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There was a quiet knocking on the door.
“Jonah? Can we talk?”
Four words. That’s all they were. What was the harm?
“Yeah, sure! Guess we can. What is it?”
It was Evelin. What could she possibly want?
“It’s about Adam.”
Oh. So that was what this was about. He sighed, and opened the door. “Alright. Shoot.”
When the door creaked open, Jonah almost wished it hadn’t. He just about jumped backwards at the sight, heart caught in his throat.
Evelin’s hair was horribly disheveled. Her eyes were bleary, heavy. She took shaking, stuttering steps, wobbling, and practically crashed into the armchair. She inhaled and exhaled sharply. “He… he…”
Despite everything in him screaming at him to run away, just wanting to run far, far away… he had to help. He had to help her, right?
“Hey. Hey! Take it easy. You alright?” Jonah rushed over, fighting to hold her up. She seemed so much heavier than she looked. Like her bones were worn down by… something greater almost.
It wasn’t like Jonah believed in the supernatural, really.
Of course he didn’t. There was nothing to be afraid of.
But he went along with it. It paid the bills, he got to spend time with his buddy. But…
What was wrong with Evelin? What had happened?!
Pale, sickly skin, her wrists were thin and knobbly. Dark, dark circles under her aching, bloodshot eyes spoke to her lack of sleep. She was breathing heavily. It seemed it took everything in her to speak.
“He… won’t talk to me.” She finally forced the words out of her dry, cracked lips.
Jonah winced. “Oh, uh, I’m… sorry.” What else could he say? “Listen, we really shouldn’t be talking about this right now- you- you look like you really need to see a doctor-”
She shook her head. “I… I wanted… to know…”
She wasn’t listening. Of course, she wasn’t listening. But… he had to try. He had to at least try.
He stared at her, wide-eyed. “To know… what? Jesus, Evelin… I think Adam is the least of your concern right now. Look at you!”
Evelin’s knees threatened to buckle, even as she sat. It looked as though she might be lying down on the floor at any moment. “I’m… fine. I guess I- I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately. And other things. But… that’s not… important, okay? I need to know.”
Why was that… not important? What was so important she was putting herself in danger? It was almost like…
Jonah sighed. “Okay, fine. What is it?”
“What does Adam… mean to you?”
Huh!?
The question caught him off-guard. He didn’t really know what he was expecting, but, Evelin came in here like the hounds of hell were at her heels, saying Adam wouldn’t talk to her… and this was what she was asking?
Of course he knew what the answer was. What the answer had to be. It was the only answer there could be. Because what else was there?
“Well, uh, he’s my best friend, of course! We’ve been through hell and back together, and he’s always been there for me.”
Yet the moment the words left his mouth, he doubted them.
He didn’t… want to doubt them. Everything was fine, but…
Had Adam… really always been there for him?
Sure, he was hardworking, diligent. Someone he could always rely on. Out on their missions, he got the job done, alright. Sure, but…
He was always so serious. Too serious. Always chasing after those things, ever since…
“I… see.” She paused. “Has he… told you anything? Anything… worrying?”
Oh. So she was worried about him. That made sense.
Worrying… in what way?
When Jonah thought about it… he was worried about Adam, too. He thought back on the jobs they’d pulled recently…
“Dude… seriously, I-I really… don’t think we should go in there.” Jonah shivered, holding his arms tightly across his chest.
All the houses that they went to were just buildings, as far as the eye could see. Made of brick, glass, and various types of wood. With doors that opened and closed behind you. Windows for looking into, and out of. With couches, chairs, shelves, filled with perfectly ordinary items.
Some of them had basements. He always got the worst feeling about the basements. He knew it was probably all in his head, but there was something… deeply wrong. Somehow.
“Oh, come oooon, Jonah. We need to get this footage! We’re onto something big here. Trust me, we’ll make so much money off of this.” But Adam was insistent. He was always so damn insistent.
Yet he still tried. He still had to try.
“Seriously, man. I don’t know–”
Adam elbowed him right in the ribs. “OW!”
“Quit being such a wuss, man! Why am I always the only one taking this seriously?” Adam snapped.
“You’re not! I just… I just don’t know about this. I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Jonah rubbed his aching ribs in protest. It… hurt.
I was taking it seriously.
Adam grabbed Jonah by the collar of his shirt, so hard he almost dropped the camera. “Urk! H-Hey-”
“NO! You listen to me, we’re going back in there!” he shouted.
I was just… afraid.
Jonah frantically held onto the camera, trying to pry himself away. “But… but…”
“Come on! You’re with me, aren’t you?”
For me. And… for you too, I think.
“Well… y-yeah… I-I’m with you…”
He was my best friend. I wouldn’t abandon him. I couldn’t.
Jonah scratched the back of his head. He wasn’t sure he wanted to tell her this. But… it looked like Evelin wasn’t going to get any sleep until she got an answer. Or, much else, for that matter, as she pointed out. She looked… awful.
He looked at the ceiling. What a nice ceiling! Boy, you could really feel how it would protect you, be it rain or snow or shine. And wow, what a nice floor! So great for… walking on. And such nice walls, to keep you warm, and away from wind and outside noise, and– oh. Right, there was also Evelin, who he was trying so fricking hard not to look at right now.
