Explain It Like I'm Tree

Interruptions

"Oh wow. You don't know either? This is so cool." Dib switched on the camera and darted in front of it. "Okay! This is Agent Mothman. Location, the old Pudding & Pie Toy Factory. Conversation with a ghost... um..." he turned to face Lewis. "What's your name?"

Lewis shook his head firmly.

"...Name to be determined later, hopefully. So far, the ghost can manifest fire and phase through walls and has a little ghost helper." Here, he gestured to the Deadbeat, who posed dramatically off one shoulder. "The main ghost doesn't seem to know much about the little ghost. Connection between them is undefined. Main ghost causes spectral distortions when speaking and has warned me that it's dangerous to touch ghosts I'm not familiar with. That's all I know for now. Okay!" He spun on a heel, his coat flaring dramatically. "So, can I see the anchor?"

Immediately Lewis covered the locket with one hand, scooting back.

Dib raised his hands. "Sorry, I... I don't mean to upset you. It's just, Mod Skull mentioned your anchor was damaged. It might be why you're making your own haunted house whenever you talk. He was hoping I could help, or take info to someone who could. Maybe we can figure out how to fix it. If you could just show me, it would really help me to help you."

This is the whole reason you agreed to meet. Still, it was difficult for Lewis to peel his hand away from his chest. Carefully, he unhooked the locket and held it out for Dib to see. "Don't touch," he warned. Behind him, the jeering laughter started up again. The same voice that had laughed from the telephone now mocked him from the darkness of the room. Lewis' outline rippled.

Dib's eyes darted up to Lewis' face for a moment, then dropped back to the locket. He snagged the video camera and brought it closer, getting a closeup of the locket. "Yeah, that's a lot of cracks. Got in a fight?"

Lewis shook his head.

"How'd it get like that? Can I see the inside?"

Lewis shook his head firmly. "Private. Damaged by... my choices."

"Choices? What choices?"

The cackling cut off, sharply. Behind him, Arthur's voice rasped, "Lewwwwwwissssss?"

Lewis slammed one hand to the side of his head, his locket pulsing rapidly. The distortions were getting far too specific.

Dib set the video camera back on the tripod and lifted the lantern. He peered past Lewis. "...holy asteroids..."

Lewis didn't dare look. He placed the locket back on his suit and snapped his fingers to get Dib's attention. He pointed over his shoulder and shook his head very hard.

"But... but it's part of what's happening with you. Every detail is important!" Dib protested. "I need information if I'm going to help with anything. What the heck is that?!"

Lewis shook his head even harder. He would not look. He couldn't. "Ask something else. About locket. About me. Don't look at these things."

Something poked the center of his back and his vision flashed white. He spun around, slamming his fist into whoever—whatever—had just tried to push him.

A hideous mockery of his best friend staggered back, jaw askew. It giggled, flashing a Joker-worthy grin full of fangs. From head to toe, its skin was ivy-green. It caught itself and lifted its left arm, palm-outward. "Llllllleeeeeeewisssssssssss," it sang, swaying on its feet. "Take-a-little-tumble, Lewis. Falling-off-a-cliff, Lewis. Gonna-get-your-girl, Lewis."

The creature filled Lewis' vision. It shambled toward him, slouched and sagging to one side. He couldn't move his feet. Not forward, to tear it limb from limb. Not backward, to run as far and as fast as he could. He just stood there, feet planted, one hand cupped over his locket.

It took another step toward him, running a tongue over its teeth. "Maybe-gonna-DO-your-girl, Lewis. Then kill her, too. But slower. Been thinking about it. Dreaming of it. Real long time."

No. No, this isn't right. This isn't Arthur. This... Lewis couldn't string his thoughts together fast enough. They'd scattered in all directions, screaming rage and fear. Only one thought was left to cling to. Stay still. Don't act. It will fade. They always fade because they're not real.

"Should-a-been-me. Should-a-been-me. SHOULD-A-BEEN-ME!" It shrieked, hurtling toward him.

Lewis grabbed it by the throat, flinging it backward. He had to get out of here. Turning, he caught sight of Dib standing stock-still with camera in hand. "Interview's over. Too dangerous." With that he scooped Dib up and tore out of the room like hell was on his heels. By the sound of the eerie wail behind him, it was.

The hallway around him shifted, and as he headed for the front door, the walls and floor took on the texture of ragged stone. The front door began to round itself out, like the mouth of a cave. Worse, the path to the front door began to lengthen. For every step forward, the path stretched another five.

"Lew-issssssssssss. Kill-me-if-you-can, Lewissss. Drop-me-off-a-cliff, Lewisssssssss."

He dared not turn around. "Tuck and roll!" he shouted, lifting Dib up and hurling him forward.

The kid managed a pretty good landing, rolling a few times before springing to his feet, camera still in hand. He'd made it all the way to the door—cave opening. The opening seemed to shrink as the passage extended itself far faster than Lewis could run.

The kid started running back in. "Look out behind you!"

Lewis threw himself to the side. The creature lunged past, just missing him. "GONNA-BURY-YOU-SIX-FEET-DEEP, LEWISSSSS."

"Get him out of here!" Lewis yelled at the Deadbeat. As he did, the cave opening winked out. The floor gave way under his feet, and Lewis went tumbling head over heels into the darkness.

...................................................................................

Note: I suddenly notice that this "collection of oneshots" seems to be insisting on an overarching plot. Every friggin' time... oh well. Can't say I didn't kind of sort of try. My subconscious plot-weaving is stronger than my conscious intent. By the way, if I haven't said it before, I am much more likely to respond and interact with reviews on AO3 and Wattpad, due to ease of response functionality. So feel free to drop me a line if you have theories, or if you catch an inconsistency, or see something that needs work (constructive criticism are accepted, flames and non-sequiturs are ignored). I may not go back to fix this round, but future edits will likely take these things into account. Plus I love hearing theories and what you think is going on.