"Hey." What felt like a dull rake shook them gently. "Lightner. Kris, hey. Human."
The voice didn't allow them to fall back to sleep.
Operating under the unfounded assumption that time progresses at an identical rate in this Dark World, you have rested for approximately eight hours.
They still felt like a corpse and their ankle pulsed with the injury from earlier, back with a vengeance. Couldn't they just stay in bed for a little longer?
Categorize: want vs need. You want to sleep for longer. You use your injury as a motivator. Said injury was not restored at a save point due to the insignificant nature of the damage. The mission dictates the current need for perusal of resources, pathways, and routes to continue the experiment. While sleep is not frowned upon to naturally reinvigorate your human body, every second wasted presents an exponentially increasing probability for spatial infiltration of Castle Town Fountain. A timely response would be appreciated by Susie and Ralsei. Your worry would evince change in perception from cold and harsh to caring secretly.
The other was really guilting them to wake up, wasn't it?
Negative. The equations present variables and each variable is capable of a profound effect on the experiment. Assaying of personal relationships is paramount to favorable odds. Substantiate a likable persona. Showcase care and empathy. Deceive them.
If they hadn't been doing it for so long, they would have felt guilt at the idea of lying to their friends and people around them, but at the end of the day, nothing mattered as long as they didn't have to experience the grueling agony of multiple deaths, snapping teeth, jaws that shattered their SOUL and scattered blood and viscera over the painted floors.
Compliance will be rewarded.
They shot up in a daze, scaring the young Darkner who flinched back as though dodging a hit that never came. Zero cranked their head before ducking away toward the door. Kris felt strings and they called out, reaching a hand from under the covers.
"Wait, I'm sorry." They weren't. But the thought counted as Zero paused, wing wrapped tight around the doorknob.
"…everyone is. They always are." Zero replied cryptically before opening the door proper, and all Kris could see was the smooth, malty head of the Darkner as they crossed the gap, muttering back at the human as they ambivalently retreated, "all you'll be too if you don't save your friends."
Their friends? What did Susie… plural? As in, more than one- Ralsei.
Blankets rustled and tumbled to the floor as they hopped out of bed. They didn't care for the hurry, there was no real urgency as long as they had the other pulling the strings, but they knew what the other would want: information. If Ralsei had made it to the new Dark World from Castle Town then that either meant it was breached or Ralsei made the journey to help them, so they would be wise to save him. Healing magic would be incredible to have if they were to seek out - if they remembered Detter correctly - the code for the Astrowall. The other agreed and fed them directions to follow.
Zero had returned to the chair with the rock. Bang. Bang. Wondering about the significance of the Darkner's habits, they almost missed a familiar face to their left.
"Ready?" Susie called. Her axe glimmered. "Go get your sword. Ralsei and Noelle need our help."
This is unprecedented.
They agreed. Ralsei, they could understand. Noelle? Why was she here? How was she here?
The modicum of control maintained is perfunctory to the distance covered. Given the probability of surveyance being necessary to the acquisition of team members, the bindings can be strummed to find her, and subsequently, Ralsei.
The other had a plan. Or at least a method. They sighed in relief. City streets filled with Lunatics and Lobotomies did not seem very welcoming.
As they stepped out into the ward, they could see the Darkners ambling around had dispersed and steered clear of the two Lightners. The snakes from before were bantering and chatting while casually grappling with the stick. They seemed to have made up and set aside their differences to simply coil around it.
They began to wander and peek their head around corners, searching the walls for directions with frustration as their hurry was halted. Someone made the place like a maze, a labyrinth, and they swore they passed the same room three times before looking back down a stretching hallway to realize, no, there are legitimately four exact replicas of the same door next to the same cart.
They restrained an aggravated scream and simply sighed forcefully as they passed the fifth iteration of the same tacky wallpaper creasing around the same tacky door frame. The other stayed remorselessly quiet, goading them further on into their hissy fit as they paced frenetically.
What, not going to help them find their way to the objective? What happened to completing the experiment?
You are going the correct direction.
Funny, they didn't remember an oddly identical row of doors on their walk to the room.
Entertain the prospect of there being multiple pathways and routes to the desired goal or destination. Predetermined routes exist but the majority of obstacles faced may be conquered through simple perseverance and determination.
Are they at least heading towards their items?
Data inconclusive. Preliminary surveyance of the institution propounds a central cortex of activity. Accounting for variables presented by Doctor Scrubs this ward is separate from the adjacent wards reserved for dangerous patients.
There would be a barrier between wards.
The other simply hummed an affirmative.
"Hey, Kris. Do you think this place was made to confuse people?" They tilted their head but did not turn to face Susie. It almost made sense to them, distantly, considering the absent-minded Darkners they have witnessed. Should they wander, confused, the familiar halls would at least help to calm them. Or, so Kris tried to reason. No matter why it still pissed them off a little, but the annoyance really didn't matter. Something so small didn't matter.
"…it's confusing for the first few weeks." A voice called out from behind Susie and the two of them jumped. But it was just Zero. Kris swore they checked behind them, the lighting was blazing bright, too. "…the model has your items… his office is just ahead…" Zero's soft whirring voice was almost ignored, overshadowed, muted by the colorful cube they fiddled with.
"The model?" Susie questioned lowly. Zero fell in-line with the two, large, cumbersome wings struggling to solve the puzzle box.
"…you know. The Head of RnD. Doctor Rnd."
Susie muttered a chuckle. "Like, 'R' and 'D'? Randy ?" Zero trilled. "That's… pretty clever, I guess."
"It really isn't."
Upon further analysis, the Darkners of this world follow simplistic naming protocols. Their names are indicative of their being. The postulate has yet to produce meaningful insight on the nature of Doctors Detter and Ocvory.
…ivory?
A likely guess.
They couldn't fathom what Detter could be close to; detox, maybe? She did speak about purifying the Fountain.
"…here." Zero stopped them next to a door. Kris opened it. The office - if you could call the pile of scrap metal and gadgets laying around on the floor that - was empty. "Rnd will be coordinating with Detter. Hope you find your friends before the Viceroy does."
