Alan scratched his chin as he watched Second move around the screen. "Come on, Alan, you can do this. Just ask Second what's wrong," Alan encouraged himself, though his palms felt damp with nervousness.

"Who am I kidding? I can't do this. We don't talk about feelings; that doesn't exist in this household!" Alan exclaimed, grabbing his hair in panic. He pushed his chair back and began spinning it around. "What do I say? 'Second, we need to talk'? No, that sounds too ominous," Alan mumbled to himself.

"How about, 'Second, I'd like to talk to you'? That sounds too formal," Alan groaned as he slammed the back of his head against the chair's backrest. "Okay, it doesn't matter what I want to say, as long as I get my words right," Alan muttered, pushing himself closer to the desk. He typed, "[Hey, Second, do you have a minute?]" as he watched Second look up, nod, and signal to the others before running off to the left side of the screen.

[What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?] Second asked nervously, twiddling his hands. Alan's brow furrowed. "Wrong? If anyone thinks it's me," Alan murmured. [Nothing is wrong, don't worry. I just have a question] Alan replied, feeling his hands sweat again. "Okay, just ask what's wrong..." Alan said with a nervous smile.

He sees Second nod eagerly, [Go on] Second said with a wave of an arm, gesturing to Alan to start. "Okay, okay, how do I do this?" Alan mumbled to himself, biting his nail unconsciously. "Okay, I think I got it," Alan said before typing again, [So, I was kind of worried when you were angry the other day. Mind telling me what it was? You know you can tell me anything, right?] Alan typed, biting his lip nervously. "Okay, that's good. Be more upfront, straightforward. Gotcha," Alan mumbled as he watched Second freeze and look down.

[It's really nothing,] Second responded as he scratched the back of his head, [No, really! Please tell me. I know sometimes I'm really bad at saying what I really mean, but please, tell me what's wrong. I'm really worried about you, Second. You know I care about you, right?] Alan typed, feeling slightly embarrassed by the length of his message.

Second looked at his text in confusion, which then morphed into flustered shyness. [Really? You care about me?] Second asked, tapping his hand stubs together in a shy manner. "Uh, well, yeah?! Why would I not... Have I not been telling him that? Oh, man, maybe DJ is right," Alan said, biting his nails nervously.

[Yeah! I really care about you, everyone here actually,] Alan responded. For a moment, Second stared at his message and then hid his face in his hands. "Woah, woah, woah, is he crying? What's going on?" Alan said worriedly as he hurriedly typed a new text.

[What's wrong, Sec?] Alan asked as Second shook his head and likely wiped away a tear from his face. [It's nothing, I'm just happy. I'm sorry, Alan. I had a lot of doubts about our relationship for a few days now] Second admitted, sitting down on the ground and hugging his knees to his chest.

"Doubts?" Alan murmured, [Okay, you can tell me. Please, I'm seriously worried,] Alan typed back. Second nodded and rubbed his hands together, contemplating where to begin. [Sorry, it's just that when Dark and Chosen said that you made them, it made me wonder if I was special to you,] Second started, rendering Alan speechless.

[And you didn't tell me about them, and I feel like there's no trust between us. I'm sorry, Alan. I don't know how to say this,] Second said before rubbing his eyes again.

"Oh, Second... Gah, I'm so stupid. If only he could hear my voice so I could properly tell him what I want to say now," Alan said, frustrated. [Second, it's okay. I'm sorry too! I should have told you. I thought Dark and Chosen were gone for good, and I never thought to tell you about it. I'm really sorry that it made you feel like that,] Alan said, waiting for Second to wipe the tears from his eyes before reading his text.

[I'm still sorry. I was also angry for another reason. You never tell me what's happening with you. And I just worry that maybe I'm not really that important to you. Sorry, Alan, am I being too clingy? I don't really understand what I'm feeling,] Second admitted as he hung his head and shook it embarrassedly.

"Oh... oh," Alan said, placing a hand over his mouth in realization. "I'm so embarrassed right now, Jesus Christ. To think Second cares this much," Alan said with a chuckle before smiling softly. [Second, it's okay. I'm sorry for being too secretive. I don't really want you worrying about me; you have your own life! I don't want to come between you and your friends,] Alan typed. Second only shook his head and stood up, placing his hands on his waist.

[I care about you too! If you care about me, let me do this for you!!] Second responded as he jumped and waved his arms. "Oh, Second..." Alan said with a laugh, feeling slightly teary-eyed. [Oh, Second, you're so adorable. But of course, I won't hide anything from you anymore. If you ask, I would answer truthfully. Thank you for caring so much, Sec,] Alan said, a smile playing on his lips, his heart feeling lighter than ever.

Second shifted side to side, looking embarrassed. [Of course, Alan, I'm glad we've finally talked about this one,] Second said shyly, tilting his head down. "Aww, Second, agh, you're just so cute!" Alan said, almost reaching for his monitor to shake it before stopping himself with a breath.

Cuteness aggression was the worst. [Me too, just as long as you tell me what's on your mind, I'm always willing to listen to you,] Alan said.

Second nodded happily and hopped up on the notepad, motioning for Alan to drag his cursor closer to him.

"Oh?" Alan said to himself before bringing his cursor close to Second. [I can't give you a hug from where you are, but, here!] Second said and hugged his cursor. "I–" Alan said, surprised before smiling. [A hug for you, I'm happy we had this talk, Alan,] Second said as he let go of the cursor.

"What did I tell you?" Red teased as he looked at Second, who was drawing on the program. Alan was gone again because he went to take a bath. "Ugh, please don't rub it in my face," Second said, but he had a smile on his face. "Look at you, looking so happy. I'm glad you and your dad are doing great," Red said as he hugged Reuben to his chest. Second turned to him fully and grinned, "Yeah, me too," Second said with a happy breath.

Red approached the orange stick and patted his back. "You didn't deny the "dad", huh?" Red said with a smirk, causing Second to cross his arms and turn to him. "See, you do see him as a Dad. There's nothing against that, Sec! I'm just happy for you guys," Red said as he playfully hit Second's shoulder. "Sure, it-it doesn't sound bad, really," Second admitted shyly.

Red only tilted his head happily. "I know," Red said before patting Second's shoulder again. Suddenly, the idle cursor at the side moved again, indicating Alan was back. [Yo, I'm back. Hello, Red ^^] Alan typed down, and Red waved his hand at the cursor. "Alan's here!" Second said excitedly as he hopped excitedly, causing Red to shake his head.

