voice of the broken

Previous Tape:

Sophie just left. Nothing else to do tonight then to just watch this tape. Riley shrugs. They place the tape into the VCR. The tape begins to play, whereas Riley discovers it is  nighttime as it is in the real world. Amanda and Wooly are wearing jackets, hats, and mittens, shivering in the cold. Amanda has a map and flashlight. And… a ski-mask on her face. 

“Ama-Amanda… wh-why are we here in this co-cold?” Wooly sputters, shaking like a newborn fawn. 

“I told you Wooly, we’re stargazing.” Amanda announces, pulling off her ski mask.

“I do no-not understand why that means we have to suffer like th-this.” 

“Don’t you get it Wooly? Winter is the best time of year to see the stars!” 

“I’m not even sure the temperature is above 0 today Amanda…” Wooly cries. 

“Wait… Riley…?” Amanda finally notices.

“Why are you still here?” Wooly gasps.

“Sophie decided to go inst-” “Uuuuuggggghhh… just when I thought things couldn’t get any wo- OW!” Amanda stomped on his foot. Why does this sheep hate me so much? Riley wonders.

“Don’t you get it! This is perfect! It’ll be a fun adventure just like old times!” Amanda beams. 

“Why can’t you enjoy your perfect adventure without me?” Wooly scoffs. Amanda looks a bit sad at this. 

“Wooly… I thought you liked playing with me…” now Wooly looks sad. 

“No! I do! I just… didn’t want to do this… like… in general… I could think of several things I’d rather be do- oh alright…” Wooly sighs. 

“Yay!” Amanda smiles, “It was really hard to get Wooly to come outside with me today. He was clinging to the door frame for dear life like a cat trying to avoid a bath!” 

“A clear indicator that I did not want to go outsid-mmpth-” Amanda shoves a snowball in his mouth. He immediately spits it out. 

“You said you’d go stargazing with me!” 

“Not in like -30 degree weather!” Wooly protests.

“Shhhh! We’re almost there.” Amanda whispers. They enter a huge clearing in the park. Amanda looks mesmerized. Wooly looks disappointed. 

“That's… it?” 

“Huh?” “That’s it? The sky?” 

“I mean… yeah we’re stargazing.” Amanda says, “I think the view is best riiiight in the middle of the park. Can you tell me where that is?” she asks. Riley clicks on the right side of the park. “Riley…” Amanda sighs. Riley clicks on the center.  “Can you help me lay out the blanket?” Riley clicks on the blanket and Amanda lays it out. She smiles at us. “We could’ve done this from the backyard!” 

“But that’s not so special, now is it?” Amanda says, laying down on the blanket. “I am freezing my butt off! WHOA!” Amanda tugs him down so he’s laying on the blanket beside her. She gently tips his head up to the sky. Wooly stops. “We’re… surrounded by stars….” 

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Amanda sighs, happily. 

“I don’t know… it looks so… fake…” Wooly admits. Amanda looks irritated. 

“Don’t say that!” she hisses, before taking a deep breath, “I come here all the time when I can’t sleep. It’s my favorite spot in this whole world.” Wooly now looks like he feels bad about what he said before. Oof… Wooly should not have talked crap about this adventure… Riley thinks. 

“You shouldn’t go outside at night by yourself.” Wooly warns. Amanda remains silent. “It’s dangerous!” 

“I’m glad you’re friends again Wooly…” Amanda replies. “This is perfect… getting to share my favorite spot in the world with two of my favorite people in the world.” Amanda stop it. I don't think Wooly’s heart can take any more guilt… Riley thinks. 

“I’m… one of your favorite people in the world?” Wooly asks in shock, sitting up. 

“Well duh, you’re my best friend, right Wooly?” Amanda grins. Wooly looks… conflicted. 

“This feels… fake.” 

“Huh?” 

“Just a little while ago… you literally killed me… You made it so clear that you hated me… now I just don’t get it… I just… don’t understand…” “Wooly…” Amanda pauses and thinks for a bit… “Honestly… I guess… maybe it started when you freaked out at me when you were sick- when I realized… I might’ve scarred you just as bad as Hameln did… I felt really bad. And then… you apologized for everything… and then I saw you having a really rough time when you started to really get back your memories…” 

“So what? You only cared after you messed me up as much as you-” “Wooly. When I got my memories back I had a rough time and you didn’t do anything at all… in fact you made it worse… you kept trying to return things to a status quo I knew was wrong… to a me I knew I wasn’t…” Amanda explains, “And now I understand that it was because it upset you… but back then… I felt… so betrayed Wooly… Honestly, at first when you nearly killed Riley I was just trying to keep you calm… from doing that again…” 

“To be fair, I was trying to do the same with you…” 

“I get it now… I get everything… and this tiny world suddenly feels much bigger and scarier than before… I get it Wooly… and the more I understood the more I realized you were just like me…” 

“So that’s why you wanted to go back to being friends?” 

“We never went back to being friends, Wooly. We never were friends before… not really. I mean… we didn’t even know each other. Amanda and Wooly were friends… not Rebecca and William.” 

“What’s… that supposed to mean?” “I don’t want things to be how they were. We’re not going to stay on script! I want to be allowed to feel scared sometimes… and maybe sometimes you can be brave…” 

“I can’t be brave Amanda…” Wooly stammers, “I’m not like you.” 

“Then why can’t we just be scared together?” Amanda suggests, laying back down. Wooly lays back down with her. 

“Let’s look for constellations!”

“Do you know any constellations?” Wooly asks. 

“Um…” Amanda thinks, “I know the big dipper! Can you find that?” Amanda asks. Riley spots it rather quickly and clicks on it. “That’s right. Now um… I see a kitty and a puppy. Can you find them for me?” Riley clicks on them. 

“I don’t think those are constellations.” 

“Whatever, I’m making up my own now.” Amanda shrugs. “Can you find the apple pie?” Riley clicks on the apple pie. 

“Haha basic.” 

“Why don’t you come up with one then?” Amanda smirks. 

“Hmm okay… find a giant lollipop!” Riley finds and clicks on it. 

“You really liked that thing didn’t you?” Amanda giggles, “Find me… a… oh! Find me!” Riley finds an Amanda-shaped constellation. Literally whatever constellation they ask for just appears in the sky. Riley observes. 

“Ooooh! Find me! Find me!” Wooly pleads. Riley clicks on the rat constellation. “See, this is why I don’t like you.” 

“Okay then screw you too.” Riley scoffs, but clicks on the Wooly constellation anyway. He looks over at Amanda, who is happily observing the stars. She doesn’t say anything… she just soaks up their light. She really is enjoying this. 

“I just can’t stay mad at you…” Wooly mutters. 

“Aww… well thanks!” Riley gushes. 

