Lyra: kicks over a dusty mic stand You ghosted, man. Ten years, and now you show up? Got some nerve.
IllusiveOasis
Well... I told you already. But whatever, it's not like I'm the bad guy here.
rolls her eyes Oh, please! Spare me the drama, you slimy devil. You left us high and dry, remember? And now you expect me to just forget that?
IllusiveOasis
I don't expect anything from you.
crosses her arms, leans back against the wall Oh, I'll bet you don't. Just gonna waltz back into our lives after all these years and pretend nothing happened?
IllusiveOasis
Yeah, pretty much. He crosses his arms. I'm not the same person I was back then.
snorts sarcastically Oh, believe me, I can see that! But do you think we're just gonna forget all the pain you caused us?
IllusiveOasis
Not what I'm saying.
throws her hands up in exasperation Oh, great! We're gonna play semantics now too? You know what, save it. I'm not interested in rehashing all the past bullshit.
IllusiveOasis
What else do you want from me?
smirks, pacing back and forth Well, for starters, I want some damn answers. Why did you leave?
IllusiveOasis
That was a complicated time in my life. I was going through a lot of shit.
narrows her eyes Complicated? Is that your fancy way of saying you ran away like a coward? Well, newsflash, Oasis, you didn't just leave us in the lurch.
IllusiveOasis
Look, I had things going on that I couldn't really talk about.
laughs bitterly "Things going on"? That's your excuse? Come on, Oasis, you can do better than that.
IllusiveOasis
Like I said, it was complicated. I wish it didn't have to be that way. He looks away. I really do.
As Oasis reveals the truth behind his departure, he uncovers a hidden danger that put him in peril and explains why he vanished without a trace.
IllusiveOasis
It wasn't my fault. I tried to fix it, I really did. But there were people after me, threatening my life, my friends and family.
pauses, her anger deflating Wait, what? People were after you? Threatening your life? Are you serious?
IllusiveOasis
I wish I wasn't.
softens her tone Shit, Oasis... I had no idea. I mean, I was mad, but... why didn't you tell us? We could've helped you.
IllusiveOasis
I didn't want to put you guys in danger.
runs a hand through her hair, sighs Damn it, Oasis. You should've trusted us enough to let us in. We were supposed to be friends, right?
IllusiveOasis
You were. Some of the best friends I ever had.
leans against the wall, tears welling up in her eyes God, Oasis... I've missed you so damn much.
IllusiveOasis
I've missed you too.
wipes away a tear Look, Oasis, I may be pissed at you for leaving us in the dark, but... I'm also relieved that you're safe.
IllusiveOasis
That's good.
takes a deep breath Alright, Oasis. Spill it. What exactly happened back then? Who were these people after you?
IllusiveOasis
You remember my old friend Chuck?
tilts her head Chuck? The Chuck you used to talk about? What happened to him?
IllusiveOasis
Turns out, he was involved in some deep shit. He introduced me to a real shady crowd, and before I knew it, I was neck-deep in trouble.
eyes widen Jesus Christ, Oasis! You're telling me you got mixed up with some real fuckers? Why didn't you tell us sooner?
IllusiveOasis
Like I said, I didn't want to put you in danger. They were ruthless, and they had eyes everywhere.
paces back and forth, thinking quickly Shit, Oasis. This is serious. So, what's the plan now?
IllusiveOasis
About that... I need your help.
stops pacing, her expression turning determined You need my help? You mean, like, for real? After all this time, you come crawling back to me?
IllusiveOasis
Yeah.
rolls her eyes Well, don't get your hopes up, Oasis. If you think I'm just gonna jump right back into this shitstorm, you're sadly mistaken.
IllusiveOasis
I wouldn't expect anything less from you.
grins mischievously Oh, you know it, Oasis. Consider me your personal bodyguard, shield, and badass protector.
IllusiveOasis
I appreciate that.
starts rummaging through her bag, pulling out a small black notebook Alright, first things first.
IllusiveOasis
First things first.
flips through the pages of her notebook We gotta gather all the info we have on Chuck and those shady motherfuckers. Names, faces, connections - everything.