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ALEX CASEY
As if from a distance, I heard Alan Wake scream. My only reaction to the sound was to realize that something had gone wrong. Jash and I had discussed this day for years without him ever mentioning a scream from Alan on the beach.
Suddenly what appeared to be black smoke exited the writer’s mouth and entered Jash’s mouth. As my husband consumed more of Scratch, there was a slight shimmering in the air around him. It had taken awhile for me to recognize the signs of Jash’s human illusion being dispelled.
But now I could easily tell that anyone could see Jash for what he actually was.
I felt pain in my knees and a dryness in my throat before I realized I was screaming at the top of my lungs after falling to the shore. Tears came unbidden from my eyes as I remembered seeing Jash disappear.
I remembered his screams as if someone else had heard them.
Was there…yes…Saga had put a hand on my shoulder. To comfort me?
I was now in the passenger seat, Saga in the driver’s seat, and Alan was in the backseat. I must have walked to the car. But the only thing I could recall was my husband disappearing on the beach.
Nothing else mattered to me.
No. Jash would want me to fight. Once the Dark Presence was back in its cage I would fall to drink. Unless, of course, he somehow managed to return.
I would believe in that delusion only so I could help Saga.
“Did you know Jash was-wasn’t human?” Saga asked after we had been driving for what felt like a hellish eternity. “Have you knowingly been sleeping with an alien?”
“Saxhleel.” I replied. “And, yes, I knew. Back when I first met him he didn’t hide his appearance.”
After that it was like floodgates had opened and I couldn’t help but tell her the truth. I explained about how I met Jash. I explained how painful it was to wait for his return. I even explained all he knew about the Dark Prescence and its attempt to escape in 2023.
The only thing I didn’t mention was the true purpose of the Clicker. Saga, Alan, and everyone had to believe it was being used to merely rewrite the horror story Alan and Scratch had written. No one could know that the Clicker was being used in a much more dangerous game: creating a trap that Scratch couldn’t resist.
“That’s a lot.” Saga said minutes after I had finished telling her everything. “I can understand why the Federal Bureau of Control didn’t want you telling me that.”
“We both hated that gag order.” I said. “We wanted to tell you earlier.”
“At least he cared about Logan’s safety.”
Saga briefly glanced at the rearview mirror. Alan had roped Logan into this hell. Jash had believed in the writer or else I would have given the man a scowl that would have been burned into his memory.
“I knew Jash was different.” Saga said with a brief chuckle. “But I never thought he was anything but human.”
“We thought that since Logan knew, you would be able to see through his illusion.” I replied.
“Alex, I don’t blame you. At least now I know why Logan called your husband Lizzie.”
I waited for Alan to say something. Anything. I needed something to distract myself.
“At least the investigation will go quicker.” I said once Alan refused to say anything. “We have all the information we need.”
“No we don’t.” Saga retorted. “If Jash knew everything then he would have been prepared for what happened on the beach.”
“How do you know he wasn’t?”
“Because I have never seen you break down like that when someone else was watching.”
“I’ve cried in front of you once.”
“Not in front of someone you never met before.”
She was right. I had broken into tears when Alan had been watching.
“We have to proceed with this investigation as if we know nothing.” Saga said. “We can’t afford any shortcuts.”
“I’m sorry about your husband.” Alan finally said, his voice weak. “I didn’t know that Scratch was using me.”
If I responded to Alan in any way I would break down like on the beach. And I would be ****** if I lowered my guard like that with him around again. He shouldn’t have seen me like that. Only Saga and Jash should have seen the cracks in my façade.
“We don’t blame you, Wake.” Saga said so I didn’t have to. “You had no way of knowing.”
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