Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jonathan, in his guilty state of mind, had gone back to where he and Daisy buried Mike Crew. The revelation with Elias was too much, the utter sick nausea had him walking through the dark forest to where he had dug a grave fit for the Avatar of the Vast. 

Maybe he didn't deserve it since he had gone out of his way to harm Jonathan, but if he can sit with his thoughts, maybe then he can simply condone the actions he had been forced to make more than once. If that was even possible for him, but it's not like he was gonna dig him up in hopes he'd open his eyes.

He was less dangerous alive, and for now, that would be good enough. He continued his walk to the grave, but there was an ear ringing tone, and he slowed his steps. A rush came through him without warning, and he was launched into the cold night sky.

Jonathan let out a cry of alarm and absolute panic as the ground drew further and further away from him, there was nothing to grab a hold of. The air itself was beginning to grow colder along with the torrent wind that wrapped around him with invisible hands. He yelled out, but all he could see was the darkness, the twinkling of silver stars, and the city lights almost seeming like dots from where he was in the in between.

He wasn't sure if he was falling or flying up. He didn't know the direction for everything seemed almost similar to itself. He tried to calm his racing heart, but how could that be when something like this was making him unable to breathe properly.

"Mike!" he called out, assuming it was him since he had been on his way to his grave. Jonathan's wrist was grasped hard, and he was spun around, and the world dropped away into a flurry of harsh cascading wind that sent him gasping and unable to know what was what until Jonathan stumbled and fell upon the ground.

"If only you left me alone, Archivist."

He could hardly hear anything, a strong ringing in both ears had him disoriented as he coughed and choked up his own breath and maybe even bile. The heat was in his throat, and he grasped at his skin, trying to calm himself as the world kept spinning and moving around him while he remained knelt upon the cold ground, barely disturbed by the sudden velocity of what the avatar of the Vast had done.

He was getting his hearing back slowly, and there was a slight movement coming from behind him before the back of his head was grabbed, fingers curling into Jonathan's hair and pulling his head so he was forced to stare at the dirt riddled man, sneering down at him with blood, and a few fading bruises upon the side of his face where Daisy must've hit him.

"Why did you come back?" he hissed, teeth gritted.

It was a smothering guilt, strangeling him, each and every moment after learning Elias' truths back at the institute, having one after another of his friends tethered to him and the truth that lay before him. Including the lies of what Elias had done to garner a manipulative tactic to keep them all so utterly close to him, making sure that none would wander off. He had enough foresight to understand the sentiment of violence. Jonathan had only wanted to ask him a question about what they were supposed to do, and what he was going to become. Maybe he did feel a sort of comfort with Elias' reassurance, but the guilt remained where it was, and he couldn't stromach it any longer.

He didn't even know if coming here would make a difference. Would he sit at Michael Crew's grave, staring at what he had done to him? It's not like he had murdered Mike, and he didn't know Daisy had followed him. Nonetheless, he still felt it, that deep reasoning that it was his fault and he only wanted to make it better.

Now that Mike was surely alive and threatening him, and Jonathan was currently having a hard time breathing because of his ability of flinging him into the Vast, it was difficult to even speak any words.

Mike dropped his hand from Jonathan's hair, clicking his tongue. "What, Archivist, did you find yourself feeling…guilty?" He walked several feet away from Jonathan who was still trying to catch his breath.

He groaned, pressing one hand into the grass and dirt, the other remained on his chest, trying to feel his heart, his breath. He kept spitting out words, tasting them on his tongue, needing to say it more coherently, but with each attempt, he couldn't get it out.

Mike seemed to notice this too and had grown impatient by Jonathan, he stomped his way back over to him, grabbed a hold of his arm, and before Jonathan could protest on whatever he was about to do. They were gone from the dark forest and back up into the sky. This time, he wasn't alone, and Jonathan had clung to Mike who didn't seem all that deterred by the great height and power.

"What's wrong, can't stand it? I couldn't either, but I actually had to dig my way out!" Mike yelled, seething. "Do you realize how difficult that is for someone like me in an enclosed space!"

"I…I didn't know…it wasn't on purpose! I wouldn't have done that!" Jonathan said, watching the anger on Mike's face, wondering if he was going to drop him.

But they were deposited somewhere else, and unlike the soft grass he stumbled upon, Jonathan's knees connected with hard cold cement that had his teeth rattling.

He trembled as Mike glanced around, sighing. "Are you going to be this much trouble, Archivist?"

His mouth was dry, and his stomach felt like it was inside out, if that was even possible. He was still choking on spit in his throat and groaning painfully of the vertigo thanks to whatever Mike had been doing in the first place. He didn't even know where they were, and he wasn't sure if he even cared. All that mattered was that Mike stopped taking them into the sky, it was impossible to deal with it more than once.

"I'll take that as a no," Mike said, disappointedly. He walked over to a staircase leading up to a townhouse and pressed his hand against it for a second before grabbing a hold of the doorknob. He pushed the door open and sighed at the darkness before him, and glanced over at Jonathan who remained knelt upon the sidewalk, still trying to steady his breath.

Mike rolled his eyes and wandered back over to him, dragged Jonathan to his feet, and pulled him into the house. Jonathan was muttering, trying to get Mike to stop pulling him inside, but Mike didn't seem to care what Jonathan wanted and closed the door behind them.

"Take your shoes off, Archivist." Mike set his down on the shoe rack and watched Jonathan struggle to get his shoes off his feet. Then Mike dragged his coat off and set it on the hanger.

Jonathan, unable to calm himself, was still confused why Mike was hauling him off into a house he didn't know. It wasn't his apartment where Jonathan had found him and where he…possibly died when Daisy interrupted them. Nonetheless, he was almost surprised that Mike hadn't simply shoved him into the Vast and been done with him. Maybe he should be thankful there was a sense of…mercy still left in him after everything that's happened.

He plopped down on the white couch inside the small living area. Mike had turned the lamp on that was near a wide window, and Jonathan can see his clothes and face were caked in dirt, and there were strands sticking and clumping together.

Mike glanced at Jonathan and scowled at him. "You can stay here if you want, but I think I deserve some answers on why I had to die."

"I…I didn't know…" he croaked, throat still hurting, the room was slowing down its spinning bit by bit, and sitting might've helped.

"Know what?" Mike snapped, stepping closer, his glare darkening, "that whoever that was who murdered me, and you dragged me off into the middle of nowhere to dig a hole, and dump me into it." He leaned in, pressing his hands upon the couch on either side of Jonathan, and said, "It's a good thing I don't fear being buried alive."

He moved away and stomped off down the hall to the bathroom.

Jonathan remained where he was, he was tense and quiet for awhile, even when he heard the shower running. He didn't know what else to do. Maybe his guilt was eased now that Mike was alive, and he hadn't been murdered by Daisy. Although, learning about the fact that an avatar can simply be healed by wounds like this, he was curious if there was a long term way of keeping them dead. It's not like he can ask Mike this, it seemed he was more akin to forgetting the matter. Or hoping that Jonathan would stay long enough for him to kill him properly.

He glanced around the room and spotted a phone. He looked back toward the hall, but the shower was still running. With a sigh, he made his way over to the phone sitting upon the smooth and thin round side table. He did note that there was a tape recorder running, but it was the last thing he'd like to think about at this point.

He wasn't even sure who to call about what was going on. Maybe if he called Daisy, she'd simply come running to murder Mike again, and that wasn't really the point of why Jonathan was here to begin with. If he called Basira, she'd inform Daisy. Elias wasn't any help, and he'll probably figure out what is going on sooner or later. He decided to phone Martin, and if he didn't answer, he'll go down the line of phone numbers that he knew, and phone Tim in hopes he wouldn't hang up the second he heard his voice.

He cleared his throat, hoping he can speak properly as he dialed Martin's number as Mike continued his shower. He waited, impatiently, and glanced over at the tape recorder. He almost wanted to know if Mike had owned one, or if this thing simply followed him around on its own.

It was curious, but also something on the lower list of things he wanted to think about. All that mattered was that Mike was not kidnapping him...technically, and if there was a moment of this entire situation where Mike wanted to murder him, then he obviously can because he had at least a few chances on doing so.

The phone answered after the third dial, and Jonathan choked on his voice before he could even say a word. It was still hard to breath, as if his heart, lungs, and chest were compressed in the seconds of being flung into the endless sky. He trembled, gripping the phone in his hand while he heard the worry tone in Martin's voice come through.

"Uh, hello? Wait…J-Jonathan? Is that you? Uh…is that you?" he asked, confused.

"Y-yes…it's me," Jonathan said, trying his hardest not to sound tired and weak. He kind of had the urge to lie down now that he was thinking about it, but for now, he leaned against the couch armwrist in hopes to ease the vertigo.

"Why…why are you calling?"

"Help…" Jonathan said, closing his eyes, trying his hardest to concentrate. His voice was a little better now, not as it was about fifteen minutes ago. But it remained hoarse, and getting out words was a little challenging on his end. He hoped to sound the words out before he choked again.

