A/N: So this still exists. I'm not going to stop writing! I swear!

Pairings: Jay/OMC, Jay/Tim and Jay/Alex later on.

Warnings: Rated M for yaoi and some descriptive bits. This chapter is pg-13.

Disclaimer: Marble Hornets belongs to Troy, Joseph, and Tim. The OMC is mine, however shamelessly added.

It was supposed to have been a simple walk. Jay liked to take walks whenever he had a few minutes of spare time. Take an hour to get outside, breathe in the fresh air, let it clear his head. The camera was optional and sometimes he left it in his hotel room just so he could relish feeling somewhat normal, like he didn't have a reason to be paranoid. But he was so used to the heavy weight and the security that it gave him that he would only stay out for a few minutes before turning around and heading back just so he could hold it again.

That day, however, he was determined to view the trees and the sky without looking through a lens. It was his way of reminding himself that the world was real and tangible in front of him. It had been a slow walk during a clear day, but he had stayed out longer than he had meant to and, after not heeding the weather forecast on the news that morning, was surprised at how quickly storm clouds gathered overhead. Within fifteen minutes, a steady hail (hail, in Alabama!) was threatening to batter his skull in. Of course, he had left his car in the parking lot of his hotel. The rough weather was probably punishment for not planning better.

His route had taken him close to the gargantuan wooden structure that served as railroad tracks over a wide. He had been there before, in one of the earlier entries on his Youtube channel (he couldn't recall which; they all blended in after a while). It had been summer then and that seemed like an eternity ago. It looked solid enough to give him shelter and that was all he cared about.

When he got underneath the wooden scaffolding, he discovered he wasn't alone. A group of four large, young men had already camped out in the spot. Empty beer bottles were strewn all over and they had a pitiful bonfire going. He flushed, muttering an apology, and was about to back out and go looking for a different spot when one of them held up a beer and invited him to join them with a drunken grin. He tried to relax. These were just kids wanting a good time, not trouble. Still, he didn't plan to stay there long.

Some time passed. Jay stood at the edge of their makeshift camp, clearly just waiting for the weather to let up and half listening to the guys joking around. He felt a hand on his shoulder and twisted around. The guy it belonged to stood a half a head taller than he did. His hand still clasped Jay's shoulder.

"I think I've seen you around, y'know," he said, voice slurring horribly. He was standing close enough for his alcohol-laden breath to land right on Jay's face. Jay tried not to wince.

"I doubt it," Jay said, trying to pull away. "I don't really go out much during the day."

"That'sh what I mean. I saw you hangin' around downtown 'n you hooked up with some rich guy in a suit." The guy's grin turned into a sneer. "Admit it, yer a hooker. We've got plenty of them around."

He should have known this town was small enough that someone would recognize him eventually. He would have to be more careful. These guys were raising his alarm bells very quickly. Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to be out of there, even if it meant braving the hail.

"Look, I'm sorry I bothered you guys. I'm going," he said. Just as he turned to go out from underneath the bridge, the grip on his arm tightened like a vice.

"Wait a minute, I can pay you good," the guy holding him said. "We just scored a deal big time n' we're lookin' to celebrate."

Jay hesitated. He really didn't feel like taking up a client right now with his clothes soaked and his feet feeling like they were frostbitten.

"I'm sorry, I really don't know what you're talking about," he said, trying to pry the man's hand off of him. The other three guys were now looking at him with extreme interest. A drunken hunger gleamed in their eyes. He took a deep breath, wondering if there was anyone in the park who would be able to hear him if he screamed.

"Ya know what I'm talkin' 'bout," the man said. He grabbed his groin suggestively. "Just suck me for a bit then ya can see if my buddies want a turn. It's more if we wanna pound you, right?"

Jay wasn't new to this kind of language, but hearing it from this guys gave him the creeps.

"Let me go!" he demanded. He tried to shove the guy's arm off of him and instead found himself pushed roughly up against one of the railway's support beams.

"Come on, come on. Don't be like that! I thought you hookers weren't supposed to turn down nobody!" the man said, grinning.

