Ok, so, anyone going back through this story will have to be informed that this chapter has been changed from what was originally here. At like, midnight or something, I decided, 'hey, know what would be a great idea? Completely rewriting the last few chapters of that one fic you're working on. Have fun!' And now... yeah. That's what I'm doing.
Evan and Elizabeth crept back through the door and into the Hellspace. Elizabeth looked around in wonder, probably recognizing this area as their old living room.
"You've been staying here?" she asked. Evan nodded.
"Yeah," he said. "I'm sorry I didn't come to get you sooner… I had no clue- "
"Hey, it's alright," Elizabeth cut him off with a bright smile. "I didn't know you were here, either."
Evan's smile grew soft and he looked around.
"Ok, now all we have to do is find out where Michael could be," he said. Elizabeth was practically bouncing in place in excitement. Evan felt his own excitement die down a little bit when he realized that she didn't know how he died.
Did she know how Michael died? He knew that Michael and Scrap Baby had met before, but did she know it was him? Did Michael ever tell her? Did she recognize him?
He wandered in the direction of Michael's observation room. It was the last place he had seen his brother, so maybe he was still there. Elizabeth followed behind him silently, studying the hallways that they were walking through. When they finally came upon the observation room, Evan knocked on the door. Elizabeth clasped her hands in front of her, taking a deep breath. Evan raised an eyebrow at her.
"Are you nervous?" he asked. She nodded.
"Yes… but I can't understand why," she said. She shook her head slightly. "Just… something about the idea of seeing him again is making me feel weird…"
"Weird how?" Evan asked. She shrugged.
"I don't know… like I did something bad and should apologize," she said. "But… I have no clue what it could be."
Evan was starting to get a sneaking suspicion of what it could be, but before he could voice his thoughts Michael's voice called for them to come in. He instead smiled at his sister and took her hands in his, giving them a light squeeze.
"Whatever you did, I'm sure it's fine," he told her. "He misses you, Liz."
Elizabeth gave him a small smile and nodded. He could tell that whatever weird feeling she was getting was still bothering her, but that was something for her to work out with Michael.
After all, Evan didn't know how many times the two of them had seen each other since he died.
He also didn't know how their interactions had gone when they DID see each other.
The first thing they saw when they opened the door was that Michael was staring out of the window. Evan frowned slightly and walked forward, gesturing for Elizabeth to remain silent. She nodded, back to looking nervous.
Evan stood beside his brother, who was biting his bottom lip and chewing it up.
"...you know, you shouldn't chew your lip."
Michael didn't turn away from whatever he was looking at.
"It's fine," he said. "I haven't drawn blood yet."
"...Michael, we can't bleed. We're dead."
That seemed to snap him out of his trance. He blinked twice, pressing his lips into a thin line.
"...huh. You're right."
He went back to chewing his lip. Evan slapped his arm, and Michael finally turned to face him. Evan could see the wave of relief practically crash into his brother, but Michael managed to contain the majority of it.
"Hey, Ev," he said. Evan could still hear his relief flood into his voice. "Welcome back. Any luck?"
Evan grinned at him and turned to look at Elizabeth. He frowned at the look on her face. It had shifted into one of shock, slowly melting into realization, then one of slight horror. Michael turned to look at her too.
They both froze. Michael's eyes flashed a bright, alarming purple. Elizabeth started shaking her head back and forth, her body stiffening up in panic.
"N-no…" she breathed out. Evan frowned to himself, looking between his siblings. So, Elizabeth DID end up doing something horrible to Michael… and they both knew what it was.
"Elizabeth," Michael said. His voice wasn't cold, really, nor was it shocked or pained or… anything. There was no emotion in the way he said her name. His eyes melted back into indigo, and he took a step forward, but Elizabeth turned around and bolted from the room.
Michael froze in place, his hand outstretched slightly, shock on his face. He turned to look down at Evan, who was staring after their sister in surprise. He looked up at Michael, too, trying to ignore how purple his eyes had become again.
"We have to find her," Michael said quickly. With that, he raced out of the room, but Evan hesitated for a moment.
What was that? What had Elizabeth done? What was so bad that it warranted that reaction from both of them?
He bit his lip and raced off after them, his mind flashing to one thought. He shook it away.
Elizabeth would never hurt him.
She wouldn't.
Elizabeth entered a random room full of a bunch of mirrors. It almost looked like a practice room of some kind. She found a spot behind a loose mirror and sat down. She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
"The scooper only hurts for a moment."
"I don't recognize you… you are new."
Her breathing turned shaky. She buried her face in her hands, her hair falling over her shoulders.
Michael was Eggs Benedict. How could I not recognize him? How could I do that?! How could I-
…I killed my brother.
She sniffled softly, trying to make as little noise as possible. Her shoulders were shaking with repressed tears.
Her reunion with Evan had been so nice… what if he found out what she'd done? He would hate her! Heck, Michael probably already hated her, how could he not?
She felt the first few tears escape. She made no effort to stop them, but she didn't make any noise.
She refused.
"Elizabeth!"
"Elizabeth, where are you?!"
"Liz!"
Michael and Evan met back up in the kitchen. Michael's eyes were deep purple, revealing his worry.
"I should have said something to her," he said. Evan took his hand in his.
"We'll find her, Michael," he said. "This isn't your fault- "
"Yes, it is," he groaned. "She was scared and I didn't say anything…"
"You were scared too," Evan said. He squeezed his brother's hand. "...I don't understand why, but I could see it… you're both scared of each other."
"I'm not scared of her," Michael said. "I was just… taken by surprise."
"You knew that I was out to find her," Evan said. "And you knew for a fact that she was Circus Baby. What about her standing behind me surprised you?"
"The fact that she was- " Michael cut himself off, realizing that he was raising his voice. He took a deep breath, getting himself under control. "The fact that she seemed scared of me… that's what took me by surprise."
Evan shook his head slightly.
"I don't get it," he said. "Why would she be scared of you?"
"...Ev. There's something I should tell you."
He slipped again… he called me Ev.
"What?"
Michael bit his lip, averting his gaze.
"I… tried telling you a couple times already," he said slowly. He took another deep breath. "I think… the reason she got so scared… is because she recognized me."
"Of course, she recognized you," Evan said. "You're her brother."
"No, Ev," Michael said softly. "She recognized me as Eggs Benedict… the night guard that trusted her to lead him to his death."