"Help?" he said, confused, before realizing what Jonathan meant, his voice squeaked out, "What's wrong? Did you get kidnapped again? Answer me, Jon!"

"No…not exactly."

"What do you mean? What does that even mean, Jon?" Martin asked, exasperated. "You…you're kidnapped, it's a yes or no answer."

"No, Mike brought me to some…place…"

"Mike? Who's Mike?"

How exactly was he going to explain this, maybe he should've called Tim. Lately, he didn't mind the one word responses and could get the gist of things. While Martin needed an entire paragraph to understand the situation.

"I'm…fine, just so you know, that's why I called," Jonathan said. He wasn't being convincing at all, but it was better than saying too much like he wanted too. Explaining it on the phone wouldn't be enough, and he wasn't sure if he'd make it down the block if he decided to leave.

"That's why you called?" Martin said, confused. "Jon, are you kidnapped again?"

"No."

"But you had to call because of that?"

Jonathan stayed quiet, glancing toward the bathroom. Mike must be taking his time washing out the dirt from his body and hair. Did he even care that Jonathan was out here, talking on the phone? Did he even care whether Jonathan would get up and wander off, or did he figure that trip out of the woods would suffice since Jonathan had a hard time standing on his own.

"Jon…don't go silent on me."

He nodded, as if Martin could see him. He closed his eyes, pressing a hand to his forehead as if that was going to help. "I'm fine."

"No…you're not, you wouldn't be phoning like this. Where are you? Do you know the address?"

"Don't tell anyone," Jonathan murmured, completely leaning against the armwrist and allowing his body to relax under the strain. He had to close his eyes, the light from the lamp was already too much for him.

"I don't even know what I have to say besides some guy named Mike kidnapped you—wait…you brought up a Mike earlier, right?"

"Wrong…one…it was Michael…" He squeezed his eyes closed, then he heard a door open.

"Michael…Mike…what is going on, Jonathan?" Martin asked. "You have to tell me where you are, maybe I can help."

He wasn't too sure about that, not now, not yet. He didn't know the address, the street he was on, or if he was in the same city. That was the thing, and he didn't know if he wanted to convey that. Not while he was weak and tired, and still trying to get rid of the rasp in his voice.

"Martin…" He sighed, about to tell him that he'll get into contact with him soon, but when he heard Martin say his name again, it was when the phone was taken from his hand and set back on the receiver.

Right, the door…the light from the bathroom leaked into the hall and touched the edges of the living room where Jonathan was. He was too exhausted, mind numb from what he had gone through, to weak to move out of the grasp of his possible kidnapper.

"I almost did think you would leave on your own, Archivist, maybe it's just in your nature to know more than you should, and I wonder if you're about to have a death sentence."

Jonathan wasn't too keen on the answer either, which is why in seconds, the edges of his eyes darkened and he soon passed out.

Chapter Text

"Why did you call me?" Georgie asked.

It was almost eleven in the morning, and Jonathan had a headache that reminded him of when he drank too much during his university days. It was…maybe once, and it was a terrible hangover. Not something he'd like to think about, and not something he'd want to mull over. At least as he and Georgie walked quick down the street.

"It's important that not everyone knows who I'm with and where I am," Jonathan said, almost thinking about Elias and shaking away those terrible thoughts that began to rise to the surface. He was trying his hardest to remain concentrated as he glanced around, but the headache seemed to only soften the heavy paranoia he had felt a few weeks ago.

"So, you called me to come get you at some random person's house, and you're not even going to tell me what is actually going on?" she asked, arching her brows as their arms were interlaced, both of them simultaneously dragging each other along the sidewalk like they had done once long ago.

Random person was an understatement, but he'd rather not fill her in on what he had been doing simply because it was all too much at this point to handle. He really hoped he didn't have to come to this exchange, not when he was having troubles already.

"I…I don't think it would be a good idea to tell you everything…" If he was being honest, he didn't even know what happened last night. He had been forced into this random house with Mike Crew, and then he passed out after he couldn't keep up with Martin on the phone.

When he woke up, there was a note on the table, and apparently Mike told him not to contact him again. Which was fine with him, and so he had to get on the phone with someone that was as reliable, and Georgie was the only other person that came to mind. Besides, he had been staying with her for awhile, and figured it was a better way to handle what he had gone through with Mike Crew.

"You should," Georgie said with a deep sigh. "You didn't come back, you didn't contact me. And even though, I would like you to not stay at my place anymore. Your work, and everything else is a distraction, I worry too much, and you know that, Jon."

"I do," he said, trying his best to remain on topic with her. He didn't feel anything right now. He wanted to also tell her this, but he couldn't seem to get those words out like he couldn't speak last night. All he recalled was the harsh cold wind thrashing all around him, and Mike's fingers digging into his wrist as he was dragged back onto the earth.

There was a sliver of fear rising in the pit of his stomach, but even that wasn't enough to stifle everything he had been complicit in. Maybe Mike knew that, or maybe Mike was a liar, and he inevitably did feel some sort of guilt towards him. That seemed like it made sense to some degree, but it wasn't enough.

He was alive.

It should be…enough.

He had to keep it a secret in case Daisy decided to go on another hunt. He didn't want that happening, not after everything he had to do to convince Mike that he didn't know.

"Jon…"

He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment, and groaned. "He would've killed me, he wanted to…"

"Who? What are you talking about now?" Georgie asked, exasperated.

Did he know or did not care? Would killing an Archivist even make sense for anyone else, or did they all simply have their own reasons for marking one? Maybe that's why Mike kept him alive, but Jonathan wasn't convinced by this either, and if Mike wanted to keep this a secret, then that was a fine too.

"You have that thinking look on your face again," Georgie said, not looking in the least impressed when he glanced over at her. Her brow arched, her lips pursed, and the soft wind brushed against her hair.

"Sorry," he said softly. "There's a lot on my mind."

"A lot you're not telling me, but when is that new, right? You always keep things to yourself, Jon. You never really let other people in, even how much I try to get you to take a break from the tapes, that isn't enough either," said Georgie, sighing deeply. "Are you coming back with me or…?"

"Yeah…can I use your shower, I need to go back to work now that Elias…said what he said," Jonathan said.

Georgie rolled her eyes. "Yes, another thing you aren't telling me. At least you're able to go back to work and your own apartment."

His apartment…right… "Thank you, Georgie…"

"You keep talking with a rasp, what happened?" She nudged him in the side. "You seem a little…closed off than usual."

Jonathan smiled slightly. "I'm fine. A lot to think about."

"And yet, you're not eager to inform me of what you're thinking about."

"I am sorry about that, I don't like to inconvenience you, Georgie." It was actually the last thing he'd like to do, but lately, he's been all over the place, and he's been getting answers from people he wasn't too keen on at the moment. It made him feel how out of his own depth he was at this point.

"Well, I'm sure coming out to this random neighborhood is as convenient as you, Jon," she said.

He sighed. He should tell her the truth, it was only right for him to get the words out. To make them mean something to someone who had catered to him and his own confusion after all these weeks of being away from the archives.

So, on the way back to the apartment, he explained to her where he had gone after he left the institute, and what occurred when he was with Mike Crew.

"He just…let you live, just like that?" Georgie asked, confused.

"Something like that," he said, uncertain of what to think when it came to Mike. He might've been a little disappointed when he came upon the note. He almost thought Mike would simply wake him up, or Jonathan would be falling to his death. That all seemed so plausible when it came to the avatar of the Vast, besides it was kind of his fault in what happened to him, even if he didn't know what would happen in the end.

"You said he wanted an explanation."

"I think he wanted to put enough distance between us as much as he can," Jonathan said. "I'm gonna respect that much, and hope he's perfectly fine with the arrangement, and hope that we never cross paths again."

Georgie smiled softly. "Sure, unless you need information."

"I got what I wanted from him."

When they returned to Georgie's apartment, Jonathan was gonna put away a few of his things so he can hurry his way out so he can reach his apartment by the evening when Georgie entered the room.

She leaned against the doorpost, watching him steadily before waving a tape at him. "Look what I found in the mailbox."

He stared at it, and there was a pulse that went through him, and a creeping image that ran through his mind as if he was about to reach over and yank it out of her fingertips. Except, he stayed rigid, clearing his throat of the sudden desperation in his body and tried his best to calm himself down before he did anything that was far more reckless than he needed too.

"Last one," Georgie said, carefully giving the tape to him.

He held it as if it were a reverent thing and nodded his head slowly, seeming to relax now that it was in his grasp. "Thank you, Georgie."

"For what?" she asked.

He wasn't sure, maybe of everything, and maybe for giving him the tape. Was it really that much for him?

"Thank…thanks…for letting me stay here…" he said, not wanting to fumble over his words as he gripped the tape in his hands. "I'll do this, then I'll be heading out. You won't have to worry about me after this."

She nodded. "Don't be long," she said, and closed the door, leaving him inside the room with the tape.

Why did Elias send this if he already knew everything? Jonathan had gone back to the institute with everyone, this shouldn't be happening at all. He was aware of what he was supposed to do thanks to Elias, and that meant there was more he was going to figure out.

He set the tape into the recorder and pressed play.

