After the coffee shop,Saige walked Devin home and as she was about to step away he invited her in "Maybe we can  research whatever's going on. together..." he said as his hand was on the door handle. "Um, yeah. Yeah, sure." Saige walked back up the porch steps.

 Devin opened the door " after you" he smiled softly.  Saige sat down at the   dining table and pulled her phone out. Devin grabbed his laptop and sat down   at the corner next to her. 

 they sat pretty much in silence looking up  the various symptoms they were experiencing."I seriously think we both have early onset dementia" Devin worried. Saige  hummed under her breath"what? you don't think so?"Devin asked with a scoff

 Saige shook her head placing her hand over her mouth attempting to hold back her laugh" its not funny Saige. this is  serious." he mentioned in a stirn tone making Saige sigh and calm her laughs" okay, yeah. sorry. it says that it  could be neurotoxins. maybe that place had lead, I mean it's fucking old as shit, it could   totally be that. or like carbon monoxide..." Saige attempted to piece together this puzzle, this puzzle that had about zero corner pieces and all the pieces were clear.

it was impossible, how were two kids who had like zero idea about anything that was going on between point A and B supposed to figure out what the hell was going on between point A and B.

 Anthony brewer walked into the  living room peeking his head into the dining room" H-hey- hey" Devin panicked shutting his laptop" Hey, what're you doing?" Anthony's eyes flicked from his son to Saige.

"Job-searching" answered Devin nervously. Saige pressed her lips tightly and squinted at the boy before looking at Anthony "What about you?" she asked 

"Animals" the man answered"researching" he spoke with uncertainty."Cool" Devin coughed"Cool" Anthony nodded

"I uh I'm gonna head to the pet store," Anthony said grabbing his keys and bag." need anything' he asked "I think I'm good since we don't have any  pets" Devin responded questioning his father's sanity

"Oh, right, yeah. uhum, no, it's for research purposes."Anthony clarified.and both the kids let out sighs of realization"oh, okay. I won't expect a dog then"Devin snuffed a nervous laugh.

"hey, sorry about last night. I'm just working on a really sensitive project. and I just didn't want you down there"Anthony apologized, and Saige tried her best to not make her face match what was in her head, the wheels turned as she tried to put two pieces together." yeah, you made that clear" Devin licked his lips

 just before Anthony left he Made a few unbearable botany jokes that both of the kids tried to laugh at. Anthony shut the door and  Devin finally let his breath go." could you be any more suspicious?" Saige questioned as Devin shrugged opening his laptop. she caught a glimpse of the screen  as he shifted it towards himself

"Devin. close the dementia tab. please." she  blinked. he stared at her with his mouth open.I will, I will. it's just,like you said with the lead, it could have  started dementia..." he explained and Saige rolled her eyes"it's not dementia." she stood up and put her hands on the back of his chair looking at his screen."let me just call cece and make sure." Devin located the FaceTime button on his screen 

"Devin"

"I just want a second opinion" he scrolled to his sisters contact"i am your second opinion" Saige    pinched the bridge of her nose"a second second opinion" he  shrugged and clicked the call button." oh my God" Saige groaned under her breath. 

 The phone only rang once before Cece picked up" Hey what's up?" she said looking like she was out of breath." hi Cece" Saige  greeted "Hi" she acknowledged the girl

"Hey, where are you?" Devin  asked, looking at the blank background "Don't worry about it. What?" the blonde insisted

"Okay, um. I'm reading about dementia, and I have, like all the signs..." Devin held his hand out ready to list off all the symptoms"Devin, are you serious this again?" Cece scoffed

"No, just listen. Common symptoms include increased confusion, short-term memory problems, with sudden flashes of recognition." Devin read off, Saige couldn't deny that they both had those symptoms, but she felt like it was something else, something more.

"I know it sounds crazy" Devin admitted" but when I close my eyes... I see uncle Matty's face" Devin shut his eyes.  Saige sighed, maybe what they were experiencing was different, granted she had never seen their uncle Matty before, other than that one news article she had seen about his disappearance.