“Well I…” Wow, the floor was looking really nice right now. So interesting, what type of wood was it? Acacia?
“Jonah?” She was staring directly at him. With the stiffest expression he’d ever seen in his life. Alright, fine. He guessed he had to answer.
…I don’t want to.
He ducked his head so as to keep avoiding eye contact. “Evelin… ah, jeez. To be honest? I’m… worried about him too. He’s been so obsessed with tailing these things, with spooks and stuff… ever since…”
Those things. Those things that… started it all. Those things that… took everything.
“Ever… since… what?” As quiet as her voice was, he found himself unable to be distracted by trying to count the patterns in the wood upon the floor. The highest number he got to was nine. Then six, then three…
I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to think about it.
Don’t make me go back. Don’t make me go back! Please don’t make me go back!
“Something… uhhh, happened to his mom, a while back.”
Evelin’s eyes widened. “That… was why?”
But he couldn’t stop there. “Yeah. And ever since then, he’s had a one-track mind. All he can think of, all he ever talks about… is supernatural stuff. I’ve- I’ve tried to tell him to stop! I begged, pleaded with him. But he just won’t listen to me… and I feel like, one of these days, he’s gonna get himself killed. Or, or- both of us. Y’know…”
Just… just calm down. Think about the wall, Jonah. Think about the wall. Or that- that stupid movie from last Tuesday night, with the zombie chickens-
…Okay. This isn’t working.
Jonah got up from his seat, pacing the room, back and forth, gesturing with his hands. “I’ve… been hearing voices. At night. I- I don’t know… if I’m dreaming, or hallucinating, or if I’m fucking high or some shit, I don’t– sorry.”
“I’ve… been hearing them too. Do you think it might be…” Evelin grimaced.
Jonah cackled, waving a hand dismissively. “Nahhhh, it- it couldn’t be.”
It can’t be.
Her brows were furrowed, her eyes swishing from side to side. There was this certain confusion, this certain… doubt. As though she was trying to piece something together.
“But…”
“Y’know. He’s Adam. He’s- he’s been alright, so far, y’know? Who’s to say he’s the one who’s crazy, and- it’s not just- us?”
Yes. Exactly. I’M going crazy! We’re going crazy!
God, he wished he was fucking high right now.
Evelin pursed her lips together. There was a clouding to her features that wasn’t quite there before. “I… guess you’re right. But he’s been so… different lately, hasn’t he?”
Jonah shrugged. “I think… it’s safe to say we’re all going nuts here. Believing in Alternates and stuff…”
Because they’re not real. Of… of course they’re not real.
Evelin appeared almost glassy, far away. Maybe it was his imagination, but she somehow seemed to speak even more slowly than before. Somehow, her heavy breathing from before had gone… dead silent.
Was she okay?
“...Jonah. He’s been so different lately, hasn’t he?” she asked again, very quietly. It almost seemed like she was testing something.
“Uhh… in what way?” Jonah replied, perplexed. “He’s Adam… he’s always been Adam. Just a different version of him, y’know?”
“He’s not the same. He’s… not how I remember at all.” There was a strangely muddied look to her eyes. Like she thought she’d just made a certain connection…
Oh, boy. Don’t start with that now.
“What? Are you saying he’s been replaced by some… some spooky Alternate or something?” Jonah snorted.
She frowned. “It’s possible, isn’t it?...”
“What? No. Of course it’s not. Do you actually believe in those things?”
Part of me… does. Something about those places Adam takes me to… always… feels so wrong. But I have to be crazy. I have to be.
Evelin laughed quietly. Her voice came out dry, and sour. “...maybe I do. I don’t- I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
Because if I’m not crazy, I’m something even worse.
“Well, why would you? Isn’t the whole concept too nuts to believe?” he asked.
“A… A little, but…”
“Is there really anything to worry about? Ya sure you’re not high right now?”
“Yes. Jonah. I’m. Quite sure. I’m not. High right now.” Her words came out clipped, through gritted teeth. She was… visibly shaking.
Because if I’m not crazy, I’m right.
Evelin was unzipping her purse. He didn’t rightly know why she brought that in the first place. She was pulling something out of it, something shiny. Jonah wasn’t sure what it was, or what she needed it for. But–
“Listen, I think–”
BANG!
He never got to finish his sentence.
The body of Jonah Marshall collapsed on the floor, followed by a clattering instrument of metal.
He blinked. The thudding of his heary was so loud now, exploding through his ears. But none of that oxygen seemed to be making its way to his eyes.
Hypoxical blindness. Supposed to be rare, isn't it?
Slowly, he brought up a hand to swat away the black ants which were crawling around the corners of his vision.
Red. Red, no that wasn't right, it should be-
His ears were ringing. The sound of his gasps was growing weaker and weaker. He thought he heard a voice, but he couldn’t be sure.
Why...?
“No… NO! Oh my god… no. He wasn’t… he… he wasn’t…”
Evelin crashed down onto her knees, sobbing wildly.
And the last thought that ever crossed his mind…
I should have run far away… and never come back.