It is the 1st of May, 2017. 1:23pm. 

Gertrude Robinson.

Annihilation. The crux of one life and another, the end of things, of change, and impossibility.

I'm only telling you this because of my own growing worry. It may not happen now or later. Do I fear such things when it occurred on that fateful day when one destruction came and went, and another followed after. Again and again, I could not tell you the relaxation of such a reprieve I felt when those hints began to make its mark on the world.

This is not a normal statement, and will not be placed in with the pile that I have set upon. It won't be given away so easily, it'll be tucked in a nondisclosed location until otherwise stated.

For now, all you have to know, that what I had set in motion might've not been the beginning. It could've been before me, before all, but it was there. And it was birthed as much as it eased out of The End. I'll come back to these thoughts, I'll watch the rise as much as I can while I hunt down more rituals, tear them from their foundation, and watch as their followers scramble away into the far reaches of this world.

Maybe if this becomes relevant again, it'll be given to you, the next Archivist. I don't have my hopes on it since it's only now a speculation. I would rather not think it becomes a problem, and it does while I am alive, I do hope you don't have to deal with it in the coming years. But if it does, and you hear this message, unconcerned by the institute, then you'll know that it is there. It is a growing fear, coming forth from the ground up. A death mottled upon the wreckage of what I had wrought.

I only tell you this, because it is a possibility.

A brand new fear. Grand in its own way. Rotten like all fears, but was made from deep inside, and stretches its limbs out to the others, and without realization, it has grasped hold of them all. Hold them tightly without their knowledge, and soon enough, they will notice it.

They will hunt, and take apart, bleed it out, but it will always remain if it rises to fruition.

I'm not too sure if it is a good thing, whether it exists or not. I almost thought that it would be birthed by human fears. But this fear is so old, ancient like all the others, that it hardly scratches the actual surfaces. There is a sliver of it within human's, of course. I cannot deny this, but for the fears, for what has happened to them in recent decades.

It might be my own fault.

I might've cultivated a fear within fears.

I'll have to do more research into this, and Deckard has helped me along, for we must be ready. If this is something that is going to happen, then I need to know where the avatar's are, how they work, how they move. When they strike, I'll need to be ready for it.

The Extinction of fears, inside out, within all. I could almost laugh at the irony of such a thing. But there is, and I must know more, I have to. I just hope that if you're hearing this, it has not become an issue.

Chapter Text

Jonathan had gone back to the Magnus institute, and it's been a few weeks since he last saw Mike Crew. He had spoken to Basira a few times, and there were the rare moments when he'd catch sight of Daisy. He kept his tongue quiet, certain of her reasoning when she came to talk to Elias about her new objectives. She didn't enjoy small talk, apparently, and had gone out without a backwards glance.

There were some things he didn't want to speak with Elias about, and one of them was the fact that he was still trying to understand what the tape even meant. The same one that was sent to him, and deciphering it only told him about Gertrude's mysterious exploits. She was always forthright to some extent, but this seemed highly different. He had relistened to a few of them, rereading his notes when he had the time to write down what he needed to understand. If there was something he had to understand about what she was saying in the first place.

Extinction. A fear like this…

"I need to focus on something else," Jonathan said to himself, closing the notebook and pushing it away. He shook his head and ran his fingers into his hair as he readied for work.

He fixed his clothes after showering, and hurried his way out with the mindset of reading a statement or two, just to get through the week if he had too. If he can keep his mind occupied on other things, he won't need to deal with what he'll be forced to think about. Which is the fact that an Extinction fear shouldn't be on the top of the list with humanity. It's a shame, nonetheless, and most times people try to stop it when it comes to insects, plants, and animals. But with human's, the fear itself would have to be more concentrated than something built up over time. It doesn't exactly fill a year, or even a decade.

Which is why he had to look more into it, just in case the fear itself was overlooked. Unlike more general one's, maybe he hadn't seen the whole picture just yet. And like Gertrude, he needed to prepare if it comes to that. The last thing he needed to do was panic. He couldn't fumble over facts he didn't yet have.

When he reached the institute, he was far too lost in his own thoughts, which was a problem he had lately since he was framed for murder. Another thing he needed to shove in the back of his mind until the topic arises. He's not that interested in speaking with Elias about it at the moment. When he reached his office and had a few statements already placed on the table for him, he sorted through them for any indication of what he needed.

He hadn't yet come upon any other statements that talked about this in detail, but possibly, he might be able to find some that brings it up if he's able too. He heard the slightest noise and the door to the room slid open, and Martin entered.

"Oh, Jon…hey," he said awkwardly, even nervously as he glanced around the mostly empty room, dim from the singular light above Jon. He wore a brown cardigan and pants that appeared to have been ironed, and his hair was combed through a bit, a dark honey color that matched his brown eyes. It almost felt like a long time since he talked to Martin, and Jonathan held onto a tape, staring at Martin, trying his hardest to keep his memory unlike…

"Hey," Jonathan said. They had the conversation about what Jon was talking about an hour after he had gotten back to Georgie's. He said it had been nothing, and he was fine. And since then, Martin has been watching him like a hawk, as if Jonathan was going to disappear at some point. He didn't like the thought either, and allowed Martin to hover every so often. But whenever he got to see any of his friends, he wanted and needed to look at them long enough to know that they were still themselves. He had too, and Martin appeared as himself, as he always did. Nervous, yet worried, as if he wanted to step into the room a little more, but he couldn't even look at Jonathan.

"Are you…uh…going somewhere, you don't seem to be doing a statement," Martin said, looking down.

"I…uh…finished," Jonathan lied, reaching for his notebook and sliding it out of view. Martin seemed to take note of the odd way Jonathan was hiding something from him but didn't take offense besides stepping back, gripping the doorknob.

"If you need anything, I'm sure me or Tim could help, you know…if you need anything." He seemed awkward, unsure of what to say between them, and what occurred with Jonathan while he was gone.

Jonathan wasn't too sure if Martin could be any help. This wasn't something he wanted to get into with him. Besides, there's already far too many questions when it comes to something like this, and if it's known what he was looking for, then everything will eventually fall apart. He really didn't need to have a similar conversation with Elias about it or he was going to get pissed off.

"I might do another statement…if I'm up for it," said Jonathan, looking down at the pile. He tapped his fingers along the edge of the table and sighed deeply at what he was about to do. "Uh, Martin, wait…"

Martin was about to close the door, and stopped, glancing back at Jonathan. "Yeah, what is it?"

"Well, I was wondering…if you're not busy or anything," he said, looking back down at the tapes. Would he had to risk it telling Martin about what he needed, maybe he didn't have to. There wasn't much to say since the research was in its early stages at the moment. If he can call it research, he might have to look into Gertrude's things again, if he's also able to do that without Elias' constant interferences within his own work.

"I'm not," Martin said.

Jonathan nodded, trying to word it the best he can without opting the obvious to his assistant who was also prone to worrying for others. He wasn't against it, of course, he just needed time and space for what he had done, and what he would do.

"Uh, there are some tapes I need to find, statement's, that Gertrude had…maybe labeled, maybe not, about certain topics and uh…"

Martin smiled softly, "Any keywords, Jon? I can look into it for you if you're not sure what you're actually looking for."

Jonathan nodded, swallowing thickly, unable to hide how nervous he was and what he was asking for. He didn't even know since he had only learned of the topic recently. "World ending…extinction…annihilation."

"So, the usual?" Martin wondered, the corner of his lips pulled, and he gave Jonathan a more knowing look.

"Yes…the usual, but far more specific in nature," Jonathan said to him, glad that Martin wasn't looking away anymore. He hoped that said something about the conversation itself, but he wasn't too. It was best to keep his assistants away from knowing too much. He was a little afraid it would go in the wrong direction, and then…what would he do? He ended up in the grasp of things that came after him without pretense, and other times, he had gone to them for information only for it to go haywire. Who would've known he'd dig a grave, then find himself threatened. That bit of mercy still thrived, and he was more than anything, curious about why that was.

"I can see what I can find, but it might take awhile to sift through the tapes and statements, if you're okay with waiting…and you won't disappear again," he said the last bit under his breath, glancing away with almost a tinge of sadness filling his eyes.

Jonathan's shoulders slumped, and he slowly nodded. "I won't disappear, Martin. I didn't know it would happen…"

"What would happen? You were kidnapped for a month, and then…you were gone again for a night…talking about…" He sighed deeply, shaking his head and forcing a smile. "I'll get to work."

Jonathan couldn't stop Martin when he left the room. He had explained enough when he did come back, when Martin had asked tentatively of what he had been doing, and who Mike was. The conversation was almost fleeting if he was being honest. Maybe that was his own fault since he was afraid Basira or Daisy might find out. He was aggravated by the thought when he had a conversation with Elias and was almost afraid he would bring it up when the two were in the room with them. He had glared at Elias while the man had smiled, but it never happened, and Elias didn't get his chance to say a thing. Besides, Jonathan figured he might not stir the pot just yet, there were other places to make a mess when he needed it.

