"What are you doing here!" Avery hissed.

"I was here to-"

"Mija?" A demanding voice came from downstairs.

"Quick!" Avery hissed, her eyes widened, "You have ninety seconds to hide. If you are found, you die!"

Alex gave a playful grin, not sharing the same urgency as Avery's, "I didn't know I was dealing with criminals!"

"Alex!"

"Alright! Alright!"

He darted for the closet and was greeted by an ultimate fashion fiasco. Clothes slid off the hangers, landing on him like a fabric Avalanche. Boxes tumbled in an excellent attempt to recreate Jumanji. The hangers clashed against each other as if to applaud the chaotic show. Hang on a sec- WERE THOSE POCKET KNIVES?

"Mija are you up there?" The footsteps grew closer with every second, loud and ominous.

There was no way he could squeeze in there without being skewered.

"Below the bed, hurry!" Avery bit her lip.

He dove for the bed like he had never before... and an army of dust bunnies awaited his arrival, prepared to charge. He stifled a sneeze and held his breath, praying his dusty companions didn't betray him.

"If I survive this, I am so gonna teach you decluttering!"

The door opened revealing a tall figure. Playing Hide and Seek was never scarier.

“Ah, mama!” Avery’s voice was filled with mock surprise, “Didn’t hear you… hehe…”

Mrs. Fernandez stood at the door. Despite the chill running up his spine, he felt warmth in her deep eyes. A warmth almost welcoming.

“I called for you many times.” Mrs. Fernandez’s voice was firm, but not unkind. “Were you on those headphones again?”

“Sorry Mama…”

Alex cautiously slid back, he heart pounding. He doubted the warmth in her eyes would remain the moment she laid eyes on him. Also, there were good chances he’d be toasted alive if the gaze turned hot.

Something hit his elbow. He froze. Slowly, he turned to his side, careful not to make a sound in his cave of unknown horrors. The carpet rubbed against him, sending another generous wave of dust. He wrinkled his nose, and held back another sneeze.

Something poked him in his ribs. It took all the power of them universe to stifle his yelp.

He wondered how many more artifacts he’d find if he lead an excavation team under Avery’s bed.

“Okay, but don’t stay up too late.” Mrs. Fernandez instructed. “Good night”

“Good night, mama…”

The door closed. Avery’s feet neared the bed and the mattress above him creaked faintly. She let out a huge sigh before calling out to him.

“Come out now, you idiot_. _I swear, you almost gave me a heart-attack" she grumbled, her voice still recovering from the close call.

Alex wriggled out, covered in a generous amount of dust."Had I been down there any longer, I would've witness a dust bunnie propose somebody!"

He looked up at Avery sending a heated glare in his direction. The bandage over her nose crinkled.

"What?"

"What What?" Avery got off the bed, dangerously tall over him, "You just sneaked into my room!"

Alex scrambled up to his feet. He wasn't looking forward to his funeral under Avery's bed, his grave laden with dust, instead of flowers of course.

"Relax..." Alex walked to her desk, "forgot to take my earpods from our last night's movie"

"Where did you leave them?" Avery said in a low voice, with an edge of annoyance.

"I remember leaving them at the table..." He pulled open a drawer runmaging through the items.

"Could've just texted me, ya know?"

"C'mon, where's the fun in that?" Alex grinned. "And what's with those pocket knives in your closet?"

"Those are my dad's. He let me have them." Avery glared, "Wanna see how they work?"

Alex gulped, picturing the words YEAH! carved on his tombstone under her bed. "Yeah, no. I'm good."

Her lips cracked into a grin, her facade falling off.

"Aha!" Alex raised his EarPods like a WorldCup Trophy.

"Alright, now get outta here before my mom decides to check up on me again."

"Aye aye, Captain!" He slipped his EarPods in his pockets and gave Avery a mock salute before retreating back to her window.

"You seriously took the ladder?" Avery shook her head in disbelief as Alex flung his one leg over the window. The cold air outside whooshed last them.

"It was laying around in the backyard."

And with that, Avery watched him disappear into the night before collapsing onto her bed, letting out a relieved sigh.

,

Beeep…. Beeeep …Beee—

The phone picked up erupting with uproarious laughter and inaudible chatter, making Alex almost jump. He felt a twinge of envy and a mix of gloominess as he closed the door behind him.

"'Sup Alex?" Avery perked up.

“My life…” he tossed his phone on the bed.

“What?”

“Nothing... ” he plopped down, the mattress gently sinking.

"Hold on a sec. I'll head to my room." her voice blended with the liveliness in the background.

Alex took a cold, deep breath as he heard the noises slowly die. A door slammed shut declaring her solitude.

