Archive of Our Own

Alex rarely gets sick.

He’s not immune by any means, he gets colds like everyone else, but they’re few and far in between and he shakes them off quicker than most of his peers. He’s always had a strong immune system, it’s just the way he’s grown up.

So sure, maybe Alex was due for another cold sooner or later, but unlike the rest, this one seems to want to stick around.

Alex gets into coughing fits in the middle of class, having to be excused to take a minute and get it all out in the hall. He gets chills in the middle of summer that are hard to shake off and his friends are starting to complain about how hot it is in his house when they visit and yet, Alex still feels like it’s barely warm. He rarely leaves the house without a jacket these days.

The final straw is when he spaces out in the middle of a conversation with Brian. Not just ‘Got distracted’ spacing out but a more feverish spacing out. One that has Brian pressing the back of his hand to Alex’s forehead and frowning deeply.

“I know you said you were shaking off your cold but I feel like it’s just gotten worse.” Brian tells him. “And I get it, I’ve been getting into coughing fits too, but you’ve got it worse than me!”

“‘m fine.” Alex mumbles, rolling his eyes. “Seriously, Bri. I can take care of myself.”

“At least let me drive you to the doctor.” Brian insists. He has a look in his eye that tells Alex he won’t be letting this go so Alex considers his battles and surrenders this one.

“Fine.” Alex huffs. “But I’m picking the music. I’m not dealing with yours the whole ride over.”

“Which means if it’s ever a song that’s played on the radio, it’s a no-go?” Brian teases and Alex resists the urge to groan.

The doctor looks him over but can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong. It’s not a common cold, she tells him. It’s something else.

In the end, Alex is told to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water in hopes that his body will take care of it on its own. Brian isn’t satisfied with the conclusion and insists on getting Alex some soup to take home. The only reason Alex accepts it is so Brian will stop hounding him.

He’s gotten sick before. Really, it’s more of an inconvenience than anything because it means he has to take a break from production. Brian made it clear that he doesn’t care if Alex claims directing isn’t strenuous and that he can still take care of it even if he’s sick, he’s resting.

But just because Alex is apparently on house arrest for being sick and can’t location scout doesn’t mean that someone else can’t in his place.

There aren’t a lot of people Alex would trust to take over his job for him when it comes to his magnum opus but Jay is one of them. Nothing too big though, Alex still wants to do the actual directing himself, but he outfits Jay with one of his spare cameras, a bag full of tapes he bought for production, and a list of locations.

Jay’s a film student like him. He’s his script supervisor too— he’ll know what locations will work best for what scenes because he’s read the script as much as Alex himself has. He understands Alex in a way that Brian, Tim, Seth, or Sarah don’t.

The art of film is a delicate thing. Only a fellow film student would truly understand what he needs. And for that reason, Jay was the obvious choice.

Jay gives him a mock salute when Alex sends him off but genuinely thanks Alex for trusting him. Alex insists that it’s nothing— he’s the only one he could trust for this sort of thing. Jay seems to take pride in that and Alex watches Jay leave, left to the company of a mostly empty house aside from Rocky.

Despite his protests to having to rest he made to Brian, Alex ends up passing out early and sleeps for hours on end. He only wakes up before he passes the 'Been asleep for a full day' mark because Rocky starts nudging him, concerned that he's been unmoving for so long.

Maybe he really was sicker than he thought.

—

Alex doesn’t really get better per say. His cough never leaves him, he finds it harder to sleep, and sometimes he swears he sees something moving outside his window but he gets sick of getting cooped up because it makes him feel worse.

Not to mention, whatever sickness Alex caught has gotten to Brian too and when Alex points out that he’s being a hypocrite for not resting up like he is, Brian finally backs off. Alex takes it as a win and finally gets to start production back up in full swing.

He arranges to meet up with Jay a few days prior to his first day back filming. They end up at Jay’s place because Alex is sick of his, and as a thank you, Alex buys him coffee, the first of many.

Jay looks like he needs it too. There are bags forming under his eyes and he’s a little twitcher than usual. He gladly accepts and chugs the coffee, groaning in relief as if it’s pushed a weight off his shoulder.