[Wanna start with work now? Or do you guys wanna play Tetris?] Alan asked. Both Second and Red glanced at each other and nodded. [Tetris!] Second said and raised his arms excitedly.

Alan giggled as he watched Red and Second argue over the game. At some point, Alan had let Second and Red play the game and watched them. "Look at these two go," Alan laughed as he observed the two stick figures pushing each other. He let out a sigh and leaned his cheek on his hand with a smile.

"Alan?" Jennifer knocked on the door, causing Alan to minimize the Google web and turn his chair. "Come in!" Alan said, watching as Jennifer entered his room with a smile. "How are you doing? Have you been taking your medicine?" Jennifer asked as she approached her son.

Alan nodded and smiled. "Yup, all good now. I don't feel my legs going jelly much anymore," Alan said with a grin. Jennifer let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. Okay, don't forget to drink water, alright? I'll be going out for a moment," Jennifer said with a grin.

Alan raised his brow as he took notice of her clothes. "Is it for a date?" Alan asked as he watched his mother freeze. "Uhm, not like that. Just a blind date set up by my friend. It's not really that serious," Jennifer said with a nervous smile.

Alan let out a relieved breath, happy to see his mother trying to find someone after years of being alone. "It's cool, see you, Mom," Alan said with a grin. Jennifer looked at him, stunned, before smiling softly. "Of course, go back to whatever you're doing. Don't forget to rest, alright? You have a bed for a reason. Don't sleep on your desk," Jennifer reminded as she ruffled Alan's hair.

"Got it, got it!" Alan said with a huff. Jennifer giggled as she walked out of his room, shutting the door softly. Alan turned back to his monitor and reopened the Tetris tab, still seeing Second and Red busy playing the game. Or at least trying to beat Alan's new record; they weren't doing that great considering they kept misclicking and stacking the wrong blocks on each other.

Alan let out a laugh before opening his notepad again, feeling slightly drowsy after taking his medicine post-bath. [Guys, I think I'm gonna go take a nap. I'm feeling kind of sleepy,] Alan typed out, catching Second's and Red's attention. Second nodded, [Alright! Sleep well, Alan! See you later,] Second responded, causing Alan to giggle before yawning.

Alan stood from his chair and jumped onto his bed, feeling extremely comfortable. He pulled his blanket over his shoulders and let out a sigh of relief.

-O-

Alan hummed as he plugged in his earphones. His mom was slightly annoyed at the random blasts of music coming from his room (kudos to Second and the Skittle Gang), so Alan bought some cheap earphones to use in the meantime just in case the sticks might start a rave again. Honestly, he should probably tell them to schedule their raves because who raves in the morning?

Alan laughed to himself before wearing the buds in his ears and searched around to see if there were any sticks nearby. "No one? Where's everyone?" Alan mumbled to himself and scratched his head. Opening every folder and checking them to see if they were there, he eventually opened the folder where their houses were placed (just so Alan wouldn't accidentally break it if it was on the desktop).

"Huh, no one's here either. Where the heck are they?" Alan asked himself, confused about where the others could have gone. "Heck..." Alan muttered, completely confused before perking up when he saw Red running on the desktop, with Blue chasing him, waving his hands around in anger. "Pfft, what's going on here?" Alan said with a laugh.

[What's going on, you two?] Alan inquired, bringing his notepad closer to the two stick figures who were engaged in a scuffle on the ground. Blue promptly stood up, stomped his foot, and pointed accusingly at Red, eliciting a chuckle from Alan. Observing Blue push Red, Alan shook his head amusedly, muttering, "These two, I swear."

[Where's Second?] Alan queried, recalling the stick figure he had been searching for.

After a momentary exchange of glances, both Blue and Red hopped inside the notepad and began typing their response. [Chosen and Dark are here; they are with Second back at his home] Red explained. "Oh, they're here again? Cool, cool," Alan exclaimed excitedly.

[Really? What are they doing?] Alan asked eagerly.

[We don't really know, but I heard that Chosen and Dark were being hunted in the outernet] Blue typed back, shrugging as Red mirrored the gesture.

"Whoa, what? Oh man..." Alan reacted, running a hand across his face. [Can you tell them I want to talk to them about that?] Alan requested. Blue and Red nodded simultaneously before darting out of the application and heading towards the folder where Second's house was located.

"Not again, but it would be kinda nice if they lived here," Alan mumbled to himself, a small smile playing on his lips.

Perhaps this could also help Second get to know them better. Alan thought, a little hopeful.

On the side, he noticed Second setting down the folder and cheerfully waving at Alan, with Chosen and Dark trailing behind, looking oddly uneasy.

[I heard about Chosen and Dark being hunted. Care to fill me in?] Alan inquired.

Second scratched the back of his neck, glancing at the two others, who exchanged a brief look as if silently deciding who should speak. "Come on, guys, I don't bite," Alan said with a sigh, sensing a headache approaching. Whenever Chosen and Dark were involved, surprises or hilarity always seemed to follow.

[We're being pursued on the outernet, so we've sought refuge here for the time being. Evading them is becoming increasingly difficult] Dark explained.

"Alright, are we dealing with the police here or...?" Alan trailed off, clicking his tongue. [The police are after you?] he questioned, to which Chosen shook his head.

[Mercenaries. It's not the police, but rather mercenaries chasing us for a hefty reward. I have no idea who put out the bounty] Chosen replied.

"Damn, mercenaries too? That's kind of awesome," Alan muttered, tapping his chin in thought. [I understand. Of course, you guys can stay here in the meantime. I'm glad to see you again] Alan typed, feeling a bit bashful. But DJ had advised him to be more direct. That's exactly what he was trying to do.

On the side, Second hopped excitedly, while Chosen and Dark glanced awkwardly at his message. [Alright, thanks Alan] Chosen responded, looking rather shy as he scratched the back of his head. Beside him, Dark simply averted his gaze. "These three, they're all the same," Alan chuckled.

Second eagerly took hold of Chosen and Dark's arms, pulling them to the side for what seemed like a private conversation that Alan couldn't overhear. "This is good. With Chosen and Dark here, I can work on fixing my relationship with them," Alan said, biting his lip before nodding.

He wasn't certain how long the two would remain, but he was determined not to let them leave without addressing what he needed to tell them.

"No way am I letting that happen. I know I've been terrible with feelings, but that won't stop me from admitting the truth," Alan declared with a huff, then opened Google and YouTube to play some soft music.

