Nick ate his cereal while Grizzizzik and Ezekiel explored the kitchen. He let them borrow some of his clothes, which fit Ezekiel easily. Grizzizzik had more of a struggle, the kind that stroked his ego. In fact, he was confident Grizzizzik made more of a show than necessary to emphasize his superior physique.
“Are you guys hungry or anything?” Walt was showering, but Nick still whispered because he didn’t want to chance it.
“Ravenous.” Grizzizzik’s fingers disappeared in the orange juice container. Ezekiel tried to grab the box of cereal on the counter, wiggling his fingers through the container. Nick lowered his bowl, worried.
“I don’t get it. You broke the picture frame last night. Why can’t you lift a container of orange juice?” Nick asked.
Evelyn walked in, her blonde hair curled, makeup on. A nervous smile flickered across her lips as she moved past Grizzizzik deeper into the kitchen. Searching the cupboards, she found and poured a bowl of bran flakes. Clarissa walked in soon after, wearing one of Evelyn’s dresses that reached her knee. The difference in Ezekiel when Clarissa arrived was apparent. A smile came to life on his face. “You look beautiful.”
Clarissa’s fingers ran through her green hair before flicking it to the side. “I know.”
Instinct screamed at Nick to stop their strange flirting right there. How would they handle these two living under the same roof?
As the two characters were flirting, Evelyn searched through a drawer and pulled out a small box of raisins. Nick slowed down his chewing as he watched his little sister pull out a few raisins, sprinkling them on the bran flakes. She scrunched up her nose before sprinkling a few more.
“Raisin bran is a thing, sis. You can buy the bran flakes with the raisins already in them,” Nick said.
“Sometimes I want more raisins than what the package gives, and sometimes I want less. It’s easier to be in charge of what I want.” Evelyn poured a generous amount of milk before placing a spoon in the bowl, leaning against the kitchen cabinets.
Nick dug his spoon in the last of his lucky charms. “However way you make it, it’s still old people’s food.”
“Says the teenager eating marshmallows in his cereal.” She took a bite, staring him down.
“You’re trying to make a dig, but you’re still the one eating raisin bran.” He sipped the milk as Ezekiel, Grizzizzik, and Clarissa observed the entire thing.
“I never had siblings,” Ezekiel felt the need to say. Clarissa and Grizzizzik both glanced at him. He shrugged. “Trying to make conversation.”
“You’re so awkward,” Grizzizzik said.
Clarissa placed her hands on her hips. “At least it’s better than mentioning how much you hate Akshi. All the time.”
“I do hate Akshi. Don’t know what that has to do with anything.”
His little sister said nothing, digging her spoon into her bran flakes and Evelyn approved raisins. Nick finished his cereal before getting up. The movement caused Evelyn to shoot him a nasty glare. He was used to unsolicited glare from Walt, but Evelyn usually had a reason.
“Um… what?”
“You lied last night,” Evelyn said.
This caused Nick to blink. “Sorry, are you suggesting we tell dad about…” He gestured toward Clarissa, Ezekiel, and Grizzizzik.
“Pretty sure dad might consider this a reason to keep you from CCNC, and I know what it means to you.” Her understanding was both surprising and uncomfortable. “Once we understand better what’s happening, we should tell someone.” Evelyn took a huge bite of cereal as Nick eased around her to put his dishes in the sink. “But that’s not what I meant.” She talked around her food before swallowing, using her spoon to gesture at his chest. “You didn’t do a one shot with Grizzizzik, Ezekiel, and Milo. You took everyone to Torraq’s lair, and they all died.”
At first he didn’t get what she meant, but then remembered what he’d said right before his characters showed up. “It’s… we weren’t…”
She stuffed the spoon into the cereal. “You need to stop lying.”
With a flick, he turned on the water and rinsed off his bowl and spoon, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. “It was a white lie.”
“That completely blew up in your face.”
“Literally,” Nick mumbled.
She whacked him with her hand. “I’m being serious!”
Nick glared at his dishes as he turned off the water, sticking them in the dishwasher for good measure. Not that it mattered to Walt. Grizzizzik’s watchful gaze landed on him, making notes of any weaknesses or relationship strains. It’s what his rogue did well.
By the time Evelyn finished her cereal, Walt walked down the hall, finished with his shower. He placed the ancient flip phone and car keys in Nick’s palm, and he pocketed them, their only morning greeting. Grizzizzik’s eyes narrowed as he studied Walt. For everyone’s safety, Nick spun around, heading for the front door. “Coming, Evelyn?”
“Coming!”
The heat forced itself inside as Nick opened the door and walked out. Evelyn and the characters followed. He reached into his pocket for the keys, distracted, when a rasping sound brought him back to the present. He turned in time to watch Clarissa collapsed to her knees, grasping her throat.