“Thanks…” Jay mumbles, then covers his mouth as he yawns. “Sorry, couldn’t sleep much last night.”

“I can see that.” Alex says, a little blunter than he intended. Jay winces and he’s quick to try and remedy the situation. “You doing alright? You look like you could use a nap.”

“I probably could. Just been having trouble falling asleep lately so I’m not sure I’d be able to if I tried.”

Alex hums sympathetically. He’s been in the same boat recently. “Well if you need anything, don’t hesitate. Anyways, I hate to change the topic but how did location scouting go?”

Jay retrieves a notepad and flips it open to a few pages in. “Pretty good— I took Seth with me to a few of them but I have most of the footage on the tapes. Or, uh…” Jay trails off sheepishly. “Some parts of the tape got… Corrupted? I salvaged as much as I could but I could only do so much.”

“Corrupted?” Alex echoes, eyebrows furrowing.

“Yeah. Audio distortions, visual tears— that kind of stuff. But uh, I wrote down a lot of notes while we were there so hopefully that should make up for it.”

Jay pushes the notepad towards Alex for him to see. The notes are detailed, referencing several spots that would be good for specific scenes and good general places as well. Jay gets up and hands over photos of the places for visual reference as well.

Alex doesn’t have to think about how to compliment his work, it comes out naturally. “This is… This is perfect, Jay!” He can’t keep the grin off his face. He can already visualize the scenes from the pictures alone— a good, nay, great sign. “You saved me so much lost time— I owe you big time for this!”

“Keep buying me coffee during shoots and we’ll call it even.” Jay jokes but Alex plans to do just that.

Alex reviews the notes, nodding along to himself, but his eyes are drawn to something scribbled in the corners of the paper. Some sort of… Symbol?

“What’s that?” Alex asks curiously, pointing it out to Jay. Jay follows his finger and blinks owlishly.

“Oh.” Jay says, sounding almost detached. “I forgot I did that. I dunno— got bored during the drive back I think?”

“What does it mean?”

Jay shrugs. “I don’t think it means anything. It’s just an O with an X through it. Not that hard to do.”

“Fair enough.” Alex gathers the notes and the photos, looking back up at Jay. “Can I have the tapes or..?”

“Oh! Yeah.” Jay fumbles around his living room before he locates them. “All of them or just the ones I used?”

“Just the ones you used. Keep some of the others and the camera, I might need your help again.” Alex tells him, and Jay nods and hands a handful of tapes over. “Thanks again— seriously, you have no idea how much this means to me!”

Jay smiles, tired but grateful nonetheless. “Thanks. Happy to help.”

Alex pats his shoulder. “Get some sleep, you look like you need it.”

—

Jay doesn’t look much better the next time Alex sees him. He seems almost frayed at the edges, somehow getting even less sleep than he last saw him and jumps when Alex has to yell to get his attention.

He mumbles out excuses about feeling restless rather than giving an actual answer. Alex can’t fault him, he gets it. He extends the offer for Jay to help him with Marble Hornets a little more to give him something to do and Jay takes it as eagerly as a hungry dog given a steak.

Alex could always use extra hands anyways. He’s not giving him too hard of work, just assigns him to film some b-roll, but Jay accepts the job and doesn’t hesitate to get to work.

Though Jay ends up taking on a more work than Alex gives him. When it’s not b-roll, it’s editing alongside Seth. Or going over the script again. Or standing by Alex as he directs everyone else what to do even when he doesn’t need to be there.

Alex isn’t sure if it’s helping or not. If anything, Jay seems to be getting worse. He stares off into space sometimes like he’s somewhere else entirely or forgets whole conversations that they’ve had. Not to mention, he’s caught whatever cold Alex does and sounds like he’s coughing up a lung sometimes.

But Jay insists he’s fine. Alex might not believe him but he already tried to send him home to rest a few times and Jay puts up a hell of a fight each time. The only time he actually managed to succeed was after Jay snapped at Seth for prodding and Alex put his foot down and told him to go home and cool off. Jay came back looking like a zombie the next day.

Alex doesn’t know how he got worse but he learns his lesson. If Jay wants something to do, he can give it to him. Nothing too taxing, just enough to keep him busy and happy.

