I do not own The Loud House. All rights belong to Nickelodeon.
Chapter 4
After looking at the phone photos, Lynn snuck into Lincoln's bedroom without him waking up to grab his sketchbook. Everyone gazed upon the drawings in shock and sorrow, with pensive looks at the depressing and detailed art.
"Lincoln . . . drew these?" Lori uttered.
"Yeah, he did," Luna answered.
"Are these all Lincoln? Did he draw himself in each one?" Lynn asked.
"I think so. I think he drew his feelings," Lucy stated.
"So, this is how he feels? I don't understand. How?" Lori asked.
Lucy explained, "Depression takes on many different forms. The drawing of the tunnel of darkness, in a way, shows that he feels alone. He feels isolated or lost because the light at the end means he's trying to find a way out or find hope. The drowning one can mean that he feels like he can't breathe like the depression and anxiety are choking him. The chained-up is easy. That means he feels trapped and imprisoned."
"But he's not trapped. He can unlock the doors, and there are no chains holding him," Leni protested.
"Not literally, Leni. He feels like he's trapped emotionally," Lori explained.
"But why? Why does Lincoln feel all these things?" Lana questioned.
"That's the big question. There's something going on that Lincoln is not telling us," Lucy answered.
"Why won't he tell us? We're his sisters!" Lola protested.
Lynn stated firmly, "Well, I'll make him tell us. I'm gonna go march into that bedroom and—"
Luna and Luan grabbed her to stop her.
"No, Lynn!" Luna ordered.
"You can't force him to tell you! It doesn't work like that," Luan stated.
"Then how are we supposed to help him if he doesn't tell us what's wrong?" Lynn asked.
"Yeah! We can't fix something if we don't know what's broken," Lana sided.
"We need to make him trust us," Lucy answered.
Everyone turned to her.
"People open up to those they trust . . . to those that make them feel safe," Lucy added.
"I conquer with Lucy. If we want Lincoln to talk to us and explain his troubling feelings, then we need to make him feel comfortable for him to lay down his emotional barrier in order for him to open up," Lisa explained.
Leni tilted her head with a raised eyebrow, "Emotional barrier?"
"She means by have Lincoln talk about his feelings rather than bottle them up and not talk," Lori explained.
"Okay, but how do we do that?" Lola questioned.
"Perhaps we need to spend more time with Lincoln. If he feels isolated and alone, the best way for him to not feel that way is for him to be surrounded by loved ones, by his family," Lisa suggested.
"She's right. We need to spend more time with Lincoln. We need to show him that we care about him, that we love him. He needs to feel that he's loved. Then he'll feel safe and open up to us about what's happening," Lori said.
"Maybe we should take small steps about this, dudes. There's ten of us and only one him. We won't get anywhere if we all try to hog his attention. So maybe one of us or a few of us at a time would be better to reach out to him," Luna suggested.
Luan nodded, "That sounds like the better idea. So, who wants to go first with Lincoln?"
"Oh! Me! I can take him to the mall. I totes have great ideas for new clothes for Lincoln, and we can try Gus's Games and Grub and play that dancing game," Leni praised.
"Leni, I don't know if new clothes will spark his interest," Lisa stated.
"Yeah, shopping's not his thing," Luna added.
"Yeah, but don't you think he'll feel a little better if he had some variety in his closet? New things are totes neat. Besides, he must now be tired of wearing the same orange polo shirt and tight jeans. A new look might make him smile," Leni explained.
"Huh, actually, that does sound like a good idea," Lori agreed, "Maybe Bobby and I can go too. Bobby knows boy stuff, so maybe he can give us some tips. The two of them will definitely hit it off at the arcade games."
"It's a date then!" Leni cheered.
"Maybe Lana and I can get Lincoln to go go-karting with us. Or to a hockey game!" Lynn proposed excitedly.
"Or to an alligator wrestling match!" Lana added excitedly.
Everyone looked at her wide-eyed like she was crazy.
"Not for him to wrestle, to watch! There's no way I'd let him anywhere near those beasts," Lana explained, "But if it bothers you guys that much, we could take him somewhere else. Someplace he likes."
"What does he like?" Luan asked.
"Well, if anyone knows what Lincoln likes, it's Clyde. Those two are practically brothers," Lola stated.
"Yeah, we could talk to him. He's bound to know what Lincoln likes," Luna agreed.
"Do you think he knows about Lincoln being sad?" Luan asked.
Everyone shrugged.
"Let's just take things one step at a time. Leni, Bobby, and I will take Lincoln to the mall and the arcade. Everyone else, think of ways to spend time with Lincoln. We don't want to smother him, but we need to get close to him. Let him know that we're safe and that he can trust us with whatever's bothering him," Lori stated.
Everyone nodded before the sibling meeting was adjured. However, that night, Lincoln was having trouble sleeping. Or at least, what his future visions were showing him was making him not have a peaceful night. He saw brief flashes of his older sister Leni. She's smiling at first and even laughing as she's walking. Then suddenly, she turns with a shocked look followed by screams. The sounds of a truck and its horning blowing filled the silence.
