Opening the door [Forward dated to day 11]

[nobasisinfact]

[There's no message, just this,followed by laughter. The laughter doesn't sound right. It's like nails on chalkboard and static all at once.]

Comments

[11calls]

No, he doesn't. This isn't going to work. You're trying to goad me into losing my temper and slapping you so I hurt him. You can't stay here forever. The nightmare will pass.

[nobasisinfact]

Are you so sure you didn't bring us with you?

[11calls]

[That makes Alex laugh. She can't help it.]

Of course I didn't. There's no way you would have waited six months, especially when Richard was desperate to find me three months ago.

[nobasisinfact]

Perhaps we were gathering strength.

[11calls]

Then you would have done it when he was at his not sleeping weakest. You're a nightmare, and nothing more.

Richard, I know you can hear me. It's just a nightmare, and it'll end. It's not going to hurt me.

[nobasisinfact]

[The demon uses Richard's hand to slash at Alex.]

[11calls]

[Alex tries to dodge, but she's not quick enough to miss all of it, and the scratches catch her on the side of her neck, making her hiss.]

Seriously? You're going to do that?

[nobasisinfact]

I can feel his guilt over hurting you, why wouldn't I?

[And he slashes again.]

[11calls]

[Alex is more ready this time, and she uses her shortness to her advantage.]

He’s not the one who’s hurting me. You are.

[nobasisinfact]

But it's his body.

[She should know how easily Richard takes on guilt by now. The demon continues to attack.]

[11calls]

A body he doesn’t have control over anymore than if he accidentally kicked me in his sleep.

[But Alex miscalculated, based on where Richard and shoved her to before and where she thinks she has clearance, she just actually has wall.]

[nobasisinfact]

[The demon keeps attacking.]

No matter how you try to rationalize it, he's still doing it.

[11calls]

No he isn’t.

[Alex just scowls at the demon and she grabs for his hand.]

Richard I know you’d never hurt me like this.

[nobasisinfact]

[She grabs hold of his hands and the demon hisses in anger, trying to wrench them free.]

He can't hear you.

[11calls]

Richard can always hear me.

[Because she believes it, even when he doesn't want to, Alex knows that he does. And her grip just tightens, but not painfully.]

[nobasisinfact]

Your faith in the key is pathetic.

[11calls]

You can think so all you want. But it’s not pathetic. And it’s not misplaced. I believe in Richard Strand.

[nobasisinfact]

Even the key finds it misplaced.

[11calls]

I don’t believe that.

[nobasisinfact]

Of course, you don't.

[11calls]

If he thinks it's misplaced then you're both idiots.

[nobasisinfact]

[The demon starts to laugh.]

[11calls]

You can’t even laugh like him right.

[nobasisinfact]

I'm not pretending to be him.

[11calls]

I'm aware. But I would think that you'd be trying to draw the parallels rather than just proving how different you are.