Homecoming

Sab felt horrible about what was happening and quickly said, "I'm sorry about everything, but it wasn't us, I swear." Not wanting to be there without Noct, she then followed after her and Senthose, pulling Aroma along.

*Eve nods*

<Sounds like a plan.>
---
*Cameron exits the shower, and gets dressed. he then pulls out his phone and texts Astarte*

We still on for 4?

*Soon after they head down, they find someone on a bench nearby, headphones in & folders & papers spread out before her. She marks something in pink highlighter as Thiera taps on her shoulder. She looks up, curiously, & removes an ear bud.*

T"I'm sorry to bother you, but do you know a girl named Vanessa? Glasses, black hair, ponytail...?"

<Yeah. I mean, I don't know her real well, but I've seen her from time to time. She sometimes heads to that bar outside of campus, but she never talks to anyone there.>

*No sooner does she say this than Euryale emerges from the elevator, looking anxious.*
=================================
*Left behind, Roatha glares at Eduj.*

"You're incredibly helpful."
-----------------------------------------------------------
*Aroma & Sab have to break out into a jog to catch up with Senthose & Noctis.*

A"So...that was Roatha? You told me about him."
=================================
<Alright, I have to go find a shed to get a ladder out of.>

*He heads in a seemingly random direction.*
=================================
*The time on the phone reads 3:05.*

Astarte took note of the time and checked both of her messages. She responded affirmatively to Cameron, and then read Hector's message.
Dad wants you home for dinner. Don't make plans for tonight.
She put her phone away and sighed a little, feeling awkward.

Eduj shrugged, "We might have gotten more information if you hadn't thrown a fit, twice. I only came in case someone beat the crap out of you, anyway, and we're lucky that didn't happen."

*Eve waves Euryale over before turning back to the girl*

<Do you have any idea where her room is?>
---
*Cameron texts back*

Awesome!
---
*Monu heads to his next class, this one being European history*
---
*Tirea heads into the student store, if there is one*

"Yea," Noct said, "He was a lot less of an asshole when we talked."

"It is probably just all the stress," Sab said, "I mean, I believe him. Not about you, Senthose, but I don't think they would lie about something like that. He was probably just freaking out. Maybe we can talk to him about it later when he calms down, or something."

"I believe him too; one of the reasons I didn't punch him in the face as soon as he tried attacking people. That said, that doesn't give him the right to be an asshole about it," Noct said.

"Well, don't let me stop you. Keep asking people if they're who's stalking us, I'm sure that will work eventually. Goddamnit, I knew I should have brought Nero instead."

*He stalks off to the bar where he expects Nero to be.*
=======================================
A"Well, I guess not, but...I don't know what I would do in that situation...."

S"Oh, I'm sure they think that someone is after them. According to his girlfriend, they also seem to think that they know someone who was erased from history, by some sort of Living Shadow. Textbook example of a stress-induced mass delusion. Clearly, they imagined that something in the forest was watching them, waiting to attack, & had killed before. When they came back, it conveniently followed them, serving as an explanation for the discrepancy of their memories with the reality."

A"Are you saying that they're crazy?"

S"Loonier than Buggs Bunny."
=======================================
<480, I think.>
=======================================
*There is one in the basement level of the main building, which can be accessed by elevator or stairwell.*
=======================================
*Soon after he enters, the Professor, an old woman with horn-rimmed glasses, stands up.*

<So, who knows what the townspeople believed caused the Black Death?>
=======================================
"Well, we'd better get going soon. Excuse me, can I get a doggie bag for this?"

*He points to his half-eaten steak & barely touched fries.*

*Eve nods*

<Thank you very much.>

*She turns to Thiera and Euryale*

<Shall we head up there?>
---
*Tirea takes the stairs*
---
*Monu raises his hand, and if called ob, says:*

<God punishing them for their sins?>
---
*Cameron heads to the nearest candy store, and buys a small box of chocolate for Astarte*

Noct let out a wry chuckle, but Sab was incredibly disturbed by this, "Then, that means they need help. They should see a therapist or something. Doesn't our school have one?"

Taiyo wakes up with a yawn and stretch. All in a very feline manner.

===================================

Azuma and Mimiru go and wait for the groundskeeper by the tree.

Astarte stretched her back with her hands in the air and then hopped off of her stool. She saw Hector heading out, and they exchanged a look.

"And insisting that they were the stalkers and attacking them worked so much better," Eduj sounded almost amused, following Roatha back.

*Nero pays & puts his food in a styrofoam container. As he turns & heads for the door, he almost runs into Roatha.*

N"Oh, hey. How did it go?"