They went to question Zero, splitting their attention between the clutter and the Lunatyke. But Zero did not respond. Kris's face tightened subtly as they realized Zero had left them again. Their sword was, thankfully, sitting on top of a nearby workstation. It seemed… cleaner. Sharper. And next to it was a bag containing their healing items as well as something they neglected for a long while - a watch. It appeared frozen at noon.
"…feels a little light," Susie commented as they passed her the portion she would need. Kris blinked, took a moment, rifled through the bag.
You retained two Dark Burgers from the Card Kingdom, four CD Bagels from the vending machine, and one pastry in the shape of Lancer's face. You are missing the pastry.
They cocked their head in disbelief. Someone had stolen the Lancer Cookie. And that wasn't all, there was something new in the bag, what appeared to be a bottle of pills. Fishing it out, it jingled with capsules on the inside. The label yielded surprisingly specific information.
Bottle of Accelerants. Heals 10 HP and temporarily increases natural magic regeneration.
Could be this world's equivalent of Tension Points.
Incorrect order. Tension Points are the outlier. Magic Points are the universal units of measurement for a being's natural or artificial capability for harnessing and subsuming the sustained magical solute present in the atmosphere of the Light World. Based on scans from the Fountains encountered, this is the same for the Dark Worlds. The Fountain permeates gathered magic through the realm.
The magic from the Fountain. The source of the infection plaguing the Dark World. That would mean the magic is impure, the magic they absorb and use, so would they…?
No. The magic utilized by you and your companions is originally light-attuned. As beings of light, monsters suffer no pernicious side-effects. As humans are beings of the dark the magic requires purification and distortion to be stabilized and buffered for consumption without consequence.
So, did they have to worry?
Purification is occuring at every second. Filtering and changing. Resorption. The magic is cleansed and ready for use to continue the experiment.
The other was actively cleaning the air for them to use. They thought back to Detter's words - purifying the Fountain - could that be done?
The Fountain contains only light-attuned magic. Ambient magic is simplistic. Undertaking massive amounts of light-attuned magic would be toxic and detrimental to health. There is a way to ensure purity of Fountains. The source of magic taken must be pure and not diluted. Specific aim must be assured.
What would they aim for?
Data not necessary. Further questioning will result in punishment.
The other was hiding something and Kris was curious to know what, but the images of teeth gnashing and silk weaving around their neck like a makeshift noose killed any questions on their tongue. They hated it. They hated the memories and how they shivered, no matter how much they tried to squash it beneath their will. The other simply couldn't be denied in their reeling mind. They tossed the bottle of pills to Susie; she would have better use of it than they would since it would charge her Rude Buster faster.
She looked taken-aback. "…are these drugs?" She inspected the bottle closely, forehead scrunched with concentration. "Supplements?"
"Makes magic easier. Let's go." Kris simply responded and commanded.
With no guide and their sword back in hand, Kris stumbled their way through the facility, Susie hot on their heels and sharing their growing frustration. No signs, no arrows or directions. They spent too much time finding the exit to the ward for it to be the only door with a neon-red sign. Pushing open the doors, they strode strongly into a dim, foyer-like lobby. About a dozen doctors sat around, chatting or lounging around. A couple near the door nursing mugs of cold coffee simply glanced in their direction - one was dressed like a ballerina wearing a lab coat, a radio for a head - then turned back and continued droning on about 'slippery floors' with a mop-headed Darkner dressed in overalls. Susie scoffed and punched their arm, pointing toward the far wall where a few familiar faces were apparently sharing a candle-lit dinner. Not romantic, judging by the way Rnd's skeletal hands pressed deeply into his faceplate. Doctor Ocvory sat across from him, rubbery gloves jittering. Kris pressed onward, toward the two, and some doctors kindly approached them with placating hands trying to calm them, and Kris simply shoved past them.
"OUT OF THE WAY!" Susie ordered, startling Doctor Ocvory to a standing position. Doctor Rnd simply glanced up at them before returning, leg thumping against the floor.
"O-O-Oh, uh, L-Lightners, hi! We… We were just talking about you! Right, Rnd? A-About what Detter told us to do, right? R-Right?"
"Doctor Ocvory," Rnd started, "please shut up." Ocvory 'eep'ed and reeled back but Rnd did not apologize.
"O-Oh," Ocvory picked up their clipboard from the small table they were seated at, brushing anxiously past the skeleton. "I-I-I-I seem to have forgotten m-my clipboard, aheheheh. A-An elephant never forgets, aheh. I-I'll go find it, Doctor! T-The clip… heh, board…" Ocvory quickly excused themself.
"Arright," Susie leveled with the doctor, sliding into Ocvory's now-empty chair. "what's the deal?"
Rnd gazed slothfully up at Susie with a blank, hanging-jawed deadpan, empty sockets hollow and suspiciously voided with an odd aura of disparaging shock. Like he wasn't expecting to see them. Kris wondered what was going through his head for him to look so haggard and unabashedly slaven. Some of the doctors and orderlies around began to evacuate the room silently, as though apprehensive of whatever was coming. Perhaps they knew better than Kris did. Perhaps they knew what Rnd was worrying over. Perhaps they were scared; of the doctor, or of the Lightners. Susie settled forward boldly, leaning on her knees with a serious expression etched onto her maw like stone. Rnd hissed through his warped zygomatic processes. Kris stood next to the two, arms crossed, dreading whatever news was approaching but also clenching their hands with a harrowed breath. Their resources were on the line, after all, and they really, really needed friends to continue the experiment.
"…we can't help you," Rnd said. "Detter, Ocvory, Felin, and I weighed the risks. Detter argued that you could purify the Fountain and save us all from the disease but to assist you…!? T-To help you would leave us vulnerable. We only have so much gas. We only have so much time. So many people!"
"She wants to activate the facility to supervise your rescue mission. It's insane! I hate using that word but it's crazy! If we activate then the Lunatics will know we're here, the Lobotomies will know we are here, and the… those Sharpcrawlers. Not even thinking… heh, about the Viceroy. They would watch us fall apart and record the occasion!"