Jonathan would have to prepare for that as well, which only made the tapes and statements in front of him more appealing to get too. If he can focus more ideally to that, than he would have to—

A knock at the door stopped Jonathan, and he frowned when the door opened and instead of finding one of his assistants walking in, but he was met with Georgie's gaze, her brows furrowed as she gripped the doorknob and stared at him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, confused.

"I don't know how he found where I lived, but he's asking for you," Georgie said, stepping into the room and leaning in. "He won't come here…he hates this place like many others do."

Jonathan blinked, uncertain of what she was getting at until it caught up to him. The image of the man covered in dirt, a sneer on his lip, a glare in his eyes. He stood abruptly, startling Georgie who grimaced at him.

"Mike? Why would he go to your place?"

"I don't know, but he's holding the Admiral as a hostage," she said, her eye twitching. "You go see him, you tell him to let my cat go, and to get the hell out of my damn apartment. I don't need this avatar shit in my own space, Jon. We already had this conversation before when that…doll…mannequin thing was in my house."

Jonathan nodded, looking down at the tapes and statements, and without thinking, he gathered them up and dropped them inside his bag, zipping it up.

"Alright, let's go."

He and Georgie hurried their way out, ignoring most of the people who didn't seem all that bothered that they were leaving, at least until…

"Jon, where are you going?"

He and Georgie stopped, and he can see the dark look in her eyes when she turned, and they both found themselves staring at Elias Bouchard, smiling at them, hands tucked in his pants pockets.

"Mind your business," Georgie said.

Jon knew she was being impatient about what was in her apartment, but he also didn't like that she was being confrontational. The last place she should be that way was here, when everyone else was unfortunately on edge because of Elias' more threatening influence.

"Ah, Ms. Barker, you do not work here, but Jon does, and—"

"And you did not care whether he was here or not, or when you framed him for murder," Georgie said, taking a step closer, "like I said, mind your business."

Jonathan sighed. Her fear was non-existent, it won't feed the eye and only irritate Elias who no longer appeared amused by her.

"I'll be right back, Elias, you should be fine on your own…do you really need me here?"

Elias' indifference shifted into a decent persuasive smile, like some business man about to make a profit. "Oh, yes, I do need you here, Jonathan. But if you'd like to wander off for a bit—"

"I have statements to ease the neglect," Jonathan said.

"Don't stay away too long, you never know who might not be able to find what they're looking for without you," Elias said, then he turned and walked away.

Georgie and Jonathan walked out of the institute, and a cool wind brushed against them as they descended the smooth cement steps and down the sidewalk.

"Melanie said he was creepy, and she was not wrong about that," Georgie said.

"He's also dangerous, which is why I would rather you not go to the institute," Jonathan said, sighing.

"I would have called, but you weren't answering your phone, and I figured a nice decent walk might help soothe the rage that is burning inside of me," she said, restrained, and glaring at him.

Jonathan was a little tense, and nodded. "I am sorry, Georgie. Did he say anything, what he wanted?"

"He just told me to get you to come to the apartment, said he had something to tell you, and that if I didn't, he would kill Admiral." 

Well, he disliked the motivation, but it was unfortunately working for him as they were now heading for her place. At least he brought the tapes and statements with him, he had his notebook. If he can stay away from the institute without Elias' constantly poking into his head, he might get somewhere with what he needs.

"Was it just him?"

"He sat on my couch and started threatening my cat while he petted him, so yes…it was just him, Jon," she said, tense. "I don't like this. I might have to bring up some boundaries."

"I…I understand, Georgie, I'm sorry…I didn't mean for any of this to happen," he said. He didn't want her to get involved, even if he had been staying with her beforehand. He'll have to get the point across when they reach her apartment, and possibly shove Mike out the door in the process without getting the Admiral in any more possible danger.

Chapter Text

Jonathan was almost curious to ask what an Avatar of the Vast had to do in this circumstance, and how he managed to find Georgie's apartment. He didn't like that he was there at all, and found the entire thing rather irksome since he was busy trying to figure out the mystery of Gertrude's research.

He hadn't even told Georgie why he was even there, which would inevitably be something he has to talk about to Mike. Georgie didn't want to talk all that much on the way to her flat. Which seemed fine to Jonathan, he can deal with her silence, but what he couldn't handle was the anger she had towards him. He wanted to tell her it wasn't even his fault for what happened, but decided to hold his tongue until he cleared this all up.

He tried to think of what Mike even wanted from him. He was alive and well, apparently, so why bother coming his way after everything that's happened. Besides, he's the one who was telling Jonathan not to contact him, so he really wasn't disturbing the so-called boundary the Avatar of the Vast made.

Well, he was actually quite pleased that Mike was alive, and he didn't have to sit with his guilt any longer. Maybe there was something else he needed, and Jonathan…being the people pleaser he was, also didn't mind helping a potential ally. If this didn't turn out the way he hoped, then he wasn't too sure what he was going to do.

They reached Georgie's apartment, and she stomped her way up and pushed open the door. Jonathan followed as if this was his fault, and when he stepped inside, Georgie was gasping for breath. He closed the door before the Admiral could get out.

"Stop! Mike…stop!" Jonathan said, easing into the room. This was not what he expected. Georgie had fallen to her knees, unable to breathe while Mike started past her and at Jonathan.

"You know, I never did think of you as a friend just because the Archivist grew a consciousness," he said, standing up.

Jonathan's heart thudded in worry over Georgie, and he wasn't sure if he was meant to move. "I could've left you in there. A Vast Avatar in the ground, ripe for the taking when it comes to the Buried."

Mike sneered, taking a step closer to Jonathan, "There's so many stories about the Archivist. And many people do their best not to stand in your presence. If you even ask a question, I won't hesitate…"

Jonathan kept the words from escaping his throat. He couldn't seem to ask what Mike even wanted, and why he would do this at all.

"Now…there is something I'm curious about. You know that I don't like getting into squabbles with other people. I don't enjoy it. I also like to think I'm far more neutral than that," he said, rolling his eyes. "However, there is something else that has reeked amongst many of the people in our circles. And since the previous Archivist has been dead for some time, I do wonder…if you know anything about it."

The word popped into his head, but all that came to mind was why. What did this have to do with Gertrude?

Mike scoffed, "I can see it in your eyes, you know. The questions, the gears turning, wondering…hoping to ask. I thought you would've known about it. Is that the real reason you saved my life, so it wouldn't happen? So the fear wouldn't emerge out from the ground?"

"Wha—"

"Don't, Archivist," Mike sneered, "don't fucking say a word."

Jonathan sucked in a breath, nodding his head. Georgie continued to struggle for breath, but it seemed he was mostly keeping her on the precipice for now.

"I had to mention where I was that entire time I was gone…you know, an Archivist shows up at my doorstep. Most would consider killing you, but there's the alliance with your boss that keeps people from truly harming you," Mike said, scoffing. "You'd be dead long ago if he didn't open his mouth."

Elias? That made sense. It's not something Jonathan wanted to think about. Not when Mike had him and Georgie right where he wanted them. He just hoped he got to the point before Georgie ended up passing out.

"And there's this issue that I've heard over the years…you know, when the previous Archivist was alive. She really stirred up fear amongst mostly everyone. Of course she worked for Elias Bouchard." He rolled his eyes. "But there was something far more paramount about her existence. She had brought a sliver of fear, no…she was sharp as a scalpel. You have no idea what that brought up the Vast. Maybe I wasn't around at the time when she had disturbed the ritual, but I was at my height when she did the same for others."

Where was this going? He didn't know much about Gertrude besides the mess that was made at the institute. He had sorted through the files, the records, the tapes. Everything was disorienting, and he had tried his best to keep himself from spiraling, but that was a given. He just didn't know it until everything had come rushing to him, shoving him down just to force him to see the utter truth right before his eyes.

He didn't see it until it was too late. And now he was still trying to understand it.

Mike stepped closer, a bit shorter than Jonathan with dark hair and darker eyes. He was pale, almost gaunt like, less worse than the last time he had seen him. Maybe Mike ate some food, drank a bunch of water. Actually slept, but whatever was now bugging him had made him go looking for Jonathan. No, he had been watching him for awhile…and not only that, he had made sure to find someone who he'd be able to use to get Jonathan away from the Institute.

"Let her go," Jonathan said.

He gritted his teeth, fingers curled tight, "You know about the Extinction, don't you? I know you do. How could you not?"

"You obviously care about it."

"Oh, laugh all you want, but I wouldn't be bringing it up if it wasn't an issue on its own, Archivist. The others will notice too, you know. They can't all remain silent about it. This thing…is not just a physical manifestation, an agony of sorts, but far more than that. It can tear apart other fears."

"I'm not talking about anything until you let her go."

Mike sighed deeply, then he moved his hand in a lackluster away, and this had brought Georgie gasping for breath she hadn't been able to reach for. Jonathan had held her up, and while she tried to get him to stop, she needed someone to hold her.

"You…bastard," Georgie rasped, eyes red with fallen tears.

Mike watched them with an emptiness in his eyes, his arms crossed while Jonathan had hurried to the kitchen to grab her some water. Georgie had sat down on the kitchen chair, petting the Admiral who had come over to touch her hand.

