This takes place after Episode 47. It contains a lot of Cecil!whump, Cecilos (obviously), and angst angst angst. If this generates enough interest it will quickly become a multi-chapter thing. Please leave a review so I know to continue. :) ~Phoenix

-oOo-

The next time Carlos hears him is on the radio.

Naturally.

He's driving through the desert, trying to ignore the words slipping smoothly from Night Vale's newest radio hosts - Kevin and Lauren - trying to forget that somebody else used to be behind the microphone.

He hasn't seen Cecil in three weeks.

The last time he heard anything from him was through the radio. Because he was listening from the old house, listening as Night Vale refused to rise up, listening as Cecil's voice slumped in disappointment, listened as the door to the station slammed open and they -

Carlos closes his eyes. He doesn't want to think about it.

He had jumped into his car, of course, raced to the radio station - but when he got there, it was completely and utterly vacant. There was nobody there. There was nobody in his apartment, either, or in Cecil's, and when he overheard a StrexCorp employee muttering into a phone about "the scientists", he knew he had no choice but to run.

So he's running.

He's been circling what used to be Night Vale for weeks, now - never close enough for them to find him, but never far enough away that he doesn't get the Community Radio broadcasts.

He doesn't know what to do. So he waits for Cecil.

Kevin is talking, his voice radiating false warmth and deadly cheer. "And now, for traffic. There is no traffic! There should be no traffic. We are all working, working as hard as we possibly can, and there is no need to be commuting! Isn't that right, Lauren?"

"Absolutely, Kevin," comes Lauren's voice through the radio. Carlos clenches his teeth, recalling the many nights Cecil would rant and rave about "fucking Lauren" and her sickly sweet words and razor-sharp eyes. "The only cars," she continues, "are those of StrexCorp's security unit, making sure everything is fine and dandy for all you super-hard workers out there!"

Carlos rubs his face, his car still rumbling along the deserted road.

There is a rustling from the radio broadcast and some indistinguishable murmurs. Finally, Kevin comes back to the mic. "Wonderful news, listeners!" he says, the cheer in his voice now obviously strained. "We have an old friend back with us today who has some things to say to everyone in the Greater Desert Bluffs Metropolitan Area. I know we went through a rough patch for a while, but we're all good now, and… well, he just wanted to say a few words!"

Carlos jams the car to a halt, his heart hammering in his chest, as Cecil's voice comes through the radio.

But it is wrong.

No longer is it deep and resonant and confident. No longer is Cecil controlling the airwaves. His voice is strangled and dry and shaky, and he's saying words that Cecil would never say, he would never -

"Hello, listeners," Cecil says weakly. "It's me… Cecil. I'm very happy to be back, thanks to the… benevolence of our good friend. StrexCorp. I know that in… a past time, I was not the biggest supporter of StrexCorp. And all that they do." His words are slow and careful - very, very careful. "But after some… persuasion, very - effective persuasion," and Carlos can practically hear the shudder in Cecil's words, "I have come to the conclusion that. StrexCorp. Is what is right. For... the Greater Desert Bluffs Metropolitan Area. And I hope," he chokes, "that we can put this all. Behind us."

Kevin chuckles darkly. Carlos's fists clench on the steering wheel. "Sounds terrific, Cecil!" Kevin says. "You really have had a change of heart."

There is no answer.

"I can understand why, too," Lauren interjects. "Our associates at the StrexCorp facility can be very persuasive when they need to be."

There is a long pause. "Yes," Cecil replies quietly, tensely.

"Of course, Cecil will not be able to return to the Community Radio Broadcast," Kevin says regretfully, "due to some internal affairs that none of you need be concerned about. Good ol' Cecil here will still be around, though! At the StrexCorp headquarters. Until he's completely… persuaded."

When Cecil speaks again, his voice is trembling. "Please…" he practically whispers, "don't…"

"All for the greater good, Cecil," Lauren says, "all for the greater good."

There is a long, heavy pause, and then a quiet - "No."

Kevin inhales sharply. "Excuse me?"

Carlos's heart simultaneously leaps and falls as Cecil seems to grab the microphone, shouting - "Night Vale, Night Vale - I know you're out there! We can still stop this, we can still - I can't do this alone, but you can - don't give up! Don't let this happen! I beg of -"

He's cut off with a dull thunk, and a crash - as if he's thrown to the ground. Carlos grits his teeth as he hears new footsteps, muted shouts, and the terrible crack of bone.