"Phew!" Avery huffed, "Boy, is it noisy down there..."

His grip on the phone tightened. Must be nice to be a part of a lively group, immersed in joy, without having death knocking at your door as a constant reminder. A wave of guilt hit him immediately.

"You there?"

"Yeah! yeah..." He quickly added, "What's the occasion?"

"Urghhhhhh" She groaned, "Don't ask. Mama Papa celebrating their aniversario. It's like a circus down there with all the invitados!"

"Uh huh..." Alex reached for his nightstand, dipping into the soft mattress.

"If I hear ONE MORE MARIACHI, I'm gonna scream." She sighed dramatically.

Alex let out a hollow laugh, drained of real joy as he listened to her vent. He stretched his hand, his fingers almost touching the drawer.

"What were you doing? Had called ya earlier. You didn't pick up."

Alex's hand froze. "I... I was at the doctor's..."

"Oh..."

An uneasy silence hung on both ends of the line. Alex imagined Avery shuffling in her seat, suddenly finding comfort in the faint mariachi playing downstairs.

"I see..." She finally spoke, "How did it go?"

"They said to continue to take my meds, and I'll be fine." He finally pulled open the drawer. The sight of neatly arranged boxes of tablets made him want to yank it out and hurl it through the window.

"Well, that's good..."

“Is it? 'Cuz I know they’re clearly— They're clearly lying!” Alex’s voice cracked from the weight of his frustration. His sheets crinkled as he sat up.

Avery took a pause, leaden with unknown fear. "Hey..."

Alex slid back until the wall pressed against his back. Its coolness seeped into him as if trying to soothe his riled-up nerves.

"What happened?"

"Heard the adults talk..." He drew his knees close to his chest. The tablet packet crinkled sharply in his hands. "They said my heart's only working at 40% efficiency"

Avery breathed a shaky sigh into her phone. "Alex, maybe It's not-"

"Don't, Avery." Alex swallowed hard, the taste of his vexation bitter in his throat. "It's not like your life is dangling on a thread..."

"Listen up, Chase!" Avery's tone was sharp, making him flinch, "**_That's how everybody's lives work! I'm as likely to die as you are. The ceiling could collapse on me, a sniper could shoot me in the eye-

pfft- I could even fall off the stairs and hit my head!

Are you listening, tonto?_**"

'I- Yes" He stammered, shaken up by her sudden change of tone, "It was just... overwhelming..."

"It- It's the same for all of us, Alex!" Avery fired up, her frustration mingled with the weight of acceptance, "And watching you give up is the worst! You've got a problem, we tackle it head-on! lo entiendes, amigo?"

"You're right, Guess I didn't see it comi-"

"Sí mama?!" Her voice was pulled back downstairs, giving Alex some space to breathe. He picked his phone from the bed, relieved to find it hadn't overheated from Avery's fiery outburst.

She retuned back, muttering every possible angry-sounding spanish curses under her breathe. "Mama needs help. I've been summoned."

"I see…” Alex’s voice shook, in a poor attempt to mask his laughter. “Is it some emergency rescue mission or just doing the dishes?

“Ha-Ha. Very funny, Chase. Quit smirking, I can hear it from here” She grumbled, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. “Keep it up and I’ll send my madré after you!”

“Oh no no, Señora Avery!” He dramatically cried, picturing himself moping Avery’s living room, “Anything but that! Have mercy!”

“Mmhmm?” She hummed sarcastically as she neared the dreaded noises of the Mariachi.

“May the luck of the tortillas be with you!”

“You’re impossible!” She hung up, finally giving into a laughter as she did so.

Alex breathed out a sigh, the weight of his reality feeling lighter. Amidst his confusion and desperation, rose a new determination. He was going to fight his battle. And he definitely wasn’t going to give up.

“NO STOP!” Alex shrieked as he fell back, pinned against the floor.

“Nobody’s listening, Alex.” His uncle said calmly, grasping his fumbling hands and yanking them above his head.

Alex screamed and flailed against his grip, “DON’T—“

WHAM!

The knife plunged into his chest and blood gushed out, cutting off his scream midway.

“Where are we…”

“I don’t kn— OUCH!”

Something hit against his head. The sound of rattling cans filled the pitch black space.

“Alex, are you okay?” Avery hissed.

Judging by the sound of her voice, she must’ve been somewhere behind him.

“Yeah…” He rubbed the back of his head.

Bright, narrow light streaked through the shutters of what Alex assumed was a door. More things came into view as his eyes adjusted to the dark. Shelves filled with cans, bottles, small-sized boxes closed in on them.

