[ afternoon; ]

[ maybe most people aren't alarmed by the strange light, the voices that thunder all around him, but Ed's hackles are up immediately. he woke with a nagging headache, something burning just behind his temples and eyes. it makes it more than difficult to see, the glare of too-white snow making it even worse. ]

...does everyone hear that? [ he's never been the sappy type when it comes to somber, sad music, but the chorus is loud in his ears and it's bad enough he feels like he has to travel when his head may well split into two. ]

I don't know who it is, but they need to cut it out already! [ he hopes he's not the only one who saw the light, who keeps seeing shadows at the edges of his vision, leaving his muscles wound tight with tension and uncertainty. Edward stumbles for a moment, dropping the tablet, the video catching him rubbing furiously at the bridge of his nose and his eyes, in pain. ] Anyone know a good doctor?

[ night; ]

[ it has to be the shadows from before, the ones Tim showed him, and when the video clicks on, Edward's voice is just this side of too quick, eyes widened, sweat prickled at his brow. he's trapped in a building with what he's sure must be Pride, a homunculus who lurks and kills by the very shadows humans make. that, or it's the beast he and Al created, the thing that should have been his mother, should have been... oh, god. he jumps violently, pressing into another corner, his arm and leg tingling as though they're waiting to be ripped from his body yet again.

he turns too look over his shoulder, but groans, pressing his hands to his eyes, rubbing at them until they're red-rimmed. a whimper. ]

W-what the hell is this place? There is something here, and I don't know who it is, but it better cut it out already! It's just... staring. [ he has no alchemy here, no way to protect himself and that's perhaps the worst part of it all. however, the video flutters, Ed looks at the screen curiously. ] The beacon? [ and he shouldn't do anything with it, but the pain, the flickering shadows and the sure-fire feeling of someone breathing down his neck, means he raises one hand, the video cutting out briefly. the screen is black, then focuses back into view, Edward looking less frightened, but still wide eyed. ]

It... stopped. It's gone.

[Robb has stepped outside of the house to get away from Sansa and to let Grey Wind run free, or even run away, which wouldn't surprise Robb. He wanted to run away too. This place was driving him mad and he still felt the lingering panic deep within him between being confused as to what the hell was happening and a hunger that couldn't be quelled. Throughout the previous day, he had a headache that grew worse as the day went on and last night had driven him to madness. On top of that, he had a lingering paranoia that this was all just a dream; he must be in Lannister lands and had been captured. Perhaps he hadn't died there at the Twins, but has been drugged and starving these days and being made a fool of himself.

It disgusted him that he even teased the thought he couldn't trust Sansa, his own kin and completely innocent. It disgusted him even further that he had her pinned to the ground, trying to get answers she didn't have only to have Grey Wind being the one to stop him. Grey Wind, his direwolf stopped him and he had the bite to show it, his fangs pierced the leather of Robb's sleeve, breaking into his skin and pulled him off her.

With a sleeve rolled up, Robb plunged his throbbing forearm into the snow outside, wanting to calm the terrible pain and swelling, and with his free hand, covered his face and tried to slow his breathing down, taking deeper slow breathes though hot tears streaked down his face. He wished father was here to guide him, even to just hear his voice again would bring comfort or Jon, who had always been a better tracker than himself to hunt with. Even to feel Jeyne's fingers through his hair as she spoke softly of the sea and playing with her younger siblings.

Finally after a few minutes, Robb takes a deep breath and wipes away the tears before pulling his arm out from the snow and wrapped it in cloth they had found along the way before accessing the network. His eyes were probably still red and slightly puffy, but he ignores that.]

This is Robb Stark of Winter--

[He remembers Winterfell does not exist here and caries on after a sigh.]

My sister and I have been traveling southwestward to the camps some have spoken of. I tease the thought that we're growing near, but I must know something: is there food?

I have not been successful in any of my hunting attempts and our supplies are minimal. If anyone has even crossed a moderately successful hunting ground the information will be greatly appreciated.

…Thank you.

[ It's been following her all day. It's something... something a lot like where she's from, and it's nothing like what she wants. It isn't and still--

Still, she should know by the tone of Hewie's growls. She should know by the absence of sanity nearby. But there was a person in the distance, she swears it! Watching right out of reach, and she isn't sure if she can trust her senses anymore. At this point, she's not quite sure if she can trust his.

She doesn't know if the people on the other end are real, or if this is just another trap, another trick, dead bodies on the sofa dressed like dolls, and she swears she hears someone outside--but Hewie is sleeping, sleeping, so it's only that--

That she's crazy. That she's going crazy. Like Daniella. Like Riccardo and Lorenzo. Madness runs in the blood. ]

I wonder if people can get in at night.

[ She's started talking to the device without a clear decision to do so, like a security blanket of stability, if she just keeps talking-- ]

We're not supposed to go out, but can others come in? I feel like they can get in.

[ There's an edge beginning to ride in her tone, a frantic undercurrent, and Hewie whines up at her. Fiona blinks, a sharp shiver running through her.

She turns off the device. ]

Characters: Alex Kralie, Jay Merrick, Tim Wright
Location E4, building 25
Date: Day 14, Night
Summary: Three paranoid nerds stuck together in one jacuzzi
Warnings: Threats of violence but probably nothing worse everything is terrible

( I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT GUY SINCE HIGH SCHOOL! )