Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Karl loved thrift stores. It was like stepping into the past. Every item had a story to it, like that locket could have been someone's keep sake or the coverless book could have been someone's favorite story! He picked up the old book, it had a broken spine and a few pages were coming out of it, the previous owner must have really loved it. He opened the book and was just about to read it when he glanced up for just a moment and saw... a rotary phone.
He placed the barely binded book down.

The phone was a soft yellow, probably from the 60s or 70s. He picked it up, it was light! He looked it over and found that the inside was hollowed out. The previous owner must have use this as a decoration. Despite that the rotating part still made a satisfying sound and the phone still had the cord. He really really liked it, and it was only 15$ so he bought it.

---

The phone looked really nice on his desk, even with his dad telling him not to put it anywhere... he sighed before slumping over onto the surface, his head on his arms. He stared at the phone... it looked like it would work, maybe he could pranks his friends with-

He herd a berrrring ring out. He blinked in surprise, that wasn't his ring tone... he glanced at his phone, yep definitely not coming from that device. After a moment the ringing stopped. Karl looked around his room confused. Where did that sound come from? He sighed before the sound started up again, making him jump. He looked around again before his eyes landed on the vintage phone.

He didn't know what compelled him to do it but he picked up the resever. The sound stopped. "H-hello?" He picked up the main part of the phone, just to check again. Yep, completely empty.

"Charlie!" a guy's voice came through, his voice was higher then average and he seemed to have a slight accent. "You weren't picking up... I was starting to get worried."

"I," Karl tried to speak up but was interrupted by a different voice, this one much deeper and raspyer then the other.

"Yeah, he was gonna cry," he had a teasing tone.

"I was not! If Charlie hadn't picked up it would have ruined my id-"

"I-i'm not Charlie?" Karl interrupted the two, very confused, how was this thing working? Who were these guys?

"Whaaat, " the higher voice came, "are you pulling my leg?"

"N-no, you have the wrong number, sorry, bye," he put the phone back on the base, hanging up on the mysterious boys. Least to say, Karl was thoroughly freaked out.

He thought he was going crazy. Which he probably was, there was no way that phone could work, let alone have someone call him, what was going on? He groaned to himself before grabing his cellphone.

He needed someone to rant to, and maybe also confirm he wasn't going crazy.

4:34pm me: hey, can you come over?

4:36pm Gogy: why?

4:36pm me: I wanna show you something super weird.

4:37pm Gogy: idk, man. Can't you just text me about it?

4:37pm me: Please? I promise it's super interesting and maybe magical? You're into magic shit, right?

4:40pm Gogy: ...yeah, fine I'll come over

---

Soon, Goerge was sitting in his desk chair with his arms crossed. "So you're telling me this antique phone shouldn't work but does?"

"Yes! I thought since you believe in all that ghost and spirt stuff, you would be able to help me. Or at least tell me I'm not going crazy!"

"First of all, dream isn't a ghost or a spirit... I think. Second of all, I don't believe that shell of a phone can call someone. Third of a-" but he was interrupted by the ringing of the rotary phone. Goerge jumped out of his seat; bumping into Karl who pushed past him and picked up the phone.

"Hello," he gestured for Goerge to lean in so he could hear the other side of the conversation, "who is this?"

There was a long pause before a familiar tenor voice came through, "this... isn't Charlie, is it?"

"Nope," Karl glanced at George's surprised face, holding in a chuckle.

"Mierda," he hissed out, "sorry, wrong number."

This time the other boy hung up. "See," Karl placed the phone back in it's place, "I told you!"

"Wha... I... how," he stared at the strange object in awe.

"I... don't know," Karl frowned, "but I thought you might since you said that 'Dream' guy is always talking about magic or whatever it's called."

"I could... try asking him about it but don't get your hopes up. Also, I suggest getting rid of that thing, magic things tend to be dangerous!"

"I will, I will. Thanks for you help," he smiled at his friend.

"Yeah, yeah whatever," he took out his phone, "oh shit! I need to go, see you at school."

