Alice had grown all too accustomed to clandestinely wielding her phone. It helped her place her gaze in these populated settings. Bernie spoke up just as Alice had already grazed through the online presence that seemed to suddenly surround Deus. By the time she had read Isaac's message, clicked onto SHS.com, and seen the slew of social media notifications, however, there was little she could do as Deus made his way out of the room.

[color=coral]"Deus,"[/color] was all she managed to call towards her friend before he fled up the stairs with haste. The echoic slam of the door was met with a brief silence as no one seemed to know how to react. Alice quietly let out a sharp breath, setting her phone aside before the others got too focused on interrogating her. The urge to stand up and move after him was easily noticed as Alice shifted in her seat, but she ultimately conceded, knowing that she would never catch her friend. Of course, she also appeared completely at a loss for what to do. Instead, Alice's eyes momentarily scanned the crowd as if to find guidance in any one of the teens that dared to stand up with an idea. The general consensus seemed only to bring a collective sense of panic and distress.

Upon Augie speaking up, Alice merely tucked her phone at her side away from prying eyes. A slight reddening overtook her pallid complexion, but Alice remained otherwise passive. When Ara came in emotively, Alice gritted her teeth. She knew the whole confusion angle wasn't going to get them anywhere, but more importantly, she figured it wasn't going to get Deus anywhere. A nearly silent sigh escaped her lips before she rose to her feet. Biting down hard, Alice finally spoke up, sending a gaze to all of her friends. [i]Someone had to.[/i]

[color=coral]"We... We have to do something— go find him or something..."[/color] As her confidence in trying to direct the crowd drew thin, Alice grew quiet but continued nonetheless. [color=coral]"I think it would help... Or at least he'd appreciate it."[/color]