How many times could a bloke be completely blindsided in one day? Of all the things he expected to come of those crunching, hurried foot steps, it hadn't been Colin's voice. As soon as his brother came into view, it was as if someone had physically struck Dennis. The color drained from his features as he shook his head and tried to back up. The wand in his hand shook unsteadily, camera clunky and awkward around his neck. It was Colin's camera. Colin's camera that hung there and Colin's name that was on his arm and Colin that was standing before him even though that was impossible.
Dennis looked at the other boy with wide eyes, head slowly moving back and forth as he tripped over his own feet to get away. "No." he choked out, "No, no, no, no, no." he repeated, backing up further. "You're not- You aren't- You're not real. You're- You're-" Dennis scrambled, trying to piece together a proper sentence though none would come. His thoughts didn't even make sense. Eventually he settled for squeezing his eyes shut and pressing the heels of his hands against them. "You're not real." he murmured to himself. "Not real. Wake up."