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“Jon?”
It was early morning, January first.
Both Jon and Martin had spent the night before out, the both had ended up rather drunk and, quite honestly, Martin had expected to be spending the day sleeping off the events of the night before.
So, to wake up at the ass crack of dawn to see his partner frantically getting dressed, Martin was rather concerned.
The other whipped their head around, a look of… shock? Upon their face. It almost seemed like the previous night had no effect on the two.
“Martin! Martin, we need to go.” Jon sounded frantic… What had him so worked up?
“Wher-”
“Martin, I know it's something you may… struggle to believe, but there's someone else nearby- Like me. And if we don't get going right now, then they will die.”
That was… a lot. In their seven years in this universe, they hadn't encountered anyone in their situation. So to wake up to Jon claiming there was someone like him in urgent danger?
They were in the car within minutes.
“So… im sorry, Jon, but who is this person? how could there be any avatars in this universe? I thought the fears weren't even here?” Martin said, pulling out of the driveway.
Jon sighed, “I- they're not an avatar- not in the way we are.” They typed the address into the phone, “They don't serve the fears, He serves something else. I didn't even know there was anything else until now.”
20 minutes away… whoever this mystery person was, they needed to hold on just a bit longer.
The world span around him, distant sounds and sights just out of reach.
Dying, it was a strange thing. Derek had never experienced it himself, yes, he knew it. But that wasn't the same as experiencing it. It was calm, despite the screaming pain in his head.
He hoped Avery was okay. He couldn't help but feel guilty, he should have explained all of this further. Given Avery a chance to get to know him. Maybe in another universe. Would Avery find his video? He hoped. It was hard to put a goodbye into so little words, especially when you knew everything about them.
It was… beautiful. To truly understand someone. To see their beauties, their flaws, their pains and their hopes. If only he had a chance to share it, or to have someone who would understand how it felt.
Everything felt lighter now. The edges of his vision blurring, his thoughts feeling fuzzier.
That's when he heard it, the door unlocking
Jon rushed into the house, looking around frantically, hoping, praying to find them. Martin followed closely behind, sharing the same feelings as he ran up the stairs. Leaving Jon to explore the ground floor.
It wasn't a big house, likely belonging to a university student, something felt… off, however. He glanced around, hoping to find any clues about this person. A pile of letters by the door caught his eye.
The names on the letters were all the same, belonging to one ‘Derek Hutchins’, presumably the person who lived here.
He began to look through the letters, nothing that could give him clues, unfortunately.
“Jon!” Martin rushed down the stairs, “He's up here.”
Jon climbed the stairs, looking for him. The end of the hallway. An open door, and someone lying on the floor.
The room was… not in a good state. Bottles lay across his desk and floor, The windows clearly hadn't been opened in a while, either, as the air seemed stale.
Jon crouched down beside the man, this must have been him. He was breathing, thankfully, but he still seemed worse for wear. Malnourished, Sick.
“...Derek? Can you hea-”
“Jonathan Sims." His voice was quiet, he really was near death.
“Y- yes, that's me.” He squinted, “I was told about you.” He had lots of questions, this guy wasn't an avatar of any of the fears. Whether he was an avatar at all was left up to question.
“Youre… you're not from here. Not from this universe”
How did he know that? Whatever it was he served, it must have worked like the eye. Jon had many questions, questions he needed answers to.
“Martin, help me get him in the car.”
The car ride back was… quiet. Whether it had been because of sheer worry, or if Jon was listening to Derek's breathing he wasn't sure.
Who was this guy? And how did Jon not know of him before? Even better, why was he so close to death? He seemed young, too. No older than 20. What could someone have done to be in such a terrible situation at that age?
Their house was in sight now, thankfully. They had lots to figure out.
Martin pulled into the driveway, climbing out the car. Jon followed, opening the door for Martin as he grabbed Derek out the back. He was scarily light.
“You think he's going to be okay?” He questioned, placing the near dead man on the sofa, “Whats even happened to him?”
“It's… Strange.” Jon stared down at the man, “He's no avatar of the eye, but whatever it is, it had a similar effect the eye had on me. He depended on something, not having it led him to the situation he's in. However, I have hope that whatever has this hold on him is… quieting down?”
“And that means?”
“Well, I suspect that with enough recovery… he may be okay- well, as okay as one can be after all he's been through.”
Jonathan Sims. The latest, and last, head archivist of the magnus institute. (The one in his original universe anyways.)
How he knew where Derek was? Derek wasn't sure. However, much like himself, Jon possessed abilities. Near unlimited knowledge was his… Main quality.
It seemed Jon was part of something, also very similar to The King. A creature of knowledge, whatever it was, it wasn't here.
How was he alive? He should be dead. He shouldn't be here. Did Jon do something? Was Jon keeping him alive somehow?
Whatever it was, it was a problem for later. God, his head hurt.