Waking up didn’t make him panic.
The pictures inside of his head slowly getting clear once again.

He was Robin Arellano.
The toughest kid in school. He lived with his Tio Toby most of the time.
His best friend was Finney Blake, to whom he gave the nickname Finn.
He wanted to watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre with him.

He was meant to have died.
Died in a creepy old basement full with the ghost of the deceased unfortunate souls he got before he got Robin.
And yet he was sitting up in his bed, the only things telling him something was wrong being the feeling of unfamiliarity in his own home and the sickening knowledge of his death.

No there was something else.
He knew Finn was there.
His Finn was in the same basement he died.

Now he began to shake. His eyes started to tear up.
He left him alone. He left him behind.

No’, he tried telling himself.
The picture of the old basement was weird. It was strangely blurry and yet at the same time clear.
He knew he talked to Finney on the phone, telling him to get out for him. He taught him to stand up for himself.
Finn killed the man that took so many lives.

And somehow Robin was alive.
Well, or so he assumed. His heart was beating, his lungs were filling themselves with air and after that got rid of the stuff he couldn't use.
His hands were sweating. His thoughts running through his head.

He stood up. His room was filled with posters of movies, the walls practically plastered in these. Then there were, as far as he could see, some pictures.
One of a woman.

His mom.
She wasn’t abusive or anything. She just wasn’t there often.
She was in his Tio’s house, her room just beside his.
But she often slept, Toby said she was having a bad time ever since his dad didn’t return home.

He couldn't be mad at her. He felt like that too sometimes.
Just not having the energy to get up, not even to brush your teeth or to shower.
He tried ignoring it, though.

He found someone that made that feeling go away. Someone he wanted to protect like his dad did protect his buddies in the war.
It wasn’t the same, he knew this.
But somehow he got to go back again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The house was silent as Robin sneacked out of his room. He knew his uncle wouldn't be angry.
He didn't remember how many times he had visited the small altar for his father when he was having trouble sleeping or was worried. Toby never was.
But this wasn't the same.
It wasn't a nightmare, as much as he wished he could tell himself it was.

The altar, if you could even call it that, was covered with trifles, things his father had once loved.
A picture of him, his mother along with Robin and Tio Toby was placed next to his picture.
“Hola papá.. ¿Cómo estás?" he asked, looking at the picture.

His family didn’t exactly follow the traditions of their ancestors exactly, but they tried.
An altar for the dead, honoring them and keeping their spirit alive.
They are said to visit once a year. Offerings are placed for them.
Robin at first was reluctant to believe that.

Why couldn't his dad always be there, if he could be once?
It didn’t fit into his head at the time. He was angry and confused why his dad didn’t come back.
But now he had an idea.

A ghost couldn't directly leave the place their life bleed out of them.
Not until something was achieved, and as a ghost you couldn't tell people what it was, even if you knew. No one would hear you. And sometimes you didn’t know what would free you.

“Lo siento por estar enojado contigo... Pensé que podrías volver cuando quisieras. Pero no puedes, ¿verdad?" he added, only looking at the picture of the man. His Tio said he really looked like him.

He sighed. It was complicated. He had been mad at his father for dying, for leaving him. And still he had always searched the comfort of his face when ever he felt distressed.

“Papá, no sé qué hacer. Se supone que debo estar... No estoy destinado a estar aquí. Estoy confundido." he whispered, slowly sitting down before the ofrenda.
He could talk in Spanish, he just didn’t do it often. Sometime words of the two languages he could speak mixed mid sentence. This often happened when he insulted someone.

He closed his eyes.
It was stupid. So fucking stupid doing this.
His dad wouldn't hear him.
He was trapped somewhere in a foreign country.

And Robin was here. Alive when he shouldn’t be.
“¿No puedes decirme qué debo hacer? Yo... sé que no puedes oírme. Esto es estúpido... jodidamente estúpido" he whispered to himself.

Suddelnly the light was turned on, making Robin flinch and look at the man standing next to the light switch.

Tio Toby..

"Sobrino, what is wrong?” his voice was still sleepy, and Robin looked away.
“How long were you standing there?”

