Entry #12050104001305

Do We Have To Talk About This?

I've decided "Screw it" and I'm updating for now. Only on Wattpad though, AO3 can wait a little bit.

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"Hey Tim, can I ask you something?" Jay asked, pausing as he held the fork in his hand. The two men had decided on something for breakfast and Jay had prepared the food. Tim, not wanting to sit idly by, had poured their drinks and set the table.

"Yeah," Tim replied, looking up from his plate.

Jay wasn't sure if he should ask the question but he decided to do it anyway. "What's it like? Having another personality?"

Tim sighed, setting his fork on the edge of his plate. "That's not what this is, Jay. I used to think that might be it. I've read about people who seem to have the exact same problem, but it's not that. I've been tested a hundred times and all the tests confirm what I already know: the only personality is me. This only started happening, God, it's already been two years now. But you know it's not just me, Jay. If this was something specific to only me, I would honestly believe that I might have Dissociative Identity Disorder. But it's not just me. You can't honestly think it's a coincidence that, not only me, but someone else - God only knows who - has the same thing going on. The person in the hood? I've seen him on camera, Jay. I've seen the way he acts."

"It's just like how you act," Jay blurted, immediately regretting his words. Tim was unfazed though.

"Precisely. And we've both seen how Alex has changed since all this started. It's obviously clear that, whatever that thing out there in the woods is, has changed us. He takes over our minds and turns us into puppets. Whatever he wants, we do." Tim let out a chuckle, fiddling with his fork but not using it for its purpose. "I don't know how you haven't been affected by it yet, but I'm glad."

Jay thought it over for a few seconds before agreeing. "Yeah, I agree with you. The chances of three people all having multiple personalities and dealing with a 'supernatural evil' seems pretty low. It has to be the Operator's influence."

"Have you ever felt affected by it? Even a little?" Tim asked, suddenly serious.

"Like how?" Jay asked.

"Well sometimes I get a warning when something bad is about to happen. It's like... You know how it sounds when the TV is on but it's only static?"

Jay nodded.

"It's like that, but the static just gets louder and louder until my head feels like it's going to explode and I'm completely exhausted and then it just feels like going to sleep. I can't see, hear, feel; I'm not conscious and I can't remember anything. It's exactly like sleep, but when I wake up, I'm stranded in the forest or my leg is broken."

Before Tim could add anything, Jay said, "The static. Sometimes I can feel it."

"Describe it," Tim said, a look of concentration on his face.

"It's like you said, the static on the TV," Jay began, "but it starts as a low hum that I barely notice. Sometimes it stays like that for days, just at the back of my mind. But when I feel like I'm being watched or when I'm in the forest or when I know that thing is near, the static gets louder until it's all I can hear. I've had moments where I've blacked out, but I know that I kept moving. I've got video proof of what I've done but the memories are gone."

Tim sat in quiet contemplation before Jay added, "But you're wrong about one thing."

"What?"

"You said he takes you over and turns you into puppets. Based on what I've seen on tape and what I can actually remember, that used to be true. For Alex, it might still be. But you and the other person, the one in the hood, you seem to be fighting against it."

Tim seemed confused and slightly amazed. "What?"

"You used to be controlled by it, but you both seem to be trying to fight the influence now. Last night, you two were communicating without words and you were both calm and calculated. If you'd wanted to hurt me, you would have; but you didn't. You seemed to be making a plan to do something." Jay sighed. "I just wish I knew what."

Jay and Tim continued eating their breakfast, but the cameraman could see a question forming in Tim's eyes. Several silent moments passed before the injured man decided to speak up; he asked his question slowly, as if he wasn't sure if the question was even plausible.

"Do you think that if we can actually beat this thing, our masked halves will disappear?"

Jay thought it over. "I think that's possible, yeah. They seem to only be created for the Operator's use. If we can destroy it, then the empty-yet-sentient halves of you guys will probably disappear too."

Tim absentmindedly nodded, his gaze resting unfocused on his plate.

"I have another question though," Jay said.

"Yeah?" Tim asked, forcing himself to look up from the table.

"When you're not... Ya know, when it's not you in control, I guess, what should I call you?"

"Honestly, I don't really care," Tim candidly replied. "The sooner we beat this thing, the sooner this will stop being an issue."

"But, until then?"

"What would you call a puppet?" Tim sarcastically retorted.

"Its name," Jay replied for lack of a better answer.

Tim chuckled. "Then I suppose you should figure that out."