He Smiled
By Eule Vix
Disclaimer: I do not own Welcome to Night Vale nor do not make money off of this fic.
Chapter 2: And I'll Say Hello
"But today listeners I have something so strange, so bizarre and odd even for our small existence in our little town of Night Vale, to tell you.
Today…a strange man come into town…"
I sucked in a shuttering gasp, my insides squirming and twisting inside. I needed to say it, because I needed to know if it was true; if he was real. Any information I might be able to get on this new, stranger, might help to bring some form of closure. Or, at least answer some of my stifling questions fogging and suffocating my mind.
"This man, a witness reported, had perfect hair, a perfect lab coat, and that he came into town toting a large bag full of breakers and humming electrical equipment…
The witness however did not happen to catch the name of the said stranger. Instead he informed me "He does look like Carlos, and he may talk like Carlos. But Cecil, I do not think he is Carlos." The witness then gripped me by the shoulders, his eyes burning with a mixture of regret and pity and anger. "Don't go near him Cecil. Not until my troop can see what or who he really is. Promise me Cecil."
I could not promise him that, but I did say I would keep my distance the best that I can.
Listeners, if you do happen to see this…man, please call the station immediately, so that we can keep you and myself, updated on this story."
I continued the broadcast, calls came in about the man who looked so much like Carlos, but none had more information then what Earl had originally given me. The man wandered about the town, the citizens keeping their distance from him, Earl and his scouts covertly tailing the man but not engaging. When it came time for the weather I ignored all the warnings, tossed aside all of ringing alarm bells in my ears, and left the booth and went to find him myself; and I did.
He was standing in front of the lab, talking to the other Scientists that still remained in Night Vale. Once I had caught sight of him every fiber of my body clenched and felt electrified. He did look so much like Carlos; his hair was the same as I had first seem him so many years ago, a dignified touch of grey still at his temples and his coat white and pristine. He turned and I could see his profile.
My feet started to move, my control on them non-existent as I ran to him, blood pulsing. I knew that face, every inch of it. I saw that face in my dreams at night and memories at day. I knew not only his face, but his body, his mind, his dreams, his tastes in food, his body language and verbal language. I knew him. No, I know him.
"Carlos!"
I didn't care how, or why, but Carlos had come back and that was all that mattered. He heard me, fully turning towards my direction; his dark amber brown eyes went large at my running approach. It was him without a doubt now! I practically leapt onto him and I gathered him into a hug, tears falling easy from my eyes.
"Carlos! Sweet perfect Carlos you're back!" I sobbed and pulled my arms tighter around him. I was so relieved, so happy to see him. Three months waiting and by some unforeseen miracle he was alive again. I didn't care if I made it back to the booth or not, if I was fired even. I had Carlos again in my life, the bright beacon of love, and joy, and happiness, and science; my bright, shining ember in the dark. I broke away from him as I wiped the tears from my face. I started to frantically talk, a slight fear in the back of my mind that I might just be dreaming or hallucinating or that this was just some temporary temporal distortion and it was my last chance to talk to him again.
"Carlos, I-I'm so glad that y-you're home! I thought I had l-lost you forever!" My heart's beat started to pick up as I felt the frantic spasms of worry under my skin. I was starting to remember the events of the funeral and the events of three months ago.
"I…I held you as you died Carlos! I was there and preformed the proper rights and rituals when they buried you! H-how did you survive? How a-are you alive Carlos? Is it some Temporal distortion or has the world re-set?" I turned to his scientists who stood, mouths agape at, as I inquired them for answers silently. Rachelle slowly shook her head, the quiet causing my hairs to stand. There was something wrong. I turned back to Carlos, desperate for answers.
"Then your real! But…but how? Carlos, how did you get home? How did you cheat the black obsidian hands of death?" I watched him, my arms out in front of me, pleading. It was then I took in his stance, closed in on himself, a clip board tightly clenched to his chest, his breathing heavy and just under a pant. His eyes still wide, but also uncertain and frightened. I straightened my posture as my own fear crept into my body, cold and slithering.
"Carlos?" I said tentatively as I reached my hand out slightly to him. He flinched back away from the hand and I could feel my heart tear.
"Who…Do I know you, sir?"
"You're Carlos right? You…you have to be, you look just like him."
"Yes, I am Carlos. Have we met before?" He said his words carefully, as though I was a ravenous librarian just inches away from locking my jaws around his neck.
"You...you don't remember me? At all?" He squinted his eyes his brow crinkling in thought as he considered my being again.
"I don't believe that I do. Should I?"
"Yes. You should…"
It was shortly after that I left, using the first excuse that came to mind and apologizing for the intrusion.
I came back to the booth late. My chest was heavy, my nerves numb and frayed. I didn't know if the interns had been playing recorded ads or if maybe the Faceless Old Woman had come by to speak again. It did not matter once I slunk over to my chair, arms shakily placing the headphones back onto my head, and the red 'On Air' light of the booth blinked on.
"Sorry that I was gone for so long, Listeners. I did manage to find the, strange, new man that came into town today."
My chest tightened and a sob hung in my throat, like dark ichor sticking to the insides of my body closing and catching all bodily functions.
"He…said he name was Carlos. He said that, he doesn't remember me. He looks just like my Carlos, he talks and acts like my Carlos. But he…he isn't my Carlos."