He tries not to pry but Alex does take some cans of soup he has lying around and brings them over to Jay when he hears him spit something up during a shoot once.

Jay cracks the door open and gives a weary smile upon seeing him but Alex’s attention is taken elsewhere.

“That’s a lot of paper.” Alex finds himself saying, eyeing the vast amounts all over the house. They’ve all been scribbled on— Alex can’t make out many details but he thinks he sees… Frantic writing?

Jay glances back and self consciously blocks Alex’s view of it with his body. “It’s… A long story.” Jay says. He’s got a camera in one hand, pointed at Alex. The blinking light tells Alex it’s on. “Did you need something?”

“You sounded sick earlier so,” Alex holds out the plastic bag for Jay to take. “Nothing much. Brian bought me a bunch when I was on sick leave and I had extras I knew I wasn’t gonna eat anytime soon.”

Jay takes it with a soft ‘Thank you’ but his eyes look far away. “I… I have to go.” Jay says, closing the door. “Thanks for stopping by.”

“Wait.” Alex manages to stop him, if only temporarily. “You should really see a doctor. You don’t look so good.”

“I already did.” Jay tells him. He smiles thinly. “They couldn’t find anything wrong with me.”

Jay shuts the door, leaving Alex with only his words and a feeling of dread in his stomach.

—

His impromptu visit to his apartment might’ve been the first time Alex had seen Jay carrying his borrowed camera around while it’s recording but it certainly isn’t the last.

In the coming weeks, Jay seems to record everything.

“I was thinking we could get some behind the scenes footage?” Jay sputters out when Alex asks him about it. He’s been doing that a lot lately. Jay has been getting increasingly on edge and Alex hasn’t the slightest why.

Though behind the scenes footage is a good idea, Alex will admit. And Jay looks like he might fall apart into a nervous wreck if Alex tries to take his camera from him so he backs off. Tells him to keep up the good work in hopes of earning a smile out of him. Which he does get, though fleeting.

But apparently it’s not just the shoots either. Seth informs him that Jay takes that camera just about everywhere with him— both inside and outside his home. He tells Alex that he’s bought even more tapes and burns through them like fire to a pile of straw.

As if Alex wasn’t already concerned enough.

It’s the final push he needs. Alex invites Jay out to get dinner and talk, which thankfully Jay accepts.

Alex takes him to a local pub because Jay needs something warm and filling, getting a nice corner booth for some privacy. Jay doesn’t look any better when he shows up but he smiles like he is.

They order first. Once the waiter is gone, Alex clasps his hands together in front of him and makes sure he has Jay’s attention before starting with, “Have you been feeling alright, Jay?”

Jay’s shoulders sink a little, huffing. “Is that what this is about?”

“Partially.” Alex admits. “Also you deserve it for all the hard work you’ve done. But— Jay, you don’t look well. And I’m trying not to meddle as much as Brian but you’re practically my second in command at this point so if you’re working for me, I have to make sure you’re actually fit to do it. Wouldn't be a good director if I let your health decline because of me.”

Jay averts his gaze, rubbing the back of his neck almost guiltily. “It’s… Complicated.” He admits. “I’m sick but I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Still can’t find anything that exactly matches up.”

Alex nods along— he doesn’t have it as bad as Jay but he does understand that aspect.

“And…” Jay swallows thickly. “Alex…” He meets his gaze again, deadly serious. “Do you believe in… High powers?”

“What, like god?”

“Kinda. Not exactly but… Imagine there’s something out there— something alive— with power beyond your comprehension. And you meet this hypothetical thing. What do you do?”

Alex pursues his lips. “Well… Does this thing like me or..?”

Jay falters. “Y… Yes? It’s… Interested. Hard to tell if it can actually feel in the same way.”

“Okay.” Alex says slowly, frowning. He doesn’t know where this is going but he wants to play along for Jay’s sake at the very least. “I guess that would be the equivalent of liking me then. I don’t know, I guess I’d want to ask what it knows.”

Jay stares at him. “…Ask it?”

“Yeah— it’s powerful in this scenario, right? Probably can communicate on some level. So I’d question what it wants from me.”

His eyes haven’t left him. “Huh. I didn’t think of that answer.”