*Roatha points at Eduj.*

R"Never. Again."
=============================
*He eventually returns with a retractable metal latter. Placing it against the tree, he extends it, & then begins climbing.*

<I don't see any Frisbee up here!>
=============================
*Someone knocks on the door of Euryale's room.*
=============================
S"What do you want me to do, force them to attend?"
=============================
<Some undoubtedly did. But the prevailing theory was miasma.>

*He writes the word "miasma" on the board.*

<Miasma was thought to be a sort of "bad air" caused by rotting flesh, that carried diseases. It was sometimes associated with demonic spirits.>
=============================
T"Might as well. If she's in there, she might at least open the door."

*She heads towards the elevator.*
=============================
*Most of the lights in the stairwell are burnt out, so by the time she gets to the bottom, it looks like it's evening. There's a metal door into a hall, which the student store is at the end of.*

Taiyo gets up and nervously approaches the door.

Taiyo: "Who...who is it?"

===================================

Azuma: "Really? It could be higher up."

Mimiru: "Do you see anything up there?"

"Roatha yelled at the priest and attacked another guy," Eduj said. "We didn't learn anything. Is Hector in here?"

"I don't know," Sab said, "I mean... if it is for their own good... Then again, if they don't want to go I guess no one should force them..." Sab seemed a bit distressed by the thought of a bunch of emotionally scarred college kids.

*He stretches, moving aside some branches & looking around.*

<There's nothing up here. Is this your idea of a joke?>
=================================
N"Really? Nice. Anyway, he just left."
=================================
*Nothing answers Taiyo.*
=================================
*Aroma rubs Sab's hand.*

Taiyo backs away from the door and retrieves her phone off the bed. She sends a text to Mimiru. She then sends one to Euryale saying something could be outside the door.

===================================

Azuma: "Nah, man. She really got our frisbee caught in that tree. I guess it fell out and someone scooped it up. Sorry about wasting your time."

Mimiru nudges Azuma and shows him the message saying something's at the door.

Azuma: "Well, we gotta get going. Sorry about the time waste."

Mimiru sends a responce asking which room Euryale's is and heads there when they're inside the building upon getting a response.

Sab gives her girlfriend a weak smile, and squeezes Aroma's hand a bit, thankful for the support.

"Okay," Eduj walked off, heading home. Astarte continued standing behind Nero.

*Eve follows*
---
*Tirea enters*
---
*Monu nods and starts taking notes*
---
*Cameron heads over to where the meet will be held*

*In the elevator, Euryale checks her messages.*

E"Shit, I have to take care of something. You guys continue on without me."

T"O-kay."

*As the door opens, Euryale hits the button for another floor, then types a message of some kind.*
===================================
*The knocking becomes a hammering, the door shaking in its frame. Taiyo receives a message from Euryale. "On way."*
===================================
*When they arrive in the lobby of the dorm building, Mimiru receives a message, "680."*
===================================
N"Alright, well, let's not go to this thing."

R"I'm not going. I think these people will be there. I'm just going to go back to my room & invite Thiera over."

N"Because that's proven safe in the past."

R"You're not helping."

N"Hey, whatever. C'mon, Astarte."

*He heads out of the door.*
====================================
*Cameron is one of the first to arrive at the field.*
====================================
*The student store is a fairly nondescript place of blue carpet, white walls, & lots of book shelves. Unlike many of the other areas, it is well-lit.*
====================================
*As they are now both heading back up to campus, they cross paths with Eduj again.*

*Eve nods, and steps out if she is on the right floor*

<We will message you if anything happens.>
---
*Cameron finds a bench to sit on to wait fro Astarte*
---
*Tirea heads to the school supplies section to pick up some scantrons*

The two get into the elevator and push to go to the floor Taiyo's message said.

Azuma: "We're not safe anywhere."

"Um, where are we going?" Astarte asked, following behind.

"The track meet, it's almost 3:20, & it'll take us a while to get up to the field."

*He opens the doggy bag & starts eating fries.*

"You sure you don't want any?"
==============================
*They obviously do not get in the elevator, because Euryale is still inside of it, & therefore the elevator has yet to descend. So they are waiting for an elevator to arrive.*
==============================
*Once they leave, Euryale heads up for her floor.*
------------------------------------------------------
*The banging suddenly stops & Taiyo hears running from down the hall, approaching the door. Someone starts knocking again.*

"Taiyo, it's me. Are you in there?"
==============================
*This section is otherwise known as "the wall to her far left."*
==============================
*The hallway of 470-490 is completely empty. All they can hear is the echo of the elevator noises as it pings, closes its doors, & ascends.*