Hold me tight. Love me so.

- Part 9 -

"And I'm here with my grand ol' pal, Jack!" Mark chimed. Sean following his enthusiasm with a brisk wave and nod. Not really daring to speak at the time.

Mark seemed, well, odd.

He now was quite ecstatic. - Thrilled.

He was now loud. - Upbeat.

He was fluent in his odd movements. - Planned.

Everything he hadn't been this morning.

He, changed.

Sean chuckled lightly at this thought. Mark seeming to turn around just as this happened. Almost as if he knew upon a limb that Sean's amused thought would happen right then and there.

Mark stared for a mere moment. Looking up at his friend.

Mark seemed to shrink down in a joking manner, hands upon knees in a falsely pensive demeanor.

"What cha' laughin' about?" Mark chuckled in return. Voice low as he held his microphone to his lips. Speaking devilishly within the amplifier. - His pale hand cupped around the head.

Sean simply smiled. Trying to think of something quick on a limp.

Sean inhaled to speak, opening his mouth saying...

Nothing.

His mouth shut closed when the doorbell rang from Mark's front door. And an alarmed expression seemed to now ripple across Mark's features.

Sean shared the same, instinctive trait.

Mark quickly got to his feet, hustling towards the door.

All the while, Sean swiftly turned off the computer and its camera so that the two wouldn't be caught on camera with whatever it could be in which came to the front door.

Mark stood still at the door.

Large hand gripping the door nob, clearly in nervousness.

And a sigh escaped his lips.

Sean accompanied his friend by the door. Coming shoulder to shoulder with the red-haired man in which he'd known for more than three years now.

Sean looked over Mark's shoulder.

Only then did he catch a glimpse at his pal's shaking hand.

"You okay?" Sean questioned, arching a slender brow at the thought. His thickly-pooled, sapphire orbs glistening in obvious worry.

It was quite obvious that Mark wasn't 'alright'.

That he wasn't 'fine'.

And this was simply what made the question all the worse to answer.

"Fine." Mark rasped. His voice suddenly hoarse compared to his once fluent, and playful actions just mere heartbeats before hand.

"Alright." Sean replied quietly.

Only then did Mark pry open the door.

Only then did he gather up his courage, and show his friend his troubles.

Only then, did Mark open the barrier between the outside world, and his very own, used-to-be sanctuary.

Mark opened the door. And what lied before him shocked both the two to quite the degree.

Sending shock waves within the air.

- A breathless huff broke the stagnant air.

That huff belonging to Mark.

For what lied before the two was complete,

and utter,

nothingness.

Well, that's a change for ya'.