“What is this about?”

“Complicated.” Jay breathes again. “But… I have been running away from… My problem for a while now. Maybe it’s better to face it head on?”

“Need any help from me?” Alex offers, but Jay shakes his head.

“I can deal with it on my own. Thank you, though.”

Alex smiles. Jay smiles back.

They eat. Alex makes most of the conversation and Jay largely nods along but once or twice, Alex finds him staring off into space— particularly the windows.

Alex drives Jay back to his place and tells him to call if he needs anything. Jay waves him off from the driveway as Alex backs up.

Though as he drives away, Alex glances in his rear view mirror and notes that Jay doesn’t head into his apartment, but rather, walks off into the night with intent.

—

Jay gets better.

Alex doesn’t know how but he does. His violent coughing reaches its crescendo but then he disappears for a day and a half and when he shows up again, suddenly and abruptly, it stops.

He still looks tired. If the bags under his eyes are indicative of anything, Jay has not been sleeping any better than before, but he’s different now. He stops coughing, he’s more composed as if he’s adjusted to the lack of sleep all on his own, and frankly, he functions better than Alex himself.

There’s a different air about him too. It’s hard to put into the right words but it reminds Alex of a winter chill. And there’s a look in his eyes sometimes of Knowing.

Knowing what, Alex isn’t sure. Jay just seems to Know something and by the way he acts, it’s something nobody else does. Like he’s privy to information untouched by the rest of them and carries himself like it too. Like Jay takes pride in this fact and doesn’t intend to share it with the class.

Maybe Alex is over thinking things. Maybe his own sickness is making him see something that isn’t there— it wouldn’t be the first time.

But it’s an indisputable fact that Jay has gotten better, if only just. Alex envies it every time he gets into a coughing fit but Jay is left untouched.

He wonders if he’ll get better too.

(Something inside of him doubts it, though he doesn’t know why.)

Things change and Jay almost feels like the center of it all. Tapes disappear from where they should be— tapes that were important somehow and yet, Alex can’t for the life of him remember what was on them. Were they important scenes? B-roll he needs? Or something else entirely?

He doesn’t remember. Alex feels like he should but it’s like trying to catch mist— a futile effort where he might feel the cool brush of what he wants under his fingertips but there’s nothing there when he looks.

Jay feels like a completely different person sometimes too. Colder, even when he’s being friendly. Detached from the conversation, but not spacing out like Alex is but rather, willingly. Like he’s already deemed it unimportant. Like there’s something he compares everything to and anything that is below it isn’t worth it.

Sometimes he acts like regular ol’ Jay but even that isn’t right anymore. It’s almost like an act now. Like Jay slips on a mask and plays a part to appease the people around him. Acts as how they expect him to so they won’t look any closer.

Alex thinks he’s losing his mind. He’s probably reading into this too much. Jay is allowed to change how he likes, he’s not a static character like in the movies, he’s a person. Who is Alex to judge him?

It’s nothing. Nothing at all. Everything is fine.

He’s getting close to finishing Marble Hornets anyhow. If anything, Alex should be focusing on that, not his friend who is going through some changes in his life.

Everything Is Fine.

—

It’s subtle at first. Blink and you miss it type thing, he thinks.

But Alex was always one for details so he noticed. Even when nobody else does.

It’s probably nothing. It’s probably something easily explainable.

But Alex can’t seem to get ahold of Seth.

When was the last time he saw him? Think Kralie. Jay needed him, hadn’t he? Said he found another location Alex might like— one for a specific scene he had been struggling to imagine with their current options.

Jay had said it so… Perfectly? Like it was designed to appeal to him specifically. Carefully crafted, which was silly because why would Jay feel the need to do that? He was just helping out. He knew Alex was looking for better options and offered a solution of his own. He just needed to borrow Alex’s cameraman, and who was he to say no?

Seth seemed almost… Wary when Alex asked him to accompany Jay. There was an air to him too, same as Jay, a Knowing. Catching onto something Alex couldn’t see.

But he had went along with it so it was clearly nothing. Or, maybe it would’ve been nothing but Alex had yet to see him since.

