Chapter Text
“What’ll it be boys?” Eddy put his arms behind his head and slumped down on a sofa, comfortable as a lazy cat. Almost every week the high schoolers would stay over and host a movie marathon. Darkness cloaks the entire room except for the glaring light from the TV.
A stack of movies are on the coffee table and so is a superabundance of junk food snacks. Chocolate bars, soft drinks, buttery popcorn, sour-sweet candies, and a tub of ice-cream with sprinkles on the side. Truly a feast of kings. Ed wastes no time scooping up some popcorn and munching heartily. Out of all the Eds here, Eddy has the best movie selection, so they usually crash at his house for movie night.
A movie is chosen (a classic sci-fi horror). Eddy gets enchanted by the action; Double Dee pulls up a blanket to shield his eyes from terrifying monsters and bloodshed, while Ed comments about all the cool practical effects. Rainfall steadily drums on the windows behind them, creating a cozy insulated atmosphere.
Bang! Bangbangbangbang! The nice ambience of a rainy night staying indoors and watching movies is rudely broken up by frantic knocking at the door. Eddy grumbled. He jogged over to the front door and opened it.
Shock and anger creased Eddy’s features. “Kevin?!” His wrathful scowl would curdle milk.
The red-headed jock looked reluctant to ask the Eds for help. He stands there being pelted by lashing rain, holding onto his wrecked bike that’s missing the front wheel, the metal frame warped by a fall.
Ed and Double Dee forget the movie to walk over to their short friend.
“Hey dorks,” Kevin’s gruff voice cuts through the hiss of rain. “Can I uh…stay over until the rain goes?”
“Hello no! Can’t you stay over at Ralph’s?”
“Eddy!” Came Double Dee’s sharp reprimand.
Kevin’s gaze hardened. “He lives halfway across town. I’d never make it.”
“And that’s my problem, how?” Eddy crossed his arms and impatiently stamped his foot.
“Eddy! We can’t turn Kevin away. He’ll get a bad cold if he stays out in the rain,” Double Dee’s calm rationale inhibited his short-tempered friend’s initial hatred.
“Fine, fine!” Eddy huffed, shrinking resentfully from the braniac’s searing glare. “Mr. Strong Jaw can stay!”
Kevin blinked, absolutely baffled at the Ed’s generosity. They’re really letting him shelter here? He sees Double Dee give him a kind smile and Kevin feels butterflies in his stomach.
Dragging his misshapen bicycle in, Kevin also trails mud behind him. He rests the bike on a wall and sits on a vacant stool.
Eddy tossed him a towel which hits his face. “Clean up. You can borrow some of my brother’s clothes. He hasn’t been here in forever and they’re dusty, but they’ll work. Bathroom’s over there,” Eddy nodded in the direction down the hall. “Do whatever you want,” he stuffs his hands in his baggy jean pockets. “We’re watching movies in my room.”
Was that a heartfelt attempt at an invitation?
Ed called a short “hello” to Kevin, only swinging by the kitchen to refill on snacks before chuckling and running back to Eddy’s room, blabbering about monster cosmetics or something. Double Dee offered a strawberry fizz soda. Kevin took it, cracked the lid open, and took a grateful swig. “Thanks Double Dee.”
“How’d you wreck your bike?”
“I was trying to do a big air stunt. And I crashed. It got all foggy and I couldn’t see shit.”
Raising his arm was a bad idea. Kevin hissed, and pulled back a sleeve. Bruises mottle his body and so did fresh wounds. Globs of blood welled up. Though horrified of germs, Double Dee quickly got a med kit and kindly healed Kevin’s injuries. As he dabbed them with antiseptic, he smiled at Kevin. “You’re braver than I could ever be.”
Kevin’s heart lurched up into his throat. “You kidding? Going on all those crazy adventures with the Eds –you deserve war medals for that. Without your brains those two might walk off a cliff or something.”
Double Dee laughed. “I think we balance each other out.”
