Krysta Parks's Story

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6:00AM-7:00AM, USA, Arizona
It had started off as a normal morning. Asher woke up to the normal sound of Argus and Logan chasing eachother down the halls, his mother yelling at them to quiet down, and the shutting front door as his father left for work.
After a quick stretch and a tired yawn, Asher rubbed his tired eyes and got ready for the day, completely unaware as he brushed his teeth, put on fresh clothes, and tidied his hair that when 7:00AM rolled around, things were about to change.
But we're not there yet.
Asher walked downstairs to see Matt flinging tiny bits of pancake at Argus, who then retaliated and flung his french toast at him. Their mother snapped at them to stop, and a second after that she set a new set of pancakes down at the middle of the table.
'Act your age, boys.' She told them, the phrase sounding more like an everyday reminder to her three eldest sons. 'Asher, do you know where Logan went?'
The redhaired boy shrugged, "Nope."
'Right here, mom!' Logan shouted, bursting into the kitchen and stealing the chair Asher had planned to sit at, 'Better be quicker next time, eh bud?' the brother laughed, earning a scowl from the younger.
Yes, this was the normal routine for the Flattington-Chattaway family, nothing was out of the ordinary. Everything happened as usual... until 7:00.

8:00AM-9:30AM
Thing were weird. Really weird. Saying that wasn't too odd, it was reasonable considering he was part of a family would would name their kid Argus, but this situation was on a whole new level.
The town was just playing a joke, right? They had to be... either that or Asher was finally losing his mind. Was it April Fools? Nah, he knew the date. He did know what day it was, didn't he? Asher glanced over at the calender hanging on the kitchen wall. Yep, it wasn't April Fools. This day was just getting from weird, to freaky.
He had left for school at 6:40AM, since he had to re-do at math test at 7:00, and arrived at the school to find... well, no one. No teachers, no students, no homeless bums hanging around out back. It was like Asher had crossed over into uncharted territory but everything still looked the same. Yet, it was different. Same, but not.
Confused, Asher did the logical thing and headed back home, to where he too found no one. Even on the walk, no birds, no construction workers, n-o-t-h-i-n-g.
Who did he know that he could talk to, if no one was home? His friends Parker and Justin lived way down the block, but... who was that blonde girl who was in his chemistry class? Asher remembered seeing her on his way home only a few days ago...
Dear brain. Don't be wrong. . . please. The boy thought, snatching his bag up from off the floor and heading out the floor.
He didn't even know the blonde that well, but when family was missing, acquaintances were unapparent, and friends lived too far for Asher's lazy legs to walk, a stranger would have to do.

10:00AM
"...Which house, which house? Asher thought, scanning the long row of homes. It probably would have been easier to knock on some random persons door, but eh, his mind was already fixed on finding this blonde girl.
"That one." Asher said, glancing towards the one that he faintly remembered the girl walking in to.

Knock knock.

6:00 am- 7:00 am

Always an early riser, Krysta Parks woke up when her alarm went off. Working on automatic, she took a shower before getting dressed for the day. She was getting her breakfast ready when her cell phone went off. Picking it up, she saw the number and answered.

"Hello, Bryce." Kyrsta answered.

It was her oldest brother, the one she had been living with for several years now.

"Hey Krys! I didn't wake you up did I?"

"No you didn't. How has your trip to Turkey been?"

"It's been incredible! Of course the hospitality is always off the chart. Taking pictures of the Cappadocia area has been wonderful."

"I thought you were taking pictures of the costal areas of the northeast part?"

"Well I was, but I had the opportunity to come to this area again and you know how much I love the central region."

"Yes I do."

Bryce was a freelance photographer and was becoming more and more well known in the photography world. Because of that though, he was rarely home. Krysta didn't want to admit it, but she got very lonely and a little envious. Before her parents and other brother died, she went almost everywhere with them, but since the tragic accident, Krysta's life had been very lonesome. She use to ask her brother if she could come, but he would always say it be best if she stayed at home and go to school. Krysta knew that wasn't the real reason why he wanted her to stay put. She could have easily gotten a tutor for her studies like she did as a child. No, Bryce was fearful of losing her too. He wanted her here where it was 'safe'. Krysta was still thinking these things when her brother's next words caused her to pay attention.