"I can't reasonably authorize this. This is the safety of two versus the safety of five dozen! The Director Interim isn't even responding, so something might have happened behind the Astrowall, and the line could-"
"You're not gonna help us." Susie summed up his rant as her lips twisted frustratedly. "Just lead with that instead of giving us your life story."
"It's not-"
"It totally is."
"OKAY! Fine, it is. My life is spent here keeping the patients and institution alive and running and Detter just wants to haphazardly throw caution to the wind. Do you even fathom why I can't let that happen? Do you even understand what's at stake - because she sure doesn't! This isn't a game! This is a clinical trial on our lives. "
"Our friends are out there," Susie interjected, "so it don't really matter whether or not you're gonna help; we're still gonna go out and save them, right, Kris?"
She is hoping you bolster her mindset. That places you in a subtle position of power. The options present themselves as such: agree with Susie and increase your positive position in the hierarchy of your relationship, agree with Doctor Rnd and showcase logical, holistic values. Neutrality is sufficient, as well. Silence can be perceived subjectively, however.
They still had no idea what this world was like. The safest option was likely the best option for their first run, wasn't it?
Correct assumption. The probability of power usurpation and sanctity of the experiment breached is negligible. While power usurpation is a foreboding threat to the continuance of the experiment it is not probable.
They wanted to make Susie happy but the doctors would be nice to befriend in case of emergencies. Yet they could understand the general direction of this Dark World's plot with or without the doctors' assistance or friendship.
Correct. The significance of this choice is minimal. Choose.
They were enjoying a bit more freedom lately, as they did when the other Fountains were first discovered. A first expedition to get their bearings before the study began.
Correct.
They weren't entirely grateful for the freedom. It wasn't like it would last.
Correct. Compliance will be rewarded.
"Kris?" Susie asked again.
"We should save Noelle and Ralsei," Susie chuckled, opening her mouth- "but we shouldn't risk everyone's life. Detter rescued us because we might have been able to fix the Fountain and reverse the plague. We don't know if we can yet." They did know. They couldn't, even with the other helping. Kris bounced awkwardly on their feet. "But if we can, we need Noelle and Ralsei. Don't activate the facility. We will save them on our own or die trying."
Kris ended with that, hand on the hilt of their sword and a stern, resolved expression tight on their face. Like some kind of realist hero and not a manipulative villain.
Excellent choice of words. Susie should now regard you as a conscious, empathetic leader. You made a decision with the best option in mind for the holistic picture. Very excellent. Compliance will be rewarded.
Susie slammed her open palm on the armrest of the chair while hissing. Kris wondered if they pissed her off but she just stood suddenly, axe resting in her grasps as she turned and stared down at them. There was something indescribable behind her eyes.
"…fine. Which way is outside?" Susie tried to retake control, inquiring to Doctor Rnd. The skeleton merely sighed and stood, readjusting his coat and squeezing his warped sockets tightly, as though he loathed to see the world without his innervated hands blocking his view.
"This way. Don't loiter," the doctor took off swiftly in a direction, Kris and Susie jogging to match him, "the Lunatic swarm is not the brightest herd of infected Darkners but even they can recognize it when buildings are inhabited. People outside and such."
"Can we get the plague?"
"Depends. Are you made of Light Magic?" Doctor Rnd replied with a question as he shoved through some double doors. A few Darkners gathered around, chatting, being normal; they cleared the way at the sight of the doctor's purposeful walk and nodded respectfully. He readjusted his collar. "The answer is yes, by the way. That's why you are Lightners and not Darkners. That's why you are immune to distorted Light Magic."
You are not.
What was the difference really? What separates monsters and humans?
Monsters are considered Lightners. Humans are leveled on the Dark Magic scale. Insignificant compared to that of the Darkners but the fact persists that you are not immune.
But the other would protect them from the plague, right? And aren't Lightners the ones able to make Fountains only?
Protection is provided but the chance possibility of that protection failing is evidently present. The only requirement to create a Dark Fountain is the essence of Gods. Determination. Determination is the most common building block present in the universe. The creator used it to weave into existence all that which exists.
Kris absorbed the knowledge with an odd grimace. The Angel used 'determination' to create the world?
…
They felt the other wanted to continue but could not. Would not. Refused to. And they were left wondering what exactly that meant, as they always did when the other refused elaboration. It always knew something, always, or it would make them find out, or make a note to make them find out. So, completely dropping a subject was uncanny, even for the alien being.
"We still do not know everything there is about this affliction. Detter may be a genius but she is not the answer. She knows some things, that's all." Doctor Rnd slowed as he approached another set of doors. Peeking through the windows, the purple sky peered back at them. "She figured that pure magic from the Fountain would reverse the condition but she failed to account for-"
"-the amount of energy my proposed procedure would need to actually work?" Doctor Rnd jumped as Detter spoke. She had been standing behind the three, following. Kris's heart bounced for a moment. "Yes, yes. It was unexpected and foolish of me. The line to the Fountain was damaged and you spent hours fixing it so you hold a grudge against me for both the danger and the tedious task you had to do; I understand."
"Doctor Scrubs." Doctor Rnd greeted, stepping away from the door, one hand still locked around the handle. "There is no doubt that your discovery is invaluable for us. We discovered there is hope. You rejuvenated Zero. But you've also cost us. The damage, the material, the valuable commodity of effective sleeping gas. I'm surprised you haven't managed to screw up with the Viceroy and his thugs yet. If the Director Interim was communicating, I would have filed a serious report of your behavior."
Detter took it in stride. "As you can see, the Lightners are more important than ever. The Director Interim may be… compromised. We need the Lightners to purify the Fountain, and soon."
Doctor Rnd shook his skull. "We need proper assessment of the risks and circumstances."
Detter floated a hand over to open the door. "Hesitation could be the difference between death and life, Rnd. I choose life. What do you choose?"
