[Liv and Chelsea are sat outside the door, staring forward. The noises from inside are getting progressively louder, some laughing and some audio from people playing games can be heard.]

Chelsea: It isn’t your fault, you know?

Liv: [upset] Well…

[Liv looks over to Chelsea and shrugs.]

Liv: [upset] Does it matter?

Chelsea: Well… yeah, it does, quite a bit I would think.

Liv: [upset] Well not if that’s what he thinks. Hell, I know that it isn’t just him…

[Chelsea looks over at Liv.]

Chelsea: [confused] What do you mean?

[Liv sighs.]

Liv: Leigh blames me.

Chelsea: [defensive] Oh, he does not blame you! He’s still recovering, just… just trying to get an answer, y’know?

[Liv looks to Chelsea.]

Liv: [confused] No?

[Chelsea sighs, looking around and thinking.]

Chelsea: [thinking] Um… okay, gimme some time…

Liv: It’s fine. Y’know, I’ll… I’ll live, I guess.

Chelsea: Yes you are.

[Liv stares at Chelsea who gets a small smile on her face.]

Liv: Proud of yourself?

Chelsea: [chuckling] Yep.

[Chelsea continues to chuckle, Liv laying against the wall. After a few seconds, she starts to chuckle.]

Liv: [chuckling] Okay, I kinda like that.

[Chelsea smiles.]

Chelsea: Good. You’re so much better when you aren’t being miserable.

[Liv nods a bit.]

Liv: [worried] Um… be honest with me.

Chelsea: Always.

Liv: [worried] If I hadn’t thrown this party, do you think that Tracey would be alive?

[Chelsea stops herself from talking.]

Chelsea: [worried] Um… I’ll be honest, you seem like you’re already set on an answer.

Liv: [upset] Just a little bit.

[Chelsea budges a little bit closer to Liv.]

Chelsea: Look, it’s not your fault! It’s as much your fault as it is mine, which it is not!

Liv: [upset] I know! I know, just… it’s the stupid party. I started the party, meaning that Tracey came. If she hadn’t come then she wouldn’t be in that situation and she wouldn’t be dead.

[Chelsea nods, thinking.]

Chelsea: Yes, but… BUT she might have still gone that way even if you hadn’t thrown that party! Or maybe something else would’ve- know what, I don’t wanna think about it. But you get what I’m saying.

[Liv nods back, looking up.]

Chelsea: [worried, annoyed] Okay, what else is bothering you?

Liv: [confused] What?

Chelsea: [worried, annoyed] Well I’m not gonna act like I’m some sorta master of psychology, but you are still looking… mopey.

Liv: [confused] Mopey?

Chelsea: [worried] Well I don’t wanna say miserable again!

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Liv: [defensive] I’m fine, really. Just… christ, do you know what time it is?

[Chelsea shrugs.]

Chelsea: Can’t check, phones still tied up with the present day so…

[Liv nods, sighing. It cuts to Sissel running down the street. He turns through a corner and runs to a number 14 house. He stumbles up and quickly knocks on the door, hitting it seven times. Sissel stops and shakes himself a bit. He wipes blood off his nose again.]

Sissel: [quietly] Calm… calm… S-stop being like this…

[Sissel takes one deep breath as the door opens, immediately drawing his attention to the woman in the doorway. She’s in her 50’s, with a red flowery shirt on and trousers. Her hair is short light brown and she wears glasses. Upon opening the door she sees Sissel and looks at him in confusion.]

Woman: [confused] Hello?

Sissel: [panicking] Hi. Sorry, um… Tracey, I’m a friend of Tracey’s, is she in?

Woman: [confused] Well no, she’s at a party. Are you okay?

Sissel: [panicking] Fine! Yeah, um… hey, what time is it?

Woman: [confused] Just let me check…

[The woman pulls herself into the building, Sissel taking a few deep breaths. It cuts to Liv and Chelsea again as a man walks by. He’s wearing a black hoodie and beanie, covering his hair. Chelsea waves over at him.]

Chelsea: [loud] Excuse me, mate?

[The man turns to them.]

Chelsea: [loud] Got the time?

[The man nods, checking a watch on his wrist.]

Man: [loud] 10:28.

[Liv immediately pulls herself to her feet, panicking. Chelsea does the same, looking at Liv.]

Chelsea: [panicking] Um...

Liv: [panicking] We need to get Sissel.

[Liv runs off in the direction that Sissel went, Chelsea tailing behind her. She turns back to the man, incredibly confused.]

Chelsea: [shouting] Thank you!

[Cuts back to the woman at the door, now coming back and finding Sissel, trying to remain calm.]

Woman: [confused] Nearly half past.

[Sissel’s face drops, breathing speeding up slightly.]

Sissel: [panicked, stuttering] Half-half nine, right?

Woman: [confused] No, about ten.

[Sissel nods slowly, breathing getting more intense. He starts backing away slightly.]

Woman: [worried] Are you okay? Are you on something?

Sissel: [panicking] Well I’m barely gonna sleep for two months, so that’s getting to me a touch. Thank you. Stay safe.

[Sissel starts running down the street again. He looks towards the direction he

came, where Liv and Chelsea are, and stops.]

Sissel: [panicking] There’s no time… there’s no time.

[Sissel turns and looks towards a road surrounded by trees. He takes another deep breath and starts sprinting in that direction.]