Who's the real Monsters?

Eric's POV

The day started off normal, had breakfast and kept it down, then listened in on Ed and Shelly. Would've listened in on both of them a bit more if a sudden feeling of dread didn't seep into my bones. It was the same feeling I had when Z was taken to Nurse Ratchet. That Thing is flexing it's power.

Searching for Z I heard Matt and Ed's Something is wrong, why won't they wake up, what do we do, what can we do, why are they screaming? The longest minute passed before Z's thoughts crashed into me. They just had a conversation with that Thing. It actually talked to them. Shit is really hitting the fan now.

Continuing to listen through Ed I sat cross legged on the floor to make it seem like I'm meditating. Taking a moment before reaching out to Z I said We need to talk, now. Hearing Can't get a moments peace was followed by a brief silence before they responded I'm here. Replying I know that Thing talked with you just now?

They kept me waiting before thinking Of course you heard.

I wasn't trying to spy on you, I just felt something wrong then I couldn't hear your thoughts.

That Thing wants me and I don't know why.

I only heard what It said to you nothing else.

It's got some kind of hold on me literally. I need to get out of here.

You can try, others have and failed. They were all fed to that Thing in the end.

Of course they were and that Thing will eat me too if I don't leave.

They only feed that Thing people who are useless and that is not you.

That doesn't make me feel any better.

Understood, as of right now you need to really weigh your options. On one hand you can find a way to escape on your own and leave the rest of us here. On the other hand if you want a fighting chance you'll need all of us to cause a riot then run for the hills.

Do you really think everyone here will fight against the guards?

All of us hate them just as much as you do.

If that's the case do you have a plan?

Not exactly.

Meaning?

The collars, bombs, doors, all need to be disabled aside from the doors that open to let that Thing out.

I think I know where to go although I'm going to need some help.

My help?

Unless you can control a guard, nope.

Got it.

That Thing only comes out at night unless there's a Code Black, right?

Yes.

Then I need to find out if both Anderson and Armstrong have a key or type in a code to let that Thing out or not.

Then what?

Not sure.

We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. One thing I know you need to do is talk with Ed and Matt.

Why? I thought you wanted to keep Ed safe.

Ed needs to know that I'm alive and they can be very useful in a fight. You already know about Matt.

Good point. Talking with Matt will be easy, Ed is going to be tricky.

It'll have to be after Lights Out tonight. While I can reach out to Ed on my own it'll be better if I have your help.

What do you want me to do?

Since there's audio in his room I'll need you to have him ask me questions through thought and you reply for me.

Are you sure it'll work?

It has to. I've been trying to reach out to him for years now and all he gets are weird dreams and headaches.

How will I get Ed to believe me?

There's a word we'd used growing up. It meant drop everything and run like hell in the other direction.

What's the word? Better not be 'pineapple'.

Eric tried to hide a chuckle under his breathe, "It's Poughkeepsie."

Really?

Yes.

This had better work. Ain't no way in Hell am I being sent back to Nurse Ratchet again.

We'll have to extremely care so non of us get caught. Wait...something's happening.

What?

Stay here. I think it's Ed.

Reaching out I heard Ed thinking of their weird dreams. He was going to check on Z before taking a nap. Z Ed is heading to your room, now's our chance. Tell them the safe word and 'tonight'.

Holding my breath as Z left for their room I honed in on them only. The second our safe word was whispered Ed's anxiety might as well have been a tornado. Now he knew. A weight was lifted off my shoulders. His thoughts shifted from relief to anger. Funny thing is that I'd let him give me an ass whopping right after Shelly got her licks in. After all these years I'd kill just to see let alone touch either one of them again.

Z's POV

Sure enough less than 30 seconds after I said 'tonight' the damn lunch bell rang. My body jolted as my subconscious was forced back inside. Ed looked dumbfounded as they asked, "You ok?" Slowly sitting up before responding I said, "Yeah, I guess." All of me still ached.

Ed offered his hand to help me stand. On my feet again they asked, "Can you walk?" With a shrug I replied, "Only one way to find out." Ed followed my lead while holding my hand. I didn't mind the touch this time. It was actually comforting to know that this is real and I'm not in that void of a place again. Ed's hand felt warm and soft. Their touch brought back memories of my childhood. The last person's hand I held belonged to my granddad. Not a day has gone by that I wasn't thankful for him.

Lost in thought I was at the door to the Green area. Waiting on the other side for Ed we didn't dare to hold hands out here. Walking to the cafeteria no one was in line, with the trays in hand we both saw Matt waiting for us at the table. He asked while the mouth piece was open, "You two ok?" Looking over to Ed I saw why Matt was worried they didn't look like his normal self. Replying, "I'm good, I think Ed needs a nap." With a spoonful of gruel in their mouth he nodded in response.

We all finished the gruel quickly. The three of us were the last ones to leave again. Ed tried to make some small talk, it was apparent that he was still shaken about earlier. Thinking to myself Might need to bump up the talk for sooner rather than later at this point. Can't have Ed blowing our cover.

