"....yeah." Rene replied.

"I got it." he told her.

"Anyway, get moving." he said.

"I have no idea how long it'll take before he wakes up, and I'd rather he not be alone." he went on.

"In the meantime... I have paperwork to do." he lamented with a sigh.

"Ugh." he groaned.

Meanwhile, Ash was sitting outside in the backyard of the manor they called home, when he received the text from Ashley. He took his phone out and read it, confused after he finished.

"Uhhhh..." he muttered.

"Kaaaaay..." he said.

He then sent a text back to her.

Care to give any more information? Like why you're there if you're fine? he sent.

Or is this a case of you weren't fine, but you are now? he then sent further.

When Ash read that, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

....what. he then sent.

I find that EXTREMELY hard to believe. he sent further, before pausing to think for a moment.

But it's not... impossible. he sent further.

Is this secret information, or can I share it with some people? he asked.

Chris was silent as he lay unconscious... but Ashley knew he'd wake up sooner, rather than later. Drows were hardier than most other races on the planet.

Meanwhile, Ash was silent, before sending a group text to his brother and Casey.

Meet me in the backyard. he sent.

There's something BIG we need to discuss.

Lindsay showed up a few seconds after, apparently having been away from his phone at the time of the text being sent.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Well... there's news." Ash responded.

"It would seem that our favourite little lackey of Vanessa, Chris, is in the hospital." he told them.

"......" Lindsay was silent as he heard that.

"And it ALSO seems that he's in there thanks to Ashley's good graces, but also her desire for information... as Vanessa is the one that caused him to NEED to be in said hospital." he then added.

Lindsay just sighed as Casey said what she did.

"I get the feeling it's already too late to have that particular debate." he said.

"Regardless, this is... curious information." he then commented. "One would think Vanessa actually did care about Chris, or at the very least, viewed him as her most useful asset." he reasoned.

"It's why Ashley's there guarding him and waiting for him to wake up." Ash told them.

"She wants answers, and she'll get them." he muttered.

"Yes... yes, she will." Lindsay agreed quietly.

On the third attempt, she got his attention.

"Wo-woah!" the blonde male exclaimed, as he almost fell over on the table he was working at. He stumbled to regain his composure, set down what he was working on, and turned towards her.

"...yes?" he asked.

"What is it?" he asked her further, before pausing.

"......is something wrong?"

Leo's eyes widened when he heard that.

"Wh... what?" he asked.

"Ohhh... that's not good..." he said, shaking his head.

"Hm." he then mumbled further, thinking a little, and producing his own pouch, filled with his own sand.

"Want some?" he asked her.

"I can spare pretty much all of what's in here."

Leo had just filled her pouch with sand, but froze when she spoke her last statement.

"....I'm sorry?" he asked.

"Alive?" he asked her.

"As in... living? Not dead?" he asked further.

"But... but that's impossible." he said. "How could...?" he started to ask further, but then trailed off.

"...she made her dream a reality." he said quietly.

Almost by command, when she asked her question, Chris stirred slightly.

He groaned lightly, moving his head a little, before his eyes slowly opened, and he stared at the ceiling.

"......" he was silent for a moment, before he looked over to his side, right at Ashley.

"So." he said.

"You DIDN'T leave me to die." he commented.

"Why?" he then asked.