“No, not you. I can stay mad at you for the rest of my seemingly never-ending life.” 

“Damn.” 

“Wait… so you’re not mad at me anymore?” Amanda asks.

“Well I guess… sometimes I am. Like when you shoved snow down my throat earlier.” Wooly grumbles, “but… then I see you get all happy like that and the anger just kinda… melts away.”

“That’s me but when I see you start crying like a baby.” Amanda responds, “I just feel bad at that point honestly.” Wooly just looks awkwardly bothered by this statement, but he doesn’t say anything about it. “But hey, I like seeing you happy too. And you’re pretty funny when you’re angry. As… long as you’re not killing anybody.” 

“What, scared I’ll decide to play operation?” Wooly scoffs, trying to casually check his nails and pretend he doesn’t care, while trying to avoid glancing at Amanda to see her reaction. 

“Wow Wooly where did you get these comebacks?” Amanda gasps.

“What… does that mean?” “Where did you get all this sass?”

“From you.” 

“Actually that checks out.” Amanda shrugs. 

“You’re not mad at me?” 

“For… what?” Amanda responds in confusion. 

“For talking back?” Wooly says bracing himself. 

“Not really. I like our banter.” 

“Oh okay…”

“You got more reason to be mad at me…”

“Yeah…” Wooly sighs, “Amanda… are you… would you really leave here even if it meant you’d like… disappear?” Amanda’s eyes widen. 

“Yeah… I would.” 

“And that doesn’t scare you at all?” 

“Of course it does, Wooly.” 

“Then why? Can’t we find a better way?” “I hope we can… but honestly I don’t have much hope. I just… want to be out of here.” 

“I see…” 

“What about you? Would you come with me…?” “I don’t… I don’t know… I don’t know if I have the courage for that…” Wooly mumbles, “That said, if you leave I might not have a choice.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I mean… you’re the star of the show Amanda. It’s the world of Amanda the Adventurer? Could this place even exist without you? I mean… it does just fine without me… without me this place just goes on like nothing even happened!” Amanda says nothing, she just looks on with a saddened expression. “I’m just the lamb sent to the slaughter. They could’ve picked anyone… They just picked me because I’m weak. Because I’m gullible. Or maybe just desperate to survive… and for what? What was I even trying so hard for… what I was waiting for? Something good to happen?”

“Hameln… has its ways of tricking people…” Amanda sighs. 

“I knew someone was wrong with them… I knew something was off… and maybe I could’ve run away or cried like the others… maybe I could’ve tried to fight back… but at that point I just didn’t care anymore…” Wooly laments, “I really have no right to complain… I’m just some stupid sheep.” “Wooly…”

“I’m practically nothing… aren’t I?” Wooly cries. Amanda notices his demon form start coming out a bit. She panics and headbutts him in the forehead really really hard. 

“AMANDA!” Riley gasps. 

“Whaaaat! I panicked! Ugh… I just wanted us to see the stars!” 

“He’ll be seeing stars alright.” Riley grimaced.

“That hurt…” Wooly mumbles. 

“I’m sorry! You were going a bit too over the edge and I panicked.” 

“Mmm… that’s okay…” Wooly says, rubbing his head, “I was being a real downer, wasn’t I?” 

“Don’t let me hear you say that ever again, you hear me? You’re not nothing Wooly… you’re my closest friend… you’re… like a brother to me… an annoying whiny little baby brother…”

“Gee thanks Amanda…” Wooly rolls his eyes. Amanda squeezes his face really hard. 

“Hey. I mean that. I want to get out of here with you. You want to get out of here too right?” 

“Ye-yeah…” “Then we’re getting out of here. No matter what that means. Okay?” Amanda gently places her forehead against his. 

“Okay Amanda…” 

“But until then we just need to be patient. So no more every other day breakdowns alright? If you start feeling upset just… squeeze my hand or something alright?” Amanda says, offering her hand and helping Wooly back up on his feet. He squeezes it really really tight. Amanda immediately lets go. “Okay… maybe we need to get you a stress-toy or something. Something that isn’t BREAKABLE.”

“I know I’m just a whole mess aren’t I?” 

“Hey… you do not get to claim the title of messier than me. At least you haven’t killed anyone, yet. Say, let’s keep it that way.” 

“Good idea…” Wooly chuckles. “Guess I really can’t be the goody-two-shoes one anymore huh?” 

“I don’t care. You’re perfect just as you are.” Amanda smiles. 

“No I’m not.”

“Yes. You. Are. Perfect, perfect, perfect.” Amanda says squishing Wooly’s cheeks, “and I wouldn’t want my best friend any other way.” Wooly smiles and starts squishing Amanda’s cheeks too. 

“You’re perfect too.” 

“Well personally I think that no one’s perfect.” Riley shrugs, “But we’re all doing our best, and that’s enough.” 

“Oh right, you’re still here.” Wooly says. Rude. Riley thinks. “I bet you’ve been watching us with a bucket of popcorn.” 

“Contrary to whatever you believe, I actually care about your wellbeing and would never do that.” 

“Really?” 

“Really. Believe it or not Wooly we all really care a lot about you.” Riley says firmly. 

“Really?” 

“Yeah you silly goose!” Amanda laughs, giving him another hug from the side. 

“Hate to say it but you’ve really grown on me.” Riley admits.

“Oh haha… well… now I just feel kind of silly…” Wooly says bashfully. “Like… all the sudden… I’m starting to think everything’s going to be okay.” 

“Because it is!” Amanda beams. “Because we all have each other!” This is really starting to feel like an actual kids show now.  

“Say… Amanda?” “What is it, Wooly?” “Can we go home now?” Wooly requests, “I can’t feel my legs.” “Alright Wooly.” Amanda laughs, she turns to Riley, “Can you help me get the blanket?” Riley clicks on it. Amanda picks it up and wraps it around Wooly. 

“Amanda… you just dumped a bunch of snow on me… the blanket is covered in snow.” 

“Oh… oops.” Amanda takes the blanket and wraps it up. Wooly grabs a flashlight from his wool and they start walking home. Amanda yawns a really big yawn. “Maybe we shouldn’t have stayed out so late… I’m… really tired.” 

“Want me to carry you?” 

“Huh, no you don’t have to…” 

“It’s alright… you’ve been taking care of me a lot lately… I gotta step up sometimes.” 

“Well if you insist… you haven’t given me a piggyback ride in forever.” Amanda wraps the blanket around her and climbs on Wooly’s back. 

“Isn’t that going to make you cold?” “I don’t mind the… cold…” Amanda says, “I’m not too heavy am I?” Wooly jumps up to put Amanda higher on his back, as she was slipping a bit. 

“No you’re good… light as a feather.” 

“Pssh! Liar! My dad would always pick me up and comment on how big I was getting and how soon I’d be too big to carry…” 

“Ah… I see…” Wooly says softly, kind of awkwardly. 

