Do You Ever Wonder Why?

by CinnaKnowsBest

Told through Carlos' notes on Nightvale and all their scientifically interesting data, Cecil's diary (filled with all the things he cannot say on his job, no matter how it pains him), and the writings of a very observant Hooded Figure, this fanfic tells us all that is known of just what is going on in Nightvale.

6. The Power Outage

The power outage hit Carlos' house early in the morning. He heard the shrieking hawks overhead, looked around, and then the lights went out.

CARLOS

"It's dark, and I don't know where I am. I can see, as I found a working flashlight among all the beakers, flasks and other odd pieces of equipment I have no name for.

I know I'm in some sort of lab, but that's all-I don't know who I am, I don't know where I am...at the time I record this, I am sitting in a corner, going through a notebook, which was written in by a man named Carlos."

*shuffling, pages being flipped*

"I'm not certain, but he may be fictional. None of these things he's written about could possibly have happened. Glowing clouds that drop dead animals, a sentient shadow that runs a radio station, Secret Police, and another man, this time named Cecil. But...these things seem familiar.

Did I write this? Or have I just read this before? Or...no. That's impossible. It's physically impossible to have lived through things that have never happened. But...am I Carlos? There's no way to know.

Why don't I remember anything? Did I get a concussion or something? Probably. I get the feeling I'm pretty clumsy."

*sudden loud banging sound, panicked breathing*

"There's...there's someone at my door. What will I do if it's...if it's Cecil? It won't be. Cecil isn't real. Neither is Carlos. I...I'm just panicking. A lot. I can't..."

*Heavy breathing, sounds of a door being broken down*

"Carlos? Carlos? Are you alright?"

*Sharp inhalation, papers being dropped*

"C-Cecil? Is...Is that you?"

"Yes! Are you alright?"

"I-I'm...I'm Carlos. I'm...I'm the scientist? I...do science?"

"Yes? Carlos, are you okay? Oh, dark gods-is the power out? I-I heard hawks, but I just thought you were doing a ritual, or an experiment! Oh, Carlos I'm so...what are you doing?"

"You aren't real. You can't be. If I am a man of science, then I have to know that Night Vale can't possibly exist. You cannot possibly exist."

"Carlos? Carlos, look at me. I'm here. Let's just go outside, and you'll see Night Vale. As real as anything in this world we live in can be. Alright? Come on."

"No. Absolutely not. I can't just-what the hell are you doing! Put me dow-"

"See? Night Vale."

"No. I'm...I'm hallucinating. There's a dragon... This can't..."

"Shhh...Carlos, come on. Let me take you back to my place, make sure you're okay. You'll remember soon."

*Sniffling, small hitched breaths*

"Alright. I-I can't get much worse than this."