Serial Admirer

Chapter 2

"Will, listen to me. I seriously think I heard Johann just now!" Henry's voice was quite optimistic when he knew they weren't the only ones trapped. He claimed of hearing Johann's voice from afar, and yet he was not certain if it really is their group's most popular member, Johann, who shouted calling for help. Henry spoke to William to instigate affirmation.

"I don't hear anyone. Does that mean I'm deaf?" Mitch asked, curiously ruining the thought of Johann's voice. He wanted to scratch the back of his head, but given that his wrists were stuck together by the grip of the rope, he could not do anything near it.

Henry thought of Mitch's question as a stupid inquiry. "But you can hear me, Mitch."

Upon hearing Henry's claim, William's mind was immediately enveloped in confusion. He began to wonder about the idea of shouting for help. "Come to think of it, I've been awake for quite some time now and I never even thought of trying to shout, scream or call for help," he said. "I'm glad both of you spoke right after you guys woke up. I wouldn't know you guys were here and I would've stayed quiet." William told the two other boys before he sighed.

"Well, it happens to introverts." Henry breathed out, trying to lift up the tension in the room. However, the thought of the voice he heard just a few moments ago could not seem to escape one bit from his mind. He was one of those people that would certainly recognize somebody just by hearing the person's voice—it's how he knew Mitch was near him.

The short silence in the room made William feel like throwing up. As the oldest person in that room, he was aware of taking up responsibility and assuring the safety of the other two boys. William wondered of the situation; nothing could rid his mind with the idea of getting abducted by terrorists, criminals, gangs and other sorts. To him, it seems like it could be the situation.

Henry's voice broke the thoughts driving panic inside his friends' minds. "So, guys, are we gonna ignore the fact that I heard Johann shouting?" Henry did not intend to sound sarcastic.

"My idea is that we should try doing it too. If you think somebody shouted, then that probably means we're not alone here. If it's Johann, or anyone at all from the others, then that would be better. We have no clue of where everybody's gone—we don't even know where we are." Mitch's voice made his terrified figure obvious. "I just hope... I hope they're alive."

"They're alive." William retorded. "No one's dead. I assure you. The crash was... It couldn't have been that terrible for any of us to..." William knew he was being in-denial. However, he also thought that it is the best way to calm the younger boys down. "It's going to be okay. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Mitch tried to wipe his teards, before he cleared his throat to prepare for a yell.

The three of them are aware of the thick rope-like materials around their wrists. William knew that Henry was probably closer to his location compared to Mitch—he knew who sounded further and not. Yet, the dark was the primary contributor to the confusion and weakness that their bodies could only reluctantly endure.

"Help! Help us," were the words that Mitch could let out loudly in his full effort, yelling with the hope of earning any response from anybody capable of helping at all. Perhaps, it wasn't just help that he was seeking; he thought, the assurance of their friends being alive would just be as equally comforting. He breathed in and out carefully, feeling the extreme physical weariness he hoped he could ignore.

Henry thought Mitch's efforts were advantageous. "Hey, I can't shout... My throat hurts," Henry announced, softly, ensuring that the two people he was with would be aware of his incapability to aid the shouting.

William closed his eyes and raised his head, resting back upon the wall. "Surely we've been here for days. It feels like we're stuck for ages—I can feel my empty stomach and my wounded knees," he cooed, tones transcending to a slight quiet. The darkness was mingling with their breathing. Their clueless, hungry and tired breathing.

"Just... What exactly happened?" Mitch faintly mused through his question. His eyes were half-closed and he could feel his sweat rapidly falling down from his hair. "The last thing I can remember was the car crash," he added.

Henry raised his head with furrowed eyebrows. "Was it really a car crash? I think I had zero memories. I can't remember anything."

"You were asleep, Henry. You were sleeping with David at that time, but I'm sure you at least remember how messed up we were when the car fell sidewards. The left seats were the most affected," William retaliated with little sniffles. He can still recall how quickly the car turned—how it all happened when they were on their way home, and the amount of blood on the dark, cold concrete road. Although he was not certain if all the other members of XYZ survived, he could not speak his thoughts out loud. The two people in that room with him are minors; Henry and Mitch are kids to William's eyes.

"No, I can't remember. All I know is that we performed at a music show, and then we rode the car, and the music from the earphones I stuffed in my ears–"

Before Henry got to finish his assertion, a sudden voice was heard from not too far—probably just beside where they are at that moment. "Who... Who was that? William, are you in there?" The sudden entry of the new voice left the three boys shocked, but upon the quick realization, they are at the very least least quite relieved.

"Harry... It's Harry," Henry said.

William called Harry's name in surprise. "Harry!" William tried to see through the darkness, looking around with a slight panic. He admitted to the inability of hearing Harry's voice clearly; he felt like Harry was somewhere else. Harry was probably in a room beside where he was.

"You guys, ugh, are you here? Are any of you near? Please, William!" The voice yelled, cracking. Henry thought that Harry sounded like he was currently under a breakdown—Harry was clearly frantic. Though, if he was not in the same room, where could he be?