Polyamorous Hell | CreepCast

26:38This includes sinks, bathtubs, and showers. 4. Under no circumstances is anyone 18 years or older permitted to use any kind of elevator after 9pm. 5. Under no circumstances is anyone 18 years or older permitted to share their rule with people under the age of 18. so you can't do things related to the water can't watch tv and you can't use an elevator yeah and that was it honestly expected more but was relieved there wasn't too many that i would have to memorize they were weird sure but nothing that i wouldn't be able to do after rereading the new rules i put the paper down art hammering as i took my slip wanting to get it over with.

27:23I opened it, to which a single name was printed. Avery. That's a fine name. It's not, it's not Ternk or anything. You're okay. I read and reread the name several times. Avery, Avery, Avery. I racked my brain for people I knew named Avery. There was a girl in my history class and maybe one who I had pre-calc with a few years ago. Before I could wonder further, Caitlin's voice cut me off. What's the name? She said to which I handed it to her. It passed from her to my mother then my father. Avery, nice name. My dad said handing my slip back to me. Chatter resumed between my parents and Caitlin while my mind was whirring.

28:05Some things made more sense now like why I never saw adults kayaking in the river like I saw them do in other cities. I told myself for a long time that once I got my slip that I wouldn't focus too much on it but my mind kept coming back to the name that was burned into my mind Avery. I still had to go to school and got ready while Caitlin went out to reconnect with some high school friends. I ignored my text asking what the name on my slip was referring to have the conversation in person. My friends were waiting for me at the bus stop eagerly. There was Jennifer who was usually pretty quiet and who I'd known since preschool.

28:42There was Joseph who was a bit of a daredevil and a jock who I'd met during my freshman year. Lastly, there was Charles and Sophia, twins who were never separated and who I'd bonded for his sophomore year over our love for horror movies. Looking at us as a group looked weird, but we worked and we had fun with each other. I was bombarded with the same question as I got close to them. Whose name did you get? Avery? I said, the first time I had actually said the name. It sounded nice coming out of my mouth. It sounded right. My friends nodded, followed by a moment of silence that meant they were all trying to think of Avery's that we knew.

29:18Isn't there a chick in your history class named Avery? Joseph offered, and I nodded. Yeah, I'm trying not to think about it too much. I don't want to become one of those people who become obsessed with it. I said, although the name was really all I could think about. My friends dropped it after that, all except Joseph. He would chime in every few minutes, rattling off girls that he knew, all with the name Avery. He was still talking about it as the bus came and as we walked up to school. He really didn't have an off button, which meant that I was left to try and tune him out, nodding my head in agreement every few minutes.

29:52As the school day went on, I couldn't help but wonder if each Avery I came across was my soulmate. Somehow though, none of the girls I came across felt right. Everything else aside, the school day went pretty smoothly. People wished me happy birthday in the halls, occasionally asking who I got on my slip. After school, I still had time before I had to head home and start working on homework. so as usual I met outside the school with my friends. The day had gotten progressively hotter as it went on and by the time school was let out it had reached the point of uncomfort. Most of my friends were already waiting for me.

30:25As I got closer they were already in conversation. Paul's hot man. We should go claim a spot by the river before it gets too crowded. Joseph was saying to which my other friends nodded in agreement. The river he was referring to was the biggest in the city, almost cutting it in half. It was a popular hangout spot and my friends and I had been going there for ages. But now my throat felt tight and my friends had turned 18 yet. I had an extra year of preschool when I was a kid. They didn't know the new rules. Something funny. It's just funny to justify that. None of them are 18 and that's just because I had an extra year of preschool for a deal so it's not weird that I'm older.

31:04It's just they're just my younger friends. That doesn't make me weird or different or anything. Avery is the love of my life. It is perfectly normal for someone to want to speak like this.

31:19When you were talking, it became Dan Shapiro in my mind.

31:26The relationship I have with Trunk. Or not Trunk. What was it? Terk. Terk. My beautiful baby's name is Terk. Terk Brownie. she's the love of my life and i will not hear anything else of it i was hoping that if i got the ball rolling you would pick up with the bitch shapiro turned thank you oh one of the rules said i wasn't allowed to tell them did that mean i also couldn't hint at it um i'm not sure if i'm feeling the river today i said trying to sound as nonchalant as possible okay the dialogue some of the, like the verbiage choices in this story are really testing us right now. We're being very good for not, I feel like I'm, I feel like I'm floating outside of my body.

32:16This is becoming a religious experience for me. Yeah. Like I'm trying to be nonchalant using erm unironically or like the, the dad chimed in using the same like phrases over and over. Yeah. I'm pretty young and spotty too. you girls stay away from me I'll get in trouble you boys don't know how good you have it you have no idea you better save for this because life only gets worse I think you said mine was your soulmate sure these are the best years of your life remember that it'll never get any better than this it'll never get any better than right now fuck

33:03are you crazy it's like 90 degrees out here Jennifer said raising her eyebrows not wanting to act suspicious I decided that I would go but I wouldn't go in under any circumstances all right let's go but I can't stay long I have my birthday dinner with Caitlin and my parents I said to which Joseph pumped his fist why did he pump his fist oh oh we're going for the river I see. I see. Yeah. I thought he was doing it over the mention of Caitlin. I'm like, it was Joseph. Yeah.

33:37What about your dad, man? All right, boys. Stop.

33:45He's just there with them all of a sudden. All right. Who called the pied piper? You could hear my flute from a mile away. Couldn't you? Okay. I'll get out of here. I'll get out of here Alright fine I'll be in the bushes again If you need me Just call

34:03Dad get out of here He's like a real chummy Child predator type God Jesus That was what you're saying No no no Okay alright He just thinks he's cool He just thinks he's like a catch It's wholesome Okay Relief that no one seemed To suspect anything We set off towards the river There were a couple other families there with kids playing in the shallow water and the parents sitting safely on the edge. I took a few even breaths to remind myself that I was fine and that I would stay on the shore. Jennifer and Joseph were the first to the river, instantly pulling up their jeans and taking off their socks and shoes as they dipped them into the river, sighing with relief that the cool water provided from the hot weather.

34:47I desperately wanted to be there with them, swimming in the river and enjoying the nice weather, but the rules were very clear. I sighed, sitting down a few feet away from the water. my legs out in front of me, watching as my friends splashed each other with the water. I just had to hold out until they had their birthdays, and then I wouldn't have to make excuses. I could handle a few more months. Oi! Come on, birthday boy, get in the water! There you go. See, it's got to be British, right? What's the oi? The oi is what got me, right? Yeah, the oi. That's what I'm saying. The presence of oi, it's got to be.

35:22No way. Charles yelled, splashing water in my direction as he was ankle deep in it a few feet away from where it dropped off into the deeper waters i smiled shaking my head as i adjusted my legs to make myself more comfortable now i'll be the one to drive you guys to the hospital when you get hypothermia

35:45nah nah i'll be the one to drive you guys to the hospital when you get hypothermia nah I'll be the one to drive you guys to the hospital when you get hypothermia nah it's cool I'll be the one to drive you guys to the hospital when you get hypothermia

36:09I yelled back to which I could see his eyes roll from there hearing your friends say the same thing four times four times ah we can't have that Joseph called waiting back to where I was I command the birthday boy to get hypothermia with the rest of us Joseph said smirking as he approached me gosh this story is nah I'll be the one to drive you guys to the hospital when you get hypothermia

36:46I felt a trickle of unease as he approached me

36:52a trickle nah I'll be the one to drive you guys to the hospital when you have malaria hey Joseph seriously you gotta back up man that trickle is it's going down my back I'm trickling down I'm trickling down the side of my leg right now my legs are getting real trickled right now. I stood up to move away, but just then he swooped down and picked me up over his shoulder. All right. Give me a little flustered. You look just like your dad. Joseph, what are you talking about? Did you say my name again?

37:38You look just like your dad. Put me down, Joseph. Joseph put me down put me down remember Joseph I'm the one that drives you to the hospital nah

37:54I'll drive you to the hospital Jesus stop saying that you remind me of your dad

38:08yeah I guess he is a spitting image of me huh

38:16there's just way too many like character stereotypes being mentioned back to back like it's it's begging us to do something to make fun of it joseph played for the football team and i always admired his strength this was the first time i was afraid of it that's on what do you mean by that you mean by your mind joseph stop put me down i yelled panic rising in my voice struggling to escape his arms as he was carrying me to the water. Does he just have him like one armed over his side? Yeah, I think so. My heart pounded wildly in my chest. Its rising fear crept up my throat. He outmatched me in size and strength.

38:58My struggles were fruitless. I'm serious, Joseph. Put me the fuck down. I yelled to which he gave a little laugh. You're always so serious, Theo. Loosen up. Live a little. He replied, and I could see he was in the water now, waiting further in. I looked at my friends, wide-eyed. They were giggling like it was a joke. They had no idea. As he got closer to the drop-off, I struggled harder, hitting him on the shoulders. I wasn't weak by any standards, but Joseph was built like an ox, almost all muscle. Fear closed my throat so tightly, I couldn't breathe. Come on, everyone, in the water! He said, motioning his head to my friends, who obliged, standing on the edge of the drop.

39:42All right, on three, we'll all jump in together. He put his hands on my waist, and I knew what was coming. One, two. Started rocking back and forth. Joseph, stop! Stop! I yelled, punching him harder, but it didn't make any difference. Three! I heard the splashes of my friends jumping in just as I was launched a few feet into the air. I didn't know what to expect. I shut my eyes tightly as images rapidly flashed through my mind. I saw myself at my ninth birthday party, saw myself applauding at Caitlin's graduation. Rapid images threw out my life flash before me. Was my life flashing before my eyes?

40:21It felt like an eternity before I hit the water. Your eyes are flashing before your eyes because you're breaking a rule. Jumping into the water. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. I hit the water hard, the cold water stinging every part of my body. I got hypothermia and someone had to drive me to the hospital. Nah. Nah.

40:46The wind knocked out of me, but since nothing else happened immediately, I thought, fleetingly, that I was fine. I was wrong. Felt like a giant vacuum was at the bottom of the river, sucking me towards it. I thrashed in the water, desperately trying anything to prevent myself from getting sucked deeper. I had been swimming in the deep part of the river before, and one summer my friends and I actually measured how deep it was, and I knew well enough that I was being pulled far beyond that. I was running out of air, and my panicked state wasn't helping the situation. Whatever was down there started to pull me faster, as if whatever it was could sense my desperation.

41:22My chest felt tight as I could no longer hold my breath. my body started to go limp when suddenly I was falling. I was no longer in water and I took a gasp of breath, sputtering out of the water that had managed to get in my mouth for my surprise. I was so relieved to be breathing again that it took a minute to realize I was falling rapidly through the air. Darkness surrounded me. Through my confused day state, I couldn't make out what was around me. A few seconds later, for the second time that day, my body hit water again. Hard. Once again, I had the wind knocked out of me, and I could feel myself sinking.