“Long enough to tell you need a heart on heart, Robby.”
He couldn’t tell him. He didn’t even know if he could tell Finn, and Finn well.. he was there. But Robin was praying to what ever god allowed it to happen, that Finn wouldn't remember.
Because this couldn't be a dream.
This was grim reality.
And yet Robin had escaped it. Somehow.

“It was just.. I had a nightmare Tio.” Robin finally said, not moving as his uncle sat besides him.
He was only like ten years older than him.

“Really? Rob you don’t just go to his ofrenda, not to mention you talk like this with him. Did something happen?” Toby basically raised him. He knew Robin more than the boy liked to admit.

“I just.. Tio you’d call me fucking crazy.” Robin didn’t like admitting that he was alone. He couldn't tell him.
The man besides him sighed, looking at his nephew from the side.

“I’d never call you that. What did happen?” worry stained his words. Robin avoided the drak eyes of the man. He had a bit of a beard and often bags under his eyes.

“It was just a nightmare.” he answered. It wasn’t and he knew that. But his uncle didn’t need to know.

“Well..what happened?” he asked again, and Robin felt himself grow uncomfortable. Heck he hated being lied to.
“It was..bad.”

“Well that I could figure out, Sobrino.” he chuckled, a terrible attempt at lighting the mood. He failed of course, but it felt nice to have a shoulder too lean on. The shoulder of a grown up.
Because Robin was only thirteen years old.
“Ja ja. Gracioso, no" he replied rolling his eyes.
“But… I was weak. Something was taking kids.. other kids, even Hopper. You know, the one that carved in that one kids arm. And then me.. And I couldn’t fight back. And after me..he took Finn. I couldn’t protect him as I had promised. I-I left my best friend behind.” he added, his voice stern but empty.
He felt guilty. It wasn’t a dream. He really had left Finn in such a bad Situation.
Though he had helped him, he still had left him behind.

Toby didn't answer, was silent for a few minutes before pulling his nephew into a hug.
Robin knew Tio Toby would never hurt him, and still he winced.

"So that's why you went to him?" the older one asked quietly, nodding briefly in the direction of his brother's portrait.
He knew how much Robin loved his father, despite his anger at never being able to see him again, and aspired to emulate him.

Robin nodded but didn't return the hug.

"I left him alone..." he whispered, but Toby shook his head.
"Robin. You haven't, you're right here in front of me.. even if you don't think you should be. You forgot that I speak Spanish too." Toby didn't sound angry, not even horrified. His voice was clear, had the same warmth it always had.

But Robin was shocked.
"How much did you hear?"

"More than enough to know that you don't tell me everything. But you might want to leave it at that. And that is okay, Robin. I just want you to know that I'm always here for you.. No matter what you believe. You belong in this world, as well as your mother and your friend belongs here. You are important to me Robin, and to a whole lot of other people. And I am sure, you didn’t leave anyone behind. After all, it was only a nightmare. This is the real world, you can make things turn out quiet the opposite.” by the tone of his words, Robin realized, that his uncle feared he got the.. the downs.
He preferred to call it those, because it was this.

He looked at him, wanting to tell him, that it wasn’t the same as his mothers, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want him to worry about some bastard trying to kidnap him and kill him.
And if Robin knew anything about Toby, the young man would grab a bar of steel and walk directly to the guy and bash his head in.

Though Robin liked the thought of doing this.
As Toby said, this was life. And he could make events turn out quiet the opposite.
The man who took his and so many other lives wouldn’t get the chance to do so.
Robin would prevent it.
He would protect Finn as long as he could.

“Gracias tío Toby... ahora me siento mejor.” he smiled slightly, making his tío sigh in relieve.

“Good.. now get some sleep. I could take you and maybe your friend Finn to the drive-in theater this weekend. Maybe some good movies are playing.” he grinned, getting up slowly while not letting go of the long-haired boy.

“Sounds amazing tío.” he smiled back.
He would do anything to see the Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Finn.

But for that he needed a plan. A plan formed with all the victims.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He knew, seeing again would be hard
He felt his heart racing, beating so fast, he couldn't believe it could ever have stopped.
He smiled.
Finn was okay.

Though the brown-haired boy was lost in thoughts, Robin walked to him. He couldn't restrain himself from it. He didn’t want to just stare at him.
He needed to hear his voice. He needed to see him smile.
He would kill for him.
And he will.

