A bright, white light.

It arranged itself into a ceiling. An unfamiliar ceiling.

Tenny found herself staring up at it. Looking up at a window next to her, she saw sunlight pouring through into the hospital room.

Daytime.

Thank God she had two more days off.

Looking over to her left, Tenny saw her bag and jacket on a chair.

Sitting up, Tenny reached over to her bag, her IV leaning over the bed's bars. Grabbing a strap, she pulled it, the entire chair drawing closer to her. Tenny reached into her bag, withdrawing her phone to see if she missed any important information.

Turning it on, she saw a large amount of texts waiting for her. Getting ready to access them, she noticed something ahead of her. Several large, white rose bouquets laid in front of her at the edge of her bed.

She was caught by surprise, wondering who left those for her.

Peering into her room, Juniper Na entered, happy to see Tenny’s awake.

“Tenny, you're up!” she cheered.

Tenny looked over at her, in shock to see her here.

"H-how did you know-”

"Your assault was covered on the news... Your friends are worried about you. Mr. Glint bought those flowers and asked me to make sure I was there when you awoke.”

Tenny stared up at the ceiling, sighing. Everyone knew about her unfortunate encounter with the culprit they didn't know.

“What were you doing down at the precinct? Professor Thuron is preparing for trial,” Juniper said.

Tenny looked at Juniper, who awaited a response from her. A single tear that she tried to conceal, cascaded down Tenny’s cheek.

“Tenny! What's wrong?"

Juniper approached her in concern as Tenny looked over to her right.

Gritting her teeth, Tenny punched the wall in frustration. Juniper was completely caught off guard, grabbing and holding Tenny's fist.

"Tenny! What are you doing?!"

Tenny couldn't tell Juniper who the culprit was. And she wants to more than anything, right now.

Tenny leaned into her pillow, assaulting it repeatedly, as two nurses in the hallway rushed in, another nurse coming in to escort Juniper out.

“You need to get out now,” the newer nurse said.

He got Juniper out of the room and went back in, closing the door.

The nurses pinned Tenny down, administering a dosage to make her sleep.

Tenny became motionless, and Juniper became even more confused than before.

The hours flew by.

Slower for Tenny, but gone, nonetheless.

Tenny faded in and out countless times, not knowing whether she was awake or not, until her vision cleared up again.

The sun was less bright than before, the sky a light orange. It was late afternoon now.

Tenny turned to her left, to see if Juniper was still there. Instead, Mark, Blake and Sage were waiting in the lobby.

Tenny sat up, grateful for no Chess.

She noticed her untouched phone right on top of her sheets. She lifted the phone. Tenny decided to text Mark, since he's the fastest to respond.

Texting a simple 'Hey,' Mark's face lit up down the hall, speedily rushing into Tenny's room. Blake and Sage followed behind, not knowing she was awake.

"DUDE, YOU WERE ALL OVER THE NEWS! Are you okay?!” Mark shrieked.

“I'm managing,” Tenny replied.

"People are being jumped in Fallow now?” Blake said.

“You have quite the impact on this district, don't you, Hale?” Sage joked.

Tenny sat up, pushing away hair strands from her forehead.

"Not exactly the impact I was hoping for. Is it just you guys?"

“Ah no, Chess went to go buy some get well soon cards,” Sage said.

Tenny froze, looking up slowly at Sage, to his confusion.

“I’m… not feeling as up to speed as I thought I'd be. I'm sorry, but you guys need to go.”

Mark looked confused.

“Well gee, that's some warm welcome we're getting after taking an Uber here-”

“I'm not messing around. You need to get out."

The three of them looked at Tenny, wondering why she was acting this way. It's typical at times, but at this moment?

Blake took the hint, immediately leaving the room. Sage and Mark watched him leave, then faced Tenny again.

“I'm sorry for the assault, but show some appreciation. I'll get a new roommate if that'll make you happy,” Sage replied.

Sage left next, Mark staring at Tenny in anger.

“I get that you're like this a lot, but now of all times-?”

"How's about I call security?” Tenny stated.

Mark looked at Tenny in shock, getting upset and leaving the room before glaring at her again.

Mark closed the door, Blake motioning for Sage and Mark to follow him to a corner of the room. They followed Blake, who got closer to them.

“Something happened. Something that's making her act this particular way.”

"Professor Thuron was apprehended. What else could it be at this point?” Sage questioned.

Blake looked at Sage in thought.

“Don't tell me we got the wrong guy again…?” Sage said.

“I don't think that's it. To be honest, I don't know what to think at this point,” Blake replied.

Sage and Blake looked down in thought as Mark saw Chess approaching them.

