Chapter 10

Days of massive headaches swallowed in the dark of his room. He wasn't sleeping, anyone could tell that by the black rings around his eyes, the paleness of his face, the malnourished, haunting look. It was a wonder how he had managed to make it through half of the week without cooping out on class and heading home. It was a miracle really, being able to make it through the day even with that haunting feeling that something was following him. Even now the days felt longer, trapped in his room, drawing again and again to the computer. The xbox wouldn't satisfy his mind's worries any more than bike rides and hanging out with friends would. It was a game now…a waiting game to see if the story would end or pick up again.

And that it did. It began again on September fifteen and the results were all but shocking. The documented was leaked on the forums of 4chan. He was cautious at first, saving the link to the download while debating whether or not he should open it.

It was hours later before he managed to pull himself together, save and then open the document.

There were no words to describe his reaction. Was it panic, fear, nausea, intense dread or all of the above? Kayd would never be able to get over that final paragraph. It had felt as though he had sealed his own fate, much like the others curious enough to do what he did.

Corrupted.

He sat there, starting at that letter, the letter 'a' translated in Zalgo font. He was fucked. At least that's what he had believed. The video that followed eight minutes later sent Kayd into shock. He had been frozen at his computer, petrified, hands gripping the chair as if his bones had set like cement. There was no moving him. Eyes glued to the black screen of the youtube video.

It took several minutes to break out from that state. He had to calm himself down, pry his hands from the chair and forced himself into an ice cold shower. There was no denying that he felt dreadful, sick to his stomach.

He would spend the night at Thomas' house.

All he would talk about was the story. All Kayd could think about was: 'Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!' It was like his friend was consumed by the words-he thought it was fantastic, horrifyingly fan-fucking-tastic. The guy had gone over board. He bought his own Nintendo, a copy of Majora's Mask and a grey controller. There was no stopping him.

And that damned song. Everything single time Thomas placed that song, Kayd could feel a little bit of himself sink into a deepening darkness. He would bet a hundred bucks on his life that the guy was doing this to mess with him. If only he would get the damn hint-Kayd didn't want anything to do with Jadusable, the story and the video. He didn't want to figure out what was going on, he didn't want to follow the clues to play the stupid game BEN was setting up-oh God he was starting to give it a name. Kayd thought he was crazy but it must have been because of Thomas. After all, he had scared the shit out of him when he made a paper replica of the Elegy Statue and placed it on his shelving unit. And the Happy Mask Salesman. The paper could go fuck themselves, the entity or whatever the shit it was calling itself too.

How long had he been living with Thomas? A few days at least. It was suffocating, nearly like his house-hell he thought he could stand living in his house more than Thomas at the moment.

He gave up. There was no point in staying at his place anymore. The next day he would pack up but not after seeing an unfamiliar mask laying half hidden under a network of papers and clothes.

"What is this?" Kayd asked Thomas, removing the mask with his finger tips.

"Nothing," snapped Thomas as he snatched the leather mask from Kayd.

"Whatever. You're obsessed," Kayd replied. "Look, I'm leaving. I'll…talk to you later-when I get back at the house. Don't go screwing with anything and getting yourself way over your head in shit, okay?"

"Yeah, sure, fine." Thomas replied half-heartedly. "Take care," he said walking Kayd to the door before closing it firmly behind him.

With a sigh, Kayd hopped on his bike and placed his feet on the peddles. He would be home soon enough….he just needed a hot shower, something to kill the thoughts that were boiling up in his mind. He was hoping some alone time would be able to help rehabilitate him back into working order…he would disconnect the computer when he got back.