42:00I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. I didn't have the energy to panic. My eyes closed. I didn't know what I was supposed to think about. I didn't want my last thoughts before death to be wasted. It was during these last thoughts that suddenly, something pulled me away from them. Literally. I could feel something grabbing the back of my shirt, pulling me upwards, towards the surface. Confusion swept me as a moment later, I felt myself being heaved out of the water, being roughly set down on something hard, something solid. I gasped, coughing and sputtering as water dripped off of me. I shakily pushed myself onto my hands and knees, trying to get my breathing under control.

42:41My thoughts moving at the speed of light. I felt oddly lightheaded, my body drained and exhausted. I wanted to look around for my savior, but I couldn't. my vision had started to go black as my exhausted body finally collapsed someone was shaking me awake my first fleeting thought that it was my mom telling me i was going to be late for school then i remembered it was just a dream told myself just a dream you'll open your eyes and mom is going to wish you a happy birthday tell you you're going to be late for school someone shook me harder. I opened my eyes. It was not my mom. It was a boy who looked around my age with dark, messy hair who was looking at me with two dark blue concerned eyes, who looked relieved as I opened my eyes.

43:29Good, you're awake. Come on, we need to move. He said quickly. Looking behind him, confusion clouded my mind. Who are you and where am I? I said, trying to keep the fear out of my voice the boy looked back at me my name's avery i can explain everything later but we really have to go my breath caught in my throat avery avery avery oh shit kind of a fun way to find out you're gay okay yeah so apparently the state made him gay the government state forced homosexuality okay i guess i'm cool with that uh all right this is this is truly a british horror story what if the government yeah what if the government made you gay what if my government made me gay and i i didn't have any say in it i that's just how it is and i have to do it What do they expect me to do?

44:31What if I was forced to do this? I don't like Avery like that. I don't want to button up his trousers no more. Part 2 In school, we had learned about the five stages of grief. Stages come into effect whenever a person experiences something unpleasant. This means a variety of things, from losing a loved one or going through a traumatic experience. Your brain goes through these five stages to protect you and help you cope. First is shock and denial. People usually experience numbness, both physically and emotionally. It's typical for people on this stage to ask repeated questions. More often, questions that they already know the answer to, but their brain refuses to believe.

45:12I was no exception. That dark-haired boy was still speaking, although his words landed on deaf ears. For the person he was trying to talk to was currently going through the first stage of grief. Your name is Avery? I interrupted, my voice quiet, butt-cutting as I pushed myself up into a sitting position, feeling uncomfortable laying on my back. Boyd looked at me, exasperated and annoyed as he realized that this was the only piece of information I gleaned from his words. Yes, my name is Avery. Did you get any of what I just said? He asked as his eyebrows furrowed, irritation leaking into his voice.

45:51An embarrassed flush crept up my face as I dropped my eyes. um some of it i mumbled my face so hot that i was sure that he could feel the heat radiating off of me i could hear the small side that he made followed by rustling i took a chance and looked up where i saw avery rustling around in a black bag for something look i know this is confusing i'll explain everything later right now there's no time we've already made too much noise he said hurriedly with another paranoid glance over his shoulder. Looking back, he finally removed two things from his bag. You're going to need this. Put it on. He said, tossing one to me.

46:31I caught it, turning it over in my hands as confusion etched onto my face. It looked like a mask, but with no holes for the eyes or mouth, or a strap at the back. It was stark black and weirdly smooth, made of a material I didn't recognize. What is this? I started to ask, but his voice cut me off. Do you trust me? I met you 10 seconds ago. He said suddenly, his dark blue eyes pressing into mine. I swallowed. Thoughts raced across my mind as I tried to sort through them. There is no time for logic, not now. My dad had always told me to be logical and think with my head instead of my heart. I was trying so hard to listen to my head, but my heart was louder.

47:17Yes. I said quietly so softly that I thought he wouldn't hear me but the relieved expression that washed over his face told me that he did so is he immediately in love with him? yeah I think he's like fucking bricked up right now it's like I'm supposed to love this guy well now I'm blushing and my heart is louder than my head it's like well that was a fast adjustment and please put the damn thing on questions later he said softly some of the impatience leaving his voice without another word I held my breath and put the mask like thing up to my face it was one of the oddest experiences i had ever felt it felt like a suction cup attaching itself to my face so tightly it was as if the mask was merging with my face the no holes for the eyes or mouth proved to not be an issue since i got to breathe perfectly fine almost as if it wasn't on at all i looked up to see if avery had his on and when i looked up i had to stifle a gasp it was like his face had completely disappeared a black oval where his face should have been It was beyond unnerving, merely looking at it sitting a chill through my body.

48:20Is that what I looked like with this on me? Buddy? He asked, seeing I had put it on. Hearing him speak without seeing his mouth was creeping me out, but I didn't say anything and instead just nodded. He extended a hand out, seeing that I was still on the ground. I hesitated for only a fraction of a second before I took his hand, letting him hold me to my feet. As soon as my hand touched his, I felt a shot of warmth. startling me slightly but leaving me as soon as he let go stay with me and stay quiet he said softly swinging his bag who calls it a bag pack I thought it was back is it not a backpack yeah backpack swinging his bag probably a British thing maybe this is probably a disgusting British thing again okay swinging his bag back onto his back turning to start walking As I started to follow him, I looked up, at last trying to get a picture of my surroundings.

49:17To hopefully get some information to where the hell I was. I was not prepared for what I saw. It was the city. I tried to keep walking so as to not get too far behind Avery, but my eyes were glued to the side in front of me. It couldn't be, could it? My thoughts were racing. To confirm, I looked behind me. The body of water that Avery had just pulled me out of was the very same one that I had gotten thrown into in the first place. my heart was pounding as i looked around me it was an exact replica of the city but it was distorted every building was strained of color almost everything inside being a different shade of black or gray on top of this every few seconds something would glitch like a lagging video game like the holograms that were in the movies something wasn't right you could feel it everywhere you looked like i was like the buildings are glitching the city's desolate but something feels weird.

50:11A sickening sense of unease or dread with every washed out, colorless building that we passed. I quickened my pace to get closer to Avery. I didn't know where we were going since we were going into the west part of the city, which I wasn't too familiar with. All my life, I had everything I needed fairly close to where I lived, so there wasn't really any reason to explore. I know that Avery told me to not ask questions, but I wanted to know where we were going. if I was going to need anything to protect myself with since the feeling that I was being watched hadn't gone away since I arrived in this screwed up dystopia.

50:44I silently walked faster until I was next to him. Maybe it was the fact that I had my slip on my mind, but as I got closer, I could feel my heart start thumping uncomfortably against my chest. I asked softly, trying to keep my voice slow. He glanced at me, and I cringed as I remembered that we still had the black masks on. Huh? He replied, matching my quiet voice. I know you said not to ask questions, but where are we going? He glanced around before lowering his head to speak. My place, where I lived before I came here. I've been using it as a sort of a safe house. We don't have to keep our voices down there.

51:25I can explain everything. Just as he finished speaking, a loud thump came from in front of us. startling me as a black distorted figure came out from a glitching convenience store looked like a man but his face didn't have any features his face looked oddly like the black ovals that our faces now resembled within the masks my heart stopped in my chest as avery grabbed my arm to stop me from walking don't look at him avery whispered feverishly into my ear he's lost Your voice for Avery It's so fitting We can go to my place Before the Before the It's pretty much A freaking awesome safe house Yeah Pretty much gonna do Whatever I want to It's kinda awesome I have Mountain Dew And a Playstation 2 We can do all kinds of stuff With our hands And stuff Because we We're slip brothers We're slip slip brothers yeah that's a funny way to describe a gay relationship we're pretty much boy things yeah we're dating pretty much pretty much married by this point the distorted man had an uneven gait almost limping as he got closer i could see that his black body was glitching everything else in this screwed up place.

52:55I quickly looked down as Avery instructed, trying to keep my breathing in control. I felt Avery's hand tighten on my arm as the thing got closer to us, and as it got closer, I could hear it mumbling incoherently. It continued to get closer, so close that I could feel its presence with every fiber of my being. It was beyond uncomfortable, but staying true to Avery's instructions, I didn't make a sound. The next few minutes felt like an eternity before Avery looked up and looked behind us, letting out a small sigh of relief as his grip loosened on my arm, before letting go. Come on, we need to hurry.

53:31He mumbled, starting to walk again, faster than we were before. Neither of us said anything for a while. As we walked, I was left to my own thoughts, as my brain was trying to make sense of everything that had happened to me. I thought about my family, an internal ache spreading through me as I tried to imagine what they would be feeling when I didn't come home. I stewed on this for a while before the surge of anger washed through me. This wasn't even my fault. Joseph was the one who thought I needed to live a little more, who decided it would be a great idea to chuck me into the river. I forgot to mention that the second and third stages of grief are pain and anger.

54:08With all of these thoughts running through my head, there was still one that I refused to acknowledge. Getting a person of the same gender on your slip wasn't unheard of and actually happened pretty often i just never thought i'd be one of those people i suppose having matchmakers made us blind with the promise of a soulmate you never really had to think or worry about your sexuality or relationships you knew that someone else was out there figuring it out for you it was uncomfortable to think about how people you've never even met know more about your own sexuality before you even do before you even had a chance to figure it out.

54:45I actually shook my head, trying to chase away these thoughts. It was ridiculous. I would know if I liked guys, right? I didn't have time to dive deeper into these thoughts. We're here. A soft voice said, bringing me away from my thoughts. I looked up where we were. It was one of those houses that was small and cramped, on the street where it seemed like the builders were trying to find out how many houses they could fit onto it. It looked fairly normal, and I expect it would have looked better if I'd had, you know, color. Avery opened the door, beckoning me inside quickly, shutting the door behind us.

55:21I looked around, finding a surprisingly neat interior, bookshelves and couches like any normal house would. Looking around, I was relieved to notice that nothing in here was glitching around like outside, even if it was still colorless. The only odd thing was that there was an empty space in the middle of the living room, like someone had taken away the table but left the couches. It's not the nicest, but it's home. Avery said, to which I turned to look at him. Before I could reply, he put a hand to his face, starting to peel the mask off from the bottom. We can take these off, but keep you as close by.

55:55He said, peeling his own off and setting it on the closest couch. I put my own hand to my face, fleetingly wondering if mine would come off, since it felt like it wasn't even there anymore. To my great relief, I was able to feel it and copied what Avery had done, killing it off from the bottom, which came off with surprising ease. I set it down on the table next to me, working up the courage to speak. I'd opened my mouth to speak when Avery broke the silence first. So, I guess you have a few questions. He said with a small sigh, still standing. I said nothing, instead nodding and gingerly sitting on the edge of the couch next to me.

56:34I don't even know where to start.

56:41How could a novice like you approach an expert like myself? When do I even begin to tell somebody like you this? He mumbled to himself, eyebrows knitting together as he started to pace. Courage bubbled up, making its way to my throat. How'd you end up here? I asked, making him look up, his face relaxing as if he was relieved to have somewhere solid to start his explanation. Well, I broke a roll. He said with a sigh. I said nothing. Fully prepared to not speak until he was done. The thirst for information for an explanation was too great. Luckily for me, Avery picked up on it. He continued. It was a TV roll.