Rnd jammed the door closed. "I choose safety and patience. If we rush head-first into this, we could all die."
Detter stood tall, very tall, and Kris distantly realized how massive she actually was.
Her book flipped violently. "You would rather waste away and crumble to dust than risk our resources - rapidly dwindling resources, might I add - on our only obvious chance to solve this?"
The tension was palpable. Kris and Susie stood as outsiders to this internal conflict between the two doctors. Kris swallowed. They did not want to get between that, not yet.
Doctor Rnd did not respond.
Detter nodded. "…I refuse to do so. When my name is regarded as the savior of our world, I will make sure you at least make it as a footnote. Good day, doctor." She pushed open the door as Rnd dropped his hand. Susie met gazes with Kris before following the book. Kris hesitantly stayed behind to assess the other doctor's state. He visibly seethed, exhaling harshly and rasping.
"The gall of that woman. If she's right…" Rnd sighed angrily. "If she's right, I will be the villain who stunted the salvation of our world. If she's wrong…"
Rnd did not continue, merely shaking his skull dejectedly and starting off, giving Kris a well-meaning pat on the shoulder.
"…if you plan to save us, don't forget to save yourself."
And with that, Kris watched Rnd stalk off. There was certainly tension inside the asylum, a feud, between two of the most influential doctors. And Kris felt disgusted by how clinically they began to analyze it, how they could profit, how they could use this or exploit it or explore it. But that's what comes with the territory of repetitive torture until obstinance becomes compliance. No matter how hard their blood boiled or how their curled fingers and nails cut metal against metal in search of putrid, dirty flesh; no matter how matted and ratty their hair was; no matter how they kept throwing themself closer and closer to death constantly - they still couldn't escape it, the shame, the idea, the truth that they were doing something wrong but they just couldn't stop themself. They couldn't say no. They just couldn't say no.
Before you stands the city in stasis. The truth is slowly being uncovered. You will save your friends. The power of achieving your goals shines through you.
0-0-0
The streets were oddly silent.
Gone was the maddening howls of the damned, the everlasting reminder of that which they couldn't solve. There were no sounds, no chirping birds or cybernetic whirring like the other Fountains, no cars honking, driving, or… cars at all unlike Hometown above. It was eerie. Quiet. Just them, Susie, the rustling of the other's body, and the low, deep thrumming of thread like the fulfilling hilt of a violin strike that spread like hot butter across the cracked and disheveled concrete.
Anything yet?
No.
Another minute.
Anything?
Negative.
Three more minutes.
Anything
N- Yes.
Kris breathed out a shaky, slightly relieved, slightly fearful sigh. As long as they could do this fast, their chances of locating their friends and bringing them home without being mobbed by Darkners were pretty good. Detter had told them some worrying things as she unlocked the chained-up fence gate, specifically about the fact that Lunatics and Lobotomies weren't the only Darkners they had to worry about. Sharpcrawlers, as she said, may not have the numbers of the swarm but they could 'hunt' much more silently. They knew the other would be watching for prowlers once the strings around Noelle weren't needed anymore. Kris and Susie just had to get to them first.
As a premature assurance of efficiency, the name 'Sharpcrawler' should be analyzed. 'Sharp' implies weapons. Deliberation with regards to the presented motifs of this Dark World frame the word 'sharp' in two contexts: weapons and needles. The word 'crawler' implies an animalistic influence. This Darkner may be a distortion of a carnivore present in the Light World.
As long as it isn't a spider.
The odds are incredibly likely. Would you like a specific percentage?
Asking them a question? What an interesting, new dynamic. What next; birthday parties and holiday dinner?
You are deflecting.
Of course they were. Spiders were terrifying. Not compared to the other , but spiders reminded them of the other .
Astute.
Wait, what?
A solid observation.
Were they actually going to have a heart-to-heart? It was impossible.
Correct. Your reward for compliance has been an increase in placatingly friendly interactions. This is artificial.
Wow. How nice.
They were once again left to remember how utterly miserable their life was. Their life being that of a puppet - or moreso a pet with how they are being treated currently. Listening to the other, abiding by it, hoping that it grew somehow and liked them. Had they always been so lonely? The very source of their misery being their only conversation? Pathetic. It was pitiful. Asriel would be ashamed of them. And that opened a whole new can of worms that threatened to overflow their tear ducts. They squashed it quickly. Forcefully.
…they wished they were dead. They wished they didn't have to walk like this, all stiff-legged and faking, like their ankle still didn't pulse with pain, like they wanted to save their 'friends', like they wanted to be in the Dark World in the first place. They wished they were home, curled up in a nice, fuzzy blanket that choked them tight enough that they could just imagine what it would be like to stop breathing and the whole world go black and they could finally be free and where they wanted to be, alone and far far far Far FAr FAR AWAY-
Death can be administered.
Thanks.
Susie visibly shivered. "This place is still creepy as all hell. Makes me feel like we're being watched."
Discredit that.
"I'm sure we're alone. We would hear them; they're not quiet." Kris replied almost too easily. Susie groaned. "And we're being careful."
"…I guess. Place still gives me the jitters. Was… cool at first, I guess. Nice sky. Lancer would love this place. Minus the freaks roaming around."
They agreed. The sky was rather beautiful for such a broken, hopeless world.
Up ahead. Left.
They felt reassured by the other's useful methods.
Obstinance is the only roadblock for such propitious musings. Social dominance rectifies this shortcoming.
"I wonder how we're gonna find them. Huge ass city. Detter said she would be watching but… can she even see? All these buildings… almost claustrophobic." Kris disagreed. They knew claustrophobia. Try being glued to a giant beast made of twindles and thread that tortured you until you lost all hope and the definition would probably change. "Why the hell is Noelle even here? She seemed… off after last time. Ya know? Spunkier, I guess. Like, uh, stronger or something."
Susie is either unprecedentedly unobservant or Noelle is masking her trauma behind a facade.
No, Kris agreed. Noelle was good at rolling with the punches considering her… absent homelife didn't really allow her any leeway for comfort. They knew the feeling.
