Off The Rails
Chapter 1
(AN:OS- hopefully these authors' notes will be few in number. But I wanted to say thanks for checking in so far. If anything seems different then Worm as Written that is because of the Off the Rails drawback. If you see anything that looks weird, generally refer to that. Next up i am writing this with a friend so we will be switching character perspectives. Last thing I went back and added a few things to my character. I'm not adding them here because I want them to be surprises. -BT- So hey everyone. I'm the friend/co-author. Just a quick heads up that the prologue is honestly about a third finished. We had a lot of ideas that we wanted to get written down before we lost them to the void of our consciousness. I will be writing a brief description of James [my CYOA character] and also an In Medias Res. If you don't like those types of things, skip it. Who cares? Like OS said, we're doing this for fun. I think I've rambled long enough. Hope you enjoy the first official chapter of Off The Rails.)
Fionn POV
So, before we get to The Locker we need to talk about a few things. Taylor and I knew each other as kids along with Emma, and our friendship persisted after my trigger. Emma was left unaware because by the time I triggered she already told Taylor to get lost. Now we get to talk about High School, more specifically Winslow. Now I have to use an android to attend school, Taylor is aware, to lessen the bullying against her. And that worked for the most part, I drew some of the heat off of Taylor but Emma and Sophia didn't exactly go easy on either of us.
So now the real problem arises, because I have been here for more than two years, I forgot what day The Locker happened. In hindsight it should have been obvious. As I walked through the doors and made my way to meet up with Taylor, I noticed a huge crowd in front of her locker.
"Oh fuck no." I whispered to myself.
I had to push and shove my way to the front before- That, that blackout moment. See just before winter break they eased off of Taylor and went all in on me, so I hoped that meant I did it and they switched targets. Obviously not. As I made it to the front I took note that the Trio were laughing, hard. But my Geas told me they were not the priority. As I made my way to being in front of The Locker I ripped it off its hinges, and what I saw was worse then what was written. It looked like someone stuffed a whole dumpster in there.
"Someone call 911!" I shouted, as I gently pulled Taylor from The Locker.
Her safety being my top priority I forced my way through the crowd as I carried her to the nurses office, while hopefully someone called an ambulance or something.
James' POV
There was a plus side to being used to the "Villain" lifestyle. It made it really easy to blend into a crowd. Unfortunately, this one happened to be in my way. I just want to leave. Is that so much to ask? I thought, making my way through the throng of people. What's even happening up there? I tried to get a look over the people in front of me, but being 5'10 only allows so much. I could make out the fact that the congregation was centered on a locker. Other than that I saw something that made my stomach twist. Standing at the front, laughing with her friends, I could see her glossy red hair. Emma. Damn it. What the hell did she- It was now I also noticed the straight, dark hair of Sophia, and the short brown hair of Madison. -They do this time? ...Wait. Isn't that locker… As I trailed off in my own head, my eyes grew wide in realization.
"Sheila, I need you to start recording for the folder marked 'Evidence'," I whispered, glancing around quickly to make sure nobody heard me. Thankfully, being Mr. Nobody, no one was looking my way. I started making my way forward when I felt it. That Snap of somebody having their Trigger. Oh god damnit, I thought as I fell to the ground.
I've been here before.
Have I?
Is that me?
No. I'm me.
But I'm you.
Are we the same?
No. I'm me and you're you.
Then what are we?
Merging.
Oh.
Will I still be here?
Both of us will.
Sharing?
No. Together. One mind. Not two.
Oh.
Are you okay?
I'm not sure.
Well we don't have any more time.
Why not?
Cause it's here.
I/We look up. He/I was right. The Entity was here. I/We remember this. The Worm that visited me/him when I/he was forced to watch my/his parents and sister get killed and raped. This was the same vision. We recognized it. The Shard came closer, until-
01010000010000010100100101001110
The memories were clashing. A childhood that was lived. A childhood that was ruined. Friends in school. Crippling loneliness and abandonment. A graduation. An expulsion. Too much. Too fast. Not enough time.
Worm.
It all clicked into place for me. I managed to catch myself before I faceplanted. I remember now. I remember it all. My past life, my friends, my family. But I also remember this one. My sister, my parents, Eidolon. I stand back up, making it look like I just tripped. I look up just in time to see a locker door flying towards me.
"SHIT!" I drop back to the floor as I fell the wind whipping past my hair, the door just barely missing the top of my head. Hope those poor fucks behind have some brain cells left. Considering the lack of a splat, maybe there's hope for the future after all. I get back to my feet in time to hear someone start shouting.
"Someone call 911!" I can see someone pulling Taylor from the locker. Wait a second. The build, shoulder length brown hair, slightly gangly. There's no way.
"Alec?" I can't believe it. Bullshit. No shot that- Wait. Oh son of a bitch. The CYOA. We actually did. Well shit.
This is gonna go off the rails real quick.