“He’d pick me up and lift me to the ceiling and we’d spin around till we got dizzy… or until we would almost crash and break something…” 

“What else did you guys do?” 

“We’d read stories, and play at the park, or go on hikes… we really liked to be outdoors.” 

“Did you ever go stargazing like this?” 

“No… I read about the winter thing in a book one time and had always wanted to try it… never got the chance… I… I’m glad… we got to do this together…” Amanda starts drifting to sleep. So Wooly stays quiet, trudging in the snow. The tape glitches to them being inside. 

“What should I do now?” Wooly wonders. Riley clicks on the stairs. 

“You could just put her in her bed…” Riley suggests “I don’t know if I can climb up the stairs with her… if I lose my balance that could end pretty badly…” Wooly mumbles worriedly. He nudges Amanda gently, “Amanda… Amanda wake up.” he whispers. “Aw she’s out like a light…” Wooly looks over at the couch and sets her down there. Then he goes upstairs. “Can you tell me where the blankets are?” he asks. Riley clicks on the pillows. “Well I guess we’ll need those too…” Wooly takes the pillows and throws them downstairs. Then Riley clicks on the blankets. Wooly tosses them down and then carefully creeps down the stairs himself. He throws one of the blankets over her and puts a pillow under her head. Then he puts a pillow on the floor and wraps himself up in a blanket. “I guess you aren’t so bad.” Wooly mumbles as he falls asleep and a light gray static covers the tape before it ends. 

The tape falls out of the VCR. Okay phew… I think Wooly’s finally starting to like me… Riley thinks. They pull out their backpack and start looking through all the research they’d gathered. They looked at all of Caroline’s research strung about the room. Curiosity struck a chord in their mind. They pull out their phone and start looking up all of Hameln’s shows. All kids shows… starring child actors… but none are airing right now… they find an interesting video:

3600 Seconds Hameln Episode 

It turns out it was a “3600 Seconds” segment that was promptly removed from air but reuploaded by someone onto the internet. Riley decides to watch the video. 

“After media outrage surrounding Hameln’s almost-hit show Amanda The Adventurer, Hameln quietly shelved the cartoon and began to focus more on their line of toys. Information about Amanda The Adventurer and other fan-favorites of Hameln entertainment is now nearly impossible to find. Despite their desperate attempts to rebrand, many families who knew Hameln in the old days still seem very suspicious of them. We talked to one of these concerned parents, Esmeralda, who would like her last name and face kept private, who made the following statement: 

Just then, they show a young woman… somewhere in her mid-twenties to early thirties with her face blurred out, sitting in a chair across from the interviewer. 

“Their shows almost felt alive… in fact… the reason I stopped watching them was because Amanda- yes the cartoon character- told me not to. She told me to turn off the show and never watch it again. You know… so many of my friends had siblings randomly go missing after watching that show… and let’s not forget that the actors had gone missing as well… it was all so weird and so suspicious. As silly as it sounds… I think Amanda was trying to warn us about Hameln… I refuse to buy a single Hameln toy for my kids. If anyone tries to give one to my kids I throw it away and give them a new one.” 

“So you don’t trust Hameln?” 

“No, not at all.”

The interview ends and the reporter returns on screen. Wait… that’s one of their newer reporters right? They joined the show just this year… I think… I remember Sophie talking about it. She was so bummed when her favorite reporter retired, but she said this new one is pretty good at their job or something…

“Many untrusting parents, teachers, and fans of children’s entertainment have all at some point made mention of the mysterious disappearances surrounding the show. Many have become uneasy between the toy recalls and the announcement of a mysterious new show.  Today I have with me a former Hameln employee, who insisted that his name, voice, and identity be… completely hidden for his own safety. He is going to tell us a little bit about his time working for Hameln.” They cut to the interview room. 

“So you were working for Hameln for how many years?” 

“A decade… and at that point I couldn’t take it anymore.” 

“What happened?” 

“So many staff and actors were disappearing… and the things they were doing to those kids…” he stops and shudders, “I just didn’t want to be a part of it anymore. I was afraid for my own life, for the lives of my family.” 

“You didn’t think to speak up?” 

“Everyone who did was killed.” 

“By Ham-” “Don’t say that-” the video suddenly freezes. Riley tries to reload and is met with a message that says: This video is no longer available. Wait… new show? Riley realizes. Their blood runs cold. They do a quick google search and find an interview with Hameln’s current CEO. 

“So what does Hameln plan to do in the future?” an interviewer asks. 

“Ah well we got some interesting things on the horizon.” the CEO chuckles in a whimsical manner, rubbing his finger under his nose with pride. 

“Oooh like what?” 

“Well we’ve started working on a new show that is set to release in 2 or 3 years!” 

“After all these years? Gosh that’s exciting! Any details about this new project.” 

“Nuh-uh. It’s all hush-hush for now. I don’t even know all the details yet. But it’s sure to become a family favorite!” 

The video ends. Cold sweat drips down Riley’s neck. A new show… What does this mean for Amanda?

Sophie stares at the tape she now needs to watch and suddenly it hits her. Crap. Riley was supposed to introduce me. They had already agreed not to message when Riley was gone unless it was an emergency, just in case Hameln could use it to track their location somehow. I… guess I’m going into this on my own then… oh boy… don’t panic Sophie don’t panic. First impressions are important. Oh boy… she stares at the tape for a bit and then gently picks it up. UGH RILEY! I don’t mind if you put me in danger, but don’t put me in awkward social situations! Of course, nothing was going to happen if she kept wallowing in anxiety. OKAY! I just gotta go for it! Now or never! Nerves be gone! She shoves the tape into the VCR and it begins to play. 

“Hi friends, I’m-” Amanda stops immediately, “Who the heck are you?” So we’re doing this immediately. Okay. Sophie thinks. 

“Hi the-there! I’m Sophie, um Riley’s girlfriend. It’s very nice to meet you!” 

“Hi Sophie! I’m Wooly!” Wooly grins. “It’s very nice to meet you t-” “Where’s Riley?” Amanda demands. 

“Um… Riley’s out right now… gathering some more of the tapes-” 

“I told them not to do that! It’s dangerous! Why didn’t they listen?!” Amanda snaps, stomping her foot. 

“Because they care about you…”

“I care about them too! That’s why I told them to stop!” 

“I get how you feel… It is dangerous. I mean, believe me, I really do want to help you but… I’m worried that maybe they’re being… reckless about this. They’re in a panic… a rush… trying to gather every tape before Hameln can. But… mmm…” 

“I can’t believe this… I know I told them to go but… not because I never wanted to see them again.” Amanda cries. 

“Don’t worry Amanda… you’ll see Riley again.” Sophie says gently. This poor kid… I wish I could just give her a big hug…

“How do you know that?” 

