Karl and Nick didn't go back inside until sunrise. Even then, they waited. Watched as the early risers passed by—students heading to the gym, professors on their morning coffee runs—actual, normal people living actual, normal lives.

Karl felt like he was watching them from behind glass. Nick, still next to him, hadn't said much. Hadn't let Karl out of his sight.

When Karl finally stood, Nick did too. Like it wasn't even a question.

"Breakfast?" Karl asked, voice hoarse.

 Nick nodded, shoving his hands into his hoodie pocket. "Yeah." 

 Like neither of them were going back to their dorms alone.

---

They barely spoke at breakfast.  Karl picked at his food. Nick drank his coffee like it was the only thing keeping him upright.

Drista showed up halfway through, dropping into the chair across from them with her usual chaotic energy. "Whoa. What happened to you two?" 

 Nick shot her a look. "What do you think?" 

 Drista frowned. "Did you guys have another horror movie night without me? Rude." 

 Karl clenched his fork. "No. We didn't sleep." 

 Drista raised an eyebrow. "Lemme guess. More ghost crap?" 

 Nick rubbed his face, exhaling sharply. "Not ghosts."

Drista smirked. "Ohhh, so we've graduated to paranoia-induced hallucinations? Love that for you." 

 Karl ignored her. "Have you gotten any weird texts?" 

Drista blinked. "What?" 

 Nick sat forward. "Anonymous. No number." 

 Drista's amusement faded. "No. Why?" 

 Karl hesitated, but Nick didn't. "Karl got a text last night. Told him not to look at his window."

 Drista's eyebrows shot up. "Okay, yeah, that's—actually freaky." 

 Karl leaned closer. "So it's not you?" 

 Drista scoffed. "Dude, if it were me, I'd own it. I'd be so obnoxious about it." 

 Nick muttered, "That's true." 

 Karl pressed his fingers against his temple. So it wasn't her.

Then who was it?

Drista sighed, stealing a piece of toast from Karl's plate. "Okay, listen. It's got to be a prank." 

 Karl's grip tightened. "You don't know that." 

 Drista shrugged. "Maybe I don't. But I do know that your brains are eating you alive. And the longer you feed into this, the worse it's gonna get." 

 Karl said nothing. Nick didn't either. Because deep down, they knew she was right.But that didn't mean she was right about this.

---

Karl tried to act normal.

He went to class. Took notes. Did human things. And for a little while, he almost felt okay.

Until he saw Quackity. Karl hadn't even realized how little he'd seen Q lately. The guy was always around, but now that Karl thought about it— Hadn't he been... gone more than usual? 

 Karl hadn't noticed before. But now? Now that Karl was hyper-aware of everything? It felt off.

Quackity was laughing with Wilbur near the student union. Completely normal.

Karl's stomach twisted.

Not because he thought Quackity was acting weird. But because Quackity looked normal. Too normal. Like he wasn't being watched. Like he hadn't gotten anonymous texts in the middle of the night. Like he hadn't sat awake with his back against a locked door, waiting for something to move.

Karl wasn't normal anymore.

And he didn't know if he ever would be again.

---

Nick knocked on Karl's door before Karl even had time to mentally prepare for it.

Karl let him in without hesitation.

Nick dropped onto Karl's bed. "Drista thinks we're insane." 

 Karl sat next to him. "Yeah. She's not wrong."

 Nick ran a hand through his hair. "Did you see Quackity today?"

Karl tensed. "Yeah." 

 Nick glanced at him. "He seems fine."

 Karl nodded slowly.

Nick muttered, "I hate that." 

 Karl laughed—sharp, humorless. "Dude. Same."

 Nick sighed, tilting his head back against the wall. He looked exhausted.

Karl hesitated. Then, carefully-

He nudged Nick's arm.

Nick glanced at him.

Karl shrugged. "You still crashing here?" 

 Nick huffed, closing his eyes. "Yeah." 

Like he hadn't even considered going back. Karl felt something settle in his chest.

Maybe they were losing it. Maybe Drista was right.

But at least they weren't losing it alone.

---

Karl and Nick were half-asleep when the knocking started.

Karl jerked awake.

 Nick was already up.

His head snapped toward the door, eyes sharp and alert. Karl's pulse pounded. "You heard that, right?" 

 Nick nodded, slowly.

They both sat completely still.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Karl swallowed. "Who would—" 

  Knock. Knock.

Nick stood up. Karl followed. Nick stepped toward the door. Slowly. Carefully. Karl's breath hitched.

Nick reached for the doorknob— 

 Karl grabbed his wrist.

Nick froze. Karl shook his head, whispering. "Don't." 

 Nick stared at him.

For a second, Karl thought Nick was going to ignore him.

Then— The knocking stopped.

The silence that followed was heavy.

Karl's heart slammed against his ribs.

Nick let out a shaky breath.

Neither of them moved. Neither of them opened the door. Because neither of them wanted to know.