The unexpected news surprised Y/N, but not as surprising as she would've thought. It explains about earlier as she probably guessed. When the phantoms tried to make noise, the only one to have heard it was Ashlyn.

"So what's the plan then? Use your magic hearing to save the day?" Tyler said with a hint of sarcasm and annoyance.

Ashlyn seemed to be in thought of the question, but after a few seconds of silence she replied, "No." She then paused, "-Well yes, but later."

"I think we should stay here for now so we can rest and... prepare ourselves. Once we go outside, there's no telling what we'll encounter. And let's not leave the living room. If something happens, I don't want to be split up. There's isn't much we can do right now, so do some mental exercises."

"Mental exercises?" Aiden questioned.

Y/N turned her head towards Aiden and saw him lying on the ground with his two feet up against the wall. 'Why is he on the floor?' She let out a sigh and decided to just leave him as is.

"Imagining yourself in certain situations and seeing how you will react. Any time you aren't asleep, that's what you should be doing." Ashlyn explained while slowly starting to get back on her feet.

"Yeah, great plan. Daydream and sleep with monsters outside the door." Tyler said with a stubborn attitude.

"We'll take turns keeping lookout. Logan, is the time still twelve?" The redhead asked.

"O-Oh um- I'll check..." Logan said stutteringly while getting out his phone from his pocket. "...It hasn't changed."

"Alright, we'll keep resetting a timer every hour then. I'll take the first shift, who wants to go after?"

★

The rest of the group then went to sleep as Ashlyn was keeping watch. Using the resources they had each of them grabbed a blanket and picked their spot to sleep. Y/N slept in the same spot from earlier, but just closer against the wall with her back facing it while Ashlyn was sitting beside her.

Though before Ashlyn started to keep watch all of the lights were turned off. Things started slow as Y/N at first couldn't find herself sleeping just yet. To keep herself company though she stared at the ceiling with her weapon next to her.



However, the girl seemed restless because after a while of shuffling and turning she found it hard to fall asleep. She decided to sit up not knowing the time since it was still. As she got up, however, she noticed Aiden awake playing with his weapon as he was lightly swirling the metal bar around in the air.

He then caught sight of the familiar H/C-haired girl awake and waved her way with a smile that seemed to never decrease. She looked towards him with an unamused look and just glanced around the room to see if anyone else was awake. However, her gaze caught sight of Ashlyn, who had her head turned and her elbow on her lap. The E/C eye girl couldn't exactly tell if she was awake with her head turned, so without thinking she inched closer towards her.

"Ashlyn?"

"Hm?" The redhead turned her head, lifting it up and was abit surprised to find the H/C hair girl looking at her. "Ah, Y/N. What are you doing up?" Her voice hitched with surprise as she stared into the girl's E/C eyes beside her.

"Couldn't sleep." She replied while turning away from her emerald eyes. "I wonder what the others are thinking. Mostly thinking that this is all just a dream perhaps, yeah... I hope."

Silence hung for a time as the two kept their eyes from meeting each other. Ashlyn could sense the atmosphere of tension and tried making light of the situation, but not before replying to her question.

"I wouldn't know. Though, for now, we'll just have to wait and see." Ashlyn had her gaze fixated on the ceiling, staring at it with thoughts in mind.

The room became silent as the two girls shared a moment of peace, relinquishing some of their worries momentarily from the comfort of each other. Y/N honestly felt relaxed in the company of Ashlyn, which surprised her because she hadn't felt comfortable with someone other than her current relative. That one feeling when having someone close, even if it's just silence, but that didn't bother her because as long as there's someone there it just makes every situation better. She enjoyed this, but only silently.

Ashlyn on the other hand was in thought, thinking while trying to keep herself awake at the same time as it was said with Y/N as she too was slowly finding herself getting sleepy. Despite that Ashlyn had a thought, something she just discovered, and that was that the presence of Y/N's company made her feel surprisingly at ease. (Y'all are so alike :)

The silence remained as they sat quietly while in their thoughts. However, an unexpected, yet familiar voice joined in their peaceful silence.

