As the cab arrived at the restaurant, Rick stepped out. He began fixing his tie, then smoothing his hair.
"Ok!" He beamed as he walked through the doors.
He began looking around the restaurant, searching for Annette.
Someone then tapped him on the shoulder. Startled, he quickly spun around.
Rick was met with Annette, wearing a spaghetti strap green dress.
"A-Annette!" He yelped.
"Did I scare you again...?" She smiled softly, reaching for his hand.
Rick held her hand and smiled.
"Shall we?" Rick asked.
Annette giggled.
"Let's." She said.
*
"Chris?" A voice called out from behind the door.
Chris opened the door, greeted by Tammy.
"Oh, Tammy!" Chris smiled.
"I came to see if you needed any help with watching Maru," She began as she looked over at the couch which Maru was fast asleep on.
Tammy smiled softly at the sight of the sleeping girl.
"Actually," Chris began, loo
There was a buzz of commotion. Monitors beeping, IVs dripping. Rick slowly began stirring. He sat up clumsily. Looking around, he let out a sigh. "I guess I'm alive..." He muttered. He took a look around the hospital room. Suddenly, a nurse came walking over. "Ah, Mr. Summers, you're awake!" She gave a smile. Rick nodded his head. "Your friends are out right now but said they'd be back soon," She paused. "Is there anything I can get you?" She questioned. Rick shook his head. The nurse smiled sadly. "Not in the mood to talk, I see..." She whispered, walking away. * As Rick was eating some pudding, there came a knock at the door. The door opened as Chris walked in. "Yo." He waved. He immediately plopped down on the stool next to the bed. "Get me the hell out of here..." Rick grumbled. Chris scratched his head. "Geez, not even a
“Rick!” A voice cried out.As Rick walked into the door of their apartment, Maru charged at him, hugging his waist.Rick grunted at the force.She began sobbing.Rick gave a sad smile as he patted Maru on the head.Sena walked out of the bedroom.“Welcome home, Rick.” She smiled softly.*“You didn’t...you know, tell her exactly what happened, right?” Rick asked as he took a seat on the couch.Sena shook her head.“All we told her was that you got sick.”Rick nodded his head.“I see...”Sena stared at her lap in silence for a minute.“How are you...?” She questioned.Rick looked at her and then looked away.“Fine, I guess...” He mumbled.Sena kept her gaze shifted down.“Rick...” She then fell silent.“Huh?”Sena smiled sadly.
As the sunrise came, Norio sat on the porch watching.Then came a tap on his shoulder. He turned around, greeted by Keren.“Mind if I sit?” She smiled.“Go ahead.” He replied.She plopped down beside him.“So...” She began.Norio kept his sight on the sun as it rose.“You think you found him, huh?”Norio kept looking forward.“Mm.”Keren smiled.“Are you nervous?” She asked.Norio looked at her.“Why should I be?”Keren turned.“I don’t know; you haven’t seen him in what, thirteen years?”Norio looked down.“It’s been fourteen, but-” He cut himself off.“But...?” She looked at him.“Nori,” Keren frowned.“Sun’s up; I’ll go make some breakfast,” Norio said as he got up and st
“Weird choice for a location...” Rick muttered, stepping out of the cab.He looked up at the building.He then realized the location was part of what used to be the Labs. The building was mostly destroyed, with a lot of rubble lying around.Rick closed his eyes for a moment.He thought about the day he rescued Maru.His thoughts then wandered on to think about the last time he saw Norio.*Fourteen years ago, a family was getting ready for bed. A man tucked two boys into bed.“I’m going to go say goodnight to your sister now,” the man paused for a minute.He then gave a smile.“Boys...I just wanted to tell you...” He gulped and looked down.Before he could get another word out, they heard a loud banging on the door.The man quickly turned his attention toward the doorway.“...Hold on.” He said.As he stepped out into the kitchen, he
Rick stared for a good second.As he stepped over some rubble, his mind went blank. However, his body kept moving.Walking towards the boy he had let down fourteen years ago.He opened his mouth.“Nori-” He tried to get the words out, but they got caught in his throat.“Oh?” Norio turned around.Rick quickly turned.Chris and Maru pulled up.“Hey!” Chris ran out.“Wait, what the hell are you two-”Norio stared at Maru.“Ah.” He said.Rick quickly turned back to Norio.“I’m sorry, I don’t know why they’re here-“Norio closed his eye, nodding his head.“Nah, it’s fine.” He then opened his eye.“What’s the kid's name?” He questioned.“M-”Norio narrowed his eye at Rick.“Let her answer.” He said.Maru
"Rick!" A voice cried out from behind the door.Rick rose from the couch.As he opened the door, he was greeted by Sena."How is she?" Sena looked over at Maru, who was huddled up in a blanket.Rick smiled sadly."I guess she could be better."Sena looked around the room."How's Chris...?"Rick frowned."I don’t know; why don't you ask him?"Sena sighed."Because he won't answer mine or Abbey's calls."Rick scratched his head and let out a sigh."I'm sorry for such a short stay, but I have to go back downstairs to make sure there aren't any customers stopping by potentially," she said, taking her leave.As she opened the door, the adults heard a whine.Sena and Rick quickly turned around."Sena..." Maru whimpered.Sena quickly went over to her."What is it, Maru...?" She said, pulling the blanket off the girl’s head, stroking her hair."Ple
As the day progressed, Maru remained huddled in her blanket."Maru," Rick gently called out.However, she did not look up."How about we eat something?" He suggested as he began walking over.Maru quickly hid her face in the blanket.Rick sighed as he sat down."Maru, you seriously need to eat something," he paused.The blanket began shaking."Maru..." He whispered."Please tell me you're not..."He quickly pried the blanket off her head.Maru squeaked.Rick touched his lips to her forehead.His eyes widened."You're burning up!" He cried.He quickly rose, rushing to the refrigerator.He went into the freezer, quickly grabbing an ice pack.Damnit! How the hell was I so clueless!? He thought to himself.As Rick got back to the couch, he gently placed the ice pack on the girl’s forehead. She flinched."Maru..." He whispered, caressing her
As night fell, the city was bustling.In the middle of the commotion was a bar.The bar was relatively empty in contrast to the outside bustle. However, business went on.As the door creaked open, leaking a hint of the night into the dim-lit bar, a cloaked man entered."Ah, welcome." The bartender greeted.The man simply waved.Only one other customer was seated at the bar."What can I get for you?" The bartender asked the man."I don't care." The man replied.The bartender looked at him for a second.“Uh,” he began.“D-do you have an ID...?"The man blushed."H-here..." He grumbled, pulling out his ID.The other man seated at the bar turned his head; his eyes widened.The bartender gave a nod.The man sat next to the other bar visitor.The other man kept his gaze steadily on his glass."Nice night," the cloaked man smiled.The man ne