A Path Through the Woods(A RiaEgg Story)

CHAPTER 12: "I'm Expecting the Worst."

"Man...Looks like you did good with that, Stoner," Player smiled. "Say, after we finish this round, do you wanna head over to Ria and MrEgg's place and visit her for a while? We might all head down to the hospital, too."

"I like the sound of that," he nodded. "Cap. You ready to get this show on the road!"

"Ready and rearing!" he announced as he pressed the start button. "You know the drill, gang! Lock and load..."

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*DING DONG*

"You think she'll answer?" MrCheese wondered aloud.

"Her car's here, so she should be, too," Gnome surmised. "Do you think I should I try knocking, Engie?"

"Maybe give it another twenty seconds," he replied. "She might be on her way now, for all we know."

"Can't wait to tell her everything that's gone down so far today," Captain smiled. "You know, Player, I don't think Ria knows your relentless losing streak has finally come to an end. She'll be impressed by how you and I came out on top!"

"Yeah, maybe..."

"Something the matter, bestie?"

"Just kinda worried about her, is all...If things start to go downhill again, I don't know how she'll cope...I'm not really sure how any of us will."

"...True."

"Let's only tell her about everything if she asks," he suggested. "Right now, it's more important for us to just be there for her."

"Good idea, Player."

The sound of the door opening caught the crew's attention, and it creaked as their friend opened it and revealed herself.

Player cringed a bit when he saw Ria; she was still wearing a night robe despite it being the middle of the afternoon, and she looked like an absolute wreck; it looked like she hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in days.

"Oh, man...You alright there, Ria?" MrCheese asked her.

"...Not really," she responded, her voice low and weak. "It's...just been really hard trying to get past each day already knowing what's gonna happen..."

"Hey, there's still hope," Player assured her. "Now more than ever..."

"...If I start hoping now, I'll only be more upset when they tell me he's dead."

This is worse than I thought, Gnome said to herself.

"Could you use some company?" she asked. "I can make us some more tea if you want, and...well...Player suggested that we go visit MrEgg at the hospital again in a little while, if you haven't been there today already."

"...I was there this morning," she told them. "But...yeah. I can go again. It might help...Maybe...I don't know...But either way, you guys can come in if you want..."

"You sure you're up for company?" Engineer asked.

"...I probably could use some, really," Ria shrugged. "The house is a bit of a mess, but...it's not a huge deal. C'mon..."

They all headed into the house one at a time...The usual neat and tidy feel of the house was slightly tainted by the thin layer of dust covering most of the hard surfaces, and there were papers strewn about the coffee table in the living room, along with several pens.