"Whatcha y'all talking bout?" Aiden asked as he sat up while glancing around the room and turning his focus to the two girls.

"Aiden? What are you still doing up?" Ashlyn looked at the blonde with a slightly arched brow.

"Same as Y/N." He said in a nonchalant tone while a smile slowly emerged on his face.

"Well, shouldn't you be doing the mental exercises as I said?"

"I was, but then I got bored."

Ashlyn looked at the blonde with an unknowing expression, staring at him briefly, and turned away as she lowered her head slightly while breathing out a closed-eye sigh. Aiden stared at the two girls for a few seconds before taking the initiative for himself.

"Mind if I'd join?"

Y/N sat there silently whilst the ginger-headed girl-Ashlyn was contemplating her decision.

"Sure..." Ashlyn had some doubts, but just kept an unsure look without any of them noticing as she turned her head to the side slightly.

Aiden then made his way over to the wall where the two girls were located but was heading in the direction of Y/N. Ashlyn and Y/N moved over slightly with the amount of space they had remaining to make him sit. He sat down and then looked directly at Y/N with a smile which made her look his way.

The two stared at each other, Y/N looked into the blonde crimson-red eyes, which somehow reminded her of a lot of rubies and Redstone. However, this did make her wonder.

'I never noticed before, but... how come his eyes are red? Does he perhaps have contacts or something?' Logically speaking, this is the first time she's ever met someone with red-colored eyes, which is interesting and unique, to his character at least.

On the other hand, Aiden seemed to find himself in abit of a trance, but not entirely since he was just staring at her face while also keeping eye contact.

'Okay, this is kinda creeping me out. Is he just going to keep staring at me?' Y/N briefly looked away from his gaze but slowly looked back only to see him still looking at her. 'Is he serious right now.' Her E/C eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you-"

"Are you still going to teach me-"

"No," Y/N said with a nonchalant expression whilst in a firm, yet casual manner as she turned away from his gaze.

"Aw don't such a downer, lighten up. Plus who knows," He shrugs, "It might be useful in the future."

Y/N had to put some thought into that, but again she had a feeling he was right though just wasn't sure just yet. Her gaze shifted to the ground as she stared blankly at the ground, which had her in thought for a while.

'Probably...'

Ashlyn was taking the time to reflect on today. She however realized something that she never thought about. She then turned her head out of mere curiosity about what the two were doing and just saw Aiden talking with Y/N. She didn't say anything and didn't have much of an expression on her face though she could tell why, and that's because she was spaced out. Ashlyn's gaze couldn't help but soften slowly.

"Thanks." The redhead spoke aloud while glancing at Y/N, causing Aiden to silence himself.

"Huh?" Y/N snapped out of her thoughts and turned towards Ashlyn as she had to look back to make sure she was speaking to her and saw Aiden sitting there quietly. Turning back her head was slightly at the side evident of her confusion as she wondered why she was thanking her out of the blue. "For what?"

"For sticking up for me earlier, believing in me, and I thank you for it."

"Oh," Y/N eyes widened slightly as she was surprised at her comment, but she soon softened her gaze. "It's no problem. Earlier wasn't a big deal, though I get that Tyler can be abit of a stubborn jerk, but he was in the wrong to point fingers at someone with no valid or logical explanation."

"Yeah. But, not only do I just want to thank you for earlier, but for being there for me and the others. Ever since the room, I realized that you hadn't left my side once, and even risked your safety for ours, even when you don't know us. Moreover, I do appreciate you looking out for us." Ashlyn said with a smile as she turned to look at her.

Y/N eyes widen as it slightly glimpses with light upon hearing a compliment. (Now you get how Ben feels.) It's been a while since she's ever been thanked by another person except her current relative, but hearing someone say words like that made her feel embarrassed to say anything out of her word. She pressed her head against the wall with her eyes closed she unexpectedly entered a daze of happiness and relief.