Evelyn shut the door fast before kneeling next to her character. “Princess?”
Every breath shuddered as it left Clarissa’s chest. “So… hot… so… dry…”
Yes, it was August in Arizona, but it felt like an overreaction. It was monsoon season, and there was a hint of humidity in the air.
“Something’s… Nick, something’s happening.” Evelyn touched the side of her face, looking at the top of Clarissa’s head. “I… I think she’s losing hit points.”
That phrase was one Nick expected around the CCNC table, not in real life. “What?”
“She’s a wood elf. This much sun and heat will kill her. Come on, Princess. Get in the car, quick.” Evelyn tried to help her up, but Clarissa couldn’t focus.
Ezekiel scooped Clarissa into his arms, turning toward Evelyn. “What’s a car?”
“Follow me.” Evelyn lifted her hands toward Nick, ready to catch something. “Give me the keys.”
Nick tossed the keys to her as they rushed toward the car, his sister moving to the driver’s seat to start the cool air. Ezekiel eased Clarissa in, as Nick remained outside the car, folding his arms. Grizzizzik walked over, twisting his hands around in the sunlight. “I like this terrain.”
“Yeah, well, you are a snake,” Nick said.
In the back of the car, Evelyn attempted to help Clarissa drink from a water bottle. The druid’s fingers slid past the container.
Grizzizzik turned his head toward the sun, soaking it in as he ignored Clarissa in the back. His character’s disregard to Clarissa’s situation made him uncomfortable. Ezekiel’s hand waved back and forth through the water bottle, his brow crinkling with concern. How was this different from the picture frame?
An idea struck him. “Evelyn, see if you can… command her to hold the bottle.”
She tore her gaze from Clarissa to look at Nick. “What?”
“It’s a theory. Grizzizzik touched my picture frame when I offhandedly suggested it. Tell Clarissa to drink it.”
All attention was back on Clarissa. “Take the water bottle and drink it.”
The fingers that were in the middle of the bottle snapped to around it. Nick let out a sigh as Clarissa tipped her head back and drank. “Alright, well, there’s one theory. What did you mean by hit points, though?”
“It’s difficult to explain.” Evelyn motioned toward the top of Clarissa’s head. “I just… see it.”
Nick allowed himself time to process this, but frowned. He studied Grizzizzik, forcing himself to notice something, but saw nothing except the growing annoyance wrinkling his rogue’s bump of a nose.
Evelyn eased out of the car, then moved to Nick. “They need to eat. I’ll go back into the house with Grizzizzik and Ezekiel and check if a different character responds to my suggestions. You can stay out here.”
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As long as he stayed away from Walt, Nick was happy. “Yeah, that sounds like a good thing to check.”
“This way, we’ll know if we have to drop Ezekiel off with Rafael.” Her voice was calm, as though she didn’t create a storm inside his stomach.
“Ezekiel’s mine.” The words stumbled out of Nick. Grizzizzik folded his arms, working his jaw. “I’ve had him longer.”
His little sister did nothing more than shrug before ushering Grizzizzik over. “Come on. I know you’re hungry. Let’s get you something to eat.”
Between his pride and stomach, Grizzizzik’s stomach won. He walked inside with Evelyn as Ezekiel climbed out of the car. Nick walked over to him. “Hey, you came to me, right? You know that I…”
Ezekiel waited for Nick to say something else, but how could he talk to a cleric about being the one who controlled him? Though not really control. He rolled Ezekiel’s dice and role played as him. How could he describe that?
The cleric kept watching Nick struggle before placing a hand on his shoulder. “You are not my creator.”
The words startled Nick. “Creator? Is that—”
“What Grizzizzik feels with you, yes. As does Princess Clarissa with your sister. My creator is elsewhere.”
“Nick!” He turned to see Evelyn poking her head out the front door. “It worked! Grizzizzik’s eating! Bring Ezekiel in! I’ll whip up something fast for Princess Clarissa.” She shut the door again, and Nick’s stiff shoulders relaxed.
“Good. You won’t have to see Rafael.” He smiled at Ezekiel, but it froze on his face. Ezekiel didn’t share in the excitement.
“I’d like to meet this Rafael.” Ezekiel’s response caused Nick to flinch. The cleric glanced up, then moved past Nick to enter the house.
Nick closed his eyes, facing the sky as he kept the scream of frustration inside. Didn’t matter. Ezekiel would change his mind once he actually met that idiot.
***
The siblings took turns explaining how to get a seatbelt on. Ezekiel and Clarissa watched, then secured themselves in the back with no problem. Nick and Grizzizzik butted heads as the rogue kept questioning why he needed this. The conversation got more heated before Ezekiel placed a hand on the rogue’s knee and told him to respect the culture of their new found hosts. Grizzizzik threw Ezekiel’s hands off, grumbling about how socially inept the cleric was, but buckled himself.