57:28The one where we can't watch in the 14th every month. I was such an idiot. He said, shaking his head as he resumed his pacing. I got pulled through. It happens so fast. I was sitting on the couch, actually. He gestured to the one I was sitting on with a tight smile. I turned it on, and it was just static. I realized what I had done. Before I could fix my mistake, something was coming out of it. Something solid. I grabbed my shirt and pulled me through, into the TV, where I landed here. I thought nothing had happened since I was still in my house until I realized I wasn't. He said, his voice starting to get heavy.

58:08He paused. He didn't need to say any more. It was perhaps a combination of sympathy or curiosity that was too overwhelming for me to stay quiet. What is this place? Avery gave out a small sigh. Gosh, he loves the small sighs. And the pacing. Coming around to sit on a chair opposite to where I was sitting. I don't know what the freaking call it. As you saw, it's an exact web account where we lived. I've explored in every detail as exact as it is in the real world. But with obvious differences. He said before me to my eyes. He seemed to know what question I wanted to ask next. Ever wonder why we didn't have jails?

58:50He didn't wait for my answer. I called them the last ones. The people that get thrown in here. They lose themselves after a while. They turn into what you saw on the way here. Altered versions of themselves. No identity. No remnants of their past selves. They're hostile, angered and capable of much more than you could ever imagine. It literally says, I swallowed. Literally, a gulp. This is the jail that we never had up there. Made for the rule breakers and people who threaten their precious utopia. They get left here. Left to waste away. To spend the rest of eternity here. They are nightmares.

59:33Beings of their worst possible selves have no feelings, no nothing. They are fueled off their worst qualities and are trapped in their own heads. This time, it was Avery that swallowed the golfing. As far as I can tell, they don't care who gets trapped here. Even the people who break walls by accident. Although, the actual criminals they deliver personally down here. He said with a sigh. the weight of the situation was pressing on me so hard that I was having a hard time breathing. There's a way out of here, right? I asked breathlessly to my immense relief, Avery nodded. Does, but it takes two people.

1:00:18I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for someone down here. He said softly, I felt a ping of sympathy. How long have you been down here? I asked and he shrugged. I don't know. Shrugging and sighing. I don't know. A couple of months, maybe. There's no way to tell down here. I keep track by writing on the walls. But they would disappear the next day. He said with a sigh. He was once again, sighing. How do we get out of here? I asked, my voice gaining confidence the longer I spend in his presence. The same way that they get the criminals in here. It's at the center of the city. It looks like an archway.

1:01:00The door they use is password protected. And I've been watching whenever they bring someone new down here, and I know it. The only problem is, it seems to be a popular hangout spot for people who are lost. The masks that I had you put on are to blend you in with them, but it only goes so far. It only really works when there are a few of them around. I didn't ask how he managed to get those masks. There is a way to kill them. but it was still that number of me which is why I needed a second person you don't need to ease a drink down here but you can still get hurt he said lifting his sleeve to reveal two long deep gashes that were in the process of healing I suppressed a shiver he has shivered like five times now I'll tell you you know what the biggest crime is so far I'm fucking bored bored bored bored it is it's also insanely british the whole like what if all government put all the main people who didn't like to smile all the time well if there was another big ben beneath big ben but it ain't got no color the old the old union jacks black and white could you imagine it seems so far i'm wondering if this is a store which you know listen i'm stupid so forgive me if This is on the nose, and I just don't know.

1:02:19But it seems like it's something that is possibly a story about somebody coming to terms with their sexuality. And then the other people who hide it or who basically defy those rules or people who – basically, it's like people who – I'm trying to think of a, it feels like this parallel world is like the, is like the every person that like lives in denial or something like that. You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. The world is bland and dark and you know, all that kind of stuff. Here's the thing though. Like the sexuality thing is the most interesting part of the story. Like the idea that you get the name of your soulmate and then your soulmates the same, you know, gender as you like, and you didn't think you're into that, but if it's true, how do you cope?

1:03:07that's interesting but what is all this other stuff about there's a city under the city and you can't go into the river and there's a television it's complicated because it tries to make it real by saying well yeah if you watch the telly on the 14th you get sucked into the shadow realm along with you know all of the family killers and the manslaughter cases and whatnot it's like what do you mean so you go down here as a prison but also if you like fall in the water i can't tell if it's trying to be commentary of like societal norms which i know you know sounds cheesy as fuck but i'm wondering if it's supposed to be like arbitrary societal rules that people have to blindly follow um that kind of thing but you know i don't know the problem is like yeah the idea of like you have a soulmate which is also kind of interesting with the slip idea where it's like you're just born with this you know it's it's not really a choice it's just kind of a thing that you that you have i think is interesting but it's just the static thing is kind of fucking cringe and then the the idea of like the faceless it's just kind of a bunch of cliche stuff and it's just i'm like it's going to it's going to end on probably some kind of like heartfelt thing of like we had each other and it's just this thing is boiling up to be like a big cliche but I don't know also to be fair I'm just bored I'm just I'm very bored well I would I would agree with that because everything else has been a cliche up until this point the introduction of the friend sounded like it was off a breakfast club spinoff and the dad's stereotypical and like he's stereotypical and all of like the setups and the descriptions and he shivers a lot and Avery sighs a lot.

1:04:54Like again, the coolest part is the whole, you know, you get someone that isn't who you expected to be attracted to as a name. I wish there was more of that instead of all the other stuff. The new information spun around my head. I felt slightly sick. I knew then that I couldn't stay here. I needed to get out. I didn't let myself become lost. I'll do it. Whatever it takes. I don't care. I'll help. I said, breaking the silence, my voice confident. Avery looked up at me with an expression I couldn't place. It looked like newfound respect, like he was just noticing me for the first time. He steadied me for a moment, or nodding.

1:05:32I'll keep you safe. I won't let anything happen to you. The two of them are, like, immediately just all over each other. Him being like, my voice grows confident the longer I'm with him. We're like, he blushes the first time he speaks to him. yeah i mean it kind of feels like this is going into like a romantic kind of uh like a like a like a romance fantasy someone writes you know or whatever but even this idea of like him wanting to leave the area which it is it is like a dark evil place but i'm wondering if it's like supposed to be something where it's like this isn't who i am i must escape or something you know what i mean but i i don't fucking know i'm trying to make sense of this thing because it feels very random random XD kind of thing right now.

1:06:19We'll see where it goes. I thought of making a smart-ass reply, but he seemed so genuine about it that I kept my mouth shut. It was then, sitting there with no immediate danger nearby, that I started to feel the weight of the day starting to press in around me. I tried to cover up a yawn with my hand, but Avery caught it. He stood up, running a hand through his hair. Ah, shit, sorry. You must be exhausted. I wasn't even thinking about that. I've been sleeping down here He said gesturing to the empty space in the room But I can make a place for you to sleep upstairs if you I don't I interrupted suddenly Which Avery raised his eyebrows I felt a hot flush rising in my cheeks as I continued I mean if it's If it's okay I'd feel more comfortable staying down here I said quietly Averting my eyes God damn my boy Theodore is down bad already Holy hell He needs it You know, actually, now that I'm thinking about it, there were signs of this before the reveal.

1:07:19I was making jokes about it, but the whole thing with Joseph, how it's like, I always admired his strength. He picks me up in his strong arm. Like maybe, maybe. Listen, you can admire. I'm saying that he is down bad for Avery. Right now he is down bad. He's like, no, I'll sleep here. Like he's not playing it subtly. I guess in this world, you don't have to play it subtly. You desperate little minx.

1:07:48Desolation is rather cute He's smooth talking Him in that voice Here's the real thing Is Avery or is Theodore a femboy

1:08:01Well well well princess I think Theodore is more of a femboy Well well well princess I said quietly Averted my eyes There was a pause which was enough time for me to feel greatly embarrassed by my words. He doesn't want you down here, idiot. He doesn't even know you. He doesn't... Sure. If it makes you more comfortable. I'm more than happy to set up a space for you. He said finally, giving me a small smile. I'll be we're back. I don't know if you need anything. He said, turning to leave or stopping as if remembering something. Um, I never... I never got your name. I forgot to ask. he said jubishly stumbling slightly over his words and seemingly having a hard time beating my eyes my heart seemed to stop just as my mind started to race Charles I said suddenly the name and the lie slipping out easily not sure if it was why would you lie whatever because he doesn't want him to know that this is his lover dude I mean if he's as into him as he seems to be well you just be like good to be true isaiah it's too good to be true yeah yeah yeah i feel like i feel like theodore's voice should be in the um i i never got your name i have to play one of them straight i've committed to like the redditor like discord mod voice saying that i know people are they can't both do it yeah yeah they can't both do it i'm not sure if it was just my imagination but did avery look slightly crestfallen am i what a crazy word to pull out.

1:09:41It must have been because the next second the look disappeared and he gave me another small smile. Pleasure to meet you, Charles. It looks like he's not my beloved Theodore. I really wish your name was Teddy. That's okay. Say, you haven't seen a Tunk around here, have you? I thought your name might have been Tunk. That's okay. My name's Tunk. brownie. Oh my. I've been waiting for you my whole life.

1:10:19You know what? What if this story does a thing though where there's multiple Avery's? You ever think about that? Yeah, like a girl shows up named Avery. Yeah, he's like bisexual crisis. Dang it. I kind of like both of them. What if we all just kind of made this work? we're poly yeah this world is a polyamorous hell

1:10:48well yeah portland

1:10:54as soon as he left the room i slept down on the couch putting my head in my hands why had i lied i knew the answer it was really just a matter of wanting to answer it i could say that it was because I didn't trust Avery but that wasn't the truth there were so many different kinds of confusion so many different kinds of pain I was tired of being the one who felt it all I was just tired in general this feels like something that was written by like a 15 year old doesn't it oh well the whole story does but yeah yes that one part it's like I'm the one who feels all the pain no one else just me yeah it's very well just the mellow the mellow drama of it all whatever yeah yeah I I fully believe this was written by someone in high school, for sure.

1:11:38It was disorienting to have your entire life lived upside down in a matter of moments. Everything that you thought you knew to be untrue were covered with layers of deception to keep people in a mindless bliss. I suppose that even though people could feel certainty, it was an emotion, not a fact. My thoughts kept me busy until Avery came back arms laden with blankets and pillows. He set them down to the empty space, starting to arrange them. Do you need help? I asked, wanting to feel at least a little useful. He shook his head as he straightened up. I'm just about done. Is this enough? I can get more stuff if you want.

1:12:17He said, looking up at me. Genuine interest in caring in his eyes startled me. He shook my head, giving a tight smile. Genuine. It's genuine interest in caring in his eyes, startling me. Oh, oh. Oh, my. Oh. Yeah, he looks down at him. He's just like, ah! It's great, really. Thank you. I said, crossing over to where it was. It looked like two bedspreads placed slightly far apart, but still within the empty space. I chose the one on the right. I have to get stuff ready for tomorrow, but I'll just be in the next room. I'll come to sleep in a while. Just give me a coffee and anything, all right? He said, and I nodded.

