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

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

Is something wrong? You sound a bit... I guess worried?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Mayfield had me... occupied the last few days. I didn't know what was actually going on, so I-I wanted to make sure everyone was doing alright....

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

What did it do? I've been busy trying to stay away from others, just in case, since I heard several very strange calls.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

A lot of people had a tough time, from what I've heard just today. I uh... I was sort of having a waking dream, I guess. I-It seemed pretty real, though.

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

I see. Something you'd rather not speak on?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

...I suppose it doesn't matter now, it's not like it was real...

Um. I had asked for a peaceful Christmas, so Mayfield made it so that everyone in town was dead except for me.

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

That's horrible...

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

I-It wasn't pretty, no. I was fairly certain it wasn't real, but after awhile...

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

After a while you begin to worry it is, correct? But even if it were so, death is not the end of everything.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

But... I-I thought I was the only one left. A-And because I had asked for a peaceful Christmas, I was starting to think it was my fault everyone was... a-and they were just... laying everywhere...

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

Why would it be your fault? Even if you asked for such a thing, you didn't kill anyone.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

Not directly but... I-I've been here long enough to know better than to ask Mayfield such things. But I couldn't resist sending the letter...

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

A lot of people asked for things it sounds like. The town preyed on their hope for something good, and twisted it into something bad. Even had everyone died, it is the Town's fault, not yours.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

... I suppose you're right, but I can't help but feel bad. N-Not that it matters. It didn't actually happen. I'm back with everyone now.

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... I suppose you're right, but I can't help but feel bad. N-Not that it matters. It didn't actually happen. I'm back with everyone now.

<I<>[Regardless, he's gonna have some nightmares for awhile...]</i>

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

It's natural to feel that way. Just remind yourself it isn't true. Any who blame you would not be a true friend.

ugh sorry for that HTML fail

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[B-but Norway seemed so upset with him, hnnng]


Yeah. I know. I-I guess I'm being ridiculous. Sorry. I'll be alright. Thanks, Father.

Happens

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

No, you're being human. We fear death, being alone, all of that. So it's natural you're not unaffected.

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

I just... hate letting this town get to me. It's like... it's winning, then.

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

[Simon goes quiet for a moment. He can understand the feeling, but at the same time he knows logically it all makes sense. Humans feel. They can't not feel. If they do... Suddenly, Simon starts laughing a bit to himself.]

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

[He's not sure how to take that.]

What...?

[phantom-priest.livejournal.com]

I just thought of something... Humans feel, but drones don't, right? So, actually, it's very good you still react to the things that the town does, right?

[perfektsymmetry.livejournal.com]

... that's true. I-I always said that... that if you give up here, you might as well be droned.