"G-Get him out, Jon…" she managed to say as he set the glass down.

"Nope, we're not leaving until I get my answers," said Mike.

Georgie narrowed her eyes at him, "Should've kept him in the ground."

Mike sneered in return, "I did what I had to."

"Using my cat as a hostage is hardly what I consider a dire request," Georgie growled under her breath, fingers tight around the glass cup. "If Elias is your ally, then you could've easily gone to the institute on your own."

"Ah, yes…seems like something I could've done, but just because we're all allies, one-in-all, doesn't mean we all don't need to step on each other's feet," he said.

"Sounds more like an excuse."

Jonathan rolled his eyes, sighing. He felt the tension easing a bit, while Georgie appeared far more pissed than she would've liked, Mike didn't seem like he was eager to murder any of them anymore.

"Georgie can ask the questions, since you're…so afraid to be compelled again," Jonathan said, meeting his eyes.

"You wouldn't really like getting compelled, now would you? Having to tell some strange person your life story, every little grisly detail that doesn't belong to him…and that is his own reason. To pluck out memories and information to store within the Eye," Mike said with disgust in his voice.

Georgie took another sip of her water before pushing it back toward Jonathan who picked it up and refilled it.

"W-What do you want Jonathan to do with…the Extinction?" she asked him, struggling slightly to get the words out.

"I want him to figure out a way to stop it from emerging," Mike said, glaring at Jonathan who set the glass down, and arched his brow curiously.

"I liked you better in the ground," Georgie murmured, taking a sip from the glass.

Chapter Text

"He won't leave," Georgie said into the phone, "both of them, but if you want to try to get them to, be my guest."

Jonathan left the room after he was finished with his daily statement, and glanced over at Georgie before walking into the small living room where Mike was sitting on the love seat, flipping through a few channels on the TV.

"You're really trying to meet your end, aren't you?" he asked him.

"She's not an End Avatar, so I don't see any actual threat," Mike said. "I do get the gist though, I've heard rumors here and there. Everyone has to know who is who once in awhile." He narrowed his eyes at Jonathan. "Not that I care, I am neutral."

"You put yourself out of neutrality when you tortured me and Georgie," Jonathan said, rolling his eyes. "All I did was try to do the right thing, and that seems to hit me in the face."

"I do wonder if you deserve that as much as the scars you have on you," Mike said, returning his gaze to the screen. "I can tell some come from bugs, others are fitful burns from far more petulant wielders. You have an ex who's come upon the End, and you're close to the Hunt."

Jonathan glanced back over at Georgie who was still talking on the phone, gazing out the window, her fingers touching the cup full of her tea. She carefully brought it to her lips, and a small smile pulled. She seemed far more calmer than she was earlier, and that sent a shiver down Jonathan's body.

"I already saved you the first time," Jonathan said, looking for his bag of tapes and statements, his coat, and phone. "Georgie has a girlfriend with the connection to the Slaughter, so if you want to stay here and bother her too, then do what you like. I'm not staying for another round of arguments I'm surely not going to win."

Mike flicked off the TV and stood, "Fine."

"Georgie, I'm leaving," Jonathan said. She wasn't even paying attention, more intent on talking on the phone as he and Mike leave her apartment. It was better this way. If they stayed, Melanie might actually kill them both for what happened to Georgie. And he already hated the fact that he had even brought her into this at all. Maybe he should've dealt with it all on his own.

Mike followed, wearing a dark coat, running his fingers into his hair. "Do you regret it though? Saving my life."

"I'm not really thrilled by it anymore."

"Look, I'm not really thrilled by a lot of things, who would've known that the Archivist would grow a spine, or even a heart, your kind aren't known for that shit either," Mike said with a sneer curling on his lip.

He wasn't sure if he should be going back to his apartment with Mike. He was still curious about what he was talking about when it came to the Extinction. At this point, it was only theoritical, but now, he couldn't ignore what it could actually be.

"Do you believe in what you were saying to me and Georgie?" Jonathan asked, reaching the bottom floor of the flat, and they stepped out into the cloudy street. A crisp wind brushed against his face as he was trying to figure out where to go.

"I wouldn't have brought it up if I didn't believe it," Mike said, eyes narrowed, an empty look that told Jonathan how serious he truly was beyond it all. Jonathan only wished he hadn't been like that in the first place. Maybe there could've been a less eager approach that had Georgie in danger, but that wasn't how it was going to be when it came to the entities, including the Avatars.

"How long has it tried to emerge in the first place?"

"No idea, which is why I came to the Archivist for questions. I'm not the only one who wonders about it, you know. There are others."

Like who? Jonathan had to stifle the question when he got a text. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and found it was from Martin.

Mike had tilted his head to see what it said, and Jonathan pulled the screen away before he could see it.

I talked to Peter Lukas…he says similar things about it. Elias tells me I shouldn't bring it up. There's a lot of…interest towards this. I'll see what I can do.

He had also sent a few notes and articles, including the number of tapes he'd need to find on what it was. Jonathan might have some on him if he can sort through them once he reached his flat.

"Peter Lukas?" Mike asked, arching a brow. "You have a friend who associates himself with the Lonely?"

Jonathan glanced at him then back at the text. "It's actually none of your business."

"Peter allies himself with the Vast. He speaks with both Elias Bouchard," he made an odd noise when saying his name, "and Simon Fairchild, who I'm close too. But to have one of your own, an Archivist's assistant, right? Martin…Blackwood?"

Jonathan would do well to bite his tongue, but he can't. He's too curious for his own good. He has to say something, he needs to know how Mike has this information. It's itching him on the inside, and while they walk in this dull silence, hand tight on the phone, Martin's text right in his face. He shivered at those thoughts as they walk a few blocks as the text is gone from sight, this time, it's replaced by a caller ID.

He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, Mike is giving him an odd look.

"Shit," Jonathan said under his breath as he shakily answers the phone. "Mel—"

"Where is she, Jon?" Melanie asked, her voice harsh in his ear. "Where is Georgie?"

He blinked at the question, at her anger snapping out into the phone as questions pile up inside his head. MIke is giving him a dull look, barely questioning why Jonathan is confused more than ever.

"She should be there…she was there fifteen minutes ago…we just left," Jonathan said, swallowing thickly. Georgie was okay, she was sitting at the table, on the phone with Melanie when they left. They had just walked out, mostly in fear of Melanie arriving and giving them a piece of her mind. And now…what was going on?

"She's not here, and you left one of your fucking tapes here too." He can hear Melanie stepping on it. He ignored the crunching sound as she seemingly walked around the flat.

"We were right there…we're down the street, Melanie, me and Mike, we didn't do anything!"

"Oh, you're with him? Is this his fault? Did he kidnap her, huh? She told me he used the Admiral as a hostage to get you there," Melanie said, slamming the door to the flat.

Jonathan winced at the sound, heart thudding. "Did you kidnap Georgie again?" he asked him.

Mike grimaced. "I already have you, what do I need her for? She's no longer useful to me any longer. If she's not there, then maybe someone else is watching."

Melanie growled into Jonathna's ear, "I can hear him, Jon! Don't you fucking—"

Jonathan blinked at the sudden silence on her end. He looked down at his phone, brows furrowed at what just happened. "Uh, Melanie…Melanie?" He looked up at Mike, a spark of anger flooded his body. "Did you kidnap Georgie again?"

The question rushed out, and Mike went stiff before him.

"No, I did not kidnap her," Mike said, glaring at Jonathan, then took an unsteady step back. "Don't fucking do that. I already said I didn't kidnap her."

"How should I have known you were telling the truth?" he asked, looking down the street, wondering if he should go back to see what was going on with Melanie and Mike.

"Uh, Archivist…"

Jonathan glanced back, and he went still at the sight of a long wavy blonde haired man stepping out from a yellow door in the brick wall that shouldn't have been there. His smile was wide, and his movements were distorted as he stopped in the middle of the street. He wore a dark brown coat and dark blue pants and simple shoes. He appeared like any other person on the street, but with flickers around him, the colors almost seemed to brighten and change.

"Did not realize you were friends with the Spiral," Mike said, taking a step back, glaring.

"I'm not," Jonathan said, stepping forward. "You took Georgie and Melanie, right?"

"Oh, Archivist, you don't need to ask a question to know the truth already."

Chapter Text

The Spiral was deceptive. No one really knew what it would do, and that could cause a problem with their plans. But with the way it started at them from down the street, and Mike already taking a cautious step back. Jonathan was thinking he was about to be in on this by himself in a few seconds.

"Why did you take them?" Jonathan asked, fingers curling at his sides.

"A curious question, but you don't know the answer to that," Michael said, glancing to Mike and smiling wider at the sight of him. "You're playing games you shouldn't be touching. I do wonder, will you be able to make it out of it alive?"

"Don't get distracted," Jonathan gritted out, "let them go!"

Michael clicked his tongue. "I have been watching…"

"As you always have," Mike muttered.

"And I do agree with the dangers that the Vast is so afraid of." He laughed, distorting the air and the objects around him.

