*the once neglected tape suddenly boots up again with a sputter of dust and a mechanical wheeze. It's been almost a year. Gradient's gone. What could she possibly want now?*

*It's not Addie you hear on the end of the tape. It's a vaguely English male voice - Praxus. You can't see him, but he doesn't sound panicked, so you may safely assume he's not in any immediate danger*

"I-is this thing on? Shit, sorry, I don't really know how to work these things-

Hello?? Oh. That's- that's what- okay. Cool. Cool cool. It's on.

Anyway, um... hi. It's me. Praxus. Xyan's boyfriend. You might remember me. Uh...

*he mutters*

Shit, where's the point-

Anyway! I already said that-

*he clears his throat*

S-so... I'm worried.

I know Gradient's gone, and you all are probably sick of all the crap he's been putting everyone through, and don't worry! He's not back! I, uh... Addie not finishing book 2 kind of threw me off, I'm sorry- She was meant to finish it on Halloween last year. That's why Gradient disappeared. "Canonically," as Addie would say, the story is complete and Gradient is [the audio cuts out slightly as he mentions Gradient's canon fate].

It's not Gradient that worries me, though. It's Addie.

Addie is... acting weird. I don't know what it is. She's been more prone to anger, more aloof, more in her thoughts (Which is saying quite a bit, I've never seen her not in her thoughts-). And most oddly she keeps saying the strangest things to herself. Always in this quick, hyper voice like she's on a quiet sugar rush. And while her talking to herself isn't unusual at all... words like "satiate" and "fulfill" are two recurring words that are quite out of place in my opinion.

I'm not saying you guys have to do anything, but you guys have more power than I do. Shit, I'm a ghost created as a figment of her imagination, I'm just here in her head.

Here, let's make a deal. Er-

*he pauses*

Not in the Gradient way, just a deal. I'll work on my end to figure out what's wrong, and you guys make sure she doesn't, like... hurt anyone. I don't think she will, but if she does... then that's definitely an issue.

...I hope things don't go to hell again.

*with a click the recorder dies once more.*