Chapter 26 - Dusk

My eyes ached from the blinding light as it slowly began to fade away. I groaned, "Man, I would have really liked to have little more warning before being blinded...again." As my eyes finally adjusted, I stared down at Niko in my arms, "You okay?"

She stared back at me silently before she started to giggle. I was taken aback, "What's so funny?"

She kept giggling as she smiled up at me, "Remember back when we first met? When we left that house and entered the Barrens? You held onto me exactly the same way as just now."

It took me a second to realize what she was talking about before I started to laugh, "Well, at least THIS time, it isn't completely awkward."

She laughed with me as she left my grip. She stopped and looked around, "Where...are we?"

I studied our surroundings. It was dark, that much was certain. The floor had changed from metal sky bridges to a normal wooden floor. The more I looked around, the more familiar it all felt. My gaze wandered past Niko and noticed that we were at the end of a long hallway. A very familiar looking hallway…

I jumped to my feet, "Hang on, I think I know where we are…" I motioned for Niko to follow me as I started walking down the corridor. At the end of the hall was a door that revealed a large flight of stairs that led up into the darkness. We began to climb the stairs. Each step we took, I became more and more certain of where we were. The dark hallway, the familiar wooden floor, the long flight of stairs...it was exactly the same as…

We passed through one last door at the top of the stairs and my suspicions were confirmed. It was the house we both had woken up in when we arrived in this world. Only this time, it didn't look run down. The holes in the floor were now gone and the furniture looked completely new.

"Deja vu…" I murmured as we moved through the house. We entered the door that was next to the TV, the room Niko had woken up in. Like the foyer, it was completely clear in here. No holes in the floor, no fractures in the shelves…

Niko walked over to the window. Soft grey light poured through, but it was nearly impossible to see the outside. "I wonder where that light is coming from…" Niko commented before moving back through the room, eyeing everything with a wary gaze. I looked through the bookshelf, pulling random books off and opening them. Most of them were blank, save for one. A simple phrase, but something about it unsettled me:

Ad finitum.

I didn't know what it meant so I placed the book back where it was. Niko had finished exploring everything, so we both left the room. The only door left was different than before. Instead of a symbol of the lightbulb, it was just a normal door. Opening it led to another flight of stairs. Not as long as coming from the basement, but it led us higher, presumably to the summit.

Niko and I walked side-by-side up the stairs and into the corridor. We were both silent as the floorboards creaked under us. I should have been excited that we were finally nearing the end. We were going to save the world...and Niko would finally get back home...but I wasn't.

My thoughts drifted back to the Author's messages and the sad truth he made clear: It was impossible to save both. If we shatter the sun, this whole world and everyone in it will die, but Niko will be able to go home. If we return the sun…

A chill ran down my spine. What was going to happen to Niko if we returned the sun? The Author never mentioned what would happen afterward. She wouldn't go home, so then...did that mean…?

The hallway glitched into black and purple wireframe as Niko suddenly stopped moving. I stopped as well when I felt the familiar pressure of my headache return before a voice spoke, "[So...you actually made it here.]"

I growled, "What do you want now?"

The Entity sighed, "[I...guess you win, Alan. I will tell you how to save the world, then.]"

"Look, it's a bit late to be trying to make nice with me after what you just put both of us through. Just stay silent and let us do our thing, okay?" The hallway quickly returned to normal and Niko began to walk again. She hadn't realized that the Entity was speaking to me. Good, I didn't feel like making nice with the thing that had separated us and lied to her.

A couple more paces before the wireframe returned and the Entity along with it, "[Of course. I'm simply humoring you. I already know you've been getting help from a certain someone.]"

I caught my breath. He knew about the Author? Did that mean that he knew about…?

"[Yes, I already know that he told you about the choice.]" it said, reading my thoughts.

The Entity vanished once again, only to return after a few more steps down the corridor, "[Are you still planning to save the world, Alan?]"

I didn't respond. I had no idea what I could say. The Entity continued, "[Why are you trying so hard for this? Haven't you even figured out what this world IS?]"

"It's...fake, right?" I faltered, "It's on the laptop...It's all just a program…"

"[Exactly.]"

A few more paces…

"[I already told you before, this world was never worth saving. Your mission is to help Niko leave...because Niko isn't part of this world. She is the only thing worth saving here.]"

I wanted to argue. I wanted to scream and yell that it was wrong. Just because this world was a window on a laptop...was fake...that didn't mean the people's lives were fake. It FELT real…

But...it was right. By saving them, Niko doesn't go home.

"[...The final choice is up to you."] The Entity said, "[I can't go against my programming.]"

Niko and I rounded a corner, "[You only have one shot, Alan. If you choose to smash the lightbulb, then Niko wakes up back home, like it was all a dream…]"

And I end up killing an entire world...I thought.

"[...But if you let Niko return the sun, the child will have to bear the weight of this sacrifice.]"

