Chapter 80: Episode 12-Nefarious Sloth (4)
Aliana and I carried Marcus out of the room. Alexa was glaring at us, but I couldn't care. We needed to get out.
(Why did we come here?)
I wanted to blame Ethan for this anxiety, but I couldn't hate him. He came to us because he wanted to save his friend. As we carried him, I saw Marcus's sleeping face. It wasn't scary or imposing like before. He was a young boy, a teenager just like the rest of us.
We lugged his large frame until we saw Ethan again, who was in another classroom.
(Maxine?)
I saw Ethan holding Maxine princess-style. I glanced behind him and saw that Jace guy clutching his throat, gasping for air.
(What did he do this time?)
"Ethan!"
"Come on; we need to get out!" Aliana exclaimed.
Ethan paused and looked at something. After he was done, he said, "Let's go."
We lugged Marcus through the dim hallways, creeping past the other incapacitated teenagers. It was gradually becoming more crowded, and I heard more voices. Some of them sounded lucid.
"We can't go out the way we came. There are guards."
"Well, this was your idea, Ethan," Aliana said sharply. "You better have an idea."
(Come on, don't argue.)
"I do," Ethan stated, "Let's go to another classroom."
Ethan found another classroom, but it was filled with students. He disregarded the inhabitants and entered, walking towards a window. He pried it open, and an ashy gust of wind rushed in. I smelled the smoke and fire and shuddered. Did he want us to jump out the window?
"What are you doing?" I asked.
Instead of answering, Ethan hopped onto the window sill, currently holding Maxine in his arms.
(Wait, no, he's not gonna actually-)
"Oop, there goes gravity."
Ethan jumped.
***
The ground rushed towards me as I fell. I braced for impact and bent my legs as I landed. I carefully held Max so she wouldn't hit the ground. After I made sure she was secure, I jumped again. Instead of a small hop, it was a complete leap. I scaled the entire building and landed on the roof. I placed Max on the rooftop.
(It'll only be a few seconds up here. She'll be fine.)
I turned away and looked down. Jumping from three floors didn't look fun, but I needed to get back into the classroom to grab Marcus.
(Okay, I need to plan this correctly.)
I tried to psych myself up, but it wasn't working.
(Come on, my dreams were literally in the void.)
I remembered when I dropped from a building to activate my Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. It was the day George became more lucid. The memory was fleeting, though. It was probably less than a month ago, but it felt like years.
[Fable "Ender's Game" is fluttering their pages.]
My brain confused itself; my sense of gravity told me I would crash, while my instinct told me I would float down.
[Fragment of the 4th Wall is restricting the Fable.]
The clash of sensations and expectations halted, and I thought logically. The gravity would take me at a certain velocity, and I would need to roll and disperse the impact at-
"Screw it, balls deep."
I jumped down and fell like a rock. As my feet hit the ground, I tucked my body and rolled. I sprang up, correctly distributing the kinetic energy.
"Oh my god? Ethan?!"
I saw Aliana peering out the window.
"Back away!" I shout-whispered.
Once they did, I leapt again, sailing into the classroom.
"How did you do that?"
"Not right now."
"Oi, I think those kids are over here."
(Shit, guards.)
I grabbed Marcus with the firefighter's carry, but it was difficult. He was almost twice my size.
(It'll be fine, he's fine, I'm fine, it's all fiiiiine. Who needs ankles?)
"Ethan, hurry!"
I dropped down, but instead of jumping up again and placing him on the roof, I returned to the classroom.
"Get on my back; I'll carry you down."
"Ew, no."
Aliana moved to leap herself, but I stopped her.
"Are your stats high enough?"
She answered with a serious expression. "Yeah."
"Okay, go."
Aliana jumped, and I addressed the last person.
"Alicia?"
"Check the next classroom! It has to be that one!"
Alicia looked uncomfortable and I couldn't blame her. I was, well, me. Although, she eventually conceded and hopped on my back. As I prepared for the drop, I heard the classroom door open.
(Shit!)
[5 minutes later.]
"Well, I'm glad that's over."
The gang was gathered in our spot: Marcus's hideout.
Aliana was panting from the high jumps, but she asked, "What do we do now?"
"We gotta get the drugs out of their system. First, let me try this."
I grabbed Marcus by the collar and slapped him across the face.
"Wake up, gamer!"
I did this four to five times, but it didn't work. I looked at Max and thought, (Eh, gender equality.) I gave a slap across Max's face, and she was slightly roused. It seemed her dosage wasn't severe, so I gave her a pill.
"Hey, what are you doing?!"
"Relax, I was trying to stimulate them."
(He's still out.)
I pulled pills, liquids, and vials from my pockets. I began mixing them until I had a viscous substance in a glass tube.