Noticing Yellow and Green opening a new tab to play Tetris, Alan chuckled. He focused on his program and began working on his new commission, deciding he would speak to Chosen and Dark later, once Second had finished his conversation with them. That's when he planned to have the talk.

"I can do this. It's not like they can see my facial expressions. Oh God, that would be even more embarrassing. Thank goodness for small mercies," Alan mumbled nervously, sketching an image with shaky hands.

His heart pounded in his chest, nerves racking him. Who wouldn't be nervous? After believing them to be dead for five years, discovering they were alive and involved in terrorism was a shock. Alan groaned, still struggling to accept that Chosen and Dark had chosen that path.

"Jesus, I don't know what led them to choose terrorism, but I swear..." Alan muttered in irritation. They probably needed to have a conversation about that as well. Was this how his mom felt when she found out he had a job at the grocery store? Alan pondered before shaking his head. "I'm not their dad, I'm only 15, geez," Alan said with a laugh, finding the idea absurd. Besides, he was probably the last person who should be trusted with children.

"Huh, makes me wonder how old they are... Don't tell me their age corresponds to how long it's been since they were created? So, Second is 2 years old? Chosen and Dark are... 5 years old?" Alan speculated, finding it hard to believe. "No way, right? They can talk, Second can draw, and, Jesus, Chosen and Dark terrorize people in their free time," Alan muttered to himself, glancing over to see the three of them still chatting.

"It can't be true, can it? Now I'm curious, but is it impolite to ask someone their age?" Alan questioned himself, suddenly feeling shy. His cursor hovered over the notepad before he stopped. It's kind of rude to ask about someone's age, especially if they're older than you. Alan thought, sighing. "Never mind, I don't want Dark crashing my PC into another Blue Screen," Alan groaned before refocusing on his work.

Midway through, Second had strolled off with Chosen, leaving Dark to observe Alan. Initially, Dark contemplated departing, but there was something calming about watching his creator, Alan, engrossed in his drawing.

Sitting on the ground, Dark found solace in observing Alan work. When the cursor paused and inched closer to him, Dark tried to conceal a flinch, although he suspected Alan might have noticed.

[Hey Dark! How are you?] Alan typed. Dark hesitated for a moment, uncertain of how to respond. Today hadn't been easy, with the pursuit and Chosen's near capture. Deciding on honesty, Dark replied, [Not doing well. Chosen didn't mention it to Second, but he was nearly captured on our way here] Dark admitted, rubbing his arm.

Gazing at the cursor hovering above him, Dark attempted to discern Alan's emotions. It was challenging to gauge Alan's feelings without being able to see him directly.

Dark was adept at interpreting body language, but the digital barrier made it difficult to ascertain if Alan was being sincere or not. This lack of visual cues made it challenging to gauge Alan's true intentions.

[Honestly? I would be happy if you guys stay here until everything calms down. I really don't mind! :D] Alan typed, the cursor bobbing up and down, eliciting an involuntary chuckle from Dark before he stopped himself in embarrassment. Oh, I hope Alan didn't notice that. Dark thought, feeling oddly self-conscious.

[Were you laughing just now?] Alan inquired, prompting Dark to shake his head and respond, [No, I wasn't!]

"Seriously, am I being fucking teased?" Dark growled, although his irritation was mild. It felt somewhat lighthearted and... intimate to converse with Alan in this manner, as if they were old friends rather than old enemies.

"That's adorable," Alan chuckled softly as he observed Dark crossing his arms in embarrassment. Alan was improving at reading their gestures, a skill he had honed with the Skittle Gang. Since the Skittle Gang never had the same ability to communicate with him like Second, Dark, or Chosen, unless they had access to a notepad or something they could type on.

[Anyways, do you want to join me in drawing?] Alan asked the red stick figure, hoping for a 'Yes" from the red hollowhead. Dark appeared surprised by the question at first, tapping his chin before hesitantly nodding. "Yes!" Alan pumped his fist in excitement and opened his drawing program, witnessing Dark propel himself from the ground with his fire.

"Wow," Alan exclaimed, applauding. [That's awesome! It's really cool to watch you guys use your powers!] Alan complimented, causing Dark to wave his arms dismissively. [Enough!] Dark retorted, turning his head away in embarrassment.

Alan chuckled once more. "You're just like Second," Alan remarked. [Okay, my bad. Anyways, do you want to try drawing?] Alan inquired.

[Sure, but I'm not as good as Second. I don't know how to draw,]Dark claimed, although Alan could sense that it might not be entirely true.

[Really?] Alan typed, observing as Dark fidgeted and then nodded, grabbing a pencil from the side and scratching his head with its tip.

[Yes Dark confirmed before proceeding to draw a shaky stick figure that resembled something a 4-year-old might create. "Oh pfft," Alan chuckled. [That looks good!] Alan typed, trying to stifle his laughter.

Dark simply crossed his arms, giving off a vibe that said, 'Are you serious right now?' [Is that a backhanded comment?] Dark inquired.

[What? No, no way. I was just thinking that maybe it's not human anatomy you're drawing but more like blueprints, like when you created the spider, right? You must have sketched down your ideas for that] Alan explained, leaning back as he watched Dark slump and gesture a 'yeah yeah' at him before proceeding to draw various weapons with remarkable precision.

"Amazing!" Alan clapped. [Awesome, awesome!!!!] Alan expressed, adding multiple exclamation points to convey his excitement and satisfaction. Dark only awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

[Thanks] Dark responded, scuffing his foot at the bottom of the program. [Do you enjoy drawing? Or creating blueprints?] Alan inquired. Dark simply shrugged, [I guess? I'm good at it, so it's natural to like it] Dark replied, but Alan sensed a hint of uncertainty in his response.

Alan clicked his tongue, pondering, "Hmm, I mean, if you're good at it, it doesn't mean you have to like it if your heart isn't in it, right?" Alan mused to himself. [Well, do you enjoy it?] Alan asked, prompting Dark to simply stare at the message. [Not really, I guess. I have nothing much to do aside from making blueprints. I'm interested in making weapons, but we don't have the resources for that] Dark admitted.

"Oh, it's that... Hmm. What would DJ say? Oh, I know!" Alan exclaimed, brightening as he swiftly sketched a stack of papers. [Since we don't have the materials for making weapons, how about trying origami? I can sense you enjoy creating things, right? Maybe origami could be a temporary outlet for your creativity?] Alan suggested.

He watched as Dark stared at the paper and then slowly picked one up, starting to fold it into a paper plane that he eventually threw, observing it soar outside the program, twirl mid-air, and then descend.