"Yeah," and like that Goerge was gone, leaving Karl to his thoughts.

Well, until the phone rang once again. "hello?"

"Woah you were right this is the wrong number," the deeper voice came through the phone.

"See? I didn't dial it wrong, the landline must be broken," the tenor sighed, "sorry for another call, sir."

"Ah! Wait," Karl shouted suddenly. What was he doing?

"Huh?"

"Well, it's just uh," Karl cringed at his next words, "I have a feeling you all will be calling me a lot, so... uh might as well know your names, right?"

"Are you some kind of 30 year old pervert?"

"Wha," he cringed even more, "no! I just turned 18!"

"I...uh."

The deepened voice cut in, "I'm Sapnap."

The other sighed, "Quakity."

"My name is Karl Jacobs," there was a long puase.

"Wait, you-"

"Anyhow, hope you're able to fix your... uh... landline! Bye," he slammed the phone down, hanging up. Did he really give a magical creature or whatever his NAME!?!? What if it stole his soul or... something like in those dark fairytales? He sat down on his bed and bit his lip in concern. Didn't Goerge say something about not giving your full name to strange beings?... He couldn't remember.

He sigh and flopped back. Then the ring ring ring started up, make Karl jump. He crawled fully onto his bed, ignoring it. When it stopped he heaved a sigh of relief and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

The next day the ringing became more and more frequent. So much so that Karl's dad came in and told him to stop making so much noise, which he almost never did. He was getting slightly angry. He didn't know what these magic creatures wanted from him, he really didn't want to know... but his dad would yell at him if he didn't do something.

First he tried pulling the wire out of the phone, then he tried leaving that phone off the main body. Neither worked. Then he tried picking up the phone and hanging up immediately. It stopped the sound but not the calls, how persistent were these... things? After a whole day of not enjoying his Sunday, he thought 'fuck it' and picked up the phone.

"Karl!" The tenor voice, Quakity, seemed to have a more concerned but... happy tone.

"Yes, that's my name," he sighed, "why are you saying it as if I just got out of the hospital?"

"Well I- I just can't believe it's really you! I knew your voice sounded familiar, I just couldn't place it!"

"What? What do you-"

"Sapnap! Come here, he picked up!"

There was the sound of running on the other end, then he herd Sapnap's voice with the same concern and happiness
, "Karl!"

"Yes yes, that's my name. I think we already went over this," he chuckled awkwardly at them. They seemed so friendly and so... happy to hear his voice, why though? They also seemed pretty chill and fun. No, wait. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, he shouldn't let his gaurd down around weird creatures, even if it's through the phone.

"Oh my god," Sapnap sounded kinda mellow compared to Quakity, but still really excited for some reason. "It's really you! I thought you said we wouldn't ever meet again! Where did you go? How are you doing? How's your scar?"

"Why is Charlie's number now your number," Quakity butted in.

"I... do I know you guys?" Karl was utterly confused, he didn't know what was going on or how or why.

"Oh jeez, did we mix you up with someone else," Sapnap sounded so disappointed.

"B-but his voice sounds exactly like him, and how many people have the name Karl Jacobs!"

"I'm sorry get your hopes up," he felt really guilty, though it wasn't his fault.

"Are you sure youre not the Karl Jacobs we know? Fluffy dark brown hair, grey eyes," the tenor asked.

"Well, I do but I think plenty of people fit the description. I-"

"Oh oh," Sapnap interrupted, "do you have a crescent shaped scar just behind your ear?"

Karl jumped at that! He lifted a hand to the tiny moon spot and looked around. If someone was spying on him, they'd have to be really close like in his room close to see that scar, but then he would hear them talking.

After a long pause, "you don't, do you?" Quakity sounded despondent.

"I-i do," he whispered, his thoughts racing through his mind.

"Really? Then you must be him!"

"Well, I-i... I don't know who you are, though... though I don't think two strangers would know about..."

"The last time we saw you was... a year or so ago," the alto seem to say it more like a question then a statement.

"Yeah," he could practically see Quakity's smile, "Remember the sock hop? You have to remember the sock hop!"