"Well, I mostly called to tell you that I am about to get on plane and heading home! I should be back tonight."

"That's great Bryce! I can't wait!" Krysta said honestly.

"Same here. Well, I have to go now. You take care all right, Krys?"

"I will. Have a safe trip."

"Thank you. Bye!" her brother said before hanging up.

Krysta smiled before getting ready. It was a going to be a great day!

8 am- 10 am
This just couldn't be happening!! No it just couldn't! These were the words that kept going through Krysta and she roamed the halls of her empty school. She left for school at 7:30 am, and road her bike to school. However, she immediately noticed that there was no morning traffic. In fact, there was no sound at all. Krysta thought she was imagining things. All that changed though when she got to school. No one was about. No one. Walking through the halls she couldn't find anyone. At one point though she thought she heard footsteps and even thought she saw a red head at one point. However when she went back to check, no one was there again. Either her mind was playing tricks on her or this was really happening. She searched everywhere, even the places she wasn't suppose to be in, like all the boys' restrooms, the teachers' lounge, etc.

Panic started to settle in as she left the school and started looking into the buildings nearby. By the time she got back home, she felt at a lost and even called her brother. No answer. He always answered! Maybe she was dreaming? Yeah, that had to be it! Krysta decided to take a nap and maybe she would wake up and this all be a dream. Getting to bed, she fell asleep, only to be awaken to knocking. The first thing she noticed was she was stick in the same clothes she fell asleep in. No, no, no, no . . . . she kept saying in her head, not realizing she was saying the words out loud. It was then she heard the knocking again. Bryce? She immediately got up and raced for the door. Upon opening it, she saw it wasn't her brother, but she recognized from school. She couldn't quite recall his name though. What was he doing here? Wait, if he was here, maybe there were others?

"May I help you?" she asked, trying to keep her composure.

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The blonde girl opened the door on the fifth knock and stared at him for a second or two. Her disappointment was clearly shown on her face, and Asher felt bad about deciding to visit.
Had she been expecting someone else? What if, just a few seconds ago, the girl had been hopping towards the door ready to greet a completely different person?
Man... Asher definitely wasn't the highlight of her day if that was the case.
"The name is Asher John Flattington-Chattaway, incase you didn't know. Just call me Asher though, or AJFC. Whichever you choose, Doll." Asher shrugged, pleased by the nickname he made up for himself. AJFC, huh? Impressive.
Maybe just AJ would be less of a mouthful, though.
"Mind if I step inside?" The redhead asked, not bothering to wait for an answer and brushed past the blonde as he invited himself into the house. He gave a comment about what a nice place she had, but in reality Asher thought it felt... empty. Like his own home did at the moment.
With a slight pang of sadness, Asher wondered if the girls entire family disappeared as well. Did she have people who she was missing? Brothers? Sisters? ...Good looking sisters? Ha, maybe Asher could play prince and rescue them, winning their hearts and-
Nah, there was no way he'd be that lucky.

"You probably already know that this day is weird as hell," Asher started, glancing over at the blonde haired girl.
The outcome was either going to be surprisingly good, or Asher was getting kicked out of the house.
"and you also probably know that by weird I mean literally everyone seemed to have just walked up and left in the last few hours, but what do you say about us teaming up? You know, as like, friends and stuff!" The boy offered, nudging her arm with his elbow. They could be like... Sherlock Holmes and Watsonette or something. A mystery solving duo.
"But, uh, telling me your name would be helpful first, Doll."

When the guy spoke, Krysta knew she wasn't dreaming. She barely registered his words. Her mind went blank period. She wasn't dreaming and her last thought was that she wouldn't see her brother again. Krysta could feel her mind shut down. She didn't even realize that the young man, whom she vaguely recalled was named Asher, walked right into her home. If he saw her right now, he was would her pale complexion go white and she have a dead look in her eyes. She was barely standing also. Moving as if in a trance, she managed to close the door. When she did, she leaned her head against the door, all feelings and thoughts locked away.

Krysta could still hear Asher though, but she wasn't aware of the words. His words sounded like mumble, jumble to her. Suddenly, her body starts to shake and silent tears appear in her eyes. With her back still to her guest, she suddenly drops to her knees and stares at the floor while her tears fall down her face. She was totally unaware of them falling too for her awareness was gone. Krysta's heart had shattered.