It hasn't been that long since the question had come up, and he was trying to understand it even now. Which is why he had asked Martin for help, but that seemed implausible since he kept hitting a wall with these other Avatars. Mike was curious about it, and now it seemed the Distortion wanted information on it too.

He was at a loss, unfortunately. He didn't know much either, and if he were to ask…no…he didn't want to ask the Eye. He hated the look on Elias' face, the pride glittering in his eyes. It was strange, and it was better not to think about what was going through his head when it came to things like this.

"We're not afraid of anything," Mike spat out. "And I want nothing to do with you, so fuck off!"

Michael scoffed. "If you stop running, this wouldn't be much of a problem, now would it?"

"If I stopped, I wouldn't be able to go anywhere. With the Vast, I can easily do that without your pestering."

Jonathan scowled at the two of them. The history there was foggy and went on through several years, although Michael's presence itself was brand new. Mike still revealed his dislike for the Spiral.

"Enough," Jonathan said, shaking his head. "Let Georgie and Melanie go. You know how they are, if you allow them to stay for too long inside of you…"

"Ah yes, but one has yet to really feed her patron, and the other doesn't know how, more of a loose cannon," Michael said, grimacing before waving a hand, and the door he had come out of slammed open and the voices within rose high before the two stumbled out as if they had been running. Their hands clasped together, and they both tripped and fell in the middle of the road.

"Why you bastard," Melanie growled, trying to stand up but she remained dizzy with Georgie on the ground.

Jonathan frowned at them, then looked to Michael. "You know something, don't you? About what we're looking into?"

"I might know something…Michael might've known something too," he said, shrugging. "There are scraps of memories left of him inside me. Somewhere, all of it embedded like shrapnel."

"Then tell us instead of wasting our damn time," Mike said.

He shook his head. "Not now…not here."

Jonathan glanced back at Melanie and Georgie who were finally pulling themselves together. He sighed as he made his way over while Michael walked toward the yellow door that still led into his domain. He had reached Melanie the second he spotted the knife appearing in her hand from her pocket. A thin switchblade that would surely connect with Michael if she were fast enough. Whatever had happened in the Spiral had left the two disoriented, and Jonathan was able to grab a hold of Melanie's wrist with the knife quick enough for Michael to leave through the door.

"Do not get in my way, Jon!" Melanie snarled in her face, but she was too weak to fight against him as he held the blade away from his arm and face. He really didn't need anymore wounds from the Avatars of the Dreaded powers.

He heard a soft whoosh behind him and sighed, his body almost deflating as realization clicked it quickly that Mike had left the street. It was quite obvious the entire time he hadn't wanted to linger with the Spiral so close, not when they had a difficult past.

"Sweetheart," Georgie murmured from a foot behind them, she reached her hand out to Melanie, "come on…he's gone. It's not Jon's fault."

"It isn't?" she scoffed. "You called because the Vast held the Admiral hostage, remember? You were forced to bring Jon back to the apartment so he can leave. I'm pretty damn sure it is his fault, like it always is."

Jonathan released her wrist, but she didn't swipe at him with the knife. She let Georgie pull her back, but her glare was hard on her face as she cast him a dark look.

"I'm sorry," Jonathan said.

"You always are," she scoffed, folding her switchblade and pushing it back into her pocket. "The Spiral and the Vast, really, Jon?"

"I am sorry," Jonathan murmured again, looking down at the ground between them. "Mike doesn't like the Spiral, and he knew that. But they both have information I need, and they obviously want to know more about it…"

"The Extinction?" Melanie asked, a hand on the side of her head, her face was more paler than it was a few moments ago. "Are they really that interested in a fear that hasn't fully manifested."

"I'm looking into it," Jonathan promised. "Like I said, I have…Martin searching for information via Gertrude. She knew about it, she had letters and statements, and recordings about it. There's more, I know there is, a lot more that I don't know yet because of the mess she left behind." He couldn't ignore how frustrated he felt towards this. The information was knotted up and he was doing his hardest not to tear the pieces apart.

"After all this time, don't you think you should be more…tactful?" Georgie asked him. "You let them walk all over you, and not just you, but everyone else. I don't like being kidnapped. I don't like that man…using the Admiral to get to you. And I don't like walking aimlessly inside the Spiral. What's next, huh? The Buried?"

"Oh, no…I don't think they'll become a problem."

Jonathan felt everything inside of him sink at the familiar and irritating voice. Melanie and Georgie glanced past him, and Jonathan groaned as he turned to see a woman across the street, smirking at them in a black tank-top and jeans. She waved, and each of her fingertips began to burn.

"Shit," Jonathan muttered. "You two can leave."

"Let them stay," the woman said, shaking her head, "this won't take long, Archivist."

"And who are you?" Melanie wondered.

She walked confidently off the sidewalk and along the road towards them. "Jude Perry, an old friend of the Archivist."

"If you were an old friend, you wouldn't be calling him that," Georgie said, crossing her arms.

"What do you want?" he asked, exhausted. One after the other, he should really know that if they were all going to appear, he should take Georgie's advice and maybe grow a bit of tact on how to deal with some of these Avatar's.

Jude chuckled, amusement shining in her eyes, "I overheard the conversation you all had. I know the gist…maybe, but I kind of understand. You see, awhile ago…it came up, you know."

"What?" He didn't want her getting close to them. He didn't like the fact she can easily burn everything down. Would she risk it? He didn't want to think about that. Jude and her short cut hair and smirk that told him enough of what she'd do. If Mike would keep a cat hostage and force Georgie into the Vast, then she would make what he did look like child's play.

She shrugged, "I get it, you know. The whole thing comes up once in awhile. Maybe a decade or so, seeping through a new…situation." She clicked her tongue. "There is a fear amongst everyone, and then there is the telling of such a fear that only so many can see and feel. We know the ripple effects of it, but once…it didn't make little sense at the time. It barely touched any of us, and we all know how it feels to rot, but this is different."

"How?" he asked her, trying to contain that bit of anger swelling inside of him when he was in her presence. Something about her made his anger burn, and he hated it. She can tell, she watched him as he stood there, so still that if she were to move closer, he wouldn't bother stepping away.

"Don't do that, Archivist," she glowered.

"How?" Melanie stepped forward, her voice cutting. "What are you talking about?"

Jude glanced at her, "The Exctinction, of course. No one cared about it, none of us do. Not until…that woman appeared and…killed." Her voice had slowed and petered out, her glare turned away from the three of them.

His brows furrowed, confused by what she meant. "A fear…like this would be normalized, wouldn't it? You said a ripple effect, it comes up on everyone every so often. Every decade of…constant movement of governments, groups, and whatever else. Right?" he asked, trying to make sense of what she was saying. Maybe he had gotten it right before, but he needed to know the truth.

"I'm surprised you, the Archivist of the Beholding, doesn't know much about it," she said, rolling her eyes. "I guess it makes sense Elias…keeps that from all of you."

Again, his name echoes in Jonathan's head, and he wrinkled his nose. "You're saying it's because of her? She's dead."

"Dead," Jude scoffed, glaring, "what does that have to do with anything? Dead? She's dead? Huh? It doesn't matter whether she's dead, she made her mark on all of us!"

Jonathan didn't watch Jude Perry walk away. No, Georgie had grabbed his arm the second Melanie had took her hand, and she led them away from the desolate street. That feeling settled inside of him, making him Ill.

The answer was right there, he was so close, and he hated it.

Chapter Text

There was a fear in all of them. Those words kept rattling in Jonathan's mind since the last time he had seen Mike Crew, the Distortion, and Jude Perry, on the road. He tried to understand what was actually going on, but wouldn't that mean…the fear itself, if it ripple effect through all, emerging from each of them. Then the Eye must feel something too, and from Jonathan's understanding, Elias' relationship with Gertrude was rather neutral.

At least before her death, but he never really did ask Elias about that. Right now, while sitting inside his office, staring at the tape recorder. He had just finished a statement, and his head was throbbing. He had to get a glass of water, but he had no intention of standing up.

Mike Crew was going to tell him more and ask about the information that Jonathan didn't have at the time. Then Michael had appeared, scaring him off. He also knew something, the Distortion had its own understanding when it concerned itself. But Jonathan wasn't certain of asking any of them for help.

None of them were friends. There was no actual guarantee that they would be—a knock at the door pulled Jonathan out of his thoughts. He cleared his throat as the door opened, and Martin stepped inside.

He wore a simple shirt and jumper, and was smiling softly at Jonathan with a cup of tea, and some sort of biscuit on a plate.

"Hey, Basira and I went for coffee, I figured you'd want something," he said, bringing the cup and biscuit over to him.

"Uh, thank you, Martin," Jonathan said, pushing the papers to the side, and setting the tape recorder on top as if it were a paperweight.

He brought the cup to his lips and took a slow sip. Martin was standing before the desk, smiling, hands behind his back as he rocked back and forth. Jonathan cleared his throat as he set the cup down.

"Is there something you need, Martin?" he asked, hoping he didn't sound rude. He wasn't trying to since he was grateful that Martin even thought about him. He might've gotten up to grab himself a cup too, if he cared to have done so before Martin showed up.

