Chapter 1: Run!

"With these parting thoughts and nightmares, I bid you good night. "

With a click, Cecil switched offline and leaned back in his chair, stretching. Another night's episode wafted through the radio waves and into the night's horizon. He shuffled his scripts into a manageable pile, gathered his bag and coffee mug, and headed out the door. Night Vale's black night sky stretched into the dark desert, but for Cecil, it was a welcome sight. Dim moonlight kept the pitch darkness at bay as he made his way home. He strolled past the ominous city council hall, the empty night vale high school, it's void football field, and that despicable barbers shop. All the lights were out except for the municipal building of science. As Cecil was about to pass it, it's side door suddenly swung open flooding the street with sterile fluorescent white light. Almost blinded by it, he could just make out a silhouette of a fluttering lab coat. But as the door swung shut, the mass of papers in the man's arms exploded into the air.

"Shit!"

Cecil tried to grab the ones nearest him before it flapped out of reach while the scientist knelt to gather the one on the pavement. Cecil's breath caught in his throat when he gazed upon the raven colored hair, dark chocolate skin, and lasciviously long neck. Oh mysterious angels of the night, have sweet mercy!

"Just perfect" Carlos grumbled.

Yes Indeed! Cecil thought, yes indeed.

"Oh hey Cecil, thanks." he greeted as he looked up.

"Oh..ha ha … no problem." Cecil replied, handing the papers over. Jeez, he sounded like a 12 year old fangirl. Mustering his manhood he tried again. "Looks like you've had a long day."

"Yeah. The mysteries of Night Vale are running me into the ground." he mumbled, still trying to hold onto his files and bags.

"Welcome to Night Vale."

When the scientist shook his head with a little chuckle, dear lord, Cecil could have fainted right there. Once Carlos seemed to manage his things again, they began to walk down the street, side by side. Silence broken by the soft howls guarding the distance and the suggestive whistling of the wind. Occasionally Cecil caught a whiff of an earthy wood fragrance from him when it blew in the right direction. Their footsteps seemed to echo off the buildings unnaturally loud. His eyes had a hard time focusing on the road in front of him whenever he caught glimpses of those long legs or strong shoulders. Cecil's mind was short circuiting, jittery with anticipation and spinning with turmoil. After a few moments, Carlos broke the awkward silence, "I.. ah.. heard your broadcast tonight, it was pretty good."

"Oh haha thanks. I didn't think you listened to my show." Cecil refused to look up, feeling the heat swelling in his cheeks.

"It's the only interesting or not so disturbing thing in Night Vale. How long have you been doing this?"

"About a year and a half now, for this show. But I've been part of the radio station for, oh, over 8 years. It's the only thing I've been doing after college. Guess it's my life's calling."

When he quickly glanced at his companion, he caught the hint of a smile on the corner of Carlos' mouth. A whimper almost slipped passed Cecil's lips, but he played it of with a cough. His stomach always filled with butterflies whenever he could catch the little cracks and chinks in Carlos' all-matters-of-serious-business demeanor. They reached the fork at the end of the road, Carlos' apartment to the right and Cecil's on the left.

"Ah... Um.. So I guess I'll see you tomorrow night for your interview?" Cecil asked.

"Looking forward to it." There might have been a twinkle in those glossy brown eyes, but it was probably a trick of the light.

Cecil must have died and went to heaven. He was giddy at the prospect of being confined in a small room with his precious Carlos, being mere inches away from ravishing that delectable mouth, tearing away at that infuriating lab coat, and pressing his body up against ….. he cut his thoughts short. It's not like any of that would actually happen. He took a quick glance at the Greek god, gave him a nimble wave and turned down his road.

He nearly ran home when he was out of Carlos' sight. Cecil closed the door, and leaned against it with his blushing face buried in his hands. Beautiful Carlos, his miracle and curse. The day that handsome man had walked into Night Vale, it had felt like Christmas eve. His present wrapped with bows and red wrappers, sitting under the tree. His present filled with hope and happiness that he couldn't wait to unwrap and keep forever. But it was a present that wasn't his; a present sitting in a shop window protected by the glass. They barely talked, barely knew each other. Carlos only ever seem to call him if it was for "not personal reasons". But his heart fluttered none the less, aching and fantasizing. Cecil spent his days ignoring and drowning out the treacherous voices yearning for the ravened hair sex god, distracting himself with the tedious research around Night Vale. But as soon as his radio broadcast for the day was done, it all battled its way from his subconscious and consumed his every waking and dreaming thought. He was nothing but a sadistic coward, too nervous to do anything about it and too afraid to deal with the certain rejection. He would rather live the rest of his life in eternal false hope.

He took a deep breath, got up and made a beeline for his bedroom. Tomorrow was going to be his execution.

-^o^-

"In other news, the mayor has declared that the union between Restriction and Censor, is now valid as long as they remain near the outskirts of Night Vale. Their wedding was held in the backyard of the Apache Trackers' trailer or hut, or whatever, and the mayor took the initiative herself to plan their honeymoon in Desert Bluffs.

What a happy day.

Speaking of which, our very own celebrity scientists, Carlos - sweet Carlos - will be joining us soon for an interview. Oh here he is now... Carlos! Welcome!"

"Thank you Cecil."

"MmHmm you're welcome… oh here… let me take your coat… umm…. yes well now that we are settled in…. I'm glad you finally agreed to do an interview on our radio show."

"Yes, I'm not usually comfortable being in the public eye - or ear in this case - but after the studies I have conducted throughout this city, I realize it might be pertinent to warn the city about the dangerous things I am finding."

"Isn't our Carlos as courageous as ever? Do indulge us with your findings Carlos."

"A couple weeks ago Mayor Winchell noted that the commuters of the trains were being transformed into spiritually thinner people. I had initially hypothesized that their DNA might have been washed out, completely drained of its content. Recently I have found that there is a common pattern among the people that were targeted: They are all parents of the children who attend the schools in Night Vale. Interestingly enough, the Underground City existing below Lane 5 of the bowling alley also opened when the attacks on the train began."

"Carlos, how does the Underground City and the train attacks have anything to do with each other?"

"That's what I had thought too. It turns out that -"

"Wait what was that?... you hear that?... sounds like the Station Management…. Listeners, the Management has slipped an envelope from under their door. It says,... it says… Oh Carlos!... no! RUN!"

"What's going on? What did it sa… Cecil…"

"RRRRUUUUUNNNNN CCCCAAAARRRLLLLOOOOSSS!"


-^o^-

Notes from you Author:

Hello fellow fanficians. This is my very first crack at story writing. I had a dazed feeling after I hit that submit button. Anyways I hoped you guys liked it. I am completely at the mercy of your reviews, comments, and reactions. So please let me know.

Hopefully will by updating its chapters regularly *fingers crossed*