Recovery from emotional trauma of that severity within a small time period such as the one presented is unheralded. Implausible. Indubitably it is false.
…it knew better than they did.
"Gah, where the hell are we going? Let's get to the roof or something. Break it down. See what the hell's going on." Susie began moving for the nearest fire escape.
Lie.
"Susie," Kris warned, forcing a fearful, vulnerable, shaky tremor into their voice. "That would be loud. Really loud. You… don't think that last time-"
"-last time we used the fire escape," Susie paused and huffed, giving herself a moment's pause to neurotically run her hands through her hair. Kris's shoulders slumped in shame as they averted their gaze. "we woke up every damn freak, weirdo, and dumbass in the city and now that there ain't any howling we might as well as shine a friggin' spotlight saying 'here we are!'" She sighed again. "Fine. Guess we'll have to tough it out on the streets, heh. Nothing new…" She smiled fakely at them. "For me. You better not start crying; might just have to leave you behind. "
Continue.
"Let's go this way. I have a feeling…"
"We really need ta' find out what the hell is going on with this place. No Knight, no… Delta Rune prophecy shit yet." It was rather odd that the Knight was absent from the 'lore' of this world. "And that spooky as hell mansion shit… Kris, do you think we're even dealing with the same stuff as the last two Fountains?"
Familiarity is bolstering.
"No, I don't think so."
"Me either. Ralsei's got some explaining to do when we find him. And then those doctors…" Susie kicked at a stray chunk of debris. "Kris, I liked the last two Dark Worlds… don't like this one."
They couldn't help but agree. A fatalistic cloud lingered menacingly over the dying, nightmarish world, haunting every step with flashes of growling predators or kooky mental patients. Sure, they were numbed by their own memories - nothing could be worse than those sparse few moments of pain that they were powerless to fight against - but their instincts still brought unease to them. Dismay. Fear.
And those feelings came pouring in like a broken dam's water sweeping away topsoil as a clear, ringing cry pierced into the eternal night above.
"RALSEI!" Susie screamed before racing off ahead of Kris. The other fed them precious information as they followed; jumped over rock; clambered over fence as another cry keened; unsheathed sword at the sight of white masses; purple forcing blinks as she flew forward toward the swarm with faux boldness. Kris called out, commanded her, tried to dig in their heels and stop her from diving into the fray with all the bulletproof shielding of a loose-leaf paper. Susie glanced back at them before grappling her axe haft around the furthest Lunatic of the three and tossing them backward - Kris shot forward and delivered an acerbic slash to the Darkner's head, splitting it in half and watching it fizzle out into papier-mache.
They spied a flash of green being hounded by two Lunatics - he looked roughed-up, hat strewn feet away as his claws slashed deep into one of the Lunatic's wing. Not terribly effective. It reared up with bloodlust, screeching. A flash of white, Noelle attempting to spot a spell to freeze the Darkner, she was overwhelmed with anxiety, the spell would be too slow with how her teeth chattered as she threw frenetic glances at the other Lunatics. Kris reached a hand out and the strings tightened, her expression sharpening and focusing into a sword's-point intensity. Her trickling white lurid mesh netted and wove itself into a proper spell as it was sent hurtling forward. The Darkner holding Ralsei dropped him and tried to duck but the spell landed true, icicles materializing rapidly along its wing.
But it didn't crumble. Lethargic, wounded - sure, but not dead. These Darkners were strong and slowly, very gradually, the ice began to melt.
"K-Kris…!" Ralsei called out gratefully. It was sickening and made their stomach turn. "You're here!"
"Kris…?" Noelle questioned, snapping out of her concentration and gawking at them. It was bitter, it was cruel, and it was selfish, but as the Darkner went to attack her, as the words, the command, the order to 'proceed' began to rear its ugly head, they shackled their tongue still and the other refused to strum her strings.
It was slow motion. Noelle was sent flying away as a brilliant, electric blaze yowled through the air, slicing the Darkner in two just as Noelle thwacked against the hard concrete of the store-front the two were cornered against. Kris bit clean through their tongue and screamed at themself to yell out, to frown, to gape, to emote at all. But they… their chest was empty. Whatever.
"N-Noelle…!" Ralsei gurgled before rushing forward. He had - oddly enough, concerningly enough - dust leaking from a large gash across his cheek and disheveled fur and instead of wondering how Noelle was, Kris just questioned if Darkners would spill dust if they were meant to be monsters.
Behind you.
Oh?
The final Lunatic. Defeat it.
Could it wait a moment?
No. An attack from behind would be onerous to defend from. The possibility for critical damage dealt is surmounting.
Maybe they deserved it.
This is not the optimal time for self-loathing. Defend.
They glanced serenely at Noelle, watching her, watching her twitching, watching her pained face as she screamed and flicked her arm back from Ralsei's imploring touch. Her leg, too, was damaged and she howled in pain as she tried to stand. She couldn't. Kris couldn't. Defend. Justify her over them. Squash that painful leaking of swelling sweat that stabbed into their chest. They were numb. She was hurt. They didn't want either.
And the Darkner behind them swung with the power to crack the concrete below. The blunt wing slammed into their shoulder and floored them.
That was foolish and unnecessary.
It didn't understand them. It wanted to, for the wrong reasons, but still wasn't capable of the simplest idea of humankind. Those deserving. Those undeserving. Kris was undeserving and they knew it even through the bitter, unfriendly, emotionless facade. They wanted their life to be over or their pain to come back. Away. They wanted away from themself. A freak that dragged everyone down. A freak ferrying its friends to their final, untimely resting place: Hell.
Kris wasn't enough, if they ever cared about being enough. If they were enough, they would have been on the lookout for Ralsei and Noelle. If they were enough, they wouldn't have had to shut their mouth. They would have had something else to say to Noelle instead of dangerous silence. If they were enough, she wouldn't have been the pathetic little doe-eyed reindeer struggling to save her friend. Maybe Susie wouldn't have been so reckless to charge right in. Maybe Ralsei would have had something to do besides be a cornered goat sneering at the wolves. Maybe he would have been strong. But they weren't enough. And this was their punishment - being crushed to the floor like the trash they were. Or would be had they cared. Which they adamantly didn't.