“Hey Finn, you there?” he smirked at the boy. It almost made his cheeks hurt how much he smiled.
It was just so amazing to see him.

Finn flinched, as if he hadn’t expected Robin.
This was off.
Normally he wouldn’t act like this around Robin. Finn also didn’t look good. He had big and dark bags under his eyes and always seemed on edge.

Robin looked around. Maybe all those people around them made him uncomfortable.
It wasn’t like he didn’t know, that it was real.
He fucking remembered dying after being stabbed in the neck, his blood slowly dripping to the ground.
The son of a bitch telling him how he deserved it for being “naughty”.
How he instantly recognized Finn es he saw him.
How he had failed to protect him.
But now he wouldn’t fail.
Nobody would be hurt.
Well, besides the man.

“O-oh, Hey Robin. Yeah, just got lost in thoughts.”

“Could figure it.” Robin grinned. Maybe Finn was just a bit sleepy.
“We have tutoring after school, right?” Finney chuckled. Robin always was the one who nearly forgot about their lessons. But this time, it wasn’t because he just
He didn’t know

“I’m not even surprised by this question.” Robin just grinned back, not even a hint of embarrassment because of this. He didn’t need to feel like this, so why should he? Finney wasn’t one to make him feel like this. He maybe once had make a joke about this being connected to Robins fights., but Robin didn’t mind them.
He liked it actually.
Finn was someone who wasn’t to fond of violence, but he still understood when it was needed.

Robin hoped he would never again would need it, or at least not in the same case as back there.
He definitely cheer Finn on, if he ever stood up against his bullies.

The two boys talked to each other, like they always did.

“Did Gwen already tell you you look like you haven’t slept the whole night?” Finney looked at Robin, slightly confused.
He didn’t notice of Robins slightly twichted.
Finn wasn’t supposed to remember.

“That’s a direction I didn’t expect our conversation to take, but yeah. I‘ve already been told, that I look like shit.” Robin giggled. Jap that was Gwen. He liked Finneys younger sister, she was often the one who told him when his bullies took it too far.

“Yeah that sounds like your sister. What did you do to stay up so late? You haven’t watched a movie without me, right amigo?” Finney shook his head.
For a moment he wanted to mention the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but it was march.
This movie wouldn't be out for a few months.

“Just studied for a test this week.” Finney shrugged, Robin felt how he went pale.
Why the hell did he remember the fucking pedo killing him, but not that they were having a fucking test?!

“¿Qué? ¿Una maldita prueba? ¿Por qué no me dijiste?" he cried out and Finney couldn’t stop laughing.

“Didn’t Mrs. Smith talk about it? Or did you again skip class?” Robin looked at him, and his expression just got worse. Fucking math?! What the actual fuck.

“Its fucking math?!¡Oh, mierda! Voy a fallar en esta mierda" he cried out, now looking at Finney with pleading eyes.
“You have to help me or I’ll fail this test.”

“We already have a tutoring lesson today so I can help you.” the at first despaired looking boy seemed to relax and even laughed a little. Finney could never say no to Robin. And Robin couldn't say no to him.
It hurt to lie to him.

“I don’t know how you can be that smart to understand math.” he crossed his arms, making his best friend chuckle.

“Don’t understand how you can be stupid enough to not understand math?” he fired back, making Robin laugh more.

“But that puta didn’t say anything to me about that damn test.” offended, Robin grimaced.
It was weird. He remembered the basement clearly, his talk with Finn and everything. But nothing about a test.
It wouldn’t be too far off to just say, the damn puta didn’t tell him about it.
“We can do it, you just have to learn something." he teased something that made Robin snort. Finney always came to school a little earlier because Gwen's classes always started a little earlier than his. Robin had noticed this after a while and adjusted to Finney's routine, even though Finney had complained about it and said that Robin didn't have to do it. But Robin did it because he liked to do it.

He noticed how Finn seemed to clam down, making Robin look lovingly at him.
Maybe it really was just a bad dream.
But again, he would have to tell Finn someday, or at least when he had the blood of that piece of human scum all over his hands.

Then he looked around. It had its perks always beating up bullies, because then you were left alone at school.
But then his glance landed upon the street.
Hi blood froze instantly.
The fucking van.