"What? wait, Devin, no. Now you have to talk to Dad "Cece insisted. Saige felt like she was in the middle of something that had nothing to do with her "I think I'm just gonna go" Saige said going to grab her things" w- What? No!" Devin took her hand gently and dragged her back into frame. Saige swallowed hard, holding her heartbeat steady." Are you sure this isn't a family thing?" she tilted her head "Yes. and no..." Devin squinted just- I'm not telling dad" he turned back to the laptop" You didn't see him with grandma... I-" Devin stuttered  when there was a knock on the brewer's front door "Who was that?' Cece asked 

"Were you expecting anyone?"Saige asked seeing Devin's furrowed face. He shook his head"Um- somebody's at the door I'm gonna call you back okay." Devin said, hanging up on the girl.

 Saige let Devin lead the way to the door, as she walked behind him. he opened the door seeing  Trey standing by the pillar next to the stairs. "Trey..." Saige questioned. Devin walked out the door, then Saige, shutting the door behind.

"Yo, what's going on?" Devin asked. Trey turned around facing the much smaller boy" yeah...why are you here?"Saige asked, considering the state that he was in just a few hours ago, she thought he would be speeding around somewhere in his car, trying to blow off some steam.

"I um- I know what you're doing bro." trey nodded, messing with his fingers, his chin tilted confidently."What are you talking about?" Devin screwed his brows together.

 Saige blinked rapidly, taking a step forward to trey, she knew this stance, his ticks... she knew that when trey was mad he  would do these things."okay, trey. I think you need to go and calm down. go smoke or something, just... please leave." Saige tried to intervening but it only made trey more frustrated "no. no, because he's trying to manipulate you, and get close, just so he can get with Frankie." Trey gritted his teeth.

"What?!" Devin shook his head"Okay." Saige raised her eyebrows"You're insane."  she rolled her neck back."i- i'm insane?" trey pointed his finger  to his chest 

" yes. go calm down...now." saige's jaw tightened "no." the tall boy answered 

" alright bro, she said leave."Devin stepped forwards, trey looked at him, his eyes narrowing. Saige licked her lips avoiding Trey's eyes. he was being so obnoxious."okay." trey let his shoulders release.

 and just when Saige was  about to calm down, trey swung his fist punching Devin in the face." hey! what the fuck dude!" she shouted, going to Devin immediately  as he held his face"are you okay?" she took his face trying to get a good look as trey walked down the porch steps " now I'll leave." he  bellowed

 Devin turned his head a red spot forming on his  cheek  as he looked at trey walking away " he's such an asshole" Saige shook her head "w- what are you- "  Saige watched as Devin wound himself up then running down the steps, and leaping. he landed on Trey's back, tackling him to the ground.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Saige shouted running down the stairs. she watched , frozen for a moment as they two boys tumbled around, Devin punching everywhere, missing trey every time. "okay." Saige  barked,   hanging over the boys."that's enough" she pulled on Devin's jacket trying to get the boy off of trey. she got his jacket but not him, Saige stumbled back, landing on her ass.

 trey flipped over onto devin, and just as he was about to punch  Frankie showed up, pulling trey off. " thank you" Saige breathed out standing up and dusting herself off. she didn't get a response though, because Frankie was too busy scolding trey. 

"what were you thinking?" she shouted. 

" what are you afraid I'm gonna hurt your new boyfriend?" trey swung his arm out to Devin." are you insane?" Frankie  questioned" we've established this. yes." Saige walked forwards to  Frankie."there is nothing going on between Frankie and I" Devin added "Devin." Saige turned her head over her shoulder  with raised eyebrows " yup, shutting up." he nodded

" I know what I saw. stay away from her." trey pointing accusing fingers at Devin and frankie" or what?, you're gonna  give me a green neck with your fake- ass silver chain?" Devin spit 

"Devin!" Saige gasped, holding her lips tightly trying not to let a laugh slip." its not fake okay? my aunt got it for me in LA" trey grasped the necklace shaking it violently, gritting his teeth and making his stride forwards. " hey!" Frankie  pushed the boy back, as well as Saige pushing Devin back "no more."  Saige  told Devin, his eyes lowering as he licked his lips.

