I look up at the huge pinboard which has faces I recognize. I take a few steps closer, analyzing it. It's a world map, of our world. 

There's pinpoints on certain countries which leads to the pictures on the sides. YouTubers. YouTubers that all seem to have a connection with this problem. Specifically Alter Egos.

Ethan, Mark and Amy are pinpointed to L.A.
Bonnie and I  are pinpointed to Scotland.
Sean and Signe are pinpointed to Ireland.
Pamela Horton and Ian Hecox are pinpointed to Japan.

The pictures of us are from Social Media, photos that we posted online. But why, I don't understand? It fills me with dread, what's worse is that it's a little dusty, like they haven't touched it in a while. Have they planned to do this for a while? How much don't I know about what's happening? How long has this been going on?

hesitant, but I take two seconds to dash to my room and back to grab my phone. I open up the camera menu, taking a few more steps toward the map of people. Maybe this will be some kind of evidence to this scenario. Like when I find them, I can show them.

Snap.

I take a couple more to duplicate it, so I have more than one photo on my phone, one better than the other. In case something happened to the imagery. But this definitely has to be evidence to the whole situation. This is a HUGE clue.

I put my phone in my pocket, starring up at the map in disgust. Whatever this is supposed to be is horrible in itself. All the people on this map must be captured or currently targetted. I can't allow myself to waste time here.

I walk over to the desk, which out of all things does not have locks on it. I open up a drawer to show nothing important to me. The four drawers have nothing important on the sides. Basically trash and empty.

I look on top of the desk sighing and I notice a hat. I lay my head against the table, looking directly at the hat. There's something about this hat, I want to put it on but I'm not going to. I don't feel like I should. I lift the hat up and take a look at it.

It's a grey flat cap, one that I've wanted to buy. Jack has one that you can buy in his merch store. Rough yet delicate. Then something clicks, I think for a moment.

Flat cap?

Sean's merch?

My eyes widen and I analyze the hat, this isn't an ordinary hat! And this isn't one of the merch flat caps! This is the hat that Sean wears! I know it! The shape, appearance and style of the hat is the exact same to the one that Sean wears. I know that Sean's out there, somewhere in this world and this hat has been taken from him. What fucks...

With how respectful and kind he is. I only hope that I can get to them soon, I hope that they're safe.

My focus drifts from the hat itself when I find that there's a hand towel drifts on the left of the desk at the corner, clearly covering what seems to be stacked books. I look back toward the hat, there's no doubt that this is his. If I do get to them, a promise is to make sure that he gets it back.

I place it gently back onto the desk then pull off the towel. These are printed out data files..! Like the top secret ones! The top file has the red stamp 'TOP SECRET' and the name in big text underneath 'ETHAN NESTOR'. The red text is tilted while the name is straight.

Ethan? Why him?

Cautiously I open up the file to show his data file. There are images of Ethan attached on the left, but this is off. His eyes are dead black and the photos seem to say something like, corrupted.

There are two data files in the folder. One of Ethan himself and one of his Alter Ego. I decide to pick up and read the info of his Ego. That might be more helpful to me. I already know who Ethan is...

Surname: BlankGamePlays

Alter Ego: Ethan Nestor 

Personality: anxious, broken, blank, dangerous

Height: Five feet and eight inches

Kills: Unknown

Rescues: None 

D.o.B: October 24, 1996

Description: Blank would be a normal person, if he wasn't intrigued to play a certain game. He ended up playing a game from David Lynch which took something important from him: his soul. Although he is still as active as a normal person, he has been seen around the streets in a mysterious way. How he'll truly act in certain places is hard to decipher, but what we do know is that he is always on a permanent search for his soul.

Quote: David Lynch has my soul.

This bio, it's about BlankGamePlays. And he's in a way new to the Ego world! There are files of everyone else too. Everyone who would be down there. There's one on Amy too, but I can't take them.

If I take the files then Damien will know I somehow took them. I'd be the only one who would take them. And as I look around across the room, there isn't a photocopier either.

I spread the files around on the desk and pull out my phone.

Snap!

I place them back in the order that they were in on the pile and then I put the towel back on. Taking a photo at least will show the proof that I found something. My focus gazes upon the hat, the flat cap.

"Whatever you do, don't give up. I believe in you, so you should believe in yourself."

I shut my eyes, sitting down in the chair. Even so I have hope and determination, there hasn't been a time when I wasn't afraid. I'm, still scared. Because this isn't normal, and this wasn't supposed to happen. Captured by an Alter Ego who wants something deep from you, basically my life isn't normal. But why have they chosen me? I know that sooner or later, they're going to kill me. That's drilled in the back of my mind, and that they'll also hurt those they hunted.

"Don't be afraid, I'll be here with you, on the other side of the screen."

"I'm so afraid..."

I flinch as a tear rolls down my face and drops onto my leg. It's warm and fuzzy.

I look at the hat, his voice, his inspiring words and his friendly laughter echo in the back of my mind. I shiver coldly, my breath shaking. I can't stop now, I've come this far already. I have to be strong. For them, never for myself.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I have to be stronger than this. I push myself off the chair and place my hand on the cap. It's rough, yet delicate.

I notice that the little set of drawers beside me have locks on them so I pull out the bobby pins. I unlock the first drawer and I find a small piece of paper inside along with a notebook, pens and a pocket knife. 

My main focus draws to the paper and I pick it up to read.

Codes of the padlocks around the house
5930
2270
1479

I stop reading the rest of the numbers and I pull out my phone to write the notes down. I shut the drawer and grab the hat from the desk. But, it feels off. Why is this easier than what my heart thinks..?

If I can pick a lock and put the codes in then I can get through. I don't know how much more time I have so I need to get out of here and explore the rest of the house. I still have a couple more places that I want to check.

I pick up the hat and walk out the room shutting the door behind me, then I crouch down and get out the bobby pins. If I leave it unlocked then that will be too obvious. I have to lock it back up again. Locking it back up is more difficult, isn't it?

* * *

Once it's locked, I quickly creep over to my room. When I come face to face, he'll be able to get his cap. I can't let Damien take this back. No matter how threatening he can be to me.

I put in the bottom drawer of the bedside table and cover it with a random jumper to hide better.

I still have to explore the house. The bobby pins and phone sit in my pocket as I make my way down the stairs in a swift pace. But at the very bottom, my body goes cold.

Standing in the kitchen isn't Damien. It takes one look before we're eye to eye.

"Well, who in fuck's name do we have here?"