[ timestamp: midnight ]

[duckface]

[ Static! Which is weird because wasn't your TV off just a second ago? Most viewers will know what this means, so look away while you still can.

When the screen snaps into focus, the setting is a burnt out husk of a house. While this was probably a cozy family room at one point, now the room seems to have been thoroughly charred. After what must've been an intense fire, the house has clearly fallen into major disrepair, as scraps of the walls have begun to peel away, and parts of the floor have crumbled in. In the center of the room is a large fireplace, still ornate after all the damage-- well, it was supposed to withstand flames after all. Just in front of the fireplace is a deep hole in the floor.

There are two girls near the hole in the floor, both in identical homecoming dresses. It's Lydia and her shadow, and one of them looks a lot more frightened than the other. It's not who you'd expect!

The shadow jumps, rattled by the appearance of the viewers while the normal Lydia seems unphased. The shadow is much more fidgety and nervous, and her wide gold eyes dart around the dilapidated room. When she speaks, it's like a high, frightened version of Lydia's voice, a version of which New Moore residents probably have never heard. Still, she tries to feign confidence, like someone giving a speech through a very thick case of stage fright. ]

And now we are at the last stop on our fear walk! You tuned in at the right time, viewers. We've been taking Lydia Martin around to the spookiest parts of Beacon Hills and she has. um. She's been very brave so far. But now she's definitely scared now. uh see?

[ The regular Lydia scoffs, arms crossed over her chest. She raises her eyebrows when the shadow looks to her, as if trying to toss the promo to a co-host. Normal Lydia is definitely not playing along, nor does she seem very scared. The shadow gulps, eyes back on the "camera." ]

If you're just tuning it, Miss Martin went to the Beacon Hills Lacrosse Field. That must've been pretty hard for you, r-right?

[ Regular Lydia looks like she'd much rather be playing Sweet Squash on her phone right now. The shadow is clearly more uncomfortable with the topic than the girl she's trying to intimidate.

I told you, I've been to lacrosse games since then. A field doesn't scare me. ]

But this is scary right! [The shadow interjects, trying to sound eager through a shaking voice. ] This is where he took you-

[ Oookay, I'm gonna stop you there. The actual Lydia interjects, walking past the shadow, her little heels clicking on the rotting floors. This is just a house. I'm not scared of a house. Just like I wasn't scared of a field. Honestly, I think the Property Brothers could do a great job with this place. The more Lydia talks, the more her shadow seems to wither, cringing when the green eyed girl tosses open her arms and announces to the viewers, I think this would be a charming parlor room even with a limited budget! She smirks to the cringing shadow of herself. It's clear Lydia is not simple very NOT frightened, but almost taking pleasure in making the shadow version of herself uncomfortable. The shadow groans in frustration. ]

You're not doing it right! You're supposed to be scared!

[ Shadow!Lydia is wringing her hands, pacing along the edge of the hole in the floor while the other girl stares her down. She won't look the normal Lydia in the eye, and it's clear her blase attitude coupled with the scenery is setting the shadow on edge. ]

You're weren't even scared in Miss Blake's classroom, we could've died- again. It's like, all we're good for is almost dying and being crazy and then crying BECAUSE we're supposedly crazy. We're scared all the time-

[ YOU'RE scared all the time. Lydia counters sweetly, leaning against the wardrobe where Peter kissed her, before he pulled away with skin peeling off in her fingers. I'm fine! So bad things happened. I don't go around being scared all the time. When the shadow replies, it doesn't sound like Lydia, voice all tied up tight and shaking. It's a little hard to tell who's being held against their will here. ]

I don't want to be here right now. I hate this- I'm gonna be sick. [ You're the one who brought me here! Lydia laughs, though she cuts herself short when the shadow suddenly slides to the ground, slipping her legs into the pit. As she starts to lower herself, the real Lydia is clearly getting unnerved, stopping herself short from stepping towards the hole and keeping her mirror image from going any further in. Hey. Don't. What are you doing. Don't go in there. Hey!

The shadow disappears from view into the darkness. There's some scraping and then silence, short of Lydia's anxious footsteps from above. Definitely a little scared now, Lydia steps cautiously towards the edge of the hole in the floor. She stands on her tiptoes to try and catch a glimpse into the pit. It's too dark to see anything, so she shifts and squints before settling back down. She glances to the screen, yep, they still seemed to be joined by a viewing audience. As if remembering there are people watching, Lydia shakes the momentary concern aside, lifting up her chin with an exasperated huff, a roll of her eyes.

Sorry about that. It's been like this all day. I know Kate's friends did this junk before, so if someone could come get me out of this already, I'd appreciate it. It's more annoying than anything bad.

