Chapter 2

Reality

Darkness. Nothing but pitch black darkness was shown in an endless world of existence. In every direction, there was nothing but the pure color of black. It was cold, silent, and horrifying.

"Hello?" The Stranger quietly cried, walking cautiously to make sure he would not fall through any invisible holes. "Is anyone here?" He looked back and forth, searching for anyone that could help him find his way back home.

The Stranger then began to hear a cry. A cry of pain. He was startled by the sound, shaking at the thought of what this person was crying about. "Where are you?" Suddenly, a flicker of light appeared to his far left, and the Stranger saw someone on their knees, crying softly. The Stranger slowly walked over, trying to get a good observation of who the person was. As he got closer, he could make out a color: pink. He got closer, and realized that he had seen this person before. The red bow, the pink fur, it was the female chipmunk from the day before, who had died from being ran over by a van. The Stranger noticed that her cries of pain began to rise in volume. He felt sad for the poor lady.

"What's wrong," the Stranger asked, tilting his head to the left in a confused look, "did something bad happen? Is there anything I can do to help?"

The Stranger was nearly right behind her back, hearing her cries more clearly. She did not seem to bother looking behind her to notice the Stranger, who was trying to help her. This confused the Stranger, but then he saw something. Something that put him in a state of horror, stopping him from moving any closer to the pink chipmunk.

Her tears were made of blood. Beneath her was a crimson puddle that was filled with the blood that ran from her eyes. She was still laying on her knees, crying louder and releasing more blood from her face. The Stranger began to shiver in fear, not wanting to see the pain and agony on the chipmunk's face. But he got closer still, and slowly placed his hands on her shoulder.

"Ma'am, is there something-"

The Stranger instantly stopped speaking, as he moved her body to see her face. What he saw was pure terror. Her entire face was cut off, her eyes were ripped from their sockets, and her throat was slit open, gushing blood below it. The dead chipmunk then released a loud scream, scaring the Stranger and making him jump back from the body. The body felled over onto the crimson puddle, and the Stranger stared in shock.

"Holy shit! What's going on? Where the hell am I?!"

The Stranger felt something wet under his feet. He looked down below him, and noticed that he was standing on an ocean of blood. He looked around sharply and noticed that the entire ground was beginning to turn bright red, and the sky began to create dark clouds mixed in the dark red atmosphere. The Stranger was stuck, too scared to move or run as he watched his entire world turn from darkness to pure death. The Stranger then felt something on the back of his neck. It felt like hot air emitting from someone's breath.

He turned around with horror on his face, and saw where the air was coming from. It was him. Another grey squirrel that looked just like him. But instead of the same face of horror he had, this Stranger had a face of evil, having blood across his face and a smirk that scared the Stranger almost to death. Death would almost be upon the Stranger, though, as his doppelganger grabbed him by the throat, and held a bloody knife to his neck.

"Please no! I'm sorry! Don't kill me, I don't want to die! I want to go-!"

This would be the Stranger's last words, as the monster that held him slit his throat open, killing the Stranger and drowning him in his own blood.

"NO!" The Stranger quickly jumped up from his nest under the log, waking up from a terrible nightmare. He held his hand to his throat, making sure there was nothing wrong. He then felt his heartbeat, which was going at a fast pace. He took multiple deep breaths as he looked around his environment, noticing he was still in the log he hid in from yesterday. He was still in the squirrel suit from yesterday, and was still in the same area again. It was no dream.

The Stranger's breaths began to slow down after he realized he was alive and well. He laid down inside the log, still thinking of yesterday's misfortunes. He blamed himself for the deaths of everyone. If he had not punched that man in the yellow rabbit suit, maybe everyone else would have lived. He regretted his actions completely, and did not want to show his face back to society.

His stomach now began to growl violently. The Stranger placed his hands over his stomach as his hunger was killing him. He had not eaten for an entire day, and killing a random person and running from death really made him hungry. He did not want to leave his log, but he had to eat. He had no choice but to go back and look for something to eat.

The Stranger slowly crawled out of his log and into the morning sunlight, which warmed his body completely. He stood up on his two feet, and looked around where he was, remembering that he was in the park nearby Happy Tree Town. He then looked down at his body, and noticed his fur was completely stained with dry blood from yesterday. There was no way he was going to show his face with all the blood that laid across his body. He searched the area, looking for a place to get clean. The Stranger saw a crystal clear lake, which he could see the bottom of it due to its amazing level of purity. He ran over to the lake, and noticed a sign stating that no one should enter the lake. It was the rules.

