Duodeviginti 75th, 20XX -
"Beep beep."
"Hey Agent 27, can you check what's at the front gate?" Marie requests, tapping the flashing radar's glass in a confused manner.
"I'm on it, C, looking into it right now," The fearless Agent declares.
Another red dot appears on the jade illuminated monitor, slowly approaching Grizzco's barricaded doorway, "It's probably just Pearl and Marina trying to sneak back into the facility again. Let's crack open the champagne, everyone. It looks like our two fugitives have finally come home. Ha, they think they're so sly trying to creep behind the shadows, just wait until I give them both an earful. Especially Marina, I want to have a long chat with that girl," Marie indignantly responds, gripping the handle of her cup.
"Beep, beep, beep, beep."
"Oh, there's... more."
"C, we have a problem." The tense Agent reports.
"What is it?"
"I received a message from a patrol officer positioned by the gates. It isn't Marina and Pearl... it's it's
jhasdhncba...dhasdhasdb...nfndn."
"Agent 27, I can't hear you; your audio is cutting out."
"BEEP, Beep, BEEP, Beep."
"I said it's bsbddbsnc...dbasdbasb."
"Agent 27, Agent 27, are you still there? Uh, Agent 29, Agent 32, Agent 16, Agent 19..."
Marie witnesses a massive wave of blinking dots storm the translucent circular graph. The olive screen's shotty display soon merges the flickering orbs into a deadly clump of shimmering crimson.
"Hello?"
"Agent 4?"
"BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP."
"Callie?"
"BEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEEEP."
"Anyone?"
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February 6th, 2020 -
"Damn, that was a lot of extreme rides, I think that constitutes my workout for today. It was a good idea to choose a nice relaxing one to go on next. Hopefully, I can catch my breath before I get back into the swing of things. I might be a roller coaster fanatic, but even I have my limits. Heck, I'd be willing to ride the cursed observation tower to postpone my sweat gland exasperation," Callie reasons.
You find it hard to concentrate on Callie's numerous tales regarding the blighted observation tower. Past events were beginning to fade into one another, and memories no longer seemed born of rationality; instead, your mind presented your rememberings as a jumbled mess of concepts and emotions.
Battery 100%
What was it that you promised to Marie again? It was just on the tip of your tongue, but no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't remember it.
"Wow, this is such a beautiful spot, perched high above the sprawling toy village below. I could probably touch the clouds if I were only a little taller."
Callie looks over to you from the glass railing, "What are you doing just sitting there? Why don't you sight gaze with me for a little bit? Then we can reminisce about all the cool rides we rode and look for new adventures to embark on."
• You step towards an eager Callie with a level of discretion.
She bobs her tiny head up and down, seeking to survey the bustling neighborhood, "Goodness, look at the cute teacup ride, and the people riding them look like little ants. I'm going to try and wave to them, and see if they can see me."
"Hey, you down there. Can you hear me? I'm on the giant Ferris wheel!" Callie shouts.
Callie rocks the hoisted kart from side to side with her constant waving. You grasp her mid-shake and plop her down into the plastic seat, attempting to stop the kart's dangerous swaying motion. Callie promptly curls up her lip and folds her arms, "Aw, you're no fun."
It's called I don't want to die. And you're crazy, Callie.
"What you call crazy, I call adventurous."
Same thing when you have a death wish.
"What is this crazy?" Callie says, shaking the elevated cabin.
Ha, ha, very funny. It's almost like you want to kill us.
As Callie swings from each support beam, she accidentally trips over a raised metallic panel. She topples onto your body, and you both crash into a pile of stale cotton candy in the corner of the compartment.
"This happens a lot, doesn't it? Accept this time... we have a little privacy." Callie mentions, unzipping her cream-colored jacket and removing her cute pink top.
Oh lord, this is happening. Hopefully, she's not concealing any sharp objects behind her back.
She quickly covers up her bra with her dainty fingers and timidly prompts a question, "Do... you... um like?" Callie adds, her face contending red."
There's my nervous Callie; it's been too long since we've last seen you.
"You can... maybe... touch... um them," Callie mumbles.
She turns away from you and proceeds to scold herself, "Dammit Callie, you always find a way to ruin the perfect moment." She releases a short breath through her nostrils before returning to the awkward conversation.