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". . . and you know, I'm pretty sure that my brother Matt has this weird mystery case thing, like the ones that real cops use! Argus might have sold it at our last garage sale, though..." Asher said, continuing on with his jumbled speech about him and the girl finding out what the heck was going on. The redhead had been talking for so long his train of thoughts had made it from horseback riding, skating, paper clips, and now back to the main idea.
No wonder why he was failing English, his thoughts were always scattered. Yet somehow, Asher seemed to be perfectly fine at writing on his own... huh.
Due to his nonsense chatter-which now involved the possible idea of aliens and bigfoot teaming up to take everyone away, Asher realized that the blonde haired girl was only half listening, if at all, when he stopped to take a much needed breath of air.
"So then maybe if w- ... hey, you okay over there, Doll?" Asher asked, glancing over at the girl who was now on the floor. Cautiously, the boy crept over to her and stared. She was crying. What should he do now that she was crying? He didn't grow up in a house filled with women, the best idea Asher had to get one to stop was to give her a teddy bear or something. A Barbie? Something pink? Little cutesy girly stuff? He didn't know.
"Don't cry, don't cry!" Asher said quickly in an almost panicked tone. What if she threw a fit? What if she started throwing stuff at him?
Whenever his mom started getting upset, Asher, Argus, Matt, and Logan had always fled the scene.
"Come on, Doll, get up. We'll go for uh... icecream or something. I don't have any money right now, but no one will miss it, right? Unless you have some in the freezer." He said, pulling the blonde to a standing position. It only took him a few steps towards the kitchen to realize that was probably it.
No one. Asher glanced over at the still crying girl. That was it, right? She was upset because everyone went 'poof'? Sure, Asher was kinda sad too but...
"Hey, Doll, it's okay! We'll figure out what happened, I promise." Asher said, adding in a reassuring smile for effect. His real thoughts? He really wanted some icecream, now that he mentioned it.
How typical. Everyone seemed to have disappeared, including his family, and yet all the boy could focus on was getting a snack.

Krysta finally snapped out of it when Asher pulled her to her feet. It took her a minute or two to get her bearings. The first thing she noticed was that she was crying. Why was she crying? Last time she cried was at her parents and other brother's funeral. And that was years ago. Taking a hand she wiped her tears away, trying to recall what happened in the last few minutes.

It was then she remembered the red head guy. Looking up, she saw he was in her kitchen and listened as he finished saying something.

"Hey, Doll, it's okay! We'll figure out what happened, I promise."

What did just happen? Slowly, but surely Krysta started to remember the events of the day. Panic started taking ahold again when she remembered that her brother didn't return her calls and everyone had vanished. Well, everyone except for her and this red head. Where did everyone go? What was going on? Looking up at the red head, she finally spoke.

"I am sorry. But can I ask for your name again? I think was zoned out. My name is Krysta Parks. I . . . don't know what came over me . . . but this is no dream right? I wish it was."

Thinking about anything bad happening to Bryce nearly did her in though and she tried to hold in the tears again. She fought it this time. Bryce always told her she was a strong person. She really wondered about that though. Everything was so confusing now that Krysta didn't know how to react to this kind of situation.

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Asher was a bad house guest. Not intentionally, of course, but the girl probably didn't appreciate him rummaging through her kitchen while she was spilling out tears.
In his defense, though, the boy was not only trying to find a snack for himself, but one for her, too.
"So, do you like Oreo's or Triscuits or..." Asher asked, staring at the items in the cupboards.
"I am sorry, but can I ask for your name again? I think was zoned out. My name is Krysta Parks. I . . . don't know what came over me . . . but this is no dream right? I wish it was." The girl rambled, looking over at him.
Asher blinked. Krysta, eh? Nice name, he thought. Was it short for Krystal or Krystina, though? ... he guessed it didn't really matter. There was a little bigger issue than fussing over names.
"Well, Krysta, I'm Asher Chattaway. You've heard of me, right? I did that report on what's really in our schools Thursday lunches." He said, a grin on his face as he spoke. Briefly he wondered if mentioning 'school' was going to trigger Krysta's crying again, but then he figured that her tear session was over and said the word anyway. They'd find out what happened, surely they would. If anyone could figure it out, it was definitely the A and K team! ... and not just because they seemed to be the only two people remaining.
"And nah, this isn't a dream I don't think. Most girls I dream about are the ones on the covers of magazines." Asher chuckled, closing the cupboard doors, "Honestly though, I wish it was, too. But what can you do? It'd just be nice to find out if the others are okay or not." Asher admitted with a shrug.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Asher wondered what his family was doing in their state of absence. Could they see him? Was Logan laughing at the current situation? Were Argus and Matt bickering about something like always? What were his parents thinking?
... Were they even still alive?
The questions took a bit of reality and shoved it into Asher's head. People were gone. His family was gone. He glanced at Krysta, who was she missing?
Bothered by the empty feeling, Asher put back on the smile that had momentarily fallen from his face and beamed at Krysta, "Anywho! If you're up to it, there's some pizza in the freezer over at my place and will only take, like, fifteen minutes to cook if you want a snack before we get down to this wacko mystery business." The redhead offered, already starting towards the door.

