The base Mikey and JJ were sent to was made out of iron blocks, and there were neat, small oak houses lining the sides. Behind those were multiple hallways lined with rooms, with their walls being made of obsidian, but those gave off the vibes that they were off-limits.
"Where should we go?" Mikey asked. But JJ was already wandering away, and he was heading right for one of the hallways.
"JJ-" He caught up to him. "I don't think we're supposed to go back there. I think those rooms have private stuff in it."
"I don't want to be around all those people." JJ answered, sounding distant. He kept staring into space as he walked, and Mikey was surprised he was even able to keep going in a straight line due to how distracted he looked. "It makes me stressed."
Mikey hesitantly allowed JJ to open the door to one of the rooms. On the inside, it seemed to be some sort of small living space. There was a bed, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a washer and dryer, with a few bottles of detergent next to them. That was all.
"I like being away from everyone." JJ whispered, taking Mikey's hand again. "I prefer being alone with you. Let's stay in here."
Mikey felt bad that his thoughts were contradicting him, but he didn't want to see him getting in trouble for going into an off-limits area. Instead of listening to Mikey's first warning, JJ gently dragged him inside and closed the door.
"You said we would talk later." He layed down on the bed. "I guess now is the best time."
"Yeah," Mikey agreed, laying down next to him. "I wanted to keep talking about... I think you know what. When did it happen?"
"Remember that day, when I returned from the forest, all torn up and half starved? You and the team had found me, and welcomed me back to B1; which was being rebuilt. The killer clowns were gone now. You told me to go see my parents."
Just then, Mikey gained a dreadful look; he must remember what he was about to explain. He had been there to experience it, after all.
"Both of them were there. But I was instantly kicked out - my mom, she said it was all my fault that the killer clowns got inside B1, and killed her and everyone else. She said she could never love a person like that, and that she never wanted to see me again. When night came around, I couldn't sleep... images of everything that had happened wouldn't stop swarming through my head, and it hurt. It hurt to think about, and it hurt even worse to know my own mother hated and blamed me for it. Then, I wondered what would come next for me. I couldn't see a path I would be happy with. So, I decided life wasn't worth continuing."
Mikey squeezed JJ's hand as he kept listening to his story. He recalled JJ being incredibly silent that day; whenever he'd tried to talk to him about it, he wouldn't respond. He had no idea that, when he'd been sleeping that night, JJ had been up to something he couldn't even begin to imagine.
"I took some spare blocks," JJ continued. "And I elevated myself up really high. Once I was up there, I couldn't see straight. I thought I had jumped off, and as I presumably did, I saw everything I'd experienced during the incident flash right before me. But once I hit the ground, I realized it was only a vision. I hadn't actually jumped yet. I was going to do it for real, but something stopped me."
"What stopped you?" Mikey asked, hearing his voice crack as he did so. He didn't realize how emotional he was right now.
"You did."
Mikey let out a small, confused noise.
"I heard your voice, calling for me. I was about as high was the base itself, so I could see you, and you seemed worried. You wouldn't stop knocking on people's doors, asking what I assumed was if they'd seen me. Just then, I imagined what it be like if you'd found me dead. Not only did I want that for you, but I realized that, despite what I previously thought, I did have something to live for. That something was you."
"I was the reason you didn't commit suicide?"
"Yes. Even when we were only best friends, you meant so much to me. More than you could ever imagine. I'm sorry about what I did; I wasn't thinking correctly."
"JJ, there's absolutely nothing you need to apologize for! I knew you struggled with depression and trauma after the incident, but I never knew you once resorted to trying to kill yourself-"
"There's no need to worry about that now; it was in the past. I'll never consider leaving you again, okay? I'll stay with you as long as I can."
"Okay..."
"But there's something you must realize, Mikey. The time we have together might not last for very long."
"What do you mean?"
"I feel it, deep inside of me," JJ's eyes slowly but surely flooded with horror. "That this base won't protect us. If these killer clowns have really improved from their last appearance, then I feel as though they'll find a way in; that they'll discover that we're sheltering here. I don't know when, but it could happen sooner than any of us would expect."
"Now is the worst time to get paranoid, JJ. Please don't stress yourself out with possibilities like that."
"It's more possible than you think. In fact, I know it will happen. I don't know when, though. I'm scared, Mikey, I don't want them to find me-"
"They won't, okay?" Mikey interrupted his rant by pulling him closer to his chest, wrapping his arms around him and hugging him tightly. "If that ever happens, I'll do anything I can to protect you."
"There's something else I realized." JJ mumbled into his chest. "The killer clown that was preparing to kill me, it had a silver patch on its shoulder. I don't know what it means or does, but compared to the other clowns, it acted slower and more confused. If it ever comes down to them finding us, then I fear that any other clown will able to quickly pinpoint the right target if you're trying to protect me. A version of these things that is newly improved, wouldn't be stumped by something so simple. I believe something was wrong with that one in particular."
"You never know, though. Regardless of how hard they try, I will try harder to keep you alive and safe. There's no need to be afraid, JJ. Fear is everyone's greatest weakness. Don't you see how much you've accomplished when you pushed that aside, and used courage instead? Take the original killer clown incident for example; look at all you did when you listened to your dad's note and stopped being afraid. Who knows? You might be able to do something great during this takeover, too."
JJ didn't seem to believe it. Deciding to not dwell on the situation at hand for now, he closed his eyes, apparently planning to get some sleep. Mikey allowed him to, and watched with pity in his eyes as he drifted off.