Sapnap laughed a deep, rich laugh, "that was one of the best sock hops I have ever been to."

"I... don't, sorry." He pulled out his phone and began looking up what a sock hop was. He had herd the word before but like in old movies, and that one gay comic... a school dance in the 20th century?... did their school have a retro dance or something?

The was a long puase. Then Quakity quietly spoke up, " it's alright, we didn't expect you too."

"Yeah... you did say when you left that you would forget us... we were just-"

"Hoping you wouldn't..."

"I," Karl felt his heart sink, but he didn't know why. He didn't know these guys, they were probably two jerks playing a prank on him or a weird magic spirit or whatever trying to trick him, but he just... "Well, you guys have my number now, so... uh... feel free to call me wherever you... want?"

"Really?"

He couldn't believe he had just said that! He put his head in his hand, mumbling, "Yeah, but I have school, so uh if you could call during the weekend or... something, that would be great...."

"Yes! Of course," the happiness filled Quakity's voice once again. The brunette felt his heart flutter at the sound. You don't know them, you don't know them, he tried to remind himself.

"Can't wait," Sapnap seemed even more glad. This time his heart melted, and he had no idea why.

"Y-yeah, goodnight."

"Goodnight!"
"Goodnight, Karl."

The two said in unison before hanging up, leaving Karl with his stuttering thoughts.

Chapter Text

Karl saw the stars through fairy light covered trees. Where was he? He glaced around and saw two boys sleeping in the grass. One had black hair held back by a headband, he also wore a typical greaser outfit, leather jacket and all. The other had black hair too but instead wore a beanie, a collared shirt and a letterman jacket. He also had a large scar down the left side of his face.

'They must be tired from the dance', he thought, though he didn't know why. What dance? Who were these guys?

Then he blinked awake, staring at the sealing. His cheek felt wet, was he crying? He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed at them. 'Stupid brain, it was just a dream.'
---

The bell rang loud through out the hall and Karl slowly ambled out of school, the thoughts of the magic phone still plaguing his mind. He sighed before getting into his car and sitting there for a moment. Maybe he could go clear his mind.

So he drove out of the parking lot and to the thrift shop he loved. It was smaller then other thrift stores, but it was the kind of store that had all of the history filled items. Most of its supply was inherited things that the relatives didn't want to sift through, so instead just payed the owners of the store to take care of it.

He wondered towards the books, wondering if the barely bounded book he had found last time was still there... it wasn't. He sighed before spotting what looked to be a fancy scrap book. He picked it up. It wasn't very big but it looked hand bounded, making the perfect cursive "memories" ingraved on the leather even more impressive. The first page had an old black and white picture of a small fluffy haired boy with thick rimmed glasses plastered onto the paper. There was a date, 05-12-1956, and a small paragraph written in the same perfect cursive as the cover, "starting highschool today! I felt like the bee's knees in the outfit ma picked out for me. Can't wait for tomorrow. Signed CS" Karl chuckled slightly, this guy seemed to have been very naive. He then turned the page and froze.

There plastered to the page was a picture of two guys. The spitting image of the guys from his dream, draped over each other and laughing at something funny. The only difference being that the one with a beanie had no scar. "I met two groovy guys today, they seem like trouble but I'll just have to wait and see. signed CS."

Karl felt his blood run cold as he ran finger along the photo. They felt so familiar in that dream, even more so in the picture who were these guys?

Buzz buzz, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

5:34pm Gogy: Did you get rid of that phone?

He stared at the text for a moment.

5:36pm me: No, not yet. Why?

5:38pm Gogy: Dream wants to see it. Can you bring it to my place? Or can we come over?

5:39pm me: right now?

5:40pm Gogy: yeah, is that ok?

He bit his lip and glaced at the book

5:45pm me: give me 30 mins, I'll bring it to you.

He pocketed his phone, payed, and left, book in hand.

