"What do you think?"

"I think it's a good idea, yeah."

"Should we check with Chris?"

"If you want. I don't think he cares."

The electricity had ceased as suddenly as it had started.

Matt could feel himself sitting at a table. Tour bus table. He was vaguely aware of a conversation, his brain still trying to emerge from the foggy state that the pain had left it in.

Two voices. Dominic and...himself. Matt noticed that he could feel his mouth moving and his throat vibrating with the words spoken in his voice; a new feeling of nauseous unease gripped his stomach.

"No way, Dom!" he heard himself exclaim, emitting a high pitched giggle that contrasted disturbingly with his anxiety.

"Okay, Matt. I won't." An unmistakable mischievous undertone.

"Dominic fucking Howard!"

Delirious laughter had both men gasping for air.

As the blackness slowly cleared, the inside of the tour bus came into view along with Dominic sitting across from him at the small table. Matt was apparently saying something hilarious, now, as Dom broke into another fit of laughter and Matt's voice was cut off by his own giggling.

Anxiety was morphing into another panic attack, but his heart wouldn't race and he wasn't hyperventilating. The discrepancies between his body and his emotions only amplified the fear.

This had to stop.

Time for an intervention.

As soon as his head was completely clear and the confusion was gone with the blackness, Matt was ready to take over the conversation and his body. He would not let that Thing crush him like this, wouldn't let it speak to his best friend for one more horrible second.

"Oh", Dom started, tone serious. "I forgot to ask. What the hell happened after Dark Shines tonight? Chris said you looked like you'd seen a fucking ghost. We both said your name like five times through the headset before you even moved."

I couldn't fucking breathe, Dominic, I don't know how to explain it but I'm going to try. Five times? I only heard Chris once.

He meant to say it out loud, but-to his complete horror-it only manifested as a thought.

He smiled (god, no) and heard himself laughing dismissively.

"Oh, that was nothing. I zoned out, you know, I need to work on that."

Nonono.

Please no.

This isn't happening.

"Are you sure, mate? That's some intense zoning out."

C'mon, Dom, you know that wasn't zoning out.

I know you know.

You have to.

You really, really have to because if you don't-

"Yeah, I dunno, it doesn't matter." Matt waved his hand in a dismissive motion.

"Okay."

Dom sounded worried and unconvinced, but didn't push it further.

Dominic James Howard. Listen. To. Me.

I can't control my fucking body.

I can't move my own fingers.

I can't move my eyes.

I can't even control my breathing.

Actually I'm not breathing deeply enough. I need a deep breath.

My lungs hurt.

Fuck, this is torture.

I'm not blinking enough.

No! Why the fuck are you thinking about blinking and breathing, Bellamy? Cut it out!

Dom rose from his seat at the table and yawned loudly.

"I'm going to hit the hay. Night, Matt."

No, Dom.

Please don't leave me.

I'm fucking terrified.

Matt sat perfectly still at the table for what felt like hours.

He didn't have a choice.

The silence was finally broken when the Thing laughed horribly in Matt's head.

"Oh, Matthew," it whispered, "we're going to have such fun with Dominic tonight."

W-what? Don't you fucking touch-

Matt's train of thought was abruptly paralyzed as his hand closed around a kitchen knife.

His thumb softly stroked the handle and he managed to collect his thoughts.

N-no.

Fuck you.

If you think I'm going anywhere near Dom with this you've got something else coming.

The Thing didn't respond.

Matt found himself slowly standing. He turned and began to walk toward the bunk area with the knife in his hand.

No.

Panic and dizziness caused the world to tilt. He wanted to scream in desperation and horror, wanted to wake everyone with his screaming so they would run and be safe.

He was standing over a bunk. With the knife.

Dominic's light hair looked soft and sleep-tousled. His lips were parted slightly, expression peaceful and innocent, chest rising and falling with each slow breath. His legs shifted under the blanket and he murmured something softly. Matt's heart was ripped out.

He wanted to sob.

"When were you planning to tell Dominic that you're in love with him?"

Matt's thoughts froze for the second time that night.

I'm not-

"Matthew, I have access to all of your thoughts."

Then you already-

"Yes. I was just amusing myself."

The knife was lowered to align with Dom's heart.

Matt couldn't scream to wake him up. Couldn't even cry.

He was forced to smile.