He was near the school.
Robin felt sick to his guts, as the realization crawled trough his bones.
The monster was stalking his victims.
And if he had stalked Robin, he knew about Finn.

His eyes darkened.
Then he pulled himself away from looking at it, looking instead at Finney. But the boy only stared at the van, playing with his hands.

Finn knew something was of, didn’t he?

“Finn, do you think this van is even allowed to be near schools?" Robin decided not to be too obvious. He didn’t want Finney to freak out, and at the same time was trying to convince himself, that Finn didn’t remember.
He shouldn’t remember what they went through.

“The school wouldn't really like it, I guess. God forbid we’re once having fun.” Robin chuckled as a response to Finney. He responded a bit late though, making Robin wonder if he knew more than he led in on.
But again, this response meant he didn’t remember.’ he told himself.
He knew he was just lying to himself, but it made him clam down.

“But still, didn’t feel something off about that van?” Robin whispered, not really knowing if he intended for Finn to hear or not.
He needed to know, if he remembered.
“Guess its just because its so early. No one would be having some party right now where a magician is needed. Maybe the guy was just letting his kid out?” Robin nodded, but looked at the street again. The van was gone.

Was he stalking his first victim?
Who was that again?
The guy only took boys, so a boy.
He remembered the boy being called “someone who we grew so used to see, that we only saw him again when he was gone.”
It didn’t make sense really, but the boy had to be someone rather invisible.
That would be a pain in the ass to find out who he was.

Then Robin turned to him again.

“Just image your parents as fucking magicians.”
Finney chuckled, shaking his head. It made Robin clam down, but deep inside of him there was the deep and dark realization, that Finn knew more than he let him on.
Finn remembered something about the basement.

But Robin didn’t know what, and Finn wouldn't talk about it.
He wanted to tell himself, that Finn really just had a bad dream and didn’t remember, but at the same time he just felt like he knew.

He just wanted to ignore this fucking feeling.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finding another victim was easier than he thought it would be.
As soon as he had heard the name ad whisper about the schools toughest kid beating up Moose, he just felt a prickling on his skin and heard the phrases: "Welcome to the horrifying nightmare end of your pathetic little life!" and “Today’s the day motherfucker!” clearly.
The kidnapper had killed fucking Vance Hopper.

But getting him on his side was easy; the blond wanted to get rid of the piece of shit just as much as Robin wanted to. And he was grateful for all the information Robin remembered.
Six victims.
And he had told Robin, that he also knew another one. Bruce Yamada, the teenage baseball prodigy of Denver.
He had expected the creep to have some form of type, but Jesus Christ.
Two guys who regularly beat other up and two base-ballplayers.
He didn’t expect a boy to walk to their usual meeting spot.
Or he didn’t expect the boy to feel so familiar.
It was one of the dead-five.
He needed to think of a name for them. Maybe then he’d stop feeling like a fucking psycho.

Vance next to him grunted.
“This is one of us, isn’t he?”
They all got a strangely familiar feeling if they walked across one another.
Like what ever brought them back wanted them to recognize the others.

The boy walked straight to them, almost unnoticed by the glances thrown at them.
Meeting up in the fucking cafeteria wasn’t one of Robins best ideas.

“So.. this is gonna be awkward.” the other victim murmured to himself, but Vance was the first to respond.
“Well it isn’t. We fucking know.” he said, and Robin noticed how the boy flinched for a second.
Well Vance was intimidating. But the flinch was rather one of surprise.

“That is making things a whole lot easier. So..you know what happened, we know what happened. We are gonna prevent it. This afternoon, we and the other boys will meet up. With you in, there is only one missing.” Robin added, hopefully seeming more approachable than Vance next him.

He sat down next to them, his hands twitching sometimes.
“That I should be dead? Oh I know. I’m Griffin.” he introduced.
Well that boy was upfront.
Maybe that would make him get along with Vance.
“And I am in with getting rid of him. ” he added, making Vance nod in agreement.
Well the two wouldn’t be at each others throat, so that was good.

The name rung a bell inside of Robins head.
He should remember more, but he didn’t.
He only knew, that this was Griffin Stagg, one of the victims.

Vance rolled his eyes and started playing with his locks. Quiet the interesting picture, as Vance's knuckles were still not really patched up.

