CreepCast - Polyamorous Hell

Episode Date: August 31, 2025

When you turn a certain age, you learn the name of your soulmate. For Hunter and Isaiah, that's when the trouble starts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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doing a story called, when we turn 18, we get the name of our soulmate. Isaiah, tell us a little bit about the author. So the author is a user that goes by the name the Wack Waffle. They've posted a few stories to no sleep, but nothing in the past couple years from the looks of it. This is their most popular story. The first part of it has 13,000 upboats, which is firm pretty impressive. I'm not seeing any other links to like anywhere else they're riding. And again, they haven't uploaded in a couple years, but we'll leave a link to their Reddit page below if you want to show them some love directly or if they do see this and want to upload, you know, a place to find them.

But yeah, this seems to be their most popular one. The title is certainly intriguing. Is that what happened to you, Hunter? No. Did you get the name of a soulmate? Absolutely not. I had internal loan. I had nothing but loneliness until I met my wife.

Mm-hmm. And now I was, and let me tell you, I was much, much older. than 18 when I met my wife the uh and she and she and she wasn't is that the significance of that statement that she's not my soulmate no that she wasn't 18 oh no no she was in her 40s no and you know who knows i don't know if she i mean i hope that she's my soulmate but the statistics so alison is now pushing 60 no alison's only thousand's only 49 she's not that old

but you know everything ends 50 50 you know 50% of marriages end in failure so you know that's if I took that to a to a casino we'd be we'd be playing Baccarat in a way half and half little flip of the coin

I like the story like I like the name of this story when we turn 18 we get the name of her soul me I like whenever there's weird rules or conventions to a universe if this is literal like I don't know like you know it might be like a weird it's not actually literal but i like whenever a whenever a story sets up that this is just kind of the the way of the world makes me think of the uh this movie called the lobster which was great which was all about oh yeah i love that film if you don't have a a partner after a certain

period of time you get turned into an animal and that's just kind of just a fun um a fun take on just like a weird set of rules um that i think you can really have a lot of fun with so i'm hoping that this is that similar thing where you know I think there's going to be a lot of deception like how do people abuse these rules as well is what like these kind of devices let you do so I'm stoked I'm curious

and also the guy's name is the whack waffle which is pretty fun yeah the whack waffle that's I think is that any spelled back there's an ancient whack isn't there I thought spelled whack I said the is it W-H-A-C-K is that like whack like I hit you

whack yeah it has to be there's no Versus wacky might be W-A-C-K-Y. I don't know. I'm really dumb, so I have no idea. Wait, wait. Okay, so I Googled Wack without the H, and it says WAC is used as a familiar term of address, chiefly in Liverpool. This is this guy British? All right, well, thank you all for watching the episode.

Pack it up. Be sure to support the Patreon. Thank you, guys. We'll see you in the next one. Before we get into the episode, before we get into the episode, or go ahead. No, I'm just saying I can't be expected to support the UK. Well, I mean, it's, no one can. That's my favorite.

Yeah. Thank you. If you have a second, check us out on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Give us a nice rating there. It does help us out. And also, thank you to all of our beautiful patrons. And maybe consider checking out the Patreon and getting a little extra content on the side. Without further ado, Isaiah, are you ready to?

to read this beautiful, beautiful story. Or at least I hope it's beautiful. I have no idea. I'm ready to find out the name of my soulmate. I hope to meet her someday. Are we going to pretend that we're 18 years old here? Um, we could.

We can. We can. How do we pretend that we're 18? What's the difference? Um, I could be a little more optimistic. I feel like when I was 18, I was a little more starry-eyed.

You were less chaded. Yes, exactly. I was more excited by things. right? Also, my heart would flutter when I would, uh, you know, see a girl that I thought I was like, oh, she's beautiful. That kind of thing. My heart would flutter. And now that you're tied down, you know, under the old ball and chain, you don't feel. Well, after just a lifetime of misery. It just, you know, it jades any person, you know. So I'd say, let's go into this and we'll say we're 18. And then at some point in the story, you'll say what you think your soulmate's name is.

Once that gets revealed in this story, well, R.P. is an 18-year-old version of ourselves. And then we'll say, I think I know what the name of my soulmate is. We'll see that. Well, first thing that comes to mind. Okay, buddy. Or not. I'm trying desperately to give something to this show. And I apologize.

Look, we can be honest. The audience appreciates us. me and Hunter are both a little Epey right now. Both both a little, we're some sleepy guys. Okay. He, I don't know, he stays up all night gambling his house away. I don't know.

I was up till seven in the morning recording the mother horse eyes video for you people. You think the reading can be long? It gets worse. So this is your fault somehow, you all. Because I wouldn't have known about that story if it wasn't for the show. So, you know, maybe a little cranky.

It'd be a little bit irritable, but that's okay. Mommy and Daddy still love each other very much. Okay, so anyway. We're supposed to be reading a story. Yeah. When we turn 18, we get the name of our soulmate. I was young when I realized that the place I lived was special. I didn't realize it at first since I had lived there my whole life.

I thought it was normal for a city to not allow pets. I grew up never hearing the sounds of barking dogs or hissing cats, knowing that lived inside the city border was allowed to have them. I thought it was normal for cities to have mandatory blood testing every week. No explanation or seemingly any reason. I thought it was normal for cities to not have any jails. I thought it was normal for cities to give their citizens' soulmates. I never really understood how it worked.

All that we were told was that there were the matchmakers, who were responsible for making the matches and sending out the tiny slips of paper that determined each citizen's love life and future. No one ever saw the matchmakers, no one knew how they were recruited, no one knew how they worked. All anyone knew was that it worked. Where I lived, there's never been a filing for divorce. The matchmakers are never wrong. Each citizen received their paper on their 18th birthday.

Instead of the piece of paper, there was nothing except a name, the name of your supposed soulmate. There was no telling how you would come across this person. no when or how. All anyone knew was that it would eventually happen. We were allowed to tell other people, allowed to ask around, try and seek out people that had the same name as the one on the paper. But it didn't matter. It couldn't be forced.