I froze in shock. Sacrifice…? Surely, that doesn't mean…

"[At least, tell Niko the truth...You do care about Niko, don't you?]"

I did. I cared about her so much. She was like the little sister I never got to have...but could I really justify killing an entire world to send her home? Silver, Calamus, Alula, the Lamplighter, the Bartender, Kip, George...all of them…

The wireframe vanished for the final time as the doors to the elevator slowly opened and we stepped inside. I stuffed my hands into my jacket, hiding them from Niko so that she didn't see them trembling.

My thoughts continued to race as the elevator took us higher...and higher...and higher towards the summit.

"...Sure is taking a while…" Niko spoke. She looked up at the ceiling, "I guess this elevator leads to the top of the Tower, Alan…"

I said nothing.

"...Are you excited, Alan? We're finally gonna save the world! And I know it's for real this time, cause you're here!"

I glanced over at her as she continued, "And then...I'll get to go home for real this time, too! I can't wait to see everyone again..."

I could feel myself grow tense as she spoke those words. She didn't realize...that that wasn't how this was going to end…

"...Are you okay, Alan?"

I flinched, "Huh? What...do you mean?"

Her head tilted, "You just seem...a little quiet…"

Chills began to run down my spine. I couldn't keep this from her, but...it would crush her. I had no other choice. I prepared myself and faced her, "...Niko."

She perked up, "...yeah?"

I clenched my fists harder, "T-There's...something I need to tell you."

"...I'm listening."

My chest felt like it was on fire as I choked on the truth, "We…" I barely realized my eyes started to burn as I stared into Niko's golden irises, "...we can't save both." She looked confused, prompting me to keep going, "The world...a-and you…"

Her brow furrowed, "Wh...what's that supposed to mean, Alan?"

I tore my gaze away from her as I could feel my knuckles turn white, "The only way to send you home…" I squeezed my eyes shut, "...is if we break the lightbulb."

I didn't hear a response at first. I opened my eyes to look at her, only to see her eyes wide with horror. The onyx slits of her pupils narrowed to the point of vanishing.

"W-What?!" she cried out, "But won't that…But won't that end the world?!"

I didn't answer.

"I...I don't want that to happen…" she trailed off as silence filled the elevator.

I couldn't stop my shaking as we continued to climb. Everything we've been through, all the people we've met...knowing that they all had to die for Niko to leave...it all was starting to become too much…

"So…" Niko began to say, "...what happens when we save the world?" She looked up at me with fear in her eyes, "...What happens to me…?"

"…I don't know..."

"Y-You...don't?" she faltered before we both fell silent again.

The rest of the elevator ride was like that. Neither of us said a word, lest one of us ended up breaking down. Suddenly, the elevator stopped and the door slowly opened.

We walked out into a room of glass. Looking down at the world below, it all looked so small. It hardly calmed me, knowing that everyone down there was waiting for us. Waiting for our decision…

I turned away to see Niko slowly approaching a small pedestal. I came up next to her and we both stared at it.

"So this is where the sun belongs…" Niko began, "If I put the sun in here, we'll be able to save the world, right?"

"Yeah…"

"But if I want to go home...I'll have to…" she broke off as she began to cry, "...break it?"

I nodded silently.

"Oh…"

Neither of us said anything. Neither of us knew what to do. This was a decision that neither of us wanted to make.

"...Alan?" she sniffled, "What should I...do?"

I caught my breath as she looked up at me, her golden eyes stained with tears, "What's the right thing to do?"

The right thing to do…

There wasn't a right choice. There wasn't a way to figure out which was the right choice. I stood there, staring at the pedestal in a daze. Returning the sun meant we save the world, but Niko doesn't go home...and letting Niko go home means I doom an entire world. I felt myself hover over to the window as I stared out into the blackness that filled the sky.

I didn't know what to do. I replayed our journey over and over, wondering if there was something I missed...if there was some way that this could've ended differently, but I couldn't think of anything. My fists clenched as I started to become angry...Angry at the Entity, at the Author, at myself. Why did it have to end like this? Why did it have to be Niko? Why did it have to be ME? Why did I have to choose between saving an entire world or letting it die?! Why did saving the world mean letting the only friend I've ever had, the only friend I've ever CARED about, suffer an unknown fate?!

Why? Why?! WHY? WHY?!

With a cry, I slammed my fists against the glass. Tears had begun to sting my eyes, forcing me to squeeze them shut. This isn't fair...it isn't fair...I kept repeating to myself over and over again.

This world...Even if it was fake, it felt real. These people…felt REAL. If it was just me, returning the sun would be a risk I'd be willing to take...

...

...but I could never, EVER, risk her.

I slowly opened my eyes and turned towards Niko, who was staring at me in anticipation, waiting for my inevitable choice. I walked up to her and knelt down to her level. I laid a hand on the sun and looked her in the eye. It took every ounce of my being to not break down on the spot, but it was becoming harder and harder as we stared at each other. Eventually, I finally found the courage to speak.