Brushing dirt from her dress, grumbles, Plus, I missed half of another homecoming and-

A hand suddenly clamps around Lydia's ankle, pulling her to the ground violently. She shrieks, clawing at the floor boards and kicking her leg free, hurriedly scrambling away from the hole. Lydia presses her back against the fireplace and stays very still, trying to make herself as small as possible. A choked sob slips through her lips before she covers her mouth with her hands to stay quiet. It's like this for long enough you might think the screen froze if not for the way Lydia's hands shake, the only movement. After a while she takes a few gulps of air, like she'd been afraid to breathe before then and runs her hands over her face. Blood oozes from her ankle where she was grabbed, deep puncture wounds like fingertips- claws where it held her. ]

That looks painful. [ Lydia cries out at the shadow's voice, her own voice, sounding a little more confidant now that her regular counterpart is unnerved. The shadow, previously in the hole, seems to have got herself out without a spec of dirt on her and is walking through the room, gesturing for Lydia to get up. She does so, gingerly, eyes looking between the pit and the shadow pacing around it. ] I wonder if that's how Derek felt when you shoved him in there-

[ Shut up, Lydia snaps, turning around to face the shadow as she passes her. Lydia wavers on that wounded ankle and takes a few steps back to regain her balance, stepping close to the hole behind her. I don't care about that. ]

Or how scared everyone was at your party when you poisoned them.

[ Lydia's eyes dart nervously to the screen, cringing back as the shadow approaches her It wasn't like that, he told me- ]

Except he's not here. You can't blame Peter for you being crazy if he's not around.

[ The shadow seems to have all Lydia's previous confidence in her place now, railing on enthusiastically. ]

In fact, nobody's here. It's like they just left crazy Lydia Martin behind, cause everyone was sick of listening to her scream for help and then pretend like she wasn't scared. You convinced everyone he was what made you crazy and then you kept being crazy, right? [ Stop it- Lydia hisses. ] Jackson left too. He'd be dead if it wasn't for what you did and he still left. Guess he did say he wouldn't rescue you again. [ Lydia flinches at the onslaught, but when the shadow brings up Jackson she looks more angry than frightened. She digs her unsteady feet into the floor, holding her ground as the shadow advances on her. ] I think everybody's tired of sticking their neck out for the wailing woman who screams at the top of her lungs for attention, and then tries to act like nothing ever hurts her.

[ Okay, that's enough. I'll show you who's scared, you little-- Cut off with a cry, Lydia's ripped down again from a grip around her ankle. Unable to scramble away in time, her fingers scrape against the floorboards as she is pulled down out of sight, terrified, screaming into the darkness.

The shadow, a picture of Lydia's movie-star good looks and poise, stands primly in place, eyes to the ceiling as she listens to her other half's cries just out of eyesight. Eventually she shrugs a slim bare shoulder, like she'd been waiting for a moment of silence to interject, but Lydia's not going to stop making a fuss at this rate. ]

Okay viewers, I think we figured out we're gonna have to be a little creative about the scary situations we put tough girl Lydia in. We're gonna have a brief little question and answer session before I take my buddy back to those old places and see if we can't scare up some more fun.

[ Big grin for the camera, holds it long after the camera should've cut away, forcing a big big smile while the other Lydia screams. ]

Comments

[detectivewonder]

Hang on, Lydia. We're on the way.

[duckface]

Can you not interrupt? She and I have got some things to do together first.

[detectivewonder]

You've got a night or two.

[duckface]

And then what? You show up here, guns blazing and rescue her? You don't even know what she is, so I'm gonna bet you don't have a clue how to take me.

(vigilance network)

[shway]

guess i better take a closer look at that folder now.

(vigilance network)

[detectivewonder]

Definitely.

(vigilance network)

[shway]

so much for saving my sick days for finals week. whats the game plan.

[shway]

oh this is just. shway.

[duckface]

That's one word for it.

[shway]

yeah hey i gotta question. any chance of you cutting your losses ahead of time and handing her over now?

[duckface]

Oh, I think I've got an answer. No.

[andagoodsoldier]

anyone want to explain what the fuck i just watched?

[hypertoxic]

8ullshit. You just watched 8ullshit.
And also what technically amounts to "the most dramatic possi8le unintentional cry for help."
She will need rescue, if you're into that sort of thing.

[duckface]

That's one way to put it.

[detectivewonder]

Come down to the New Brew and you can sit in on the briefing.

[andagoodsoldier]

on my way

[hawkingbird]

Shit

[hawkingbird]

SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SITHISTHSITHSIHIT

[hawkingbird]

fuck FUCK FUKCING HELL

[hawkingbird]

Fuck, I didn't mean to post that. Lydia, I'm on my way, okay? We-- we're gonna get you out, okay?

[duckface]

Coming to rescue me at last? God, it's like your favorite fantasy come to life, minus some middle aged guy.

[hawkingbird]

Yeah yeah, whatever. I'm your friend and this is what friends do.

[riseup]

oh no, other lydia!!!

[duckface]

It's not a very popular girls' name, I never had this problem before here.

[riseup]

i think it's nice.
what keeps grabbing her?