This is my story RHEHEHEHE—

It’s entirely fictional, but it’s SOSOSOSO good to me (I think).

So here is the prologue and chapter 1! The character profiles will be at the bottom, and I hope you enjoy my story.

“The Man I See”

Prologue

Trevor

“I wish I was special. You’re so fucking special.”

---

The drip of the tap woke me up.

I gasped quietly, my heart pounding.

“Why didn’t you tell anyone? Didn’t you want to tell anyone?”

I wrapped my arms around myself, my breathing shuddering.

Nine years.

Nine years of remembering the look of the man’s eyes.

Nine years of remembering my parents’ faces when they looked down the well and screamed before calling the authorities.

Nine years, and the memory of those milky, dead eyes refused to leave--like dried blood on a white shirt.

“Trevor?”

I flinched, then snapped my head up. My shoulders were tense.

In the dimness of the apartment, I could make out a face. Arthur. My roommate.

“...Arthur,” I answered. Arthur’s brows furrowed. I hesitated before looking at my phone. It was eight in the morning. “What are you doing in here? It’s so...early. Summer just started.”

Arthur hesitated in the doorway, pushing the blonde hair out of his golden eyes. I could see the hesitation written all over his face.

“You need to take your meds.”

I froze.

“You forgot. Again.”

My eyes flew up to Arthur’s, seeing the pity and concern in his gaze.

“...Oh.”

A deafening silence filled my bedroom.

I looked towards the window. To the outside world.

Most eighteen-year-olds are getting ready for college, and their parents are crying as they send them off.

I was stuck in town.

Because I saw things. I heard things.

...I was schizophrenic.

And I took pills. And they were more bitter than the wind of that autumn day that had decided the rest of my life.

“Are you still having those dreams?” Arthur asked, hesitantly crossing the room.

My eyes flicked to the bottle on my bedside table. “Trevor. Are you...?”

“He stares at me,” I said, suddenly, my voice cracking. My throat tightened. “He stares at me, and it’s always my fault every single time and...I-I can’t...!”

“Trevor,” Arthur breathed, concerned, immediately going to sit at my side.

But I couldn’t even look at him. I couldn’t see through the blur of tears, or the way those ugly sounds bubbled out of my mouth like tar—hot and disgusting.

“I killed someone,” I whispered, my throat tightening painfully. I sniffled hard, my hands coming up, one going to my hair and the other to the base of my neck, squeezing myself hard enough for black spots to dance in my vision. “I killed the man. I lied. I lied, and it killed him! I--”

“He was a wanted criminal, Trevor,” Arthur reminded me, his voice firm and rough from the panic of seeing me cry. “He hurt people. He hurt kids like us. He would’ve gotten to us. We did the right thing.”

“But—”

Arthur’s hands came up, gently wrapping around my wrists like fine silk, pulling my hands away from my now-bruising neck and my messy brown hair.

“There are no buts.”

I finally lifted my head, the tears still streaming down my face.

Arthur’s expression was soft—understanding.

“I’m your best friend,” he reminded me, his voice a murmur. “And I know you. You didn’t kill him. We were nine, Trev. We were scared and small.”

And then, he pulled me close.

His embrace was tight and warm. Safe.

There was no dead man in the well.

There was no yelling or screaming.

There were no tears.

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

And then I snapped out of the daydream.

And I was surrounded by white walls on all sides.

The room was cold—sterile.

And then it hit me harder than a bullet through the brain.

I remembered exactly where I was.

Who I was.

And what happened.

My name was Trevor Espinoza.

I was nineteen.

And Arthur...

Arthur left me here a year ago.

Arthur...

Arthur.

My dear Arthur...

What have I done?

Trial/Chapter 1

Arthur

“You be the front, I’ll be the back.”

---

My leg was shaking under the table—hard. Too hard.

All I could think about was the look on Trevor’s face when I dropped him off at the psychiatric ward.

The betrayal.

He had put faith in me, and I betrayed him.

But was it really betrayal if it was for everyone’s best? So no one else would get hurt.

My hands fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, my eyes going to the table in front of me.

“Dude.”

My brain didn’t register the word at first, still fidgeting with my sleeve.

“Arthurrrrr. Your majesty, sir Arthurrrr—”

Jason’s voice brought me back to reality, and I looked over to find him smirking.

“What?” I asked, glancing up at him. Me, Jason, and Wendy have been sitting together in McDonald's for about half an hour now—though we would’ve left fifteen minutes ago if they hadn't messed up my order.

Not that I was very hungry anymore.

“Bro, you look so depressed,” Jason scoffed.

I suppressed the need to glare at him.

“And you never do anything fun anymore. What’s going on? Is it because of Tr—”

“I suggest you shut up before he finally snaps and makes you,” Wendy interrupted, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re lucky he hasn’t punted you yet.”

