the running.
“It won’t help to run, sweetheart,” she said softly, her face ashen. “Plus, we have no logical way of understanding what has just happened in the real world, so it wouldn’t look right for us to show up knowing anything. We need to walk up to the house.”
“But, um, we have no groceries with us.” Stu was still thinking intellectually.
“It won’t matter,” said Mrs. Ross sadly. “They won’t notice such things.”
Stu sighed a heavy sigh.
By the time they made it up to the porch of the Ross house, Stu’s hands were trembling. He placed one on the doorknob. As they walked in, they heard the sound of crying and went toward it.
Most of the gang was in the living room. Lu was collapsed in Onie’s arms. Zac had his face in his hands. Jonathan was sitting in a chair opposite them, tears streaming down his cheeks.
“What happened?” demanded Stu, almost stuttering.
Michael appeared at the doorway and looked stricken. “Trina is dead.”
Chapter Eleven
Things Fall Apart
For a moment, Stu couldn’t comprehend what he was hearing. “What?” he said with a gasp.
Mrs. Ross wiped tears from her eyes and hurried through the house to attend to Madison, Morgan, and Brandon. Madison and Morgan surely would have been affected by the news. This left the gang alone, and Stu feeling like an outsider amidst their grief. He wanted to know what happened but didn’t want to ask anyone. Neither did he want to leave. So he just stood where he was, head hanging down, with a lump in his throat.
Of all people, Michael noticed his discomfort and gently invited him to sit down. “You are as involved in this as all of us, now.”
“Why couldn’t someone prevent this!” lashed out Lu to no one in particular. Onie held Lu while she sobbed.
Jonathan was the one who cleared his throat and, sparing the worst details, brought Stu up to date.
“She was tagging,” said Jonathan. “The McArthur house in real life, you know, based on our old protocol. A little corner of the fence around it. Someone noticed, and the police came.”
“I don’t understand,” said Stu dumbly. It made no sense.
“She ran from them,” Zac intervened, “instead of just staying there. You know Trina.” Zac’s voice faltered, and he was unable to continue.
Onie saw Zac crumble and took over. “They tased her Stu. They caught up with her and tased her.”
Lu finally spoke up. “She had arrhythmia. She’s always had it. The Taser killed her.” She sobbed again into Onie’s arms.
Onie continued for her. “By the time anyone realized what was happening, they tried to resuscitate her, but it was too late.”
“I can’t believe this happened! She was an artist!” Lu yelled to no one. “She has sculptures and art hanging in galleries!”
“Lu, come stay with us for a few days,” said Onie.
“No,” said Lu, “I just want to go home.”
“Okay,” said Zac, “I’ll drive you there.”
Lu started to gather up her things. She looked at Stu as if she was about to say something but then changed her mind.
“I’ll come check on you in a few hours,” said Onie tearfully.
As Zac and Lu left, Lu paused and looked at Michael. “Michael,” she said, crying, “I know this was an accident and all, and in the real world, but I don’t want anything to do with anything for a while.” She sobbed again. “I hope Mira…” she couldn’t finish.
Michael came over quickly and hugged her. “It’s okay, honey, we all understand. I’ll be by to check on you too.” Michael’s face felt wet, and his voice trembled.
One by one, they all hugged and left the Ross house except for Jonathan and Michael. However, when it was Stu’s turn to go, Michael stopped him.
“Stu,” he started, his voice still halting. “I know this hasn’t been easy for you, and it’s mostly my fault, but I am asking you as a personal favor to help Jonathan and me still. I am as upset as everyone, please believe me.” Several more
“It won’t help to run, sweetheart,” she said softly, her face ashen. “Plus, we have no logical way of understanding what has just happened in the real world, so it wouldn’t look right for us to show up knowing anything. We need to walk up to the house.”
“But, um, we have no groceries with us.” Stu was still thinking intellectually.
“It won’t matter,” said Mrs. Ross sadly. “They won’t notice such things.”
Stu sighed a heavy sigh.
By the time they made it up to the porch of the Ross house, Stu’s hands were trembling. He placed one on the doorknob. As they walked in, they heard the sound of crying and went toward it.
Most of the gang was in the living room. Lu was collapsed in Onie’s arms. Zac had his face in his hands. Jonathan was sitting in a chair opposite them, tears streaming down his cheeks.
“What happened?” demanded Stu, almost stuttering.
Michael appeared at the doorway and looked stricken. “Trina is dead.”
Chapter Eleven
Things Fall Apart
For a moment, Stu couldn’t comprehend what he was hearing. “What?” he said with a gasp.
Mrs. Ross wiped tears from her eyes and hurried through the house to attend to Madison, Morgan, and Brandon. Madison and Morgan surely would have been affected by the news. This left the gang alone, and Stu feeling like an outsider amidst their grief. He wanted to know what happened but didn’t want to ask anyone. Neither did he want to leave. So he just stood where he was, head hanging down, with a lump in his throat.
Of all people, Michael noticed his discomfort and gently invited him to sit down. “You are as involved in this as all of us, now.”
“Why couldn’t someone prevent this!” lashed out Lu to no one in particular. Onie held Lu while she sobbed.
Jonathan was the one who cleared his throat and, sparing the worst details, brought Stu up to date.
“She was tagging,” said Jonathan. “The McArthur house in real life, you know, based on our old protocol. A little corner of the fence around it. Someone noticed, and the police came.”
“I don’t understand,” said Stu dumbly. It made no sense.
“She ran from them,” Zac intervened, “instead of just staying there. You know Trina.” Zac’s voice faltered, and he was unable to continue.
Onie saw Zac crumble and took over. “They tased her Stu. They caught up with her and tased her.”
Lu finally spoke up. “She had arrhythmia. She’s always had it. The Taser killed her.” She sobbed again into Onie’s arms.
Onie continued for her. “By the time anyone realized what was happening, they tried to resuscitate her, but it was too late.”
“I can’t believe this happened! She was an artist!” Lu yelled to no one. “She has sculptures and art hanging in galleries!”
“Lu, come stay with us for a few days,” said Onie.
“No,” said Lu, “I just want to go home.”
“Okay,” said Zac, “I’ll drive you there.”
Lu started to gather up her things. She looked at Stu as if she was about to say something but then changed her mind.
“I’ll come check on you in a few hours,” said Onie tearfully.
As Zac and Lu left, Lu paused and looked at Michael. “Michael,” she said, crying, “I know this was an accident and all, and in the real world, but I don’t want anything to do with anything for a while.” She sobbed again. “I hope Mira…” she couldn’t finish.
Michael came over quickly and hugged her. “It’s okay, honey, we all understand. I’ll be by to check on you too.” Michael’s face felt wet, and his voice trembled.
One by one, they all hugged and left the Ross house except for Jonathan and Michael. However, when it was Stu’s turn to go, Michael stopped him.
“Stu,” he started, his voice still halting. “I know this hasn’t been easy for you, and it’s mostly my fault, but I am asking you as a personal favor to help Jonathan and me still. I am as upset as everyone, please believe me.” Several more