"Stop!" he said, now trying to squirm out from the strong grip. His knee connected with the man's groin, causing him to double over in pain. Before he could move to run, the other three guys were right there to catch hold of him. Not one, but two fists caught him in the stomach, making him cough. A web of dark spots threatened to overwhelm his vision. He barely felt it when they stripped off his jacket and shirt, but he definitely saw one of them rummage through the pockets. Good thing he had left his camera back at the hotel.

Well, there goes last week's earnings, he thought. He chided himself for the thought when he remembered that he had more important things to worry about at the moment. If he had to go to the hospital because of this, he would be in way worse trouble than he already was. His parents would have to be called in to help him pay the bill. How the hell was he supposed to explain this and the past several months to them?

A couple more well placed kicks brought him to his knees. Just as he felt them working on his jeans, he heard two of them swear and saw them pointing towards the other side of the scaffolding. Despite his dazed vision, he managed to glance up.

There, standing like a pillar with its head tilted, almost curiously, was the faceless being that Jay recognized from so many clips of film and nightmares. His breath caught and he would have had a coughing fit were it not for the fact that his legs were already working fast, propelling him upward and away from the men. He heard them yelling at the newcomer, demanding it tell them who the hell it was (good luck getting an answer, he thought.) He at least had the mind to pick up his shirt as he headed back out into the rain.

His thoughts echoed in his head, saying, coward! coward! It was the second time he had left someone to bear the brunt of that thing's malice. The difference was that he had cared about Tim enough to try and rescue him and had only run because Tim had yelled at him to. Even then he had known that one of them had to stay alive to look for the other.

He didn't want to think about what would have transpired if the tall monster hadn't interrupted those men. He would likely have more injuries than wounded pride and a stolen wad of cash. Luckily, he had left the majority of his funds in his car's glove box.

Through the rain, he couldn't tell for sure which way he'd been running. In the back of his mind, he wanted to call a taxi to take him back to his hotel, but he had no way to pay for it. There was a small wooden picnic house at the edge of the park. He ran inside, doubling over and gasping for breath. After few moments, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. With wet, cold fingers, he fumbled to open it and saw that it was Gray Eyes.

He debated for a long moment about whether or not he should answer it. He was still breathing hard and he didn't want Gray Eyes to ask after him. And if he wanted to meet with Jay tonight, what then? Jay doubted he would be composed enough to do anything for the man. He hesitated long enough for it to go to voice mail and sighed. How desperately did he need money after such a large amount had been stolen? He would decide that later.

As it was, he still had to figure out how to get back to the hotel. The hail had stopped, leaving just the freezing rain. He slipped his jacket back on and went out to find the road. His eyes darted around the trees out of habit. He still couldn't figure out why that thing had come when it did. He never thought he would say that he was grateful to it. But it might have been there to kill him as well! The other guys would have just been an incentive, a side dish to the main course.

His conscience yanked at him. Maybe he should have warned them or yelled at them to run. Maybe he should have stayed to make sure they got out safely. But at the time, the only thing on his mind had been survival. Perhaps he should go back at some point just to see if there was any sign if they had run away. He wouldn't go back now, not when the faceless thing might still be there.

The park was a mud puddle because of all the rain. He cursed as his shoe sunk into a particularly soft, stubborn patch of mud and he thought he might have to leave it behind. Maybe he should call Tim to come and pick him up, but he felt guilty for bothering him for something like this when it was Jay's fault for getting caught in the poor weather.

Just when he had resigned himself to picking his way along the road alone and hoping he didn't catch pneumonia, a spotless, silver car slowed down and pulled over next to him. His face flushed and he lowered his head, wishing whomever it was would just keep driving. But the car didn't speed up again and the window rolled down.

"Jay? What are you doing out here?" Gray Eyes was staring at him from the driver's seat like he had grown scales and gills.

Jay shrugged, hoping Gray Eyes couldn't see how red his face must have been. "Just taking a walk," he said.

"I tried to call you a while ago," Gray Eyes said.

"Must not have heard it."

Gray Eyes gave him a skeptical glare. "Get in. I'll take you where you need to go."

Jay blushed deeper. "I'll be fine, you don't need to." Gray Eyes probably already had a low opinion of him. He didn't need to go ruining it further. Although, right then he would have liked nothing more than to curl up in the car and listen to the man's low voice while they drove for hours.

