I had been playing board games with Edd and Matt for a few hours now. We were all currently a slightly delusional, laughing mess. I lid with my feet on the base of my chair and my head on the floor, with Matt curled up asleep where I had been seated before. Edd was cleaning up the last pieces of Monopoly, still slightly giggling at how horribly I lost to them,.

"Honestly Tom, I didn't know it was even possible for someone to have this much bad luck in a simple children's game."
He commented jokingly.

"Well at least I don't suck at guess who." I retorted, sticking my tongue out like a little kid. Edd returned the gesture with a small chuckle. I grinned at him with an idiot smile, "You and Matt are the best friends I could have asked for."

His smile became less evident and he looked down, "Are you okay Edd? Is something wrong?" His gaze focused on me, looking as if small tears were forming from his eyes.

"I- um, Tom. Y-you're my best friend too. I know I- I probably shouldn't, but there's something I need to tell you." Edd seemed to struggle with his words greatly, the once happy and relaxed mood fading away.

"You can tell me anything! I promise I won't judge you. That's what friends are for, am I right?" He quickly searched around him for that notepad from before. I watched with confusion when he opened to a page full of very small, cursive writing that I couldn't pick out.

"Y-yeah, well Tom I kind of-" the door swung open loudly, interrupting our possibly touching moment. A soldier, whom I recognized as neat hair guy from before, walked into the room, "Hey, sorry to interrupt a maybe vital moment in your friendship, but red leader wanted me to come get Tom."

I noticed that he was now wearing a name tag, displaying the simple phrase 'Pat'. I rolled my voids, even though you couldn't really tell, "Fine, whatever. I'll guess I need to get Matt too?" He nodded and I picked up my sleeping friend in a bridal style. Edd gave me a slightly disappointed glance, sporting a painfully obvious fake smile.

"Cya. You'll tell me later right?" He looked down again, "Sure..." as I waved goodbye one last time, I heard Edd mumble something. I never got the chance to ask him what it was, as the door slammed shut in my face.

I walked in silence with Pat to the elevator, many different thoughts coming to my mind. I wondered about what Edd was hiding. It was so unlike him to not tell me things. I knew almost all his secrets and I could trust him with my life. I concluded that this has to be something big, or else he would have told me by now. Matt stirred slightly in my arms. He looked so calm and at peace now, I didn't want that to change for him. I wish my friends could just live normal lives. Part of me doesn't think I deserve to have a normal life too, after what Tord's love for me put them through. But all of me just wants us to make it out alive.

The elevator dings and we get out, walking to one of the many doors containing Matt's room. It was rather basic, with a small desk, bathroom, and twin sized bed. The walls were painted gray, nothing out of the ordinary. I laid Matt down gently on the bed, pulling the covers over him slowly. I shut off the light before exiting and going back into the elevator. I felt my body fill with dread with the thought of having to deal with him again. We stepped out after a few more moments, still saying nothing to each other. As I approached the door, sounds of loud conversation filled the air. Most of it was in a different language but I could make out the word "Police".

I gasped slightly, hoping this meant they were coming for us. Even though that word enough wasn't enough evidence, it was enough to give me some form of reassurance. Pat used his hand print to open the door. I noticed that Paul and Tord were having a conversation that I couldn't understand. Tord was seated at his desk. He seemed rather bored, resting his face in his palm and twirling a pen in his fingers with disinterest. When he saw me, Tord's expression turned immediately into a smile. I didn't return it, instead giving him my usual glare. Paul waved goodbye and walked away with Pat. I noticed that his name tag was... upside down? Okay then. Anyway, the devil himself stood up and made his was over to me. He put his hands around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"I missed you kjære~" Tord cooed in my ear. I cringed and attempted to pull myself as far away from him as possible. He seemed to dislike this, instead turning me around to face him, "What's wrong?"

"Oh, maybe the fact that you trapped me in some military base, almost killed my friends, and are acting so nonchalant about it?" I muttered bitterly, turning my head so I wasn't facing him. He pulled my chin close so I wasn't looking at him yet again.

His expression was dark and eerie, an unsettling smile on his face, "What's wrong, Thomas?" He repeated in a completely flat tone.

I shuttered with fear, "N-nothing."

The atmosphere changed completely and his smile was wide again, "I have some exciting news, love. I think you'll be very pleased to hear it."

"You're letting me go?"

"Of course not, silly! I've been working on a very cool invention for you. I'm sure you'll like it." My curiosity got the better of me and before I could stop myself, I was already asking another question, "What kind of invention is it?"

"If it told you that, it would spoil everything. You'll just have to wait and see. Good things come to boys who wait patiently~"