The End of the Dream

Chapter 4

There was something gratifying about finally not being the one startled half to death by unexpected social contact.

The reporters spun around and scrambled back from the window. "Jim, our investigation has been compromised!"

"Hey, wait—!" They looked like they were about to bolt, and that had definitely not been your intention. They could be your only lifeline. "It's okay. I don't think I'm meant to be here either, I need your help. Do you know what's going on here?"

That got them to pause, though they still looked extremely skittish. The two men shared a glance, and then the camera was whirled in your direction.

"Markiplier Manor," the reporter announced to the camera, as though presenting a news piece, "the home of many mysterious occurrences! Multiple people have vanished within these very rooms, Jim. Foul play is surely afoot. But is it murder, or is it... demons?"

You blinked and attempted to sidle out of the camera's view. The cameraman only followed you, far too close to possibly be getting a decent shot of anything.

"It could be demons, Jim," the cameraman confirmed in hushed tones.

"And now, at last!" The camera swung back around to focus on the reporter. "We have here, Jim, a living witness. What tumultuous horrors have you seen inside the Manor? Where are the bodies? Are there demons? Are you a demon?"

"I don't think so," you replied, bemused. Then again... you weren't quite sure what you were.

"Can you confirm the reports of a murder taking place here?"

Your face fell. The two had a natural goofiness to them that had put you at ease, momentarily, but the question reminded you all too vividly of your awakening.

"Yes... I don't know what happened. When I woke up, there was a dead body."

The reporter gasped. "There you have it, Jim! Proof! Seen by the very own eyes of our witness." The microphone was abruptly shoved in your face. "What can you tell us about this horrendous incident?"

"I—" You would rather not have to recount it, actually. You shook your head. "I don't know. The body looked like it had been savaged by... a wild beast, or a monster. Partially crushed, partially torn apart as though by something with huge claws. Is there something like that out here?"

The Jims shared a wide-eyed glance. "It is demons," the cameraman hissed.

"Jim, are we safe here?"

"I don't know, Jim."

You pressed your own line of questioning. "How did you two get in? How did you get past it? And the barrier around this place?"

The reporter returned his attention to you, almost immediately shaking off the trepidation your previous comments had caused. "We are Jim News!" he said proudly. "Investigative reporters extraordinaire. Wherever we are needed to break a story, we'll be there!"

That really didn't answer how. There was a more important question anyway.

"Can you get out again? And can you get me out?"

Seemingly the more level-headed and suspicious of the two, the cameraman interjected in a low whisper, that you nonetheless heard perfectly clearly. "What if they're trying to run from the scene of the crime, Jim?"

The reporter gasped and wheeled around. "Are you the murderer?"

"No." You were too baffled to be offended. "I think I was—kidnapped."