Lincoln was jarred and awoke by morning. He groaned as he slunk back to his bed while rolling his eyes. Another vision, but not of something terrible happening to him, but of his sister Leni. Lincoln could only see what the visions showed him. They didn't give any specifics like the time, date, and location of the visions.
'First me, now Leni? Give me a break,' Lincoln thought.
The following day, Lincoln got dressed in his usual attire. He went downstairs to get some breakfast and to see if the TV was free for him to play video games or watch shows. While eating cereal on the couch and watching TV, Lori sat next to him.
"Hey, Lincoln," Lori greeted.
"Morning Lori," Lincoln replied.
"What are you watching?" Lori asked.
"Right now, nothing. I'm flipping through the channels searching," Lincoln answered.
After a while, Lincoln found something. It was the movie The Last of the Mohicans, and he caught it at the ambush scene where the Huron ambushed the British and their civilians along with the main characters. Lincoln and Lori watched silently as the Hurons' battle cries grew louder and louder before they attacked. From both sides of the tree line, muskets fired with clouds of smoke from the gunpowder, and then they charged to strike with their tomahawks and warclubs. Lori cringed at a few intense scenes, but Lincoln didn't even blink, and Lori noticed that and was impressed by his calm disposition.
When the scene was over, and the main characters were in the waterfall, Lori asked, "So Lincoln, what are your plans for today?"
Lincoln started, "I don't know. I might head over to Clyde's—"
"Because Bobby and I were going to head over to Gus's Games and Grub after we shopped at the mall for a little while, and we were hoping you'd come along too," Lori said.
Lincoln turned to her with a raised eyebrow, "To the mall and then Gus's Games?"
"Yeah," Lori answered.
"Uh, I don't know," Lincoln started.
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun," Lori insisted.
"Yeah, Lincoln!" Leni popped up. Lincoln turned to her, "Besides, I was hoping to get you some new clothes. Those jeans and orange polo shirt are fine, but you deserve some new threads."
"You're going too?" Lincoln asked with his eyes widened.
"Oh yeah! I totes never turn down a trip to the mall, and you know I'd love to go to Gus's Games for that neat dancing game," Leni praised while dancing a little.
Thinking back to his vision of Leni last night and seeing her run over by a truck gave Lincoln chills. He glanced between her and Lori. He knew Leni was not an infant, but she was almost too sweet and naïve for her own good. Lincoln wasn't the only that feared for her safety, but with his future visions, Lincoln's fear for her safety and well-being increased tenfold.
"Yeah . . . sure, I'll go," Lincoln said.
Leni squealed in excitement with a big smile, "Yay! Thank you, Lincoln!"
Lincoln was quiet on the ride over to the mall. He sat next to Leni, brainstorming all the reasons why Leni would get run over. He even scanned the roads to ensure that Lori or someone else wouldn't run a red light or someone else would. Once they got to the mall, Lincoln had his eyes peeled like a hawk. He stopped everyone as cars by as they made their way through the parking lot. Lincoln felt slight relief that they were inside the mall but knew the day wasn't over. Lori and Bobby were all mushy and lovey-dovey on each other, making Lincoln roll his eyes.
"Hey, Lincoln, can I hold your hand?" Leni asked.
"Yeah, sure," Lincoln said before taking her hand.
Leni smiled joyfully as they walked together. Usually, Lincoln would have said he was too old for that sort of thing, but he was so on edge that he preferred to keep her close. Leni talked about some new fashions and what could work for them and what could work for Lincoln.
"Okay, Lincoln, I know how much you dig your jeans and polo shirt look, but let's try some new threads. I think a new look will be good for you, plus your hair has been getting longer, so later this week, we could get it styled differently," Leni stated.
"Sure, we can do that. What store are we going to?" Lincoln asked.
"I totes know all the best places. Just leave it to your fabulous big sister!" Leni said confidently.
They went into one store, and Leni got some different clothes for Lincoln to try on in the changing room. One set was an orange and white short-sleeve hoodie with baggy cargo jeans. Lincoln stepped out and shrugged while Lori, Leni, and Bobby gave a 'meh.'
Lincoln stepped out and was less enthusiastic about it. His two elder sisters and Bobby shook their heads. He wasn't the only one. The next set was Lincoln in jean shorts and an orange button-up collared shirt with white patterns.
The third set, however, was better. Lincoln had a pair of loose blue jeans and a t-shirt with a fantastic design of a tribal tiger head in black, orange, and white colors. Lincoln liked it as he walked out with a smile. Leni, Lori, and Bobby liked his new look as well. The two girls clapped while Bobby gave two thumbs up. Lori picked two more loose jeans that were Lincoln's size and a few belts so they won't fall off. Leni found a few more orange and black shirts with cool designs – some were even polo shirts.
They went to the checkout and bought all the new clothes. However, as Lori and Bobby were talking to each other, Lincoln noticed someone missing.
"Wait. Guys, where's Leni?!" Lincoln questioned, alarmed.
