Wait…

Yuki… She’s that girl I saw in that dream-thing. I didn’t really notice at first because of all the hullabaloo that was going on when we met, but she’s the girl. I figured that meant she might know what I should do next, so I talked to her about it.

 

“That was in the past.” She told me.

She wouldn’t answer any questions about who the voice in her head belonged to or where she came from or why she needed to travel with me. She’s a pretty quiet person in general. She showed me the blog of that clinic I was going to look into , and she seemed much more energetic and peppy then. That wasn’t too long ago. Perhaps she’s acting now, or she was acting then, or maybe something happened between then and now.

I’ve decided this next chapter will be about Yuki.

She Found Me

“You’re really easy to track when you don’t use a proxy and you post about the same time almost every day.” Was the first thing she said to me.

I would be more pissed that she caught up to me if she hadn’t beaten the shit out of some guy that was about to mug me. She did it so easily too. She didn’t even break a sweat. So, I’m also afraid that she’ll break me in half if I say anything about being angry at her presence.

She also told me that I was right about that clinic being full of “Plague Doctor action.” That’s an interesting feeling, being right. Anyway, she said that it was taken care of now. I guess it’s back to the drawing board.

Wandering Around

I thought I saw something earlier, but it turns out some kid just thought it would be funny to draw Operator symbols all over a wall. I have a feeling that Slender is going to give people like me a shitload of trouble in the near future.

I also heard a rumor about a free clinic for runners. It seems like a perfect place for some Plague Doctor action, so I’m going to go follow that one up. I’m also back to reading blogs in my spare time. I spend a lot of the day traveling, but I’ve been able to get online for a few hours at a time. I’ll post whatever interesting things I find.

Who the Hell Are You?

Yuki? Who the fuck do you think you are? What makes you think that I’ll just agree to have you join my merry little solo band? I don’t even know you.

Do yourself a favor and run off to do your own thing. I’m going to go look for those runner signs again.

And, once again, I’m not telling anyone where I’m going.

Again

I didn’t recognize any of it this time. I don’t know what to do anymore. Andrew was killed by the Grotesque, plain and simple. I have no other place to go. Apparently I’m supposed to tell people’s stories. Unfortunately, I can’t even do that right.

I’m just going to go pass out face-down in a ditch somewhere…

It is time you fulfilled your promise. She heard in her head, the words forming behind her eyes. She knew this day would come, a faded feeling somewhat like dread rippled beneath her tranquil façade.

Okay. She replied. She had no other choice. What do I need to do?

Simply protect someone.

Her face was still but the condescension rang out in her voice. “What makes you think I can do that?”

Because if you do not, you will die.

The Answers I'm Looking For

I was expecting to see Andrew on the other side of the door. I was expecting to see him tortured by nightmares even after he died. I was expecting to be able to save him and give him some peace.

None of that actually happened.

When I walked through the door, I stepped into a dark room. The walls were made of curtains. A music box on a pedestal in the center of the room played an eerily slow version of "the Entertainer". Next to the box was a large armchair. A figure sat in the chair.

It's hard to describe him... her... it. I don't know exactly what it was, as if it were constantly changing but... not. It slowly started to settle into a vaguely humanoid form, though it never really stayed the same. It wore a blazer and slacks and had a fedora perched atop its head.

"I've been waiting for you, [Silent]." It said without talking, "Do you know why you're here?"

"To get answers." I finally said something.

???: Do you know what questions you're asking?
Silent: What happened to Andrew?
???: You already know the answer to that question.
Silent: Then what the fuck should I be asking?
???: That's for you to decide.
Silent: Why did you bring me here?
???: What makes you think I brought you here?
Silent: Answering a question with a question is cheating.
???: [laughs] Fine, I didn't bring you here.
Silent: Who did?
???: I can't tell you.
Silent: Then why am I here?
???: To learn.
Silent: What do I need to learn?
???: What you've been learning your entire life.
Silent: What is that?
???: I can't tell you.
Silent: What can you tell me?

A wide smile, wider than its head erupted across the thing's features. "I can tell you this, [Silent], you have been chosen. Don't think you're special, it was completely random. But you were chosen forever ago. You have been chosen to tell the stories of those who can't. And you have been chosen to tell those stories for a reason. You have to figure that reason out on your own, and I can promise you won't like it."

The figure's face was so close to mine we were nearly touching. I stared into shifting eyes that were not eyes. "Your friend... Andrew... was delicious."

It then wrapped its hand/tentacle/claw/thing around my neck, crushing it.

I woke up in my room.