He hears Cecil scream.

"No!" he shouts weakly from his car as Kevin grabs the mic and begins to speak over the sounds of someone - someone beating Cecil. They're hurting Cecil.

"We apologize for this inconvenience, listeners," he says, no trace of false cheer in his voice any longer. "Obviously, our efforts to win our radio host over have not been completely effective."

There is another thud and Cecil cries out in agony.

"You should ignore him," Kevin snaps as more shouts and cries fill the air. "Our… interns are taking care of him. He will be -"

Kevin cuts off with an oof, and Carlos can't figure out what's going on but he's hearing a tussle, he's hearing fists and feet making impact with bodies and faces and -

There is a loud crash, a cry, and then a huge thunk - like someone is being forced onto the desk near the mic. Carlos holds his breath and begs the universe to let it be Cecil talking next, let him hear Cecil saying -

He hears Cecil. But he is not speaking.

He is crying.

"No. I will not allow this any longer!" Kevin shouts from further away, and Carlos realizes what is happening - Kevin is holding Cecil down, holding him onto the desk, probably holding his arms behind his back and -

"You are an insignificant ant in this world, and I'm sick and tired of your interfering," Kevin says. There is a sickening crunch and Cecil groans in agony. Carlos feels tears spring to his eyes.

"We won't stop this until you are fully and entirely persuaded, Cecil," Kevin says, "and you might as well figure that out now."

Carlos hears Cecil mumbling something - he leans closer, turns up the volume -

"Help… please," Cecil is whispering, choking towards the microphone, "help…"

"There's nobody out there to help. You are alone," Kevin practically cackles. "Isn't that funny, Cecil? You are so, so very alone."

Cecil is trying to say something, but there seems to be something constricting his throat - Kevin's hand, maybe? - he gasps for air and -

"Carlos…"

Carlos jolts.

"Carlos, please…" Cecil cries softly, "please…"

"Cecil," Carlos says aloud, like maybe that will help -

"Carlos… h… help..."

That's when Kevin starts laughing - starts really laughing.

"Oh, Carlos," he mimics Cecil cruelly, "Oh, help, perfect, beautiful Carlos! Well, I've got some bad news for you, bud. He's not listening."

"He is," Cecil chokes, "he is… he has to be."

Kevin tsks his tongue. "Sorry, pal. He isn't. We already have him."

Carlos cries out from his car. "That's not true!" he shouts, but Cecil can't hear him, Cecil who's also shouting -

"NO!" Cecil screams brokenly, "No, please -!"

"We've had him for days, now. And we can't wait to persuade him, too."

"He's lying!" Carlos shouts.

But Cecil can't hear.

There is a wrenching, broken sob coming from Cecil. And another. "Please, don't hurt him," he cries, "please… I'll do anything. You can do whatever you want to me, just - please, don't do this to him -"

"Tough luck, buddy," Kevin says. "We've already started."

"No," Cecil whispers, and with that singular, cracked word, Carlos can feel both of their hearts split in two.

"He's a pretty one, isn't he?" Kevin continues cruelly. He gives a small grunt, and Cecil screams. "But he won't look so perfect when we're through with him."

"I'm begging you," Cecil chokes, his voice so desperate, so agonized, "I'm begging you not to hurt him. He has nothing to do with -"

His words cut off abruptly. There is a heavy thud like something hitting the ground.

"Carlos has everything to do with this," Kevin says slowly, "because you are in love with him. And we are going to break you, Cecil Palmer, until you are ours. And your perfect Carlos? He needs to be eradicated."

There are strangled, muffled sobs coming from Cecil. Carlos's teeth ache from gritting together, and his eyes burn as tears spill onto his cheeks. They're lying, Cecil, please know they're lying...

"Take him away," Lauren mutters as she shifts back into her position. There is the sound of footsteps and grumbling and dragging. There is silence.

"We're sorry you had to hear all that… listeners," Kevin says slowly. Dangerously. "But it's good for you to be fully aware. StrexCorp is happy to accommodate everyone who wishes to make themselves better humans - through hard work and efficiency and hard work. But we will not tolerate insurgents. Cecil… is a prime example. You will not be hearing from him again."

Carlos clenches his eyes shut and presses a fist to his mouth. He tries not to break. He tries so hard to keep it together.

He can't keep it together.

"And now, the weather."

-oOo-

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