A/N: Don't write 5753 words the day after writing 6820 words the previous day. You wrists will burn and your fingers will now be swollen.
To say he was disappointed was an understatement. Fourth and Paul left the managers office knowing the same as when they entered. Nothing.
"I don't get why they couldn't tell us when or why the last occupant left." Paul huffed.
"Or even confirm his name." Fourth added. "It's not like we didn't know the name of the previous occupant."
"I mean, I guess, if it was me I wouldn't want anyone snooping on my details." Paul replied.
"I guess so too. Now what?" Fourth asked.
"We know he lived here in these dorms, so that means he attended our university. Do you know what year he is?" Paul asked.
Fourth thought back at the study books he'd seen on Gemini's desk. "He'd be in second year this year."
"So, we need to find a second year student who's still living in the dorms and ask them." Paul grinned at his brilliant idea.
"Great. Do we know any second years living here." Fourth asked.
Both men stood in the foyer trying to think of a second year they might know when Paul said, "Man, we are stupid. Ken. He's a second year and living here. He would definitely know something."
"You're right. But if he did know wouldn't he have said something. He knows what's going on with the room." Fourth questioned.
"Yeah. You're right. But we could still ask him to look into it for us." Paul suggested. "Let me see if he's in his room."
Paul pulled out his phone from his bag and called Ken. After a quick conversations, Paul said, "He's in his room. He said to come up."
They arrived at Ken's room, who leaned against his door waiting for them.
"What's up?" Ken asked.
"We have a question for you about the student in Fourth's room last year."
Ken stared at them both and coming away from the door frame said, "Let's talk inside."
Ken let the two men enter and he followed closing the door behind him.
Paul and Fourth both sat on Ken's bed, as Ken leaned against his desk, his arms folded against his chest.
"Has something happened?" Ken asked.
"Ask him?' Paul said.
Fourth looked up at Ken and asked, "Do you know a student name Gemini, who studied here last year."
Ken looked away in thought. "Gemini." He murmured. After a pause, he looked back and shook his head. "The name is not familiar. Why? Is that the other person in your room?"
Fourth nodded. "It is. I was in his room last week and he was ill. I ended up staying the night but I haven't seen him since and I don't know if he's okay."
"Mmmm. I can ask around." Ken suggested.
"Could you." Fourth seem pleased by Ken's response.
"Sure. Leave it with me." Ken replied.
Fourth let out a sigh.
"Can you tell me what happened while you were with him?" Ken asked.
Fourth's face suddenly blushed and he said, "Nothing happened. He was ill and I was helping him. I happened to fall asleep and didn't wake until the following morning."
Both Ken and Paul gave each other a look and Fourth suddenly stood, and said, "If you find out anything, can you let me know."
"Will do. I'll walk you out." Ken said.
"No. No. It's okay." Fourth protested and left the room.
"Do you have to be anywhere tonight?" Ken asked, as Paul went to follow.
Paul shook his head, no.
"Then, I'll be past late with dinner." Ken suggested and Paul blushed and gave a silent nod.
Paul left Ken's room and saw Fourth by the elevator. Approaching him as the doors opened, Paul asked, "Will you be okay?"
Fourth nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow. Okay."
Paul waved as the elevator doors closed. Alone in the corridor, Paul returned to his room, eager for dinner that night.
Ken closed the door behind Fourth and Paul and returned to his bed. Retrieving his phone from the charger, he called Gemini.
"Fourth was here asking about you. He's started looking for you after the first poisoning. He's starting to get scared, Gemini."
The line went silent and then Gemini replied. "What can I do. We have to follow the timeline or we'll never get the evidence."
Ken let out a sigh, knowing Gemini was right.
"He's not even five months in front of me. How does that make any sense. I mean... how?" Gemini said in frustration.
'You should try being in my shoes. It's absolutely doing my head in."
"When will you tell him?" Gemini asked.
"Tonight or maybe tomorrow." Ken replied.
"Good. The next time I see him he warns me." Gemini replied.
"Okay. I'll find a way to tell him." Ken said. After their conversation, Ken leaned back against the bedhead and stared at the countless books on phenomenal occurrences stacked on his desk. None of which had been of any help.
The knock at his door made Paul jump and as he stood up from his desk to open his door, Ken stood there, holding up a plastic bag with dinner.
"Hungry." Ken asked.
