001

[noracingstripes]

[There's a sound like a rustle as the device is turned on, as if whoever has it is holding it too close to their face. The voice sounds furious.]

Stephen, I swear to fucking Christ -- if he's put you up to this I'm going to fucking kill you. Where the hell am I?

Comments

[audio]

[down_to_nowhere]

[The Matt who was here before would know, though maybe no one else would get it, that Mello prefers text to audio unless he's in a hurry. He's in a hurry now.]

Matt?

[Then the eagerness drains out of his voice, replaced by a hint of suspicion.] ...Your frequency number's different.

[audio]

[noracingstripes]

[There's a long pause before Matt's reply comes through.]

... this is sick. This is fucking - what the hell do you think you're doing, Near?

[audio]

[down_to_nowhere]

[It takes a little while for Mello to reply as well. Different Matt, obviously. Right?]

It's not- I'm not Near.

...Shit. Why'd I get detention on my thirteenth birthday?

[audio]

[noracingstripes]

Stop it. Just - say whatever it is you're trying to say and let me leave.

[audio]

[down_to_nowhere]

Matt, it's me, I- I swear to God.

[audio]

[noracingstripes]

This isn't funny. This isn't fucking funny. You wouldn't - [He stops himself mid-sentence. What he says next sounds forced.] Mello wouldn't have just gone off the map like that, okay? Not if he was... just give it a fucking rest.

What is this, some new voice software? Real clever, Near.

[audio, screened || unhackable]

[down_to_nowhere]

Look, someone or something is pulling people to this city from different realities, different times. I know how fucked-up that sounds, but I've been here for months and it's the only explanation that fits the observable facts.

Where I came from, I... have about ten seconds to live. If that.

[audio, screened || unhackable]

[noracingstripes]

I said stop it, for fuck's sake!

[video, screened || unhackable]

[down_to_nowhere]

[Mello hates using video posts, as only someone trained from age five never to appear on film could. So this one is just long enough to show him, without his sunglasses, looking equal parts annoyed and concerned, saying:]

It's not a fucking trick, all right?

[audio, screened || unhackable]

[noracingstripes]

[Again, there's a long pause before Matt sends his next message. His voice is drained now; he doesn't know what to believe.]

... what the hell is this?

[audio, screened || unhackable]

[down_to_nowhere]

A city called Disturbia. I don't know yet why they've brought us here.

Where'd you come from? You- sound different. [Finishing somewhat lamely; that might be the understatement of the year.]

[audio, screened || unhackable]

[noracingstripes]

I was in Australia.

... this doesn't make any sense. Mello died. I saw the pictures, I - And he wouldn't have just left me like that. [He's aware that's a slightly pathetic thing to say, that Near's people will probably scribble it down and use it against him, but - Jesus Christ.]

[audio, screened || unhackable]

[down_to_nowhere]

You're not dead?

Goddamn parallel fucked-up... We're not from the same world. I wouldn't have left you.

[audio, screened || unhackable]

[noracingstripes]

[And the walls are right back up.]

You can't expect me to buy this shit. What's the fucking point to all this? Who's doing this?

[audio, screened || unhackable]

[down_to_nowhere]

People who need us for something. It's next to impossible to get real information here.

You died in my world. I saw pictures of that.

[audio, screened || unhackable]

[noracingstripes]

I didn't die.

... you're saying it was faked? Someone brought you here before you- ?