A Real Trip

3 Years Later.

                                                      

I woke up with a smile on my face. Today was my final day of college. Graduating had taken a lot of work, cheap meals and taking a break from everything. Even Youtube and friends. Mark and I still talked, but I have mostly forgiven him for not telling me about the world hidden in his basement. He was for sure mad when I finally confronted him about it. My thoughts wandered back to that day as I got ready to go to the graduation ceremony...

FLASHBACK TIME.

We had been playing around with ideas for new videos and as the secret friend of Dark's I was, I had kept hinting at Mark to do more videos with them. Mark gave me a suspicious look as he was doing often for awhile since I had kept bringing them up every so often. "And what do u think I should do then, with them?" He was looking right at me, speaking in a way that his words carried more weight than just a simple question. I glanced away at the computer in front of me. Then I looked back, unsure of how to respond. I was getting the feeling Mark knew or at least had some suspicions of what I was doing each time I brought up the ppl I had now called my friends. I chose my own words carefully, speaking slowly.

"I just feel like they deserve more screentime, the fans go crazy each time u hint at Willford or Dark. It might be nice to see them again, you know.." My voice trailing off as I kept my eyes steady on the screen in front of me. Was I being that transparent? Could he possibly get pissed if he did find out I knew them better now? I tried again, this time looking at him doing my best to not let my emotions get the better of me. At this point, it had been over a yr since I had traveled down to the basement and made a discovery that changed me forever. I did my best to not let my face betray me. "They LIKE being used, you know? And you hardly do anymore. You ever think about how they feel?" Mark kept his eyes on me, his face clearly showing he was going over my words, slowly he spoke, his gaze was at first thinking, then the eyes flickered and his face became steadier, calmer. One that said that I was on thin ice. Eyes full of a negative curiosity.

"Who's feelings?"

Marks phone fell off the couch as he turned to me, seriously looking at me. But his voice was still calm. " Who's feelings, exactly do u mean Sara? U have been pushing I make more videos with them ever since I left u alone here the last time. And u claim its cause ppl enjoy them. I know they do." He bent over and picked up his phone before turning back to me with the same look on him. "But now it seems like u can't let go what I did. I closed them off for a reason. U have no idea what letting them out, even now, does. I keep them mostly hidden and where they belong because of what they did. What they are." He sighed running hands across his face as he emphasized the last word he spoke. Looking back at me he began to talk again. "You know what? Id say you think they are just something I use and discard, like a prop. I don't. I just don't enjoy the hell they wreaked on my life, who I was then was not a good person. And I've done enough playing around with stuff I should never have done in the first place. "He threw his hand up in a motion around the house. "I've worked SO HARD to put this behind me, worked hard to finally get where I am. So, maybe if u want to make the same mistakes I did, by all means go and make a deal with the devil and see how fun it is when it ruins your life." He let out a shaky breath and got up to grab something from the kitchen, likely his charger and maybe some Takis. We hadn't eaten yet since breakfast and it was getting to be late afternoon. I sighed, closed my eyes and shut down my computer. The way this went, id say it was safe to close things down for the night. I had just started college earlier that year and had a paper due soon. "Maybe I already have." I said quietly letting out another sigh. I hadn't expected him to be right behind me as I said it tho.

"So you know him them, is that it? That's why u keep pushing it about them." I jolted in surprise, my squeak sounded too loud in the silence as he waited for me to answer him. When I didn't speak he continued. "Sara, we have been friends a long time, so I'm going to ask u only one time. Did u go into the basement when I was gone last time? And pls, answer honestly." I took a few deep breaths, my anxiety was causing my hands to sweat, my heart panged nervously in my chest. But not painfully. Just typical anxiety. But I did answer honestly, I owed him that much.