Paul smiled and nodded, as he let Ken in. Ken placed the bag on the corner of the desk and removed the two styrofoam containers, handing one to Paul who sat on the floor beside his bed. Ken joined him as he handed cutlery to Paul, and said, "You can start."
They ate in silence until Ken said, "I might have found out something about the person Fourth asked about."
Paul stopped eating, his expression surprised. "You did. What?"
"I'm not sure if this is related but there was a death at the end of the school year, this year."
Paul's breath caught, his eyes widened.
"A death." Paul replied under his breath.
"It was never denied or confirmed and it depends on who you talk to. Most people don't mention it because they don't know what happened."
"Did they say who the student was?" Paul asked, his food now forgotten.
"No idea. When I asked if anyone knew Gemini, most of the students living here now are new. There were many who moved on. But I'll keep asking around tomorrow. If he attended the university, someone may remember him." Ken replied.
"Ah. That's unexpected. Should we tell Fourth." Paul asked.
Ken paused in thought. "I think... it would be best he knew. Then, at least, when he sees Gemini again, he can tell him should this be the reason this is happening."
"You're right. Should I tell him." Paul asked. "I feel it would be better if it came from me as I don't think he's going to take this well."
Ken nodded. "Are you okay to tell him."
Paul nodded and asked. "But when should I tell him. Now. Or Tomorrow."
"I don't think there will ever be good time. If you tell him now he'll worry all night and if you tell him tomorrow, he'll worry all day. I think, it's best to tell him now. Allow him the time to think about this on his own, rather than in a crowd of people."
"You're right. The news might be upsetting. But still... should I wait until you know more?" Paul asked, concern etched in his voice.
"Telling him now will brace him for what might come. For all we know, this might amount to nothing but better he be prepared in case it turns out to be something."
Paul glanced down, deep in thought. It didn't feel right telling Fourth but when Ken stood and retrieved his phone from his desk; he passed it to Paul, indicating he should called Fourth.
Paul took his phone but couldn't bring himself to make the call. For Ken, the torment of making Paul call Fourth crushed him. He knew what had to be done. He'd promised Gemini he would do everything it took to ensure the timeline happened as written but the more involved Ken got with Paul, the more agonising it became. The feeling of deception haunted Ken but he strengthened his resolved and told Paul, "I'll do it if you wan't me too."
Paul shook his head. "No, let me be the one to tell him."
Paul dialled Fourth's number and waited for his friend to pick up. "Hello. I have some news about your situation but I'm not sure it's related." Paul said as Ken watched on, his own meal now pushed aside and forgotten.
"You do. Great. What!" Ken could hear Fourth reply.
"I'm not sure it's great. There may or may not of been a death at end of the last school year. No one's sure and Ken is still investigating."
There was silence on the other end of the call.
"Are you okay?" Paul asked.
"I'm fine. Can you let me know when you find out." Fourth asked before the phone went dead.
Paul lowered his phone, his expression disheartened. "Maybe I shouldn't have told him."
Ken took Paul by the hand, and said, "Its okay. I'm sure it's nothing. I'll investigate further tomorrow."
Paul nodded but couldn't help but be concerned for his friend, as a lingering thought told him he'd made the wrong decision.
After Ken had left Paul's room, he was no longer able to contain his anger and frustration and taking out his phone called Gemini as he headed towards the elevator.
"Did you tell him?" Gemini asked.
"Paul did. I'm on my way to yours now. You better have something strong for me to drink. I'm not in the mood to be thinking about this anymore tonight."
Ken hung up as the elevator door opened, and as he entered he smashed the ground floor button, determined to get blind drunk before the end of the night.
Fourth hung up and slowly lowered his phone to the desk in front of him. A death. No. Fourth was sure it had nothing to do with them. But a small tidal of fear now resided in his heart. There was still no explanation as to why they were connected and the more Fourth thought about it the stronger his fear grew. Why would there be a paranormal connection between them if it wasn't for something serious, if not deadly. A shudder ran down Fourth's back and he opened his study book, attempting but failing to put it out of his mind.
Paul stared at Fourth during class. He appeared pale and tired and Paul cursed himself for telling Fourth what Ken had told him. When the class ended, Fourth remained staring into space.
Paul pulled out a pen and paper and turning to Fourth said, "We should create a timeline of events."
Fourth turned to look at Paul, then the paper and pen in hand.
"How will that help?" Fourth asked.
"Maybe there's a connection or something we haven't noticed." Paul replied.
Fourth thought about it and nodding, turned to Paul as he began to write the details they knew.
