@maskedliex @innumerableshades
Jay stops mid-stride, the abrupt sound of coughing taking him by surprise. It shouldn’t be as alarming as it is, given how often he’s heard that sound before, but they’d been doing alright the last couple of days. There hadn’t even been any sign of that thing around to provoke it. Everything was fine. So this shouldn’t be happening, right? Jay tries to push past the rapidly increasing sense of dread he feels and focuses instead on Tim, tentatively placing a steadying hand on his back.
“Hey, you alright?” An obvious question with an obvious answer, but he has to ask anyway. As he does, he can’t help but scan their surroundings. The gaps between the trees; the shady alleys between the buildings. He’s felt this whole time like they were being watched, but it’s a stronger feeling than ever now, and Jay can’t sort out what’s just his paranoia and what might be an actual potential threat. He’s not taking any chances, though. Not this time.
“Maybe we should get out of here. Like, now.”