Chapter Text

Karl knocked lightly on George's door, the phone neatly tucked into his arm and the book in his backpack. While waiting he glaced around, looking to the forest that stood next to the old house. Normally he didn't really acknowledge it but now in the silence with his mind spinning with all the mystical bullshit going around, it felt off. Like the trees were about to buckle and fall. He felt his body start moving on it's own towards it but before he could take a step, the door opened.

"Karl!"

He snapped back into reality and tensed as he looked at George, "h-hey."

"Come on, Dream is in my room," he grabbed the arm that wasn't holding the phone and pulled him along.

"Whoa what's the rush," he asked, trying not to trip over his feet.

"Dream said he thinks you might be cursed or some shit. We don't want that to stay longer then it has to."

Bewildered, Karl just let himself be dragged into the room where a fairly tall guy stood. he had messy blonde hair and bright green eyes that seemed to almost glow, though it was hard to tell in the well lit room. He had a bright green hoodie with the hood up and wore a white mask. "So," his voice was low and a little hoarse, "you're Karl, right?"

"Y-yeah, I am."

"Can I have the phone?"

He nodded, holding it out for Dream to take, but as Dream went to grab it, he felt himself pull back. He held the phone against his chest and even took a step back, causing Dream to raise an eyebrow. He blinked before realizing what just happened. He held it back out, even though his heart sped up for no reason when the blonde took it, "s-sorry, I don't know what... I-"

"It's fine," he mumbled before turning it over in his hands. They stood there in silence for about a minute before he spoke up again, "you two should probably do something else, this is going to take a while."

"Do you need any help," George offered.

"No, I can handle it," the mysterious boy then plopped himself down in front of George's desk.

"Oh o-kay, " he shook his head before gesturing for Karl to follow him.

Soon they were on his couch, Karl figiting with the edge of his sleeve. George flicked through the channels on the TV, looking for something to watch. "So," Karl mumbled, "what uh... what do you think this curse stuff entails?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I uh is it just with the phone stuff or is there more?"

"I uh I don't know. Dream doesn't really tell me stuff." He sighed, letting the TV play a random cartoon they had never seen. "Why?"

"Well i," he stopped for a moment debating his own mind before pulling out the scrap book, he then explained to the other the strange events of the day, opening the book to the photo. "I don't know why but I can't help but feel like all of this is connected somehow."

George hummed examining the photos, then squinting at them. "This guy looks a familiar," he pointed at the fluffy haired kid.

"What?"

"You know that wall where they put the pictures of the valedictorians"

"Yeah?"

"I think I saw this guy on there."

Karl blinked, "are you saying these guys used to live here?"

"I mean, I could be wrong but it's possible."

"I... guess so."

"Where did you even get this?"

"The SBI Thrift Store."

"Oh! Then Phil might know who this guy is, even just a little bit."

"Yeah," he mumbled under his breath, staring at the picture for a little longer before closing the book and looking at the TV.

"I-"

"Hey guys," Dream called from upstairs, "come up here i think I figured something out."

Soon they all crowd around the hollow phone as Dream turned it over in his hands and gestured for Karl to move closer. "Look at this," he points to a small ulmost unnoticeable symbol ingraved into the inside of the phone, a hourglass surrounded by stars, "that is the mark of a traveler."

"And a traveler is?"

"A soul bound to jumping between times."

He raised an eyebrow at the masked boy, "and that means?"

"It means that whoever made this phone was forced to travel through time and space and was really desperate to keep contact with someone of the past."

"Then... then I-"

"May i touch your shoulder?"

"Yes?"

He then gripped his shoulder and his eyes started full on glowing. Karl gasped as he felt a chill run from his shoulder to his chest. It felt as if he couldn't breath like his heart might split open and he would die. He saw a little yellow glow come from where his heart would be. He saw George's eyes widen in shock before Dream pulled away, leaving Karl to gasp for air.

"Yeah, you're a traveler."

"I... did i-"

"Make this phone, yes. I believe any number combination will lead to calling whoever your past self wanted to keep in contact with."

Karl nodded and toke the phone from Dream's hands, "so that's why I'm so protective of it."

"Yes, and I uh have some bad news."

"What is it?"

