Sir Deathwing…
Sir Deathwing? Can you hear me?
You are dreaming at the moment.
As soon as you wake, I can finally help you.
Perhaps you are a better problem solver than the latter?
We shall wait and see.
What seemed like hours later, the maroon puffball's eyes finally opened. Around him, debris everywhere, ceilings and floors cracked, water making its way through crooks and crannies. Aghast, he stared at his surroundings, his brain overwhelmed with questions anyone in his situation would have asked: Where am I? What is this place? How did I get here? Why am I here? What happened?
He rose up, realizing that he had fallen into a broken bunk bed; the bottom bunk was what he was standing on while the other was far across the room, however, it seemed as if it were placed there neatly. Another thing he noticed was his sword was not in its usual place.
…Someone must have stolen it. His mind answered. But…why does this room seem so familiar?
Confused as hell, he rose and was about to take a step off the creaky bed but…
Sir Deathwing, wait!
He immediately halted. The voice was recognizable; he remembered his short, brief dream.
That bed you are standing on is on the brink of collapsing! If you are not careful, this could be the last step you ever take.
Deathy was about to reply, but the voice persisted on.
No. Do not speak unless you choose to do so with your mind.
Unlike the latter, you are much stronger. But you cannot hear the static as I and the latter can.
There is a monster in this room. It will most definitely awaken if you speak. Trust me.
Still very hesitant, Deathy slowly nodded, folding his arms.
"Alright. Just who are you exactly? How do you know my name? Who's that other person you persist on mentioning?"
You have many questions. Understandable. But, you will never hear the answers if you let death approach you.
Deathy noticed the voice was correct; now hearing the creaking noise, he quickly, but carefully as well, tip-toed off the bed. He wondered how such an old worn-out thing could hold him anyways.
Wonderful. You are off and alive. Now, I will answer some of your questions. Others may be left…hmm, how do I put it…?
…Anyways, you are in what used to be your lively house, good sir! And who am I?
I am the very treasure you sought to toss out. That was not very kind of you by the way.
But, you are not supposed to be here. You even foolishly brought that Spindle monster down here!
Deathy flinched at the voice's sudden change from friendly to anger. However, he was still puzzled by all this new information; it only brought more questions and confusion into his mind.
What I am going to do is get you out of here immediately.
And you are never ever going to come back!
Madison's mine n-
It was too late. The voice had already given too much information. Rage boiled up in Deathy's chest, and the urge to escape faded like fog in the bright, warm sunshine. He clenched his fists, using his voice rather than his brain.
"Where are you keeping my daughter!?" He spat.
In the distance, a soft growl could be heard. Deathy turned towards the source of the growl. It came near the neatly placed bunk; a creature, dull grey with a huge gap on his back rose. His spine was visible, and his eyes were light red. They looked as if someone had blown bubbles or thrown soap into them. Its claws, aimed directly at the ground, unsheathed. The creature limped towards Deathy, its claws tearing the neatly folded blanket.
Hmm.
You know what's better than releasing you?
Letting this monster finish you off of course!
Have a blast, Deathy!
Without his sword and not knowing what this creature was at all, he decided to make a run for it. However, the monster lunged at him before he could, tackling him against a wall. Being very old and broken, the wall cracked easily. Furiously, the monster continued to tackle the latter over and over again; it was much too quick for Deathy to even doge.
Not able to take anymore, the wall gave way and collapsed onto the ground outdoors. Tiny flakes of gray snow sprinkled down. It was bitterly cold, the snow sticking as soon as it made contact with the ground. The monster flinched and leaped backwards as soon as the cold touched its visible spine.
Grinning, Deathy ran up to it, tackling it towards the outside world; call it revenge if you want. Falling, the monster fell headfirst into a pile of snow, the little flakes poking its back. It screamed in agony; its body began twisting and turning like a corrupted robot.
Deathy's grin faded away, a pang of guilt in his gut when the monster stopped moving completely. He hadn't meant to kill it if he did, but it was too risky to let it live. He watched as its body slowly disappeared in the endless amounts of snow. Carefully, he walked past it, staring at the snow-covered world. They sky was completely black, and moving stars were visible. Perhaps it was night?
What scared him the most was the snow. Unlike the monster, the snow slid right off of his body, and it appeared to be falling from nothing. Unless the clouds were black as well, the snow was indeed falling from nothing. He continued walking, the snow melting under every footstep. However, he quickly stopped; a huge gap between him and the other side of the world.
He decided to walk around what was supposedly the remains of his house. He made a full circle, fear finally able to seep into his body. No matter where he went, the gap refused allow anyone away or able to come near the house.
"…T-This doesn't make sense…" He said to no one. "W-What is this place…?"
He retreated back into the house. The bunk the monster had peacefully rested in was a mess, it was now crooked, thin holes all around the blanket. Something had caught his eye, however. A yellow thin stick was visible through the holes.
Interest piqued, Deathy dashed over to it, lifting the now wrecked covers. It was then he finally remembered who else was stuck down here with him. Now, he had a mission.
Madison? Are you still here? Still here weeping?
She felt too weak to argue with the voice. She did not even care that it had returned to speak with her. She felt powerless, useless, and too sad to do anything else. She wanted to go home. Her real home. Home where she, her parents, and her brother would all be sitting outside, stargazing. Here, there were was no family, no stars to gaze peacefully at, nothing at all.
Come on, Madison!
You are much smarter than you think you are!
Look, two bookshelves and a couch.
Both are things that can be…?
Madison hesitated, she still felt miserable, but if there was a way to escape this room, there could be hope again. Another chance to find a way out of this dreadful world. She barely managed to keep herself up as she rose, but steadily held herself with the assistance of the wall.
"…They can be…t-they can be…"
She stared at the furniture, an idea hatching. She felt quite weak, but used the last of her strength to push the couch towards the gaping hole above. She did the same with the bookshelves, though lifting them was painful. She stacked them all atop of each other, making a mini tower.
Excellent! And you constantly doubt yourself.
Now quickly! Up the hole you go!
The few minutes it took for her to climb to the very top seemed like hours, but at last, her face mere inches from the hole, she could climb out. Taking a mini step backwards, she leapt forward, her face landing onto solid floor. Relief immediately flooded her body.
I-I'm out…I'm o-out…I'm out!
She let out a sigh, quickly backing away from the hole. She lifted herself up, however, she was still quite wobbly. Accidentally, she back up into a bookshelf, the books one by one, toppling out on top of her. Then, something hard hit her right-smack in the head. A flat, metal-like object fell into her hands. It was silver; the only physical trait she could make of it before passing out.
Madison…?
Madison?
Wake up!
It has been hours…
You aren't dead are you?
Y-You're the only person I can trust right now!
Please, say something to me?
Madison?
Pleeease!
Don't let me be alone here forever again!
Don't let me be destroyed again!
M-Madison...
I'm sorry for hiding Kaspius away from you...