Jason snorted derisively.

“She wouldn’t dare,” he remarked. My irritation immediately spiked.

“He,” I corrected him, finally looking Jason in the eyes. “I’m male.”

The whole table froze for a moment, the tension as sharp as a dagger.

“Right,” Jason huffed. He paused. Then, while looking at the table with clear shame, he said, “My bad. I forgot.”

Wendy seemed to hold herself back from rolling her eyes.

“It’s been sixteen years, and you don’t know one of your best friend’s pronouns?”

“In my defense, I slipped up. Jesus, now you’re making me look like a transphobic asshole.”

“You are an asshole, Jason, just not the transphobic kind.”

“Oh, so now we’re doing this, Wendy? In a McDonald's? How classy of you.”

“I don’t give a shit about being classy!—”

As they argued, my mind drifted. Drifted to a place that wasn’t loud or demanding.

Trevor would’ve never slipped up with my pronouns.

I was gnawing slightly on my sleeve now—mostly out of habit.

Trevor was—or had been—my best friend. He had been with me since our first birthdays—our parents had been best friends, so, naturally, Trevor and I bonded.

Strangers became acquaintances.

Acquaintances became friends.

Friends became close.

Close became best.

And then best became...complicated.

I had held Trevor during a lot of his episodes—whether they were out in the loud density of public or the quiet pain of our apartment.

I could remember the feeling of his tears soaking into my shirt like fresh blood, the way he would cling to me like he was terrified that I would sprint as soon as he let go.

But I never let go of him.

I held onto him with equal fervor, whispering those soft, comforting words into his ear.

“You’re okay.”

“The man isn’t here.”

“I’m here, and I’m not going away.”

“Breathe with me, Trevor. Please.”

“Look at me. Look at me, Trevor. Focus on me.”

Sometimes, he’d sniffle and nod, his crying stopping.

And sometimes he’d cry harder. Those moments always made my heart hurt, a phantom pain, reminiscent of a stab through the heart, piercing me.

I could already feel the tears rising into my eyes.

I failed him.

I failed him.

I failed him.

How could I be so stupid?

He’s alone and miserable and...

I failed him.

“Arthur? Are you...?”

I flinched, my eyes immediately darting to Wendy’s.

“I’m okay,” I immediately croaked out, refusing to look at Jason, as I could already feel his gaze, unyielding and invasive, on me. “I’m okay.”

Wendy’s brows furrowed, and she readjusted the baseball cap on her head.

“No, you’re not,” she muttered, her blue eyes attentive. “Look at me.”

I froze. And then I didn’t listen at all; my breathing shuddered slightly.

I could feel Wendy watching me for a moment.

Then I heard the sound of jingling keys before Wendy set them on the table, at my fingertips.

“Use my car to get home,” Wendy told me. I lifted my head just enough to see her face, wiping the tears away.

“...but how will you get home?”

Wendy hesitated.

“Jason’ll just drive me back.”

Jason’s eyes widened.

“I am? This is news to me—”

Wendy practically glared a hole into Jason.

“Can it.”

I hesitated before picking up the car keys, slowly rising from my seat.

“Thank you,” I managed to squeak out to Wendy. She nodded.

“Stay safe, Arthur. I’ll walk over to your place tomorrow to pick up my car.”

“Okay.”

As I went to walk out, Jason yelled out to me.

“What about your nuggets...?”

I looked back at him, turning my head slowly.

Wendy looked ready to hit him.

“They’re your nuggets now,” I said, sounding tired. It would’ve been funny, if not for the way I was dissociating right now. “Enjoy, Jason.”

As I got into the car, I stayed in the parking spot for a good few minutes, just taking a few moments to breathe.

Then I began to drive.

As I drove back, I looked outside the window, the dry Nevada air hitting me.

"Do you think it will rain?"

The memory hit me harder than a truck.

“No, I don’t think so.”

...Rain will haunt me forever.

After I got home, I parked the car out in front of the apartments. I left the front door unlocked and left Wendy’s keys on my kitchen counter.

Then I crawled into bed.

The tears started to come again, almost immediately.

God, am I almost on my period?

I looked across my bed—not for anything particular—and my eyes landed on a hoodie.

A black hoodie.

...

...I didn’t buy myself any black hoodies. All of mine were autumn colors.

I immediately latched onto the hoodie, pressing it to my chest and face.

It smelled like him.

It smelled like Trevor.

Angel cake, something synthetic, and a burning campfire.

I held on tighter.

“I’m sorry,” I whimpered into the hoodie, like Trevor was there, like he could hold onto me just as tightly as I held onto his hoodie. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Trevor...”

A pathetic, choked sound left my throat, my throat tightening painfully.

“...I miss you.”

But that was the worst part, wasn’t it?