[So? Did it help?] Alan asked. Dark tapped his chin before grabbing another piece of paper, indicating a willingness to give it another try.

Dark laughed as he observed Alan's cursor dodging oncoming flying origami birds heading its way. The cursor shook around as Alan tried to shoo away the birds perched on top of it.

In Dark's hands were five paper boats he had crafted, and beside his legs were more origami birds he had created. At some point, Alan had sketched a river for Dark, enabling him to make origami swans that waddle around inside it.

"Didn't think this would be fun," Dark muttered to himself, feeling unexpectedly giddy at the idea of Alan being with him and helping him discover a new hobby (he never knew how fun it was to actually hang out with Alan, he's starting to understand Second now).

Making origami was a surprising delight for Dark; it was enjoyable, easy, and, most importantly, he hadn't anticipated that the origami creations would move like Second's drawings. Dark hadn't realized he possessed this ability at all.

[Your birds are eating my folder, I think] Alan remarked, causing Dark to stand up and peer over the program, noticing the birds pecking at Alan's folders. Dark unleashed a burst of fire, scaring the birds away and sending them flying off, likely to pester other sticks at Google (salute to you Yellow and Green, goodluck).

[Thanks :D] Alan expressed gratitude before sketching another stack of papers for Dark.

[I think I should thank you] Dark said, concealing a specific origami behind his back, feeling his face grow warm. [Nah nah, I'm glad you found joy in creating origamis] Alan replied, happily shaking his cursor. [I have something to give to you] Dark announced, hinting at a surprise.

Alan gently moved his cursor a little closer to Dark. [Okay, what is it?] Alan inquired. Dark fidgeted with the origami heart in his hands before presenting it and placing it on top of the cursor, then swiftly flying away in embarrassment.

"Huh? What's this?" Alan questioned as he leaned in to inspect the origami Dark had made for him. "It... it's a heart," Alan remarked, his jaw slightly dropping. "That's so adorable," Alan expressed with a smile, feeling his heart soar.

He made sure to save the origami in his personal folder, naming it "Gift from Dark,"

-O-

Alan groans as he massages his forehead; he's been experiencing migraines much more frequently lately. It's likely due to spending half the day on his computer, but for some reason, it feels different this time. It has been months since he had that really bad fever and finished his medication (it can't be the after effects of the fever right? That was so long ago...).

Lately, Alan has been feeling sick and dizzy. He mentioned this to his mom, mostly because Jennifer had advised him to share his health concerns with her. Otherwise, she would probably confiscate his PC, something he definitely does not want.

Currently, he sits on the toilet, clutching his stomach. The light above him feels dizzying, making his stomach churn. "God," Alan curses as he closes his eyes, resting his forehead on his knees, curling into himself. He briefly considers turning off the lights but hesitates, afraid he might vomit or, worse, pass out.

"Mom," Alan calls out, shakily reaching for his phone in his pocket, only to realize it's not there. He lets out a loud groan, breathing through his mouth as saliva gathers at the back of his throat. Tears well up in his eyes as he tries to breathe and cope with the nausea. Why is he feeling like this again? What could be wrong?

At some point, Alan can't help but feel like he's incredibly unlucky. He's been diligent about taking care of himself lately. He eats three balanced meals a day, exercises with DJ in the mornings, stays hydrated, and avoids unhealthy foods. So why is he feeling sick now? Alan wonders, placing a hand in front of his mouth as tears well up.

"Alan? Oh, Christ, I've been calling for you—Alan?" Jennifer's voice calls out as she enters the room and spots her son curled up on the toilet. "Mom, I feel really sick," Alan manages, his distress evident in his voice. Jennifer rushes to his side and feels his forehead, noting that he has no fever but appears extremely pale.

"Alan, did you eat something? Come on, let's stand up," Jennifer prompts, trying to help him to his feet, but Alan resists.

"N-no, I f-feel r-really sick," Alan stammers, gasping and attempting to gently push her hands away before choking on his saliva. He kneels on the floor, starting to gag.

"Alan! Jesus!" Jennifer exclaims, holding his torso to prevent him from leaning over the toilet. She winces as she watches her son struggle, eventually vomiting what he had eaten earlier.

Jennifer's heart clenched as she watched Alan tear up. "Sorry, Mom, I f-feel really sick. My head hurts so much," Alan stuttered, one hand on his stomach, hoping to stave off another bout of nausea.

"Alan, you've been having migraines frequently now. What could be causing this?" Jennifer asked, her concern evident, as she guided Alan to the sink, where he rinsed his mouth weakly.

After helping Alan back to his room and settling him on the bed, Jennifer sighed, wiping his face with a towel as Alan sniffled. "Thanks. I don't know. I've usually been able to sleep them off, but this time it's making me feel really sick," Alan admitted, sitting up abruptly, his expression pained.

"What's wrong?" Jennifer inquired with worry as Alan held his head before rubbing his eyes. "I think I'm getting vertigo," Alan said, exhaling heavily, attempting to steady the spinning sensation.

Lying down seemed to worsen the dizziness, making it feel like he was on a rollercoaster ride. "What's happening, Alan? You're unwell, but it's not the fever. I'm really concerned. Maybe we should visit the doctor again," Jennifer suggested.

Alan shook his head, then winced at the sudden pain. "No, it's too expensive, Mom," Alan murmured, slowly removing his glasses and placing them on the bedside table without looking.

"Then what should we do? Alan, you're the only one who can understand your body. Tell me what's happening," Jennifer said, her brow furrowed in concern. "I don't know. I just get dizzy sometimes, and when the headaches hit, it's like they're amplified tenfold, and I feel nauseous," Alan explained as he watched his mother arrange three pillows on his bed and help him lie down with his head elevated.

Alan held his breath, half expecting another wave of dizziness. He breathed a sigh of relief when his vision remained stable. "Alan, I hate to suggest this, but maybe you should consider taking a break from your computer. It could be the screen causing these issues," Jennifer proposed, her expression serious.

"That's just a stereotype," Alan retorted, throwing an arm over his eyes. "Sorry, Mom, I don't think I can eat dinner today. My stomach is still unsettled," Alan admitted, lowering his arm and giving his mother a pained look.

"How about just a little? You've been doing so well with taking care of your health, honey. I'll stay here with you while you eat, how does that sound?" Jennifer suggested, prompting Alan to reluctantly nod. "Okay, I'm sure I'll feel better by tomorrow," Alan said, mustering a smile.