"The rules of a traveler's soul are fickle and uh one of them is that a traveler must not know of their own nature. After finding out, you are to be put into a new timeline where you forget everything that happened in the last timeline."

He took a step back in shock. "When?!"

"2 weeks."

Chapter Text

Karl let out a shakey sigh as he sat at his desk. He stared the softly colored phone, before bitting his lip and glancing away. He didn't know if he wanted them to know or not. Was he even aloud to tell them? He should've never tried to find out in the first place. His eyes felt hot, he didn't want to forget Sapnap and Quakity again, even if he didn't even remember the past timeline.

His past self must have known something, right? He did make a time breaking phone just to talk to these guys... and why did he even do that? Why where they so important to him? Why did his heart long to see them again? Well... there was one way to find out. He looked back to the phone. It was kind of late but for some reason he felt like Quakity would still be up.

He picked up the phone and started repeating one over and over until it worked. A soft buzz sound rattled his head. It made him dizzy. Then he heard a voice on the other end. "Hello?" he felt his whole body relax upon hearing Quakity's voice. He was no longer dizzy.

"Hey, it's me," his whispered, as if talking any loader would break the magic ingraved into the phone.

"K-karl? It is a little late to be calling, most everyone is asleep in my house."

"I knew you would pick up," you always pick up, his brain supplied.

"Are you alright? You sound... tired," he could hear his frown.

"No, I'm not alright. I... couldn't sleep," he swiped a hand through his hair. Should he tell him? The question seemed to echo in his head.

" can I help?"

He puased for a moment, sighing as he traced his finger over the scar behind his ear. He should tell them together,  he realized. "T-tell me about the sock hop," he needed comfort.

A small luagh sounded on the other end. It made his skin hum pleasantly. "Well, it started before the sock hop. A week and a half i believe. Me and Sapnap were actually planning on pranking you since you were new."

"What was the prank?"

"Well, we were gonna convince you to dress like a girl for the sock hop... we didn't really plan anything else, we just thought it would be funny. But uh you took it in stride. Said you would be gone soon anyway so you might as well have some fun. And we were so surprised by your response, we basically just let you drag us around, doing the most random stuff."

"Like what?"

"Like exploring the forest and shopping and even... hanging out in your pad. You were so fast," he chuckled. "You always had the biggest smile on your face, you acted almost like like a paper shaker."

"Did i?" He had no idea what a paper shaker was. Whatever he would look it up later.

"Yeah, then when the sock hop came you borrowed clothes from Sap's sister. You had a bright pink poodle skirt and a frilly shirt and a matching head scarf. I remember Sap just gushing about about how pretty you were when he thought you weren't listening."

"Gushing?" His heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah, " Quakity sighed happily, "you were a real doll, Karl. You really lit up that whole room like a ball of sunshine."

"Sounds like it was fun."

"Yeah it was. At the end of the night you brought us to a clearing with a picnic set up. And well you said goodbye."

"Goodbye?"

"Yeah, you said you wouldn't remember us but your heart would. We thought you were breaking up with us, though now we know what you meant."

"Breaking up with you?"

"Ah yeah, we were an item. You, me, and Sapnap."

"Huh maybe that's why my heart skips a beat every time I hear your voice," he hummed.

He herd a flustered sputter come for the other end. "Y-you're not aloud to be good at flirting if you can't even remember me."

"My heart does," he put his head against the desk, "you know what else my heart is telling me?"

"What?"

He let out a shaky sigh, "it's telling me to hug you. Even though I can't."

"I want to hug you too, Karl. We miss you a whole lot. It there anyway for you to come to the next sock hop with us?"

"Probably not, but I'll try. I'm going to try so hard, Quakity," he felt hot tears run down his cheeks.

"I uh have to hit the hay. We'll talk real soon, okay?"

"O-okay," he slowly put the reserver back before curling in on himself. He was going to find a way back to them, no matter what. His heart begged for it, begged for the hole in it to be filled. He closed his eyes and sleep took over.