“I guess this is a pantry…“ Avery vocalized his thoughts. “Are you sure we’re at the right place?”

“We must’ve gotten into a wrong time stream….” He said absently. His eyes lingered on the foodstuff on the shelves. “We jumped way back into the past… Oh look! There’s Milk powder kept in here too….. Avery?”

He saw Avery’s silhouette covering the streaming light.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Alex hobbled over. He peeked through the shutters.

Outside, warm, blinding light poured over the dining table, surrounded by empty chairs. Behind it, low couches spread leisurely, adorned with cushions. The light falling on the couch flickered. The TV must’ve been on. But it was blocked by a wall.

“This… Doesn’t this look familiar to you?” Avery murmured.

“I don’t think s—“

Rapid footsteps ran down towards the living room. The two of them held their breathes. Alex’s heart hammered in his chest.

A kid about ten came up to the table, holding a baby in his arms. He had caramel brown hair, just like his little sister. But his stormy grey eyes reminded him of Will. The baby cooed.

“Get ready, Avery! We’re about to flyyy!” The kid lifted her up. She burst into a peal of giggles.

Alex blinked.

Avery sucked in a shaky breath.

“_Nathan!” A woman’s _voice came from the other room, “Don’t hurt your sister, okay?”

“That’s… Mom…” Avery choked back a sob.

Guilt smacked Alex in the face. Not only had he brought them into the wrong time stream, but also at the wrong place.

She watched in silence, invisible among the shadows. Her eyes reflected the memories and people she knew would never come back.

He kept a hand on her shoulder “Let’s go back, Avery…”

“No…” She pushed his hand a away, “No. Just a little longer… please…”

Outside, Avery was lost to another fit of giggles. She flailed her tiny arms. Kicked her legs in the air as her brother soared her high. “Weee!” cried Nathan.

Inside, tears streamed down Avery’s eyes. She stepped back, away from the light and accidentally hit her head at one of the shelves.

More tumbling.

The laughter was cut short outside.

“MOM?” 10-year-old scared Nathan shouted.

“C’mon we gotta go!” Alex whispered.

Avery didn’t protest. She didn’t nod. She turned to him. “Take us back.” She said in a low voice.

“I’m sorry, Aves…”

“I’m fine…”

“Dude, did you hear that?”

Will’s vision was blurry. But he could manage to make out the silhouette of his friend bolted upright.

“Hear wha…” he yawned. He forced his eyes to open and pushed himself up. He looked up at the clock on the bedside table.

_1:30 AM _ “I don’t hear anything…” He mumbled, sleep still clinging on to him. His warm sheets invited him back in. “What are you talking abo—“

TAPTAPTAP!!

Will’s head shot towards the window.

There it was. A swift shadow. It vanished as soon as it knocked the glass.

“Someone’s at the window…” Alex whispered.

Faint light crept into his room from the window above his bed. Shadows thickened around them as they waited in the dark. He felt the ominous silence caress him down his neck.

“I’ll go get Dad—“

“SHH!!” Alex gripped his arm tight.

A hooded figure loomed behind the glass.

_TAPTAPTAP! _

A chill went up their spines. It tapped again. But this time, it didn’t leave. A silhouette of a person came into view.

“Don’t. Move.”

Will’s stomach churned with the person tried peeping through the window. His room suddenly wasn’t the safest pace anymore.

“Will?” Alex nudged him in the ribs. “You did lock the window right?”

That’s when it hit him.

He hadn’t.

Panic let loose like a bunch of scattering ants.

The window slid open. The figure darted in. Will let loose a scream. But it was cut short. The figure jumped off the bed and tackled him on the ground. The intruder’s knee pressed against his chest.

“AAAAAAAA— MMMPHMMM!”

“SHH! It’s me!” A voice hissed. “You’re gonna wake Uncle James up!”

The lights flicked on revealing Will’s cousin in a black hoodie, towering on top of him.

“Avery?” Alex whispered exasperatedly. “Are you crazy?”

“I prefer crea— HEY!”

Will pushed her off him and sat up. “Maniac…” he muttered under his breath.

Avery removed her hood, revealing her caramel hairs.

“Seriously, can’t a lady even sneak in peace?” She complained as she climbed up the bed to shut the window. “I bet you forgot to lock your window too…”

“Maybe try telling us next time?” Alex hissed, “You scared us!”

“Ha! And miss out on the look on your faces? I’m good.” Avery sat cross legged on the mattress, “So? What are we doing?”

“IIII don’t think I’ll be able to sleep after what just happened.” Alex plopped over the bed beside her. “And the ice cream in Will’s fridge looked too good to be ignored…”

“Yum…”

The two looked at Will like excited puppy dogs. He sighed.