"Um, I kind of didn't think this through, and I shouldn't have taken off my shirt so fast. Callie reveals, running her fingers through her hair and propping one of the strands above her ears.
"I'm soooo sorry if this is embarrassing, I... just kind of wanted to take things to the next level, and Marie's um been filling my head with all this dating advice and coaching me about interacting with you, and and and I wasn't good at any of it, I'm a uh total nervous wreck who hides all of her insecurities behind a mask. And oh my sweet Jesus, I can't believe I kissed you earlier."
Callie, calm down. It's okay.
"It is?"
Yeah, just breathe.
"Okay, okay, sorry about that."
It's okay, just do what you want to do. Don't listen to Marie or your friends; just listen to your heart.
"I'm listening." Callie grips the heart-shaped pendant strung around her neck for reassurance.
"It says... I need to wait for the right opportunity, I don't want to get intimate with you in some dingy old boxcar. I want the place to be baked in candlelight and the sheets covered in fluorescent rose petals."
Then, there we go, we'll rent out a spa for our next meeting.
"No, I meant like in my room, you dummy. "
Oh, well, that works too.
——————————————————
Duodeviginti 75th, 20XX -
"Back up generators are currently inoperable; please standby for more information," A jazzy tune accompanies the woman's pre-recorded voice.
"Shit, shit, shit. This isn't good. Those mutts shut down the power, and now I'm basically stuck in here. This could've not gone any worse. Heck, I can't even contact Agent 4 with the microphone short-circuiting," Marie concerns.
"Why won't this frickin door won't budge? Urk, who thought it would be urgh, a good idea to tie a door to the power grid."
"Maybe if I..."
Smack*
"Ugh, one more time."
Thump*
"Gah, It's no use; this door isn't going anywhere. I need to find another method of escape."
Marie combs through her cluttered workspace, upturning cobweb coated files, and batches of prehistoric dust bunnies.
"Hmmm, that glass panel can be removed in the event of an emergency. But that's a twelve-story drop; there's no way I'd survive the fall. I need a rope-like object to lower my body to the ground. But I don't see a cloth or fabric of any kind. If only I were trapped in a bedroom, but nothing is ever that easy." Marie jokingly remarks.
"Dang, I didn't know I had this many paper clips, I really should use these more often," Marie recognizes, rummaging through her junk draw. "Huh, there's even more in this draw, and some in this cubby as well..."
Suddenly, an absurd idea sprouts inside of Marie's desperate head.
"No way, that's the most ridiculous idea I ever heard. No! I won't accept that possibility; there has to be something better here. Come on, come on. It can't be paper clips; don't let it be paper clips." Marie worries.
Marie rips the hollow draw from the desk in a fit of rage.
"Dammit, I can't believe I'm saying this, but... I have to make a chain out of paper clips, and ugh ride it down to the bottom floor. I can't believe this is really happening; I'm actually going to do this. God have mercy on my soul," Marie weeps, starting to assemble the flimsy cable.
——————————————————
February 6th, 2020 -
This is it, your final test of strength—the moment you had been preparing for your entire life. This looming challenge of endurance bore many names: Ten Seconds till Hell, Devil's Advocate, but by far it's most notable dubbed it the Plunge of the Kraken.
It was Fun Land's most notorious attraction and commonly appeared on tv commercials and advertisements for the park.
"Argh, why are all of these paper clips so sharp. I just started constructing this line, and my fingers are already covered in tiny scapes," Marie complains.
The lengthy queue to the perilous lift is outfitted with an abundance of broken ship pieces. The atmosphere and music accompanying the entrance mimic the scene of a disastrous shipwreck.
After you and Callie march by an assortment of monstrous tentacles and soaring cannonballs, you eventually come upon the ride's daunting station. As you board the hazardous vehicle, an informative message plays over the nearby loudspeaker, "Greeting scallywags, please keep all limbs inside the car at all times. You don't want to catch scurvy now do you?
"Argh, haha. Now that's a little pirate joke between my maties and me. But seriously, you don't end up with any peg legs now do ye.
Callie giggles at the announcer's crummy pirate impression, she too was taken in by the colorful ambiance of the ride. Her calm demeanor was in direct contrast to your highly anxious persona. The intense experience that laid before you was bound to produce a surge of static and push you beyond your usual limits.
"Okay, I think it's long enough. It's going to be a pain to climb down, but I think it could work. I'll just have to come down carefully and try to maintain my footing too," Marie proposes.