"Yes, there is," said Martin, taking out a tape from inside his pocket and placing it down on the desk before Jonathan. He seemed rather pleased about this and was waiting for Jonathan's reaction.

"What is that?" he asked, confused and maybe a little uncertain.

"It's what you asked for, isn't it?" Martin wondered, brows knitted together. "You wanted to know more a bit about the Extinction, right? I dug into the statement, old and new, including the one's that Gertrude had hidden away rather deep in the recesses of the files. And this is what came up, at least one of them…I might be able to find another."

He appeared a little sheepish while Jonathan started at the tape with both anticipation and worry. He didn't really like that Martin was giving him the tape out in the open like this. And not just that, they were inside the institute, and he'd rather not have another argument with Elias about any secret plans. It was already too difficult to hide what he was thinking when Elias was mostly told everything via the Watcher.

"Thank you," Jonathan said softly, reaching for the tape.

Martin nodded. "I can continue my search, if you want, of course."

"I would rather you space it out," said Joanthan, a little occupied now that he was looking at the old tape. It had a few dust bunnies clinging to it, and it seemed Martin had tried cleaning it up but he hadn't wanted to ruin it. Jonathan scraped a bit off, but he left it alone and smiled at Martin.

"Space out the…search?" he asked, then he cleared his throat and appeared more awkward than he had a moment ago. "I was going to ask you…and I think that maybe I should know at least about what is going on."

"What are you mean?" Jonathan asked, tucking away the tape.

"Come on, Jon, don't be like this," Martin said with a sigh. "You…you went missing more than once. It's a lot to think about sometimes. Whether you'll come back or not. But the last time you called…you said you were with Mike, right?"

Right. He hadn't explained much, he only wanted to brush past the already innate details he had left out for his assistants. Martin wouldn't have let it be. Why would he? He was far too much of a worry wart.

"I'm fine, aren't I?" he said, a little too harshly.

Martin appeared more perturbed and crossed his arms. "If you want anymore of my help, you're gonna have to be a little bit accommodating than that, Jon. I know how you are."

"It was nothing. A fluke…"

"A fluke?" he scoffed, rolling his eyes. His temper was slowly easing out. "Are you serious? I couldn't get you out of my head that whole time, then you come back to work as if…nothing happened. I also know you haven't been staying at your place in some time, so you must be with Georgie. She hasn't mentioned a thing either."

"You talked to her about this?"

"I asked…sure, why not," Martin said, shaking his head.

"It's been a few weeks since then, Martin…nothing has happened since."

Martin narrowed his eyes at him. "You honestly think I'm that foolish, don't you? Everyone thinks I don't see it. Georgie came here, ranting about something…then you and her leave. I wonder why that is. Something to do with this…Mike person?"

He sighed deeply. Sooner or later, he was going to say something about it, but he wanted to reason to actually make sense. If he gave Martin what he wanted, then he won't be satisfied. Jonathan surely wasn't with the current result. He felt more like he held onto a puzzle piece, and there were thousands more he had yet to find to complete the picture.

"Can't you just…trust me on this?" Jonathan asked, scowling slightly, not wanting to appear too petulant.

"You're still talking to whoever this is, right? Mike?" Martin made an indignant sound, and his body tensed a bit more.

"No," Jonathan answered, sitting back. "I haven't spoken to him in some time."

"Except the time when you and Georgie left, right?"

"I would rather not have this conversation right now, Martin."

He leaned close, pressing a hand on the table, "I do, Jon. I want to know. I don't want to sit in the dark, thinking about you, wondering about you…who you're with, why you're with them. Why can't you just stay here?"

Jonathan swallowed thickly. If he were to tell him bits and pieces, would that be enough? He wasn't too sure if Martin would cater to crumbs, not when he was this pissed off.

"I'm trying to figure out what Gertrude was doing…why it's all a mess, why everything is a mess right now, that's all," Jonathan said. "I felt…guilt for what happened to Mike. He was…it was not something end like that. I figured if I went back and dug him out…then he would be fine. There's a strange thing about the Vast being within the Buried, vice versa. I had only so much time to get to him before it was too late."

Martin leaned back, brows furrowed, eye twitching slightly. "What…what are you talking about, Jon? Buried alive? You…dug him out? Why…what?"

Jonathan shrugged, "And this is why I didn't want to say anything to you. Because explaining it takes a lot of time and effort. You can't seem to understand just yet, but once I have everything…it'll all make sense."

"To who, Jon? You…you want this to make sense? To me, to everyone in the Institute? To the world?" Martin asked, confused.

"I don't know. I don't have that answer yet." Jonathan smiled softly, mostly to himself because of how actual incredulous it truly was. Maybe his attempts to fight against it wouldn't be sufficient. Either way, he had gotten far too many eyes on him, and it doesn't just come from the Beholding.

Chapter Text

He was called to Elias' room. This isn't what he was interested in, but Jonathan had decided to see what Elias will say. He knew for certain that he always had something to say about the circumstances of his existence and everyone else's.

Jonathan was simply waiting to see the look on his face when he goes on his tangent. He waved at Rosie as he approached, she made a small gesture that he can go in. She had glanced at him curiously, as if she was about to ask him something. He wasn't here to answer questions.

He knocked on the door and grabbed the doorknob. When he entered, Elias was organizing his desk and didn't bother glancing up. Jonathan rolled his eyes as he closed the door and ambled over to him.

"Don't say the obvious," Jonathan said, crossing his arms.

Elias had two chairs in front of his desk, but today, Jonathan didn't feel like sitting. He was perfectly fine standing in the wide square room, it felt almost empty inside besides the desk, drapes covering the window, the little knick-knacks here and there, and the sound of ticking.

"Like what? You've been rather busy, and I've always been quite open with you, haven't I?" Elias asked, glancing over at Jonathan with a look at that easily told Jonathan they were both liars.

Jonathan rolled his eyes. He would rather not stand here and have the obvious argument, the same thing over and over again. The false comfort of someone who knew more, the lies that spilled out to keep Jonathan from wandering. Oh, no, this man knew how to play games, he strung out words easily without needing others to grasp for them. He shoved people into danger without really having to think about the morals of it.

Elias didn't know the concept, and if he really did, then he ignored it entirely. Which is why they were standing in his office.

Jonathan couldn't yield simply because Elias was on his pedestal, knowingly involved in every little mishap.

"I don't need to be open with you, and you know that," Jonathan said.

Elias smiled, placing one paper down and the next, tidying them up before turning to face Jonathan. "Do you believe that entirely? I don't sneak into your conversations when I want too, you know that?"

"I know that it really doesn't take you long to get the gist of something, and right now, I wouldn't be here without it."

He sighed deeply and stepped away from his desk. Jonathan almost had the urge to move back from Elias. Maybe he didn't want to get into his space, and maybe he hated the look Elias gave him.

False comfort, soft eyes, a smile so familiar that Jonathan wished for things to go back the way they had been. But he knew…deep down, that it wouldn't. Everything would fall suit, and that would be it. How cruel for Jonathan to truly see Elias for who he is, and there was nothing he could do about it. For this was who Elias is, and who he thought he was before didn't really exist.

"Whatever you're trying to do, Jonathan, I really think you should consider the implications of your actions," Elias said, stopping a few feet away from Jonathan now. The space remained wide enough, but they was a closeness that Jonathan could feel under his clothes. A tell-tale touch in his mind, the scenario's ran its course in constant motion.

"I don't think you should be telling me to do that, besides…what does ti matter to you," Jonathan wondered.

"You know what it means when someone tries to get in my way."

Jonathan couldn't help it, he smiled at Elias, for once he cans ee the confusion in Elias' eyes, the way his head slightly tilted. "Oh, I know all about that. I know a lot, you gave me the information. You threatened me more times than a boss should. And really, Elias…I don't think this is the time to do that?"

"When will it be the time?" Elias asked.

He stepped closer this time, watching Elias carefully, "Maybe…just maybe, Elias, this has little to do with you."

Elias clicked his tongue, "Destroying me, the Eye, or even the Institute, has everything to do with me, I'm involved simply because you are."

"We'll see where it goes, I have work to continue," said Jonathan.

"Don't do anything you'd eventually regret, Jonathan, we both know how you are."

He left the office, the tingle of fear slowly moving down his back. He did his best to ignore it, and hated that those words continued to filter into his mind as he headed back to his office. He opened the door, but for a second, there was a slight breeze and suddenness to it.

He should really pay attention of where he was going. He had been thinking too much of what Elias had to say that grasping an unknown door in hopes that it was the one he used on an almost daily basis would lead him back into his office. He wasn't expecting to feel a hand grab his arm and drag him in before he could think otherwise.

Jonathan gasped, struggling for a second as another door opened, and they stepped through it. Once inside the dull room, windows covered by thick curtains, a man sitting on a chair in the center, arms crossed, leg over the other.

"Took you long enough," Mike Crew said, glaring at Michael.

"I didn't know when he'd come back," said Michael, releasing his hand from Jonathan and reaching for the doorknob to close the door before Jonathan could escape through it.