"Alright, but if it worsens, let me know. We'll have to go to the doctor," Jennifer stated firmly. Alan simply hummed in agreement, acknowledging her concern.

[Alan, how are you doing? You suddenly left yesterday!] Second exclaimed, rushing towards the cursor. Alan sighed, realizing he needed to explain what was happening with him, even though he didn't fully understand why he was experiencing these migraines.

[I had a really bad migraine that made me nauseated, but I honestly don't know why I had it in the first place. I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly] Alan explained.

Second froze, his hands fidgeting nervously. [Oh no, what should you do? Do you need to take medicine to make it better?] Second asked, displaying genuine concern. [Taking pain meds isn't ideal if it's going to be a recurring issue. Your body can become dependent on them, which won't help me in the long run] Alan elaborated.

Oh no] Second said, tapping his chin, his leg shaking nervously. "Oh, Second, this is what I'm honestly worried about," Alan sighed, placing his hands back on the keyboard.

[I don't want you to worry too much, you know,] Alan typed out. Second shook his head. [It's normal for me to worry, Dad] Second admitted. Stunned, Alan stared at the text for a moment, blinking and rubbing his eyes.

Second looked up suddenly and jumped, [I mean, Alan!] Second corrected himself, waving his arm in embarrassment. "Oh my god," Alan chuckled, unsure of what to say but to laugh out loud.

[I'm out! I'm out!] Second exclaimed, running around in mock panic, uncertain of which direction to flee. [Wait! Come on, don't run away!] Alan typed quickly, causing Second to skid to a stop and hide his face in his hands.

[I'm sorry!] Second said, burying his face even deeper in his hands. Alan bit his lip, never expecting Second to see him in that light. If so, Alan realized he might be the worst father figure Second could have imagined. "Jesus, to think—Christ!" Alan muttered, grabbing his hair in panic.

[Alan, are you mad?] Second asked, to which Alan responded, [No, I'm not. I just want to ask you why you call me dad? It's not that I'm rejecting the idea, I'm just interested] Alan inquired.

"Holy hell, this is really happening, focus, Alan!" Alan exclaimed, lightly slapping his cheek. [Um, I don't know, because you created me? And because you take care of me? Isn't that how a dad should be?] Second replied, fidgeting slightly.

Alan frowned at the response. The question caught him off guard. His own father had passed away when he was just a child, leaving him unsure of what being a father truly meant.

[Well, sure, that is how a parent should act. Second, I take no offense when you called me that, don't worry] Alan reassured the orange stick figure. He noticed Second visibly release a sigh of relief, placing a hand over his chest where his heart would have been.

[Really?] Second questioned, seeking confirmation.

"Oh god, I'm a dad..." Alan muttered, feeling his face flush with embarrassment. He was only 15 years old! He didn't even have a girlfriend yet, and here he was, someone calling him dad!

Despite feeling flustered, Alan couldn't deny that he was somewhat happy and flattered that Second held him in such high regard. Okay, who was he kidding? He was more than flattered! It was a mix of emotions—flattered, honored, but also a bit panicked. How could one be a father when he never even had a father himself? Was it similar to how his mother took care of him?

[Of course! It's okay, I don't mind, really] Alan replied, observing Second nervously rub the back of his head.

[Okay, um, is it really alright for me to call you that?] Second inquired once more.

[Yeah!] Alan responded, feeling a smile spread across his face before bursting into laughter. "Jesus Christ," Alan muttered.

[Okay, Dad] Second said, twirling his hands together nervously.

Alan felt his cheeks heat up as he buried his head in his arms. "I'm officially a dad now. Thank you, everyone, I'm a teen parent now," Alan joked to himself before lifting his head to look at Second.

[Do you want to continue your work from yesterday?] Second asked.

[Sure] Alan replied, his hands shaking slightly.

"Whoa, you called Alan dad?" Green exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table and causing everyone's plates to rattle. Chosen glowered at the commotion, while Dark maintained an unreadable gaze and Red returned his focus to his plate, eating silently.

"Well, yeah, he said it was alright. THIS IS AWESOME!" Second cheered, pumping his fist in the air.

The skittle gang clapped their hands happily. "Knew you were Alan's kid. I told you he's your dad," Red teased, his voice light and playful.

Yellow nodded in agreement, "You guys just have this bond, but um... we're not supposed to talk about this, right?" Yellow glanced at the two hollow heads who simply gave them a disinterested look.

"It's fine," Chosen replied, trying to sound composed despite the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. Dark chuckled, "Yeah, Alan is kind of cool, I guess. Would he mind if I call him dad as well? Or would he get an aneurysm?" Dark jokes, eliciting laughter from Blue and Second.

"You should try it, I've seen you guys hanging out, you always ask him for more papers for those origamis of yours," Second added enthusiastically.

"You should definitely mess with him, call him dad while you guys are doing that," Green encouraged Dark.

"I'll do that," Dark agreed, causing everyone except Chosen to cheer loudly. "Tell me what his reaction is!" Second exclaimed, filled with joy. Chosen shook his head numbly, looking down at his food as the noise of the conversation faded into the background.

Alan hummed quietly as he worked, noticing Dark sitting at the bottom of the program, observing him. [Yo! Hello!] Alan greeted, to which Dark responded by waving his head from side to side before raising his hand in greeting. [Hello] Dark replied, standing up and dusting off his lap.

Alan smiled before taking a bite of the cookie his mother had given him earlier. [Hello, what are you doing here? Need more papers?] Alan asked.

[No, I'm just here to try something] Dark said, suddenly looking playful. He began bouncing from one foot to the other, puzzling Alan.

[Okay? Go ahead] Alan said, unsure of what Dark was planning.

[Okay] Dark said, swinging his arms. [Dad] Dark added casually. Alan froze, his brain short-circuiting. "D-D-Dad?!" Alan exclaimed before quickly covering his mouth with his hand.

[See you, Dad] Dark said, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

Dark knew he had made an effect, especially since Alan was at a loss for words, his cursor frozen in either shock or surprise. Dark saluted before flying off, leaving Alan alone with his thoughts.

"Holy fudge," Alan groaned, rubbing his face in disbelief. He couldn't believe that Second had spilled the beans, and now Dark was teasing him about being called "dad."

-O-

Alan groaned as he sat beside his mother on the sofa, his complexion pale and sweaty. "Oh, Alan, another one?" Jennifer said, her voice laced with worry as she observed the teen's condition. Alan simply nodded silently, clutching his stomach in discomfort.

