// 15. [video]

[girl_unlocking]

[There's a moment of silence were she just stares at the forge, like she's staring it down and maybe she is. She doesn't even know why she's asking this. Her face says as much. She's panicked underneath the emotional flatline.]

Has anyone seen Utena? I was kind of. Well, I haven't been. [Sigh] I have this basket of muffins I was

Comments

[yetsleeping]

She's gone, too?

...oh.

[girl_unlocking]

[Frantic!]

I-is there a place we go? To say goodbye to people, I mean?

[Angry!]

Because I already brought this stupid basket to the church but it was empty, too, and then I heard Trevor say that...

[Distant.]

...I guess it doesn't matter. It's like, eventual, right? Don't even know why I'm bothering to talk, I could be gone tomorrow. Or today. You could, too.

[yetsleeping]

...no. But there should be.

And I guess that's true, that we could be gone tomorrow. Although I'm starting to wonder if I can leave, really. [She laughs, but its not funny.] But... I think we think about it that way, it'll drive us even crazier.

Um. Or crazy at all if you're not crazy.

There's no certainty in life, after all. Even if I go home, I could die tomorrow.

[girl_unlocking]

[sigh]

There should be. [sniff] There really should be.

[All of it. The dream. The disappearances. The wonkiness. The stolen days. The idea of other people trapped here. And the first time she's experienced someone she actually really knew and considered a friend just ...vanish.]

I hate it.

[voice]

[firebornfidelis]

[She realizes Dawn may not want to hear from her, but it doesn't change the fact that she cares about both the girls in question.]

I haven't seen her lately either. I was starting to get worried. I don't think she's been to work in days, and that isn't like her.

[voice]

[girl_unlocking]

[Biting. Fearful. Angry.]

Yeah, well a lot of things haven't been li---

[...]

[Much softer.]

Byakuya said that the police are looking. They're not going to find anything, are they?

[voice]

[firebornfidelis]

I don't know, Dawn.

[This hurts. Almost too much. Utena was the closest friend Riza had made here, and for her to just be gone like this...]

I'm looking, too. You can help if you want?

[It's probably futile, but it's all either of them can do.]

[voice]

[girl_unlocking]

[There's a long silence. Because the sound of Riza's voice makes her a little sick now, and the fact that it makes her sick makes her sick. But she can't just sit here. Even if she knows it's a bunch of crap. Even if Utena was in the dream, too. That would just make it worse. So she swallows the worst of the fear and answers.]

Okay. W-where are you?

[ voice ]

[xnoble_reasonx]

The Police have been told and will look. There's nothing more to be done.

[He's got enough to do right now, but the others will find her, if she's still here. She wasn't a bad student...]

[voice]

[girl_unlocking]

[Clipped. Uncharacteristically biting.]

Of course not.

[Voice]

[bellcricket]

Perhaps she is one of those who disappeared.

[voice]

[girl_unlocking]

[...]

Yeah. I'm pretty sure she is.

[There's an edge to her voice.]

Maybe she went home.