“Because they promised me… and Riley has never ever broken a promise. That and… I gave them a special kiss of protection… so I’m sure they’ll be safe.” Please be safe Riley… don’t make me a liar. 

“That stuff is all fake. It won’t work.” Amanda pouts. 

“I guess you’re right,” Sophie sighs, “that’s why you have to tell people what you mean when they are here.” 

“I just don’t want them to get hurt.” Amanda whimpers, “I don’t want them to die… like Kate and the others…” 

“And Riley knows that. That’s why they’re gonna be careful.” Sophie smiles. 

“Didn’t you just say you thought they were being reckless?” Amanda points out.

“Well… yes… maybe…” Sophie laughs nervously, “But Riley’s got a good head on their shoulders I’m sure they won’t do anything too dangerous. I… hope…” 

“Very reassuring lady.” Amanda scoffs, rolling her eyes. 

“Well until they get back, you’re stuck with me! So can we please be friends?”

“How do I know I can trust you?” Amanda asks. 

“Well… Riley trusts her right?” Wooly points out. Amanda still looks unsure. 

“Fine, you can stick around. But I still don’t trust you, got it?” 

“Understood.” Sophie says cheerfully Good enough for now, I suppose. “Why don’t we start over? I’m Sophie. It’s very nice to meet you.” 

“I’m Amanda. Well I used to be Rebecca Colton.” Amanda sighs. 

“Oh we’re… giving her our old names too?” Wooly asks awkwardly. “Oh- okay… um I’m Wooly. I used to be William Scott but… that was a looong time ago heh heh…” 

“I hope we can become really good friends!” Sophie grins. 

“Me too!” Wooly beams. Amanda rolls her eyes. 

“Yay! We’re going to play so much together!” Sophie cheers. 

“What do you mean?” Amanda asks. 

“I mean… I have about 10 tapes here that my mom left behind.”

“And Riley’s going to be watching some… right?” 

“Probably when they get back. Till then you’ll just have to stick with me.” Sophie giggles. Amanda. Looks. Horrified. Suddenly, the whole room around Sophie changes. She quickly looks behind her. The ten tapes that she had on the table are now gone. “Wha- What did you do?!” Sophie says in a panic. 

“I hid them! If you wanna watch them you’ll have to solve my puzzles and find them.” 

“Oooh, interesting. Like a game? Sounds fun. I can play your games.” 

“Eh?” 

“Oooooh! Riley was right! This will be so much fun!” she giggles, “Ah! But make sure you keep them in this shelter where they’ll be safe! Riley worked really hard to get them away from Hameln you know! Don’t make their efforts go to waste.” 

“Yeah yeah.” 

“Hmm… So what are we going to play first?” 

“Yeah Amanda, what’s our first adventure?” Wooly asks excitedly, dancing around a bit. 

“Why are you so excited?” Amanda scoffs. “Well, now we have two new friends right? And they’re gonna help us get out of here!” 

“I would kill to have your optimism Wooly.” 

“Heh heh.”

“Soooooo?” Sophie prompts. 

“You know, Riley almost always stayed quiet unless I asked them a question. So how about you do the same?” Amanda tells her. 

“Amanda…” Wooly pouts.

“Noted. Lips sealed starting now!” Sophie nods, making a zipping motion over her mouth. 

“That said… I have no idea… this episode… really doesn’t have a theme anymore if Riley’s gone.” Amanda sighs. 

“Uh… I know! Why don’t we get to know each other?” Wooly asks. “For example… What's your favorite fruit? Mine’s peaches.” 

“I like apples. Now you?” Sophie types in cherry. “Ew I don’t like those.” Excuse me? Cherries are the best! Sophie wants to refute. “Next up, what kind of stories do you like?” Sophie types in Romance. “I like tragedy!”  Oooooh… romantic tragedies are awesome too. Sophie thinks.

“I… don’t like tragedy.” Wooly responds. “I prefer stories with happy endings.” Yeah those are nice too. As long as it’s realistic. 

“This is sooooo boring!” Amanda groans. 

“I mean, we can end the tape now if you’re done for the day. I have some homework to do anyway.” 

“I thought you and Riley were adults?” Wooly questions. 

“And I thought I told you not to talk unless I ask you a question!” Amanda scolds. 

“We are adults. I’m getting my associates degree in child care online so I can run my own daycare center someday.” 

“Must be nice… to have dreams like that.” Amanda sighs.  

“Well you better start dreaming now, because we’re gonna get you out of there and into the real world!” Sophie beams. 

“See Amanda, I told you this was a good thing!” Wooly grins. “Oooh… I wonder what I’d do…” 

“You better start dreaming now!” Sophie smiles. 

“I stopped dreaming long ago.” Amanda grumbles and ends the tape. Well… that could’ve gone better. Sophie thinks to herself But I guess it’s true that trust takes time. Even if Riley did introduce me, it wouldn’t mean that Amanda would trust me right away. She whips out her notepad. Now let’s see what I learned… 

Amanda = Rebecca Colton. Wooly = William Scott. Riley already told me this, but it’s good to have written notes. 

Amanda can change the locations of objects surrounding the tv. She really caught me off-guard with that. 

Amanda wants me to stay quiet unless she asks a question. Kind of rude but okay.

Wooly likes peaches. Amanda likes apples. Amanda does not like cherries. We are tolerant of other opinions even when they are objectively wrong.

Amanda likes tragic stories, Wooly likes happy ones. 

Amanda stopped dreaming long ago… Poor kid. Wooly seems to have more hope. But Riley says he tends to act positive for Amanda’s sake so that could just be a facade. 

“Interesting…” Sophie says, tapping her pencil against her chin. “Now let’s find that next tape!”

Amanda losing hope was not good. Especially considering the fact that Riley was certain Hameln was getting hot on their trail. They knew that destroying the tapes would not be good for Amanda and Wooly. They gathered all the tapes they’d already found and neatly placed them in their bag. However, according to some of the files they’d found from the librarians, Kate had hidden sixteen tapes in this building. Caroline had some older tapes as well. Specifically the seasonal tapes. The descriptions of those tapes intrigued Riley the most, as they were the ones described to be the only tapes that didn’t have demonic mentions and the ones where Amanda and Wooly seemed the most like normal children and felt the most alive. The most normal episodes of Amanda the Adventurer. According to David’s records, Kate’s favorites. Caroline had found the lack of demonic mentioning intriguing as well which is why she had borrowed them prior to her death. Riley was certain these tapes were in a certain someone’s possession. When her mom died, she mentioned being left with some children’s tapes. Being told not to watch them but to keep them safe no matter what. I thought it was weird at the time… but those must’ve been the Amanda tapes right? I don’t want to get her involved but… Riley looks at their phone. Several worried texts from a contact reading ♥️ Sophie ♥️ were blowing up Riley’s phone. No, she deserves to know. I mean it was her mom. And… Kate couldn’t do this alone… neither can I… Riley takes a deep breath. No. I can’t be hasty about this. Once I tell her she'll be a part of this. Her mom wanted to keep her out of this. That said… there is someone else I could ask… I need time to think. I don’t have to decide now. I don’t think they’ve found me yet… I just need to find the last four tapes and get out of here. And in order to do that… Riley looks at the tape they just acquired titled: Do You Remember?. I wish I could find them all at once but it’s easier to find them this way. 