I sent you a message real quick if you can check it out. This sounds. All right. So I was hearing a series of Discord dinks, and I'm like, I wonder what that could be. And Hunter has said, this sounds like Portland, Oregon. But he spelled Portland, P-O-R-T-L-A-D-N.

And then he said some words I won't repeat and then referred to those people as disgusting dogs. I was trying to, when you were reading, I was hoping that you'd look over for a second, see it and break, but no. The funniest part, the funniest part is that you didn't spell fit. right the first. Instead of editing it, I was like, oh, fuck, I'll just re-type it. It's just sit it again.

Sounds like Portland. There is a thing with like a lot of British media where the scare or like the premise of it is, what if all government wasn't as nice as they seem,

you know? But it's all like, it's like the V for Vendetta stuff or wasn't 1984. Yeah, Orwell was British, right? Or like, we happy few. And there's another one. I can't remember right now. But it seems to be a recurring thing where it's like, what if they were lying to us? Would that be scary?

The scariest part of this all so far is your British accent. Is it that bad? It's just a bit. You just sound like a fucking psychopath. The, uh, the, um, do you think people in this universe, though, would be excited? buy a name you know they open it up

and it's like Jessica wow and there's some guy who's like I wonder what mine is you like packs opens the envelope

whatever and it says like jaundice he's like huh jaundus like the disease yeah he doesn't know

he's looking for people with the yellow eyes walking around is your name jaundice yeah hello airport

yeah you are you're it just means that he's going to die of jaundice yeah you will have no love you're the only soulmate is death and it's gonna be jaundice yeah is it isn't jondish just a yellowing of the skin can you i don't think you can die from it i thought it was like liver failure is it not it's i think jaundice is the yellow skin that's a symptom of liver failure i think i'm speaking to someone who acts like he knows yeah it's the discoloration of body

issue resulting from the accumulation of Billy Rubin. All right. Well, I didn't care about all that. But the accumulation of Billy Rubin? You know what? Is that a bass player? Yes. Why are yellow?

I went to Billy Rubin's concert last night. He stained me with the funk. It's a Billy Rubin's like a liver enzyme. It's in your bowl. but you know what I like your answer better this guy's dying because there's tiny little bass players in his blood that's why it's married to jaundus how are you making bass noises in a British accent okay also this has got to I mean, I know that we're, we're fucking three paragraphs in.

Dad's about to check the fuck out. I mean, to be fair, we did kind of jump the story for no reason. It was just like, well, in all town, we're told us all made. There's really no reason that we're even at it's British, right? You start messaging me obscene messages and you're like, boom. Now, remember the reason I said I think it's British is because a whack is like a term. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right. The UK, yeah.

Should we just assume that the, that's in England then? I think we're too far gone to assume otherwise. They're going to get like a chapter in and be like, so as I was leaving Atlanta, and we'll be like, oh, well, too late Atlanta, London? Yes, Atlanta, London. That's how sitting, that's how city, so city, where it's cobblestone streets and the best pastries in the world. Okay, we got to keep going.

I'm slipping. All right. Of course, literal eternal love and happiness does not come without rules. Every citizen had to follow the rules. They weren't too strange and seemed like a small price to pay for what you were getting in return. Most of the rules were simple. To name a few, there was no going outside under any circumstances after 2 a.m. No pets, blood tests, etc.

There were also rules that we weren't allowed to know until we were older. We got the new rules on our 18th birthday. Same day we got our matchmaker paper. We called them slips. As I got older, I realized that our city was special and that other cities didn't have what we had, but I didn't care. Life was good. Life seemed simple. Our city was like a little paradise.

It was happy. It was without issue. It was the night before my 18th birthday and I couldn't sleep. This was to be expected since knowing that the next morning, you would know the name of your literal soulmate was enough to keep anyone up late. Usually, I wouldn't have believed in such things like soulmates, especially as I got older, but it was hard to argue with evidence. My parents had gotten married in their late 20s and have stayed happily married ever since,

both of their names matching what was on their slips. My older sister, Caitlin, got her slip last year, and though she's been through her fair share-failed relationships, she's currently in a happy one with some guy named Roger. I don't think I need to tell you the name that was on her slip. Can you imagine your slips, your slip says like, turk or something like that?

Turk? You get a girl named Tunk Brownie. Is that like the word trunk rearranged. I'm so tired. I'm so tired that I'm so tired that I'm so tired that I'm in my mind

while you're reading all I thought it was turk and I started laughing turk brownie you want to the best thing I was I typed in turk to see if that's any anything

this was the first image that appeared it's apparently some YouTube channel. This is the instead of a name, it's just this image on the slip.

What am I supposed to do at this? Oh, my, lucky, you got turn. You got turn. That's what she looks like. I'm so sleepy. I'm too, God.

This is going to be completely insufferable to everyone. I know. I'm sorry. Just randomly turk. We're getting a lot of ternk today, dude. It's a turk on the day. Mom, dad, I want you to meet Tirk. She doesn't.

speak she doesn't speak human language she speaks turtle uh so what's the point in his sister katelyn dating if there's slips right like what would be the point of dating someone if it's like well in a year i'm going to get the piece of paper that says who aren't married it doesn't make any sense i mean it's kind of fucking stupid if you think about it if you're like in a weird like omish community you're not fucking flirting around and fucking jabidae on the side it's like you're waiting for your slip is what I would assume right right yeah because it's also like oh I don't want to date you I have to I need my slip to know who it is also if you're older than 18 you would know who your soulmate is so maybe I don't know if you're a dirty leg you could be a dirty leg

or dirty dick and try to like just be fucking around maybe but I don't know I don't know why you'd be dating in the in the thought that it was going to be successful yeah yeah that's track hmm I mean you know maybe that This gorgeous woman, I'm like, yeah, I mean, we can't, I mean, we can fool around, but you're no Turk. You're no Turk. So let's get that straight. I'm saving myself for Turk. I love turk.