The coaster slowly ascends the enormous lift hill. The sound of rickety mechanisms clicking along the track completes the treacherous picture. Callie wiggles with excitement, cracking numerous jokes along the journey. "Are ye scared, matey?" She says, curling her finger into a small hook. "Argggh!"
"I can't believe it! It's holding! The cruddy paper clip chain is actually holding. Urgh, I'm coming Agent 4 just urk, hold on a second." Marie claims, enduring multiple blisters.
While you ascend the massive chain lift, Marie descends the large metallic chain.
You gradually reach the peak of the steep mountain, gritting your teeth in quick succession.
Marie gently approaches the stable floor platform, biting her lip in sheer anticipation.
Your heart pounds uncontrollably as the small kart peeks over the top of the hill. The train comes to a complete stop, leaving the frightening image of death on the horizon.
"It's okay," Callie whispers, gripping your hand.
"Look, I know we've had some rough patches along the way, and we've both gotten into our fair share of arguments. But I just want you to know that as long as we're together...
We can do anything."
Marie removes the headset from your eyes, releasing you from the simulation's clutch.
A pair of massive iron doors suddenly burst open, and a swarm of ferocious sharks flood the dark chamber. They're all equipped with volatile harpoons and acid-based weapons. Fang appears from behind the small faction of troops, with a broad grin plastered along his mug, "S'appening mate. What did I startle ya?"
"Fang! What in the world are you doing here," Marie exclaims.
"Don't play dumb Mae. You underestimated my capabilities, and now you're going to pay the price for it. Ready those weapons boys, we're having squid meat tonight," Fang orders.
"Fang, don't do this. Come on; I know there has to be some good in you. Whatever happened to me being your bride," Marie charges.
"Oh, now that's rich. Now that everything isn't hunky-dory anymore, you're not opposed to the idea of being with the old fangster. Well, whatever, a win is a win. Boys lower your firearms and bring that delectable treat over to me," Fang instructs.
"Really, you're going to let us go? That's amazing. I can't thank you enough."
"Okay, men, with the lassie secured, let's kill the lad," Fang continues.
"What, you can't do that."
"Did you seriously think I was going to let both of you wankers off the hook. Sorry, I can't let this green chap get in the way of the operation, especially with Great White on my tail. Sheesh, that guy gets scarier by the day."
"No, don't hurt him. I won't uh be your fiancée if you don't let him go, yeah," Marie argues.
"Huh, so there is something going on between you two, that makes me want to kill him even more," Fang states, readying his rifle.
"No, it's it not like th-"
One of the sharks restrains Marie, significantly limiting her range motion. She attempts to break free from the varmit's grasp, but her efforts to do so prove ultimately fruitless.
"When I say fire, I want to unleash everything you have on that little shit," Fang declares.
"Ready"
"You can't. Please, Fang, stop this."
"Set"
"I can't lose another friend; I CAN'T."
"FIRE"
"NOOOOOOO, GOD STOP."
You rush towards the back windowpane as a surge of bullets barely grazes your body. You stop at the glass partition before leaping into the apocalyptic abyss below.
"ARTHHUUUUURRRR."
You plummet into the jungle of decayed buildings, steadily approaching the earth's rough surface. An immense feeling of terror rushes through your veins as your body hangs in an almost lifeless state. You knew that a fall from the fiftieth floor was undoubtedly fatal. In less than a minute, you'd make contact with a deadly cluster of concrete, ending your life prematurely. With your final moments in hand, you take the opportunity to collect your thoughts.
I'm sorry I let everyone down.
I'm sorry Marina and Pearl, I should've spent more time with you.
I'm sorry Marie, I should've listened to you.
And Callie...
You're nearing the end of your journey.
I'm sorry that I couldn't save you.
Wait... Callie.
You equip the VR headset pressed in between your fingertips.
The simulation mirrors your current reality, with you still falling down a precarious incline into a pit of steel. But there's one significant difference in this fall; Callie was finally by your side.
I'm okay with this...
I can die like this...
Just as long as I'm with her, I'm okay with death.
You look over to Callie, nearing the end of the drop, and glance into her golden irises once more. The tears and snot running down your lips make it hard for you to release your final words:
Callie, I love you.
"Oh, Arthur," Callie smiles. "I love you too."