“Oh… hi there.” Wooly mumbles. He’s alone today. “You’re probably wondering where Amanda is… aren’t you? Heh heh… funny story um… she hasn’t left her room since you last saw us… yesterday… ye-yeah…” Oh boy. Riley thinks. “I can’t even get her to talk to me. Other than ‘Go away Wooly’ ‘I don’t feel like talking right now’ ‘I wanna be alone’ You get the idea. I didn’t want to make her angry so I’ve been leaving her alone other than some breakfast by her door this morning. Yeah. She ate it though! Tha-that’s something!” Wooly laughs nervously. He stands there in awkward silence for a couple seconds. “While she’s gone… I guess I can talk to you right? Look… I don’t know what’s going to happen to us but… if Amanda does get out of here… you’ll take care of her right? Keep her safe?” Wooly asks. Riley types in yes. “You’re sure?” Yes. “You promise?” YES. “Say ‘I promise’.” Wooly demands. I promise. Riley types. “Okay good. Honestly I don’t know if we’re gonna be able to get out of here… but we can’t be trapped here forever right?” Wooly chuckles nervously, “I mean forever is a long long time and time changes things right? Aw well… in THAT movie it changed for the worse I guess… hmm…” Wooly pauses for a moment with a sour look on his face, “I’ll see if Amanda wants to play today.” Now Riley sees Wooly standing outside Amanda’s door. “Hey Amanda… do you want to go on an adventure today?” 

“What’s the point?” Amanda grumbles. 

“Well… our fri- Riley is here.” Wooly explains. There is a bit of silence. “Amanda?” 

“Ugh… fiiine.” Amanda groans. She opens the door. She’s still in her pjs and her hair is an absolute mess. 

“What have you been doing all day?” 

“Sleeping mostly.” Amanda sighs, “Got nothing better to do.” 

“But now you do! Let’s go on an adventure!” 

“I told you I don’t wanna Wooly!” Amanda snaps. 

“We don’t have to go and do something. We can just relax around the house and… chat? Spend time together?” 

“That’s not really an adventure though is it?” 

“I guess not haha.” Wooly laughs nervously. 

“Fine, just let me fix my hair…”

“I can do it!” Wooly beams. Amanda looks at him skeptically. 

“You know what? Fine. Fine. I hate doing it anyway.” Amanda shrugs. They glitch into Amanda’s room and she opens up her top drawer. “Can you grab my hairbrush and stuff for me?” she says, unenthusiastically. Riley clicks on the hairbrush and hair ties. “Cool.” Wooly sits in Amanda’s chair while she sits on the floor. Wooly undoes her buns and hums happily. 

“What is with you today?” Amanda scoffs.

“Nothing. I’m just happy to spend time with you!” Wooly giggles. Amanda finds this SUPER weird. “Wow it got really knotted. This is just from one night?” 

“I guess I don’t usually toss and turn.” Amanda sighs. As soon as the brush touches Amanda’s hair, a sense of familiarity washes over him. Oh right… I remember this… he used to do this a long time ago… nearly every day… at least… back when his heart was still whole… back when he was human… “Hey Wooly…” Amanda says. Wooly doesn’t respond. “Wooooooly.” 

“Hm?”

“After you got that book… you started acting really weird… and talking about how it made you remember things you didn’t want to remember…” 

“Yeah…” 

“Do you remember now?”

“Yeah…” Wooly said distantly, closing his eyes. “I remember now. We used to have it back at home. My little sister made me read it to her every night.” 

“Hmm…” Amanda mumbles. “What else… Do you remember?” 

“Not much… just some little things… here and there… mostly sad stuff…” he replies. Amanda looks at the ground. It’s quiet for a couple seconds. “I don’t really think my dad was ever around… but I remember we’d always talk to him on the phone. I think he was doing something really important overseas… I remember… one day my mom got a call…” 

Suddenly the Hameln toy phone started to ring. Riley paused the tape and answered it, but there was no one there. They return to the tape in confusion. 

“My sister always got excited when mom was on the phone and would say ‘Dada! Dada!’ Mom turned to her with a look that I can’t quite describe and said ‘Dada’s gone.’ Haha… maybe it was because I was so young… but it didn’t quite make sense at the time. He was always gone. I didn’t think anything had changed but they did. Mom… was almost never home. She was either working or away somewhere. So I was always in charge of my little sister…” 

“What happened?” Amanda asks. 

“Mom had got mad at her one night and put her favorite puppy up really high. We were home alone. I wasn’t paying attention… by the time I noticed… I tried to stop her… I tried to catch her… I was right there but… it’s all my fault. It was my job to protect her… and I failed.”

“No! It’s not your fault!” Amanda shouts, “You failed at a job that was never yours! That’s not your fault! You were just a kid!” 

“She was only four years old… she never even got to go to school… funny isn’t it? I’m trapped in what could’ve been her favorite show.” Wooly cried. Amanda looked at the ground sadly. 

“If things were different… it would’ve been.” Amanda sighs. Wooly whips his eyes dry. “What happened… after that? How did you end up here?” 

“Mom had enough of me I guess… I got put in a lot of after-school programs that my friends would drive me to… including… a local theater program. I guess I was really good… cuz some guy asked my Mom if she was interested in me becoming an actor for TV. She didn’t care… as long as I was far away. They ended up taking full custody of me really fast. I acted on a couple shows… and it wasn’t long before I started to notice my co-stars disappearing… in their little experiments… if they misbehaved.”

“That sounds… really scary…” 

“Yeah. So I did my best not to get in trouble… I did everything I was told. I tried to fool myself into believing I’d be happy there… as long as I did what I was told. Though… it didn’t make me many friends. No one could trust me… well also because I was weird… I guess…” 

“I see…”

“I was just so desperate not to disappear. But I guess that’s what got me here…” 

“Wait what?”

“I was obedient.”

“I… see…” 

“But it doesn’t matter how we got here right?” Wooly suddenly beams, “Because we’re gonna get out of here no matter what!” 

“What makes you so sure?” Amanda asks. This time Wooly falls silent. 

“Do you remember when Kate first made us remember we were human?” Wooly asks, then more quietly, “That we were trapped?”  