Okay. Okay. Okay. I won't. I woke up the next morning. Mr. Hunter Brownie. I would take, I would take Ternk's last name.

Mr. Hunter, Mr. Hunter, Turt, Mr. Hunter, Turk Brownie. Wow. There's a ring to it, doesn't it? I woke up. I woke up the next morning. My arm groping for my alarm to turn it off. just like any other day.

It wasn't until I can't read because that picture is so out of my peripheral. You need to fucking minimize turks pro pop picture. I can't. Okay. It's gone. It's gone. We're good. What did you do last weekend, Hunter? Well, I went down to Victoria's Secret and got turks and brawls and panties trying to spice it up in the bedroom.

I like how the joke is. Just normal wife interactions. but the name is Turt. Yeah, because how the fuck I mean, like, well, we wanted to invite you

and Terncover for a barbecue tomorrow. Like, I don't know. Actually, at this point, too, I did say that she spoke turtle.

So she is an anomaly. And she is that profile picture of face. So she is like, she's a bit of a monster. But she's by the love of my life, so please don't fucking talk ill of her. Of course. I would never,

Mr. Brownie. Thank you. going down the courthouse and change them my name today we're all pretty excited about it okay all right we used to share a room but ever since she moved out it feels empty with just me and it some miracle i eventually fell asleep my brain finally exhausted after hours of wondering what tomorrow was going to bring i woke up the next morning my arm groping for my alarm to turn it off it's like any other day it wasn't until i sleepily sat up that i realized that today wasn't like any other day. I swung my legs out of bed. My heart pounding in my chest as I tried to compose myself.

I wanted to pull on a shirt and shorts as fast as possible. Rush to the kitchen to get the envelope I knew would be addressed to me, but I didn't. I didn't want to be one of those people whose entire life suddenly revolved around trying to find their soulmate. I needed to be calm. Taking a few even breaths, I slowly put on a shirt and some basketball shorts before opening my door. Chatter and the smell of waffles hit my sense as instantly as I stepped out of my room. Turning the corner, I stopped. Grinning.

Caitlin! I said, unable to contain my excitement at seeing her. Reaching her in a few short steps, I wrapped my arms around her in a hug to which she enthusiastically returned. What are you doing here? I said, pulling myself away to look at her. Oh, you seriously thought I would miss your birthday? Get real.

Did you like that? Did you like saying, get real? I feel like I need, what is, so she says, So she's a bit of a bad boy. What should I? She should be like, Oh, you seriously thought I would miss your birthday? Get real. That sounds right.

Do you like that? Yeah. She said, match you my grin and she looked at me. Damn. You got tall. She said, looking at me. He got it from his old man. Okay, dude.

Dad, you don't need to chime in, dad. Yeah, I'm pretty hot too. Compliment me. yeah don't you think don't you think don't you think I'm beautiful daughter of mine

yeah he's pretty much a image of his old man so you probably think I'm pretty tall and cute too huh dad could you just go already yeah I got to go to work

my dad my dad and Caitlin rolled her eyes besides my height I got a lot for my dad I got his warm brown eyes and I got his wavy, dirty blonde hair that I had always kept medium length. I looked so much like my dad that my mom always chimed in saying how I got her nose and smile.

Happy birthday, hon. Mom said from the counter giving me a soft smile. These are almost done and we'll go out for your birthday dinner later tonight. Said, just ran up the waffles and I smiled. Birthday waffles for the birthday boy. Better keep your girlfriend's way from your old man. They'll get us confused. Dad, stop.

You're morbidly obese and you're 56 years old. Ah, yeah. Spitting image. It's like looking in a mirror. Oh. I've got to persevere. I have to get through this. We're like, we're like, we're like, we're like, we're like, we're like, yeah, yeah, this is the beginning of the story.

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delicious ready to eat meals now. Offer only valid to new factor customers with code and qualifying auto renewing subscription purchases. Get in on your meals today. Thank you all for watching the ad and thank you to Factor for sponsoring the channel. We are now back to the episode. in, putting an arm around my mom. And the simple movement made me remember something I forgot in the midst of the excitement. Is it here? I asked him trying to keep my voice even. My sister nodded, understanding what I was talking about.

On the front table. My legs felt like rubber as I walked a few steps into the hallway, instantly seeing the stark white envelope on the table. I picked it up. Delivered to Theodore Schillings. That is an insane name. I walked back to the kitchen. All eyes on me as I turn the envelope over, trying to act calm.

I open the envelope, pulling out two pieces of paper. One of them, I knew, would be the new rules. The other one was my slip. I looked at the bigger paper first. Two people registered as 18 years as older, the following rules will come into effect. One, under no circumstances anyone 18 years or older permitted in city waters. This includes all local rivers, within city limits.

2. Under no circumstances will anyone 18 years or older be allowed to watch the television on the 14th of every month? 3. Under no circumstances is anyone 18 years or older permitted to use faucets after midnight. This includes sinks, bathtubs, and showers. 4. Under no circumstance is anyone 18 years or older permitted to use any kind of elevator after 9 p.m. And then 5. Under no circumstances is anyone 18 years or were 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 I opened it to which a single name was printed Avery That's a fine name

It's not turk or anything You're okay I read and re-read the name several times Avery 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 I passed from her to my mother than 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 worrying. Some things made more sense now, like why I never saw adults kayaking in the river like I saw them do in other cities. I had 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 to my mind, Avery. I still had to go to school, 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. There 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 with 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 met that they were all trying to think of Avery's that we knew. Isn't there a chick in your history class name Avery? Joseph offered and I nodded. Yeah, I'm sure 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 friend dropped it after that. I'll accept 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. that I was left to try and tune him out, nodding my head in agreement every few minutes. As the school day went on, I couldn't help but wonder if each every 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 as 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 have 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 just funny to justify that another 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 it's just they're just my younger friends that doesn't make me weird or different or anything like that it's normal abry is the love of my life it's perfectly normal for someone to want to speak like this when you were talking he became again Shapiro in my mind the relationship I have with trunk or not trunk what was it

turk my beautiful baby's name is turnk turn brownie she is a 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 with it.

