I don't mean realistic like that. I mean that I can't go around with my head in the clouds when there's things I need to be doing here. [ Because nothing about this is realistic. It's unbelievable and feels like something from a horror movie; at the very least, it's a horror story that they're being forcd to follow. Well, he is, because he's at the center of it. ]

I'd ask if the feeling of being completely boggled by all of it ever goes away, but I'm guessing that's a no. Maybe you just become resigned to it.

[ He shakes his head. It's not that he doesn't like the idea of eventually becoming resigned to all this insanity. It's just hard for him to imagine. ]

Yeah. That's kind of my goal here... figuring out how to take it back and stop all this. Not stop everything, just- the story. [ He doesn't want to stop them. He doesn't want to let go of her. Maybe whenever he figures out how to end this, he can go with her to help her figure out where her brother is and how to g et him back. At least then they'd be together a little longer.

He sees that flash of fear in her eyes, and while it's not exactly reflected in his own, there's a reluctance to let go of her. He feels a need to keep her around, to stay with her. But will the story let him? That's the question he can't answer. ]

What would you say if I... stuck around, after this? [ He figures she'll pick up on what "this" he means. ]