Jennifer studied Alan closely, her brows furrowing as her gaze honed in on his face. Something caught her attention—his trembling eyes. "Eyes should never do that," Jennifer muttered to herself, concern evident in her voice. She gently took hold of Alan's face and peered into his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Alan whispered weakly, feeling the chill of Jennifer's touch on his skin.

"Your eyes, they're shaking. I think I know what's wrong," Jennifer said with a frown as she removed Alan's glasses to examine them.

"We never had another check-up for your eyes, did we?" Jennifer questioned. After a moment of consideration, Alan nodded hesitantly.

"I think so. Do we have to? Is that why I've been having migraines?" Alan queried.

"Possibly. It's likely that your prescription needs to be adjusted. That could be why you've been experiencing migraines—you might have the wrong prescription on your glasses. Let's go to an eye doctor now," Jennifer suggested as she handed Alan his glasses back.

"I- Uhm, what? Right now?" Alan responded with a pout, still feeling unwell and uncertain about going to the eye doctor immediately.

"We need to. Do you want to keep getting sick? You can't just not wear your glasses; you'll feel even worse," Jennifer insisted, prompting Alan to reluctantly nod with a pout on his lips. "Okay, Mom, I'll get ready," Alan agreed with a sigh.

"Alright, take your time, but don't take too long, alright? Do you want me to help you?" Jennifer offered as she observed Alan stumbling towards the stairs.

Alan turned to her and shook his head. "I got this, don't worry."

Later, as Alan adjusted to the new round lenses on his face, he blushed in embarrassment. "You look so cute, Alan," Jennifer gushed, unable to contain her affection as she pinched his cheeks.

Onlookers nearby turned to watch, some chuckling at the display, causing Alan to lower his head in shame, his ears turning red.

"Mom, stop it," Alan whispered, pulling his hood up in an attempt to hide, only for Jennifer to playfully remove it. "Look at you, you look so cute," Jennifer continued, admiring Alan as he pushed his round glasses up, his face burning with embarrassment.

"You called Alan dad? Man, you're crazy! What was his reaction?" Green laughed, nudging Dark, who chuckled in response. "I think he was shocked. He didn't manage to reply before I flew off. Had to make sure to look cool, you know," Dark explained, and both of them burst into loud snickers. Chosen could only shake his head at their antics, turning his attention to Second, who was engrossed in sketching silently.

Feeling suffocated by the lively atmosphere, Chosen let out a sigh, standing up quietly and leaving the house. The air inside was beginning to feel oppressive.

Living with everyone was still an adjustment for Chosen. He was accustomed to having only Dark in the same house, which could be overwhelming enough at times. By nature, he was a loner, cherishing his moments of solitude.

Chosen walked out to the folder and settled by the desktop, sitting on the ground and staring into space. It seemed like a good place to gather his thoughts. While he enjoyed the company of the others, the constant noise and lack of personal space were starting to wear on him.

Sighing once more and shaking his head. There were moments like these when he needed his space. And that time was now. Suddenly, he noticed Alan's cursor appearing. Chosen held his breath, hoping not to be noticed, until Alan brought out his notepad and cautiously approached Chosen.

[Hi Chosen, what are you doing?] Alan inquired through a text message. Chosen glanced at the message, then shrugged. At that moment, he didn't feel like responding. He simply craved solitude. Alan, sensing Chosen's desire for space, opened Google and started playing soft music on YouTube.

Chosen let out a sigh of relief as he listened to the soothing music in the background. [This kind of music usually relaxes me. Maybe it will help you as well] Alan typed, surprising Chosen with his thoughtfulness. Feeling a tinge of guilt for not responding earlier, Chosen typed back, [It's good, I like it] and watched as Alan moved his cursor around happily.

A chuckle escaped Chosen involuntarily. Despite being an adult, Alan had a childlike side to him at times. [Is it alright for me to ask you what's wrong?] Alan inquired once more, causing Chosen's breath to hitch momentarily. It was unusual for Alan to initiate such personal conversations.

[It's alright if you don't want to] Alan added. Chosen shook his head and raised a hand, admitting, [It's okay, I was just overwhelmed with them. I'm not used to being around people much] before lowering his head in embarrassment. Raising his gaze to Alan's cursor, he saw Alan typing again.

[I understand. That's not a bad thing, don't worry. How about I leave you now so you can relax?] Alan suggested.

Chosen's emotions stirred, feeling s̶a̶d̶ at the thought of Alan leaving. [Wait!] Chosen called out, prompting Alan's cursor to pause before slowly drifting closer. [Okay, is there something you need?] Alan inquired.

Frozen for a moment, Chosen then gathered his resolve, pushing himself up and gesturing for Alan to join him.

[Can we talk? Let's continue what we talked about last time] Chosen requested, fidgeting slightly as he awaited Alan's response. The cursor brought the notepad a little closer.

[Alright] Alan agreed, causing Chosen to blush slightly. His sudden willingness left Chosen both frustrated and relieved, witnessing this unexpected change in Alan.

[So] Alan began, only to halt, the cursor indicating his uncertainty about where to start. Chosen observed as Alan minimized the Google app before refocusing on him. [Sorry, I don't really know where to start. Is there something you want to say?] Alan asked, opening the door for Chosen to share his thoughts.

Feeling overwhelmed, Chosen sighed and ran a hand over his face, unsure of where to begin this conversation. Despite being the one to initiate it, he found himself struggling to lead.

[I just want to ask you something, what was the reason why you created me?] Chosen finally inquired. He watched as Alan's cursor froze before revealing a response that tugged at Chosen's heart.

[I wanted to have a friend. I also made a stick figure before you guys, but he was accidentally deleted because my house lost power, and I hoped I was able to bring him back when I made you] Alan explained.

Chosen was taken aback. "You wanted a friend?" he whispered, knowing his words wouldn't reach Alan. Tears welled up in his eyes. [Chosen? Are you okay?] Alan asked, concerned. Chosen raised a hand, wiping his face. "To think it was just that simple, huh? You wanted a friend... so you created me," Chosen muttered, his heart aching.

[I understand. Thank you for telling me that] Chosen responded, trying to soothe the pain in his chest.

Curious about the stick figure that preceded him, Chosen probed further. [What was the stick figure's name that you created before us?] he asked, wondering if there were more sticks before him. He had always assumed he was the first.

