Being late to challenges wasn’t grounds for expulsion from Panic. So when you hadn’t shown up for the introduction, nobody was really worried. Nobody except Dodge, of course, who knew you were never late to anything in your life, especially not Panic challenges. He held out hope, though, silently praying that you would show up soon.

Dodge was one of the fastest times to get off of the railroad bridge. He was smart and smug about it, not technically violating any rules, and he made a point to leave as soon as his feet touched the solid ground again.

He went looking for you immediately. Your car wasn’t lost on the side of the trail leading into the woods, thank goodness. The streets were desolate at this time of night, so if you were out there, he’d have no trouble finding you.

But he did have trouble finding you. So he drove to your house.

An alarm bell went off in his head when he saw an unfamiliar car sitting in the driveway. He recognized your mom’s car, and then your car, but… whose was the third one?

Dodge got out of his car and practically ran to the front door, banging loudly. He isn’t sure why he’s acting so… urgent. Something just doesn’t feel right.

Inside the house, he can hear yelling. No, screaming, accompanied by loud thuds and the sound of things breaking. Dodge throws open the door without another second of hesitation.

He was not expecting your father to be here.

Dodge storms into the living room and grabs your father, who had currently been looming over your curled-up body on the ground and screaming obscenities loud enough for the neighbors to hear. He shoves your father against a wall to keep him away from you, which is met with a nice blow to the face. Dodge hits the ground, but he immediately scrambles to check on you. You’re breathing, conscious, so he lifts you to your feet and begins to drag you out of the house. Your father comes up behind you but Dodge punches him. A brief fight ensues… finally, Dodge can escape, and you both jump into his car.

His hands are shaking so bad he fumbles with his keys several times. “Are you okay? Are you okay?” He keeps asking, rushing to get out of the driveway before your father gains consciousness again.