Looking to Matt I could only hope that he believes me and in the plan. Having to break the tension that was weighing on me due to Ed looking at me every few minutes. "You know I'm not made of glass, right?", I asked. With a heavy sigh they said, "My bad, not feeling well. Think I need a nap this headache is killing me." Ed left the table first, Matt took a look at me before asking, "Am I missing something?" Needing to tell a half truth I replied, "I think he's worried cause I was talking in my sleep again." With the mouth piece back in place Matt signed Got any plans? I replied Thinking I'll meditate for a minute. He nodded before following me to the entrance of the cafeteria.

Instead of following me Matt went in the opposite direction. This time I didn't feel a sting from the collar. Looking back to see that Edgar was nowhere to be found I went straight to my room. Passing Ed's I knew he wanted to talk now instead of later. They were facing the door pretending to be asleep only to open their eyes the second I went by. I sat down in my room, took a few deep breathes, and within a minute I was astral projecting. Heading straight to Eric's room I had to make sure he knew there was a change in plans.

He had just finished eating. Thinking to him Ed wants to talk now.

I know, they have always been the impatient one.

If things go sideways on your end let me know.

Will do.

When the conversation ends I'll need to leave to check somethings out for the plan to work properly.

I know, just be careful.

Always have been.

I know.

I'll let you know when Eric and I are ready.

Wait. Before you go I just want to thank you Z.

I appreciate it although you can thank me by getting me out of here.

Creeping into Ed's room I whispered, "Psst, if you can hear me turn on your other side." Ed did so within a heartbeat. Using the same tone I said, "Don't talk or react strongly you're being watched and the cameras have audio." Watching them lay there I took the chance to tell them the answer that they needed, "Again please do not freak out or make a noise. Eric is alive."

Ed's whole body shook, his hands balled into tight fists. Anger radiated out of them. "Go into the bathroom and turn the water on now", I said. He got up quickly to go straight into the bathroom. With the water running Ed covered his mouth to try to stifle a scream. I flushed the toilet to make sure no one could hear them make a sound. Whispering directly into their ear I said, "Sit down on the toilet when you're ready." The poor guy squeezed his eyes shut as he nodded in response. After letting out another scream I flushed the toilet again just to be safe.

Ed finally sat on the toilet with their head in his hands. "Is it ok if I rub your back?", I asked. They kept their eyes closed while nodding. Gently making slow circular motions on his back Ed finally began to relax. Seeing that touch therapy worked to help Ed calm down I kept rubbing his back until his breathes didn't seem labored anymore. "Are you ready?", I asked. They nodded in response. "You can ask Eric questions through your thoughts. I'll relay his answers verbally. Stay here, they shouldn't be able to hear us." Ed gave the subtlest of thumbs up.

Eric said, 'Tell them that I couldn't reach out to them until you came along. I'm also the reason why his dreams have been weird recently and why he's been having headaches.'

'No Shelly doesn't know, so you'll have to get in line.'

Keeping my voice down I repeated the response. Ed was visibly pissed.

Now they wants to know what's going on.

Knowing this was my chance to speak freely I said, "I'm planning a breakout. That Thing is going to eat me if I don't leave soon. Eric told me to get you and Matt involved. I already know where the cameras are stationed at. I'll find a way to disable the collars along with our and the solitary doors while keeping that Thing locked away. Before the riot can begin I need to know this place inside and out."

Ed took a moment to think before Eric responded for him, "Ed's in and wants to know a few things; how can they help, when are you planning this, what to do about the guards, and at what time? To avoid the Thing."

I replied, "First of all what's the strongest animal that they can turn into? The escape has to be done in a few days from now and it has to be during the day to make sure that Thing doesn't come after any of us. As for the guards, do want you want with them except for Edgar. He's mine."

Eric responded, "A tiger and good start. How are you going to talk with Matt?"

"He prays at night before getting into bed I'll be there tonight to talk with him", I replied.

Ed tilted his head slightly as if thinking of course how could I forget.

Eric said quickly, "Before you leave tell Ed not to speak a word of this to Shelly."

"Obviously don't talk about the plan to anyone, especially not Matt or Shelly.", I said in a matter of fact tone quietly.

Ed gave me another subtle thumbs up.

Anything else you want me to say or ask Eric? I thought.

Nah, I think you got everything covered.

Getting closer I told Ed gently, "I really need you to keep your cool Ed. Don't look at me like you did earlier or the guards will catch it and have Nurse Ratchet interrogate either one of us."

Another thumbs up in reply.

"I've gotta go, act normal", I told them.

Leaving him there I used the vents to search the floors. Turns out there's four floors above the one where they keep all of us at. Frist floor is reserved for offices, second third and fourth are filled with wall to wall labs that overworked scientists practically lived in, fifth is where they keep all of us at along with the surveillance room, and looks like there's a subbasement. Probably where they keep that Thing.