Alan revealed, [He was actually the first one I made. I created him because a friend of mine wanted me to animate a stick figure. I named him 'victim,' not because I wanted to hurt him, but because I couldn't think of a name other than that at the time]

Chosen let out a breath. Out of all names Alan could have chosen, it was "Victim"? Creators above, he could've just keyboard smashed for a random name. Chosen thought with an exasperated shake of his head.

[Then I left my monitor and after I came back, I saw him roaming around the program. He's also a black stick, just like you] Alan added.

Chosen nodded and tapped his knees before sighing. [Thank you for telling me this. It definitely took something off my chest. I'm sorry for destroying your PC, Alan. I never apologized, did I?] Chosen said.

[Nah, it's alright, but is it alright to ask something?] Alan said. Chosen tilted his head for a moment before nodding.

[When I created you, you attacked right away. Why?] Alan asked. Chosen felt his heart drop and his body shake.

Why did he attack right away? Even he doesn't know, but when he was created, all he felt was agony and one thought was running in his mind—to destroy Alan.

[Again, it's alright if you don't want to respond] Alan added.

[No, it's fine. It's hard to explain this, but every stick figure you make has a purpose, even if you didn't code them like Dark. I also had one. It feels like an itch that I couldn't scratch, and my purpose when I was made was to fight you] Chosen said as he nervously fidgeted.

It was the first time he had actually admitted this to Alan, and he knows the man probably didn't know this fact at all.

[Really? Oh, Chosen, I'm so sorry] Alan said. Chosen only shook his head.

[Past is past, let's not think about it again] Chosen said. For a moment, Alan didn't move his cursor. [Okay, I'm glad you told me that. I didn't know I could do that] Alan responded.

Chosen let out a breath; it was a heavy conversation. Years of anger dissolved in just one conversation. Maybe Second was really right; Alan was truly just misunderstood.

Chosen sneaked a look at Alan's cursor, observing him erase his past text from the conversation in the Notepad. Chosen then stood up and stretched his arms over his head.

[I'm heading back, thank you again, Alan] Chosen said, slightly embarrassed by admitting that Alan engaging in that conversation had led to this.

[Okay? What did I do exactly?] Alan asked again, confused. Chosen chuckled. [Nothing, just be you, dad] Chosen said before waving a hand and blasting himself towards the folder, disappearing from Alan's sight.

"Dad?!" Alan shrieked embarrassedly, his face going red.

-O-

Alan stuffed the corn dog in his mouth and let out a huff. Beside him, DJ gave him a strange look, his focus momentarily diverted from the book he was reading. "What's wrong with you?" DJ asked. Alan only munched on his corn dog and shook his head.

"You look really red. What's up, man?" DJ inquired as he nudged the other teen. Alan swallowed his food before sighing. "I don't know, man," Alan admitted, pushing his glasses up to his head and ruffling his hair.

"Is it about this friend of yours again?" DJ asked. Alan turned to him with wide eyes. "How'd you know?" Alan said with a laugh. DJ shrugged, "Guessing?" and closed his book shut.

"Yeah, it is him. I did what you told me, and it went really, really great, just a bit too great," Alan admitted, a faint blush tinting his cheeks as he hid his face in his hands. "Why? What's going on? Don't tell me he professed his love for you or something," DJ jested.

"Will you shut up with that," Alan groaned out, flicking the corn dog stick towards the trash and easily landing it inside the trash can. DJ whistled, "Score!" before turning back to Alan.

"So, tell me what happened with you and your friend, dude," DJ nudged his friend. "What do you do if you suddenly get a role of someone that everyone expects to act... like a parent?" Alan asked, before his shoulders were grabbed and he was forced to look at DJ.

"ALAN, DID YOU GET SOMEONE PREGNANT?" DJ yelled, causing some people nearby to give them strange looks. Alan pushed DJ away with a scoff. "Will you stop that?! I swear to God, DJ, I'll knock you out," Alan groaned as DJ laughed.

"Sorry, dude, but what kind of question is that? Is this about Aunty again? You can always borrow money from Mom, you know. Mom really wants to help Aunty, and I also want to help," DJ said with a frown, his earlier joke momentarily forgotten. Alan laughed and shook his head.

"No, seriously, it's not that. Just answer the question, man. Stop being weird," Alan said with a grin.

DJ let out a relieved sigh. "Okay, well... I mean, we're 15; we can't really act like that yet. But if you're talking about responsibility... Well, that's easy. Just take responsibility for what you do and what they do. What kind of question even is this, man?" DJ whined as he slapped his knees. Alan shook his head.

"Nah, it's nothing. Just testing how your brain works in certain situations. I thought nothing goes around that brain of yours," Alan teased before letting out a yelp when DJ punched his shoulder hard.

"Hey, that hurts," Alan whined as he rubbed his aching shoulder. "That's for saying that," DJ huffed.

"Okay, sheesh, I was joking. You're awesome, you're cool, yay!" Alan said, though sarcasm dripped from his voice. DJ gave him another seething glare. "You!" DJ said with a pout, crossing his arms like a child before turning serious again.

"Whatever, but off-topic, I heard from Mom that you've been sick for a while and you didn't tell me?" DJ said with a frown.

"I wasn't sick; it's just that my glasses were really old, and none of us really knew I needed a new prescription, you know," Alan said as he grabbed his glasses and looked at them, feeling quite embarrassed again by how round and thick the lenses were.

"Damn, your lenses are really thick. You're alright now, right?" DJ asked. Alan nodded before putting his glasses back on and adjusting them on the bridge of his nose. "All good. Apparently, Mom found out because she saw my eyes shake, so that's why my vision has been like this," Alan explained, moving his finger swiftly from side to side to demonstrate.

DJ shook his head. "Man, you know how dangerous that was. People can lose vision much faster with the wrong prescriptions. That's why I get mine checked every 2 years or so," DJ said.

"Oh, is that why you changed frames back then?" Alan asked, tapping his chin.

"Yeah, man, I changed the prescription that time," DJ said as if it were obvious. Alan just shrugged. He didn't really know that; he didn't care that much, to be honest. He thought it would just stay the same over time.

"Well, I'm doing great now, so no use thinking about what would happen if I didn't have an eye checkup," Alan shrugged, causing DJ to roll his eyes at his dismissive attitude.

"I swear, you barely care about your own health. It's really stressing me out!" DJ exclaimed, causing Alan to chuckle. "Well, sorry for NOT caring about MY OWN BODY, which I do, by the way. Do I look like I knew I had to change my glasses? Geez," Alan retorted before DJ playfully put his arm around Alan's neck and started knuckling his head.