Satisfied, Nick put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway. The three characters threw their hands in front of themselves at the car’s movement. Evelyn explained it was like a horseless carriage, and answered their multitude of questions as best she could. Nick stared ahead, rubbing his face. How was he to process this?
Derek was on his way to Alejandra’s house, since he needed to drop of Hraktar. Nick took a moment to brace himself before turning down a familiar road. He hadn’t gone to Rafael and Alejandra’s house in years.
As though reading his thoughts, Evelyn started to talk. “Rafael probably isn’t there.”
“Alejandra once said he’s a ghost in his own house.”
Instead of responding, She pulled out her phone, scrolling through social media. Nick glanced at the rear-view mirror, observing the CCNC characters. Ezekiel stared wide-eyed out the window. Clarissa was getting over heat exhaustion, taking continual sips from the water bottle. Grizzizzik stared ahead, meeting no one’s gaze, lost in thought. It startled Nick more than a couple of times to see a snake person in the back of his car.
The car crunched against the uneven rocks in the Walker’s driveway. Nick hadn’t seen Alejandra and Rafael’s house a lot, but he remembered it looking poor, being small yet sturdy. They had poured more care into it since he last saw it. Cracks had patches, windows washed, weeds under control. Potted plants were on the porch and a bird feeder hung to the side. Rafael was once too embarrassed to invite anyone to his house when they were friends. Nick and Derek picked up that Rafael was poor and assured him he didn’t need to feel embarrassed, but he still refused.
When Rafael’s parents got divorced, rumors swirled about a physically abusive father. At that point, Rafael had thrown himself into schoolwork and popularity, abandoning the group. They left it to Derek to tactfully ask Alejandra about the rumors. All she said was the judge granted their mother Mariana full custody of the children with the proof they gathered, and Jack wouldn’t bother them any more. Derek asked if they could do anything for her.
“Let me keep playing CCNC. Please,” was her answer. Her brother abandoned them. She did not.
It left Nick with a guilt he struggled to understand. How long had Alejandra been hiding this horror from them?
Nick eased the car behind Derek’s and turned it off. “Will Princess Clarissa be alright?”
With a click, Evelyn unbuckled herself. “I’ll stay with her. You guys go ahead.”
Nick shrugged and dropped the keys in her palm before getting out. Ezekiel remained with Clarissa, too. Derek opened his door, waving. “Hey, guys!”
The other doors opened, and Nick watched as the car shuddered as Hraktar got out of the vehicle. Nick mentally prepared himself to see Hraktar the whole way here, but reality hit him all over again. He craned his neck back to see the six and a half foot half-orc, the green skin, tusks, and bitten ear far more intimidating than on the miniature. The forty-five-year-old fighter was bursting with muscle, wearing what looked like Derek’s bathrobe barely wrapped around him. Hraktar’s resting face made it seem like the half orc wanted to pick up a goat and tear it in half for the fun of it. Nick forced himself to remember that Hraktar was a gentle giant, and would rather pet the goat than tear it in half.
Gentle giant, as long as they didn’t become his enemy.
“Hello.” Nick’s voice came out squeakier than he wanted.
Hraktar sniffed, and Nick wanted to run away. The fighter’s brown eyes landed on Grizzizzik, and Nick remembered why he wanted to stay friends with the half-orc. “Hello, Grizzizzik.”
The rogue folded his arms, a sly smile on his face. “Hello Hraktar. Glad you made it through whatever portal that was.”
Hraktar sniffed again as Derek moved beside Nick. “Grizzizzik looks sick.”
“I’d rather they were home,” Nick said.
“I agree. Let’s get some help.” Derek checked his phone as he headed toward the front door. “Alejandra didn’t answer my calls. We’ll check if she’s home.”
“Wait, she doesn’t know we’re coming?” Nick asked, hurrying to catch up.
“Nope. It’s why I wanted to drop by early to catch her in case she had work,” Derek said.
Nick again glanced at Hraktar, who followed them to keep an eye on Grizzizzik. The surprise of Hraktar overshadowed Milo. Being human, Milo blended in well enough with Arizona. Once Nick took in the man’s brown hair and brown eyes, he noticed something everyone else was missing.
“How is he wearing his CCNC clothes?” Nick asked.
Derek glanced at Milo as they approached the door. “Didn’t Grizzizzik give you dice?”
As Derek knocked, Nick’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Dice? Milo gave you dice?”
He nodded, then patted his stomach. “I’d show you, but they dissolved last night into my gut. They only pop up when Milo asks a question or does something that needs a roll. Like in the game.”
Despite everything else that had happened the past twenty-four hours, the calm way Derek explained this made Nick’s jaw dropped. “What did you do?”
“Nothing. Just experiments.”