1:12:58Exhaustion was quickly catching up to me, and I tried to get myself comfortable on the spread of blankets and pillows. just as Avery was about to leave the room spoke I don't usually do it but if I start snoring I give you complete permission to smack me what I don't know dude it's supposed to be fucking cute this shit's like I want to punch a wall this shit's just so boring I'm bored I'm not kicking my feet and giggling I'm bored it's like all of the stereotypical like lovey dovey hee ha ha love at first sight kind of thing yeah they're in a poly hellscape by the way with faceless creatures walking around yeah yeah they're they're in a they're in a space where color doesn't exist and there's the law stumbling around and it's like you could smack me if you wanted to i said this quietly but based on the way he stopped and turned back around i knew avery had heard me no dead he said but there was something different about his voice as i looked at him i saw that he was smiling not a tight smile or a small one but an actual genuine smile that made my entire body feel warm it was perhaps the most beautiful thing i had ever seen down horrendous down so bad also a person smiling like a fucking psychopath and he's like I feel warm stop feeling so fucking warm all the time butterflies in my tummy imagine and I shivered but then I was warm imagine the visual of like you just met this guy and it's like hey you can smack me if you want and he's like noted like just a quote unquote actual smile starts to form i had never been a lucid dreamer i heard about it and even studied it a bit in school a million percent the the like 14 year old kid that wrote this just like heard about lucid dreaming online and wanted to make something about it i haven't studied it a bit in school so i knew how to recognize it lucid dreaming is a dream in which your body knows that you're dreaming it gives you the steering wheel for a bit allowing you to be conscious and aware while dreaming i was currently experiencing this strange phenomenon.

1:15:22I wasn't entirely sure where I was. I knew I was dreaming, however, since I was fairly confident that in order to be walking, you had to be walking on something solid. I appeared to be walking on water. Looking around, everything was black. It looked like I was standing on the lake, but the water stretched on as far as I could see. Water rippled under my feet with every step I took. Looking down, I couldn't see the bottom of whatever kind of water I was standing on, just more darkness. I wasn't sure how long I I stood there until I saw a figure in the distance. I squinted, waiting for it to come closer.

1:15:54When it got closer, however, my body seized with panic. It was the man from the convenience store, the one without a face, the one that Avery said was lost. I turned to run, but I couldn't. Dread and fear was washing over me as I desperately tried to get my feet to move. The man was getting closer. My feet seemed to glue to the surface. The screams I meant to yell died in my throat as I saw the man. now only a few feet from me as my screams were silenced by the paralyzing fear that rendered me immobile instead of the muttering i had heard from him earlier he was eerily silent the only sound i could hear was my own heartbeat hammering against my chest suddenly the man's face started to change instead of a black oval white lines started to form near the bottom and after a few moments i realized that i was making a manic demented smile sorry i've lost the ability to read after a few moments i realized that it was making a manic demented smile it came closer it's unnaturally long fingers closing on my shirt and pulling me closer this other hand drew back transforming into something that i couldn't name in a place but looked very very sharp i only had a second to look at it before it plunged into my stomach letting loose pain that i had never felt in my life among the screams and yells i had been holding in my throat it felt as if every fiber of my being every atom was being ripped apart calling it right now he's gonna wake up in a panic and then uh avery is gonna hold him to comfort him 100 100 my eyes were wide with shock as the smile remained on the man's face i could man i would give it anything for this man to say why so serious that'd be why so serious i couldn't talk i couldn't breathe looking down i saw a bloom of red starting to quickly spread throughout my shirt so much more vibrant in contrast to the blank colorless surroundings i woke up gasping and shaking hand clutching my stomach as if the pain was real felt so real i felt arms close around me a moment later there we go bear trap pulling me against something hard a chest avery's arm this guy's screaming in the night you just meant you're immediately like a chest avery's arms avery's chest holding me keeping me safe I heard his voice soft in my ear You're okay You're okay That voice is so funny He mumbled, holding me tighter Every motion I had been holding in since I got into this damned place, I let loose Dry sobs wracked my body as a flurry of fear, pain, and confusion Along with others, flooded me I saw him I said quietly, tears streaming down my face I know I know you did it's okay you're okay Avery said softly pulling me tighter against him I didn't care I didn't care anymore I let myself turn towards him blankets twisted around me as I buried my face in his chest letting my tears soak his shirt as he held me I mean is this a horror story is this a horror story or what is this this is a stupid fucking romcom story dude or something they're not romcom but it's like you know it's just like a fanfic kind of thing it's a romance fantasy yeah romantic fantasy thing uh i don't know why this is posted on no sleep i don't know we've had some other stories like we've had some other stories like this right or is this our first like romance i don't think have we had a romance fantasy thing we have not had a romance i do not that we've had stuff where romance has been side characters but typically because most horror stories are about the dissolving of romantic you know yeah boundaries rather than the creation of them maybe that's why i don't think we've had anything like this Maybe that's why it feels so out of place is because it's taking such a pred, like it's, it's in the driver's seat so much versus being like a thing to add to the story or whatever.

1:19:52But this definitely doesn't feel like a, like a horror story right now. Like we were in, we're in an alternate world and it doesn't feel like that at all. Like we're in an alternate world. Yeah. Yeah. It's like, again, the premise is interesting. The idea of like you finding out because of this mandated system that, you know, you're homosexual. and then like kind of it's almost there's hints of like our main character feeling freed with it like he's happy now and it contributes to like you know like you said arbitrary role society he's happy now because he can let that part of him out um so there's like a cool story there but it's like it's like 10 percent of it and the other 90 is like a stereotypical like yeah i had a spooky dream and I woke up in this person's arms it's just boring.

1:20:40Yeah, yeah. There's nothing adding to the actual, I guess like threat or terror of the story which whatever, you know. Yeah, it's very paid by numbers Yeah. I can't tell you how long he held me, my face buried in his chest. Him not caring that his shirt was getting soaked, holding me tighter every time a fresh wave of emotion swept through me Felt like hours before the pain from my dreams subsided before my body was no longer shaking Felt like hours during them Avery had never let go of me and again you're crying this hard over a scary dream like it wasn't like oh my family's gonna die hell of this alternate world it's like a guy with a creepy smile stabbed me and i'm crying this hard it would have been okay it would have even been mostly okay if one of us had just let go if we didn't stay there holding a part of each other long after the danger no matter how real had passed my thoughts had finally slowed i'd skipped the past two steps at the stages of grief i'd skipped the anger and bargaining my body just didn't have enough energy left to do it only thing i felt sitting there against avery was safety two things that i hadn't experienced since the moment i had arrived here here's heartbeat soothing rhythmic sound that's more relaxing than i can explain sitting there with him felt right it was the feeling that i had never felt looking at the girls in my class that I had never felt looking at any girl.

1:22:06Okay, there we go. So the state didn't force it on him. He was always this way. He just didn't confront it with himself until now. Got it. That's better than the alternative that this romantic story is being set up only to be rug pulled later by saying, oh, it was actually a girl, which I was kind of afraid it would do. I was afraid it would have all of this like identity crisis to be like, no, you're straight. But this is a much better direction. Like, okay, he found it himself it felt like hours before I spoke again my voice dull like someone had run knife over it Avery yeah I never said thank you thank you for what he asked his voice soft against my ear for saving me I would have drowned I didn't need to explain further for him to understand what I was talking about you don't have to thank me for that I know if you saw me hurtling out of the sky into a river you would have done the same he said and this time i could hear the smile in his voice i smiled a tired but genuine smile true i wanted to thank you anyway well then you're welcome anyway i laughed but it came off more of a huff nah there really should be a word Nah, I'll take you to the hospital once you get out of there.

1:23:29I'll be the one driving you to the hospital. Yeah, baby. On its comeback. Let's go. There really should be a word for a laugh that ends as soon as it starts. I didn't want to leave the position that we were in, but I wanted to spend more time with Avery somewhere where we weren't in danger of becoming lost or, you know, stabbed. Avery? Yeah? I want to go home. I said quietly. There was a pause. Let's go home then. Wasn't that always the plan? Yeah. Well, I'd also, it's like the assumption of being like, can we just stay here forever? It's like, no. Me and you here in the, in the demon lost one universe forever.

1:24:09Yeah. In Polly Hill.

1:24:13In Portland, me and you. What I assume was the next few days were spent going over the plan or what I assumed was a few days since. no time cycle avery drew up the city center and where the lost one congregated the most heavily he gave it wait so hold on this is this entire city is a giant prison that's amassed by everyone who breaks the rules and there's a single lost one to worry about yeah sure whatever he gave and showed me how to use the weapons that killed him these are the weapons that i found near the door the people that come down here have a stash this is an ontological gun an ontological gun I don't know what the fuck that means well ontological means like like super objectively or like well let me make sure I believe the word ontological means like definitively can't be disproven like factual yeah super serious not even joking showing the relation.

1:25:17Okay. Ontological is relating to the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being. Okay. So like ontology, so I was saying existence can also mean showing the relation between the concepts and categories in a subject area or domain. The nature of being. So he's just saying this is like a factual legitimate gun.

1:25:42Why wouldn't you just say this is a real gun? This is an ontological gun. Whatever. He said, handing me what looked like a regular handgun. He explained before I could ask. I know it looks like a regular handgun because it is. The only difference is how you think about it. I don't need to tell you about this place is weird and that regular logical rules don't apply. If you should desert them, they simply cease to exist. They go away. Only if you believe it to be true. What is going on? I don't know. I'm in hell. at my confused expression he tried again it sounds really really stupid but it works if you believe that you can make them cease to exist by shooting them this is by shooting this at them it'll work his navy eyes pressed into mine silently please I imagine they're uncomfortably close to each other like nose to nose there's no such thing as uncomfortableness with this guy down bad you could be closer he's like on top of him he needs you closer closer silently pleading for me to trust him I did nodding I took it from him I didn't know how the hell this was supposed to work but I trusted him something had happened after my dream after we had stayed interlocked for who knows how long something unspoken I pee-peed my pants what was the thing he said earlier the something down his leg the tinkle or yeah the the yeah tinkle yeah the tinkle down his leg he no longer felt like a stranger or just a person who shared the same name that was on my slip it felt like i had known him my whole life along with planning and preparing avery had opened up greatly letting me see more into his life both past and present it was comforting knowing that we were both more comfortable conversing with each other often teasing and cracking jokes something that seemed impossible while we were stuck into this hellhole.

1:27:44I let myself notice things about him. How his mouth twisted to the side when he was deciding to laugh at something. How he smiled. You could see that he had dimples. Or when he was thinking about something, he tapped his fingers lightly against the surface. Being around him just filled me with such warmth that it made it harder when I tried to work out how I was going to tell him that I lied about my name. Try not to think about it. The night before we were going to put our plan in action, neither of us could sleep. At first, it was disorienting going to sleep without any sleep or wake cycle, but I got used to it.

