You can't get in.

I really hope Helen knows what to do about all of this. Between Maria disappearing and whatever was up with that Angela woman, I could use her help. I'm in no state to figure out what's going on myself, and even if I was, Helen is much better at that kind of stuff than me anyway. I hurry up and make my way to the Student Center in the hopes that she'll be able to fix everything.

On my way over, I start thinking about Helen's plan again. Will we still be able to go through with it without Maria? We can't exactly wait around to come up with a whole 'nother plan to save Maria so that she can help us save Violet...

Thinking about Violet again suddenly makes me start thinking about Skye. I can't believe such a seemingly nice person could cause all this. She was so sweet when we first met her. Maybe we have it all wrong. Maybe she's not behind this. I mean, how could she be? A perfect woman like her could never hurt anyone. And even if she did, I'm sure she would have a good reason to.

Wait, what the fuck?! Did I seriously just try to convince myself that Skye isn't the one responsible for **** Violet? What is wrong with me? This stupid Wild Card Virus is the worst!

For some reason, my brain latches onto Skye as the subject of my latest fantasies. All of those romantic ideas I've had throughout the day with various woman suddenly all involve her. The candlelit dinners, the picnics, the lovemaking, all of it. No matter what I do, I can't seem to shake the image of her out of my mind. I've never been so lovestruck, aroused, and frustrated all at the same time.

I'm starting to legitimately wonder if I'm even capable of saving Violet right now. Even if I didn't somehow lose Maria along the way, would I really be able to go against Skye in this state? Every time I think about her, my heart feels like it's about to explode. Just another thing to talk about with Helen, I guess. Thankfully, it looks like I've finally made it to her office. I walk up to the door, grab the handle, and-

Huh? I said that I walk up to the door, grab the handle, and-

As I try to turn the handle, I'm shocked to find that it won't move. I rattle it around a few more times, but the door won't open. Did Helen lock the door? Thinking that this must just be some kind of safety measure, I reach up and knock on the door. I wait for about thirty seconds, but nothing happens. Now I'm starting to worry. I knock a second time, a bit louder.

"Helen? Are you in there? It's me, Matt," I add.

I wait... Nothing. Don't tell me that Helen's gone too... I press my ear against the door to see if I can hear something. The sound is a bit muffled, but I hear what I'm pretty sure is Helen's voice. It kind of sounds like she's talking to someone, but I can't tell what she's saying. So that means she is in there. Then why is the door locked?

"Helen! What are you doing? You told me to be here at noon. We need to talk," I call to her from outside as I knock again. Still no response. It's at this point that I start to panic. "Helen, you're freaking me out. You know I hate to order you around, but you're not leaving me much choice. As your boss, I'm telling you to stop what you're doing and open this door right now."

Come on, Helen... Please... I need you. I wait on bated breath as I'm once again met with silence. A feeling of terror starts to come over me. Why isn't she listening to me? She's never blatantly ignored me before. I'm sure she's in there, so what gives? I look down and realize that my hands have started to shake. I try to get them to stop, but I can't. I'm overcome with a sense of dread that I don't fully understand. Something is very wrong.

Suddenly, I hear an odd noise coming from the door. I look down at the floor and notice a piece of paper slide out into the hallway. However, that's all that happens. The door doesn't open or even unlock. I don't get a single word of confirmation that someone heard me. Not sure what else to do, I bend over and pick the paper up off the ground. When I do, I notice that there's a something written on it.

You need to leave. I can't help you anymore. I'm sorry and good luck.

I start to tremble even more as I read the note. This is Helen's handwriting. What does she mean? What's going on? I desperately want to ask her for more information, but something tells me that I shouldn't. Clearly she doesn't want me to stay here. I flip the paper over to see more written on the back, except this part isn't in Helen's handwriting... it's in mine. This is the paper I used to write down the list of addresses at yesterday's meeting. The potential locations of Skye's apartment. Did she give this to me on purpose?

I have so many questions, but I just can't stop rereading her words. "You need to leave." Helen doesn't just say stuff like that. This must be serious. As much as it pains me to go without knowing the full story, I promised Helen I would trust her. With that in mind, I fold up the paper and stick it in my pocket. Something tells me I should hold onto it. I take a step away from her office, but hesitate slightly. I look back at the door, still feeling uneasy. Taking a deep breath, I try to compose myself as I walk further down the hall. Not knowing where else to go, I decide to just head back to my house and hope that I can get in touch with Helen later.

