Sleepover III: we can't forget

Matthew leaned back in his chair and exhaled with satisfaction.

Matthew: "I'm stuffed"

Lauren was vibing with her glass in hand as if she was listening to some music before she completed.

Lauren: "Bitch, I must say you are not bad as a chef and this drink what's that anyway?"

Wyatt scratched the back of his neck a bit embarrassed.

Wyatt: "Thanks, that's just apricot juice with a hint of pineapple"

Matthew: "That's really good Wyatt"

Wyatt: "T-thanks"

Lauren: "I want to sleep"

Matthew: "you slept like a log for hours and you still want to sleep?"

Lauren: "huh duh, I ate and my body feels like taking a nap"

Matthew: "yeah sure. Anyway what's on the program like what do we do now?"

Wyatt: "well, you guys can rest for a bit and around 4 we can start with the activities we decided"

Lauren: "Matthew did you get what I asked you?"

Matthew looked at her with a puzzled look.

Lauren: "Don't tell me you forgot"

Matthew: "huh what are you even talking about?"

Lauren: "Alcohol?"

Wyatt: "Are you serious? You literally drank like a pit at the party and you still want to drink?"

Lauren: "oh it's just light things so it will be funnier especially the karaoke"

Wyatt: "I don't sing"

Lauren: "Don't be a killjoy"

Wyatt: "just saying"

Matthew chuckled and replied.

Matthew: "I didn't get your alcohol but I can go and buy some now "

Wyatt: "yeah still don't see the necessity of alcohol"

Lauren: "biatch shut the fuck up okay? Matthew love, please go fetch us some good stuff"

Matthew: "come on Wyatt it won't be that bad, it's just for the mood of the moment"

Wyatt wanted to talk but sighed in defeat.

Wyatt: "fine"

Lauren: "you are not that hard to convince"

Wyatt: "Don't get on my nerves"

Lauren: "ooh spooky"

Matthew laughed and got up as he helped with the dishes, Lauren helped as well and in minutes everything was clean. Matthew went to the door and touched his pocket but noticed there were empty.

Matthew: "Huh did someone see my keys?"

Wyatt: "The first drawer on the cabinet in front of you"

The gator turned and looked where he was told and found the keys.

Matthew: "Thanks, I don't remember putting them there"

Wyatt: "they were on the counter and I got them in that drawer before it disappeared. Trust me I lose a lot of things"

Matthew chuckled and opened the door.

Matthew: "okay I will be back in a few. Huh anyone need something?"

Wyatt: "I think we good, we bought a lot of stuff already"

Lauren: "yeah I think it will be fine"

Matthew nodded and got out. Lauren lunged on the couch and buried her face in the pillow next to her head. Wyatt sat on the other couch and took out his phone to read the book of Matthew.

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Seraphim had his hands folded supporting his head under his chin as he leaned while listening to Liam carefully. He was frowning slightly and seemed concerned. When Liam was done, the frog kept looking at him while processing everything.

Seraphim: "So basically...we are in one hell of a mess."

Liam: "and it will be worse if we do not retrieve Project W"

Seraphim: "Have any clues yet?"

Liam hesitated before replying.

Liam: "I do I - "

The sudden knock on the door made Liam stop in his speech and turn his head towards it.

Liam: "Come in"

A familiar face made him relax his frown.

Liam: "Cassius? Where have you been? I called you all day"

Cassius walked in, he had changed his outfit to something still casual yet covering entirely his arms so he could hide the bruises. His tone was a bit lower than usual when he replied to Liam.

Cassius: "My apologies sir, I was down there, looking for more clues on the- "

He noticed the frog and his eyes widened a bit.

Cassius: "Dr. Seraphim, what a pleasure, I wasn't aware of your arrival"

Seraphim: "Cassius, it's been a long while. I see you grew a bit"

Cassius smiled and walked to them.

Seraphim: "Liam i will be getting back to you later, I still have to meet with others"

Liam looked at the frog and understood what he meant and simply played along. He didn't have anything to hide from Cassius as he was working with him for years but the frog was being cautious with what he could say or not.