1:28:18Just going to bed whenever I felt tired. I lay next to Avery, who I could tell wasn't asleep either. Avery? Charles? He replied, to which I internally cringed. Are you nervous? There was a pause. I bet. Do you want to push another day to go again? again he said finally to which i shook my head sitting up slightly to look at him no i just would feel a bit more comfortable if i knew how did the guns worked i said a small smile tugging on his lips avery rolled his eyes if you had played destiny i wouldn't have to explain is he talking about the fucking xbox game game is he talking about the video game destiny there's no way right there's no way if you had played destiny i wouldn't have to explain gosh the voice you're doing works so well it's literally like the well if you understood the story yeah it is a trap of voice it's pure theory i don't know how they developed it but it works all right nerd i trust you

1:29:31all right you know what i bet that there's been a culture shift in this story i'm vibing now like it's gone so far off the rails that this is hilarious well if you were familiar with destiny the concepts would be quite would not be surprising at all what there's some there's some like coffee pasta like that well oh the rick and morty thing like it takes an intellectual mind to understand wick and morty right same thing i said sitting back grinning as a pillow hit me in the chest i paused looking over at him i don't know about you but i'm gonna get the hell away from the city as soon as i can when i when we get out i've had enough of this nonsense for a lifetime he's okay oh all we've heard yeah yeah 18 18 all that we have heard is they've been there for a couple of days and they've just been quiet inside of a house and he's like I've had enough of this place you've just been sitting there quietly like in a building I said watching as Avery propped himself up on his elbows me too I'll keep in touch with my parents and everything but it been ruined oh wait hold on hold on I thought he was talking about no he's talking about the city he's talking about the city it still doesn't make I mean like I understand the rules and stuff but he has literally said it was great Been awesome.

1:30:50Happy existence I've had. Me too. I'll keep in touch with my parents and everything, but it's been ruined. The image I had of this place I grew up has been completely ruined. I don't think I could stay here and be happy. He said, and I nodded. At least we got our slips first. I choked, but to my surprise, Avery blushed. He'd out on the ground. I don't know. I think it's a bit bullshit. I used to think it was a wheel, but now I mean... He said, tripping over his words, still avoiding my eyes They can't control chemistry They can't control you feel safe and comfortable around He said, his voice getting quieter It was so out of character that I couldn't find my own voice to speak Is he sane what I thought he was sane?

1:31:36He reshook his head, as if to shake off these thoughts I'm not making sense We should probably go to bed Big day and all that He mumbled, laying back down I nodded laying down as well closing my eyes, my mind racing 100 % the plan they're going to enact the next day is going to be like okay run oh my god it took multi days to plan Isaiah I think Avery likes Theodore yes what? no and you think because his name's not he doesn't think his name's Theodore that's why he doesn't believe in it yes Wow. Yes. Wow. That's incredible. Wow. That's awesome. Wow. Hey, Charles. Yeah, Avery. Can I give you a big old smooch before we go on this crazy adventure?

1:32:32Hey, mwah. I'm not one of those, dude. That's coming up soon.

1:32:40This is fine for like a 12, 13-year-old that wrote it or whatever, but yeah for a 12 year old for a story in their composition notebook definitely yeah yeah totally fine someone was shaking me awake i reluctantly opened my eyes where i could see avery shaking my shoulder gently stopping when he saw i was awake giving a small smile morning we should get going this is the most ideal time i want to do this today i nodded pushing myself up we spent the next little while getting ready neither of us mentioning the conversation we had yesterday I'd gotten used to being in the house and in a weird way I was going to miss it I was going to miss a lot of things we were both armed with the weird guns and had our masks on we set off for the center of the city it was time to get out of here so wait last night he was like I wish someone would teach me how to use this gun and he's like well have you played destiny and he doesn't actually teach him how to use a gun yeah I don't think there's anything to really use it on so he just doesn't do it we avoided entire streets whenever we saw a lost one, not wanting to create any unnecessary attention.

1:33:47After a while of walking, I saw what Avery was talking about. The city center was where we had our summer's farmer's market, events, and concerts. It looked the same, the only difference being the short archway with a stark red color. It caught me off guard since the only things in color that I had seen were Avery and I, but the door was blood red, and next to it, a keypad. The archway was a good ways away from where we were, and already I saw lost ones milling around, the same unclear mumbling and feeling the silence. Remember, we're going to get as far as we can without the guns, but if they notice us then start shooting.

1:34:25Avery mumbled into my ear. I nodded. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as we started to walk. We kept our heads straight, only focused on the door in front of us. As we walked a few meters, we realized that we greatly overestimated the amount of time we had before they noticed us it was just like in my dream their black face is starting to develop white lines i didn't want to wait to see if they turned into the demented troubled smiles i pulled out the gun avery had given to me praying to whatever higher power there was to let this work i concentrated imagining the one directly in front of me disappearing when the bullet made contact it was advancing and i could already hear the loud crack of avery's gun behind me it was running now full speed at me it's mumbling getting louder i raised the gun my heart pounding a few feet away its mouth stretching into a wide grin cars i fired my eyes closing for a split second braced myself for the pain i knew was coming but none came opening my eyes there was nothing but a scattering of dust at my feet relief flooded through me as i could have laughed it worked it worked looking around there were coming in from behind buildings out of windows filled with renewed hope and confidence i started firing rounds off truly believing with each shot adrenaline was rushing through me as the cracks of our loud guns filled the heavy silence only being outmatched by the progressively louder mumbling made by advancing lost ones it was tight but avery was right the two of us we were overpowering them dust going up every few seconds felt oddly like a video game wave after wave coming until eventually they stopped and there were only a few left i just reached the peak of my confidence when i heard a scream i was right about their plan is just run and then start shooting stuff that was their complicated plan turning around my heart stopped in my chest avery was being dragged by the foot a lost one's long sharp fingers to get into his ankle his gun laying a few feet away i didn't have time to think or react, sprinting towards them as I pointed my gun, hoping desperately I wouldn't hit him.

1:36:29I wouldn't be able to aim properly while running. I stopped, trying to level the gun, trying to stop my hand from shaking. I took a breath and fired. A cloud of dust that replaced a thin, black body was probably the most beautiful thing I'd seen in my life. I sprinted over where Avery was wincing horribly as he tried to turn himself around. Avery heard me coming, and when he looked up, he wasn't looking at me. No, no, Charles! Charles behind you! He yelled, the panic clear in his voice. Stopping to turn it around, my heart seemed to stop for the second time. It was the man from the convenience store, the one from my dream.

1:37:04It looked like he was the only one left. You can do this, I thought to myself. I raised my gun, firing it right in the chest. The bullet passed through like an ordinary bullet. Panic was rapidly flowing through me now as the man came closer. I tried to move, but my feet felt glued to the ground. Oh, no, no, not again. I could hear Avery behind me calling my name. The man was slowly advancing, knowing that I wasn't going anywhere. White lines appeared on his face. My voice felt stuck in my throat. His arm was pulling back, turning into the thing for my dream. Avery's calls got louder. Is Avery going to, like, green goblin jump in front of the closet?

1:37:43It's flying towards me. The man was a few feet away, grabbing the front of my shirt. the white lines transformed into a smile the corners of its mouth stretched wide to either corner of its face a strong on teeth appeared i knew what was going to happen next pain was unbearable i was certain i was being ripped apart being set on fire from the very depths of my body white hot pain clouded my vision so badly that i didn't even notice when it was over i didn't notice the puff of dust appear in front of me a loud crack that went with it i didn't feel it when I sank to my knees feeling something hot and wet spread through my shirt.

1:38:20It took me a minute to notice the hands grabbing at my shoulders, dipping me back. It took me a minute to notice the tears slipping down Avery's face as he bent over me. No, no, no, no, Charles, please stay with me, please. Avery whispered, silent sobs wracking his chest as he started to rip at the bottom of his shirt, pulling away a piece of fabric to press on my stomach, his other arm cradling my head. I can't I can't lose you Charles he whispered his shoulders shaking that's not Avery's eyes flashed to mind briefly as he started to rip off another piece of fabric what my name is it's not Charles it's not Charles I'm taking the hospital to hypotheria what are you talking about he asked tears streaming silently down his face as he desperately tried to control the bleeding i i lied my name is my name is my name is theodore i wanted you to like me for for who i was not because my name might have been on your slip oh is that the reason he didn't tell him because he's scared god it's a world where the slip determines everything it went okay Exhaustion and coldness started to seep into my body.

1:39:42I saw a realization pass through Avery's eyes, saw him putting the pieces together. You know, I don't care. Please, I can't lose you. We'll get back to the house. We'll patch you up. Just please, please don't go. He said, his voice breaking on the last sentence. You've come too far. The door's right there and more lost ones will be back. Just go. Fuck that. I'm not leaving you here. He said sharply, looking over me, seeming to make a decision. Slid his arms under me, lifting me up and holding me like a little kid, being careful not to touch my stomach, where the red stain was getting progressively wetter.

1:40:21He carried me over to the keypad, his hand shaking as he put in the numbers. Wetty? He asked softly. I didn't have the energy to do anything but nod. I put in the last number and the door swung open. I winced as white light flooded my vision as I felt every step through. My eyes closed as warm spread through me. I let myself drift out of consciousness. Wait a minute. I thought it required two people to go through the door, but all that you need is to enter a number. You just didn't. I think I had to walk through with a person. Maybe. Oh, where did he, where did he get the code? Was that mentioned?

1:40:57Yeah. Cause he's like, I, he's like, they come through and I watch, he like basically saw them type in the car. Oh, I see. I see. All right. Well, sorry. I zoned out for a little bit. My bad. I don't blame you. I couldn't hear footsteps around me people talking in low voices my eyelids fluttered open ah Mr. Shillings we've been expecting you and now comes the part of the story where the like the old guard like the government agent whatever explains their evil plan and why they do these things to him similar to this story is reminding me of the ending of my jobs watching a woman trapped in a room alright final part final part I believe that I am correct in thinking that it is a well-known fact that people, by nature, are curious.

1:41:43Curiosity has fueled many of the greatest inventions of time, such things being electricity or the wheel. Of course, it does not take anything, no great genius, to be curious. In fact, thanks to modern technology, everyone who becomes curious is able to fuel that curiosity, have it satisfied, in mere seconds. Back in middle school, I remember being curious about something. I was curious to see how many variations there were of the word confusion. As it turned out, there were many. I won't bore you with all the variations there were, since if you are curious, you could simply look it up yourself.

1:42:18However, I will share a particular one that I liked. My favorite variation or synonym for the word confused was disoriented. By definition, being disoriented means that a person is thoroughly confused as to a time or place. They are out of touch with their surroundings. They have lost their sense of direction. They are unable to think clearly, their surroundings creating mixed feelings, emotions, thoughts. Oddly, all of this was going through my head as my brain tried to register the words that I had just heard. Ah, Mr. Schillings, we've been expecting you. Disoriented, my eyes slowly opened. I winced as harsh, white light shone down on me.

1:43:01It only took a moment for my eyes to adjust, and when they did, my throat dropped into my stomach. Standing above me was a man. Despite my disoriented state, I tried to quickly take him in. He looked old, with white receding hair and a white, neat beard. He was wearing all white, to his button-up shirt, to his pants, his coat, even his tie. He was staring at me, a small smile on his face, trying to gauge my reaction as I could hear other people bustling around behind me. What was happening? Stay calm, I told myself. You're not in danger. If they wanted to kill you, they would have by now. I tried to reason.

