Hello just a reminder. This –Arc- is an extension of the Brendan and the Music Box Missing Ending. That being said this is the BTMB –ARC- Sane Route. This focuses on Brendan's struggle to keep his sanity. Well with all that being said enjoy the story. Oh, if you haven't read the original Music Box go read it to understand the plot of the story.
May goes into the dining room and sees Brendan awake.
"Good Morning May." Brendan said.
"*Yawn* Brendan? Why are you up so early?" May asked tiredly.
"I'm excited to visit this spooky abandoned house today. I bet it's full of really scary ghosts. BoOOOOooo!" Brendan joked.
"Ah! Stop, you know I hate ghosts." May said while playfully socking his arm.
"Haha, I know. That's why I'm going alone." Brendan laughed.
"Why are you going there anyway?" May asked curiously.
"I'm gonna do an investigation. There have been numerous disappearances there." Brendan explained.
"Do you want me to come with you?" May offered. Just then, Brendan's expression turned serious.
"...Um... No sorry I think it's best I go alone. I already told the others they can't come with me." Brendan said with a hint of caution in his voice.
"Are you sure? I can come with you." May said concernedly. May was worried. A few minutes ago, his expression was joyful and now it was the complete opposite.
"Hey you don't worry about me. You just stay here okay?" Brendan said.
"O-Okay. If you say so." May said giving up. "(I knew there was no pointing on insisting on going with Brendan. He was dead set on going alone. I thought it was because he was worried about my safe. Turns out he was worried of his own.) That was the last time I saw Brendan's smile. The day our normal days ended. I miss those days. I miss those days, I miss my Brother.)
Back at the Mansion after 'Brendan' stabbed her she was struggling to hold onto life.
"Everything is... blurring... I couldn't save my brother... I wonder what's going to happening? Am I going to die? Will Brendan snap out of it and come back for me? I don't know. I guess I'll just wait and find out." May thought. But she realized Brendan was in that cursed home. He was suffering. She has to save him. "No... No, I won't let it end like this!" May gets up but struggles to. "B-Brendan... I'm coming to save you... Ah, the wound is so deep I can barely walk... That's not Brendan, he wouldn't do this to me I have to save him." Now to Brendan in the house.
"..." Brendan starts crying. "Why...? Why did you make me do this? You killed my sister! You monster!" Brendan cried to the demon inside him. "What else do you want from me?! You already took what's most precious to me!" Brendan sobbed so much his voice almost died in all his tears.
"You can't escape. You are fated to die here." Alice said simply.
"Then just get it over with! I don't want to be in this living hell anymore!" Brendan said. He was done. He couldn't save his Best Friend so he wants to be dead as well.
"Well will you submit yourself to me?" Suddenly a flash of images enters Brendan's head.
"Hey Brendan don't give up! The Brendan I know wouldn't give up this easy." A rush of determination fills Brendan.
"Ah May! I won't give up! No!" Brendan stands up. "I promise..." Brendan vowed. He proceeds to the dining and the beautiful blue eyes of Dawn met him.
"Brendan! Thank goodness I found you!" Dawn said with relief.
"Dawn..." 'Brendan' muttered.
"Brendan? What's wrong?" Dawn asked concernedly.
"(No please! Don't hurt her!)" Brendan begged in his mind.
"Brendan? Hello?" Dawn called once again.
"Hehehe..." 'Brendan' cackled quietly. He had a knife in hand ready to kill his next victim.
"Huh...?" Dawn said starting to get confused with Brendan's behaviour.
"(Stop this!") Brendan demanded. Luckily, he manages to get a grip on himself and puts away the knife before Dawn sees it. Then he finally says... "Dawn I'm so glad you're here." Brendan said relieved. Dawn put on a face of concern.
"Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost." Dawn asked. Brendan didn't answer that question.
"Why are you here? I told you It's not safe here." Brendan asked wondering what Dawn was even doing here. She crossed her arms.
"I came to find you. You were away so long that I came to try and find you. I care about your safety you know." Dawn explained. Brendan put on a small smile.
"Thanks, I appreciate it." Brendan thanked. Dawn also smiled at that. "We should probably go. If we stay here any longer who knows what might happen." Brendan suggested.
"Well, I tried opening the front door but something is not letting me pass. I only have this key, it's supposed to be for the basement. There might be an exit there." Dawn gives Brendan the basement key.
"Alright. We still have hope to get out of here. Let's go." Suddenly Brendan sees a repeating image of the same sentence. NOT REAL.
"W-what?" Brendan said a bit disturbed.
"Huh?" Dawn said confusedly. Brendan shrugged it off.
"It's nothing let's just go." Brendan said discarding what he had just seen. Brendan and Dawn head for the basement. When they first enter, they find a barrel puzzle. "Not again..." Brendan muttered. Regardless Brendan and Dawn make it through the maze. They proceed to pass a door but for some reason Brendan is unable to open it. "Huh? I can't open this." Brendan said.
"Brendan what's wrong?" Dawn asks.
"I can't open the door. I can turn the knob but I can't push it." Suddenly Dawn hears a strange noise.
"W-what was that?" Dawn said startled. Brendan turned around and saw a mysterious figure approaching them.
"Stay behind me Dawn!" Brendan said protectively. Brendan stared at the figure but he couldn't make it out properly. "Who's there?! Reveal yourself! I know you're there!"
"Please... come back. Don't leave me to die." The voice begged.
"Brendan do something!" Said Dawn who was getting more scared. Brendan keeps pushing the door and now he finally opens it.
"I got it! Run!" Brendan commanded. As Dawn ran, Brendan held the door shut.
"Brendan... Please..." The voice continued to plead. A second later, it gave up.
"That's a relief... Dawn?" Brendan goes forward to look for Dawn but she is nowhere in sight. "Dawn?! Dawn!" Brendan called. No response. "I can't believe I lost her already. I'm such an idiot... I need to find her." Brendan said berating himself.
HEY GUYS! Hope you enjoyed the first chapter of ARC. It was a bit short I know but I wanted to push it out before February. Stay updated for chapter 2!