The Stranger quickly jumped into the pure lake, and splashed water across his entire body, getting every bit of dry blood off his fur and into the perfectly clear lake. After a couple of minutes of scrubbing his body, the Stranger walked out of the lake, shaking his body to help dry off. Surprisingly, the water felt real close to him, which confused him since he was obviously wearing a suit. He looked back at the lake and noticed it was now completely dark red, and stained with dirt and blood. The Stranger cringed back a little, and slowly walked away.

"I'm sure someone will come around to clean it up."

The Stranger's stomach began to growl louder, causing him to wrap his hands around his body. He was going to starve to death if he did not eat soon. There was no time to find another city, nor did he know how to hunt any animals. So he had no choice to walk to the same town he left, believing that there should be some kind of restaurant. The Stranger came across the same hill he had first cross when entering the town. He stopped before climbing over. His mind was filled with terrible thoughts, getting visions of what lied over the hill. Would he see a crime scene with those white chalk lines referencing dead bodies? Would he see the "cleaners" removing the mess? The Stranger could only think of something disastrous taking place right now.

Be strong, man. It was an accident. You did nothing wrong, it was just unintentional. Just act cool and maybe you can just walk away from this.

The Stranger took a deep breath, exhaled, and walked over the hill to see the scene. But he did not see police or chalk lines or cleaners or anything. Instead, he saw the same routine as yesterday. The Stranger stood completely confused as everyone (who were still dressed as animals) were walking about like nothing ever happened. They were still doing their everyday tasks, and did not seem to care about the recent deaths of four innocent people.

These guys are all cold-hearted bastards. People die and they don't give two-shits about it. Damn…..

The Stranger was shocked at how anyone could just ignore yesterday's events and not even mourn the deaths of four people. The Stranger had to shake off the thought as his stomach made another growl of pain. He searched across from atop the hill and looked for any kind of place that may serve food of any kind. After a quick observation, he noticed a small restaurant.

Petunia's Café

"That sounds good." The Stranger said, licking his mouth and thinking what good food they might serve. He then tugged at his body, trying to once again take it off. "I just wish I could just eat without having to wear this crap." He stopped messing with his body, took a relaxation breath, and walked down the hill towards the sidewalk adjacent of the café. He made sure to look both ways before crossing the road and made it to the other side. He stood at the front glass door of the café, fiddling with his fingers.

Okay, maybe they might take an IOU or make an arrangement for a poor guy like me. Or I could eat and ditch like a cheap asshole. Oh forget it, I just need some food now!

The Stranger entered the café and looked around the building. He noticed that the place was packed with people, who all seemed to eat in their suits.

Seriously, how do they do it? Better yet, why?

The Stranger did not care as he looked over to the counter to notice an empty stool next to a man looking like an orange beaver wearing a construction hat. And with no hands, for some odd reason. The Stranger walked over and took a seat on the stool, and looked over at the construction worker. He seemed to be blushing at the sight of the cook, who was a lady dressed as a blue skunk wearing a flower on her head and an air freshener as a necklace.

Wow, that's refreshing. My perfectly good food is being cooked by a skunk. Yeah, that's just peachy.

The Stranger then tap the orange beaver's shoulder, getting his attention. "Hey buddy, if you're going to wear a suit, why not one with hands so you can eat?" The beaver gave an annoyed and mean look, and walked off pouting. "Is it something I said?"

The Stranger heard someone clearing their throat, and looked over to see the skunk, now holding a notepad in one hand and a pen in another. She gestured to him with the notepad, signaling the Stranger to make an order.

The Stranger quickly grabbed the menu and brought it up. "Oh sorry. Okay, let's see… I will have the…." The Stranger stopped speaking as something caught the attention of his left eye. He heard a giggle and language of the same gibberish from yesterday. It sounded very familiar. He looked over at the corner of the café and noticed someone. Someone he knew. Someone he saw very recently. And it confused and angered the Stranger greatly.

In the back corner of the café, sitting at a booth next to the window, were two people. One was a pink chipmunk wearing a red bow. Another was a yellow rabbit. The two people he saw yesterday, who had died right in front of his eyes and sent him into a mental state of terror, were alive and well, and were laughing happily.

How? Why? The Stranger kept repeating the same two questions over and over, getting more infuriated when asking it the next time. HOW! WHY! The Stranger wanted to feel great that the two were alive. But how could he feel good when the deaths they endured were not survivable. Their deaths were some of the worst he had ever seen, and no one could ever survive it. And there they are, being completely healthy and free of wounds, laughing like nothing ever happened yesterday. The Stranger could not feel sympathy. He could only feel his rage.