1:43:38The man was still staring at me, and I was too afraid to break eye contact with him, too afraid to look around. For what I could see out of my peripheral vision, the room was dark white and filled with what looked like hospital equipment. The man was still staring at me. Maybe he wouldn't speak until I would. You've been expecting me? I asked, trying to keep the fear, the apprehension out of my voice. The man smiled wider, reaching next to him for something. Flipboard. Oh, yes. We've been expecting you for a while. I know you must have quite a few questions, but don't worry. All of them will be answered in due time.

1:44:14He said, giving a small laugh. I was beyond unnerved. His laugh was too high, too long for it to seem natural. I desperately wanted him to stop smiling. I finally worked up the courage to avert my eyes, to try and take in my surroundings. it did look like a hospital room but the equipment was different unlike anything i'd ever seen it looked like nurses were milling about with clipboards all dressed in white everything in the room was white which is why it caught me off guard when my eyes fell into the blood red door on the far side of the room same door that avery and i just come through avery avery avery wasn't in the room i bolted upright relieved to find i wasn't tied down which honestly was a thought that crossed my mind i looked around but i did not decide to check it and just assumed i was tied down until this moment i'm tied down okay no i'm not thank god i can't believe i'm tied down oh wait okay wait i'm not that's so awesome i looked around once twice and a third time i imagine him spinning

1:45:19Avery wasn't in here I looked at the man for the first time since my arrival Feeling angry Where's Avery? I demanded my voice stronger than it had been a minute ago The man simply looked at me That creepy smile still plastered on his face Mr. Anderson is quite fine However, I will ask that you don't make sudden movements You will disrupt your healing process Healing process? shit how could i have forgotten i looked down lifting my bloodstained shirt up the shake in my hands noticeable how is this possible spot where i'd been well impaled showed nothing except a long scar i ran my fingers over it gently and didn't noticeable but nothing else i looked up quickly which the man put his hand up questions will be answered how about we take a walk take Make a walk?

1:46:08Was he serious? Why was he so serious? Perhaps, why so serious? A small, nagging voice in my head told me that it probably wasn't the best idea to refuse him, especially since he made it sound like it wasn't really a question where my answer mattered. I didn't care. No. He said forcefully, renewed confidence flowing through me. I want to see Avery. i said my voice slow and measured laced with anger with stubbornness for the first time since i had seen him the man's smile flickered annoyance and impatience crossing his face clipboard still in hand he started to cross to the other side of the room where a keypad was attached to the wall the wall was entirely made up of those clouded glass panes the ones they put on houses for privacy i slowly pushed myself off the bed following him trying to not look at the other people in the room.

1:47:05The man stood in front of it, slowly putting in a password. I wasn't sure if I wanted to get closer. Was he going to let me see Avery, or was this some kind of prison cell to throw me into for not doing what he asked? The man's back was turned, and that's when I saw something on the table. It was Avery's gun, the one he used to kill the lost ones. Now, of course, it was only a regular gun. I made a decision quickly, silently reaching out and taking it, stuffing it into the back waistband of my jeans before quickly hurrying over to where the man was praying he didn't notice anything were the nurses a few seconds passed and no one said anything no siren sounded i breathed a silent sigh of relief so they just had a gun on a table where he could get it and thought that was fine yeah they're like he's fine he's his name's theodore he'll never go for that's true he'll never grab the gun he's british they don't even know what they are.

1:47:56I bet he's never even played destiny. As the man finished putting in the password, the clouded glass started to get clearer. The man silently moved to the side to let me see. I slowly walked forward, and I had just reached the glass as it finally became clear, and I could see into it. My voice seemed stuck in my throat. It was a dark room, smaller than the one we were in, with more of the equipment that I didn't recognize. The room was bare furniture besides a bed, which was being occupied by Avery. His eyes were closed, a mask covering, and attached his mouth that was attached to one of the machines next to him.

1:48:28One of his ankles was bandaged from where the lost ones had got him. He wasn't moving. My brain didn't want to accept what I was seeing. It was refusing to deal with the wave of emotions that had started to rise up, invading my thoughts. Is he? I choked out, my eyes not leaving him. He is fine. The man said, turning to face him. I saw that he was still smiling. I wanted to hit him. He is sleeping. I'd be more than happy to explain things to you. Would you care to take a walk? He was asking about the walk. How about that walk? How about that walk? Care to go for that walk? This is the love of my life.

1:49:09Don't make me hit you. I'll punch you really hard. And then his dad shows up. Care to go for a walk with me? Nah. I'm a big walk guy I'm the one to drive you to the hospital once you get hypothermia

1:49:29Care to go for a walk? No, but I'll drive you to No, but I'll drive you to a hospital With hypothermia Just kidding I don't know if the hospital has hypothermia Or you, I guess we'll find out I guess we'll just find out some other time I love hospitals I didn't trust whatever this place was, whoever was here. The only person I trusted right now was Avery, but I couldn't get to him. I'd have to fix that. You just have to be patient, I told myself. Wait for the right opportunity. Then you can get him and find a way out of here. I made a decision. I'd have to play along for a little bit. Looking at the man, I plastered a smile to match his.

1:50:11I'd love to. I said, smiling, the man beamed. i had never been good in pressured situations or lying for that matter however was the thought of avery lying motionless in that bed that allowed me to fall into step next to the man to smile like everything was normal okay look i wish this was a good story because the principle was good but the romance is written with all of the nuance as those old youtube drawings with like music set to them of mordecai from regular show and the purple horse from my little pony in love where it plays uh can we pretend that airplanes in the night that is the same now which right now that is the same level of like depth of romantic writing as everything between these two use the game there's a lot of people in the comments who like it who say they enjoy it and it means something to them and i'm really happy to hear that but i assure you those have to be children if the because this story it's just it's not even surface level it's just telling us oh well there's romance you didn't see it this story has done one thing successful and it has made me have a really gay thought and it made me smile did you want you want to know what it was what was your gay thought my gay thought was it was it was avery uh looking it was whenever Theodore was looking at Avery and he was like I started to notice all the you know That he would tap things when he was thinking whatever And I started picturing that scene And it made me smile because like oh that's nice Like how cute this is and then the gayest thought Of all came up where that train song came on Where it's like I guess she's Back in the atmosphere Drop Jupiter in her hair Yeah yeah yeah Wait wait wait Wait wait You imagine that scene set to drop some Jupiter by train.

1:52:09Now tell me, did you travel across the sun? Did you drive through the Milky Way and see the lies are faded? That heaven is overrated. But actually, it's not even the chorus. It's just the beginning. Glad she's back in the atmosphere and drives a Jupiter in her head. That's so funny. That is single-handedly the gayest thing I've ever thought.

1:52:40You thought about this scene where like he's noticing the little ticks Avery has and your mind set it to train. He said, tell me! I was the same. Yeah. Yeah, dude. I was smiling. Did you make it to the Milky Way? I was smiling. I was playing with my toes. My feet were over each other and then my toes were playing. I was having a good time. I was a little giddy. so I will say it's successful in that well it's breaking new boundaries you know that song's not even about a love interest he wrote that about his mother that's a love interest loves his mom mm-hmm he wrote it after his mom died and he had a dream about her which is why it's like did you miss me while you were looking for yourself or whatever everyone assumes it's a thing I would assume it's about two gay 18 year olds sure sure buddy you know what just for you it sure is i will never hear that song for the rest of my life without thinking about this story just theodore like smiling that is such smiling with smiling with an imagination gun pointed to his head

1:53:54to his own head i don't fucking know he's like if you see a monster think real hard and it'll seized it'll say no snap glassy's back of the atmosphere drives Jupiter that is such like a hallmark tv movie moment yeah exactly that's what makes you notice there's no romance or chemistry between them but the moment he notices something about avery just immediately sets to like a music montage of them getting to know each other and at the end we're supposed to be like okay they're in love this is a good romantic plot that's how romance works what would be better what would be better for a like a gay romance thing would it be train drops of jupiter or i don't know the name of the song but it's that one i think it came out around the same time but i remember when i was younger i really liked it it's that one it's like a desperate for changing searching for truth i don't know that's it's like i'm falling even more in love with you I ain't out of all I'm standing here until you make me move waiting on a moment here with you so you know all the lyrics but not the name of the song oh yeah yeah I remember the singer when I was younger I thought it was the same guy that was in Cabin Fever who I think was the guy in Boy Meets World I don't know lot of references all I gotta say is I don't know my mind goes to that But the beginning of that song is just kind of like it has that kind of like high school angsty, you know, desperate for changing, searching for truth.

1:55:39You know, the what's that one song that got used for like commercials a ton back in the day? It was like Black Keys. Oh, that song that's like, you know, the one that's like for you, baby, I'm not moving on. I love you. You know, that one. everyone hated it with that beautiful tempo and the way that you did the inflection of that singing it's hard for me not to know which song it is but I'm drawing a blank at the moment I thought you were going to say Golda actually you know what would be a funnier song for them Theodore looks at Avery he's looking at his legs and stuff and then just says

1:56:19and it has gold on the ceiling they want to get my gold on the ceiling. No, that would actually be the gayest thing to happen is if the black keys started playing right there. They want to get my gold on the ceiling. They ain't mine. Just a matter of time for your stealing. Yeah, basically just the story is so poorly written. Our brains are doing anything it can do to not read it. Make it to not read it. Okay, go ahead. let's just be done with this hell yeah this is poly hell i'm gonna i'm telling you right now i'm going to uh name the episode that poly hell they're not even polyamorous it's been two people the whole time yeah but we kind of we had a good bit out of it we had a good bit so it's gonna be poly hell

1:57:19just completely ignoring the title what the author named and all of that it's what it is to us this story is our story now it was the side of avery lying in the bed that made my nerves settle enough for me to pay attention to the potential exits as we walked trying to draw a mental map of the place after all he had done for me i owed it to him to find a way to get us out of this here. So I imagine you have a few questions. The man said, leading us out of the room and down a long, narrow hallway. I tried to not wince with each step because of my stomach, but it was a hell of a lot better than the alternative.

1:57:54You could say that. Gosh, I hate all the snark! I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my ability. What would you like to know first? Well, why is the rule... This is the part where this Person explains everything. Well, why can't we watch the TV? I'm in poly hell. What's this world? What are the lonely ones or whatever? Why can't I go in the water? Yeah. Who makes the matchmaker cards? I was trying to focus on finding a way out of here, but I also had questions. So many questions. I took a breath. What did you mean when you said that you've been expecting me? Where even am I? I asked, the words tumbling out of my mouth.