The Lunatic snarled victoriously and went to go further, to smash their fragile little human skull beneath the weight of madness and darkness. Kris closed their eyes and sprawled out.
Susie summoned her magic. Tried to. She didn't have enough to save them.
Noelle was too buried beneath her pain to even fathom conjuring up a spell.
Ralsei had too much magic overflowing but the Darkner wasn't tired. It wasn't tired and his eyes widened sharply behind his glasses as he realized that Kris was going to die. Odd that they didn't care but he did.
Self-destructive behavior is not efficient. Punishment will be administered-
But Ralsei still reached out his hands.
"Hey, Kris. Pfft, were you falling asleep? Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry, Kris. Mom said she's making pie and wants to know if you wanted her to make two! One for now and one for tomorrow when you eat the whole pie by yourself. Oh, come on. 'Pie' yourself? She's made that pun so many times! It's old! Hehe, yeah, like Gerson! Of course I love you, Kris. I wouldn't let anything happen to you, no matter how scary it gets! I don't know what kinda nightmare wants you to 'comply' but I'm sure some chocolate will help you calm down! Brought some kisses!"
He cares for you.
Time seemed to slow.
'He' was their brother.
Not Asriel. Ralsei. He cares deeply for you.
How would it know?
…Ralsei is a parallel Darkner to an existing monster classification. He is capable of magic and spells like monsters of that subcategory. It would not be an unfounded belief that he borrows influence from total aspects of the monster. The connection has been established.
What connection? That wasn't an answer!
The Darkner above them howled in anguish as a warmth shoved itself between the two, like a space heater for their cold, blue body. And the faint smell of fire permeated like the playful crinkling of leaves in autumn. They dimly recognized the healing prayer Ralsei used and the hum of pleasing comfort wrapping around them. Dual-heal.
Prerequisites for adequate healing magics include pure intentions. Healing magic inured without conducts closely with damage.
So that was why the Lunatic above them was caterwauling like someone just lit it on fire. Kris merely whined lowly and propped themself on their elbows. They could see their rotten, ravaged face in the reflection of their casted-away sword. Hair tousled and broken. Yellow teeth parted in a sad, exhausted crevice. When was the last time they combed, brushed their teeth? Showered? Like it mattered.
Susie roared as she dove forward, finished off Ralsei's work and crumpled the Darkner to loose papers. Except, unlike the other piles, the fire of the healing prayer continued to scorch the Darkner until it was no more, fully extinguished.
Ralsei's Levels of Violence has risen.
"Kris, are you okay?" Susie mourned their name as she skidded down next to them, kneeling, shaking their shoulder as they groaned and massaged their pounding head. She dropped the schtick of hating them for a moment.
That was not imperative to the experiment.
Noelle's screams cut through the air, as did the whistling howling of the swarm of Lunatics. Kris blinked away their desolation and yanked themself to a standing position.
"Shit! We need to get out of the streets!" The monster dashed over to Noelle, gently maneuvering the reindeer's limbs and pulling her up. "Alley! Now! Let's go! Up-and-at-em!"
You are too far from the institution. Attempt to advocate for a localized buffer zone. Seek temporary shelter.
"No!" Kris yelled out a bit too tensely. Susie froze as Ralsei stared at them, fearfully leaning to grab up his hat. They shivered. "I-Into the store. We should hide first."
"K-Kris, that's… we can't… they'll find us here!" Ralsei dared to argue. He was probably right.
Punishment will be administered with or without proper adherence to commands.
Kris really shivered then, shaking, trembling. Claws of bronze and teeth of pearls and jagged. If this was a way to win brownie points…
Establish the importance of healing and the risk of pursuance propounded in the instance of discovery by the adversarial horde.
"No. Inside. Noelle is in no condition to outrun them if we are caught. We need to focus…" Kris shuddered a breath, shoulders rising and falling in jerky motions. "…and heal. Here," they dug around their bag, yanking free a CD Bagel. "feed her this. Get her something to bite on."
Susie snatched the item from their hand, passing it to Noelle. She tore her head back in misery before admiring the bagel with a glazed look in her eyes. She parted her mouth and hummed agony as Susie coaxed a bite. But her HP began to rise.
The storefront was long abandoned, windows and door barred with wooden planks and reinforced with nails. Kris rattled the boards before taking their sword up, raising it and chopping the planks into pieces with a masterful, adept flurry, making a space large enough between the remnant slices still attached to the frame with nails, large enough for people to squeeze through. They fumbled for the lock. Luckily, the door opened inward.
A bookstore. Books left strewn about. Almost like the mansion the Dark World was in. But there was no way the only thing borrowed by the Fountain was books. There had to be some other things. They helped Susie bring Noelle over to the counter, helped her carefully lay the girl behind it. Ralsei stood with his paws grappling each other nervously, staring down at them with a worried glimmer. Kris wasted no time, roughly grabbing his paw and steadily, but not forcefully, leading him down next to Noelle. He was shaking a little. They politely, quietly, hollowly asked him to start healing Noelle. He swallowed, nodded, reached out and faltered. Kris didn't comfort him. Had other things to worry about.
They told Susie to find Noelle something to gnaw on besides the bagel so she could relieve her pain a little and muffle herself. She dug through the cabinets as they stood and went to the door. Alone time as they relocked it, pulled a curtain over the glass. Peered through the parted slivers of the boards visible through the glass of the big window. Watched. Calculated. Hid the stirring emotions of distant shame and fascination.
The street was dark and heady as the Lunatics arrived. Dozens. White bodies wasted no time patrolling the general area, whirring, and of course, a Lobotomy following. They wondered if it was the leader. Darkners searched, piled over the scraps of paper, wings collecting the leaflets and sorrowfully whining about the destruction. Another two Lunatics began to steer closer to the shop, and-
"Kris?" Susie.