“When is the surviving one going to show up?” Vance looked at Robin, who sighed in response
“I already told you, he takes a bit longer. I just hope his bullies leave him alone. Otherwise.. a bit of practice against the pedazo de mierda wouldn’t be too bad.” he grew uncomfortable. What if Finn’s bullies really just waited for him to turn away and beat him up?
He started too look around nervously.
Heck where was Finn?

“The survivor? Finney Blake, right?” Griffin intervened, looking at the two older boys.
Vance looked angrier as he noticed their age difference.
“How do you know that? How old are you little shit? Eleven, ten?” he tried to make it sound like he was belittling the younger one, but Robin noticed the clenched fists and furrowed brows.

“I sit with him in English class, secondly I am in his year, just not class. And I’m twelve.” Griffin directly shot back, making Vance raise an eyebrow.

“Shut the hell up. Griffin, did you see Finn? You haven’t told him anything, have you?” Robin now looked at the younger one, whom was now tilting his head.
“No? I tried but he didn’t even really act like he knew me. But I think he remembers. He looked disturbed when he saw me.” Griffin shrugged. Robin felt his mouth go dry.

Finn remembered.
“Better for you to not have told him. Otherwise he would be all over your ass.” with a provocative grin, Vance leaned towards Griffin and nodded towards Robin.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Robin looked at the two seriously.
He wanted to protect Finn, so what?
The two didn't have to exaggerate directly.

"You threatened me just in case I could tell him something." Without batting an eyelid, Vance fired back, making Griffin look confused.

"Why don't you want to tell him? He remembers."

Robin didn't answer directly, but only rolled his eyes.
"I know him better than either of you, so I know what would be better."

Griffin didn't understand while Vance just gave him an annoyed look.
"But that's stupid. What if he just tells himself it's not real?"

"Don't call me stupid you little wretch." Robin replied, more snarky than he meant to be.

Griffin folded his arms, but before he could reply anything, Finn appeared.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Finns panic-attack, Robin had to admit to himself, that Finn remembered.
It made his beating heart ache.

“Sorry for being an ass at lunch.” Robin sighed, as he walked together with Vance towards the school.
The two boys had silently agreed to never let anyone of them walk anywhere alone. Too big of a risk.
But now they would finally get to form a plan against that hijo de puta. They would get rid of him.

Vance looked at him from the side.
“You realized that you can’t keep fucking lying to him?”
“I wasn’t exactly lying to him.” Robin shot back, but Vance just rolled his eyes.

“Yeah yeah. I get it. You want to protect him.”

“I want to protect all of us, dickhead. Just because Finn is my best friend, doesn’t mean I don’t care for your revenge.” it was easy to assume, the only thing Robin cared for was his best friend, but that wasn’t the case.
He wanted to protect him of course, but he was also thinking about the others and himself.
He wanted to get revenge for each life taken by the monster.
For five lives taken, six lives directly destroyed and countless infected with the fear that their child could be next.

Vance stayed quiet for a moment, sometimes checking the streets.
“Bruce and I got Paperboy to show up. You shouldn't call him Billy. And I think he doesn’t remember our names.” Vance informed him.

Kind of surprised Robin looked at him.
Billy. The paperboy?

“And he’s annoying. Talks about us like we are fucking headlines. I nearly lunged at him. Bruce got me off of him before I could really hurt him.” Vance didn’t stop talking, though it sounded like he wanted to.
It was really weird walking next to ‘Pinball’ Vance Hopper, though he kinda remembered being compared to him, and talking about this stuff. To be honest, before realizing that they were fucking killed by the same asshole, he never really thought about how Vance was like.
He just thought the guy liked beating up others, similar to how Robin enjoyed to demonstrate not to fuck with him or anyone who is dear to him.
But right now, Vance almost seemed remorseful.

“Are you telling me you are regretting almost beating someone up?”

Vance rolled his eyes, grunting.
“He is fucking thirteen. He killed two thirteen-year olds. One who was just before turning thirteen. Bruce was about to turn fifteen. I turned fucking fifteen in his hell. And kidnapped another thirteen-year-old. I almost beat someone up in the same boat as me. I don’t know what you fucking think of me, but I am not a fucking psychopath.”
Vance actually sounded sickened at the thought of almost hurting someone who had been through the same thing as himself.