1:58:41He turned right around a corner. Well, I'll try to keep it simple. The fact of the matter is, Theodore, is that you have what it takes to be a matchmaker. He said, a small smile resting on his face as he glanced at me. Internally, I froze. However, I tried to keep my feet moving. What? What are you talking about? Again, I'll try to keep it simple. But keep in mind, the real answer is quite complex. Oh no Long story short Exposition time This is literally Like well I've set up a bunch of stuff I will now have a character appear and explain the stuff And that's it that's all he does He just appears and explains the stuff Not even veiled as like a character in the story We feed this monkey a grape nut Every Tuesday And he's the man who is magical And helps us have Alfalfa sprouts for spring It's gonna be something like that Where it's like what the fuck are you even talking about Well The monkey eats his grapefruit And we're able to have alfalfa sprouts for our steaks Do you understand The man said as we turned another corner Left The man's leading him On a path that draws out a swatstick Do you know this And he's like oh my He's like this is the SS These are not Yeah, it turns out we were actually in the Nazi world.

2:00:06Right next to Polly Hell was Nazi Hell. That's why the door was red. It was a big, like, one stick of legs. Each citizen born within city grounds has the ability to carry a gene, one of the ones needed for the ability to possess the powers needed for a matchmaker. Sometimes people don't exhibit the abilities when they are born, or at all, even if they have the gene that carries the ability. It is because of that that citizens are required to have blood work done so that we can know who is carrying the gene. He said his voice starting to sound flat, monotone. We use the blood work to identify the people so that later we can seek them out and begin training them to unlock the potential given to them.

2:00:50These people serve as matchmakers, the leaders of the city. He said, this time giving me a meaningful glance. We were planning to seek you out after realizing that you carried this gene. However, we hit a little snag when you broke out of the rules and most unfortunately got transported to below. No. He said with a small sigh, but still smiling. Another sigh, but still smiling. Luckily, you seem to manage just fine. Not without a few bumps along the way, of course. He said with a laugh, motioning to my stomach, a sickening sense of unease was starting to wash over me. Something wasn't right with the way that he was talking, the way he was laughing, the fact he wouldn't stop smiling.

2:01:32So you know what happens to the people you throw in there? The people that get down there by accident? I asked, trying to sound innocent, but I couldn't help the anger that was sneaking into my voice. Luckily for me, however, the man didn't seem to notice. Well, of course. The people that we put down there are a danger to our society. They are a risk. And here, we don't take risks. Any citizen that doesn't follow the rules provided, in my opinion, is just as bad as the people that get put there. Fuck sakes. We have rules in place for a reason. to protect the citizens that are not they are not for laughs or for fun anyone who does not take that seriously has no place in our community i would have given anything right then to have hit him as hard as i could oh my gosh don't make me do this don't make me hit you i'm so strong and powerful i needed to change the subject i couldn't let my emotions get the better of me not when so much was at risk we took another right turn i couldn't let my emotions get the better of me when so much was at risk.

2:02:33Took another right turn. It was this turn that made me realize that I hadn't seen another person anywhere since we left the room that we were in. I just added it to the growing list of reasons I needed to get me and Avery out of here. How did you heal me? State of the art technology. The man said loudly his words echoing off the walls, startling me slightly. We have perfected almost all things, including health and safety. Our state-of-the-art technology allows for healing and recovery unmatched by anyone else. Injuries such as yours can be healed completely in a matter of hours. He said, his smile growing even wider than it had before.

2:03:14It sounded like he was reading from a pamphlet. We turned another corner, this time to face a dead end, where we were greeted by a handsome set of mahogany dwarves. I opened my mouth to ask another question, but the man held his hand up. Unfortunately, I cannot provide you with any more information. You are here to wait until Matchmaker comes to start with you on your training and give you a more detailed explanation. He said, moving to push the door open. My mind spun, panic seizing my throat. Wait, what? I haven't agreed to anything. My parents will be looking for me and my friends will notice I'm gone.

2:03:47I said, my words trailing off as soon as the man shook his head, smiling. No need to worry. Your family and friends' memories will be modified. Of course, however, the choice to become a matchmaker is up to you. It is, of course, the highest honor. You will have everything you have ever desired, dreamed about. Your life will be perfect. I won't pretend that I didn't think about it, and I'm ashamed to admit that I considered it even for a second. A perfect life, everything taken care of for me, the ability to set people up with love, set them up with happiness, a perfect life. He has this entire story.

2:04:28He has never expressed any interest in matchmaker or having a bad life or wanting a better life or wanting to set people up. But now at the end, he's like, suddenly, oh, these are things I consider, even though they haven't been mentioned once. Well, I said he has never witnessed. You have to give us a slack. He has never witnessed state of the art technology. That's a good point. That'd be hard to turn down. That's fair. That's fair. And then he's going to hear all this and be like, but my life wouldn't be perfect without Avery. the person i met three days ago i have an intense long-standing relationship before that you just have to trust me on based on a system that we have clearly established is corrupt as the system leads people down here it is wrong and shouldn't exist but nevertheless i and the narrative am not questioning it we are soulmates in the story literally the only reason that they have romance is because the story told them to because his name was avery in a system that now seems completely corrupt and out of nowhere why do they even need matchmakers to be the leader of the sealy the city what does that have to do with anything belly kisses okay i pause something rising up blocking these intruding thoughts what about avery the man smiled shaking his head he is no longer your concern.

2:05:46I thought of Avery. I thought of the mask over his mouth, his unmoving body. I thought of his smile, his laugh, the way he'd held me, protected me. The warmth that filled me whenever he's... The warmth that filled me whenever he got... Whenever he touched me. The way he looked at me when he thought I didn't notice. He had the chance to leave me behind. To leave me to the lost one. He could have let me drown. I've been for myself. The door was right in front of me Once I went in that room I wouldn't have to worry about anything ever again A wave ascertainly slowly washed over me Avery's gun felt heavy in my waistband The man looked at me A smile still plastered on his face I could hear my heartbeat thundering in my ears Go to heck

2:06:37A flicker of confusion passed over the man's face Sorry? I reached behind me, my hand closing around the handle as I pulled it out, clicking the safety off as I leveled it at the man. For the first time since I saw him, the man's smile fell. I said, go to heck. I snarled my finger. It can't get worse. It can't get worse. There's no way. Tell me. My finger closing around the trigger somewhere in my head. before I even pulled out the gun I knew there wouldn't be any blood I was correct sparks flew as the man stumbled back against the wall smoke starting to come out of the place on his chest where I had shot him wires of all colors visible through the hole the man's eyes open with the shock and I'm blinking as he slid to the floor his head jerking a few times before he lay unmoving he was a cyborg sirens began to sound as the teen titans whoa this is way cooler than Avery Teen Titans!

2:07:37When there's trouble, you know who to call Teen Titans! From the town where they can't see at all Teen Titans! When the beasts go on the attack You can press them when they got their back Cause when the world needs heroes of control

2:08:01Teen Titans! Go!

2:08:10I can't. Oh my god, if you think about it, it's actually kind of hot that Theodore's Robin and fucking Avery's Beast Boy. I don't know. I should have voiced him like this the whole time. I'm going to turn into an elephant and give you belly kisses.

2:08:28It's so hot, dude. Ship that. Ship that now! Ship it!

2:08:44Are you making elephant noises? Yeah. How did you do that? It came through so distorted on the Discord. It's like I was hearing an elephant through a Ouija board.

2:09:06I'm not moving my hand, are you? No, I'm not. It spills out. P-F-T-P-P-F-T. Oh, my God. P-F-T-P-P-P-P-P.

2:09:26Are we talking to a dead elephant? What is this? It's either an elephant or it's a beast boy from Teen Titans. I don't know which one.

2:09:41Him saying go to heck was pretty hard though, huh? Yeah, bro. That was real cool. Come on, man. That was cool. It was badass. Yeah, that was really cool. Him saying it twice and the second time has periods after every word to let you know that he means business. You freaking go to heck. I'm tired of you dang robot scum. Second later, sirens began to sound as the lights everywhere turned red. I turned and started to run. A mind was reeling as I desperately tried to remember which way we came. This story's going to end and there's going to be zero explanation for why they can't watch TV on the 14th.

2:10:22Why the matchmakers exist. Why you have to be 18 to know about this. Why you can't go in the water. It's just going to be like, oh, we'll never know. I bet you there's a commercial for the matchmaker on the 14th. Go watch it For the matchmaker? Yeah, something like that They know about the matchmakers Because before they're 18 They know that they're going to get the slips, right? I don't fucking know Who knows? Yeah, you're right, whatever Who cares? My mind was reeling as I desperately tried to remember which way we came All other thoughts being pushed aside I didn't know how many bullets were left in the gun And I didn't stop to check Left, right Left, right Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Straight down this hallway, another left.

2:11:04I was sprinting as fast as I could, my sneakers squeaking against the white tile floors. Above me, the noise was thunderous. It sounded like people were running. I tried to run faster. Avery, I thought to myself, you have to get to Avery. I turned left again and knew I had gone the right way. I burst into the room I had come from, the room now empty, no nurses or anyone in sight. I ran towards the glass wall where Avery lay on the other side. I'm coming. I said softly knowing that he couldn't hear me I'm gonna just roll over that I put the gun down not wanting to waste any bullets I grabbed a chair adrenaline coursing through me as I swanked at the wall again

2:11:51at the wall again and again cracks forming each time I hit it Each hit was fueled by emotions. I pushed down. This is for the lies. I thought as I swung. This is for the pain. I swung. I paused, panting. This is for Avery. I took a paddle and saw the glass shattering around me.

2:12:21Throwing the chair away, I ran over the broken glass to Avery. With shaking hands, I took off the mask, throwing it to the side. I put my hand to his face, my entire body shaking. Wake up, baby. Come on, wake up, baby, please. I whispered, shaking his shoulders lightly. Avery, please. Please, baby, wake up. I whispered, feeling a sob starting to creep up in my throat. You can't leave me. Whispered, my voice shaking. I need you, Avery, please. Baby, please wake up! Tears started to cloud my vision, which is why I thought the flutter of his eyelids was my mind playing tricks, showing me what I wanted to see.

2:13:07Theo? My body froze, my breath still. His eyes opened slowly, and it wasn't until I saw the dark, navy blue of them that I allowed myself to breathe, short, relieved breath escaping out of me. I couldn't let myself go through what I was feeling right now. There was no time. Avery, I need you to listen to me. you need to get up can he can he get up i asked quickly my eyes glancing over him um i i i i think though do you know what do you trust me i asked suddenly the irony not being lost on me every day and hesitate before he nodded then please question later we need to go Avery gave me a quick searching look before nodding again.

2:13:54So earlier when the phrase, do you trust me was brought up? It was when Avery was asking Theo to trust him, a stranger in this like new world. Yeah. And all Avery asked was what's going on. And he's like, you trust me. It's like, well, that's not really what I was asking. I was asking what's going on. Obviously it's understood that I'm going to follow you out of here. There's a weird parallel. Cause the first time when Avery says it is whenever they're first introducing diaper play into the relationship. Okay. All right. Okay. All right. I took his hand Avery gave me a quick searching look before nodding again I took his hand helping him out of the bed and noticing his wince once he put pressure on his foot I'm fine he said noticing my look lead the way he said softly it was then I realized that I had his full unwavering trust I felt a surge of admiration for him what happened to Avery again why is he injured I got fwicked up all right i nodded walking a few paces and picking up the gun that i had set down i noticed avery was limping on his injured foot without a word i crossed over to him sliding an arm underneath his so that he could put some of his weight on me thanks he said quietly i nodded of course the sirens didn't stop as we pushed our way out the door muffled yells and voices were coming from behind us we have to hurry i said avery picking up on the unease in my voice and tried to walk as fast as he could on his foot.