The Stranger slammed the menu down on the counter, shaking it and causing a small vibration across it. He jumped off the stool quickly, and slowly walked around the café, pushing anyone that was in his way. After a short walk, he made it right behind the back of the yellow rabbit, enjoying his conversation with the pink chipmunk. The Stranger grabbed the back of the yellow rabbit's head, and smashed it twice onto the table he sat behind, causing major damage to his face and causing facial bleeding. He then threw the rabbit onto the floor, and put his mouth right next to his large ears.

"You think this is a FUCKING JOKE?! DO YOU?!" The Stranger yelled violently into the rabbit's ears, grabbing the attention of everyone in the café, at least those who were not affected from the sounds of a rabbit being hit against a table. The Stranger stood up straight, his face being red with rage. "You think that was funny what you did yesterday? You think faking your death in front of a newcomer is fucking hilarious, you sick bastard?" The Stranger began to walk back and forth around the yellow rabbit, who only just lied his face on the ground whimpering in fear. "I MOURNED YOU! I was scared because I saw you die because of me. Your head exploded and blood got on me. I thought you died! And here you are, just laughing the day away!" He then sharply looked over and pointed his finger at the pink chipmunk, who was already shaken up by the situation. "And you! I saw you die too, and it was just as awful! I saw your body drag across the road, painting it with your blood! And here you are now, laughing with him! Are you with this sick bastard, you pink bitch?!"

The pink chipmunk could only sit and stare at the Stranger, unable to answer his questions that made no sense to her. The Stranger flew his arms in the air, and looked to the crowd that was watching the fight take place. "You all remember this, right? Seeing these two die, and all the destruction that happen afterwards, right? You are all with me here on this, right?"

To the dismay of the Stranger, every person in the building could only reply with a shake of their head. The Stranger stood still, observing that every person was shaking their heads. "You're all telling me that NONE of you remember the shit that took place yesterday? NONE of you?!" They all shook their heads again.

The Stranger began to tighten his fist, and his face began to show more anger. "I can't fucking believe this bullshit! Why are all of you supporting this bastard with your lies?!" He began to point at the yellow bunny, who was still crying in pain. "Is this really how you all treat outsiders, by scaring them with your fake deaths and then laughing your asses off about it? What the hell is wrong with you all?! You are all fucking monsters!" The Stranger then violently grabbed at his body, pulling his fur and skin in every direction. "And why the fuck do you all wear this shit! It's day two you are all still wearing this, and you all decide to eat while wearing this?! You're freaks, all of you!"

The Stranger began to breathe furiously with his anger and adrenaline kicking in at levels that normally should not be reached. His rage and paranoia was blocking his common sense of reason. As he stood staring at every individual in the building, the pink chipmunk tried to slowly exit her side of the booth and make an attempt to exit the building. Her seat, however, made a tiny squeak after getting up, which quickly alerted the Stranger. The Stranger stared at the pink chipmunk who was now beginning to cry in fear. "If you're going to be such assholes and play this kind of shit with me, why don't you show your faces to me and look at me straight in the eye. Go on, take the suit off!"

The Stranger was pointing at the pink chipmunk, giving her a direct order to take off her suit. She cried and only shook her head, knowing she was unable to take any kind of suit off. This angered the Stranger greatly, which made him bring his face straight to hers. "FINE! You don't want to take that suit off," the Stranger looked over at the table they were sitting behind, and noticed a sharp metal knife that reflected the sunlight from outside. He grabbed the black handle, and tightly gripped the knife in his hands, "then I'll do it for you."

The Stranger grabbed the pink chipmunk by her bow, and brought the knife to her neck. She was screaming and crying, shaking her arms and speaking in a fast, gibberish language. The Stranger brought the knife real close, ready to see the person underneath the suit. He slung the knife around her neck, and awaited for the reveal.

Initially, the Stranger believed the woman was wearing a large pink chipmunk suit. With a small slice around the top, he would be able to open a hole which he can wrap his hand in, and rip the rest of the head of the suit off, revealing the person inside. That was the plan.

Instead, he was greeted with a flash of blood that spurted straight out of the pink chipmunk's throat, cutting the jugular vein splashed blood all over the Stranger's face, the knife, the floor, the table, the window, everything. Her blood was covering everything in the near proximity of the Stranger and the café. Everyone in the building screamed at the top of their lungs, and ran to the corners of the café to hide at the sight of the murder.