Kevin finds the Eds after changing clothes. Deafening gunshots and witty insults blare from the TV. Eddy cheers at an old black-and-white gangster film. “Look at all that blood! That’ll teach ‘em to betray ol’ Al Capone! What a man!”
Kevin plopped down between Eddy and Double Dee, grinning. “Al Capone ain’t as great as Dillinger or Karpis. Those two were legendary.”
Eddy’s eyes gleam with slight surprise. He didn’t think Kevin would like old gangster history. They debated about which of the bootleggers of that era were the greatest. Double Dee was just happy they weren’t fighting. Ed started the next movie, an old monster movie about evil aliens and flying saucers.
Credits rolled. It’s about midnight when Eddy eyed the clock over his shoulder. The rain hadn’t stopped either. He turned back to his friends with a mischievous smile. “Have you heard about the urban legend going around?”
“Is it another cryptid?” Ed asked.
“No,” Eddy pulled everyone close like a football huddle. “At school people are saying that on rainy days, at midnight, there’s a secret channel that will show you who your soulmate is!”
“Unbelievable,” Double Dee stated with an eye roll. “Paranormal superstitions most likely don’t exist. This is just as childish as Spin The Bottle.”
“We should try it,” Ed balled his hands into fists, looking like a kid in a candy store. “What if something cool happens?”
With nothing better to do they try out the Midnight Channel. Narrowed eyes stare expectantly at the screen. Everybody leans in trying to guess what the strange blurry image could be. The TV makes eerie sounds while a black silhouette against a grey background dances. The outline looks familiar…
Is it Naz? They can’t be sure.
Eddy smiled. “I knew it had to be a girl. Wonder who it is though.”
“None of it makes sense,” Double Dee shook his head.
Kevin silently agreed.
“How can we all have the same soulmate? That’s not possible.”
“Maybe…it’s a prank?” Ed guessed.
“Hmph! If it is a prank I’m gonna beat ‘em up!” Eddy shadow boxed his best moves while jumping up and down.
“Ain’t it too fancy to be a prank?” Kevin asked, scratching his head.
“Elaborate?” Edd corrected. “Yes! Who would go through all that work for a prank with no payoff? Even Eddy’s overcomplicated schemes have a higher success rate.”
“Hey!”
“I’m invested. I think we’ve found something really supernatural after all. More tests will have to be done though.”
A few days later Edd decided to test his theory. He’s drawn to the TV. It’s after school and sunny. It probably won’t work. Still…
Vaguely he lets his had reach towards the glass surface. He retracts it a moment and then places his hand on it –only for his hand to plunge through!
Double Dee gasped and jumped back. Fast. Like he’d been bitten by a snake. Panic and fear clutches his heart.
Kevin walked home feeling a part of him was missing because his trusty bike is stored in a repair shop. Naz had left with Ralph, leaving the jock alone with his thoughts. Ever since that night at Eddy’s he can’t shake the dreadful claws of fear on his back. It’s just a silly urban legend…
Mabey he could invite Double Dee over to work on the logistics of some tricks. The nerd always had insightful advice about math and physics.
The cul-de-sack teen’s lives went on as normal. The Eds hardly brought up anything about the urban legend. Double Dee spent a few days with Kevin, and would stay up late at night studying the Midnight Channel, but always freaking out at the last minute, fearful about what could be on the other side of the portal. Naz, the pretty and popular girl was suddenly absent for a week. It’s just a bad flu, everybody thought.
No. It’s much worse. It’s rare that the small peaceful town to be plagued by busy activity. But out of nowhere a dead body was discovered by a swarm of police officers. Most of the other teens went home already or were staying after school for clubs. Kevin was one of the few to see flashing blue-red lights and vehicles clutter the one-way street. He overheard their hushed whispers as they ushered him away from the scene.
Double Dee stuffed his completed homework in his bag and returned to the TV. Over time he’s become obsessed about the mysterious Midnight Channel. He wanted to test it again. But this time, he’ll invite the Eds over to help. Exploration without proper team or supplies is destined to be a disaster.