"It's been around six weeks and you've met four times." Paul confirmed.
Fourth nodded. "But I think we've entered each others room while the other hasn't been there but I can't confirm how many times that has happened."
"Let's focus on the times you've both been together. And how long since your last visit?" Paul asked.
"Fifteen days." Fourth knew the exact number as he'd been counting them every day he'd not seem Gemini.
"Do you know what the date is in that world? And, do we think it's the same world as ours, or a parallel universe." Paul asked.
Fourth stared, wide eyed, mouth open to replied. As Paul waited and watched, Fourth finally replied, "I don't know. I don't know anything."
"Okay." Paul replied. "Then, it's time you did know something."
"Like what." Fourth asked.
"Anything. Ask Gemini about his family and where he grew up. Anything that might allow us to find him, if he exists in this world."
"Sure. If there's ever another connection." Fourth snapped and Paul realised Fourth had once more shut down, as he promptly stood and stormed out the room.
Gemini returned to his room Thursday afternoon after class to find the thank you note with the small gift he prepared for Fourth still on his desk where he left it. It had been two weeks and neither of them had crossed over. Gemini couldn't help but be concerned as he had no way of knowing the future or how to contact Fourth.
No sooner had he sat at his desk, Ken called him.
"Anything?" Ken asked before Gemini could greet him.
"Nothing."
"I think you need to see a doctor. All the stress you've been under is taking its toll." Ken told him.
"I'm not going crazy. I'm sure there's a reason for all of this and once I see him again I'm going to get some answers."
"Good. Because, I need those answers as well." Ken replied.
Gemini's phone vibrated in his hand as glancing at the screen, said to Ken, "My mothers calling, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Gemini hung up and answered his mothers call.
"Hello, mother, is everything okay."
"Yes. We're gathering tonight at the main house to discuss this business with your grandfather, are you free to join us?"
"Yes. I'll make my way there now." Gemini hung up and with a final glance at the gift and card on his desk, left his room.
At the main house, everyone had gathered. His parents, his uncle and aunt and his two cousins. Greeted warmly by everyone, Gemini couldn't help but feel uncomfortable due to the reason for the gathering.
"Don't think too much about it, Gemini." Mother told him. "Where here tonight for you."
The dinner provided by the house staff was consumed over general chatter regarding business and study. When they all adjourned to the sitting room, Gemini sat between his parents.
His father leaned in and rubbing Gemini's shoulder with his hand, quietly said, "It's going to be okay. Trust your mother."
Gemini nodded.
"Gemini," His mother placed her hand on his leg. "I know this has been an extremely trying time for you, well, for all of us, but we wanted to reassure you we will take care of this for you."
Gemini nodded again.
"Your aunt and I have had lengthy conversations with the board members and the lawyers and every one understands the current situation. If you are in agreement, we would like to draw up documents that you will sign that states you will take no control of the business and its subsidiaries. I think this is the best way to continue moving forwards, without forcing you to directly be involved. Are you okay with that?"
"Yes. I can do that." Gemini told her, relieved a decision had been made that didn't require him being involved.
"Okay." Mother turned to her sister, and said, "Can I ask you to work with the lawyers to have the documents drawn up."
Aunt nodded, "Of course. I'll take care of it." Turning to Gemini she added, "I know this must be extremely worrying for you Gemini and we are working hard to take the burden from you."
Gemini nodded, and turning to his mother asked, "Do we know why grandfather did this?"
His mother shook her head. "Only that he wanted everything handed over to you. He's not elaborated on why it had to be done now."
"And what did the doctors say about his health."
"They say he's well but it's possible he had another turn a week ago. We don't know for sure because no one is saying anything." Mother once again turned to look at her sister.
"We can't help but suspect something is going on but at this time we can only go by what we're being told." His aunt told him.
"Don't think too much about it. Let us take care of it and if there's any news we'll inform you immediately." His mother wrapped her arm around his shoulder and hugged him.
Gemini returned her hug knowing their words offered him no comfort.
The entire encounter that evening had left Gemini exhausted having masked his anxiety the entire night. Was grandfather fine or not and why had he only learned about the possibility of another turn that night. He knew his family were only trying to protect him but it didn't stop the stress that consumed him.
As he reached his bedroom late that evening, he wasn't thinking about anything other than his grandfathers wellbeing, that when he opened the door and walked in, the appearance of Fourth sitting at the desk took him by surprise.