BE KARKAT VANATS

With a final few coughs that use to be laughs, your eyes haze and you feel as if your body is slowly falling numb. You look up at your old friend, the insane clown, and just try to reach out just once. The sound of screams and yells slowly fade out, and you fall out into a blissful black haven. You feel as if you're floating, as if... the world is slowly falling away. You feel... safe.

The faint panicked voices fade in and out, fear actually striking you as surprise. Faint panicked cries muffle around you and echo in and out. They sound of honking and whispers of your name seem to guide you around in this dark endless room. You dare not open your eyes. You're afraid that if you do, then you feel as if you'll wake up in pain again.

Small images run through your mind; Gamzee reaching out for you, tears welding in his eyes; he's being restrained. He's being... held back? His left hand held onto, what seemed to be, an arm; his right hand reached out for you as he seemed to be dragged away, cries heard from him so clearly. You wanted to reach out for him but it seemed as if you were being held down, too heavy to move. A new picture was seen; A man in a black suit and hat was holding you so carefully... he... seems to be worried or... scared? Is he crying?

"karkat-"

That's all you can hear, the echoed cries of... who? Karkat? Who's that?

Slowly, you open your eyes, coming face to face with what seemed to be a mirror or... the edge of water. What is that?... You reach out to touch it, but... something grabs your hand. It reached out from behind you and wrapped it's cold fingers around yours...

Looking behind you ever so slightly, your eyes widen in shock, as you see someone so familiar, but... so different.

Be Diamonds Droog

Great job... just great...

Crowbar is holding back that stupid insane fuck of a clown, and you hold Karkat; his small little body held close to your chest; you feel the tips of his fingers become colder by the minute. You shake him a little, muttering 'Wake up', over and over and over again... You never thought that this would happen; that one kid would have you jumping through hoops to prove that you actually have emotions. You never contemplated the fact that Aradia's death had a bigger impact on you than what you figured.

Slick won't like this... You promised the kid, you promised Slick, and you promised yourself; all of those promises are broken now...

"Kid... Kid, wake up..." You whisper, shaking your head in disbelief. "Kid, I didn't come out here; break my friendship with Slick, and hightail me ass to get ribs broken for nothin'... Wake up." You feel a sinking feeling in your chest; anger suppressed inside slowly trying to work it's way out. "I watched you and I tried to save you; you can't die on me now... I know it doesn't seem like much, but I'm sure Slick would love to see you up and walking around... Please, just... move." You whisper, being caught off guard by the sudden plea in your voice. You feel tears weld in your eyes, shaking your head repeatedly to stop this stupid emotion from showing. No. Diamonds Droog, you are not going to cry-

Not going to- Damn it-

You lower your head a little, tipping your hat down to cover your eyes. "..." Laying his little body down, you couldn't stop tears from staining your face, nonetheless your suit; but who cares? The kid's dead... "...You fought hard, kid, you've eared respect from me; even if Slick didn't give two fucks about you... I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to protect you; you did your best, I'm proud of you for that... but I bet it would sound much better coming from Slick, wouldn't it? Heh... You act so much like him... in every way possible, you know?" You forced a saddened smile on your face; and whimper a little. how the hell can this kid hurt you so much without doing a damn thing?

Maybe it was by the fact that since he did act like Slick; you grew an unknown bond with the kid. Losing Slick, it would piss you off and hurt you, and you never realized that until the the words slipped your mouth.

be spades slick

"SLICK-?! SLICK!"

wh...

"OH GOD, BOXCARS- SLICK-! HELP SLICK!"

what's... what's goin' on here?...

"HE'S COLLAPSED- SHIT, BOXCARS! COME ON!"

collapsed...? what are ya' talkin' about... i'm... i'm just fine?

"i gots him, Deuce... C'mon we gotta find Droog-"

guys i'm.. i'm just fine- Oh shit- What- What the fuck's with this burning feeling in my chest- Holy fuck- Oh god-!

BE KARKAT VANTAS

Your eyes widen, the yellow color and grey beginning to turn rather pale. Your ears perked back, but you didn't feel fear... You felt... Safe. Your jaw dropped, and you slowly pulled away from that edge looking mirror thing... Turning you soon get a full view of this... man.

Red eyes pierced your grey ones, a calming wave of relief and peace washed over your emotions; the atmosphere shifting from pain and misery to love and... relaxing scenery... A man in a Grey Cloak reached out and pulled you into his chest; holding you firmly in place. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath; the blackened scene turned to a lighter shade of dark grey. You soon found yourself resting in his lap just under a shadowed tree. You gulp and push away, in a small panicked motion. A smile grew on his features, reaching out and caressing your cheek gently.

Looking down, you notice the different shades of black and grey that create the grass. Dark, almost black shades of rain fell from the black sky; seeming to pass right through you. You look around, noting the lands and the many types of scenery around you and the physical features of this... place. You then realize that... you're floating. Are you dreaming?

"Karkat..." His voice was completely calm but... hollow. "You don't know who I am, do you?" He smiled softly, the wind picking up his cloak a little to expose his scarred body and charred wrists. Your eyes carefully eye each feature; taking a mental image of it all. You seem to grow upset, whimpering softly.

"Where am I?" You whimper, ducking your head slightly. "Who are you- what happened?" You begin to cry, breathing picking up suddenly. "Am I dead? Oh God- Please tell me I'm not dead- I- I can't die just yet-"

"You're not dead, Karkat... You're just... asleep..."

"You're lying-"

"Would I ever lie to you, Karkat?" He tried to reason with you, but you just.. panicked.

"How do you know my name? Who are you?!" You cry, trying to pull away. You're scared, genuinely scared. You were struggling and looking around panicked like. He simply reached out and touched your cheek; giving a faithful smile. Slowly, you take a small breath and hold it for a moment or two...

"..." He something whispered quietly, the world beginning to paint a color of wonder; outlines of distinct trolls being painted before you. He seemed to continue to speak, his mouth moving; forming words but... it was as if you went completely mute. You couldn't hear anything, the silent hum of death rang in your ears; driving you insane.

"Hey- Hey, hey, hey-" You wave your hand a little, "Slow down I- I can't hear you-" He continued to speak, smiling and waving a hand a little.
What are you saying?!" You slowly began to grow angry, reaching out for him; but when you grabbed a hold of his cloak; it slipped right through your fingers. Your eyes widened, and you started to lash at him, trying to grab a hold of him but it didn't work. What the fuck was going on?

In the blink of an eye, you are facing that image again; you see the edge of what seemed to be water; a reflection of you. You see the faces of the trolls who have passed away when Gamzee snapped. You reached out again, but a cold hand grasped your charred ones. You freeze and look back at the man with red eyes. He shook his head and faced you in the opposite direction. A picture of Gamzee's indigo tear stained face starred at you, memories of what happened flash through your mind. You look behind yourself again, seeing Nepeta and Terezi, Sollux and Eridan, and everyone else reaching out for you. You give a slight smile, a saddened look growing across your features as you were suddenly pushed to collide with the window like frame of Gamzee.

Whatever the fuck is going on, you better get some answers soon... Looking behind yourself once more, you hear glass shatter as you enter through the window frame like wall. Glass shards float just on the sides of you, as a wave of lightning flowed through your fingers; almost as if you were being pulled back in.

Entering this odd realm, you feel the soaring pain of being back in your body, hearing still gone along with feeling; but you take a deep gasped breath, not wanting to open your eyes...

Karkat: Proceed to Slowly Awaken From Your Slumber...