As I sit alone on the bus, I suddenly feel a strange sense of... peace. It's a little odd given how much has happened today. It takes me a moment to realize what exactly the feeling is, but then it hits me: it's... quiet. And I don't mean on the bus. It's always quiet on the bus. I mean in my head. No more fantasies cropping up. No more romantic urges. And best of all, no more feelings of love for Skye. Rose's fetish must have changed. Which means I'm cured. Thank god. Despite all the worry I still have about Maria and Helen, I breath a sigh of relief. It feels like this is the first thing that's gone right today.

Now that I can actually concentrate again, I decide to take another look at Helen's note. It now occurs to me that Helen doesn't tend to do things without a good reason. Because of that, it was likely a very conscious decision to write her note on the back of the address list. She must have wanted me to have it. It's a good thing I was smart enough to keep it, despite my condition. But why did she want to give it to me in the first place? Surely she doesn't expect me to continue without her. Her note does say that she can't help me anymore, but I'm still not sure what that means. Or at least, I hope I'm misinterpreting what it might mean. Just the thought makes me more stressed out. Whatever's going on with Helen, I hope she's alright.

Getting off the bus, I find the next surprising sight of the day as I make it home. Julia and Liz are coming out of the house just as I arrive. Julia is carrying a couple bag, while Liz walks beside her on all fours. I watch with intrigue as Julia goes over to Liz's car and starts loading the bags into the trunk. Confused, I walk over to her before she can get in the drivers seat.

"Hey, Julia. Where are you two going?" I ask as I watch my sister open the back door. A moment later, Liz hops up into the car and lets her daughter strap her in.

"Sorry, Matt. No time to talk. We've gotta go," Julia responds as she tries to get around me.

"Now hold on a second." Without thinking, I reach out and grab Julia by the wrist. As soon as I make contact with her, she violently pulls away from me.

"Hey! Don't touch me! Only Mommy is allowed to touch me!" She screams.

Instantly, I freeze up.

"W-what? Mommy?" I mumble, unsure if I really want an answer.

"Uh, yeah. You know, the one who owns us? Where do you think we're going on? It's kind of hard to spend time with Mommy if we stay here."

It seems that that's all the explanation that Julia is willing to give as she gets into the car and starts the engine. I know I've asked this like a million times today, but what the hell is going on? Why is everyone acting so weird? Is the Random Remote busted or something? Maybe I should check it to see if I can get some insight into why these two are acting so strangely.

I reach into my pocket and pull out-

Wait... what...?

I don't think my heart has ever sunk as far as it did when I put my hand into my pocket just now. I feel a tidal wave of anxiety crash against me out of nowhere. I reach into my other pocket, only to find my phone and Helen's note. I frantically start patting myself down, desperately hoping that I feel something. Anything. But no. The remote is gone.

I watch as Julia and Liz pull out of the driveway and leave, unable to do anything to stop them. Suddenly, the pieces start to come together. Julia not recognizing me as her owner, Helen saying she can't help me, Maria not coming when I called her. If I don't have the remote... than does that means I'm not it's owner anymore?

Hold on... Julia said she and Liz were going to see someone she referred to as "Mommy." She even mentioned that mentioned that they belonged to that person. Does that mean someone else has the remote. But who...?

...

Angela.

She must have somehow managed to take the remote while I wasn't paying attention. Is that why she was trying to seduce me or whatever the hell that was. Shit! I... I had no idea! I was too distracted because of Rose's Wild Card stuff. I was so out of it that I must not have noticed her slipping it out of my pocket! That feeling of dread I felt standing outside of Helen's office suddenly magnifies. If Julia and Liz aren't under my control anymore, than that means... Oh no...

I run up to the house and burst through the front door. I'm immediately greeted by a deafening silence.

"Rose? Michelle? Bianca? Is anyone here?" I cry out.

No. No, no, no! Shit! GOD FUCKING DAMMIT! NO! They can't all be gone! I feel myself start to lose it. Tears roll down my face as I begin to hyperventilate. **** for any little shred of hope I can get, I start searching the entire house for any sign that might point to someone still being here. I check the kitchen. No one. The backyard. No one. I run upstairs and start going through the bedrooms. Julia's. No. Liz's. No. Michelle's. N-

I do a double take as I look into Michelle's room. I gasp at the sight of my oldest sister. She's not wearing any clothes as she paces around the room in frenzy. She glances over her shoulder and takes a sharp inhale of her own at the sight of me. To my surprise, she instantly drops down to her knees.

"M-Master. I'm so sorry. I didn't hear you come in. It's just... uh..." Michelle tries to explain as her voice starts to quiver.

"Y-you're... why are you still...?" I whisper under my breath. Michelle then looks up at me with tears in her eyes, not unlike my own.

"Everyone decided to leave out of nowhere and they wouldn't tell me why. What's going on, Master?"