They whirled with frenzy in their eyes, jamming a finger down in a silent order. Her jaw dropped as she ducked underneath the counter. Noelle's pained moans and heavy breathing died further, as though Susie had clamped her hand to the girl's mouth and begged her to stay quiet. Kris returned to the window. The Lunatics scratched at the window pane, Kris only able to see their legs through the crack. The soft panting of the Darkners mixed with the tender whistling of Noelle's breathing and the crinkling of fibers, and threads. They felt curious and confident, the dregs of brutal silence wearing away as they cocked their head and observed the herd, wondering about what they were doing. That was, until the Lunatic sunk to its knees and glared right through the window. Kris immediately slammed themself against the floor and the alcove of gray wallpaper and held their breath, feeling the heavy, scathing, hypercritical visage of the Darkner survey the inside of the shop through the cracks. They clasped a hand to their mouth to halt a shocked yelp. The Lunatic stayed there for a long second before they heard commotion at the door. The Lunatic was now fiddling with the broken boards. They released their hand and relaxed, hoping to ease out the tension and get comfortable in case the Lunatics were going to keep searching. Their foot brushed against a book, the noise like pounding drums in the silence.
The commotion at the door stopped. The heavy gaze above them became apparent again, never left, but now, as Kris froze stock-still while staring at the book, wordlessly revealing troves of information. Like how it just heard something move in an 'abandoned' shop.
The window and boards shattered above them as the Lobotomy slammed one mighty wing through the front of the store, sending glass everywhere. Kris stopped breathing. Then Kris reached slowly for their sword. The Lobotomy's body, the half-sliced head, jammed itself right through the hole where the window used to be, inches from Kris's hiding spot. Cranking around, it scanned the inside of the shop, acid dripping and slapping against the floor of the store. Kris's lips turned into a silent snarl as the other stirred for combat. The mere presence of the Lobotomy had their hair standing straight, and even more terrifying, had their heart beating much too fast that they worried the beast would hear it so close.
Wait.
They were doomed.
Calm.
They were doomed!
Stay calm. Patience.
The… thing was right there; they could get a critical hit and end it before it crushed their party. And even if they failed, there was a chance it wouldn't search for the others-
No.
Kris did not have it in them to argue with the one thing scarier than the abomination above them.
"Gorth." The Lobotomy clucked and pulled away from the store, satisfied with the emptiness. Kris restrained their sigh of relief. Not until the Lunatics left. Not until they were undoubtedly safe.
They waited until the sounds disappeared and then another minute. They hazarded a peek into the empty street and then unwound with a loaded sigh.
"Clear." They said. Instantly, Noelle's breathy voice cut through the air with a tepid groan.
"S-Shucks. This… this isn't such a-" Noelle hissed. Ralsei muttered a low 'sorry'. "…not such a good dream anymore. Not… a dream at all, huh?"
This was not a good turn of fate for Kris.
Her strings bind, as do yours. Her capabilities to inform are severely affected.
At least she couldn't tattle.
Childish analogy but correct.
"Huh, tell me about it." Susie joked as Kris stood. "This place sucks!" Noelle's half-hearted laugh cut away a little tension. "But, uh, me and Kris found an okay place." Kris settled their sword on the counter and leaned over it tiredly. Noelle didn't look good, still heaving a little and slowly moving her head to stare up at them. The questions behind her eyes made it all the more worse. She knew that. "Some Darkners want to help us 'purify' the Fountain."
"Purify?" Ralsei questioned inanely. "But Kris, can we even do that? The prophecy made it clear-"
"There's a new prophecy." They simply stated. Ralsei blinked at them.
"A new prophecy? I-I don't understand how that can be? If there was a new prophecy, the dark would have talked about it." Ralsei anxiously, disbelieving, stroked his maw. He narrowed his eyes. "Who told you this?"
"I mean, have you been listening to 'the dark' lately? Lotsa stuff has been coming out lately and I'm sure it ain't just the Light World." Susie leaned back against the counter. "Any way you can listen right here? Need a phone or something?"
"I-I would need to meditate? Some quiet. S-Somewhere close to the Fountains. I usually did it on the steps of my Castle. Kris, do you-" Here he goes again. Broken record. Going to ask them about what they do in life. "-ever meditate?"
"No." Seemed stupid to them.
"Oh. Well. W-We should get to the Fountain as soon as possible, then. A-And fix this."
"Dude," Susie laid a gentle hand on Ralsei's shoulder. He flinched subtly. She stared down at him with a soft, concerned gaze. "Are you okay? You're stuttering."
"Fine. I'm fine. Just… I-I'm scared." He responded weakly, turning to face the wall. Noelle groaned again as Ralsei stood. "We have to start off soon. W-We need to get some more food. Noelle needs the healing and I feel like I haven't eaten."
"Yeah, hell, let's get moving. Those freaks aren't being quiet…" The howls had long since started again, far, far away. They could use that to sneak around. Hopefully, the Lunatics stayed close to the Lobotomy so they wouldn't have to fight any stragglers. "Arright, move it, slowpokes. Ralsei, can you get Noelle by yourself? Kris, help him out a little. I'll smash anything that comes our way into blood!" She tried to joke but it came out forceful and flat.
"Blood, heh… he-heh." Noelle chuckled nervously as Kris awkwardly rounded the counter. "Scary."
Kris helped Ralsei lift Noelle; she was heavier than she looked and Kris stumbled a little. Wasn't strong enough. Didn't exercise or anything. Just had an abstract amount of energy whenever threatened. Hats off to the alien creature living inside their SOUL. Without it, they were truly pathetic, weren't they? A cutter. A freak. They wondered why Noelle still liked them - liked them before they made her freeze Berdly and countless Darkners. The Prince had little trouble holding her up. Funny how someone locked away, alone, for years was stronger than they were.
Human biology is vastly different from Darkner or monster biology.
"Shit, Kris, which way was the asylum?"