"Do you want to catch your death? Get in the car," Gray Eyes said. Jay heard the door unlock and stared at the handle. What if the monster wasn't finished? What if he found Jay and, as a result, Gray Eyes? He had promised never to put anyone else in danger as a result of his actions and now here he was breaking it.

Gray Eyes showed no sign of stepping down and, finally, Jay relented. His clothes were soaked through and he felt like a drenched rat, but he opened the door and climbed in.

If Gray Eyes was concerned for the car seats getting wet, he didn't show it. He handed Jay a dark green towel from the back seat and Jay took it with a muttered thanks. As he dried himself off, he finally had the chance to see his arms, which were developing dark splotches where the men had grabbed him.

He flipped down the passenger's side mirror to check his face. There was a red, vaguely hand-shaped print on his cheek. There was no chance Gray Eyes would have missed it. What would he think? That Jay had been dragged to another sex dungeon? Surely now he would realize just how low Jay had been driven and decide he was a waste of time.

He glanced over at Gray Eyes, feeling self-conscious, but the man never looked away from the road. Jay gave him brief directions back to his hotel and they arrived about ten minutes later. Apparently Jay had walked farther than he originally thought. They pulled into the parking lot and the silence stretched on for several more moments. At last, Jay offered to give him back the towel. Gray Eyes shook his head.

"Keep it. You don't have much for yourself, do you?" he said.

Jay was well-aware of all that was going unspoken, that Gray Eyes had guessed how he was living. There was more Jay didn't have, like his own bed, food, or friends. He had never felt so stripped and exposed. At least Gray Eyes only knew him from the last month. Jay would have died from humiliation if anyone from his hometown could see him now.

He thanked the man again and turned to open the door.

"Were you robbed?" Gray Eyes said. His eyes ran down the bruises on his face and arms. Jay looked away and nodded. "They take it all?"

"No. I left most of my money in my room," Jay said.

Gray Eyes made a non-commital noise and dug around in his coat for a leather wallet. He withdrew two twenties and held them out to Jay.

"Let me buy a kiss from you," he said.

Jay flushed. He didn't usually kiss clients. He could give away his body, but he had always wanted to keep kissing personal, the last bridge of intimacy he had in this miserable existence.

Did he want to kiss Gray Eyes, the only client to make him feel like a human being instead of a piece of meat? He decided yes, he did. But did he want to be paid for it, to have it be just another meaningless service?

He bit his lip. "You can have a kiss for free." He expected to the man to lose interest and kick him out or maybe laugh at him.

Instead, Gray Eyes smiled grimly. "Take it. You need it. This is your only source of income, right?" When Jay still hesitated, he added, "Go buy yourself dinner. We'll say I bought it for you. Then the kiss can be free."

Jay couldn't help but smile as the logic. He didn't argue when the cash was pressed into his hand. His fingers closed over the bills. He had a second to look up before a pair of warm, slightly rough lips were pressed over his.

He gasped softly. Gray Eyes knew what he was doing. The kiss was probing and deep. He quickly began to respond, moving his lips and reaching up to set a hand on the man's neck.

He gasped when he felt a strong tongue probe his lips and opened his mouth to let it in. He hadn't been expecting a kiss this passionate. Then again, forty dollars was a lot for just a quick peck. He gripped the man's jacket, feeling heat begin to churn in his belly. Just when he started wondering if he should service Gray Eyes further and let his hands start wandering south, they separated.

Jay knew he was flushed and panting but Gray Eyes seemed as composed as ever and was raising his eyebrow at something over Jay's shoulder. The rain had let up enough for a couple of older ladies to see in through the window of the car. Both were glaring at them with scandalized expressions and it made Jay duck his head shyly. Gray Eyes chuckled and rubbed his shoulder.

"Are you sure you don't need to be checked up at the hospital or anything?" he said.

Jay nodded. "I'm fine. Thanks. Is that really all you wanted?"

Gray Eyes smiled knowingly. "I may call you later on this week, but that's all for now. Go and get some sleep."