In a moment of daze, her head unexpectedly started to slide in the direction of Ashlyn's shoulder, which caused her to jolt upon feeling someone rest on her shoulder. She turned her head slightly and the first thing she saw was Y/N H/C hair. It grew silent, even for Aiden as he acknowledged this moment and waited for the next chance to speak.

"Do you think we're going to be stuck here?" Y/N bluntly asked not knowing she said that question out loud. It was a sudden question to ask which made tension in the air to change as the two beside her never expected that question to be put out there.

Ashlyn was taken aback by the question. "Um... I-" She then took a breath while feeling unsure about the question, but despite this, she decided to respond as she didn't want it to be unanswered. "I don't know, but let's try not to think that way. You should get some sleep."

A yawn escaped the girl's lips as she felt herself getting tired. Ashlyn heard the girl's tiredness and decided to check on her only to see her fast asleep.

"Wow, that was quick." Aiden tilted his head forward to see her eyes closed while also noticing the peacefulness in her expression. "So, throughout all that, what's your plan?" His gaze pointed at the redhead.

"I'm not sure, not yet at least. Though that can wait when the others are awake." Ashlyn responded, her gaze focused on the girl's sleeping figure.

"Yeah, I hear you." He leaned his whole body against the wall with his two arms crossed while wearing his typical smile on his face as usual. He soon started feeling a sense of drowsy as he too started to fall asleep.

Ashlyn's gaze scanned the room one last time. Once she looked around and saw everything was fine her gaze returned to the duo. For some reason her eyes softened, she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it felt relaxing. She leaned her head on Y/N's hair as her eyes slowly started to close.

'Just for a bit...' Ashlyn's thoughts become distant, further descending into the depths of slumber.



Everything was quiet, and dark, and felt strange as Y/N was engulfed in the darkness. However, throughout this, she felt the slight touch of someone. The touch was quick as it disappeared in an instant. Y/N tried opening her eyes though she was then stopped as a familiar called out and she recognized it, but before she could call back it went dark once again.

'Mom...'

Y/N finally started opening her eyes and at first, it was a bit blurry. However, when she got her vision she was instantly startled at the sight of a familiar ceiling and quickly jolted upwards as a gasp escaped her lips noting its familiarity.

'W-Where back...?' She groaned, her hand reached to massage her forehead as she can feel her head throbbing in pain. She then turned to look around the room but spotted a shocked Ashlyn staring at her.

"Did you-" Ashlyn sent was cut short when the tan girl, Taylor slowly started to wake up from her sleep.

"Ashlyn, Y/N?" Taylor called out, tiredness evident in her face as she slowly started to sit up with the same head pain Y/N was experiencing. "Are... we on the bed?" Suddenly she then lets out a gasp of realization. "Where's the others? Are the monsters still-"

Ashlyn and Y/N were surprised as they realized that they had all experienced the same thing.

"So it did happen-you guys remember?!" Ashlyn asked hurriedly as she grasped Taylor at the side of her shoulder while looking between her and Y/N.

"What do you-" Taylor couldn't finish her sentence when they all suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, as well as sickness. The three then girls quickly rushed to the bathroom.

The sounds of throwing up were heard from the bathroom, causing two of the three girl's roommates to show up as one called to them.

"Tay..Ashlyn...Y/N...?" The blonde-haired girl asked along with tiredness evident in her facial expression.

"Taylor, Ashlyn, Y/N! Are you in here?!" A voice of a boy called out as their hurried footsteps were heard approaching. Aiden suddenly appeared behind the two girls- Sarah and Emma.

'Aiden?' Y/N mumbled as her thought couldn't properly coherent with the things around her. 'I need to see a therapist.' She thought before suddenly feeling a wave of nauseousness coming in. 'Oh Sh-'



★ This chapter was a FREAKING struggle!

★ I'm SO sorry for those who waited long. 😭

★ I stayed up all night finishing this. 👍

★ Not gonna lie, I don't like this chapter, it's an in-between for now, (My opinion will eventually change itself), but let me know yours! 😊