—‐—

He was holding two warm hands, dragging the two handsome boys behind him. He glanced back, Quakity... had no scar. He chuckled at Karl, his smile was so warm.

"Take a picture, mi amor, it'll last longer," his voice was echoing slightly, like it it was far away. He squeezed his hand, before speeding up slightly and kissing his cheek.

Karl blinked for a couple moments before turning back and leading them further into the forest. He knew where he was going, the path at least, the destination was a little bit more blurry. Then suddenly the warm sun light turned to cold moon light, and his lovers' hands were gone.

He stumbled slightly, before finding himself in a clearing. In the middle of it was a fountain, broken and run down. He cautiously stepped forward and look into the water. It wasn't him, it was... something else. A giant figure made of shadow, draped in green with a large comedy mask, an x-like crack revealing hundreds of little white eyes, all staring back at him.

He jumped back, only to hit something solid. He looked up to see the shadow looming over him, tilting it's head at him. "Where you going somewhere," it chittered happily.

"Uh n-no no I um, what are you?"

"Oh don't ask questions you don't want the answer to," keeping it's head in place, it shifted to be standing in front of the fountain, before leaning down, face to face. "You lasted longer this time, how old are you? 18?"

"Y-yeah," he took a step back as a chill went up his spine.

"You're getting better, or did you get help," its luagh was blood curdling.

"What... what do you mean?"

"George! He was keeping you away from me. So selfish," it giggled.

Karl hugged himself, "what do you want with me?"

"Nothing, " he could feel it smile, "I'm just a catalyst, a bored God with nothing better to do then to mess with the lives of mortals. I got to say Karl," it voice turned deep, rattling his bones, "you're the most interesting by far~" Then he heard what sounded like a thousand buzzing flies, and it got a loader and loader until he couldn't even hear his own screams.

Then he gasped awake, a cold sweat making his shirt stick to his back. He grasping at his ears as if to block a noise that wasn't there. "Fuck," he panted as he pulled his knees to his chest and started crying.

Chapter Text

Karl finally pulled his face away from his knees, the fabric of his pants soaked in tears. Drained, he dragged the heel of his palms across his eyes. He sighed. So this was his life. This was what was going to happen over and over again. Why? Why was this... thing... torturing him? Was it really just... bored?

Buzz buzz he flinched as his phone vibrated againt his desk. He quickly pick it up to see a text.

10:21am Gogy: hey, dude. Are you ok???

Karl blinked a few times. He reread the text a few times before his head comprehended it. He sighed.

10:30am me: I'm fine.

10:32am Gogy: so, your skipping school just because?

Karl frowned at that before seeing the clock... oh school started almost 2 hours ago. He groaned again. "What's the point of school," he huffed to himself, "I have better things to do."

Like figuring out how to stop his existential torture, or at least go to a sock hop again. He banged his head softly against the desk, as if that would solve his problems or make him remember anything. "Come on brain, give me something to work with, anything," he growled.

Buzz buzz

Come on, please. He was practically begging the universe.

Buzz buzz

Please.

Buzz buzz

He angrily sat up and looked at his phone to see many messages.

10:40am Gogy: dude I get it this must be really hard. Its really fucking shitty

10:41am Gogy: I know about this kind of supernatural garbage. I can help!

10:42 Gogy: also I was gonna skip class anyways, so don't worry about bothering me.

Karl sighed.

10:47am me: fine.

10:48am Gogy: ok! Where are you?

10:49am me: my house

Karl stood up from the desk chair and pulled himself into his bathroom. He looked at his reflection, he looked... tired. His eyes were red and sore from crying, and his hair was all messed up. He stared at his poor excuse of a reflection for far to long before splashing his face with water. He started drying his face when the door rang. "Hey dad," he shouted, "can you get that?"

The door rang again, he huffed. "Dad!" He sighed, why would the old man not even tell him off? Was he in a call? He rushed down the stairs and opened the door to see George. "Hey," he gave a half hearted wave.

"Dude, you look like shit," the other frowned at him.

He chuckled, "yeah, feel like it too." He rubbed his eye, trying to will away the redness. "Come on in, you won't fucking believe what happened." He started leading him upstairs.