Jay smiled and nodded. "Thank you for all this." He climbed out of the car, his heart still pounding. It was strange, usually being in such close proximity to the tall, faceless monster would have left his with a pounding headache and a savage cough for hours. But this time, he had recovered really quickly. All he wanted to do was crash in his hotel room. Once he was in the hotel and had stepped inside of the elevator, he rested his forward against the cool wall, riding upwards and trying to empty his mind.

Throughout the next week, the storms continued day after day. Jay stayed put in his room, his pride still smarting from the attack and his paranoia running rampant. That monster had appeared so suddenly, as though it had merely been waiting for the right moment to strike. Just the thought that it had been watching and following him this entire time made him squirm. What if he was being watched now? What if it knew what he did to get money? If Totheark knew, it was easy to assume that the monster knew.

What if it tried to go after his clients? Worse yet, what if Gray Eyes was harmed? By the end of the week, his funds were hurting enough that he began to sleep in his car at night. Despite his words, Gray Eyes hadn't called him again. He felt a bit relieved. He wasn't sure if he had the energy to accept any appointments. The storms let up on Saturday, leaving the ground muddy and nearly impassable. Tim called on Sunday to say he had to see his doctor, so they planned to go back to the hospital Monday afternoon. Jay left late in the morning, attempting to enjoy the sunshine and the quiet drive and failing miserably. He felt sick with the mere thought of going back when so many horrid memories haunted the burnt carcass of the hospital.

Tim's car was already in the parking lot when he arrived. When Jay climbed out, Tim emerged as well. He looked pale and nervous, as ragged as Jay felt. They exchanged the briefest greetings and then started off towards the buildings. Jay kept his eyes peeled and his camera held at the ready. Tim lead him to the worn annexed building that he had been so reluctant to enter before. Then they were in the small gray room that Tim had cowered in after he had been teleported and tossed around by that demented force after their run in Rosswood

A heavy cloud hung over Tim's head and he didn't seem to want to meet Jay's gaze. They had a rather awkward conversation which confirmed many of the theories Jay had developed. it was surprising how little he was bothered by the knowledge that Tim had been a mental patient. He sympathized with Tim, feeling a pang of guilt since he had been raised in a loving home. Jay was tempted to drop the camera and gather Tim up in his arms, but Tim had started pacing like a caged animal. He looked fearfully at Jay, as though afraid that he was going to accuse him of wrong-doing and pounce at any moment. All it did was make Jay feel nauseous.

"When I saw that footage that you got from him…and that person in the background or whatever it was…" Jay couldn't help but notice how he spat at the mention of the faceless monster, "I couldn't help but think…what if that's what I was saying well I was in here? what is that wasn't a hallucination at all?"

Jay peered at him in confusion. "Wait, what are you trying to say?"

Tim cut in before he could finish his sentence, speaking very frantically now. "I'm saying what is this is my fault? Alex could be a normal person! You could be living a normal life! So could Jessica, so could everybody else if it wasn't for me! I have no way of knowing that for sure! That's always going to be in the back of my mind! How am I supposed to handle at?!"

Tim turned away, rubbing his chin nervously. It took Jay a long moment to respond. He was trying to absorb this pseudo-confession at the same time as he was trying to come up with the right words to put Tim's mind at ease. But as usual, his attempts fell flat.

"I…I don't think shifting the blame is going to help anyone right now," he said.

"I blamed everyone else except for me and I could be the one that started this!" Tim turned and stomped out into the hallway. Jay followed him, feeling nothing but gut-wrenching helplessness.

"I think you just need to relax because all the stress is probably making you really paranoid…"

"BUT WHAT IF I'M RIGHT?!" Tim just about collapsed against the dilapidated wall, his hands covering his face. Jay just waited for him to sort out the chaos that he could guess was ravaging his mind. He was afraid of touching Tim, imagining being violently shoved away.

Tim's voice was broken as he said, " What if what happened to me is happening to Alex right now?"

Jay swallowed and said, "I don't know…but I do know that you're not like him…not entirely anyway."

"He's not running around in the woods with a mask on at night," Tim said, bitterly.

"No, but you're not putting a gun at me right now, either," Jay said, to which Tim gave the shortest laugh.