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. This is becoming almost a religious experience for me. Yeah.

Yeah, like I'm trying to be nonchalant using Irm unironically. Or like the dad chimed in using the same like phrases over. Yeah, I'm pretty young and spikler too. You girls stay away from me. I'll get in trouble. You boys don't know how good you haven't. You have no idea. You better say for this because life only gets worse.

I think he said it was your soulmate. Sure. These are the best years of your life. Remember that. You'll never get any better than this. It'll never get any better than right now. Fuck. Are 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, we're going to the river. I see, I see. I thought he was doing it over the mention of Caitlin. I'm like it was Joseph. Caitlin. Yeah, what about your dad, man?

All right, boy, stop. I'm a catch. He's just, there with them all of a sudden. Hey, I'm all right. 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. All right, fine. I'll be in the bushes again if you need me. Just call. Dad, get out of here. He's like a real chummy child predator type. God.

Jesus. No, no, no. Okay, all right. He just thinks he's cool. He just makes 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. Signed with relief that the cool water provided from the hot weather. I desperately wanted to be there with him 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 oh hey come up 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. No way. Charles yelled, splashy 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. 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, 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 hospital when you get hypothermia. I yelled back. To which I could see his eyes roll from there. hearing your friends say the same thing four times. Ah, we can't have that. Joseph Gould 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 not. I'll be the one to drive you guys to the hospital when you get hypothermia. I felt a trickle of unease as he approached me.

A trickle. No, no, I'll be the one to drive you guys the hospital in Ethiopia. Hey, Joseph, seriously, you got to back up, man. That trickle is going down my back. I'm trickling down. I'm trickling down the side of my leg right now. Yeah, 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. Whoa. All right. Just give me a little flustered. You look just like your dad. Joseph, what are you talking about?

You say my name again? Put me down, Joseph put me now Put me down I remember Joseph I'm the one that drives you to the hospital Nah Nah

I'll drive you to the hospital Jesus Stop saying that You're reminding of your dad Yeah I guess he is a spitting image of me huh

there'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 what you mean by that what you mean by you're saying 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. It's a rising fear crept up my throat. He outmatched me in size and strength. My struggles were fruitless. I'm serious, Joseph. Put me the fuck down.

I yell to which he gave a little laugh. Ah, you're all he say serious to you. 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 gickling 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. Beer 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. all 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 fringe jumping in just as i was launched a few feet

into the air 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 throughout my life flash before me. It was my life flashing before my eyes. It 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 the 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've 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 panic state wasn't helping the situation.

Whatever was down there started to pull me faster, as if whatever it was could sense my desperation. My 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 from 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. I 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 and 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.

My thoughts moving at the speed of light. I felt oddly light-headed, my body drained and exhausted. I wanted to look around for my savior, but I couldn't. My vision had started to go black, so 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.

He'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.

Good, you're awake. Come on, we need to move. He said quickly. looking behind him confusion clouded my mind who 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 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 of that All right This is truly a British horror story What if the government Yeah, what if the government made you gay What my government Made me gay

And I didn't have any say in it That's just how it is And I have to do it What do they expect me to do? What if I was forced to do this? Oh, don't not Avery like that. I don't want to button up his trousers no more. Part two.

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 dramatic 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 in this stage to ask repeated questions.

More often, questions that they already know the answer to, but their brain refuses to believe. I 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, but cutting as I pushed myself, hopped into a sitting position, feeling uncomfortable laying on my back. Boy 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. The bear's flush crept up my face as I dropped my eyes. Um, some of it. I mumbled, my face so hot that I was. assured 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. But 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 be. me. I 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 present into mine. I swallowed.

Thoughts raced across my mind as I tried to sort through them. There's 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. Yes.

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 ripped up right now. Yeah. 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. All right. 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 breeze 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 with my body. Is that what I looked like with this on me? Buddy?

He asked, seeing I'd put it on. Hearing him speak without seeing his mouth was creeping me out, but I, I didn't say anything and instead just nodded. He extended a handout, seeing that I was still on the ground. I hesitated for only a fraction of a second before I took his hand, letting him pull 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 back... Who calls it a bag pack? I thought it was back. Is it not a backpack? Yeah, backpack. Swinging his bag pack. Probably a British thing maybe.

This is probably a disgusting British thing again. Okay. Swinging his backpack 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 to 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. 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 drained of color, almost everything inside being a different shade of black or gray. Atop 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 fill it everywhere you looked. Like I was like the buildings are glitching, the city's desolate. Something feels weird. A 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 was. 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. I 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 me. my voice low. He glanced at me, and I cringed as I remembered that we still had the black masks on. 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, and I 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 fever shilling to my ear he's lost

Your voice for Avery. It's so fitting. We can go to my place before the, before the loss. We get to want some safe house. Yeah, it's pretty much going to do whatever I want to. It's kind of awesome. I have Mountain Dew and a PlayStation, too. We can do all kinds of stuff with our hands and stuff.

Because we're slip, we're Slip brothers. Slip brothers. Yeah. That's a funny way to describe a gay relationship. We're pretty much boy things. Yeah, we're dating. I'll pretty much married by this point. The distorted man had an uneven gate, almost limping.

As he got closer, I could see that his black body was glitching, everything else in this screwed up place. I quickly looked down. as Avery instructed, trying to keep my breathing in control. I felt Avery's hand tightened on my arm as the thing got closer to us, and as it got closer, I could hear it mumbling and coherently. 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. He 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. 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 stood 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. With 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 heavy 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 meant know more about your own sexuality before you even do,

before you even had a chance to figure it out. I 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, vacuuming me inside quickly, shutting the door behind us. I looked around, finding a surprisingly neat interior of 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. bottom. We could take these off, but keep us close by. He 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 open my mouth to speak When Avery broke the silence first So

I guess you have a few questions He said with the small sigh He'll stand I said nothing Instead nodding and gingerly sitting On the edge of the couch next to me I don't even know where to start How 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. I browsed in together as he started to pace. Serge 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 Boko Will. He said with a sigh. I said nothing. Fully prepared to not speak until he was done. 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 rule. The one 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 to catch actually. He gestured to the one I was setting 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.