"You're like that Breaking Bad meme."
I laughed and said, "We need to detoxify our friends, Jesse."
[Constellations are chuckling.]
[Constellation "Egyptian Thought" is willing to sponsor coins for the detoxification recipe.]
(It's been a long time since I monologued for coins.)
I began listing the ingredients, the proportions, and how they were mixed.
[Constellation "Egyptian Thought" is satisfied with the exposition.]
[Constellation "Egyptian Thought" has sponsored 500 coins.]
I poured the concoction into Marcus's mouth and nasal cavity. The medicine needed to enter those orifices for maximum effect, or else it wouldn't be as effective.
"Marcus should wake up in a few minutes, but his mental state will be unstable. How's Max?"
I turned to look, and Max was sitting up.
"Hey, don't push yourself."
"Are you okay?" Alicia asked.
In response, Max puked, and the contents spilled onto the roof.
"Okay, wow."
Aliana voiced her disgust, and I was grossed out too, but I kept it together for Max. I approached and patted her on the back.
"It's okay; we're here. Just let it out."
(I'm burning that vomit before we leave.)
After she was done, she attempted to lie down again, but the ground was hard. I wanted to make it more comfortable for her.
(I wish I could buy pillows for the two.)
I took off my rain jacket and folded it into a makeshift pillow. I gave it to Marcus and turned to Aliana. Before I could ask, Aliana took off her sweater and gave it to Max, propping her head on the cushion.
"Thank you."
I checked Marcus's pulse and opened his eyelids. His heartbeat was still erratic, and his pupils were still dilated.
(Why isn't it working? Fuck, how strong was the Specter powder.)
"Marcus, wake up."
[Constellation "All-Devouring Wolf of Apocalypse" is disappointed in their Incarnation.]
[Constellation "Secretive Plotter" wonders how Incarnation "Ethan Nakamura" will help their companion.]
[His mi nd is stu ck.]
(What? Fraggy?)
[It 's me.]
(Marcus's mind is stuck? Is he trapped in the Illusionary Pleasure?)
[Ye s.]
(How do I get him out? What medication should I use?)
[No thing will wo rk. Y ou ha ve to ma ke him le ave.]
My blood ran cold. Maybe it was the fact I took off my jacket, but a shiver ran through my body. I knew what Fraggy was suggesting. They wanted me to use my Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint and enter Marcus's mind. I did it once for George. It was frightening, but I'll do it again.
"Alicia, Aliana, I need you to listen."
"Here."
"Okay."
"I'm going to "fall asleep" for a little bit," I said with air quotes. "You can't disturb me."
"Why are you gonna sleep?" Aliana asked.
"It's for Marcus. It's some wizard, dream bullshit."
"Oh, okay."
(Aliana is strangely accepting.)
"We'll watch over Maxine and Marcus," Alicia said.
"Okay. Before I go, I need to talk to Max."
The two backed away as I knelt next to my friend.
"Hey, can you hear me?"
Max meekly nodded.
"That's great. Take it easy and rest. You're alright; you're safe. I'll only be a few feet away, and you have Alicia and Aliana."
Max seemed to visibly relax. I felt bad for what I was about to say next.
"After you're fully awake, let's talk."
She nodded again as she closed her eyes. I walked back to Marcus and lay down next to him. I folded my arms behind my head, as if I was cloud watching.
"Okay, here I go."
I was afraid to close my eyes. I didn't know what I'd see. I wasn't afraid of Marcus's mind; I was afraid of a potential invader. My caffeine-induced energy caused stress to ruin my body, but I had to relax. I breathed and closed my eyes.
[Fragment of the 4th Wall is easing your mind.]
(Thank you.)
The tugs of unconsciousness began to claw at me, but before I went, I had one last thing to say.
"Also, Aliana, consider my offer. We don't have much time."
Afterward, I fell asleep.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
EnderGolem997
EnderGolem997 So, I said I wanted to post this Saturday morning, but I missed that deadline. I couldn't work on this chapter because I was busy with a Discord event. Players from certain anime communities would come together and play AMQ; the three top teams would enter the finals. And guess what, baby, my team got into 2nd place. They are never gonna see this, but I'd like to thank Maple, Hurbis, and Incin for carrying my ass. I only got one anime opening, and it was for Sword Art Online, the most obvious one.
Also, Imma take a break on Sunday, but I'll try to post another chapter on Monday. Although, I might be busy. Fucking apartment inspectors are gonna come into my house on Tuesday. They shouldn't because they already inspected my home in August, but they need to invade my privacy again and come in, so I need to clean my home. Absolute bullshit. I'll explain in a future author's thought.
Also, I did not proofread this chapter enough cause I just want to post this. If they are obvious errors, leave a paragraph comment. Happy reading my fellows!
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