He grabs his cellphone only to hear someone knocking on the door. Double Dee smiled, expecting to see Ed waving and spouting about a new edition of some apocalyptic comic book. But no. It’s Kevin.
He practically falls into Double Dee’s arms heaving and sobbing. “Naz –she’s dead! She’s dead, Double Dee!”
A serpentine numbness and fear coils around Edd. “What?!”
Face puffy and red from crying, Kevin numbly accepts the piping hot coco Edd brewed for him. The searing heat from ceramic cup slices through Kevin’s icy demeanor. Bitter anger rekindles his outrage and cracks his brawny voice. “Naz was murdered. It was no accident.”
He looks up from his drink and holds Edd’s shocked gaze. “She won’t be here anymore. She won’t grow old like us –she’ll only be a bittersweet memory, Double Dee. Naz…I should’ve walked her home like I always do.” A strangled cry claws from Kevin’s being.
Growing up, everyone was certain that Naz and Kevin were going to end up together, maybe even married. An athletic jock and a sweet popular girl.
Kevin loves Naz but not like that. She’s the first person he came out to –he was a pale shaking sight at the time too. But Naz warmly accepted him. To Kevin, Naz is the cool sister he always wanted. Someone to look up to. Sure, he was beloved by everyone in the cul-de-sac but Kevin always felt like he had a strong dependable image to always keep up. Showing weakness is impossible. With Naz, Kevin didn’t have to be what others wanted him to be.
And now she’s gone forever. Killed by some lunatic.
“Murdered? God. That’s…awful. What monster could…” Double Dee trailed off and put a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. Mechanically, Kevin placed his hand over Double Dee’s. He felt comfort from the intellectual’s kindness.
“It wasn’t your fault, Kevin. It’s that murder’s.”
“I know,” he sighed. When he inhaled, his lost willpower burst into flame again. Kevin’s gaze hardened solemnly. “And I’m gonna find that no-good fucking villain. I’ll avenge Naz.”
“I’ll help you.”
“What?”
Kevin blinked. “You…you’re not talking me out of this? It’s dangerous. I’m going to look for Naz’s murderer.”
“I know. But you’ll need backup won’t you? Two heads are better than one, they say. I’ll help you get evidence.”
“Double Dee…thanks.” Kevin smiled. “Do…do you think it could be connected? The Midnight Channel and the murder?”
“There’s a possibility. I was going to test it again tonight.” After Edd explained his observations Kevin is renewed with fiery willpower. “I’ll stop by later, Double Dee. If we’re doing this we’ll hafta show up prepared.”
“Yes, I had the same idea. Let us be prepared for anything.”
Eddy, Ed and Kevin joined Double Dee’s party. Kevin is surprised to see Eddy taking this so seriously. Eddy always had a crush on Naz but Kevin always thought it was barebones crush that’d die over time.
“This all of us, gentlemen?” Edd asked.
“Yeah, looks like it. We’re just scoping things out right?” Eddy said. He tries to hide his fears by being his normal grumpy self. “We should only meet at Double Dee’s house, on account of his parents always being gone on business trips.” The party agreed.
“I brought weapons. Who knows what the hell we’ll find?” Kevin drops a duffle bag full of sports equipment. They circled the open bag and sorted through the items.
Kevin liked the heavy deadliness of a wrench and stuck with that. Eddy scowled as he tied a rope to a dodgeball, his craftiness helping him make a devastating mace. Ed claimed a cricket bat, wielding it like a samurai sword. Double Dee is no fan of weapons or fighting but for his friends he’d go to war to help them. He chose a metal bat. It’s lightweight enough for him to swing but also useful enough to be durable.
The Eds and Kevin stand before the TV. Their muscles are tense like coiled springs. They’re half imagining that a scary dark-haired girl would crawl out of the screen and attack.
Double Dee’s hand plunges through the thin glass portal. Edd leans forward, his arm vanishing quickly into another world. Then half of his upper body goes through –and what he sees is a bright yellow sky cluttered with hundreds of TVs. He tries to step back but loses his balance. Screaming, Double Dee falls into the other world. The others form a chain and try to grab him but end up all falling too.