“Fine. I’ll get it”

“C’mon man! Take the knight and kill her Queen already!”

“mmm… Hol’ on…. Lemme think…”

“You’re supposed to be on my side, Will!

“Alright. Alright.” Will raised his hands, “I speak no more.”

He fell back into the bed.

Surrounded by an audience of stacked cardboard boxes, Avery waited for Alex’s next move. What started out as Unpacking Boxes after moving was now evolved into a Chess match.

Alex grinned. It wasn’t always he got to one-up his best friend like that.

“Cut the monkey-business and move your piece already” Avery groaned.

“Let me try!” Will hopped off the bed and joined them on the carpet below.

“But—“

“Hmm… let’s see…”

He picked up a rook and slid it across the checkered board, taking out her knight.

“NO!”

“YAS!……what?” Will’s enthusiasm died as soon as he saw Alex scowling at him.

Avery bit her lip in a poor attempt to hide her smile.

“Go on, Avery!” Alex let out an exasperated sigh.

“Ay.”

The carpet beneath Will suddenly felt hot. His little move with the knight paved the way not only for her bishop to take his Queen but…

“Check.” Avery declared with a sly smile.

Will felt he’d been hit with a chess board in the face. “I didn’t think about that…”

“You don’t think about anything!” Alex irked, “Now, what?”

“AHAHAHAHA!!!” Avery burst out laughing.

“We need a redo!”

“NUH-UH!”

“AVES, PLEASE!”

“NoT gOnNa HaPpEn!—“

“Mija!”

A voice from downstairs immediately cut them off.

“Si, Mama!” Avery sprang up.

“Help me here with these boxes, please!”

“Coming!” She called out. “Alright guys, you start setting those books. I’ll be back in a minute”

She said all of it in one breath and ran downstairs leaving Will, Alex and a huge empty bookshelf.

“Let’s… get started.”

“…and you totally wouldn’t believe it when I said—“

…

That’s when Will’s world went silent.

He gazed at the people around the table. Mr. Tee with his fancy moustache, throwing his head back into a laugh. Plumpy Mrs. Howl, parting her red lips, baring her teethy smile. An inaudible warm laughter, under the warm lights. Delectable food served in golden platter. The clinging and clanging of forks and spoons. Yet none of those voices reached Will.

His hearing aids battery died. And so did the voices along with it.

He looked at Avery, her head turned towards Milo, who was sharing his dramatic adventures at the end of the table. The glass in her hand twirled nonchalantly between her fingers.

She glanced back at Will. A split of a second. But it was enough. Her cheeks flushed red with mirth. A smile tugging across her lips; an expression not usually seen on his cousin’s face.

Alex sat on the other side of the table, his head thrown back into a laugh. His jet black hair shone under the dim golden lights

Will didn’t mean to. He really didn’t. But his heart sank watching him.

What was it that Alex said? Carbon Monoxide.

_It’s smells like air. You wouldn’t even realize you’re inhaling it! _He once told Will, Buuut the more you inhale it, the more it suffocates you.

And that’s how he felt. Suffocated.

If_ _silence had a scent, it would smell like Carbon Monoxide.

Sure, it was his fault he didn’t charge them in the first place. But the thought wearing machines his entire life made him sometimes want to trade his life with Alex’s.

Avery nudged him out of his thoughts. Her lips moved. Will stared.

She curled her thumb and index and brought it close to her ear. The sign for: Hearing Aid

She touched her index fingers together and brushed the side of her palm against the other: The sign for: _Battery Dead **** _Will nodded which made Avery make a face that Will knew clearly meant: Told you to get them charged.

Come Avery signed with a sigh, Battery. Charge_. _ __ __

**_

_**

“What are you—“

“SHHH SHHH!” The blond kid placed a finger on his lips. Don’t. say. a. Word.”

Milo gulped. He inched back in his chair.

“Okay…” whispered the short-haired brunette, who had carefully drawn the curtains. “I think it’s safe to talk.”

“TALK? WHO ARE YOU KIDS? WHERE AM I?”

“_Dude! Take a chill pill. _Do you want her looking for you?” Kid number 3 near the door hissed.

“Who? You there, curtain girl! Mind telling me what’s going on?” Milo did not like being bossed around by kids. What were they? Fifteen? Sixteen?

“First, it’s _Avery.” _She got off the bed, “Second, call me by that name again and I won’t hesitate to carve your pretty face with my kni—“

“Alright folks!” The blond kid clapped his hands, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’m Will. Short for William. And that’s my friend, Alex.” He motioned towards the door kid, “and this hothead over here is my lil’ cousin, Avery.” He flashed a big grin, “and you are?”