Robin pressed his lips together.
He had no idea what any of the boys were like, he hadn't known any of them before. Or had just heard from them, which created a pre-set image in his mind.

And Vance was just plain violent in that picture, but he looked different here.
Not softer or weaker, but as if it had more than one layer.
The comparison of an onion came to him.

Vance Hopper was an onion.

"I didn't think you'd care so much about what other people think of you." Robin looked at the older one, who skillfully avoided his gaze, always keeping an eye on the street.

"I don’t. Don't act like we're anything like friends. We want to kill the same bastard, and I won't do it alone. I’m not going to be the only one with bloody hands."
Their meeting point was close to the school, a place where there were still enough people that Robin didn't feel like serving the other boys and himself on the silver platter, yet was far enough away that no one was passing the five could hear.

They plotted a fucking murder.
Nobody should hear them talking about it, Robin didn’t want any of the boys to fall under the radar of police or any sick fucks that like his murderer, so he was careful.

Bruce was standing next to a tree, a baseball-bat right next to him.
Griffin was talking to the other boy, Paperboy or Billy Showalter, the newspaper-delivery-boy of Denver.
The first one to notice them was Bruce. It looked like he was guarding the younger ones.

Relieve filled his eyes as he saw the two walking towards him, and he visibly relaxed.
“There you are. Nothing happened to you while walking here, right? No cars or people following you?” maybe they were paranoid, thinking the man somehow could stalk them all the time, but again, he already kind of did. He was watching someone near the gates of the school. A zone he should never ever be allowed near.

“None, if you don’t count Robins boyfriend staring holes into my neck as we were walking away. No way in hell he doesn’t remember.” Vance exclaimed.
The other two noticed them also, but Robin was to focused on what he said about Finn.

“Hey we’re not boyfriends!” he didn’t know If Vance had something against it, but at the looks of it, he didn’t. He just seemed like he wanted to tease Robin.
Bruce rolled his eyes, and Paperboy just seemed confused. Griffin was smiling like the little demon he was, already deciding he would use this to tease Robin and Finn with.

“Sure.. when’s the wedding?” Vance grinned at Griffin, as he just continued the teasing started by Vance, like the piece of shit he was.
Robin felt his cheeks growing hot.

“Vance stop, we aren’t here to just make us hate each other. We are here to discuss how to get rid of..our little problem.” Bruce stopped the three, before Robin could curse out both Vance and Griffin.

“So..That is Vance, you are Bruce, and this is Robin. And you are..Loner-no no. You have a real name.” Paperboy looked kind of distressed.
“It’s Griffin. You’ll get the hang of it, I’,m sure. Though I don’t mind the nickname. Sounds kind of like I’m a spy. Though we should really start discussing on how we kill the guy” Griffin looked at Paperboy, who just nodded. Vance kind of smiled, and Bruce crossed his arms, looking uncomfortable.
Robin felt weird about it. He shouldn't want to kill someone, but he did.

“We should firstly figure out what exactly we remember.” Robin looked over the boys, Vance almost seemed embarrassed.
“Fucking emotions. So I know I hate the motherfucker. And how exited I was when he was killed, so I guess we were some form of ghosts.”

“But ghosts aren’t real.” Griffin complained.

“Well we are supposed to be fucking sex feet under, but look were we are. So being a fucking ghost seems like the least of our problems.” Vance snapped back, making Griffin pinch his lips.

“Well I remember your faces, though I have to admit from what I remember you all were a lot fucking paler and bloodier. Then there was Finney and some girl.”

“Some girl? He didn’t take girls. And with me there were only six victims. What’d she look like?” Robin was irritated.
The Fucker only took boys and had some form of type. But a girl didn’t fit into those ‘requirements’.

“Long brown and braided hair, brown eyes and a yellow raincoat. She looked really distressed. Somewhat familiar to Finney.”
“Gwen! That has to be his sister.” his voice was confused first, then worried.
Then a picture hit him.

Rain.
A yellow raincoat on a bike, falling to the ground as she saw the bloody ghosts.
She found the house.