"...You're going home, Niko."

Her eyes widened at first before they darkened, "I…" she started to say, "...I trust your judgment, Alan."

I started to feel the onset of tears as my gaze fell to the floor, "I'm sorry...I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise…" I whimpered as I took the sun out of her hands.

Her tears began to fall faster as she wrapped her arms around me, her sobs muffled against my jacket. I rubbed her back with one arm as I held out the sun above the floor with the other.

Silver, Kip, George, Lamplighter...Calamus, Alula...I'm so sorry…

Taking one last breath, I closed my eyes, held onto Niko tightly, and let the lightbulb fall out of my hands and onto the floor.

*CRASH*

The familiar yellow glow of the sun disappeared as the ear-splitting sound of glass shattering reverberated against the walls of the Tower. It wasn't until I opened my eyes again that I saw that Niko and I were in complete darkness. The Tower was gone. All that remained was a void.

Niko looked up from my chest and looked around, "...Alan? What happened? It's really dark in here..."

"I don't know...but I don't think we're in the Tower anymore..."

Suddenly, a ray of light shined on us from nearby. It looked...like a door, but I couldn't see the other side.

"Niko…?"

She perked up, "Oh! I hear someone!" She hopped out of my grip as she moved closer to the doorway, "...Mama?" She turned back to me, "That's her! I can hear her calling me!"

She started to jog towards the light. I followed after her, but before I could reach the doorway, I was knocked back by an invisible wall. Niko heard me and raced back to my side, "Alan? What's wrong?"

I put out my hand, feeling the wall I had just crashed into. It felt like static. Just touching it made my hand start to hurt. I pulled away and looked at Niko, "I think...this is where we part ways."

"But…I want you to come with me," she lamented, "I don't want you to go back to being alone…"

I don't want to be alone either...

I shook my head and smiled, "The only thing that matters now is that you're almost home."

I don't want you to leave...

"You'll be home...and this will have all been like a dream."

I don't want you to forget me...

"You'll be with your friends...and your family."

Please don't leave me behind…

I pulled Niko into one last hug as tears started to roll down my face. Niko held onto my shirt tightly as she whispered, "Thank you...for everything, Alan."

Please don't let me go…

She let go of me and began to walk through the wall that kept me from following her.

Please...don't go…

She stood at the precipice of the door, turning back to look at me one last time before she walked into the light. Her silhouette grew dimmer and dimmer as she walked further and further away before it vanished entirely. I soon began to feel myself being pulled back to my world. Light washed over me before it began to fade. I found myself back in the motel room, staring at the laptop in front of me.

All the places we had been...The Refuge, The Glen, The Barrens...I watched as they all faded away, leaving only darkness in its place. As the last of the world disappeared, a message popped up:

FATAL ERROR: SAVIOR NOT FOUND. SHUTTING DOWN.

With that, the window closed, leaving me alone.

It was over...Niko was finally home...but I had given the Entity exactly what it wanted. Death to an entire world.

I stayed motionless as the first few rays of light from the coming sunrise streamed in through the windows. I dragged the laptop off of my lap but stopped when I felt something in my pocket. Something small...I reached in and pulled out whatever it was...and froze.

It was the picture of me and Niko, close together as the sun shined between us. Her pure, golden eyes stared back at me as the weight of all that had just happened finally crashed down on me.

I...I killed them. Silver, Calamus, Alula, Kip, George, the Lamplighter, the Bartender...I killed them all. And Niko...Niko is gone...forever.

I held the picture close to my heart...

...and I wept.

Please...come back to me...

End of Act One

End Theme: Rain - Martin O'Donnell

A/N: WELL, this chapter was emotionally difficult to write, but I hope you all enjoy this pseudo-final chapter.
I say "pseudo" because this story is far from over.
That being said, I am going to take a short break. Partly because I want to bring this story over to AO3 to reach more people (Don't worry, I'm still mainly going to update it here) and partly because I've been working on this story for a good 3 months straight and wanna take some time to recover so I don't burn out.

Again, THIS STORY IS NOT OVER AND I AM NOT ABANDONING IT.

And in response to the most recent Anonymous review: You make a very valid point, but I had always been taught that a story should be written as if someone had never experienced the material before, or in this case, has never played OneShot. I felt it made sense to include the majority of main conversations that take place in-game and for Alan to take note of smaller details since this all is from his POV and, up until now, it's his first time going through this completely new world (It is a novelization, after all). The chapters to come after won't emphasize these details as much now that Alan knows what to expect, allowing for his relationship with Niko to take center stage. Regardless, I will absolutely be taking your critiques into account as I move forward as well as going back and seeing if I can possibly improve anything. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to write such a detailed review.

To everyone else, thank you for reading this far and I hope you'll look forward to the rest of With You Unto Dawn!