Under normal circumstances, Krysta wouldn't have liked for anyone to rummage through her kitchen, especially since this was technically her brother's home. Unfortunately, the situation was far from normal, so Krysta could only stare as Asher spoke. He offered her some food, but the blonde wasn't hungry at all. When he mentioned what he did at their school, it was then a lightbulb went off. In the back of her head, she thought she recognized him, now she had her answer. She would have replied, but soon he was talking again. Would she ever get a word in?

"And nah, this isn't a dream I don't think. Most girls I dream about are the ones on the covers of magazines."

She gapped at that and was about to reply when he cut her off again. Did he think her bad looking or something? Krysta might have had her uncertainties, but she like to think she was good looking. However as soon as these thoughts entered her mind, she quickly brushed them away. Now was not the time for foolish thoughts when more serious matters were at hand. When Asher's smile dropped, Krysta almost went to him, but didn't know what to say or do. If her brother was missing, maybe he had family missing too. Krysta felt ashamed. Her she was wallowing in her own pain and forgetting she's not the only one who has last someone. However as she kept berating herself, Asher seemed to perk up again. How? She did not know. Questions started entering her head too.

"Anywho! If you're up to it, there's some pizza in the freezer over at my place and will only take, like, fifteen minutes to cook if you want a snack before we get down to this wacko mystery business."

"Um, sure, but not just yet. Let me check a few things first." she said before checking to see if the light switches worked and other utilities. At least those things still worked.

"Should I pack something? I have no idea what we're going to do."

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To Asher's delight, Krysta agreed to getting pizza. Her answer may have been hesitant to the idea, like she was wondering how the boy could possibly think of food at the moment, but it was a definite yes.
He could see them getting along quite well.
Maybe once things were sorted out, they could be actual friends instead of just members of the Super Awesome A and K Team. More than friends, possibly, but not overly likely in Asher's mind. There was a reason why he dream't about magazine girls and not ones he actually knew.
"Should I pack something? I have no idea what we're going to do." Krysta asked after she flicked the lights on and off. Asher gave her a quick once-over and nodded, "Change your clothes and pack some new ones." he offered, another grin appearing on his face, "Shorts would be preferable, but a nice dress or a skirt is good too if you have any."
He added in a laugh to make it sound like he was joking, but in reality he probably sounded flat out creepy. With that realization, Asher cleared his throat, "Just kidding. But as for plans... wing it, I guess. We'll think of something out as we go along. Unless you have any ideas?"
Writers block wasn't something Asher had to deal with often, seeing as creativity usually came easily to him, but in this situation Asher was stumped. He wasn't controlling what was going on, he wasn't the one writing. He had no information whatsoever, no clues that had been dropped which would help him figure this out.
He sighed and waited for Krysta to offer any possible idea's, since he for the first time in a long time, had none.