We 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. He paused. He didn't need to say anymore. 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 size and the pay scene and the... 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 of where we lived. I've explored and every detail is 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? He 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 remits 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 goal. 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 hill, left to waste away. To spend the rest of eternity here, they are nightmares. Beings of their worst possible selves that 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 to you. 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. But there's a way out of here, right? I asked breathlessly to my immense relief, he nodded. dies but it takes two people I could tell you how long I've been waiting

for someone down here he said softly I felt a pang of sympathy how long have you been down here I asked and you shrugged I don't know shrugging and sign I don't know

a couple of months maybe there's no way to tell down here I keep track by riding on the walls but they would disappear the next day he said with a sigh. He was once again sign. How do we get out of here?

I asked my voice gaining confidence the longer I've been 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. The 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 the people who are lost.

The mask that I had you put on or to blend you in with them, but it only goes so far. It only really works when there are 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 at 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. So all the, all the, he has shivered like, five times now. I'll tell you what the

biggest crime is so far. I'm fucking bored. Bored. It is boring. 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 bin beneath big bin, 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 story, which, you know, listen, I'm stupid, so forgive me if this is on the nose and I just don't know. But it seems like it's something that is possibly a story about somebody coming to terms of their sexuality and then the other people who hide it or, you know, 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 soulmate's 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 coat? That'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 that kind of thing

but you know I don't know the problem right 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 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 friends sounded like it was off a breakfast club spin off 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 the and avery sighs a lot like 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 uh 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 couldn'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 studied me for a moment. Or nodding. I'll give you a safe. I won't let anything happen to you. The two of them are like immediately just all all over each other. He'd be like,

my voice grows confidence 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 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. I mean, but 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. We'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 it around me. I tried to cover up a yawn with my hand. Avery caught it. He stood up running a hand through his hair. Oh, shit, sorry. You must be exhausted. I was 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, to which Avery erased 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 averted my eyes.

God damn. My boy, see it. is down he is already. He needs it. You know, actually now that I'm thinking about it, there were signs of this before the reveal, you know, I 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. Listen, I, you get in my, I'm saying that he is down bad for Avery. Right now he is down bad. He's like, no, I'll, I'll sleep here. Like he's not. I guess in this world, you don't have to play it subtly.

You desperate little minks. Fine. Your desperation is weather cute. He's smooth talking to him in that voice. Here's the real thing. Is Avery or is Theodore a fin boy? Well, well,

well, princess. I think Theodore is more of a fin boy. 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. But we're back. Oh, if you need anything. He said, turning to leave or stopping, instead

remembering something. Um, I never... I never got your name. I forgot to ask. He said shubishly, 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, 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, I never got your name. I have to play one of them straight. I've committed to like the Redditor, like Discord Monvoys 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? What a crazy word. to pull out it 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 wish your name was teddy that's okay say you haven't seen a tunk around here have you i saw i thought your name might have been tunk that's okay my name's turk drunk brownie oh my I'm waiting for you my whole wife you know what what of this story does a thing though where there's multiple Avery's your thing with that yeah like a girl

shows up named Avery yeah he's like he's like he's a bisexual crisis dang it oh I kind of like both of them as it what if we all just kind of made this work we're Paul Yeah This world is a polyammerous hell Is what it is Well, yeah, Portland As soon as he left the room I slept down on the couch

Put in 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 was so many different kinds of confusion

in 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 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 melodrama, the melodrama of it all, whatever. Yeah, yeah. I fully believe this was written by someone in high school, for sure.

It was disorienting to have your entire life fled 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

he straightened up. I'm just about done. Is this enough? I can get more stuff if you want. Said looking up at me. Genuine interest in carrying in his eyes startled me. I shook my head,

gave him a tight smile. Genuine. It's genuine interest in carrying in his eyes startling me. 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 where it was. It looked like two bed spreads 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 in anything, all right? He said and I nodded. Exhaustion 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 I don't know dude it's supposed to be fucking cute the shit's like I want to punch a wall 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 woh love it for sight kind of thing yeah they're in a Polly Hellscape, by the way, with faceless creatures walking around.

Yeah, they're in a space where color doesn't exist, and there's the loss stumbling around. And it's like, you can 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's so bad. Also, a person's 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

I'm 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 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 and gives you the steering wheel for a bit, allowing you to be conscious and aware while dreaming. I was currently experiencing the strange phenomenon. I 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. The 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 stood there until I saw a figure in the distance. I squinted, waiting for it to come closer. And 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 and 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. Its 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 plunged it into my stomach, letting loose pain that I had never felt in my life. One of 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 going to wake up in a panic, and then Avery is going to hold him to comfort him.

100%. My eyes were wide with shock as the smile remained on the man's face. I could, man, I would give 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 stomachs 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 on 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 racked my body as a flurry of fear pain 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 ever he 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 you just you saw a horror story is this Is this a horror story or what is this?

This is a stupid fucking rom-com story, dude, or something. They're not rom-com, but it's like, you know, it's just like a, it's a, like a fanfic kind of thing. It's a romance fantasy. Yeah, romantic fantasy thing. I don't know. Why is this 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. 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 places because it's taking such a, like it's, it's in the driver's seat so much versus being like a thing to add to the story or whatever, but it's definitely doesn't feel like a, like a horror story right now. Like we're 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 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 of society he's happy now because he can let that part of him out so there's like a cool story there but it's like

it's like 10% 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 yeah yeah there's nothing adding to the actual I guess like threat or terror of the story which whatever you know

by numbers yeah yeah I can't tell you how long he held me my face buried in his chest him not caring that a 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

or 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 going to die 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 barking my body just didn't have enough energy left to do it the 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 heartbeating soothing rhythmic sound was 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. Okay, 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 rubbed both 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, this he found it himself. It felt like hours before I spoke again. My voice stole, like someone had run a 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 know how to thank me for that. I know if you saw me huddling out of the sky, into a river you would have done the same he said in this time i could hear the smile in his voice i smiled a tired but genuine smile true i wanted to thank you anyway oh then you're welcome anyway i laughed but it came off more of a hub there really should be a word I'll take you to the hospital once you get out of there I'm the one driving you to the hospital

