Restless (Insomnia!Owen AU)

Restless

Harper had been searching for what felt like a whole eternity and more.
No matter where she checked, Owen wasn't there.
She even checked his office, and he was nowhere to be found.
"Makes no sense.." She thought. "I've been told that he's ALWAYS in there! Why would he suddenly disappear without a trace?!"
She already would've given up by now, anyone would've.
But she was concerned. This was her friend, after all.
Assuming that he didn't hate her like she also heard he hated everyone else in his life.
"Owen? OWEN! Where are you?!" She called out for what was probably the millionth time since she began.
Before she knew it, she was in an entirely different area of the soundstage.
One that she didn't quite recognize.
It was.. odd, to say the least.
The floor and walls, as well as the ceiling were all made of rock.
Like it was a cave of sorts.
But what would a cave be doing in a place like this? That's just weird.
And damn, was it dark.
"Owen...?" Harper called again, a lot more hesitant this time.
What came back was a muffled shout.
"Owen? Are you here?"
The same muffled shout.
"I- I'm gonna help you, okay? I'm gonna get you outta here— WOAH SHIT."
A sinister scene was laid out before her.
Owen stood there, eyes obscured by shadows, completely still.
And his mouth... where was his mouth?!
It simply wasn't there.
He slowly rose a finger to where his lips would be, gesturing for Harper to be quiet.
He then slowly pointed towards the beast standing next to him.
Oh, god.
It was what looked like Mortimer, but much more monstrous.
He was hunched over, head lowered, and audibly snoring, no eyes to speak of.
This couldn't be real.. surely, it couldn't be, right?
This had to be some kind of trick her eyes are playing on her.
She was frozen. Too stunned to move.
"..O.. Owen? What the hell happened??" She whispered.
Owen tried to reply, but all that came out was muffled groaning.
"What're you trying to say..?"
The muffled noises Owen was making now sounded more frustrated upon Harper asking that question.
As if he was trying to say 'I can't speak, you idiot'.
"Do you have.. anything you can w- write on?"
He shook his head 'no'.
"Okay, uh.. d- don't freak out. I'm gonna help you, okay? Just come with me, and I'll find a way to-"
Owen let out another muffled shout, that Harper could swear sounded like he was saying 'no'.
He then repeated his previous action of pointing at Mortimer.
"You.. need to stay here?? To make sure he stays asleep?"
Owen nodded.
"I'm sure he won't wake up anytime soon, man, come on. Let's get you out of here." Harper held her hand out, but Owen still didn't accept.
Owen shook his head again. He seemed pretty dead set on staying in this strange cave with this probably-ferocious beast.
She huffed. "Owen, if you're not gonna come with me, I'm making you. You can't stay here, this thing isn't your puppet anymore."
Harper took a few steps forward, doing so as quietly as she possibly could as to not alert the creature.
As soon as she got close, however, something happened.
Owen started to groan again, this time sounding like he was in pain.
He grasped the sides of his head as it got louder and louder, Harper slowly backing away from him.
"AAAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!!" Owen let out a blood-curdling scream as his jaw tore open.
As soon as he did this, Mortimer's eyes opened in the same fashion as Owen's jaw, his bright red pupils focusing on Harper.
He was awake now.
And there was nothing she could do.
"O- OWEN?!"
"Le... aaaave.. no..oooow!" He managed to croak out.
"GRAAAAAAAARGHH!" Mortimer roared, lunging towards Harper.
She screamed in pain, before it all went black...