" go home trey" Frankie  shoved him across the street." take your jacket." Saige shoved the gray hoodie to the boys chest. Devin gripped it to himself   Saige and Devin's hands brushing against each other as she let go." i'm sorry about him..." Frankie apologized 

" don't be. he's just trey being trey." Saige folded her arms" sticking her tongue in her cheek. Frankie nodded  with a sigh. she looked behind Saige at Devin "you okay?" she asked seeing the growing bruise on his cheek."me? fine..." he answered"yeah, you're lucky he didn't kill you, you have no clue what trey is capable of." Saige  turned to face Devin 

"I don't know why you guys hang out with him. i'm glad you two broke up, I don't know what you were ever doing with a guy like that."devin debated,and Frankie  furrowed her brows " excuse me?"

"I didn't mean it like that." Devin tried to back track "do not judge me like we're the same... you don't know me. my mom she works all the time, and I don't have my dad and-  I don't have to explain any of this to you" Frankie shouted just before storming off 

 Devin sighed, standing in his lawn with Saige, he turned  facing the way that saige's house was. his eyes locking on the manhole cover. Saige looked at him, his eyes seemingly knowing something, like he was somewhere else."what?" she asked

"I need your help with something" he said almost smiling"okay..." she hesitated

~

 the two walked down the street landing at the convenience store. Devin headed straight for the batteries and electronics  while Saige went to the fridge and freezer.

she pulled out two doctor peppers and then grabbed a thing of frozen veggies.

she met up with Devin just before the register seeing him with about four flashlights in his hand and a box of batteries "why'd you get flashlights?"Saige questioned  as she placed her things at the  self checkout counter "why'd you get vegetables?" Devin asked "for your face." she answered quickly"flashlights." she repeated , wanting an answer "you'll find out" he answered as he scanned the items "is it that bad?" he asked referring to his cheek.

Saige hissed, pulling her wallet out her back pocket. Devin's eyes widened"really?" he pressed his hand lightly to his face "no. I'm messing with you " she chuckled  and so did he

"you're not paying. I got it." he  got his wallet out."I would say  no but... I am behind a day of pay right now..." she scrunched her nose. and he shook his head lightly with a smile.

 Saige took the paper bag and they left the store, she took the  drinks out first  giving one to Devin to which he happily accepted, then she took the vegetables out and handed it to him " hold this to your face or its gonna swell." she instructed " do I have to?" he groaned, thinking about how weird it'd look with him walking around like that. 

" I mean if you want to look like a who from whoville, be my guest." Saige  Saige , going to put the  frozen  bag back in the paper sack when Devon stopped her taking the   vegetables " what I thought" she pulled her lips inside her mouth.

 once they returned  to their block, Devin put the  vegetables back in the bag. Anthony brewer walked out of the house, his breathing unsteady, Saige was use to see the man anxious, he was always a little on edge, but this was new." dev , where have you been?" he asked 

"I was  just buying flashlights"

"what? we have a bunch of flashlights." Anthony furrowed" which are in the basement, which you guys are staying out of..." he  widened his eyes and the two kids nodded"yup..." Devin hummed"yeah, staying out of the basement" he stuttered

anthony nodded and walked past Devin, Saige followed Devin as he walked to the house"hey." Anthony turned around getting the boys attention" uh, yeah?" Devin stopped as well as Saige, turning around."what do you think they do with the dogs they put down at the pound?" Anthony asked. Saige's eyes  widened

 " I always thought  we'd be having this conversation when I'm older" Devin chuckled nervously "I just need some meat. a lot of meat." Anthony said, Saige, thought a little scared and concerned spoke up" have you tried the butcher?" she  suggested " the butcher" Anthony breathed out pointing a finger at the girl, he began to walk away " yeah, a lot better than waiting for a dog to die." Devin cringed as his dad got in the car. 