“Do you? Do you even want to?” Amanda grumbles, suddenly closing herself off. Wooly finishes brushing out the knots in Amanda’s hair. “Don’t ever mention her to me again. Not when… it’s your fault… It's your fault, Wooly!” she suddenly stands up. 

“Wait, I'm not done!” 

“Quit acting like my friend! You messed everything up! Do you remember that?! I don’t get you! I don’t understand! You kept me from every chance I had to get out of here, now I give up and you act like you wanna leave?!” 

“Amanda-”

“SHUT UP!” Amanda snaps. “SHUT THE ---- UP!” 

“Amanda you can’t do that!” 

“I can do whatever the ---- I want! Get out of my room!” Amanda screams. Wooly looks heartbroken.  

“But Amanda… I…” 

“Get. Out.” Amanda hisses. Wooly nods and leaves the room leaving the brush on the floor. “I just can’t trust him… not after what he did… always acting like everything’s fine. I don’t know what to do… Should I try?” Before Riley can type a response the tape fades out and Riley sees the credits on the screen. They faintly hear Amanda say: “For a second… I almost believed… I thought he was just like me… I almost forgot her… for a second… he almost made me forget her…” the Hameln jingle plays and the tape falls out. They hear a noise and turn around. It’s Amanda’s demon again, it has a nasty injury on its arm.

“You two got in a fight again, huh?” Riley sighs, softly as if they are coaxing a crying child, “Okay… I’ll get the first aid kit. You trust me?”

WOW A lot of lore for this tape... I'm going to be adding some made-up Riley lore to this story. Are we cool with that? They're allowed to have a life right? Got some Wooly lore... and maybe in the next tape we'll get to know more? BTW I'm changing the tape order again. Next is going to be "When Friends Drift Away..." you can check the new order on the masterpost or... the Amanda Fantapes Series Part 2... you might find a treat there...

Riley patched up the demon. It quickly ran away afterwards. Is it because Amanda trusts me now? Riley wonders. It’s confusing. Riley was certain that Amanda’s demon was afraid of the other one, whom Riley assumed belonged to Wooly. But Wooly’s is so violent. Riley thinks, shuddering as they remember Joanne. Wooly… I think he tends to bottle a lot of things up. He’s clearly trying to put on a brave face for Amanda… but I don’t think she likes being lied to… even if it’s for a good reason. Riley thinks to themselves. They pull out the newest tape. Amanda did not make this puzzle easy. I need to find all these tapes so Hameln doesn’t destroy them, but I can’t do that if they destroy me first… Riley puts the tape into the VCR and it plays. 

Amanda and Wooly are on a boat in the middle of a lake. Amanda sits there pouting while Wooly looks back and forth between us and her nervously. 

“Hi friends, I’m Wooly!” 

“And I’m Amanda.” she grumbled. 

“That just felt… so wrong.” 

“Shut up Wooly.” 

“Aww…” 

“Today we have another letter from a friend at home! This time it’s from… Esmerelda… Sanchez… dear Amanda and Wooly, I used to have a friend… We used to be really really close like… best friends. But then… she got adopted and moved far away… we talked on the phone every night… until I moved away and lost her number. Then I couldn’t find her again. I really really really miss her. Amanda, what do you do when friends drift away?” Amanda falls quiet. “Esme… I… remember you now…” 

“Amanda-”

“I used to have a lot of friends! But they’re all gone now! You know a lot of my friends used to watch my show, because I was on it, they said. They used to tell me it was so cool seeing me on tv! Haha! If any of them are still… alive… they’re probably all adults by now! So we aren’t friends anymore!” 

“I’m sure if you ran into them again you could still be friends.” 

“Nah… we’re totally different now. They grew up… and I didn’t.” She pauses, but before Wooly can say anything she says, “We probably would have totally different hobbies and stuff to talk about. Like totally different people! It’s fine!” 

“But that’s sad…” 

“Mmm… I guess… It can make you feel pretty lonely. But… I like to think of this little dream I used to have. That if everything went the way my dad wanted, one day years from then, even if we weren’t friends anymore… maybe she’d find some old tapes of the show at a yard sale or something and show them to her kids. Then she’d brag to them about how she used to be best friends with Amanda for real. Hey, maybe I’d be showing my kids this show to… if it were a project I could be proud of…” 

“And maybe… you would run into each other at the grocery store or something and become friends again. Li-like not the same as before… but like with your new hobbies and stuff it’d be like a brand new friendship all over again.” 

“Yeah, I like that idea.” Amanda giggles, “Thanks for the question Esme! I hope I see you again someday!” The credit song starts to play, then stops. “You didn’t think that was the end did you? Haha I wish! I’m still stuck on this dumb boat! With him!”

“Hey!” 

“It’s the worst possible place to end an episode on, what is this a horror-story?” Amanda groans, “it might as well be!” 

“Amanda! That’s not very nice!” 

“So we’re going fishing today! And Wooly’s the bait!” 

“Amanda, stop it!” 

“Maybe if we’re lucky he’ll get eaten by a shark. Nom-nom!” 

“AMANDA!” Wooly screams. The tape glitches. “UGH! What is your problem lately? Why is it that no matter what I do, things never go back to the way they used to?!”

“Oh gee, I don’t know Wooly? Maybe because it’s literally your fault?!” 

“WHAT DID I DO?!” 

“What did you do? What did you DO?! Heh heh… haha… that’s funny Wooly. Almost as funny as your stupid face!” she suddenly lunges at him but the tape glitches and stops her. “I ALMOST got my memories back! I almost got to talk to someone again! Someone I knew! Someone who knew me! And you messed it all up!”

“But you did get your memories right?” 

“Yeah. After Kate was DEAD!” Amanda screams. “And the worst part is she almost found a way for us to get out of here and you RUINED it!” 

“I-” 

“And then when I asked you how you knew we were going to escape, you had the NERVE to bring it up like it wasn’t your fault in the first place!” 

“Amanda I-” 

“So no Wooly, things will never go back to the way they used to!”

“I’m sorry! I just didn’t want to be alone again!” Wooly cries. 

“Wha-” 

“That day when we remembered we were human… we still didn’t know who we were or what was going on… just that we were trapped… I was… terrified… but you… even though you were surely scared too… you made me feel like everything was going to be alright… that no matter what things were going to turn out fine… that we were going to get out of here.” Wooly explains, gently stroking his right ear then moving over to the left, “But then this sinking feeling came over me. You would certainly get out of here… not me… I’d get left behind again… all alone in this stupid h---.” 

“Wooly…” 

“I didn’t want to remember that feeling… I didn’t want to let you go…” 

“Every time Kate said something that caused me to remember something you’d always change the subject, get back on topic with the episode. Every time I tried to call for help… you’d silence me…” 

“I’m sorry I was just… so scared… didn’t want to lose my first friend… but that was selfish of me. I know it was… I’m a horrible friend…” 

“You are.” 