Character profiles

This section has the current characters + future ones in future trials/chapters! :)

Trevor Espinoza

/Gender: Cis Male

Age: 19

Height: 5’9”

Ethnicity: Caucasian + Porturican

Sexuality: Unknown

Appearance: messy dark brown hair, medium-length cut, dark brown eyes. No freckles. Pale skin. Average build.

Personality: Troubled, introverted, distant, emotionally unstable, pessimistic, self-loathing, and socially awkward.

Notes:

• Is schizophrenic and needs to take medication

• Has extreme anxiety

• Depressed

• His best friend is Arthur

• Has a complicated relationship with Arthur

• Based on Travis Rapid from The Moon I Rot Behind

•

Arthur Tailor

/Gender: (Transmasc) Male

Age: 19

Height: 5’11”

Ethnicity: European + Caucasian mix

Sexuality: Bisexual

Appearance: bright + unkempt light gold hair, dark golden eyes, light scattering of freckles across his nose bridge and upper cheeks, as well as freckles on his forearms and hands. Peach skin. Lithe body build.

Personality: Kind, bright, patient, stubborn, defiant, and painfully loyal and self-sacrificing. He gets easily overstimulated and overwhelmed.

Notes:

• Cares deeply about Arthur and wants him to feel better

• Has almost relapsed back into drugs multiple times

• Tends to fidget when scared or startled

• Wants to get bottom surgery (had top surgery) but can’t afford it

• Based on Devin Wolf from The Moon I Rot Behind

•

Jason Lopez

/Gender: Cis Male

Age: 18

Height: 5’7”

Ethnicity: Hispanic

Sexuality: Straight

Appearance: black hair that’s kept short, a mole right below his lip, tan skin, dark brown eyes, stockier build. Often has his arms crossed over his chest.

Personality: Cocky, friendly, proud, curious, loud, and ultimately the loudest person in the friend group. Would be the first to die in a horror scenario. Kind of an asshole, and oftentimes forgets about Trevor’s triggers.

Notes:

• Listens to Olivia Rodrigo

• Has a crush on Wendy

• Rolls eyes a lot

• Constantly jokes around insensitively about the man in the well that died to Trevor

• Based on Russell ‘Rusty’ McClue from The Moon I Rot Behind as well as a bit of Till from Alien Stage

• Secretly has extreme anxiety that makes him wonder if he truly has any friends at all, which is why he gives in to peer pressure and makes those jokes

•

Wendy Black

/Gender: Cis Female

Age: 20

Height: 5’5”

Ethnicity: Caucasian + Scottish

Sexuality: Pansexual

Appearance: Shoulder-length wavy natural red hair, slightly tanned skin from being outside a lot, dark blue eyes, more toned build while still being feminine. Has freckles on her chest, shoulders, and lower thighs.

Personality: Confident (but not in an overbearing way), bright, careful, charismatic, and hides a more fearful and blunt side. She is very worried about Trevor’s mental health.

Notes:

• Grace’s best friend

• Dates more women than men

• Thinks that Jason is an asshole

• Has dyslexia, but knows how to deal with it well.

• Loves to go to parties—and her personality is based off of Hyuna from Alien Stage

• Studying to become a technician

•

Aaron Jang

/Gender: Cis Male

Age: 22

Height: 6’1”

Ethnicity: Korean + Caucasian

Sexuality: Unknown

Appearance: Long black hair tied back in a low bun, dark blue eyes, and pale skin. Has completely clear skin and a strong build. Usually has bangs in front.

Personality: Observant, friendly, loyal, and polite, but folds under pressure HARD.

Notes:

• Is an ally

• Is actually a bit scared of Trevor for his episodes

• He thinks he has a crush on Jason

• Bisexual?? ?????

• Based on Camryn Rapid from The Moon I Rot Behind

• Has OCD

•

Grace Williams

/Gender: Cis Female

Age: 19

Height: 6 feet

Ethnicity: African American + Jamaican

Sexuality: Lesbian

Appearance: curly long hair (with extensions), light brown eyes, skinny build, wears rounded glasses. Hair is usually put up in a puff or as twin braids.

Personality: Sensitive but practical at times, intelligent, quiet, and socially awkward as hell. The most polite in the group (Wendy would die for her).

Notes:

• Was based on Alphys from Undertale

• Likes niche fandoms

• Is probably the only person in the group without any mental issues

• Favors sweet over salty foods

• Thinks that Jason is too loud and thinks that Trevor simply needs time and space

• Is the group therapist

•

References + Fandoms mentioned

“The Man In The Well” - Ira Sher (for the OG story—this story is a timeskip nine to ten years in the future.)

“The Moon I Rot Behind” - Roblox. GOOD STORY GAME. It has a simple looking style, but it’s SO complex.

“Undertale” - Toby Fox. If you haven’t even heard of Undertale...I’ll be REALLY SHOCKED.

“Alien Stage” - Vivinnos