They somehow, miraculously, survive. Double Dee is the first to recover and gasps. They’ve landed in some surreal TV studio. Metal catwalks extend into dense fog. Big neon lights hang over them and there’s an unsettling ringing din.
Eddy rubbed his head and groaned. “Where the hell are we, Sockhead?”
“I…I don’t know.”
“An alternate dimension?” Ed guessed. He peels Kevin off the floor which is marked by white human-shaped outlines.
“Is everyone okay?”
“We’re fine,” Kevin shakes off the pain.
“It’s hard to see,” Double Dee narrowed his eyes. He tried to use a flashlight to guide them but even on the brightest setting it didn’t clear up a path.
“Keep your guard up,” Kevin advised.
“Don’t hafta tell me twice!” Eddy said.
“I wonder if any scary monsters will jump out from the fog to eat our brains,” Ed chuckled.
“Please Ed, not right now.”
Freezing in place the group sees a pudgy short shadow waddling closer and closer.
Wait. Is it a bear? A carnival-like colorful clown-y bear?
Eddy lowered his weapon and raised an eyebrow. “We ain’t in the sewers. Did this thing get lost from a circus? What kind of cartoony-looking bear are you?”
The cute stuffed animal bear glared at the puzzled humans. “Hmph! That’s not bear-rry nice! Who are you calling cartoony-looking? You guys are all squiggly lines and hand drawn!”
Eddy sighed. “What crazy ass plot were we written into?”
“This is so hard to believe dude,” Kevin adjusted his signature red cap. “He looks like a mascot for a mystery-solving gang.”
“What’s your name?” Double Dee asked.
“Teddie.” The bear looks troubled. “I thought you were somebody else. My nose isn’t what it used to be. I never thought people from different worlds could visit this place. It’s really endless.”
“Is this studio a hub?”
“A hub? All I know is that this world reflects what’s on the other side.”
“Like a mirror…” Edd gets an idea. “Teddie, can you lend us some support? A friend of ours was murdered and we think it’s linked to this place. We want to find the murderer and solve this mystery!”
Teddie smiled. “Really? That’s the same thing sensei is doing! Yu has saved so many people –he’s really incredi-bear-le.”
Ignoring the bad puns Eddy asks, “Sensei?”
“It means teacher or someone wise,” Ed informed.
Everyone gave him a bewildered look.
“He’s right,” Double Dee finally spoke.
“What’re you an anime nerd? Next you’re gonna tell us about ninjutsu or shinigami!”
Kevin stifled a laugh.
Ed merely shrugged. “Animation is an art, Eddy, and Japan is the king of animation. And Mecha.”
“If you guys are looking for a killer, then our worlds must be very similar.” Teddie explained how Yu and the others had discovered the Midnight Channel, and how victims usually showed up on it before being killed.
“Then it is true! Maybe the killer has the same powers too. Naz must’ve been thrown in here. C’mon guys we gotta look for clues!” Kevin shouted. He doesn’t wait for an answer as he runs into the fog.
“Wait! It’s dangerous! The shadows will –oh no.”
Offering a sympathetic grin and patting Teddie’s head, Double Dee said, “Sorry. Kevin can be very hasty when something gets him mad. Can you lead us to him?”
“Yes but first,” Teddie spun a full circle and gave the group magically crafted glasses. “Ta-da! These’ll help you see through the fog.”
Edd put his on. They have flashy red frames and sleek rectangular lenses. Eddy’s are star-shaped and tinted purple. Ed’s is a thin visor and futuristic. Double Dee pocketed Kevin’s and they all followed Teddie towards the mirror cul-de-sac to save Kevin from a potential ambush.
An apocalyptic version of their sleepy town came into view. Everything is warped and eerie. The sky is red with black stripes. Structures creak, ready to fall down any minute. There’s no wind but the air hums with an inhuman wail.