“Who?” Bruce looked as confused as Vance sounded, and Paperboy just looked overwhelmed with all those names.
“Guys stop throwing around so many damn names. You know I am sucking at those.” he cried out, while Griffin shook his head.
“I just remember her face. Maybe she found out something.. Finney, the one who killed him,” he added for Paperboy, “is special. He could hear the phone. Maybe she is similar. But it would be better if we concentrated on the matter how to fucking prevent each of us dying and being kidnapped.” Griffins voice started to sound nervous, making Robin start to think again.

“Well.. I continue then I think. I remember touch. Like the mattress that could have used a wash or the cold floor.. Or his belt. That was what killed me, or rather caused him to. He slit my throat open after well.. breaking my skull?” Bruce’s voice was low and unsure.
Vance looked at him with pity and took his hand.

“You remember how you died? I remember..only your names and some form of headline underneath it. It often just was how he decided to kill you though.” Paperboy added, and Vance’s eyes darkend.
“You had some form of fucking paper?”
“Maybe. Don’t know.”

“What about you fight- sorry, Robin?” Paperboy looked at the tan boy.

“How he got me.. I was fighting him and well.. he didn’t like that. Stabbed in my fucking neck. But..well sorry to break it to you, but we were some kind of ghosts. I knew you were there, but at the same time I couldn't see you, like you were somewhere in-between the basement and afterlife. And Finn, I remember how we all taunted the Grabber as Finn snapped his neck. We talked to Finn trough some phone. I heard it ring as I was bleeding out.” he felt kinda numb as he said all of this. Vance clenched his fists, while Bruce looked at him with kindness. He felt like he forgot something important but couldn't lay a finger on it.
Paperboy leaned against Griffin, trying to count the names they used for him.
Then he went suddenly pale.
“The Grabber?”

“Yeah.. that’s what everyone called him after he took Vance.” Robin looked at him, and Paperboys eyes started to tear up.

“FUCK! Shit! Shit shit shit!” he shivered, stepping away from Griffin. Robin wanted to step in, but Vance was first.
“Chill out PB. Did that name..trigger something?”

“I-I saw him.”

“What do you mean? H-he was in front of the school, but that was his van. Or did you see him outside of it? W-was he walking around?” Griffin sounded anxious.
“N-no. I was delivering newspapers today i-in the morning. I-I meet a man, and the only name I think of is Grabber.” his voice was shaky, but Vance’s strong arms held the boy in place.

“What?! Did that fucker do anything?” it was a real hit in the guts. They all knew he had to be alive again if they were. They didn’t rise from their graves. They were somehow in the past, though the shock of being dead but not was too big to even really acknowledge this whole thing.

“H-he talked to me. I know where he lives.” Paperboys eyes were wide with fear.
“H-he always gives my Rosy treats.. She likes him damn it!” he cursed out, pulling himself away from Vance.
Griffin looked at the both with concern, while Bruce got his bat near him.

“He never planned on letting me live then.” Griffins voice was empty, showing no shock. It was a statement.

Robin looked at him.
“You..you remember what order we were taken in?”

“Well.. I suppose you were the last to die. Then there had to be either Vance, Bruce or Paperboy.”

Robin felt his face drop.
Griffin was the first to get taken.

Bruce’s face grew serious, he was the first one to speak out what they all thought.
“You were taken the first. When?”

“I-I don’t exactly remember. That’s the thing. I know stuff, but don’t remember learning it. And to why I know it then..I feel it coming. It makes me paranoid and so god damn scared. What if he was at school because he is preparing to take me?” Griffins voice was shaky.
Robin pressed his lips together.
They needed to get rid of the guy fast.

“Well we wont let that happen. If the asshole tries anything, I personally will take Bruce's bat and beat the shit out of him.” Vance offered, and Robin joined in.

“But he is grown up. You three tried fighting back.” Paperboy reminded them, resulting in Vance snapping at him.
“Shut the fuck up! I remember how frustrated I got, I fucking know!”

“Clam fucking down. PB, we know this.. but then we were alone. And Finn beat the guy with all of our help. We have to team up against him. And Griffin, we wont let you go alone anywhere.” Robin took on some kind of lead. Vance scoffed, but ultimately stayed quiet as Bruce placed his hand on his shoulder.

“So what is the plan then?” Griffin seemed to be relieved, smiling slightly now, though it was mostly fake.

