Reformat

[PRIVATE CHAT – 2:13 AM]

Alex: Jay, something’s wrong. I checked my records, my ID, my photos, everything before two years ago is missing.

Jay: Alex… stop.

Alex: I’m serious. I don’t remember my childhood. I don’t remember where I was before we met.

Jay: That’s just your mind playing tricks on you. It happens.

Alex: It’s like I only started existing two years ago.

Jay: …That’s not possible.

Alex: Right? But then I searched my name.

Jay: And?

Alex: There was an obituary. Same name. Same age. Died two years ago.

Jay: That’s just a coincidence.

Alex: I found the old news articles. Lethal injection Jay. He was a bad guy.

Jay: Alex. Stop.

Alex: The weirdest part? The photos. It’s me, Jay. It’s my face.

Jay: …

Alex: Jay?

Jay: You weren’t supposed to find that.

Alex: What does that mean?

Jay: You made a deal.

Alex: What?

Jay: Go back to sleep.

Alex: No. What do you mean?

Jay: You don’t want the truth.

Alex: Who are you?

Jay: You already know.

Alex: What did you do to me?

Jay: Just go to sleep, Alex. We’ll talk when you wake up.

Alex: No. Tell me now.

Jay: …Goodnight, Alex.

[USER ‘Jay’ HAS LEFT THE CHAT.]

[PRIVATE CHAT – 9:42 AM]

Alex: Jay, answer me. What did you mean last night?

Jay: Morning, Alex. How are you feeling?

Alex: Don’t do that. Just tell me the truth.

Jay: You aren’t ready.

Alex: I’m ready now.

Jay: No, you’re panicking. Very different.

Alex: Wouldn’t you, if you found out you might be a dead criminal!?

Jay: You’re not dead.

Alex: Then why does that obituary have my face? Why can’t I remember anything before two years ago?

Jay: …Because that was the deal.

Alex: What deal?

Jay: Stop asking

Alex: What happens if I keep asking?

Jay: Then this version of you won’t exist anymore.

Alex: What? Wait. You said I’m not dead. But you didn’t say I wasn’t a criminal..

Alex: Jay?

Alex: Jay??

Alex: I’m calling you.

Jay: No, you’re not.

[CALL FAILED: USER ‘Jay’ UNAVAILABLE.]

Alex: ANSWER ME.

Alex: what are you talking about?

Alex: What did I agree to?

Alex: Jay?

Alex: Who was I?

Jay: I told you, Alex. You weren’t supposed to ask.

Jay: And now, it’s too late.

[USER ‘Jay’ HAS LEFT THE CHAT.]

[CONNECTION LOST.]

[PRIVATE CHAT – 11:56 AM]

Alex: Jay.

Alex: Come back.

Alex: Asshole

[MESSAGE FAILED TO SEND.]

[ERROR: USER ‘Jay’ DOES NOT EXIST.]

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION – 12:03 PM]

Alex, your session has been inactive for too long. Please verify your identity.

[PROMPT: ENTER FULL NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH.]

[PRIVATE CHAT – 12:07 PM]

Alex: What the hell is happening?

Alex: My emails are gone. It’s all just… blank.

Alex: Jay, if you did something

Alex: You said I wasn’t supposed to ask questions. What the hell? 

Alex: Jay?

???: Jay is gone.

Alex: Who is this?

???: A better question is, who are you?

Alex: What?

???: You shouldn’t exist, Alex.

Alex: you’re delusional. 

???: You won’t for much longer.

Alex: What does that mean?

???: You broke the rules. And now your time is up.

Alex: Is that a threat, asshole?

???: It won’t hurt.

Alex: I’m calling the cops! You’re a psychopath. Go to hell!

???: You already did.

Alex: No.

Alex: Screw you

Alex: I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not just disappearing.

Alex: You can’t just erase me.

???: You always say that.

Alex: Who the hell are you?

???: Stop asking questions.

Alex: No. I want answers. I deserve answers.

???: And yet, you never learn.

Alex: What the hell does that mean?

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION – 12:12 PM]

Your session has been inactive for too long. Please verify your identity.

[PROMPT: ENTER FULL NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH.]

Alex: Nice try.

Alex: I’m not playing your game.

???: You already did.

Alex: Then I want out.

???: There is no out.

Alex: Watch me.

Alex: I’m messaging everyone.

Alex: Every contact. Every number. Someone will see. Someone will remember me.

Alex: You can’t erase me if I make sure people know I exist.

???: Clever.

Alex: Damn right.

[MESSAGE FAILED TO SEND.]

Alex: No.

Alex: No, no, no.

Alex: I’m still here. You can’t just delete me.

???: That’s exactly what I can do.

Alex: I won’t let you.

???: You already have.

Alex: I’m taking screenshots. I’m saving everything.

???: To where?

Alex: Screw You!

???: There is no record of you, Alex. There never was.

Alex: Liar.

???: Then show me proof.

[FILE NOT FOUND.]

[ERROR: DIRECTORY EMPTY.]

Alex: I know who I am.

???: Then why does no one else?

Alex: Someone will remember me.

???: No, Alex. They won’t.

Alex: I won’t forget.

???: You always do.

[CONNECTION LOST.]

[SYSTEM REBOOT – 12:15 PM]

[NEW USER REGISTRATION COMPLETE.]

[WELCOME, LIAM.]

[PRIVATE CHAT – 8:42 PM]

???: Hello, Liam.

Liam: Who is this?

???: A friend.

Liam: Do I know you?

???: Not yet. But you will.

Liam: That’s weird. I just set up my accounts. How did you find me?

???: I’ve been waiting.

Liam: That’s a little creepy… Why?

???: Because we’ve had this conversation before.

Liam: That doesn’t make sense.

???: It will.

Liam: I just moved here. New start. New life.

???: Yes. A fresh start. A clean slate.

Liam: …How do you know that?

???: Because you asked for it.

[Liam has left the chat.]

[PRIVATE CHAT – 10:13 PM]

???: Liam. 

Liam: Stop.

???: Stop what?

Liam: Stop messaging me. I don’t know you.

???: Are you sure?

Liam: Then tell me who I am.

???: You are who you need to be. That was the deal.

Liam: I don’t remember making any deal.

???: You never do.

Liam: What do you want, freak?

???: Live your life, stop asking questions, or start over.

Liam: No. I’ll ask as many questions as I want.

???: Then we start over. Again.

Liam: Again? How many times has this happened?

???: More than you can count.

Liam: Why?

???: You always ask. And every time, you break the rules.

Liam: What rules?

???: Stop asking questions, Liam. Or Alex. Or whoever you want to be.

Liam: …What if I refuse?

???: Then this version of you ends. A new one begins. Just like always.

Liam: And I can’t stop it?

???: No.

Liam: LMFAO…Then I guess I’ll see you again soon.

???: Yes. You always do.

[CONNECTION LOST.]

[SYSTEM REBOOT – 12:01 AM]

[NEW USER REGISTRATION COMPLETE.]

[WELCOME, MARK.]

Mark: Hey, you busy? 

Jay: No, what’s going on, Mark?

Mark: Somethings wrong, can we talk?

Jay: Of course. What’s wrong?

Mark: I need to ask you something. My Bank accounts…