Chapter Text
“Avery, what’s in your inventory?”
The question had been so abrupt, so random, that Avery had opened his inventory to see what was there, to answer the question. Stupid. The moment Avery had opened his inventory, he had realized his mistake. But it was already too late. He had clicked out of his inventory as quickly as he could, but D3RLORD3 had already pushed him off the edge of their little platform in the void.
Avery fell.
The computer screen went black, and Avery saw himself in the reflection. He looked gaunt, and startled, like a deer in headlights. He pressed a few buttons, trying to get the screen back on, and after a few moments, it stuttered back to life. As New Year’s fireworks popped in the distance, Avery decided to watch the footage of the past few hours back. He needed to find Derek, because surely that wasn’t it. That couldn’t have been it. There had to be something more.
Right?
It took a while (but not too long, Avery skipped his 12 hour trance. He didn’t like that he had fallen into a 12 hour trance and had decided not to think about it anymore), but eventually Avery came upon the moment he and Derek finally met. As he watched, he noticed again the strange string of letters and numbers the other man had sent through the chat, and paused the video there. Something about the letters looked familiar. It was like they were…
Of course! A google drive link. Avery quickly found the google drive and opened the youtube video it had linked.
A letter. A letter from D3rlord to Avery. As Avery watched the video, he quickly realized that these must have been Derek’s last mo-
No. No. Derek was alive. He was alive. He had to be. He had to be, because how would Avery go on if he wasn’t? Maybe it was silly, but Avery had been lonely all his life, and to meet someone–even if only for a brief moment–who was willing to sacrifice their own life for him despite knowing everything about him, made the thought of living without Derek a dreadful one.
Avery read the letter slowly, digesting every word. A lump grew in his throat as he read, but he forced back the tears, refusing to cry. He couldn’t cry yet.
He shook himself, then clicked back to the google drive to see the other file. Notice of removal? Frowning, Avery opened the pdf.
The footage in the folder belonging to ‘Derek Hutchins’ has been temporarily seized for investigation by the US D.M.S.. We thank you for your patience.
What? What in the world is the US D.M.S.?
After a quick search, Avery found a name: The United States Department of Metaphysical Sciences. He had no idea what that was, and he couldn’t find anything after a simple cursory glance over the articles that popped up. But he was already convinced Derek was there. He had to be.
And so, as the New Year’s fireworks popped and crashed outside his window, Avery settled in to find out everything he could about the mysterious US D.M.S..
…
…
…
Derek was falling. Or, floating, maybe. Or…flying. Derek hoped he was flying. He had always wanted to fly. Maybe from up here he would be able to see-
His head split open. It split open and his brain was oozing out and it hurt, it hurt, it hurt.
Derek awoke screaming. He screamed so loud, his throat should have felt like it was tearing. His throat did not feel like it was tearing. Maybe he wasn’t screaming after all. He wished he was screaming, because maybe that would stop his head from splitting open.
Fluorescent lights pounded relentlessly into Derek’s eyes as he forced them open. Where in the world was he?
The United States Department of Metaphysical Sciences.
The answer came from nowhere and sent a painful shock through his head, causing him to flinch violently.
The King. Oh Saints I survived. How did I survive??
Your mind overpowered mine, mortal. We are one, but not in the way I need.
Derek swore under his breath, squeezing his eyes shut. It was only then, when he tried to press on his temples with his fingers, that he realized his arms were restrained at his sides.
I need to get out of here. I need to get out and get home. Or-no, get to Avery. And I need to figure out what in the world is going on in my head and-
Okay.
One thing at a time. Derek sucked in a slow breath.
How do I get out of these restraints?
The answer popped into his mind, clear and oh so obvious. Derek twisted his wrists just so, applied pressure in just the right spots, and the restraints clicked open. He flung the blanket off himself, and slowly got to his feet, legs shaking.
The floor was cold and uncomfortable on Derek’s bare feet, and he felt utterly exposed in the thin hospital robe he was wearing. He took a hesitant step forward, not quite steady on his feet and-
Okay, that’s enough dilly dallying. I’ll take over from here.
…
…
…
It took hours of research, but eventually, buried in conspiracies, and old articles, and random youtube videos, Avery found the location of the US D.M.S.. It was in the middle of Illinois, tucked in the trees somewhere.
It would be quite the drive from Vermont to Illinois, but Avery could do it. He had to. Derek was there.
Avery pulled on his shoes and grabbed an extra coat on the way out the door, ignoring the tiny voice in the back of his mind that was trying to convince him that Derek was dead so this wasn’t worth it anyway.
He got in his car and began to drive as the sun peaked over the horizon, ready for the day. He drove through the city, and into the smaller towns on the outskirts, and finally into open country, praying, praying, praying it wouldn’t snow.
Please, don’t let it snow.
It was late night by the time Avery was close enough to the Department to consider himself ‘almost there’. He had only stopped twice to refill his gas tank (the first time, he had been too impatient to let his tank fully fill with gas), and had only reluctantly stopped to get food and water and use the bathroom.
“At the stop sign, turn left,” the GPS instructed.
Avery sighed. Of course he needed to turn left. The one thing-
Avery slammed on his brakes. A tall figure in a hospital gown had suddenly appeared in the road in front of him.
“HOLY SHIT.” Avery yelled, heart pounding in his chest.
I would die first in a horror movie, he thought to himself as he opened the door and hopped out of his truck.
“Hey man, you okay?” He called.
The tall man turned towards him, eyes flashing yellow for a brief moment before clearing. “I–Avery?”
Avery’s jaw dropped and he found himself striding towards the man. “Derek? Stars, it’s you!”
“Yeah. Yeah, it’s me,” Derek said, and he promptly collapsed.