Yeah, 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 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 yeah in Polly hell in 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, wait, so hold on. 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 could kill them. 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. God. I don't know what the fact that means. Well,

ontological means like, like super objectively or like, well, let me make sure, right. I believe the word ontological means like definitively can't be disproven like factual. Yeah,

super serious, not even joking. Showing the relation. Okay, ontological is relating to the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being. okay so like ontology so as thing 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 what why 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 those 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 fucking 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 you could be closer

he's like on top of him like nose is pressing to his nose 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 I'm spoken I peeped 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 i 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.

Just going to bed whenever I ever. 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 out again? He said finally, to which I shook my head, sitting up slightly to look at him. I just would feel a bit more comfortable if I knew how did the guns work. I said, a small smile tucking 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? 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 of doing works so well. It's literally like the, well, if you understood the story.

Yeah, it is. It's a fair trap of voice. It's Peel family. I don't know how they developed it, but it works. All right, nerd, I trust you. All right. You know what? I bet there's been a culture shift in the 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, and 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 pause looking over at him i don't know about you but i'm going to get the hell away from the city as soon as i can when we get out i've had enough of this nonsense for a lifetime he's 18 oh all we've heard yeah yeah 18 18 all that we have have heard is they've been there for a couple days and they've just been quiet inside of a house. And he's like, I've had enough at this place. You've just been sitting there quietly

like in a in a building. I said, watching his Avery propped himself up on his elbows. Me too. I'll keep in touch with my pads and everything, but it'd been wound. Oh, wait, hold on, hold on. I thought he was talking about. No, he's talking about the city. That's why 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 happy existence i've had me too i'll keep in touch with my pants and everything but it's been wound the image i had of this place i grew up has been completely wound 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 down the ground i don't know

i think 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 saying what I thought he was saying?

He very shook 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. And it took a multi-days to plan. Isaiah. I think Avery likes Theodore. Yes. What? No.

Yes. 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. Yes. Wow. Yes. Wow.

That's incredible. Wow. That's awesome. Wow. Hey, Charles. Yeah, Avery. Can I get you a big old smooch before we go on this crazy adventure? And one of those, dude.

That's coming up soon. This is fine for like a, like a, you know, 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 gone 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. After 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. 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 feeling the silence. Remember, we're going to get as far as we can with the guns, but they notice us and start shooting. Avery mumbled into my ear, I nodded. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as we started to walk. We kept our head 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 hole. 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. It's mouth stretched it into a wide grin.

Charles! 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 outmashed 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 thus 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 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 digging 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. I wouldn't be able to aim properly while running. I stopped trying to level the gun, trying to stop my hand from shaking, took a breath and fired. A cloud of dust that replaced a thin, black body, was probably the most beautiful thing I had 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 and turning around, my heart seemed to stop for the second time. It was the man from the convenience store, the one for my dream. It looked like he was the only one left. You can do this.

I thought to myself, I raised my gun firing him 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 lions 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. Probably. It's flying towards

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. Wide hot pain

clouded my vision. So badly that I didn't even notice when it was over. I didn't noticed 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 it 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 charles please stay with me please avery whispered silent sobs racking 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 shoulder's shaking that's not avery's eyes flashed to mine briefly as he started to rip off another piece of fabric what my name is it's not charles it's not charles it's not charles i'm taking the hospital hypataria what are you talking about yeah steer streaming silently down his face as he desperately try to control the bleeding i i lied my name is my name is my name is the 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 i thought it was because he scared god it's a world where the slip determines everything it went okay exhaustion coldness started to seep into my body. I saw a realization pass through Avery's eyes, saw him putting the pieces together. You know, I, 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 weaving you here.

He said sharply, looking over. me seeming to make a decision slit 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 he carried me over to the keypad his hand shaking as he put in the numbers wendy 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 his white light flooded my vision as i felt every step through my eyes closed as warped spread through me i let myself drift out of 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 enter the code on a keypad. With a person maybe. Where did he get the code? Was that mentioned? Yeah,

because he's like, he's like they come through and I watch. He like basically saw them type in the code. 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 and love voices. My eyelids fluttered open. Ah, Mr. Shillings, we've been expecting you. And now comes the part of the story where 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 job's watching a woman trapped in a room. All right, 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. Curiosity 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. However, 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 just heard. Ah, Mr. Shillings, we've been expecting you. Disoriented, my eyes slowly opened. I winced as harsh, white light shone down on me. It 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, he was button-up shirt, to his pants, his coat, even as tied. 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. they wanted to kill you they would have by now.

I tried a reason. The 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.

He 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 nerve. 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.

Whoa. Oh. Avery 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'll 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 was this possible?

A spot where I had been, well, impaled, showed nothing except a long scar. I ran my fingers over it gently. The indent noticeable, but nothing else. I looked up quickly, to which the man put his hand up. questions will be answered how about we take a walk take a walk was 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

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'd seen him, the man's smile flickered, annoyance and

impatience crossing his face. Flipboard's 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. The man stood in front of it, slowly putting it 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 for 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, he's fine. His name's Theodore.

He'll never go for the gun. I'll never grab the gun. He's British. They don't even know what they are. I 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 to his mouth that was attached to one of the machines next to him. One 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. He 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? And then his dad shows up. This is the love of my life. Don'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 home with her man. Care to go for a walk?