     Devin and saige's walked up to the porch sitting on the front steps. Devin placed the bag of flashlights down "okay, what's all this about?" Saige asked " these, are for us to go into the sewer."  he turned his body to the girl, taking a flashlight out of the bag and unscrewing the bottom." the sewer? i- I'm sorry. why? is this about  the manhole cover?" she asked barely letting Devin get a word through "yes. earlier when I looked at it. I remembered something, like a vision."he said filling the  flashlight with batteries 

"what was it?" Saige asked taking the flashlight as Devin held it forward "it's kind of fading but it was leaves, and vines. they took me by the leg and were dragging me through the  street. and then it kind of just goes blank..." Devin recalled filling the other flashlight.

"okay. so you think going down there might help you remember something?" Saige questioned as Devin rolled up the paper bag, he nodded"mmh" Saige clicked her tongue." so when are we doing this?" she asked  looking at the manhole cover

" when it gets dark." he answered as if it were obvious

"of course." she sighed

~

 Saige went home for a little while waiting for the sun to set. she thought it'd be better if she was prepared for the sewer, she changed from jeans to  shorts, not wanting the sewage to get on her  pants, and she packed a small cross body bag with hand sanitizer, a notebook and pencil, and a camera, just in case they needed to remember anything and they both couldn't.

  she walked out of her front door, seeing  Devin standing at the end of the driveway."you ready?" he asked as she walked down to him. she suddenly remembered that she was nervous around him. like all the chaos had made  her forget. 

 she smiled and nodded" yup, are you?" she asked and he nodded.

 they walked down the quiet street, the crickets in the distance, the incandescent street lights buzzing. Saige brushed her hand against Devin's her heart racing, Devin almost laughed, his nervousness getting the best of him. they wouldn't say it but they both knew, they both remembered the night before the twins moved. it felt the same as now, how nervous they were, the quietness. Saige could only imagine if he stayed, if they'd be together...

 Devin felt the same, he licked his lips  thinking about hers,. he wanted to know what things would be like if they were together, maybe he wouldn't of have gotten into so many fights at school, maybe more. 

neither of them would ever know, cause they were here. right now. and it wasn't eighth grade anymore.

 they walked around the manhole cover" can you help me lift this?" Devin asked and Saige nodded. they  grabbed the cover and dragged  it  away from the hole.

 both of them looked down it, illuminating the place  with their flashlights.

"ladies first" Devin  pumped his eyebrows, Saige hesitated, bubbling her cheeks" okay... here goes nothing." she   turned her feet to the hole and stepped down into it, climbing carefully down the ladder. Devin following, Saige watched and made sure he didn't slip.

 Saige looked around the humid place in disgust  with her flashlight" just so you know, its illegal for us to be down here without permission." she mentioned and Devin rolled his eyes with a smirk"what?" she asked seeing his expression  " just you, following the rules." he swung his foot forwards and began to walk. Saige followed closely behind him" this place is freaking disgusting" she scrunched her nose "grotesque" she said, seeing it better fit to describe the sewer 

  every moment that they walked , Saige got more anxious" I don't like this." she said softly " what? you remember anything?" Devin inquired 

"no. you?" she asked and Devin drew his lips in shaking his head"come on lets keep going" he said leading the girl. she  walked closer and closer to him, the more her stomach turned.

  water dripping in  the distance startled the girl easily. she screeched and  leaped forwards grabbing onto the boys  gray sweatshirt"woah! you okay?" Devin asked, accepting the girl onto him. "yeah..." she cleared her throat" just startled" she stood up straight  and dusted herself off.

 her face warmed in embarrassment. Devin  smiled a little, still feeling her lingering on him as he looked forwards. suddenly he remembered another big part  of what he was missing. he gasped and Saige jumped " ohgodwhat?!" she shouted 

"oh, um. I- something... I remember."  he walked down into a pitted area, towards a big grate."what? what do you remember?"Saige flashed the flashlight  around. Devin squatted"come, shine the flashlight." he said leaning over a pit off water. she walked closer to him. Devin pulled his sleeve up and  reached his arm down. Saige could feel the bile creep up her throat"oh,god." she cringed almost unable to look."that's so gross." she scrunched her nose up" you go dumpster diving" Devin squinted and Saige shook her head" not the same thing"

" I think I found something" Devin said bringing his arm up. he surfaced his hand  with a something in it.  Saige  squatted down next to Devin looking at the familiar colorless vine." those were in my window this morning." she took a breath in.