"I mean, I think at this point I'll believe anything."

He hummed before stopping to knock on the door to his dad's office, "dad! I have a friend over." Then a small beat of silence. "Dad?" He creaked open the door to find an empty room. "Huh, that's weird."

"What?"

"Usually my dad tells me if he's going out."

Buzz buzz

11:01am dad: went out, won't be home till late.

"Oh uh nevermind," he mumbled.

11:01am me: kk

He felt a small bit of doubt in his stomach, but shook it off for more important matters. When they got to his room, Karl instantly gravitated toward his phone, sitting down and softly putting a hand on it. He sighed and slightly deflated.

"So what happened?"

"Hmmm?"

"You said something happened."

He pulled his gaze away from the phone and to George, who was now sitting on his bed. "Oh! Yeah uh, I had this nightmare, " he shivered at the thought of it, "it started out nice but then I was in a forest and there was a fountain and this strange shadow thing with a comedy mask that was taunting me. And it made this strange buzzing noise."

"A comedy mask?"

"Yeah, like the theater one."

George thought for a moment, "did it wear green?"

"Yeah! How did you know?"

He sighed, "dream warned me about some kind of God like that, the God of torment and fate, i think his name is uh... XD?"

"Fuck."

"Yeah, wh-what did he say to you?"

"He basically was like surprise i lasted very long and that... y-you were keep him from me."

"What?"

"Yeah, he said your name!"

George shivered, "th-that doesn't sound good."

Karl hummed and looked back at the phone. "I need to find out how to stop this, how to get back to them."

"The people you contact through the phone?"

He nodded.

"Who are they?"

"Quakity, and Sapnap. Apparently we were all together right before I was forced into a new time."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I don't remember very much but i... I think it's true. It feels true anyway." George hummed in thought. Karl figitted in the silence. Silence, he noticed, made his brain buzz, and that scared him. "But uh yeah, I don't even know where to start."

"Hmmm well, the phone is what connects you to them, right?"

Karl nodded.

"Then we should try to learn more about it. Maybe the guy who runs the Thrift shop knows more about it?"

—-—

The bell above the door rang as the two entered the SBI Thrift store. The older blonde man that manned the store, Philza he remembered from coming here many times, looked up from a book and nodded at them in greeting. Karl strode up to him as confidently as he could. He gently placed down the phone. "Hi. I bought this a little while ago and-"

"I'll stop you right there, this store has a no refunds policy."

"No!" He cleared his throat, "n-no I'm not returning. I want to know about its history, where did you get it?"

"Oh! That's been in my shop since it opened."

"Who gave it to you," George piped up.

"I think his name was Karl Jacobs."

Karl flinched, "did... um did this Karl give you anything else?"

"Why?" Philza squinted at the brunette.

"I um, I was just wondering." He looked away.

There was a long beat of silence before Phil spook up. "Come with me."

Surprised, Karl glanced at George who shrugged. He then hugged the phone to his chest and followed after. They wondered into a smaller part of the store, where the creepy ceramic figurines were. Karl had the feeling that customers didn't really come back here. "I think I know why you're here."

"Huh?"

"You're a traveler, aren't you?"

Karl took a step back, bumping into George, "what d-do you mean?"

"A timetraveler, a soul stuck between timelines."

"H-how did you?"

"I was the one that helped you figure it out, in the 60s," Phil smiled at him with a sort of fatherly warmth. "You came to me with that phone and, " he pushed at the wall for a bit before a piece of it popped out, revealing a book in a hidden space, "this notebook. You said i would know if I saw you again and that you would be needing this."

"Why didn't you give it to me right away?"

"I wanted to make sure it was truly you, it has been 70 or so years."

Karl nodded, taking the notebook. Then he squinted at the man, he didn't look 70. "How old are you?"

He laughed and popped the secret back into place. "I believe about 300, though i lost count after a while."

"Wha- how?"

