But it was Laurence, the twin who'd questioned Lazy_Nerd, who broke the silence with a skeptical question.
He stopped spinning his pen and leaned forward. "Why don't you go in yourself? You wrote Crown of Glory, so you know every plot twist, every danger, every chance at survival. Seems like you're the most qualified for the job."
A shadow flickered across Lazy_Nerd's face, and he looked down, almost ashamed.
"I can't. During the ritual, they used me as the anchor between the worlds. If I ever set foot in Crown of Glory, I'll be trapped there permanently… and anyone else who crosses over would be stranded with me."
The gravity of his situation settled over the group. Laurence leaned back in his chair, eyebrows raised, the weight of the task beginning to dawn on him and his twin.
Lizzie, who had been quiet since Desmond's words, shook her head, resting her chin on her hand. "I need some time to think this over."
Lazy_Nerd's eyes widened, a note of urgency slipping into his voice. "I don't think that's a good idea. If you don't enter Crown of Glory within the next hour, you'll lose the chance to prevent the destruction of our world."
The immediacy of his words struck a nerve in Lizzie, chipping away at the calm she'd been struggling to maintain. An uneasy silence spread through the room, the pressure of the decision weighing on each of them.
"That… that's insane." Laurence's voice broke the silence, his disbelief palpable as he stared at Lazy_Nerd. "How do you expect us to make a decision that might cost us our lives in just an hour?"
His mind raced, torn between the responsibility being thrust upon him and the harsh reality that he hadn't even decided what he'd study when he got to college, let alone the course of his life.
Lazy_Nerd looked down, his voice tinged with regret. "I know it's terrible, and I'm truly sorry. But this is the only way you can save me… and everyone else."
He glanced at each of the four teenagers, his eyes pleading. "The passageway to Crown of Glory is already open. Every moment it stays that way, time passes in the novel.
If you don't enter now, Parker will have a head start. And if he kills the final antagonist first, the chaos in this world will be unstoppable."
He forced a chuckle, shaking his head. "If none of you agree, then I have no choice but to enter myself—even if it costs me my life."
The group went silent, each of them wrestling with the reality of his words. Desmond, who had been rhythmically drumming his fingers on the table, paused.
"This all sucks," he muttered, his tone resigned but steady. "But I'm in. The world's given me a little bit of entertainment, so I might as well give it a shot at survival."
Laurence stared at him, clearly unsettled. "You need to think this through, man. We're going in with our actual bodies. If you die in there, that's it."
A mix of curiosity and concern flashed through his mind. How bad is Desmond's life that he's willing to throw himself into danger this easily?
Looking at Desmond, the quiet and observant Lucas nodded his head. He hoped Desmond might reconsider his decision and weigh the consequences more carefully.
Desmond met Laurence's gaze, unflinching, he said, "we'll be dead either way if the atrocities from the novel step into reality, so why not take a gamble. A chance to die in the world of Crown of Glory, or a certainty to die in a few days' time."
He then turned to Lucas, the quiet twin who had been observing everything, his expression unreadable. "What about you? Can't you speak?"
Lucas hesitated, then shook his head slightly.
Desmond raised an eyebrow, amused. "Is that a 'no, I can't speak,' or a 'no, I can speak'?"
Laurence stepped in, smiling awkwardly. "It's the latter. He can speak, but… he doesn't know how to answer."
He glanced at his brother, then back to Desmond. "And even if the world's ending, isn't that all the more reason to spend our last moments with friends and family?"
He's passive, Desmond thought, assessing Laurence's attitude. The kind who reacts to everything, but never takes the first step.
With a sigh, he answered Laurence's hesitation. "Think about it. You can spend a few safe days with your family, knowing it'll all end… or risk your life for a chance to have years with them."
Lazy_Nerd watched them, his gaze heavy with guilt and hope. He didn't press them further, understanding all too well the gravity of his own mistake.
If they refused, he was ready to sacrifice himself to close the passage and prevent any disaster from spilling over.
But deep down, he hoped these young readers might just be willing to gamble with fate—for the sake of two worlds.
As Desmond and Laurence continued their back-and-forth, Lizzie sat lost in thought, weighing their words. The idea of facing the unknown terrified her, but the thought of waiting for the world to end was even worse.
A few days isn't enough, she thought, flashes of joyful memories with her parents and older sister filling her mind.
She raised her head, her gaze sharp, her expression resolute. "I'm in."
Desmond's eyes widened, surprised by her determination. He hadn't expected Lizzie, who always seemed so critical, to make her choice so quickly.
Dad was right, he thought to himself. The hardest thing in the world to predict is a human being.
Lazy_Nerd looked at the twins, a mix of hope and understanding in his eyes. "You two are the only ones left. Whatever you decide, I'll understand," he said gently.
Laurence glanced at Lucas, who nodded in silent agreement, his steady gaze giving his answer without words. Sighing, Laurence turned back to Lazy_Nerd. "We're in."
A small, relieved smile crossed Lazy_Nerd's face. "Thank you. Thank you all—for giving us a fighting chance."
He sat on the chair behind him before speaking.
"Alright, let's go over the plan before you head into Crown of Glory. When you arrive, you'll each be given identities that will allow you to blend seamlessly into that world.
You'll have families, friends, maybe even relationships, but you'll still be your current age."
"That could be a problem," Desmond interjected, his tone uneasy. The thought of calling strangers "Mom" or "Dad" didn't sit well with him.
Lizzie quickly agreed. "Desmond's right. I don't want to end up with some dumb boyfriend all of a sudden."