2:15:20Is there an exit? He said, wincing as we half ran down the halls. There is. I think I saw one around here. I said, looking around and to my relief saw one of the glowing red signs for an emergency exit at the end of the hallway we were in. There. Come on. I said, hearing the voices get louder. We were only a few hundred feet away. We can make it. We can make it. Loud cracks suddenly filled the air as I realized the people behind us were starting to shoot. Bullets ricocheting off the walls i had a feeling that as soon as we got to the exit they wouldn't be able to follow we tucked our heads as we tried to zigzag down the hall bleedingly i turned my head to look at the people who were shooting i wanted to look away instantly i wasn't sure if you could call them people they were in all black their limbs too long too thin masks and helmet covering each one's heads another crack sounded and i felt avery slip out from under me as he screamed It only took me a second to realize what happened.

2:16:16Avery! Avery, no! I yelled, turning around to see five people in all black coming towards us, and more far behind them. I held up the gun, praying that there were enough bullets as I fired off rounds, watching the same sparks appear as they did with the old man. Avery was on the ground, clutching his leg and groaning. I tried to pull the trigger again, but the gun clipped empty. Avery heard the gun click empty. Damn! God, there's too many! the door's like that you go i can't move he said groaning his hands painted red with blood my heartbeat thundered in my ears no no in your words avery fuck that there's no way in hell i'm leaving you here i said forcefully despite the pain i could have sworn i saw a flicker of a smile on avery's face give me your arm said hurriedly glancing up seeing more of those things start to turn the corner.

2:17:10Panic sees me as I grabbed Avery's arms. I started to pull him towards the door. Only a few feet away, we could make it. More of the things in black were now jumping over the bodies of the ones that I shot. I turned around, reaching the door to handle as the things raised their guns. With the final yank, I pulled Avery towards me just as I opened the door, pulling us both through the door slam closed. I felt myself land hard on a rocky surface, but I wasn't paying attention. My eyes were on the door, which now looked like a wooden board against a run-down building. Second passed, and a few more.

2:17:40No one came out. Looking around frantically, I spotted Avery on the ground next to me, looking like he was going to pass out, blood flowing freely from his leg. I scrambled towards him. No, no, no, no, Avery! I said, my voice shaking as he looked up at me. Damn. No, no, don't talk. I'm going to get help. I didn't hear that. He asked quietly, cutting me off. I paused, listening as I looked around. we were what looked like an alley sound of cars and people chattering filled my ears familiar scent of pizza due to the overabundance of pizza shops filling my nose my breath caught in my throat we were home wait this isn't like a small community this is like a massive city with alleys and buildings that everyone is whatever but what who cares babe come on we're gonna be late i yelled across the house as i started to button up my shirt my finger lingering for half a second over the scar that ran across the middle of my stomach or buttoning my shirt up over it.

2:18:37I try not to think about what happened five years ago. Some of the blanks I filled in for myself. There were some questions that were best left unanswered. We are not going to be late. Don't be so dramatic. Now, so the twist is going to be, this is several years later and that Avery died. And just as we predicted earlier as a joke, he will now be married to a woman named Avery. Maybe. I guarantee that's where this is. I think it's just going to be a very quick ending of happily ever after. And it's done. Nope. Nope. I think he's married to a girl named Avery. He has conformed to society standards and gender roles and norms and has rejected the apparently state enforced, but not state enforced homosexuality.

2:19:22So now he's state enforced heterosexual because of the name, I guess. A voice came from around the corner. I turned, smiling at the familiar sight of a tall figure with dark hair. Avery, I swear, you try to make us late every time we go anywhere with my dad. I said, facing back towards the mirror, reaching for another button before I felt someone's hand there instead. Avery turned me towards him. Okay, you're right, you're right. My bad. Avery turned me towards him, starting to do my buttons up himself. That's crazy. And even if I was, I'd be justified in doing so. That freaking scares me. He said with a small smile.

2:20:00his fingers brushing lightly against my skin as he continued to do up the buttons. That's ridiculous. You've known him for five years. I said, rolling my eyes to distract from the fact that even after five years, his touch still made my heartbeat feel like it was going to escape out of my chest. Still scary. Also, why do your parents have to fly downhill every year for your birthday? Because they couldn't fathom the fact that we moved so far away. How are you still putting exposition into the story? Also, I like seeing you get dressed up Which you only do when they're around Isaiah, a smile tugging on the corners of my lips Every pause for a moment Bringing his eyes up to meet mine Yeah He said quietly, smiling enough that I could see his dimples I swallowed Stop swallowing Yeah I said back smiling as he finished doing up my buttons I put my arms around him I'll remind you that our anniversary is next week week which is celebrated without any fan members if it makes you feel better said my finger absent-mindedly running over his shoulder i'd still like to debate about when exactly our anniversary should be is it the day we got married or is the day we realized life was a hollow shell oh my god or the day oh my god i'd still like to debate when exactly our anniversary should be is it the day we got married or the day when we realized life was just a hollow shell unless you knew my heart was beating somewhere nearby.

2:21:32Can we talk about that? Can we think? I want to actually get set of the score. It's trying to do the cutesy like and they all lived happily ever after. When is our anniversary? When we got married or blah blah blah. But it's had no build up. It's just like, well they're in love because they're in love. It's cute because it's cute. It's cute because I said it's cute. I'm writing things that are considered cute. It's cute! You know what, Hunter? No, it's not. No, it is cute. I can't do this anymore. This is not cute. It is a lie. It is a farce. It spits in the face of things that are cute. It means nothing.

2:22:04Why don't you sing Train? Why don't you sing Train? You were good at that. Why don't you bring back there? She's back in the atmosphere. You know, keep going. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He said with a teasing smile, I couldn't help but match his smile as I rolled my eyes. Whatever you want. Although that would make our anniversary the same day as my birthday Which means we'd celebrate with my parents I said moving my hands up across his shoulders to his chest Definitely not I wouldn't want to give you an anniversary present in front of your parents What dude? What? That's hot That's cute I wouldn't want to give you a present in front of your parents it's just it's just being like every stereotypical lovey-dovey thing ever yeah and it's nice this is what horror is dude hope you realize that this is the best horse this is r slash no sleep okay this is a scary story dude this is terrifying he said grinning i smacked him lightly on the chest my hand slid into his hair pulling him down for a kiss holding it for a moment to let myself enjoy the familiar shot of warmth that came with it before pulling away

2:23:22I can't help but remember thinking at that moment how perfectly beautiful life was despite all that we had gone through in that moment life was perfect life was without issue then there's text at the end that says Theodore Aiden and then is that Morse code yeah it's Morse code okay hold on let me put this through a translator real quick uh so i'm gonna go on a limb and say that is one of the worst stories we've ever read in my life oh easy easy easy and i hate that this is even on the rc this is not even a there's so much left open this is so dumb i i also hate is this the first story we've read with gay characters or like gay like a gay protagonist didn't left right game have a couple that was there was gay characters but it wasn't the protagonist right yeah this is probably the first gay protagonist yeah and it's like oh it's like a horribly written story where every piece of quote unquote romance or writing is just a like contrivance it's just a stereotype laid out you're supposed to believe it okay so the Morse code says Theodore Aiden and then the word acronym I don't know what I don't think that Aiden what's that mean who's Aiden his name's Avery right I don't know I don't know all I know is trying to incorporate some I don't care all I know is uh I would go up to my buddy Joseph and I'd fucking shoot him in the face with a real gun not imaginary gun I would shoot him in the face and be like this is what you fucking get idiot or I would fucking throw his ass in the water, right?

2:25:10You know what the problem is? Is that the biggest problem with this story is that the horror of it is being like, oh, these weird creatures with smiles on their face. It's like very Jeff the Killer kind of like, it's so creepy that they're smiling in this way. Oh my God, there's a man with no face. You guys just like went to an apartment building and you had like, it was just amazing. Like you guys, it was, there was no threat. you have an imaginary gun whatever the fuck that means you go into like these backroom style situation where the guy's like well we need match it's just none of it matters to the point where why even none of it connects none of it makes sense yeah why have all that stuff if anything why not just make it like a romance story where it's like somebody's gotten kidnapped and you're trying to find them or you know just something like don't post it on r slash no sleep or you can make it unsettling and horrifying or something like that there's no interest in that the only thing that the only thing that was remotely scary is like the lost ones you can just shoot the only thing that was scary it was just like a hallmark film the only thing that was scary was Theodore's dialogue the entire time that was the most frightening that was rough that was rough go a lot of a lot of Avery's wasn't either heck you go to heck and you die mother fucker okay yeah this is hold on hold on some of these comments dude some of these comments oh yeah so people are trying to like figure out the Morse code and they're like Aiden could stand for Avery is dead but I'm not sure what the E and N would be for like maybe it's an acronym if I ignore half the letters like listen to this one so his soulmate is probably actually Aiden and Avery's shadow creature replaced Avery in the below just before they got out or in the lab Avery has been calling out to his two boyfriends past and present because he's lost somewhere.

2:27:05What are you talking about? I smoking. This is absolutely insane. This has been creep cast. Look, look, look, look. This was probably written by a kid in middle school or high school. Probably someone who, you know, may have been struggling with their own sexuality. And with that, it's cool. It's fine. But for what it is reading it, it was miserable. I hope that I hope they continued to write and got better. But yeah, it was rough. Well, she's back in the atmosphere. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. At the exact same time. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Since the return. She. She listens. She talks. Yeah.

2:28:01Yeah. Did you sail across the sun? Did you make it to the Milky Way to see her lights all faded? That heaven is overrated. Tell me, was it everything you wanted to find? Did you miss me while you were looking for yourself? Isaiah, can we make a vote that if in any regard, if it ever goes into romance fantasy, we get to veto the story. I don't want to read romance fantasy anymore. I know. You are the one that said at one point you would love to read Smut for this show. So I feel like this wasn't Smut. This was like, this was just someone being like, I hope he gives me belly kisses. I was wanting a centaur man.

2:28:55He's like, you need to stay in my cottage. And she's like, oh my God, and this is he's so beautiful if it went in that direction where it's like so over the top but this just felt this made me sad wait but you just came up with that on your own a centaur man that's like aggressively protected yeah he's got a big old donkey dick why not alright alright okay alright I'm out of here bye I'm leaving thank you to also the audio listeners if you stay if you just stuck through this I want you to know you deserve a fucking medal alright if you if you said if anyone made it to the end of this spot I want you to leave a comment in the comment section with your hand up and said I survived this fucking episode because it was horrible I'm sorry this was my idea to read this episode too and I feel horrible I feel horrible tell me did you sail across the sun did you make it to the Milky Way thank you to all of our Patreon supporters thank you to everyone who watched it means the world appreciate the support and we will see you all in the next one and also

2:30:03stay away from England I think that's the underlining moral to this whole thing bye

2:30:32Thank you.

2:31:07The End

2:31:28Monday on NBC