“Milo… Milo Pierce…”

“Nice to meet y’a!” He shook his hand.

Milo had to admit. This kid had a strong presence. “But that doesn’t answer my question. Where am I?”

“You’re in headspace.” Alex came over and propped his elbow over Will’s shoulder, shaping his hands like he was holding an invisible box, “Inside the author’s mind.”

Milo stared at him as if he just spoke gibberish. “what?”

“In simple words, My room.” said Avery. “And you’re probably here because the Author has imagined you.”

“Oookay?”

“And she’ll be looking for you if she gets an…idea.” Her expression went grim. She silently plopped over the bed.

“Hearing that The Author is looking for you is enough to make grown adults cry.” Alex shared her darkness, “You never know who or _what’ll come next _in the headspace.

Milo shuffled in his chair. He wanted to get out of the headspace.

“Buut it can go either way.” Will added. “As for you though…” Will sized him up with his stormy grey eyes. “Can’t say… you look different.”

“He doesn’t look like he’s from our story.” Alex scratched his head, “…could be a crossover scene…Hey, Milo. What’s your genre?”

“My what now?” He really wished he could whip out a dictionary to understand Alex. Avery looked like she’d gladly hit him with it.

“What’s your specialty?” She translated, “Do you have any… powers?”

“Or fighting skills,perhaps?” Will rubbed his chin, “Your fancy dagger there seems to know somethin’.”

Milo looked at the curvy dagger at his belt. It’s edge shone, as if waiting to be showed-off.

“Yeah I can fight…” Milo said, letting everything settle in. “Oh! I can do this too!”

He snapped his fingers and a swirl of purple vortex tore open behind them.

Avery’s jaw hit the mattress “No. Way…”

“This is cuh-ray-zee!” Her cousin ran his hand through his hair.

“WOAHHH!” Alex held is head, “Where does this lead to? Is it dangerous? Can humans go through that?”

He looked like he’d explode any minute

“Actually—“

“CAN I GO THROUGH THAT?” He jumped into his face so close, Milo could see his own reflection in his eyes.

“No!”

He waved his hand and just like that, the portal closed, sealing away any hope Alex had to explore it.

“Aww, man!”

“Hold up! I see something, gimme a minute."

"What are you— WOAH AVERY, NO—"

The maniac proceeded to step on my shoulder. Does she even realize she’s like what? A hundred pounds? Why did I think it was a good idea to clean the attic together?

"Relax, Alex. I’ll be fine" She put her another foot, squatting on my shoulders.

"But I’m not!" I squirmed, "You know you’re quite heavy, don’t you?"

"Whatever, skinny bones” she murmured.

“I HEARD THAT!”

---

James was just a few minutes away from asking the most important question in his life.

He checked his phone:

3:25 pm

For him, the day had been longer than usual. His heart hammered against his chest.

Christine was there in front of him.

Her beautiful blond curls falling over her shoulders. The yellow muffler wrapped around her neck. The muffler he had gifted her.

“What’s wrong?” She smiled at him. The afternoon sunlight poured over them, just like every other golden trees in the park.

“Nothing” He smiled. But his palms were sweaty.

HE was sweaty.

“You can do this. You’ve prepared.” James thought, attempting to drown out the tide of panic that said:

“What if she says NO?”

His grip tightened around his little ring box.

Christine walked ahead. The autumn winds blew. Someone’s Golden Retriever barked as it ran beneath their legs. The chirpings of gold finches filled the park.

Christine laughed as she closed her eyes, letting the cold air rush into her lungs.

She loved the park. She loved autumn. She technically loved anything yellow.

…….but did she really love him?

James’s nervousness was just like a bunch of swarming bees, buzzing with every imaginable kind of ‘what ifs’

Christine stopped, admiring the beauty This was his chance.

“Christine…” his heart was crawling into his throat…

“Yeah?” She turned around, her amber eyes reflecting the light.

“You— My life— I—” He was messing up his lines again.

She blinked, probably wondering what language he was speaking.

But then:

“Christine Elise…” James reached his pocket for the box.

A deep breathe, “I wish I could give you everything…”

He got down to his knee.

Christine’s eyes widened.

“But I hope…” He pulled out the box.

Her hands flew to her mouth.

“…that this ring is enough.”

The box opened.

The gold ring revealed itself.

Tears brimmed Christine’s amber eyes. James couldn’t help but give out a laugh.

At that moment. Right there, right then.

All his doubts, all his fears vanished.

He smiled, because he knew her answer even before she chocked out the word.

Yet he proceeded:

“Will you marry me?”

——————————————————