to see you!" she wailed, not letting go. "I just had the worst hallucination!"
Quickly, Leni yanked a hand towel from a nearby rack and dampened it in the still-bloody sink, then returned to her sister's side and cleaned her of blood and sweat before helping Lori escort her back to her office.
"Is that blood?" Lynn muttered, gawking at the small towel she held, now sitting at her desk. "Was I dreaming, or what?"
"We aren't sure yet, Lynn," Lori informed her sister. "Leni and I have been experiencing similar things. Most of it seems like a dream. But sometimes, things get left over."
"What do you mean 'left over?'" inquired Lynn quizzically, throwing the rag onto her desk. "And how can I run a business if shit like this keeps happening?"
Lori looked back to her younger sister, checking for any injuries as she raised her eyebrow at Lynn's statement, "Keep's happening? How long has this been going on for you, Lynn?"
Lynn looked back, a guilty expression on her lips, before she shook her head, "Forget that right now. You sound like you know more than me. What the hell is happening, Lori?"
"It's hard to explain," admitted Lori with a sigh. "It's like..." she said before pausing to collect her thoughts. "Traces of what happens in our dreams are left behind in reality when the dreams fade. Even Lisa doesn't know what to make of it."
"So, Lisa, you, Leni, and I are all seeing things?" asked the stubborn girl as she leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "Anyone else I should know about?"
"We don't know," answered Leni apologetically. "But you're the fourth. We haven't seen anyone else."
"Okay," muttered Lynn, twisting her mouth in strange ways. "Tell me, what have you two and Lisa seen?"
The following ten minutes got filled with detailed explanations of everything Lori and Leni had seen, with a brief description of what they understood of Lisa's experience. With each story and the references within, Lynn nodded curtly, understanding their relevance.
"And you think this all has to do with what happened, right?" assumed Lynn, furrowing her brows. "Well, I'm not entirely sure I want to discuss it further. Reopening old wounds only causes infection, and I've had enough of this shit."
"We've also had enough, Lynn," agreed Lori sternly. "But if we don't do something, it will tear us apart. Maybe even kill us."
"Well," spat the defensive woman. "What the hell do you expect me to do about it? They're fucking dreams! It's not like I can kick their ass!"
"Think, Lynn!" pleaded Lori. "Is there anything you can tell us that might help us understand?"
Lynn sighed heavily, then lowered her head in thought for a moment before looking at her sister's from under her brow and brown bangs.
"Look, I want to help," she admitted, "but I've told you everything I know. What else can I do?"
"Can you at least give us an idea of who to talk to next?" pleaded Leni, sitting on the edge of her seat. "I mean, if anyone would know, it's you."
"That's easy," replied the toned woman. "Lana helped me clean things up if you know what I mean. She probably feels as terrible as I and might have something to add."
"Alright, Lynn..." muttered Lori, rising to leave. "We've taken enough of your time, and you have a business to run. We'll get out of your hair. Only..." she said before pausing, "...don't be such a stranger. We're here for you. Okay?"
"Sure," answered Lynn, not sounding too enthusiastic as she escorted her sisters to the front door before turning the sign around. "We'll see."
A few moments later, Lori and Leni headed to the other side of town, where Lana worked at the petting zoo. Royal Woods had neither the population nor the funds to sustain a full-sized zoo. However, at Lana's behest, she was allowed to start a minimal petting zoo on the fringes of town near the Hunnicutt farm.
"That didn't go so well," observed Leni as she drove down the road.
"Oh, I don't know," muttered Lori. "I mean, yes. I didn't expect Lynn to open up much, but at least we know she's also been experiencing strange happenings. It isn't limited to us, which means that whatever is happening is real. But we'll have to talk to the others if we're going to understand it."
"I know..." sighed Leni reluctantly. "It's all just so creepy. You know?"
"Yeah..." conceded her older sister. "I wish we could go to a therapist, or even a church, and take care of this."
"Lori!" snapped her sister, nearly swerving into the adjacent lane. "We can't do that, and you know why!"
"I know. I know..." murmured Lori. "But still... this doesn't seem natural to me. Dreams sometimes feel like they linger after waking, but they never leave anything behind. And Lynn's right. How do we combat something like that?"
"How would I know?" asked Leni, more confused and worried than before. "Maybe we should just ask it nicely to stop."
"Oh, Leni..." chuckled Lori as she stared absent-mindedly out the window at the scenery growing more rural.
The car fell silent as the two women contemplated events on their own. And while Leni concentrated on driving, Lori continued to gaze out the window. On more than one occasion, Lori could've sworn she'd seen a figure in the rearview mirror, faded by distance. However, it was too far away to make out any detail.
The surreal figure appeared several times on their way to the petting zoo, yet Lori remained silent, not wanting to upset Leni or affect her driving. It was almost as if it were following them, making Lori's skin crawl. The thought that someone, or something, was after them, with no way to fight back, was the most debilitating feeling she could imagine.
When they finally arrived at the attraction, Leni parked but didn't exit immediately. Instead, she and Lori sat idle for a few moments, assessing the situation. It was after usual work hours, and the zoo appeared quite popular. Many vehicles littered the parking lot, and parents escorted their children in and out of the door.
Knowing how much their little sister adored wildlife, she would spend as much time in the field as possible. Like Lynn, her affinity for paperwork was lacking. And unlike Leni, who'd found a comfortable middle-ground, Lana let her passions dictate every decision. Perhaps that's why she helped Lynn as much as she did after the incident.
Either way, they weren't likely to locate their sister in the maze of cages and enclosures, especially during peak hours. Deciding against having her paged, they chose to get dinner instead. They could always return nearer the closing time and catch their sister then. Besides, daylight was beginning to fade, the sun was already threatening to slide behind the earth, and their stomachs were churning.
Heading into town, Leni stopped at the first restaurant she saw, a little family-owned Italian pizzeria. It was a quaint establishment, one they'd never seen before. It must've been a newer addition to the town they called home. And after being seated, they ordered a large soda and two slices of pepperoni pizza.
Together, they passed the time chatting about happier times. Lynn was right about reopening old wounds. Sometimes, things are better left forgotten. But now that the genie was out, it was up to them to contain it again, and they needed every bit of positive energy they could muster.
However, finding happiness proved difficult with the misty figure staring at them from across the street.