A silence fell back over the two of them. Jay peered down the hallways as Tim took the time to regain his composure.

"Well, that's it," Tim said. He gave a heady sigh and dropped his hands. Jay watched, a little concerned, as he climbed to his feet. With a single step, he was in front of Jay. His expression held a calm resolve Jay had never seen before. He tensed, remembering the moment in the parking lot the previous summer when Tim had punched him in the stomach.

Without warning, Tim reached up and coiled his hand behind Jay's neck. "No more secrets," he said, before he pulled Jay towards him and leaned in, pressing his lips to Jay's. Jay's eyes widened while Tim's were shut, a look of deep concentration making his features scrunch. For his part, Jay didn't know how to react. Where was this coming from? Did Tim actually like him like that? For how long? Jay hadn't suspected a thing and the action left him in shock.

As quickly as it began, it ended. Tim pulled away and looked down. Jay had to try twice to open his mouth and speak before the words would come out.

"B-But I thought…" he stammered. "I thought…"

Tim watched him expectantly with those dark, searching eyes. His expression still held resolve, but his nervousness was making it come apart at the seams. Jay knew what he wanted to say. I thought you hated me.He couldn't bring himself to. Would it just push Tim away? They couldn't afford to distance themselves when they had only just started to trust each other.

Tim swallowed and said, "Look, as much as I hate to say this, I feel like there's something we're missing here and I really don't want to have to come back here again."

The tense moment had passed, though it felt as though a bullet had pierced the space between them and he had just left it open, bleeding and festering, when he should have said something to heal it. All he did was follow Tim as he walked down the hall. What could he say? Thank you? I like you too? I don't know if this is a good idea since I'm a prostitute and I don't think you know what you're signing up for? Goddamn it, how was he supposed to tell Tim about Gray Eyes? Would it hurt him too much if Jay said he wasn't interested?

He tried to ignore the awkwardness between them and the guilt in his own gut, instead focusing on looking through the offices. Maybe there was a document or a sign…something they had overlooked. Tim flipped open his cell phone and used the light to search the darkened shelves. It seemed like they were trying to avoid on another. Maybe it was Jay's imagination.

Then the Hooded Person came into view and everything became strained again. Tim grabbed a steel pipe and gave chase. They gave pursuit through the halls, even pausing for several moments as the figure knelt down to inspect something in one of the rooms. The moment the figure left, Jay went in to see what it was and found a tape, which he pocketed before rejoining Tim. They were lead outside where the Hooded Person seemed to pick up and unnatural speed and distance. Tim was dashing through the woods and the husks of weeds and it was all Jay could do just to keep up.

They finally emerged on the outskirts of a dead field. Tim stopped and gazed around until he finally drew back and tossed the pipe away. Jay cautiously came up beside him.

"So, what now?" he said.

Tim glanced at him and held up his thumb and forefinger. "We were this close! How could he just disappear like that?!"

"I don't know, maybe he hid in the woods or something and he's waiting for us to come back," Jay said. He didn't have any other ideas that didn't include more insane teleportation that would make neither of them feel better. They argued briefly and then Tim set back off towards the parking lot. With a moments hesitation to look back over the empty field, Jay left as well.

When they got back, Tim leaned back against his car, face in his hands again. Jay quietly put his camera and the tape in his car and then moved to climb in himself.

"Jay, wait."

He looked back at Tim, who was scratching his head. "I know we got kinda distracted," Tim began, "But…I hope I didn't offend you back there when I…" He made a vague waving gesture between them. It took Jay a moment to realize he was talking about the kiss.

"Oh…uh…I-It's okay. I'm glad you did it and got it off your chest," Jay said with a nervous smile. Each word made him want to kick himself harder.

"Really? So you don't mind?" Tim said, looking relieved.

"No, I don't," Jay said.

"All right then," Tim said. "Thanks…"

Jay had started climbing back into his car. "I'll talk to you later, okay? I'm gonna go check out the tape. Bye." He closed the car door and started the engine. Every inch of him felt uncomfortably hot with embarrassment and he drove away. The entire time, he could feel Tim's eyes on the back of his car and he couldn't deny his hope that this was all just a nightmare.