Kevin stares up at the roof where Naz had been found. She had been split open and gutted. Left to die. A lifeless corpse. “Naz…” Kevin shook with unbridled rage. “Whoever did this to you is going to fucking pay!”
Mocking laughter echoes in desolate wasteland. It’s identical to Kevin’s voice. He stares at an imposter. A twin with harrowing grin and glowing yellow eyes. “Playing the strong hero are we?”
The Eds and Teddie make it to the fake cul-de-sac and jaws agape they stare at Shadow Kevin. “Is it a trick? An illusion?” Eddy asked.
“No,” the bear shook his head. “A strong shadow. One that forms when a person ignores their inner feelings. Their true self that became distorted by grief over time.”
“I’m you,” Shadow Kevin said. “You act like man of the hour but let’s face it. You’re nothing but a one-note brawn-brain jock. You wanna be number one because without that title you’re nothing!”
“No. You’re wrong!”
“Shouldn’t we step in and save ‘em?” Eddy hissed.
“Not until it transforms,” Teddie frowned. “Get ready to fight!”
“You only cling to Naz because you’re afraid of what others would think. You maybe Mr. Cool to everybody else but you’re just bored to death with life. Scared shitless. A coward. How can you find Naz’s killer if you won’t acknowledge me?”
“Shut up you bastard! You ain’t me! I’ll show you I’m not a coward!”
Shadow Kevin laughed evilly and transformed into a monster, sealing the real Kevin within. He’s now a terrifying shadow, half motorcycle and half four-headed lizard spitting flames.
The shadow notices the group and chuckles. “The dorks come to the rescue huh? Crushing them will be easy!”
“This’ll be fun,” Eddy grinned.
It’s a long drawn-out fight. Thanks to Double Dee’s chemistry knowledge he’s able to apply healing salves and hurl damaging corrosives and flammable potions at Shadow Kevin. Ed distracted him by being a tank, and slowly, they sapped all of Shadow Kevin’s health. The enemy screamed before exploding. The real Kevin reappears unharmed.
Kevin collapses but faces his shadow, smiling. “I guess I’m afraid to let everyone down. I’m supposed to be the strongest and bravest right? But I still have a long way to go. I’ll face my feelings. You are me, and I am you.”
Shadow Kevin nodded and vanishes in an orb of light. In its place is an upper torso and face of a stone man with a mechanical eye and halo. A cloud helps the creature float.
“A persona! This one is called Olympia. With this you can fight hordes of shadows to find the truth. You guys will probably run into your Shadows too,” Teddie stated.
Eddy huffed. “Really? Ugh. I wonder how annoying my shadow will be.”
“What’s wrong with Kevin?” Double Dee checked his vitals. He’s alive but out cold.
“Getting a persona is draining. He’ll be fine after some rest. You guys should leave for now. C’mon, I’ll show you an exit. Remember to always enter through the same TV, or you’ll probably run into some strong shadows!”
Ed, being the strongest, carried Kevin in his arms.
Back at the studio Teddie showed them a door by stacking three box-shaped TVs. “I have to go back to my group. Good luck,” he waved and left.
The Eds all glanced at each other before leaving through the same exit.
Kevin wakes up in a bed, vaguely recalling the encounter with his shadow. His limbs feel heavier than metal beams.
“Good to see you alive,” Eddy’s worried expression vanished to amusement.
“You guys…saved me?”
Eddy looks comically offended and puts his hands on his hips. “We’re in this together aren’t we?”
“Yeah, you’re one of us now!” Ed smiled.
“We wouldn’t leave you to fight on your own,” Double Dee added.
“We know what it’s like to be outsiders so…” Eddy veered his gaze from Kevin’s. “Anyway. You’ll be staying over at Double Dee’s until you get better. Then we’ll go back to that other world. I’m leavin’ for the night. See ya later –c’mon Ed!” The shorter Ed pulled the tallest Ed out the door, giving the weak Kevin some peace.
It didn’t seem like much, but Kevin felt warmth in his chest at the Eds candid friendship. Together, they’d all find the killer.