56

[perfectsymmetry]

[Since Christmas morning, Crowe had been trapped in a nightmare while awake. Mayfield had played on his biggest fear and left him completely alone in what he perceived to be a town full of corpses. He was sure it was a dream at first, but as time wore on, it was getting harder to tell. He hid in his room, keeping away from the slowly rotting bodies of his friends and neighbors, unsure of what to do with himself. All he could do was distract himself with his books and his journal project, but he couldn't focus. He couldn't sleep or eat. He was starting to wonder if this really did happen all because of the stupid letter he wrote.

Anyone who tried to interact with him during these few days was unable to get through to him. It was like he was sleepwalking, and nothing would wake him up.

He managed to fall asleep last night, and wakes up today expecting to see the same thing. Instead, he sees that his room has been rummaged through, his journal open on his bed with nothing written in it, and a note that fell off of him and was now sticking to the bed. The same note was on his bedroom door - "YOU'RE NEVER ALONE".

He stared at these for a few seconds, before bolting out of his room and looking for signs of life in his house. Was he asleep this whole time? Was it just an illusion?]


[Crowe makes a call to the town this morning. There's silence for a few moments before he speaks.]

...Ah. Um, so i-it's the twenty-ninth already? Time certainly does go by fast here, doesn't it. I-is everyone out there alright? Holidays here can be rough in Mayfield, Christmas i-is no exception... Just, ah, let me know if anyone needs anything, yeah? I-I'll do whatever I can. Someone, um, someone just call me back. Anyone. Please?

Comments

[survived]

[It takes a few minutes for Finland to respond, and even when he does it's not too difficult to tell that his voice is laced with fake cheer.]

Moi! Do you need to talk?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[HIM TOO. Thanks, Mayfield.]

Ah, Finland... ah, I just... it's been a strange few days. Are you alright....?

[wolf-faerie.livejournal.com]

Crowe...?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Aisling… did you get through Christmas okay?

[ex_seventh238]

...Thank goodness, you're finally awake.

The better question is what you need, Crowe. A lot has happened on Christmas, but thankfully, things are calming down. Do you need anything? If you don't mind, I'd like to come over now, so if there were any errands that you were thinking of running, I can help. [Because intuition tells her that he can use company right now, above all else.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Miss Ciel …do you know, was I asleep the last few days, o-or...

Ah, well, I suppose I do have to do my paper route …

[ohlookboobs.livejournal.com]

...Crowe?!

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

...yes...?

[beamiracle.livejournal.com]

I'm fine now, though I don't know if I can say the same about everyone else...

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

What... what had happened? Are people still... Ah, I guess it depended on what sort of letter they sent to "Santa".

[artwithknives.livejournal.com]

...I'm answering back so, yeah.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Good. Ah, did you make is through Christmas in one piece then? It sounds like it was rough for most people.

[tsundorapettan.livejournal.com]

... Crowe? What's going on?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

It's nothing. Mayfield just... was messing with me the last few days.

[grand-theft-moe.livejournal.com]

You opened one of the town's presents didn't you.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

...yeah. [He sighs. A dumb move, but he didn't know who it was from.]

[bestwishes]

Crowe! I've been worried about you, you've been non-responsive this whole time...

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He looks surprisingly happy to see you. And then relieved. It's over, oh thank God.]

Ash, I.... I'm sorry to have worried you. I was... I guess I was dreaming.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Crowe? You ok there kiddo?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Y-Yeah, I'm just... I'm glad to be back. Or that it's over. O-Or whatever happened. Did you make it through Christmas okay?

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

[Sounds like he drops the phone at least once before talking]

Crowe? Is that you?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's me.

[russefeiring.livejournal.com]

<sub>[Normally he would respond in a heartbeat, but this time he can't bring himself to reply for a long time. When he does, it's quiet.]

I thought I did something wrong.</sub>

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

N-Norway... no, never, you couldn't …you just have seen me while I was still under the effect. Ash and Miss Ciel said no one could get through to me. A-As far as I could see... everyone in town was dead, a-and…

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Crowe! You're back?

[Lucas sounds a little the worse for the wear himself, but his voice is generally cheerful.]

Or, I guess you never left, but . . . you know what I mean. You can hear me?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can hear you. I guess you saw me while I was still... ah, not seeing things right, eh?