Kris led Noelle and Ralsei past Susie, slowly but surely beginning the long trek back to the only bastion of safety in this new Dark World. Noelle still had things hot on her mind: She would get her answers after she healed, Kris realized, if - that is - she even had questions. Susie had a lot more to stew over, too. Kris, once again - like something she was trying to drown but just kept coming up to hover over her - frightened her. Rocked her. Because she knew them. She knew their capabilities. From fighting Jevil, to fighting King. They weren't easy to beat but that Lunatic almost did them in. That was intentional, she knew. And she had words to say when they were alone. Ralsei, on the other hand, took the following silence in a different way. He killed someone. Ended someone's life. They were all staring at him, weren't they? Questioning him. Berating him for his compassion for one of his only friends. Judging him for his response under pressure. He did what he had to! Why was everyone judging him for it!? Could they do better? Could they have saved Kris? And below it all, his hunger churned his stomach. He had to eat soon. His mouth was salivating at the thought of cake, even in such perilous times, and they would sneer at him if they knew. He thought so, at least. But would they? Was he just being paranoid?
And none of them ever noticed the eight red lights staring down at them from above. The Sharpcrawler hissed and cracked needles as it slowly made its way down to the street.
0-0-0
It still wasn't enough.
They had arrived at the asylum with little trouble. Swinging silently open, Noelle was hefted through the gate and up the stairs where an odd doctor with a book for a face greeted them, took one 'look' at Noelle, and instantly paged for a room to be prepared to treat her injuries. After she was taken away and treatment of her wounds began, the doctor guided the other three to a cafeteria. 'She' took a seat with them. It was okay to be yourself! Ralsei just felt like they were playing an elaborate trick on him… but expression was okay! And the food was delectable. They were each given a tray of sandwiches, hot and creamy macaroni and cheese, and one sizable slice of chocolate cake covered elegantly with rich cream. Ralsei tore through it faster than he ever had any of his own creations, then noticed Kris barely pecking at theirs. A few bites of the sandwiches and nothing else; not even the cake.
"Kris? Are you going to finish that?" A shake of their head and Ralsei took that as an invitation to wolf down their portion, too.
"Heh, jeez, Ralsei." Susie leaned back and threw her feet on the table. Ralsei glared.
"What?" He began to defend himself.
"Just eating a whole lot. I mean, I can trash a tray better than the rest of them but you're beating me!" Ralsei narrowed his eyes.
"Is that a problem?" Susie blinked.
"…no? Just saying," she smiled at him, "really damn impressive."
"No, you're not."
Kris and Susie shared a glance as Detter Scrubs sat silently between the two, hands folded next to her on the bench.
"Uh…?"
"I'm not stupid, Susie." Ralsei shot back with a sharp frown.
"Never… never said you were…? Ralsei," she reached a concerned hand over to him. He flinched and ripped his tray away.
"What are you doing!? Stop it! This is mine! You and Kris and that… that shadow above them can't have it! This is my food! " He was spitting all over the table. Doctor Scrubs idly, subtly reached for her hands. "I… I don't care if you think I'm fat! I'm hungry! Kris isn't; I'll eat their food! Don't judge me! "
"Ralsei, what are you talking about? You're freaking me out-"
"So, now I'm a freak, huh?"
Doctor Scrubs stood vapidly, rounding the table, calling for Doctor Ocvory. The elephant Darkner came quickly.
"Doctor, please, tell me what you're hearing from this Darkner?"
Ralsei jumped as the doctor pressed the cold metal of their stethoscope-trunk against his back. He felt it, even through his cloak, like he was submerged in ice.
"Deep breath?" Ralsei started to snarl but Detter glared down at him. His taken-aback nature won out.
"…there's fluid, doctor. L-Lots of it. W-What are you-?"
"Hunger, paranoia, delirium. Do you remember what's next, Kris?"
Kris gaped at the doctor, at Ralsei, and how he knew about the 'shadow' above them.
Eventual brain death of subject. Her line of questioning is indicative of a hastily made diagnosis of Ralsei.
"Brain death?"
"Someone was paying attention. Admit him to the isolation rooms," Detter called to the other doctors around. "He's infected. Bring him to the experimental room and we'll-"
"NO!" Ralsei screeched, summoning up his 'healing prayer' with obviously less than pure intentions. But Detter was experienced with this, it seemed, and already had a needle jammed through his neck before the magic could even begin to form. It sputtered out as he continued to try it, again and again, until fatigue began to rend him away from consciousness.
Kris watched dejectedly as he fell out the bench into Detter's floating hands.
"Oh, Rnd's going to be an ass coming soon. Bring him to the experimental room! We need to stabilize him before he turns."
The doctors carried him away. Kris approached Detter. Her book flipped to a two-page wide smile. It wasn't very comforting.
"I can break his strings if it comes to it, Kris. I can free him. Are you willing to help me take that leap?" Detter was goading them on, now. From Ralsei's condition to securing her favor, or their favor, or a favor. Something! She was trying to manipulate them!
Factions exist inside the hospital. Doctor Scrubs holds the cure to the infection.
And she was going to use that for her own gain?
Astute observation. Commence.
Commence what?
Your chosen path. Commence along it.
"Is he going to die?" They chose to press on her, to deflect. Her book closed.
"No." She wasn't used to this, was she- "He'll just slowly rot away until there is nothing but the Lunatic inside. They are made, not birthed. Those around you are those who wisened up and made it to the pure magic before their brain evaporated and only the Fountain-lusting Lunatic inside remained. Those infected by the infected are not as lucky or else he would be fine by now."
"Then what the fuck do those 'stabilizers' do?" Susie spat at her, grabbing her by the coat. Detter merely thumbed her hands.
"They slow the Inevitable."
"…we have no choice, do we?" Detter nodded at them. "Anything. We will do anything."
The doctor opened and smiled again.
"Thank you for your compliance."
0-0-0
Outside the asylum, a spider-like Darkner began to climb the gates.
And somewhere on a rooftop close by, another figure hummed a chuckle and sipped idly on a glass of wine.
"Interesting." The Viceroy said. "Very interesting. Everything is going to plan."