"Well let's just say the goddess of death would prefer for me to be alive." The two stared at the man in awe for a moment. Then Phil clapped a hand over his shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly, "good luck, Karl. I'll be here if you ever need it."

"Th-thank you," he watched as the other walked away.

Karl looked to George with a shocked expression to which the other only shrugged. "Come on, let's uh read this over like lunch or something."

"Lunch?"

"Yeah, did you eat this morning?"

Karl sheepishly turned away, his cheeks burning red, "let's uh get lunch."

Chapter Text

When i first found out about all of this, I had basically said, "fuck it, I'll be gone soon." I planned on just getting all of my bucket list items. Within the first few days, my parents went missing. There was no trance of them around, i still haven't figured out where they have gone.

—‐—

Karl's eyes went wide at the first paragraph. "D-dude."

George looked up concerned.

"I think XD took my dad."

"At least XD has done one good thing."

"George!"

"What? Your dad is a dick."

"Was a dick," he huffed.

"So you agree."

Karl rolled his eyes and continued reading.

—-—

Then I met Sapnap and Quakity. I think they approached me to play a prank on me, but we bonded very easily. In fact I like their jokes, especially the one about me in a dress. Sap's sister is helping me get all dolled up for the sock hop. Everytime I see them, it pulls at my heart. It makes me nearly cry at the thought of never seeing them after all this. It's like my soul is telling me that if I forget them, I'll... be empty.

I have started to do research as to how to stop from traveling, though I haven't found much. Philza has told me of the gods and which one has done this to me. XD the god of torment, fate, and souls.

—-—

"Souls?" He stared at the words confused.

"Huh?"

"XD is also the god of souls?"

"What? Really?"

Karl nodded.

—‐—

He has also told me of XD's companion,  their opposite. The god of peace, fate, and souls. He told me that they had never chosen a mortal name for themselves, though XD calls them George. Phil also told me of the gods' heralds. He is a herald of death herself, and that a good friend of his was a harald of a blood god, though Philza sadly has his axe. I wonder what happened to him.

Phil then told me that to contact a god, you need to find their herald. He told me of the fates', a person named Ranboo. Though he didn't know where they would be. He also told me of the herald of the God of chaos. He said that Bad would help me and told me where I would find him. The cabin next to the forest.

—-—

Karl blinked, that couldn't be right. The only cabin next to the woods was... Karl looked up to his friend. "D-do you know anyone named Bad?"

"Bad? No, why?"

"Apparently he's the herald of the God of chaos, and he lived in your cabin."

"Oh shit," George pailed slightly, "the chaos god is no joke."

"How do you know?"

"That's how me and dream met, he saved me from it's control."

"Are you... ok?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine now, that was years ago," he then looked back at the journal he was reading insistently.

"Are you su-"

"Just continue reading," Karl stared in concern before George sighed, "I'll...tell you later."

—-—

And so I searched the cabin, only to find an alter covered in red vines and a book. "Supernatural enchantments and trickery" i believe this might help me.

—‐—

The next pages were filled with a description of the making of the phone. It was a little too complicated for him to understand.

—-—

Today is my last day, I'm using the last pieces of the night to write this. I believe I found something in this book. Ranboo is a strange creature, tall and lanky. This creature is black and white with wide green and red eyes. I can see so many depictions of them, of a tall king saving them from a masked shadow. Is this George and DreamXD? Why is this being depicted? Why do I feel like I'm being watched?

—-—

Karl stared at the hurried script with a frown. So he had been trying so hard to stay, did it matter if he tried now? His only friend was George, his dad was missing, and all these memories that could never happen again were flooding over him and hurting his heart. It hurt, so bad.

"Karl?" He looked up and felt tears run down his cheeks. "Woah hey, what's wrong," George gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

Karl rubbed at his eyes aggressively. "I...I feel so helpless," he slumped in defeat. "Past me had like 5 times the amount of resources then I do. And I don't know where to even start with the information we do have. And the book we need is probably lost to time."

"Arr you talking about 'Supernatural enchantments and trickery'?"

"Yes?"

George smiled and lifted up Charlie's journal. "I think I know where it is."