"I thought you two were done with me," said Jonathan.

"Why would you think that?" Mike asked, standing up. "Did you get what you said you'd get?"

"No," Jonathan said sternly. "I barely managed to get anything yet."

MIke glared, "Bring Martin Blackwood here."

Chapter Text

Jonathan is shaking his head the second those words fall from Mike's mouth. "No, no, that isn't how this works. I don't want any of you wandering about, grabbing one friend and tearing them away from the normalcy of their lives."

Michael remained where he was standing, arms crossed, and not looking amused by what Mike had just told him to do. "I agree. But I also think that's redundant since he works for the Eye and has some connection to the Lonely."

He really had to get away from these people somehow. "You want to know when it'll emerge, maybe it hasn't yet."

"A ritual has yet to be made, one or two recent one's have been thwarted, giving rise to another," Michael said, his voice growing dull as he stared at Mike who remained sitting in the chair, arms crossed.

"From what I can understand, the Vast doesn't need another one, not yet…since ours have been messed with, which is the reason why I'm more inclined to know about Gertrude Robinson," he said, voice clipped.

This again. He can't really go through the motions of getting what he wants from any of this, simply because the information is so sparse. He really needed more time than a few weeks to get through the statements and hope Elias doesn't ask anymore needless questions.

"I've looked into it more than once, about the topic of the Extinction, it seems so…viable for it to emerge, but nothing to fully relegate its neccessity, if anything, you're acting like doomsday preppers," Jonathan said. He was trying not to overthink about the capacity of such a thing coming to fruition, but if there were several avatar's worrying over it, then maybe he did need to think about it a little more. Although, all that really came to mind was the idea of climate change, and it was the last thing he needed.

"Whether or not it emerges doesn't matter," Mike said with a sigh. "All that needs to matter is when it'll consider emerging. Maybe it'll come through one entity and another. Who really knows, it can't simply appear on its own, apparently."

Right. Like that bothered anyone before. "Human's are nothing more than pattern regulators. If you watch humans long enough, you'll start to notice the change."

"Speaking like you're no longer one anymore," said Michael, standing beside him, arms crossed. It didn't appear smug, more distracted in their conversation.

Jonathan clicked his tongue at the insinuation, "It doesn't take a long while to notice such things happening. If you're so worried about it though, check the news."

"I'm not interested in the changes of the climate of this planet," Mike said, leaning forward, annoyance marring his features, "nor the disposition of their lack of attention thanks to their devices, or even the context of being absolutely enthralled by their addictions. There are other way for it to emerge, and if it hasn't through the obvious, it'll consider it in another."

Jonathan's leg bounced, "Old things must die for new things to emerge. Is that why the rest of you are so adamant about it?"

"One ritual after the other, and I always wondered if Gertrude gave a shit about what she was creating in its stead, whether she's alive or not…did she know about it?" he wondered.

Jonathan chewed on the thought. Needing to understand what Mike was getting at, but the statements, tapes, papers, and everything written and spoken via Gertrude Robinson came to mind. She did know about it, how could she not. Even Adelard Decker knew about it, he was the one who brought it up, possibly keeping an eye on the other Dread powers so to speak, just in case. Maybe it wasn't the human's, maybe it was other entities, and maybe that's what really bothers them about this whole thing.

They didn't want to be eaten on the inside out. No one really wanted to be replaced by something hungrier, so they wait, they watch, they make sure to know how to end it before it starts.

Maybe it has started already, a slow increment in the shadows of lies and fears. And maybe, even that was not enough for them to hide it, to fight against it. They weren't even sure how it'll look, and Jonathan couldn't help it, he tasted that subtle fear within the room from Mike.

Michael, the Distortion, seemingly felt nothing towards this fear. It was hear for other reasons, and Jonathan couldn't reach for the idea of caring about what it was.

"She did bring it up once or twice, but it wasn't like she was overly concerned about it," he told him.

Mike sat back against the chair, clicking his tongue. "Archivist, she didn't care because she was enacting more trials than most people would do in their lifetime. The only foul thing that could've occurred was her dying by someone's worthless hand."

Another thing he probably he shouldn't bring up to Mike if he was going to act like this about certain people's deaths. As if he'd care, not without purpose.

"It's been awhile since she's been in dead, I wasn't aware that the fear of the Extinction would continue," Jonathan said. He was more than anything amused by the thought, even if he had a pile of work to return to.

"A change has happened already, she made note of that long before she decided to stop more than one ritual," he said. "Your…Elias…" he waved his hand nonchalantly, "made sure of that, more than anything, he considered having someone at the ritual. To watch over it, so the Eye to see an end to things, and maybe that's also the correlation to the Eye, Archivist, and the Extinction itself, not just because of him, but the meaningful actions she created, even after she has passed."

Ah, so that's why he bothered with him at all. The connection with Gertrude, but also with the Eye itself, for Jonathan to see it all, even the conversation at all. So he'd experience it, but not end things like Gertrude once had.

"Isn't it a good thing that she died?"

"And yet…like the Extinction, and like most things in life, the title must be replaced, given to new perspective, prospects, you…Archivist," Mike said, gritting the word out, fingers tight on the chair.

"I don't want the Extinction to be a thing," he told him.

"Oh, of course not, but the wheels have turned, not because of you, and change must happen whether we like it or not, the sacrifices have been made more than once before either of us," Mike said, slumping in the chair, and glancing at Michael who remained quiet the entire discussion. "You have yet to say a word, Distortion. I almost thought that this was your expertise in the matter."

"My expertise is barely relevent to the conversation at hand," MIchael said, stepping to Jonathan's right and the hand with the long fingers appeared, settling on his shoulder. "I have told you the reasons of why I am here, and you laugh."

Mike frowned. "And I mentioned more than once, that we wouldn't be standing together like this without the Archivist. You can kill him at any point, but right now, there are things I must do while he remains alive."

Jonathan didn't like this conversation. It appeared rather dire in his case since these two were more than anything willing to let him die at all. He didn't feel all that threatened since Michael wasn't exactly going through with it. And Mike was more intent on figuring out the information for the Extinction. There must be someone filling his head with such notions.

But if he can continue his research into it, then it won't be a problem. Maybe the Extinction in all its revelations, wasn't going to evolve within the fears at all. Although, he was curious why Mike truly thought Gertrude was the one instilling the fear. He could at laugh at this if it weren't for the fact she was dead, so what would be the point. Most people who associated themselves with the fears cared little for human life. Everyone was either a comfort, fodder, or food. What is it exactly beyond that?

"All this time, I've helped the both of you…sort've, and this is how you repay me?" he said, clicking his tongue. "Come on, I'm doing my best here, aren't I? Besides, what do you even want?" He regarded this question to Michael who was once more smiling again.

"Oh, Archivist, I think you've lost your sense sometimes, and usually it's not even about you, but I do understand Mike's situation."

"So, the only reason you haven't killed me is because…?"

"Curiosity."

"Ah, the reason for most things now and then," Jonathan said with a sigh. He wasn't sure what to think about this, and although the idea was unpredictable, he'll have to live with it, for now.

Jonathan met his gaze with Mike who appeared a little thoughtful as he was no longer looking at him and Michael. "I'm still looking into the information you wanted, but with the constant kidnapping and threats. I don't think I can get anywhere, can I?" he asked, trying his best not to sound sarcastic.

Mike scoffed. "Your Elias possibly already knows, how can you really be sure about the information you'd garner while he's in the way? The attention is rather suffocating to think about." He glanced away, appearing perturbed.

He waved the worry off. "I think you're overthinking this, and personally…that's weird for the Vast."

"Oh, sure, yeah…let's just say that everything is ultimately weird when everyone else doesn't care."

"I don't think anyone cares," said Michael, "I sure don't."

Mike frowned, glaring at Jonathan. "I don't need your negative, nor Michael's."

"I did save you at one point."

"You saved me? I'm pretty sure you led the Hunt to my door and she killed me," he said, his glare twisting into a sneer upon his lip.

"I'm sure if you hadn't woken up at the right time…you'd be long buried…or simply dead," said Jonathan.

"Right, like that's the actual chaos of our situation, is what happened when we met, and now you owe me for that, don't you, Archivist," Mike said, getting more annoyed by the second.

Jonathan was tired of this. He was kidnapped and threatened more than he had been in the past, but at least he wasn't kept to himself and lotioned. That would be annoying. "I get it, you're pissed. I'm trying my best, alright."

"Just don't bring it up again."

"And what about the time I need, I'd rather you two don't bother Georgie or Melanie again," he said. He glanced over at Michael who remained smiling, amused by the conversation or by something else. Its thought process was concerning at times, and Jonathan had to figure out whether it was a good thing or not. From what he understood, Michael wanted something particular that had to do with the Institute itself. The information about the Extinction was hardly sufficient, unless it thinks standing in Mike's presence was good enough because of their shared past together.

Mike was silent for a moment, "Fine. Go on, get back to work little Archivist. I'll contact you another time."

Jonathan stood and looked at Michael who smiled at him, "Are you going to…?"

"No, you can walk back."