"She went to use the bathroom. She'll be back," Lori answered.
Lincoln dashed to the restroom and waited outside for her to come out. He paced back and forth with his arms crossed as he tapped his fingers. Finally, Leni came out like everything was normal without a care in the world. Lincoln breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she saw her.
"She was in there. She's okay," Lincoln thought.
"Now that we got your new clothes, it's our turn," Leni said, taking her brother's hand.
As they walked out, Lori spoke, "You were kind of worried for Leni. You okay, Link?"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. I was just worried that Leni wasn't where you said she was and wandered off somewhere. That she got distracted by a new fancy dress on sale," Lincoln explained.
"New dress on sale? Where?" Leni asked excitedly.
"He was just using an example," Lori replied.
"Oh. Lincoln, I'm not that easily distracted," Leni said, straightening her hair.
"I know. It's just a dangerous world, and sometimes I worry for your and our sisters' safety," Lincoln said as he held her hand.
"Aw, Linky," Leni said, kissing his forehead, "But don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to your big sister Leni."
Lincoln felt the hole in his chest get more profound and more dread-filled. He saw Leni's face in terror for a few seconds as she screamed before getting run over. At the other clothing store, Leni and Lori picked out some new dresses they liked while Lincoln and Bobby waited patiently. They waited outside and chatted about some new arcade games in Gus's. Bobby told Lincoln of this monster truck racing game called 'Dirty Drivin,' a game where you can bash into other monster trucks and shoot them with rockets, machine guns, and all kinds of cool weapons. Lincoln was looking forward to trying that game out.
Lincoln went to use the restroom. As he did his business, he briefly felt a strange sense of calm. However, when he went over to wash his hands, the vision came again, only this time much more precise. He saw everything in more detail involving Leni, where she was walking, and the time. A boxed truck was parked to the side while guys were unloading it, and everyone couldn't see the other truck driving out of control at high speeds. Leni is walking backward while talking to Lori . . . right before she gets run over.
Lincoln's vision ended as he looked at himself in the mirror, horrified with his eyes wide open, his pupils shrinking, and his hands shaking. Lincoln dashed out of the men's room and scanned where the crosswalk was, and then he saw it. The parked box truck and his two elder sisters. It was happening just as his future visions foretold. Then without wasting a second, Lincoln jumped down the stairs, skipping steps, and sprinted as fast as he could. His heart is pounding, and he's taking deep breaths to keep it under control.
"Whoa! Lincoln! Where are you going?!" Bobby called.
Lincoln didn't have time to respond.
"I have to make it! Hang on, Leni!" Lincoln thought to himself.
Lincoln saw the truck and was astonished that no one else saw it. Leni was walking backward as she was talking to Lori. Lincoln was out of the mall as he raced to Leni.
"Leni! Look out!" Lincoln yelled while running.
Leni glanced at Lincoln before hearing the truck. She looked over and saw the truck coming. Her eyes were as big as dish plates, with her pupils as small as little dots. Her legs and hands were trembling. Fear gripped her so hard that she couldn't move.
As the truck was heading toward her, Lincoln grabbed Leni by her forearms and pulled her toward him out of the road. As Leni was hurled toward Lincoln, he held her close as the truck whooshed past them like a bat out of Hell. Lori didn't see the truck coming, so when she saw Lincoln pull Leni, she was confused with a raised eyebrow. However, when the truck zipped past them, it scarred eight of her nine lives as she yelped. It happened so fast that the runaway truck left a gust of wind. Everyone screamed as the truck plowed into parked cars before falling on its side.
"Leni, are you okay?!" Lincoln asked desperately.
Leni was shaking with a look of terror as if she saw a ghost while panting. She slowly turned to Lincoln.
"What the heck happened?!" Bobby came rushing out.
"That-that truck came out of nowhere, and-and Leni was in the road, and Lincoln he-he pulled her out of the road," Lori answered while in shock.
"Leni?" Lincoln said again.
"Link . . . Lincoln, you . . . you," Leni spoke as she held Lincoln's face.
Then tears streamed down her face.
"You saved my life!" Leni cried before pulling her brother in for a hug.
Lincoln hugged her back as she sobbed her eyes out. Lori and Bobby joined in on the hug.
"It's okay, Leni. I got you. I'm here," Lincoln assured as he kissed her head.
"Oh my god Lincoln, thank you! You saved my life!" Leni bawled.
"I guess so. The important thing is you're okay," Lincoln replied.
"Oh, Linky, I love you so much!" Leni cried.
Lincoln stroked her back and her head while gently shushing her. He could feel the side of his head and ear wet from Leni's tears. At that moment, Lincoln felt happy and somewhat proud of himself. He saved his sister's life.
"Holy cow!" a male from down the street said.
Everyone turned to him and his friends.
"That kid saved that girl! Straight up, superhero man!" he pointed.
"Tell me you got that on camera," a teen girl said.
"Oh yeah, it's all in here. The runaway truck, him, all of it. This is so gonna go viral," he replied, tapping his phone.
"Oh boy," Lincoln thought.