"Yori.. Yori can explain. Yori and Izumi are most unlikely alone. Yori is... looking for Jesi. Jesi can help bring Izumi home."
She watched as his eyes widened as he noticed the knife. She looked down at it.
"Wait... If we're not alone then where is everyone?" She sighed and lowered the knife and set it down on the table.
"Jesi is sister to us. Jesi is lost. Will Izumi... give Yori communicator back? Yori needs to find Jesi.."
She saw him sadden. Now she felt a bit bad. She didn't know what it was like to loose a sibling.
"Listen, I don't know where she is but I promise I will help you find her. Also I don't have your communicator, is it like a mobile? You can use mine if you want."
She pulled her mobile out and typed in the code. She held out her phone and smiled.
"How are we going to contact any one else. We don't even know where they are..."
A single quite crazy thought came into her head... It wouldn't work, it couldn't, could it? It was worth a shot.
"Wait there," she said to Yori and hurried into her bedroom. Once there she pulled her laptop out from under her bed and switched it on. She turned an walked back into the main room. She opens Facebook and searched online users. There were none of any one she knew on it but there was one. She clicked on the profile. She didn't even check who it was she just sent them a message.
It read
Hi, hopefully ur actually there and im just not goin crazy but if you actually are readin this and hav no idea wer every1 has gon, message me back
She didn't check her message she just sent it.
"I may have found another person," she said and grinned. The excitement of even knowing another person except her and Yori was out there was unbelievable. She opened her mouth to say something then her a message came through. Her smile broadened and turned back to the computer.

As Krysta waited for Asher's answer, she looked at him and wondered what he was thinking about. She herself was trying to focus on the matter at hand and wondering what they could do to find out what was happening.

"Change your clothes and pack some new ones. Shorts would be preferable, but a nice dress or a skirt is good too if you have any."

After hearing that, Krysta started to go to her room when she laughed and told her he was just kidding. Just kidding? Did he mean that she shouldn't pack anything? Looking at him in confusion, she was about to reply when he continued to talk.

"But as for plans... wing it, I guess. We'll think of something out as we go along. Unless you have any ideas?"

Krysta tried to think but was coming up blank.

"I am sorry, but I can't think of anything. Maybe keeping myself busy might help. I am going to pack some clothes and anything else I might need. If you need anything, my room is 2nd door on the right after you go up the stairs." she said before leaving the kitchen.

Going up to her room, Krysta tried to pack quickly and lightly. When she packed some clothes into one of her suitcases, she brought out a matching carrying bag to pack anything else. She wasn't leaving her laptop behind and even packed her iPad and a couple chargers. She still had her cell phone too. Feeling the need to grab something sentimental, Krysta grabbed a stuffed Polar bear named Winny. It was actually her first stuffed animal that she had sense she was a baby and even though it was a bit worn, it was too precious for Krysta to leave behind. Turning, Krysta saw a picture she had of her and her family when she was a little girl. Picking the 8" x 10" portrait up, the blonde teen sat down on her bed and looked at it, completely forgetting her task.

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As Krysta disappeared up the stairs, Asher shrugged and went back to searching in the kitchen for something to eat. Since the blonde hadn't been able to think up any good idea's on what the heck they were going to do, the boy figured Krysta wasn't going to be a very good Watsonette after all, but oh well. At least food was still with him.
. . . which reminded him, he was hungry.

While rummaging through the cupboards, he saw Oreo's, Triscuits, Gushers, and. . . ooh, what were those? Snatching a blue box from the shelf and studying the label closely, Asher tossed it aside when he realized what it was. He'd be fat enough once he finished off the other boxes, another addition of sugar and pure un-healthiness would be more than his poor stomach could handle.

Not knowing what to do with the snacks once he gathered them, Asher dumped the boxes down on the counter and went after Krysta up the stairs.
. . . Where had she said her room was? The first door? The second? Frowning, Asher cracked open the first door he saw, peaked inside, and closed it again once he realized that the room was Krysta-less.
"Doll?" He called, scratching his head with one hand as he reached for the second door-knob with the other, "Yoo-Hoo, hope you're not changing or anything." Asher warned, opening the door and poking his head in. Surely enough there sat Krysta, on her bed, doing nothing at all.
Definitely not Watsonette.
"Aha! Second time is the charm." The boy said happily, strolling into the room, "Our diet shall consist of fattening goods until we go grab stuff from the stores, but overall I think we'll be fine. How's the packing going? You all read-" Asher's sentence stopped short when he noticed the picture she was holding.
Curious, he sat down beside her and plucked the photo right out of her hands. When he realized it was one of her family, Asher blinked and gave it right back. Her family was gone, he reminded himself. That one little picture was all she had left of it.
"Sorry," Asher said quickly, standing up from the bed and fiddling with his fingers, "I just came to say that we should probably start going..." before something happens to us, too. He wanted to add, but the boy stopped himself before he could.