Was that important? Was there something he wasn’t catching or was Seth just busy? Maybe a family emergency had come up. Maybe Seth had got caught up in catching up on his classes— he had been sick recently too, just the same as the rest of them. They all caught the same sickness, probably from the close proximity of filming.

Was that important? Alex couldn’t remember if it was. It was just some sort of bad cold going around, wasn’t it?

(The doctors could never figure out what was wrong with him. No matter how much cold medicine Alex consumed, it never quite went away.)

It didn’t matter. Another unimportant detail he fixated on for no reason.

Seth was probably fine. He would call back soon enough and they’d have a laugh at how foolish Alex had been before.

But then there was Sarah. She stopped answering too.

There wasn’t any sort of warning with her. It had been abrupt— Alex couldn’t even remember the last time he saw her. It had been during a shoot, he knows, but the details are foggy. Nothing sticks out to Alex now that he’s thinking back. She had seemed as normal as ever, sick like the rest of them but managing.

Alex tried to follow up. He went to her place and everything, but her roommate claimed she hadn’t been back in a while. They had been unconcerned about this fact so maybe Alex should’ve been too.

But that was his lead actress so maybe he was allowed to be a little worried.

Maybe she needed a break. Maybe she had gone out of town to stay with family because she was tired and clearly sick. Maybe Alex should stay out of her business.

It was nothing. Really, it was nothing.

Alex didn’t know why it was so important for it to be nothing. He couldn’t seem to get it out of his head. Like it was planted there— a weed come to sap out all the energy he had and leave him with nothing.

Seth was gone. Sarah was gone.

Then Tim shows up at his house, frayed at the edges but focused, looking to Alex like he had some sort of grand answer he was looking for.

“Alex,” Tim breathes, almost as if it’s a relief. “You’re still here.”

Alex blinks. Rocky is by his legs, not quite passing the threshold but still trying to inspect Tim. His tail is wagging so it must be okay— Rocky always had good judgment.

“Where else would I be?” Alex asks, frowning. Tim glances around like he’s afraid of someone seeing or hearing them.

…Except Alex doesn’t have neighbors. He lives in the middle of nowhere.

He might’ve found it weird but Alex has had the feeling he’s being watched for… A while now. It comes and goes like waves. So he can’t fault Tim for feeling it too.

“Can I come inside?” Tim asks. Alex steps aside with a gesture to come right in and Tim doesn’t hesitate for a second to squeeze past him. Rocky seems to approve Tim’s presence, tail continuing to wag when Tim gives him an awkward pat on the forehead.

Alex leads Tim to his couch and feels the need to offer him a drink like his mother taught him. Tim declines however. “I’ll only be here a few minutes tops.” He claims, and gives Alex a very serious look. “I need to ask you a few things and I need you to be completely honest with me.”

His tone is almost desperate but it’s not quite there. Urgent maybe? Either way, Alex finds himself nodding slowly, gesturing for him to go on.

“Okay first off— Seth and Sarah, have you seen either of them recently?”

“Not recently.” Alex admits. Did Tim notice too? Is he not alone? “I can’t remember when I last saw Sarah but Seth was going to scout a location with Jay. Haven’t seen him since then though.”

“With Jay?” Tim’s voice grows tighter. “Are you certain?” Alex nods. Tim puffs out a breath and even sitting across from him, Alex can see how sweaty Tim’s hands are. He curses under his breath but quickly says, “And have you noticed anything… Off lately?”

“Off how?”

“People experiencing changes in behavior,” Tim says, wringing his hands. “Seeing things out of the corner of your eye, a sickness you can’t explain?”

A lump forms in Alex’s throat. Suddenly he feels too seen— like Tim isn’t just looking at him but he can see past his skin and straight into his bones. He shivers involuntarily.

“Uh, yeah.” Alex has to cough into his elbow to get the words out, then ends up coughing a bit more violently than he intended. “I… A few times I…” He falters but Tim nods for him to continue with a face so open that it’s hard to resist not telling him. “A few times I woke up and thought I saw this— this tall thing looming over my bed. It’s not real though— gone when I turn on my lamp.”

“What does it look like? Remember any details?” Tim presses.