"DJ, stop it!" Alan laughed as he tried to push the other teen away. "Can't beat me with that flimsy arm, bro. You look like a twig," DJ teased as Alan continued to laugh.

Alan mumbled to himself as he searched his entire desktop, trying to locate his missing friends. Just back from hanging out with DJ, he had hoped to spend time with the others, including Chosen and Dark, while working on his commissions. But at the moment, he couldn't find anyone.

"What the heck? Where did they even go, I swear," Alan groaned, resting his cheek on his hand in annoyance, feeling strangely disappointed by the absence of his friends. "Man," Alan muttered before opening Solitaire and lazily playing the game, clicking the cards absentmindedly, not fully immersed in the game.

After a while, Alan closed the game midway and turned to YouTube to play some music while starting his commission work. He opened the program, took out his pen, and stared at the screen before sighing, feeling a sense of laziness creep in now that he was alone.

"They aren't at Second's house... are they on the outernet?" Alan thought to himself, scanning the bottom right corner for the white portal that would indicate if they had left.

With a slump and a pout, Alan muttered, "Even if they did, they could have at least left a note for me," before groaning and resting his face on his arms. Feeling unmotivated to move, Alan placed his pen down and decided to relax.

He headed downstairs to the kitchen, opened the usually empty fridge, grabbed a Kitkat from the shelf, and made his way to the living room. Ensuring the kitchen lights were off, he collapsed onto the sofa, propping his legs up with a relieved sigh.

Taking the remote from the coffee table, Alan turned on the TV, switching channels before settling on a cartoon show. He laid down fully, opened the Kitkat, and began munching on it. "Oh wow, I really miss eating this," Alan remarked, enjoying the treat as he absentmindedly watched the show.

As the show progressed, Alan eventually dozed off, the last of the Kitkat gone.

Suddenly, Alan woke up without any apparent reason, looking around in confusion. Letting out a sigh, he sat up, turned off the TV, and decided he needed a nap in his bed. Alan awkwardly rotated his shoulder, feeling discomfort from the couch. The couch wasn't ideal for sleeping; it felt uncomfortable, and his arm felt cramped.

With another sigh, Alan lazily walked up to his room, ignoring his PC, and collapsed on his bed and slipped off his glasses.

He rearranged his pillows, creating a small fort around himself, before pulling the blanket over his legs. "Ahh, there," Alan groaned with relief, slowly turning onto his chest, burying his head in the pillow, and drifting off to sleep.

"Tell me where Alan is," Victim demanded, pulling Chosen closer. Outside the box everyone was confined to their own cell.

Dark lay in his own cell, unconscious after being struck by Agent's gun, his body glitching and twitching unconsciously.

"Screw you, who even are you?" Chosen retorted before being forcefully pushed back, causing him and the chair to teeter before crashing loudly to the ground, the impact smacking Chosen at the back of his head, his teeth clattering painfully.

Outside, Second banged his fist against the bars while the others attempted to pry open the cell bars or pull at them in a desperate bid to aid the fallen stick. Victim glanced at the commotion and clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Are you going to tell me now?" Victim inquired as he stepped heavily on Chosen's chest.

Chosen groaned, trying to lift his head before it dropped back down with a pained grunt. "Talk," Victim commanded calmly as he tightened the rope, causing it to cut into Chosen's skin. "No, why should I? Who even is Alan to you?" Chosen grunted as Victim pressed down on his chest with his foot.

"I would normally say that's none of your business, but since I plan to end you anyway, I might as well share," Victim remarked, tilting his head. He lifted his foot off Chosen's chest and helped him and the chair back up.

"My name is Victim, and I was created by the same person who brought you into existence," Victim disclosed, leaving Chosen stunned. With a chuckle, Victim added, "Surprised that Alan had another creation before you?"

Shaking his head, Chosen stuttered, "N-no... he mentioned you. He's been searching for you, Victim." Victim flinched and froze. "What?" he exclaimed, pulling the rope tighter around Chosen, eliciting a grunt. "Alan is looking for you! Stop hurting me, you idiot. If you want me to talk, ease up on the rope; I can barely breathe!" Chosen snapped.

Victim snapped out of his trance and released the rope from his grip. "What are you implying? Why would Alan try to find me? He killed me! He deleted me!" Victim growled, bewildered. Chosen sighed wearily. "Seems like there's another misunderstanding. Nice going, Alan," Chosen muttered, exhausted and drained from the unfolding events.

Alan's eyes blinked open, unsure of what had suddenly roused him from his slumber. "Wha?" he mumbled groggily, finding the pillows he had arranged around himself either toppled over him or scattered across his bed. Blinking at the light emanating from his PC, he sat up, pushing the pillows down his legs and off the bed, emitting a groan. With a sigh, he gathered the fallen pillows from the floor and tossed them back onto his bed.

Once the pillows were back in place, he flopped back down, attempting to curl up and resume his sleep. However, when slumber didn't return, Alan let out an annoyed sigh and sat up once more.

"Man," he muttered, rubbing his face and reaching for his glasses on the bedside table, pushing them up onto his face. Glancing at his PC again, he hoped to see Second or someone else, only to frown when there was still no sign of anyone moving about.

"Still not back? I'm getting really worried," Alan murmured to himself as he stood up and made his way to his PC. Seated at his chair, he crossed a leg over his thigh and stared at the screen. Perhaps they had returned home? Opening the folder where their house was placed, he found it still empty. The absence of everyone was beginning to weigh on him. "Where the hell are they?" he muttered, scratching his head in concern.

He trusted the gang, especially Chosen and Dark, to keep them safe. Alan could only assume that the two were with the rest, given that they were also missing at the moment.

Sighing, Alan rested his head in his hand and continued to gaze at the screen, hoping for someone to appear. Another sigh escaped him as he blinked and noticed a white portal materializing near the Wi-Fi icon at the bottom right of the screen. Excitedly, he sat up.

"They're home!" he exclaimed, watching as Second emerged from the portal, followed by the rest of the Skittle gang, Chosen, Dark, and a grey, hollow-headed figure that Alan didn't recognize.

"Huh, who is that?" Alan scratched his head, observing the grey figure who looked around with unease.

"Who..." he began, only to be interrupted by Jennifer's voice. "Alan!" Jennifer called, prompting him to stand up and dash out of his room. "What is it?" he inquired, peering out of his door. "I need help with the groceries," Jennifer yelled.

"On my way!" Alan responded eagerly, hurrying out of his room.