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"So, uh. . . let's put the picture in the bag and go." Asher said, rather awkwardly, as he took the photograph from Krysta's hands again and put it away safely in her carrying bag beside a stuffed polar bear.
He wanted to go back to his house before something else completely weird happened, and since he didn't know when the heck that would be, he preferred to get to his home as fast as he could. Besides, the change in surroundings mind brighten Krysta's mood. There would be less stuff in the Chattaway house to remind the girl of whoever she was missing, which by all means was fine by Asher even if the now empty house was to drag his mood down.
"C'mon, Doll! Let's get up and at 'em!" The redhead said cheerfully, taking Krysta's suitcase and bag in his arms, "We've got places to be and people to hopefully see!" Was that a lie? Of course it was. All the places Asher was intending to visit were the malls, where he would get himself new electronics.
The two had just gotten to the bottom of the stairs when sounds began in the living room. Immediately curious, the boy narrowed his eyes and headed to where the noise was coming from.
The TV was obviously being a dunderhead, Asher thought, for when he entered the living room all he saw was the screen flickering black and white.
"You might want to consid-"
"-umi and Yori are looking for humans." A voice said, cutting Asher's sentence short. The face of a white haired boy appeared on the screen, and for a second Asher confused what was happening with the TV stupidly playing a movie.
"If here, please communicate with us. Soon! Creatures will come, and they will devour." The boy on the screen warned before turning towards a woman. She began to say something, but her words were lost in a sudden wave of static.
"If watching, please step away! Communication device will explode in one... two three! Goodbye humans!"
The device will explode part should have given Asher enough reason to do as the strange boy had instructed and step away, but his brain hadn't clued in until the kid blew a kiss and the TV went dark.
After that. . . well, the TV exploded.

"Holy fudge-knuckles!" Asher shouted in surprise as he stumbled backwards. Sparks sprang out of the TV and the broken screen littered the floor. Had every TV done that? If so, Asher's house was a complete wreck, having at least one of them in every room.
He glanced back at Krysta and didn't even bother to try and manage a smile, "Do... do you know who that was? He asked, unable to stop his voice from shaking at the first part. He for sure hadn't the slightest clue, Krysta probably didn't either, but that kid was still here.
That kid... Yori, was it? Had wanted to talk with them, soon. That was great, fantastic even, but how the heck were they going to manage that?

Krysta hadn't realized that Asher was in her room until she felt something take her picture away. What had she been doing? Looking up at Asher, she remained silent as he got her things together. Seeing her stuffed teddy bear though, she quickly grabbed that without saying a word. What was wrong with her? She was never this silent before. Normally she was more outgoing than this. Well, things weren't normal were they? She was mildly surprised when Asher grabbed most of her things. Without thinking, Krysta grabbed her purse.

When they got downstairs, Krysta heard strange noises coming from the family room where the big 24" tv was. Kryta, being curious looked and saw someone she didn't recognize. Another human? Or was the tv playing tricks on her? It was then she started listening to his words. Creatures? Devour? Dread crept up Krysta's spine after hearing that. And how were they suppose to communicate? The blonde teen didn't have much time to think anymore where the white hair guy gave a warning.

Oh crap . . . was all Krysta could think before the tv exploded and the force of it caused Krysta to fall back and hit her head on the wall.

Her ears were ringing and she was seeing double when she opened her eyes. It was then she heard Asher ask if she knew who that person was. Krysta shook her head in response. She needed some aspirin now. Her head was pounding. Without saying another word, Krysta ran back upstairs and took some. She also grabbed a medicine bag and put first aid stuff in it before rushing back downstairs.

"I think we should leave now. I am . . scared." she admitted.

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Krysta's decision to run back upstairs confused him. Really? Now? The TV literally just blew up in the living room and the girl thought there was something more interesting to do, even after the screen had showed them other humans?
Asher folded his arms when Krysta came running back down, the girl really needed a talking to.
"Well then, now that you're back-" The redhead was saying, just as Krysta began talking as well, "I think we should leave now. I am . . scared." she admitted. Asher frowned at her. Was she not having fun with this? Sure, everyone disappearing without leaving behind the slightest clue of where they went was a little bit of a downer, but hey, there were still silver linings to smile at! They could head on down to the mall and take whatever they wanted! That was a bright side. Wicked deals on clothes? Krysta would probably like that... hopefully. He liked to think so, anyway. Really the boy had no idea what else to do if she started crying again.
"Alright then," Asher agreed happily, giving a nod of approval, "You said it, Doll! Let's get outta here."