“I deserve to be left here all alone…” 

“Wooly no on-” 

“Remember our first episode together? Hide and Seek? Remember what things were like back then?”

“Yeah… that was also the tape where… years later we first disco-” 

“I’m talking about the first time… you were outgoing and kind… always ready for an adventurer. And I was shy, awkward, and always hiding in your shadow. Trailing behind you like a baby duckling. Funny… since I’m supposed to be the older one.” Wooly chuckled, “I just wanted things to stay that way… stay the way they were then…” 

“Wooly-” 

“Just let me finish. Then you can choose to never listen to me again, okay? I was selfish… I know that now. I thought if I just played my part I could convince myself I was happy here. But that was wrong of me. I’m sorry… I don’t know if or how I’ll ever make it up to you but… I want you to know that I’m going to make sure you get out of here. Whether it takes us 2 months or 20 more years. I will find a way… to make it up to you… I will get you out of here… you will get out of here.” 

“We will get out of here.” Amanda corrects him, giving him a big hug. 

“Amanda?”

“Things won’t be the same as before. We’re different people now… but maybe… we can start all over again? Make a brand new friendship?” 

“Yeah… I’d like that.” Wooly said, accepting Amanda’s hug. She pulls away from the hug and pulls out her hand.

“Hi I’m Ama-” she pauses, “I’m Rebecca. Wanna be friends?” 

“It’s nice to meet you, Rebecca. I’m William. I’d love to be friends!” Wooly beams shaking her hand. They turn and notice the sunset over the horizon of the lake. “Hey you finally got to see your sunset!” 

“Yeah… I did…” Amanda sighs happily. The tape ends and falls out of the machine. 

Amanda and Wooly are friends now. That’s great. Riley thinks. Esmerelda Sanchez… she must’ve been one of Amanda’s old friends… Riley tried to type the name into their phone but stopped. It's not like I’d know which one was the right one… and then what? If she is alive she’s probably an adult by now just as Amanda said… Then they think about the other thing Amanda said: “the worst part is she almost found a way for us to get out of here and you RUINED it!” Riley wondered what this way out was. Well clearly it didn’t work… and Kate lost hope in that plan so… it’s probably not too useful but I wish I knew what it was… I’m glad those two are friends now… Amanda is going to need someone by her side if things go… south… Riley stops and looks at their texts. Three more tapes to go… I should probably start looking…

See, I had a feeling this tape would actually go better here. Amanda and Wooly might fare better if they make up now rather than later. I told you this episode was going to be better. And it seemed like you guys (the readers) needed this now.

I honestly find it more interesting to see Wooly as someone whose not evil but not in the right either. Wooly in the games could definitely be working for Hameln and still be morally grey. He could be doing it out of fear rather than loyalty.

Personally, in retrospect I don't really like when kids shows lead kids to believe that friendship is FOREVER. Sometimes friends really do just drift apart and go their own places in life. I tried to show both sides in this. That yes, some bonds can be repaired but others can't.

Since a lot of you are probably wondering, yes, Esme is actually still alive. But Amanda's probably never going to see her again and Amanda's okay with that. In fact, she sees it as something that would've happened regardless of whether she got trapped or not. It's just life.

Honestly, Amanda and Wooly's perspectives on this are supposed to parallel each other. Where Amanda is fine with letting her old friends go and accepting change, Wooly was absolutely terrified, and the more he tried to hold on, the more their relationship soured. He held on so tight he squeezed the life out of their friendship.

Okay… I found the Let’s Go Shopping tape rather quickly… I don’t have much time left… but there’s still two more tapes to go. Alright, no point in wasting time thinking about it. Let’s do this. Riley thinks, putting the new tape into the VCR. 

“Hi friends! I’m Amanda!” Amanda smiles and waves. 

“And I’m Wooly!” Wooly beams. 

“And today, we’re going grocery shopping!” 

“Yaaaay…” Wooly says unenthusiastically. 

“Come on Wooly, you can do better than that.” 

“But like… it’s grocery shopping! That’s boring grown up stuff.” 

“Yeah Wooly, boring grown up stuff.” Amanda grins. 

“I still don’t get it.” 

“We can pretend to be grown ups today!” 

“Oooh! Like doing taxes?” Wooly asks. Amanda gives him a look that is a mixture of confusion, disgust, bafflement, and annoyance. “What? Isn’t that like… the grown up thing of grown up things?” 

“Yeah, the one that not even grown ups like.”

“Well I don’t like grocery shopping so…” 

“Well we need to go grocery shopping. We don’t need to do taxes. We never do taxes.” 

“But taxes need to be done too…”

“HAMELN’S BEEN COMMITTING TAX EVASION FOR CENTURIES!” Amanda screams. 

“Amanda!” Wooly gasps. 

“It’s true! I walked by an accountants meeting in their office one time and I overheard them. There was this new guy and he asked when they were gonna start doing the taxes. And the other two accountants said they don’t. Never did never will. Ever. Well… they pay for the building. That’s it. A company tradition and apparently they’re proud of it.” Amanda shrugs. Wooly looks horrified. 

“You’re gonna get us in trouble!” Wooly hisses. 

“I don’t have in me to care anymore.” Amanda sighs. 

“If we’re being watched right now I just want to make it clear that I have been very well-behaved!” Wooly announces. “Please don’t torture me…” 

“Well-behaved?” Amanda laughs, “Wooly you got mad at our friend, went of script, Talked about things we weren’t supposed to talk about, talked about wanting to leave, swore, made a mess of the kitchen, destroyed the toy store, almost killed our friend-” 

“Those last few were accidents…” Wooly mumbles. 

“Doesn’t matter! The point is… you’ve become just as naughty as me Wooly.” Amanda announces proudly. “And that means if I’m getting in trouble for all the stuff I did, you are too.” 

“Oh no… oh no no no no no-” Wooly frets, covering his ears and shaking his head. 

“But they haven’t come for us yet right? And if they do, well it’s already too late so...” Amanda gives a silly look to the sky, sticking out her tongue.  

“Heh heh… and just what are you trying to say Amanda?” Wooly laughs nervously. 

“Join the dark side Wooly. Do it.” Amanda grins wickedly, leaning up against him, “You’re not a goody-two-shoes anymore.” 

“Awwww fine!” Wooly shouts, tugging on his ears, “the cooks in the cafeteria never wash their hands. I had- on multiple occasions- seen them in the bathroom and they’d just leave without doing it! Oh my gosh they’re gonna kill me.” Amanda is giving him a wide evil grin. 

“If it were me, I’d thank them! Now can we go shopping?” Amanda smirks, looking extremely proud of herself.