Liam: "Sure thing"

Seraphim: "oh and say hi to Wyatt for me when you get to see him, it's been a while since I've seen him"

Liam smiled and chuckled.

Liam: "aw someone wants to play with his nephew"

The frog rolled his eyes.

Seraphim: "he is not 10 anymore, doubt he likes high jumps"

Liam: "yeah he is clearly going through...some tough times"

Seraphim: "Perhaps I should visit on Monday, how does that sounds?"

Liam: "oh huh yeah, I will be glad. I'm sure that kid will be happy too..."

Seraphim smiled and walked out the door. Liam then turned at Cassius.

Liam: "yes Cassius, you were saying?"

Cassius: "I got on Leon in the hallway, he said that the higher up have hired someone to terminate Project W"

Liam: "They what?! Who did they send?"

Cassius: "I don't know sir, Leon just said that things are going really hard for everyone in the company, project W being out has put the whole facility on maximum alert. Now every movements are being controlled, no one enters without an authorization."

Liam: "wasn't it already the case?"

Cassius: "An authorization from the higher up"

Liam: "That's not a solution, what about clients and other companies CEO that get here everyday"

Cassius: "Every one of them has been notified of our new policy, they are to request and notify their presence a day beforehand"

Liam: "That's going to make them suspicious, for Godsake, who took that decision?" (*sigh*)

Cassius didn't add anything and looked at Liam pacing in circles in frustration.

Liam: "Fine, keep looking for clues of the outbreak. I need time to think"

Cassius nodded and walked away. Liam put his hand on his head in pain. He lifted his other hand and a voice echoed in the room.

O.R.I.O.N. : "Sir? Do you need medical assistance? Your heartbeat rate is higher than it should, your anxiety lev-"

Liam: "I'm fine...are you done with the research ?"

A screen appeared in front of him. There were some charts and a huge list of names.

Liam: "is that all?"

O.R.I.O.N. : "Those are only for 2 years worth of information from 20 years ago, some information are not accessible with my current keys"

Liam: "can you force the access ?"

O.R.I.O.N. : "Breaking through classified information is severely puni-"

Liam: "can you or not?"

O.R.I.O.N. : "it will take time, the security level is outstanding. I can't guarantee it will be unnoticed"

Liam: "Give it your best"

O.R.I.O.N. : "As you please"

Liam walked to the door and got out.

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Somewhere in an unknown location, there was room too dark to see clearly, only the small holes in the walls guided some sun rays in. A low growl was echoing in the room, it was deep, reverberating and longing as if the being making that sound was in pain of sort. A figure entered the room, walking towards another figure larger and covered with a dark cloak. Some rays allowed to notice there were some metal bars on the back of the figure. Its eyes were glowing red above the ground. It looked at the figure that entered and instantly started cowering backwards while whining. The figure chuckled and spoke, his voice making the creature even more scared.

?: "Oh I see you're awake now. Good, I need you for some fun games"

The man laughed and the creature was few meters away before trying a desperate attack but its claws stopped few inches from his face as it growled in pain from the chains holding it back to sharp blades piercing its flesh, not fatally but enough to keep it busy regenerating and tired. The man walked away laughing.

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Wyatt sat there and scrolled through his feed while Lauren was listening to her music. Wyatt saw the notification he didn't open earlier, the text from an unknown number. He opened it and read "Hi, it's Jørgen...I know y-" Wyatt stopped reading as his heart started racing, the images from the prior night popping in his mind. He put down his phone and went to the kitchen breathing rapidly as he took a glass of water before leaning on the counter. Lauren noticed something was off and she walked to him, she put a hand on his shoulder and he cowered down with his ears down. He was shivering as he was looking at her in terror. She was concerned at the sudden reaction of her friend.

Lauren: "Hey..."

Wyatt was hyperventilating and jus eyes were watering, he had his hands lifted in fear of a hit.

Lauren: "It's me love, what's wrong?"

She was really confused and concerned. Wyatt looked at her as he lowered his hands. She carefully walked closer and pull him in a hug. He breathed, slowly melting in tears and a silent cry in her arms.