No, but I'll drive you to... No, but I'll drive you to a hospital with hypothermia. You gave you a hospital. You want, 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 could 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. I'd love to. I said smiling. The man beamed. I had never been good in pressured situations, or lying for that matter. However, it was the thought of Avery line 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 principal 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. Can we pretend that airplanes in the night. That is the same. that is the same level of like depth of romantic writing as everything between these two 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 it's just it's not even surface level it's just telling us oh well there's romance you didn't

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 know what it was? What was your gay thought? My gay thought was it was it was Avery 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 that made me smile because it's 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. Drops Jupiter in her hair. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wait, wait, wait. You imagine that scene set to drop some Jupiter by train? Yeah. Now tell me, it's across the sun. Did you drive through the Milky Way?

See the lives I've faded. That heaven is overrated. But actually, it's only, it's not even the chorus. It's just the beginning. Glad she's back in the atmosphere. Drives and jimidoo. And that is, that is single-handedly the gayest thing I've ever thought. You thought about this scene where like he's noticing the little ticks Avery has and your mind set it to train.

Exactly. He said, tell me, did you go across the sun? Yeah. Yeah, dude. And I was, I was smiling. To the Milky Way to see her lights are painted. I was playing with my toes. My feet were over each other.

And then my toes were playing. I was, I was having a good time. I was a little giddy. So I will say it's successful on 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.

Love his mom. Mm-hmm. He wrote it after his mom died and he had to 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 the thing. I would assume it's about two gay teenage in your ways. 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. Glad she's back in the atmosphere. Just Theodore, like, smiling. That is such. Smiling with a, smiling with an imagination gun. pointed to his head. To his own head or to Avery's head.

I think to both I don't fucking know. He's like if you see a monster, I think real hard and it'll seize it'll Thano snap. Glashy's back of the atmosphere drives Jupiter in her. That is such like a Hallmark TV movie moment. Yeah, exactly. That's what makes you know. 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 like a gay romance thing? Would it be trained drops of Jupiter? Or I don't know the name of the song, but it's that one. I think I came around the same time. But I remember when I was younger, I really liked it. It's that one's like a Desperate for changing

Searching for Truth I don't know that's falling It's like I'm falling even more in love with you Pain out of all A fail on two I'm standing here until you make me move We're not a moment here with you So you know all the lyrics

But not the name of the song Yeah. Oh, yeah. I remember because 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. A lot of references. All I got to 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. you know the uh what what's that one song that got used for like commercials a ton back in the day it was like black keys or something that's like no the one that's like for you baby i'm not moving on i love you long you know that one everyone with that amount of with that beautiful tempo and the way that you did you did you the inflection of that singing it's hard for me not to know which song that is but i'm drawing a blank at the moment I thought you're going to say gold I actually know what'd be actually a funnier

song for them. Theodore looks at Avery's looking at his legs and stuff and then just says bam burn a man ain't burn a brandy brim and it is gold on the ceiling they want to get my gold oh see that would that would actually be the gayest thing to happen is if the black keys started play right there. They want to get my gold. On the ceiling They ain't mine Just a matter of time For you're stealing

Yeah basically just the story is so poorly written Our brains are doing anything it can do To like make it Yeah Make it to not read it Yeah Okay go ahead Let's just be done with this hell

Yeah This is Polly hell I'm telling you right now I'm going to name the episode that Polly hell they're not even polyamorous it's been two people the whole time we inserted that element in the story we had a good bit out of it we had a good bit so it's going to be poly hell

just completely ignoring the title what the author named and all of that what's what it is to us the story's our story now it was the side of avery line in the bed that made my nerve settle enough for me to pay attention to the particular 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. You could say that. Gosh, I hate all the snart. I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my ability. what would you like to know first I was trying well why is the road

this is the part where this person explains everything well why can't we watch the TV I'm in Pauli hell what what are the lonely ones or whatever why can't I go in the water yeah what 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'd been expecting me where even am i i asked the words tumbling out of my mouth he 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 eternally i froze however 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 I does he just appears and explains the stuff not even veiled as like a character in the story or something that matters 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 going to 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 of swatstick. Do you know this?

And he's like, oh my, he's like, this is the SS. These are Nazis. Yeah, it turns out we were actually in the Nazi world. Right next to Polly Hell was Nazi hell. That's why the door was red. It was a big, like, one stick of flag. 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

these 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 said with a small sigh but still 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 the 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.

So 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 risks.

And here, we don't take risk. any citizen that doesn't follow the rules provided in my opinion is just as bad they get put there or 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. Took 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 band said loudly his words echoing off the wall. 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. Injury such as yours can be healed completely in a matter of hours. He said his smile growing even wider than it had before. It 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 doors. Open 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 detail 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. I 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 taking care of for me the ability to set people up with love set them up with happiness a perfect life he has this he has this entire story he has never expressed any interest in matchmaker or having a bad life or wanting to set people up but now at the end is he like suddenly oh these are things i consider even though they haven't been mentioned once he said he has never witnessed you have to give us his like he has never witnessed state of the art technology that's that's a good point that'd be hard to turn down that's fair that's fair And then he's going to, 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, who I have an intense, longstanding 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 into story. literally the only reason that they have romance is because the story told them to because his name was in a system that now seems completely corrupt and out of nowhere why do they even need matchmakers to be the leader of the city what does that have to do with anything

belly kisses I pause something rising up blocking these intruding thoughts what about Avery the man smiled shaking his head he is no longer your concern I 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.

The warmth that filled me whenever he touched me, whenever he touched me, the way he looked at me when he thought I didn't know him. He had the chance to leave me behind, to leave me to the lost one. He could have let me drown, and he'd 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 is certainly 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. A 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 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 fluid as the man stumbled back against the, while 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 opened with a shock and unblinking as he slid to the floor, his head jerking a few times before he lay unmoving. He was a cyborg. The sirens began to sound as the...

Teen Titans, whoa! This is a way cooler than Avery. Teen Titan! When there's trouble, you know who to call. Teen Titans! From the town where they can't see. team titans when the beast go

on the attack you can press them and they got their back because when the world these heroes are control cheat titan go

oh my god if you think about it it's actually kind of it's actually kind of hot that Theodore's Robin and fucking Avery's Beast Boy I don't know I should have voiced them like this the whole time I'm gonna turn to an elephant

and give you belly kisses It's so hot dude Ship that Ship that Now Ship it It turns to the elephant Oh

Are you making elephant noises? Yeah. How did you do that? It's so, it came through so distorted on the discreet. It was like, it's like I was hearing an elephant through a Ouija board. I'm not moving my hand, are you? No, I'm not. It spells out.