“I don’t know— just… Tall. Skinny? Again, it’s some weird stress-hallucination I see when it’s dark and I’m paranoid, it’s not real.”

Tim doesn’t say anything to that, though he does start chewing on his lip. “Anything else from what I listed?”

“I mean, I’ve been sick for months and it refuses to go away and everyone’s been changing but you already know about that.”

“I do.” Tim admits. “But what have you noticed specifically?”

Alex pauses. “Well Seth has been really on edge lately— not jumpy but like… It’s like he expects to be attacked at any moment? Brian is sleep deprived, Sarah is exhausted, and… Jay is just— I don’t even know what’s going on with him. It’s like he’s a whole different person sometimes.”

Tim nods. “And you said you saw Seth with Jay last?”

“They were supposed to go scout out a location together, yeah.”

“And when did you last talk to Brian?”

Alex blinks. “Last night I think? He called.”

“Do you remember what he said?”

“I…” Alex frowns. “He was… He said something felt funny to him. He… He told me what he was going to do and where he was going but…”

The call was last night. Alex shouldn’t be struggling as hard as he is trying to remember it and yet, the details fade away the second he tries to grasp them.

Brian was urgent too, just like Tim. He said it was something important.

Alex never forgets important things. Why was he now?

“I don’t remember.” The words slip right out of his mouth.

“That’s okay.” Tim’s voice was strangely sympathetic. Empathetic even? “Last question. This tall thing you see sometimes, when was the last time you saw it?”

“I think I woke up in the middle of the night and thought I saw it last night. I think it was 3AM?”

Tim breathes out slowly. “Right. Thank you, Alex.” He stands and closes the distance between them, clapping his hands on Alex’s shoulders to look him dead in the eye. “I’m going to tell you something and you need to remember it at all costs, okay Alex?”

Alex nods.

Tim opens his mouth.

The next thing Alex knows, he’s slumped up against the wall of his house with Rocky whining worriedly in his lap, the worst headache he’s ever had, and blood in his mouth.

Tim is long gone. It’s been three hours since he showed up if his clock is indicative of anything.

He doesn’t remember what Tim wanted him to remember so badly. He should probably call and ask but he’s so tired.

His eyes shut and Alex drifts.

—

In the morning, Alex tries to call Tim.

He doesn’t pick up.

Neither does Brian, Seth, or Sarah.

Jay does, however.

Jay says there’s something important he has to show him. A bit of a long drive but Alex will like what he sees.

Alex doesn’t remember most of the conversation. He doesn’t remember getting into his car and picking up Jay either but apparently he agreed to it because he’s doing so now.

He doesn’t know where everyone else is. Alex feels like he should know where his cast is but his head hurts just thinking about it. He tries to ask Jay but he’s waved off and told that they’re probably just busy.

Alex nods. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Finals are coming up. Of course they would be busy.

(But Brian already finished his and Tim claimed he only had one and that it would be pretty simple and Seth always texted Alex the days he would be busy so they could line up their schedules for shooting and Sarah was a master of multitasking and hadn’t once asked for a break during their shoot and it doesn’t make sense and— where are they where are they where—)

Alex doesn’t remember parking his car near a treeline. Jay must’ve directed him and he obeyed on instinct.

The fog in his head is heavy. Alex trudges through the gravel road as Jay leads the way on foot, humming as he does.

They pass an abandoned building that Alex wants to check out at first but Jay convinces him there’s a better one. They continue and as promised, they stumble across a second. Some sort of… Abandoned hospital?

“Isn’t this nice?” Jay comments as he leads Alex deeper inside. “It would be perfect for Brian’s old school.”

Alex nods along, trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes. “Uh, yeah.” He’s usually more energized than this when it comes to Marble Hornets but right now Alex struggles to so much as walk straight. He has to stop in place, taking off his glasses so he can rub his eyes.

He hears Jay stop too and when he looks up at him again, notes that his head is tilted. Not curious but… Expectant? No… That can’t be right, can it?

“Something wrong, Alex?” Jay asks in a voice that has an edge to it.

“Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night.” That’s true— he might’ve physically passed out but he was no less tired when he woke up. “It’s a good site though… I’ll have to check in with Brian to see when I can get him down here.”

