A gangly mess of bright green hair and baggy black clothing stirred as I returned to the lobby, and it assembled itself into a human being who sat up and scratched at the spiked choker around his neck.
Jurou
…What in tarnation?!
His twangy, reedy voice couldn’t have been further from what I expected to come out of this poster child of mall goth fashion.
Jurou
‘Ey you, buddy, d’you know what’s goin’ on here??
Timaeus
I’m just as in the dark as you are, sorry. But um, my name’s Timaeus, I’m the Ultimate Librarian…
Jurou
Well how ‘bout that?! Another Hope’s Peak kiddo!
He sprang up from the floor and shook my hand with a near-crushing grip.
Jurou
M’name’s Jurou! Ultimate Ikebana Artist!
Timaeus
…Ikebana artist?
Jurou
Yeah! Y’know, like the folks what cut up the flowers and fruit and make them pretty lil' sculptures–
Timaeus
N-no I know that, it’s just… Not what I expected, ahaha.
Jurou
Man that’s whaddeveryone says!! Can’t a feller like thrash metal AND flower arrangin'?!
Timaeus
I don’t see why not!
Jurou
Well that’s good t’hear, buddy! People can be so judgemental these days, I tell ya what!
He paused, looking deep in thought as he chewed on his lip ring.
Jurou
Man, what a coinkydink, huh? Two Hope’s Peak students here…
Timaeus
Um, I’m pretty sure it’s not a coincidence… We’re all Hope’s Peak students, you know.
…Well, I suppose he hasn’t had the chance to talk to anyone else yet.
Timaeus
I don’t think any of us know… Do you remember anything strange happening before waking up here?
Jurou
N-no, no I don’t, jus' gettin' ready fer school I think, an'… Did I do somethin'? I don’t r’member anythin' I swear! It wasn’t me!
Timaeus
Of course I don’t think you’re the kidnapper… Jurou, right?
Jurou
Kidnapper?!
Timaeus
Uh, yeah? How else do you think we got here?
Jurou
I-I dunno!! I guess I thought it mighta been a prank or somethin' I’m sorry!!!
Well now I felt awful for getting snippy with him, but before I could apologize he started babbling frantically, tears dribbling eyeliner down his face.
Jurou
Whadda we do?? Can we call the– wait where’s my phone? I can’t– Oh gawd, Tim, where’s my folks? Are they okay?! If-if somethin' happened to ‘em I…
Timaeus
…
…Oh god, where were my folks? I hadn’t even thought about that yet! Mum and Dad and little Penelope and Andromeda… They had to be terrified if they were still… nope nope nope not gonna even think about that.
Jurou
T-Tim… whadda we do? Yer smart, right… Tell me what t’do…
Timaeus
I-I-I don’t know… sorry.
I wasn’t in much better shape myself, but losing my cool now would only make things worse. I took a deep breath and scrubbed my tears away.
Timaeus
W-well, first of all, I… didn’t mean to snap at you, I’m sorry. And uh, I don’t know why we’re here, but i-if we’re being held for ransom or something, then there’s no reason to hurt our families… They should’ve noticed we were gone, right? They should be looking for us…
My voice trailed off– I couldn’t keep up the confident act for too much longer.
Timaeus
Is that… that’s not helping, is it?
Jurou
N-no, it’s helpin,' thank’ee. So we jus'… we gotta wait, right?
Timaeus
Yeah. I’m sorry we can’t do more… Um, I’ve been introducing myself to everyone, and getting to know the others is helping me calm my nerves? Maybe that’ll help you, too?
He painstakingly fixed his mascara with a polka-dotted handkerchief, then strutted off to make some new acquaintances. Though we both appeared to have recovered, the welling fear in my stomach hadn’t gone away…
Where was my family? Were they in danger? Did they even know I was gone?