Nick closed his eyes, trying to take steady breaths to keep himself calm. “We need to get them back! We’re not supposed to… to do whatever you did!”
Derek chuckled as he knocked again. “I think you’re a little too concerned about this.”
“No, I think you’re not concerned enough.”
“It was like rolling for a character. He had most of his stuff already there, but I rolled for his stats.”
“How’d it feel?” Grizzizzik asked.
“Like putting on a glove,” Milo said.
Nick shot his character a glare. Derek seemed to read something no one else saw. It was the same look Evelyn got when she mentioned hit points.
“Rolled pretty high on everything except strength. That’s an eight, which I’m not excited about, but his intelligence is a sixteen. It gives him a plus three for his modifier, and bumps up his spell casting nicely.”
The unease was enough that Nick had to rub his face again. “We’re trying to figure out how to get these… these people back home. You can’t… this isn’t…”
“Oh, come on. Who says this isn’t exactly what we need to do? He’s a squishy level one, though, so he wears his seatbelt in the van.”
The sigh leaving Nick was high pitched and strained. Derek smirked.
Milo leaned over toward Derek. “If it’s alright with you, I see Ezekiel and the princess in the back of the car. I’d like to join them.”
“Yeah, go ahead,” Derek said.
Nick turned toward Grizzizzik. “Do you have some dice for me?”
The rogue ran his thumb over the fingernail of his pinky, watching it with great interest. “No.”
It was a lie. Nick played Grizzizzik for so long he knew that stupid rogue wouldn’t hand it over unless money was involved.
To change the subject, Derek knocked again. “Maybe she’s at work.”
“Possibly. The McDonald’s she works at opens at five.” Nick craned his neck toward a window. The smirk on Derek was infuriating. “Shut up, Derek.”
His friend checked his phone again. “So… we might have to tell Rafael everything.”
“No,” Nick said, aware Grizzizzik’s ears perked up at that.
“Nick—”
“He’s a jackass.” Nick pounded on the door harder than he intended.
“We might need everyone to get them back home.”
They finally heard scuffling inside. Nick’s heart quickened, scrambling to think of how to start the conversation if Mariana answered the door. She worked a graveyard shift at the hotel with an extra job on the weekend with a cleaning company. He didn’t think she’d be here, but felt guilty about pounding the door.
The door squeaked opened and Alejandra stood there, her bathrobe over her pajamas. She unfolded her thin, circular glasses and placed them on her nose, her brown eyes blinking in the morning light as she registered Derek and Nick standing at her doorstep. Nick glanced to the side, flustered. After stressing about what to say to her mom, his tongue tripped over itself and he didn’t dare open his mouth. Her long, thick brown fell to her elbows, and gave the impression that she just rolled out of bed. “Um… hi?”
“Do you turn your phone off at night?” Derek asked.
“Yeah. Sorry. Can I help—” Alejandra stopped, her eyes falling at the space between Nick and Derek where Hraktar’s torso was, then lifted her head to meet his gaze. Her eyes widened as she stared. “—you?” she asked, her voice quieter.
Silence stretched between them. Hraktar stared at Alejandra, sorting something out in his mind. He then reached behind him, near the small of his back, pulled out a red velvet bag, and offered them to her. “These belong to you.”
Alejandra stared at the bag. Nick took the opportunity to glare at Grizzizzik, who distracted himself with the bird feeder. Alejandra reached out, taking the bag of dice. She opened it and pulled out a d20. Nick gasped. It was a dark blue die, with a strange, shifting portal in the center. Nick slid his glare from Grizzizzik to Derek. “You seriously started experimenting with these dice?”
His friend shrugged.
Alejandra stared at the d20, her voice quiet. “Can someone… please… explain what’s happening?”
“We’d love to,” Derek said.
“Also, my sister is in the car with a dehydrated wood elf, a concerned cleric, and a mana fusor. Can we come inside?” Nick asked.
Alejandra tore her gaze from the die to stare at Nick. Her nod was small, but it was all the permission Nick needed. He motioned for Evelyn to come inside when Derek grabbed his wrist. “No, wait. We’re not going inside.”
Nick frowned. “What?”
“We don’t know what’s happening, and we need to tell Rafael,” Derek said.
Rafael had treated Derek just as shitty, but Nick still felt attacked by the suggestion.
“Yeah, I agree.” Alejandra’s gaze once again fell on Hraktar. “Whatever this is, we need help.”
Grizzizzik snorted, and Alejandra jumped before her eyes fell on the rogue next to Nick. She looked as though she swallowed an apple, but didn’t want to bother anyone about her newfound inconvenience. She grabbed some of her bedridden hair and started combing it with her fingers. “R-Rafael usually swims at the city pool before going to work, so he’s probably still there. Let me get dressed, then we can find him.”
Derek gave her a thumbs up. “We can explain on the way.”