Inner Demons

Chapter One: Comical Convention

The hall was bustling with activity, only as to be expected for this time of year, on this particular day. After all, it was the first day of ComiCon. Everybody who was anybody would be there. For a particular few, the crowds were dreary and troublesome. They loitered amongst a booth that held a small gaming computer and keyboard, shielded from the rest of the crowd by a small, dark curtain. One typed methodically on the keyboard, running his fingers over the appropriate actions. Z, E, W, W, E, Z, Z, etc.

"Jund," A gravelly voice demanded, "What are you doing?"

"I'm uh…playing." Scott Jund, a strange man with light-brown hair that stuck up in the front, answered, "It's a game."

"That's not a game." The other man accused, "Homestuck is not a game."

"Whatever, Snake." Scott directed at his companion, who leaned over him and stared condescendingly at the screen. The green bandana on his forehead fell with his eyebrows. Two other youths, Russ and Battlestar, stood nearby and laughed.

"Homestuck, again?"

"That's like, the fifth time this week." Battlestar smiled.

"Again, whatever." Jund shrugged, standing upright and dimming the computer screen, "I'm bored. When's Pewdie getting here?"

"Why are you so eager to see Pewdiepie?" Snake asked.

"I dunno." Scott answered, leaning against the computer table. Outside, the shadows of the passerby cast luminous figures on the fabric walls of their booth. "He's kind of a celebrity among gamers, ya know?"

"So are you…sort of." Russ chuckled.

"Well…" Jund thought, wrinkling his nose, before responding, "It's like…I've met me."

"Nice observation, dumbass." Snake sighed.

"Everything always has to be fighting." A well-bearded fellow broke in. He had been sitting in a chair in the corner, but decided to intervene for once. "Can't we all get along?"

"No." They all said in unison.

"Hey, Ken," Snake suggested, "Why don't you shut up."

"That's awful mean." Ken said back.

"It's why he's not in a relationship." A girl with bright red hair said flatly. She stood nearest to Russ, and wore a thin pair of glasses on her nose. She smiled just slightly. "Maybe if you loosened up a bit girls would like you."

"Unfortunately," Battlestar joked, running a hand through his slightly curly hair, "The only girl he could ever get is Jund."

"Hey!" Scott complained.

"Don't go there." Red, the girl, grimaced, "I still have nightmares about that fanfiction."

"Thank you, Red." Snake snorted.

It was quite for a while, aside from the near-constant babble of the commoners outside. They were completely unaware of the 'celebs' hidden behind the curtain, or what even was in the tent in the first place. It had been designed that way. The group hadn't wanted to attract any attention. Especially not snake. People weren't one of his strong points. He wouldn't have even come if it weren't for the fact that something very important was happening today. Pewdie was showing up, yes, but even stranger than that.

Cry was coming.

Cry in the flesh.

Of course, everyone was also skeptical. They highly doubted that the elusive Cryaotic would actually show his face.

The curtain rippled slightly as someone walked through. Everyone turned, not knowing who to expect. Was it a curious ComiCon guest? But, no, it was just Pewdie. The swede waved and smiled; the strange twist of features he was known for.

"Hej." He greeted, "I take it I'm in the right place, and you are not all clones or something like that."

"Yeah, hey Pewds!" Scott laughed. Snake hit him over the head, and he buckled and nursed the wound, half-moaning, half-laughing still.

"Oh, so it's one of those kind of clubs." Pewdie responded deftly. Battlestar and Russ exchanged a glance, and Red remained silent.

"Yeah, as long as you don't talk about the fight club, you should be fine." Battlestar said, rolling his eyes.

"So, when's Cry supposed to be here?" Pewdie asked, making himself comfortable. The computer was still glowing with life, doing something it shouldn't have been. The screen proclaimed it was downloading a file. Jund finally got to his feet and took notice.

"Hey, Ken," He asked, slightly irked, not bothering to respond to Pewediepie's…or…Felix's…previous query, "What kind of smut did you download this time?!"

"What?" Ken exclaimed, "Smut? What smut? I don't download no smut…Hahaha…"

"Seriously, what the hell is this?" Jund started jamming keys with his fingers, but nothing happened, "Inner Demons Core Software?! What the hell?!"

"What's an Inner demons?" Pewdie asked.

"Hell if we know." Russ responded quickly. He too stepped forward to examine the computer; Red went with him. It was as if they were attached by the hip. He soon put his game-modding skills to use, demonstrating them, if not flaunting. "It won't even let me press anything. It's locked the keyboard."

"Duh." Jund shot back. Having been pushed aside, he felt rather usurped.

"It says it's downloading a game." Russmoney sighed.

"What kind of game?" Red asked. Everybody leaned in a bit, staring at the computer screen. It illuminated their eager faces, casting an eerie white glow as numbers and codes scrolled across the blank screen.

"…It's a…" Scott started, "It's a…a simulation game?"

"What does that even mean?" Cinnamontoastken raised an eyebrow.

"Like…a flight simulator? Like Google planes?" Pewdie joked.

"No…it says…" Scott Jund continued, slightly confused, "…A memory simulator."

"That's bullshit." Battlestar waved off, backing up from the computer, "Complete and total bullshit. I mean, what does that even mean?"

"Dunno." Scott replied, "I just read the thing."

"Let's just ignore it for now." Red suggested, laughing, "I'm sure it's just this screwy computer. After all, where the heck did you get this thing? Didn't you buy it off some guy on the street?"

"Yeah…" Jund responded, furrowing his brow and looking upset, "He told me we needed it…and I did forget my computer…"

"Idiot." Snake spat.

"Oh, shut it." Jund shot back, "Not everyone can hide in boxes and kill people for a living, Snake."

"Hey, guys." Ken piped up. He had moved to the entrance of the booth, and was peering curiously out the dark curtain. "Someone's coming."

"Who?"

"I…think it's Cry."