“That might be hard considering Brian is no longer available.”

Alex blinks. He slips his glasses on again and sees an undeniably amused look on Jay’s face.

“…I don’t understand?” He breathes.

“Brian is no longer available.” Jay says. “Seth is no longer available. Sarah is no longer available. Tim is no longer available.”

“What do you—”

“Truthfully, I don’t know what it does with them.” Jay continues like Alex hasn’t said anything at all. He slowly pans over the area absentmindedly. “And I don’t think I care to know. It doesn’t matter to me anymore. I did what it wanted. I’ll be rewarded.”

His tone betrays malice now and Alex takes a step back without thinking about why. “…Jay?”

Jay turns to him with a glint in his eye and a smile sharper than it has any right to be. “Knowledge is power, right Kralie? If that’s the case, I’m the most dangerous man on Earth. And I’m only gonna get stronger.”

Static floods Alex’s mind and he cries out, dropping to the floor. Jay watches with morbid curiosity, twitching a little but resistant to the ringing in his ears.

“It’s nothing personal.” Jay tells him. “You were all just convenient. You all trusted me— or at least, some of you did. Sarah didn’t think much when I asked for her help. Brian thought he could help me. Seth knew too much. And Tim… Tim just got in the way.”

Jay crouches down but even then, Alex struggles to keep himself off the floor, meaning he still looms over Alex despite Alex normally being several inches taller than him.

“Really, I have you to thank. I wouldn’t have met it if you hadn’t assigned me to those locations and I wouldn’t have thought to confront it unless you gave me the idea.” Jay smiles— almost genuinely this time. “I talked to it. Heard it in my head. It chose me. It allows me to Know. I can’t stop now— I got a taste and I can’t give it up.”

“I— I don’t—” Alex wheezes between breaths and flinches when Jay lays a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s better if you give in. Who knows, maybe you’ll be like me.”

The static grows louder and louder until Alex feels his arms collapse from under him.

Everything goes dark.

—

Alex doesn’t know where he is. He doesn’t remember what happened. All he knows is cold dark alone alone alone—

Until he isn’t.

“You too, huh Kralie?”

Someone is talking to him but Alex is tired. Too tired to process who they are, much less any semblance of a response. All life has been zapped out of him and he is tired.

Hands guide him to stand. Alex obeys the will of the hands because they’re gentle with him and he has nowhere else to go.

He doesn’t remember a lot. He thinks he’s led into a car, then ends up at his house with Rocky whining worriedly and tucking himself as close to Alex as he can be. If Rocky isn’t barking at the one who helped him, they must be good, right?

A wrinkle of a plastic bag catches his attention. Alex blinks slowly as it’s placed next to him and shifts it just enough to see a good sized pile of tapes inside. Looking at them makes him feel sick.

“Keep those.” The voice tells him before he can push them away. “Watch them when you’re ready and… Stay safe, Alex. Stay low. Don’t let him find you again.”

They leave. Alex lets himself drift again, giving away into the comfort of the darkness in hopes that it’ll take away the exhaustion that has sunk in deep.

Alex is tired. So very tired.

—

Three years after Alex stopped production of Marble Hornets due to technological and personal complications, Amy comes to him and asks why he has a bag of tapes in the back of their closet.

Alex blinks at the question. He wasn’t aware there was one but Amy isn’t the film major so they must be his.

He holds out a hand and Amy hands it over. He turns the tapes over, frowning for a moment before it hits him.

“They’re probably from Marble Hornets.” Alex says at last. He manages to find one labeled just that and huffs a laugh. “I forgot I even had these.”

“Might be fun to rewatch them?” Amy prompts with a grin. “You never showed me any of your filming from it— I wanna see!”

“Alright, alright.” Alex laughs, plucking one at random. “I’ll find something to play them with and we can watch them together.”

Amy claps her hands together excitedly as Alex tracks down his old camera. The tape feels heavier in his hand than it should but he ignores it.

It’s been years since he’s been able to talk to anyone from the cast, it’ll be nice to see the good ol’ days again. It’ll probably be a lot of b-roll and dicking around but Alex suspects that Amy will be happy to see anything.

What harm can watching a couple of tapes do anyhow?