“So, is she up yet?”

“Yeah, but no visitors are allowed anymore,” Mark said.

Chess looked over at Tenny's closed room, staring intently.

“Bummer. Wanted her to see the cards I got her.”

“Looks like that's not happening today,” Sage replied.

He walked towards the direction of the elevator, pausing and looking back at the rest of the group.

“We can see how she is tomorrow. Nurses say that's when she'll be discharged.”

Blake nodded, following after him. Mark walked over to Blake while Sage pressed for the elevator. He looked over at nearby vending machines while waiting for the elevator to arrive. Scanning nearby portraits, Mark realized that Chess still had not come to join them at the elevator.

He looked back at Chess.

"You coming?”

Chess was brought back to reality by Mark's voice, looking at him.

"Sorry. Was just analyzing this strange string of events lately…"

Chess walked to the elevator to join the rest.

"Robbery, assault, conviction of a professor, all during the freshman year of Vellichor…”

“Do you think it's a conspiracy or something?” Mark questioned.

“It sure feels like one,” Blake said.

“I'd say it were exciting if it were a movie, but I'm locking my dorm door every night.”

“It is exciting,” Sage stated.

The group looked at Sage, but he continued to wait for the elevator.

“…Don't make jokes like that,” Chess replied.

“Who said I was joking?”

Mark and Blake stared at Sage in silence while Chess shook his head. Sage glared at the group.

“I'm not taking my opinion back just to satisfy you guys. Grow a backbone.”

The elevator arrived, Mark and Blake looking at each other before entering. Chess went in after them and faced forward, staring ahead at Tenny's room down the hall before it closed.

Sitting against a lifted pillow, Tenny finished a digital reading assignment, sighing and laying back. She also spent a full day reading through every text she got, and watching news segments featuring her story on video sites. Definitely not an impression she thought she would make.

Heartfelt messages from her mother answered. A worried group chat from Mark, Blake, Sage, and Chess answered. All of her own free will. Of course, it didn't hurt to escape suspicion from Chess by responding.

Her eyes grew heavy with fatigue, as she scanned the texts from Chess to make sure there was no hidden context for Tenny to keep her mouth shut.

Airtight.

Chess texted in the group chat for her to feel better. Something about 'Get Well Soon' cards as well.

Tenny sighed, putting her phone down.

Mulling something over, she picked it back up.

Tenny typed in the name of a search engine, inputting Professor Thuron's full name.

Bolt Thuron.

Several articles popped up, all with the title 'Vellichor' in it. Prominent names garner clicks, after all.

Tenny looked at the titles, growing more solemn the more she scrolled. She paused on a particular article title, stating 'Vellichor Villain: Pouncing Professor transferred to State Prison awaiting trial.'

Her right hand dragged onto the bridge of her nose, eyes closing in frustration.

What a mess she made.

Right hand dragging over her mouth, Tenny read the article. Her eyes carefully scanned every word. They paused, landing on the name and location of the prison.

Saerie Street Prison; Prison in Saerie, Argent.

Tenny looked up from the screen with an intense stare, brushing her hair back.

She had to make this right.

Looking at the inmate visitation page and contact information, Tenny pressed one of its numbers, making a call.

The night passed, gifting her more needed rest. A beautiful blue sky was the talk of many nurses making weekend plans, one of them entering Tenny's room. The same nurse who escorted Juniper out of the room.

“So, how're you feeling today?”

“Better than yesterday,” Tenny replied.

The nurse smiled.

"That's great to hear. So…” the nurse began, lifting a folder. “I have your discharge papers. Just sign a few things, and you're all set.”

The nurse handed the folder and a pen to Tenny. She signed silently, handing both back to the nurse.

“You just suffered a bit of bruising and a mild head injury, but you'll be back to peak condition in no time. I hope you continue to feel better. Have a good day.”

Tenny smiled.

“You too. Thank you.”

The nurse smiled back, leaving the room and closing the door. Tenny got out of her hospital bed, changing her clothes and putting her sneakers on. She walked over to the chair holding her messenger bag and jacket, lifting both. Heading back over to the bed, Tenny lifted her phone, the screen turning on.

New group chat texts.

Blake stated that they were heading over to the hospital in thirty minutes. Tenny appreciated having such amazing friends. To have them was a truly unexpected occurrence.

She smiled for a moment, sitting on the edge of the bed, about to text back in the group chat.

Her mind raced to Chess.

If she told them she just got discharged but headed over to the Saerie Street Prison without informing them, they'd wonder what she was doing.

Tenny's eyes lit up.

She was going to need Sage's help for this one, so she decided to wait for them.