“We make a plan. The guy is in his fourties as far as I remember, so he is old. And he most likely starved you guys. So if we are healthy, we can win the upper hand if we fought.” Robin started, but Bruce didn’t seem too sure of the idea.

“But we can’t just jump his van. He’ll run us over.” he gave a concern, but Paperboy and Griffin intervened.
“We know where he lives! So maybe we can ambush him in the night.”

“It’s his home, shitheads. He’s going to get the upper hand there easier. It’s his territory. We would need weapons to get at him. But.. Bruce how many bats do you have?” Vance leaned against the black-haired boy.
Robin noticed a slight blush on the slightly tanned cheeks of Bruce.

“At least two. Maybe three if I can find another one in our..basement.”

“I can get us some barbed wire. With that we could get the bats a bit more dangerous.” Paperboy added in to the surprise of everyone.
“You know where to get it? Awesome. But we shouldn’t just bring bats. Maybe some knifes.” Robin wondered if he could sneak out some of Tio’s Tobys good knifes.

“And we would need nails to get the wire to stick to the bats.” Vance added, and Bruce didn’t look too fond of the idea of destroying his bats.
But then he looked at his hands and Vance, and the idea of dying by the hands of a fucking psycho was enough to convince him.

“Well..we certainly would need an alibi. It wouldn’t be too far of, that people would suspect me or Robin to kill some guy.” Vance looked seriously at the others.
“You didn’t plan a murder before, did you?”
Vance rolled his eyes.

“We could do it in the morning. The Grabber preps his van for gigs early in the morning. We could say, you helped me deliver papers.” Paperboy offered.

“What is his real name anyway?" Griffin looked at the others, and Paperboy sighed.
“I think it was Albert Shaw, you know, the magician guy. Now that I know what he really is...it is obvious. The guys always creepy.”

“The fucking magician?” Robin looked at them confused. He had heard that name somewhere.
“This asshole works also sometimes at an electronic-store.” Griffin added.

“Now we know where he lives, how old he likely is, where he works. Now the only thing that is left are the weapons.” Vance concluded, but Paperboy shook his head.

“We still need hero. He remembers, doesn’t he?” he looked at Robin.
“Well..kind of. He doesn’t want to see it though.” Robin answered.

“Can’t be angry at that. But we shouldn’t do it without him. He still remembers and well.. he was also kidnapped.” Bruce looked at the others. Robin felt weird talking about Finn like this, but he said to himself, that it was for the best.
He wouldn't leave these boys, his Finn, and Tío and Mamá alone.
He wouldn't leave them behind again.

“We’ll tell him tomorrow. Lunch break directly.” he decided. Would Finn be angry at him? For not telling him? Or would he be mad for telling him? Maybe because it went so fast, bu Griffin could be taken any day. They needed to prevent this.

“I’ll get the baseball-bats with Vance. PB, you get the wire and Griffin nails. Robin can you bring knifes or any other weapons?”

“I’ll definitely get us knifes. And Finn, though I have to admit PB, that hero is a name that fits Finn.” Robin felt relaxed and smiled at the boy.

He and the others had a plan.
They would keep each others safe, no matter what.
It didn’t feel like they just planned to jump a guy and kill him.
It felt like he just got rid of the annoying crust of an wound after it had healed
He felt relief.

Notes:
Translations:

Hola papá.. ¿Cómo estás?- Hi dad how are you?

Lo siento por estar enojado contigo... Pensé que podrías volver cuando quisieras. Pero no puedes, ¿verdad?- Sorry for being mad at you... I thought you could come back anytime. But you can't, right?

Papá, no sé qué hacer. Se supone que debo estar... No estoy destinado a estar aquí. Estoy confundido.- Dad, I don't know what to do. I'm supposed to be... I'm not meant to be here. I'm confused.

¿No puedes decirme qué debo hacer? Yo... sé que no puedes oírme. Esto es estúpido... jodidamente estúpido-Can't you tell me what to do? I... I know you can't hear me. This is stupid...fucking stupid

Sobrino- Nephew

Ja ja. Gracioso, no- Ha ha. funny not

Gracias tío Toby... ahora me siento mejor.- Thanks Uncle Toby... I feel better now.