P. F-T-P-P-P-F-T, oh my God, P-F-T-P-P-P-P-B. Are 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. Him 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, go. He's him saying it twice. And the second time has periods after every word. You 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 can't. This story's getting in and there's going to be zero explanation for why they can't watch TV on the 14th, why 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. no 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 right right right straight down this hallway another left i was sprinting as fast as i could my sneaker squeaking against the white tile above me the noise was thunderous sounded like people were running 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 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 swank out of the wall. Oh, fuck! At the wall again and again, cracks forming each time I hit it. Each it was fueled

by emotions. I'd push down. This is for the lies I thought as I swung. This is for the pain. I swaned. I paused, panting. This is for Avery. I took a powder of the glass shattering around me.

Throwing 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's 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. Theo? 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 to listen to me. You need to get up. Can he get up? I asked quickly my eyes glancing over him. Oh.

I think, do you know, do you know, do you trust me? I asked suddenly the irony not being lost on me. Every didn't hesitate before he nodded. Then please. Question later. We need to go. Avery gave me a quick searching look before nodding again. So 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. What's going on? Well, the first thing is understood that I'm going to follow you out of here.

There's a weird parallel because the first time when Avery says it is one of their first introducing diaper play into the relationship. Okay. All right. Okay. All right. All right. I took his hand.

Avery gave me a quick searching look before nodding again. I took his hand to 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 ficked 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. Is 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 global. 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 crack 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 fleetingly 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 Avery! 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. No, there's too many. The doors 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 He said hurriedly

Glancing up seeing more of those things Start to turn the corner Panic 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 We're now jumping over the bodies Of the ones that I shot

I turned around reaching the door To handle as the things raise their guns With a final yank I pulled Avery towards me Just as I opened the door Pulling us both through the door slain clothes. I felt myself laying 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, no 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, 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... Dan, hand that. Yes, quietly cutting me off. I paused listening as I looked around.

We were what looked like in an alley. Sound of cars and people chattering filled my ears. Familiar set 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.

Who cares? Babe, come on. We're going to 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 buttoned my shirt up over it I 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. No, nope. I think he's married to a girl named Avery. He has conformed to society's standards and gender roles and norms that has rejected the apparently state enforced but not state enforced homosexuality.

So 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 His 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, scatley Also, why'd your parents have to fly downhill Every year for your birthday

Because they couldn't fathom the fact that we moved So far away also are you still putting exposition into the sword also also i like seeing you get dressed up what you only do when they're around i say a smile tugging on the corners of my lips he paused for a moment bringing his eyes up to meet mine yeah he said quietly spalling 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 She's next week, which is celebrated without any fan members if it makes you feel better.

I said my finger absentmindedly 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 show unless

you, unless you knew my heart was beating somewhere nearby. Can we talk about that? Can we think, I would actually get set of the score. It is, it's trying to do the cutesy like, and they all lived half a year after. And it is cute. When is our anniversary, when we got married or blah, blah, blah, blah. But it's had no buildup.

No, it's cute. Well, they're in love because they're in love. It's cute because I said it's cute. It is cute. It's cute. I'm writing things that are considered cute to another cute. It's cute. You know what, Hunter, no, it's not, okay?

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. Why don't you sing train? Why don't you sing trained?

You were good at that. While you bring back in the atmosphere, you know, keep going. Yeah. Yeah. He said with a teasing smile, I couldn't help 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 celebrate with my parents. I said moving my hands up across his shoulders to his chest. Definitely not. I wouldn't want to give your anniversary present in front of your parents.

Ew. What, dude? What? That's hot. That's cute. I wouldn't want to give your present in front of your parents. It's just being like

every stereotypical lovey ofy thing ever. Yeah, and it's nice. This is what horror is, dude. Hope you realize that. This is the best horror story we've ever read. 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.

I 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 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 my life. Oh, easy, easy, easy. And I hate that this is even on the, this is not even a, there's so much left open. This is so dumb. 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 a 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

and 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 know is I would go up to my buddy Joseph and I'd fucking shoot him in the face with a real gun, not an 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? You 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 who can 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 guys 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 of 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 our 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 was remotely scary is like the lost ones you can just shoot the only thing that was scary just like

a hallmark film the only thing that was scary was theodore's dialogue the entire time that was 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 Motherfogger. Okay. Yeah, this is... Hold on. Hold on. Some of these comments, dude.

Some of these comments are, 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 letter. 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 passed and present because he's lost somewhere. What are you talking about? I, uh,

you're smoking. This is absolutely insane. This has been, this has been creepcast. Um, 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's rough. Glad she's back in the atmosphere. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. At the exact same time. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Since the return

I've to stay on the world She listens like speaking And she talks like truth Yeah Tell me Did you sail the Christ Did you make it to the Milky Way To see her lights are faded

That heaven is overrated Well tell me Was it everything you wanted to find did you miss me why you were looking for yourself Isaac can we make a vote that if in any regard if it ever goes into romance fantasy

we get a veto the story I don't want to read romance fantasy anymore I know like 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 I was wanting like I was wanting a centaur man he's like you need to stay in my cottage and she's like oh my God 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 all right okay all right 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 All right If you if you sat If anyone made it to the end of this spot

I wanted 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 is my idea to read this episode too And I feel horrible

I feel horrible I feel horrible Tell me Bye Did you make it to the Milky Way? Thank you to all of our Patreon supporters. Thank you to everyone to watch. It means the world.

Appreciate the support and we will see you all in the next one. And also, stay away from England. I think that's the underlining, you know, moral to this whole thing. Bye. You know, I'm going to be. You know, I'm going to be.

POMAYOR. And... ...then... ...their... ...their... ...the... ...with... ...the...