“Why did I do that why did I do that why did I-” 

 “We’re going shopping, come on.” Amanda announces, dragging an anxious mumbling Wooly behind her by the arm. “First things first. We have to get bacon from the butcher.” 

“NO!” Wooly snaps. “Come Amanda please… we don’t need bacon!”

“Well… we need chicken too…”

“We don’t need meat!” 

“Wooly I’m not giving up bacon.” 

“Please please please I don’t wanna go in there! Can’t I just stay outside?” 

“And make me go in there all alone? Me? Your partner in crime? Your best friend?” Amanda gives him the puppy dog eyes. 

“You’re the one who can’t give up bacon.” Wooly scoffs, rolling his eyes. 

“We’re going in there. Can you tell us where I can find the butcher?” Amanda asks. The butcher’s shop disappears. “Wooly. Put it back. Now.” 

“Fiiiiine.” Wooly groans. “Amanda, you're really brave. If it were just me here I would’ve given up on meat entirely.” The butcher’s shop reappears and Riley selects it. 

“Well good thing I’m here then huh?” Amanda points out, then her voice gets super-serious, “I want to be in and out of here as quickly as possible. I know you like to answer wrong on purpose to be funny but this time if you say anything wrong I. Will. END. You.” 

“Amanda…” 

“Let’s practice. I’m going to say: ‘Can you tell the meatman what we need?’ you’re going to say bacon. Ready? ‘Can you tell the meatman what we need?” Amanda prompts. Riley types in Wooly. 

“OH PEACHES NO! DON’T YOU DARE SAY THAT! SAY ANYTHING BUT THAT!” Wooly pleads. “I’D END YOU.” 

“Okay got the sillies out? Let’s try again. ‘Can you tell the meatman what we need?” Amanda prompts. Bacon. “Good. Then I’ll say, ‘Do we need anything else?’ and you’ll say chicken. Ready? ‘Do we need anything else?” Chicken. Riley types. “Great job! Now if you value your li- I mean- Our friendship you will say exactly that and nothing else.” 

“I don’t wanna go in there.” 

“Just don’t make eye contact and you’ll be fine.” 

“I’m closing my eyes…” Wooly says. Amanda and Wooly go to walk into the shop, Wooly walks into the wall. “Ow.” Amanda rolls her eyes, takes his hand and pulls him inside. 

“Hi meatman!” Amanda fake-smiles, “Can you tell the meatman what we need?” Bacon. “That’s right? Do we need anything else?” Chicken. “Great!” Amanda and Wooly stand there uncomfortably as the meatman pulls out what they need. Amanda looks more and more nervous by the second. Finally the meatman hands them their meat. “Thanks meatman.” Amanda smiles then immediately books it, “Oh phew. I am SO glad to be out there.” 

“Ama-Amanda, my hand hurts.” Wooly sputtered. Riley realizes that Amanda had been squeezing the life out of Wooly’s hand. 

“Oh I’m sorry.” Amanda replies quickly letting go. Wooly shakes it back into shape. Riley is surprised it isn’t broken. 

“Amanda… you really were scared… and you went in anyway… how did you do that?” 

“Honestly? I just don’t care anymore. If I’m going to have to live here I might as well LIVE here.” 

“You really have given up, huh?” 

“No. I will get out of this…” Amanda replies, she glances at Wooly and smiles. “We will get out of this.” Wooly nods and gives her a smile back. “Now let’s get the rest of the things on our list. Next we’ll need apples and peaches-” 

“But Amanda, you don’t like peaches…” Wooly points out then he gasps excitedly, flapping his hands, “WAIT DID YOU PUT THEM ON THE LIST FOR ME?”

“Don’t get used to it.” Amanda sighs, hiding a smile. 

“Can you tell us where the store is?” Wooly asks excitedly, jumping up and down. Riley clicks on the store. “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!” 

“I thought you didn’t like grocery shopping?” Amanda teases.

“LET’S GOOOOO!” Wooly beams. Amanda smiles and rolls her eyes. Now they are in the store. 

“Can you tell us where the apples are?” Amanda asks. Riley clicks on the apples. 

“Now the peaches! Now the peaches!” Wooly chants. Riley clicks on the peaches. 

“Now where is the bread?” Amanda giggles. Riley clicks on the bread that is sitting on the back shelf. “Great, I think that’s all we need!” The tape takes them back outside. 

 “Yay! Good job shopping with us today! We got everything we need!” 

“Say Amanda, we did such a good job, I think we deserve a special treat.” “Wooly, don’t push your luck.” Amanda smirks. 

“Come on Amanda please?” “We gotta stick to the budget!” Amanda teases. “We got bills to pay!”

“We don’t even have jobs!” Wooly whines. 

“We gotta pay our taxes!” 

“Hameln doesn’t even pay their taxes.” 

“Pfft. Okay Wooly, okay. We can get a special treat.” 

“Yay!” 

“Can you tell us where the candy store is?” Amanda asks. Riley clicks on the candy store and they go inside. 

“Ooooh! Look at all the candy!” Wooly gasps. “It all looks so yummy! I don’t know what to choose! Haha! Look Amanda, this lollipop is as big as my face!”

“Grow up Wooly.” Amanda laughs. Wooly looks a little sad. “Fine, we’ll get the big lollipops.” His face lights up and they leave the store. Amanda is looking at her shopping list glumly while Wooly is trying to fit the giant lollipop in his mouth… somehow. 

“How do you even eat something so big?” he wonders. He breaks off a piece, sticks it in his mouth and sucks on it. 

“You lick it dummy.” Amanda explains. 

“Really? I always just put the whole thing in my mouth and bit it.” Wooly replies, looking up at her with a completely dead-serious look. Amanda decides not to comment on that. She watches as Wooly licks his lollipop, clearly enjoying it. She looks at her own and gives a weak smile. 

“I wish we could grow up for real.” she sighs. Wooly stops. 

“But… we will. Someday.” Wooly says thoughtfully. 

“Yeah… someday…” The Hameln jingle plays, signifying the tape’s end. Riley quickly solved the puzzle that went with it… and… finally, Riley had found the last two tapes hidden in this building. Now if I wanna get out of here alive I better book it. They thought, stuffing the tapes into their bag. They look at their phone again. They send a message: I have something I need to talk to you about… can I come over? No going back now… they think. They take one last look back at the building. They think about what Kate said. About not watching the tapes about how it was all hopeless. They thought about Amanda and Wooly… who felt completely abandoned in the world. How would Amanda feel if she’d known Kate had given up? I’m pretty sure she thinks Kate put me up to this… that’s part of why she trusts me… she trusts me. Both of them trust me. I’m sorry Kate… I have to do this. They need me. They think, then they leave the building behind.

Authors note: (probably should start labeling this part huh lol)

Ya ain’t supposed to mate