"same vines... same night." Devin sighed"maybe your dad would know what they are... and why they are"Saige suggested hesitantly, knowing what the boy stated before.

 Devin sat for a second thinking before an abrupt noise shot through the sewers." was that a scream?" Saige asked and Devin nodded, his breathing becoming weighted " okay, lets go." Saige took the boys hand  and began to pull him." this is insane" she muttered as she  walked him back through the sewer "saige-" he said "no, we're not going back." she said as they met the  ladder" I know, but that scream..." he  said  as she walked up the manhole

" what about it?" she  grunted seeing him climb up the ladder "it sounded close" he mentioned   pulling the  manhole cover closed 

" it could have come from anywhere, we were in the towns sewage system. speaking of which, we now smell like sewage" she complained . Devin sighed "are you seriously mad at me? you agreed to come down there" Devin threw his hands up  and landed them back down. Saige   groaned out a sigh"no, I'm not mad, I'm frustrated. this is what I look like when I'm frustrated."  she pointed a finger to herself.

she took a deep breath in, trying to not inhale the smell of herself " i'm gonna go take a shower. we can discuss this tomorrow. goodnight" she  said still loud and frustrated, she stormed away.

 Devin frowned a little  and began to walk up his steps. he opened the door and was met with a  creature that  was unidentifiable.

 Saige didn't even get once house down when she heard screaming, this time deeper, more of a grunt. she spun around, thinking it was Devin just trying to spook her, cheer her up. but then she saw the big lump creature walking away with Frankie on his shoulder.  

" holy shit" she breathed out  running down the street, devin met her  at the end of his driveway weakly." what the hell is that thing?" he asked  almost screaming 

"i don't know. but we have to go now!" she screamed,  running forwards without thinking. Devin ran behind. they ran as fast as possible, following the smiley footprints left behind by the monster. saige's chest burned from  her heart rapidly beating from both nerves and running as fast as she ever had before.

 Saige felt like this path was familiar, like it was leading somewhere she knew, because it was, they ran up to the auto shop, seeing the monster standing beside  Frankie." Frankie!" Devin was instant to run after the monster while Saige wanted to plan something out, but now she had no choice. she ran after devin

 once he heard her footsteps her made sure to block  Saige from getting anywhere near this thing that just took Frankie and  slammed him against a wall. 

 the monster approached quickly, Devin  moved skittishly attempting to find something to defend himself.  he grabbed a  metal pipe  and swung it at the monster, striking it in the arm. but it seemingly  didn't affect him.  this made Saige more freaked out.

 the sludge monster grabbed Devin by the collar and flung him  across the pavement " Devin!" Saige shouted rushing over the boy " Devin" she said with a  nervously quivering lip" get out of here. take Frankie and go" Devin took grasp of  saige's hands, she shook her head and swallowed"no. no,  I'm not leaving you, what?!"

 the monster approached and Frankie quickly ran over , standing above the two "  trey, what are you doing?! trey, stop. trey." Frankie  pleaded. " trey?" the words left saige's lips  softly, she looked at the monster  within the second she found his chain..."w-" the syllable uttered out of her mouth  just as trey screeched.

 Frankie  panicked and grabbed the lever holding a car up and pulled it. in the moment of fear and panic Saige scooted back on her hands  and Devin rolled away just before the  car came  falling down and there was black goo over where. 

heyyy...hi... been a while.

 okay, so like I have pre-written like six chapters including this one, and I am going to try to publish them soon. I love Devin and Saige with my entire heart they are so special to me!!! I love you all sm and thank you for the patience and support !!!!!!