(Your POV)
I tap my fingers on my leg as I wait anxiously for an answer. Sean went back to sleep (knowing I left the room), so he doesn't know what I'm doing on his computer. C'mon, Mark, pick up the call. The Skype tune is still playing and I wonder if Mark actually wants to pick up. I checked the time zones, he should be online...
No, of course he wants to talk to Sean. He just away from the computer, I hope.
My brow creases as the seconds go by. I might have to try again.
The call is accepted and I jump slightly as the screen changes. I'm now looking at a handsome man with faded blue hair, dark scruffy beard and worried brown eyes.
He speaks first. "Jack, where ha- Who are you? Where's Jack?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HIM?" The man's tone - I guess he's Mark - increases with each question. He rises in his chair, getting closer to the camera. I know there's no point in getting hostile, as we're over talking over the internet, but I back away a bit in sudden fear. (Gee, Sean, you really know how to pick 'em, huh...?)
I raise my hands in front of me in defense and say, "Hey! Calm down! He's alright, he's okay! I'm (Y/n). I assume you're Mark -put that phone for ONE SECOND WILL YA AND LET ME EXPLAIN. He's okay, but he's asleep. So if you quiet down so I don't need to shout, that'd be great. Some weird shit's been happening, Mark." He sits back down.
"Is he hurt? Why hasn't anyone seen him in 3 and a half months?"
My eyes widen. "Th-that long? He's been gone that long?"
"You would know that, why are you asking me?"
"Because we only met the other day. He told me... told me it'd only been one month. He... lied," I say, getting slightly upset.
"What happened, when you met Sean?"
I explain the scene as it happened. Scary dude throwing him off a roof, me saving him, etc. Mark listens intently as I speak, and I can see wheels turning in his head. What is he thinking about?
"This guy is the reason Sean's been off the web for so long, Mark. He thinks no one cares for him - believes it, even - and doesn't want to talk to people because he thinks they'll just hurt him like that thing. Because of it, he wanted to let go of that ledge. He wanted to die. We don't know its name, or how it came to be. We just know that while it's been here, the world's been hell for Sean. Do you thi- what? What's that look for?"
Mark opens his mouth to speak. "I might know who it is."
My heart quickens. I knew contacting friends would help in the long run. "Well? Who?"
"I had a problem very similar to yours. Just, I got rid of my beast before I could try... you know. Suicide. His name was Dark. As in, Darkiplier. I wouldn't say his name before because it would summon the being. But now that he's gone, you can see-" Mark gestures to his surroundings-"no summoning will occur. You may know this or you may not, but Darkiplier was created in fanfictions of me. Enough people believed in the guy that he actually became real. He appeared in my dreams first, like Sean. Then, he appeared in person, also like this story you've told. I went into a bit of depression because of him, and my followers noticed the lack of energy in my videos. But all I had to do was see the genuinely nice messages on YouTube and Twitter and other social media to get myself out of it. I was able to kill Dark in my sleep, like where he began. Once I was back to myself, it seemed like it was all just a dream."
I nod. These two are more alike in ways that Sean never knew. Where's it leading to?
"My theory is, this guy came from fanfictions as well, just about Jack instead of me. I'm gonna look it up right now- what's that sound?" I hear crying, for the second time now. Shit.
"Fuck, he's had another nightmare. I'll be back, please don't leave." I take off the headphones and dart over to Sean.
"You okay, Sean?" I sit down next to him. His sobs aren't as intense as last time, which is good. But the near rib-crushing hugs aren't any different. I rest my chin on top of his head as I hug him back.
"Y-yeah, but.. this round it said that I didn't deserve my fans, the people I trusted more than anyone. Is.. do you think that's true, (Y/n)?"
"Of course not. You deserve absolutely everything good you've received, and anything bad shouldn't have stopped to say hello. It's okay, he's lying again, Sean. It's not true." He nods, maybe in agreement.
I look at the clock on his night stand. "Hey, you want to go shower for a bit? It's almost morning. I want to... take you out to go get breakfast, okay?" Did I just ask him on a date? He nods again and smiles, so I guess it doesn't matter anyway. We let go of each other and I go back to the computer while he heads to the bathroom. I hope he takes long showers.
I sit down and put on the headphones, adjusting them. Good, Mark hasn't left.
"I'm back. Did you find the... name?" It'll be strange, calling it by an actual name now.
"Yeah. But, I don't... really want to say it out loud. In case the name summons it again, you know?" I nod in agreement. "I'll just type it in chat."
I hit the chat option and see the name. I immediately have chills run down my spine.
AntiSepticEye.
The room seems darker to me. I look at Mark again and say, "That's it," in a wavering tone. No doubt, the things name is AntiSepticEye.
"Thank you, Mark. You helped a lot. I hope to see you again soon, maybe with Sean beside me. Until next time." We both wave, Mark wishes me luck, and we disconnect.
What to do now?
