Otherness: A Celeste Fan-Fiction
There were other people climbing Celeste Mountain, of course. Madeline had kept to herself, mostly, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship with those she passed. The first had been a pair of women - one an elder, wrapped from head to toe in thermal gear, and another who couldn't have been much older than Madeline, carrying two large hiking bags. Perhaps the latter was the former's granddaughter? If she was being honest, Madeline couldn't imagine that the old woman would make it far up the mountain. Perhaps that didn't matter to her, though. Maybe her journey was simpler, more content. After all, isn't spending time with loved ones kind of the point? She missed Granny so much.
By the evening of the first day, Madeline felt she had made significant progress. Already she had hiked through two decrepit settlements in their entirety - incredible progress for her first day - as well as meeting a strange photographer (and even interacting with him!). She was readying herself to set up camp for the night when she glimpsed something shimmering in the distance - several things, in fact. Stars. The smog and stale city air she had grown accustomed to were no issue here; the boundless expanses of the cosmos revealed themselves unsparingly. Perhaps that crazy old lady was right, she had thought. Perhaps it is a good place to live, even if there is a Part of Me here too. Of course, hindsight had offered her such clarity that she could never have predicted. That crazy old lady had been right: Madeline - and the Part of Her - belonged in this place. Not forever, perhaps, but often. She had come to love the mountain as much as she loved what it showed her. Just like Granny had said.
The stars shone brightly, and all different hues, illuminating their pockets of the sky in brilliant shades of azure and ruby; of jade and amethyst; of diamond and colours that she could not bring herself to name. And there, a short ways up the path, shone another light - one that flickered on and off, almost rhythmically. Cautious yet intrigued, Madeline wandered toward it, still enamoured by the sky's dazzling display of incandescence.
The star that flickered was, in truth, not a star. It was part of a box that was attached to a pole bearing a sign. A phone box, this far up the mountain? Madeline supposed that she shouldn't be surprised; the mountain clearly cared little about the expectations of the world outside. Still, it just seemed so… solitary. Alone. Like she was. Madeline's breathing began to accelerate. Why was she doing this? The Part of Her was right… No, that was just a dream. Then why had it seemed so real? Why had it said what she - what everybody - thought?
Brrrrrrrrring!
The phone vibrated slightly as it rang. Madeline stared, briefly awestruck, before snapping back to reality. She picked up the phone.
"Hello? Honey?" It took Madeline a moment to place the voice, familiar though it was.
"Mom…"
"Are you okay? I've been worried sick!"
"I…"
Her voice must have betrayed her, as her mother responded, "You're having a panic attack, aren't you?"
"I am. Yes." Cool and level-headed. Good work, Maddie.
"Oh, dear… Remember to keep grounded, honey. Focus on my voice."
"I'm trying, mom."
"You're so brave. Is the mountain treating you well? It's so quiet without you here, you know. Please do remember to call, let us know how it's going. Have you made it far? We're staying in a hotel overnight so if you want to come back-" Nope.
"Mom. I'm not going to quit."
"I know, honey, it's just-"
"I need to do this." She sighed. She knew it wasn't her mother's fault, but… Nobody else understands. How could they? I've got to do this. I can't turn back, not now.
There was a brief period of silence, after which Madeline's mother spoke again. "I know. I'm going to head to bed now, but it was good to hear from you. We didn't know if you'd call, and-"
"Mom, you called me." Silence. "Mom?"
Beeeeeeeeeep.
Silence. The line dropped. Madeline threw the phone at the box as the tears began to fall. Then, from behind her, she heard It again. The Part of Me.
"Madeline…" it hissed, its words practically dripping with venom.
"Madeline…"
"Madeline…"
Wait - the voice was changing. It was transforming into something else - a man's voice.
"Madeline…"
"Wh- wha?" Madeline opened her eyes, then scrunched them shut quickly as bright rays of daylight leaked in. Theo stood over her, his face painted with a worried expression.
"Oh, good, you're awake! You were just… lying there." He backed away, offering her room, before shuffling forward to offer a tentative hand to help her up. She reached out, still half-blind, and took it. She was on her feet. As she opened her eyes she saw him scowl.
"Madeline…" he said, that same agonised look returning. "Are you okay?"
No.
A/N: I'm going to try to update this when I have time! It will diverge a little from the plot of the game probably, mostly just because I can't remember the exact specifics of the plot too well.