After quickly stuffing the snacks he had found earlier into a few shopping bags that had been left on the floor, Asher and Krysta headed out.
The first stop was back at his house, obviously. He figured that since Krysta had brought some of her own stuff, him bringing along an extra pair of clothes and maybe his notebook would be okay, too.
When he swung open the front door, though, Asher immediately realized how the girl beside him must have felt only a few minutes ago.

He wasn't one for breaking down into tears, but the complete silence that filled the house was like a huge slap to the face. You can't do anything that will help them, anyway. A little voice reminded him, but instead of making him feel better it made him feel worse. Why? Because it was right.
You don't even know where they are! The little reminders continued, making Asher wish he had a mute button for this thoughts. But it's not like you'd be much help even if you did, huh? You'd probably mess everything up.
His shoulders sagged and he dropped the bags full of delicious yet unhealthy food.
"I'll be right back." He promised Krysta, trying to not to let his voice sound as pathetic as he felt at the moment. He began walking towards the stairs, but his shoes crunched on the shards left by the now broken TV that was just a few feet away in the kitchen.
Sighing, Asher marched up to his room.

Krysta wondered why Asher was in such good spirits, especially considering the circumstances.

Is he taking any of this seriously?, she thought.

It actually mildly irritating to find him acting this way. Also he little pet name, Doll, was beginning to annoy her too. This time she did voice her opinion.

"Um, you can call me Krysta." she replied, but her words probably fell on death ears as she followed the red-head. As the two of them walked, Krysta payed attention to where they were going and seeing the no activity again began to unnerve her. Tearing her gaze from the scenery, he focused on Asher again.

Soon they made it to another house. The blonde assumed this was his house. Walking, she took in all the sights and smells. As she looked though, she almost walked into Asher, who seemed to be glued to where he was standing. Edging by him, Krysta looked at him and wondered what was wrong. He looked lost. Before she could ask him what was wrong, Asher said he be back and left her there.

Now what was she suppose to do? Krysta hesitantly walked around before putting her bags down. Wanting to check on Asher, she went upstairs herself and started looking for him.

---

---

Really, Asher wasn't a sad type of person. He smiled, he laughed, he looked at the bright sides of everything and ignored the bad downer stuff. After all, if one always stayed positive about things, they would have an easier time finding the good in them. But if they stayed negative, the bad is all they'd ever see.
Negativity was like the fog in San Francisco. There would always be so much to look at, but the stupid low clouds always got in the way.
Today was a day Asher was finally seeing the fog that everyone else was. His family was probably dead. The last thing he said to his dad was don't forget to buy peanut butter. He hadn't finished writing his part for the school newspaper. He didn't even know Logan's favorite colour, what Matt's middle name was, or if Argus was still dating that Lucy girl he had been so fond of.
When was the last time he told his mother that he loved her? How many times had he gotten mad at her an never apologized?
Asher's life at the moment seemed to be a brew bubbling with regrets. He was a bad brother, a lousy son, and all that he had achieved in sixteen years was nothing compared to anyone else his age. Now that everything was gone... well, looks like this was where things would end for him.
Empty. Useless. Incomplete.
Asher opened his bedroom door, picked up a shopping bag off the floor and began randomly shoving clothes into it. He only needed... what? A couple pairs of pants? A few shirts? Maybe a jacket.
The shirts didn't fit with the pants in the one tiny bag, so Asher dumped it all out and dragged his old suitcase out from the pile of papers and clothes that was located in his closet.
He packed, zipped up the suitcase, and went back downstairs to where he had left Krysta.
"As for the nickname situation," Asher said out of the blue, but he was referring to when she had announced that her name was, infact, Krysta and not Doll. "It suits you. You can call me Tomato or something like that, if you want to be fair about it."
Suddenly the smile reappeared on Asher's face, "Doll and Tomato, the fantastic mystery solving duo!"