The Stranger, now completely covered in blood, dropped the pink chipmunk's body onto the floor, and watched her body twitch as blood slowly ran from her neck. He shook violently as he saw the dead body lie in a puddle of blood, and began to hyperventilate. He slowly brought the knife to his face, and looked into the metallic reflection of the blood-stained blade. What he saw was the monster from his dreams this very morning, except now it was really him. The Stranger dropped the blade quickly, and fell to his hands and knees, gagging ferociously before vomiting across the floor over the sight of murder he had just caused.

OH DEAR GOD, what have I done?! What's happening to me, what is this place doing to me?!

Seeing that the Stranger was now unarmed, everyone who was alive ran straight for the front door, screaming loudly in panic from seeing some outsider come into a building and kill an innocent person. It was his second day in town, and he had killed another person, this time on purpose.

The Stranger laid on his hands and knees, crying over the dead body. "WHY? Why am I doing this? What's wrong with me?!" He whispered to himself and cried for multiple minutes. His thoughts would have to stop as he heard the sound of a police siren go off. The Stranger quickly looked up to see a blue moose in a police uniform, wielding an electric Taser in his hands and coming straight towards the door of the café. The Stranger had to act fast, and made a quick dash to the kitchen. Entering the kitchen, he found the emergency back entrance, and quickly made his exit, activating the fire alarm and alerting his position. He found himself in the alley behind the café, and continue to make a run into the middle of the city. As he ran, he could hear the police officer yelling at him, and could tell he was catching up. The Stranger kept sprinting until he reached an alley far from the café. He looked around to find a place to hide and noticed an old dumpster. Without second thought, he opened the lid and jumped inside, closing the door behind him.

The Stranger sat still, listening for the blue moose acting as the police officer walking nearby. The Stranger held his breath, hoping the man would not find him. After a few short minutes, silence was all the Stranger could hear. The Stranger had successfully escaped.

But was it worth it? Was there any point in running? He killed another innocent person, this time on purpose. But how could he know when he believed that they were people in suits. They had to be people in suits. If this was the real world, then that is how it should have worked, right?

The Stranger sat in the middle of the trash, getting his fur all dirty as the blood got stuck to the bits and pieces of garbage. He began to sob as he continue to question what went wrong, with both the situation and himself. What was going on with everything?

Another great kill! Really enjoyed the fear you put into the lady's heart before slitting her throat open. Good thing you listen to my message before doing it.

The Stranger opened his eyes widely, hearing the same voice from yesterday. The same voice that mocked him and accused him as a murderer, and enjoyed it!

"But I did not mean to kill her! It was an accident!"

No no no no, Stranger. An accident would be having no intention to harm her in any way. You planned to harm her in the first place, thus is pure murder. But I won't judge, since it was a good kill anyway.

"I swear, I really did not have no intention to kill her! I just wanted her to get out of that damn suit so I could-"

Wow. You've been here two days already and still have not accepted the truth yet?

The Stranger laid confused. "What do you mean 'accepted the truth' yet? That is the only explanation."

Okay Stranger, tell me, exactly what makes you think that this is your home still?

"What the fuck are you talking about? This is my home, it's not like I-"

Just give me your reasons, Stranger. I want you to amuse me.

The Stranger's breathing began to pick up pace. "Well, they must be in suits, right? Because animals don't-"

Stranger...

"Okay, um? Well, the houses made of trees, maybe that is just their way of-"

Come on Stranger, don't do this.

"W-w-well, what... what about the death and being alive thing? That was just a dumb-"

Stranger, just-

"And you! You're just a mad voice in my head who is only mocking me because-"

STRANGER! For God's sake man, accept it!

The Stranger went silent for a short time before speaking. "Accept what?"

It really saddens me why I must explain the obvious to you. Stranger, you're not home anymore.

The Stranger did not want to believe what the voice was telling him. "How... How can this not be my home?"

Really? Animals that behave like humans, living in houses made of trees, dying and coming back to life with no recollection of the past, a voice in your head?! And what about you? What about your body? You could not find a way to take it off. You could even feel your own heartbeat! This is not your reality anymore Stranger.

"Then what the fuck is it, huh?! What the hell is wrong with everything?!"

This is not your reality. But it is another, one that I made.

The Stranger could only stay confused as sadness began to build up in his emotions. "How? That can't be possible. You're not real, none of this can be!"

Oh Stranger, I am most certainly real, and this world you see is all designed by me. Everything you see, from the way it is shaped to the way life works, was all designed by me. Trust me Stranger, I am real, and this world is real.

The Stranger began to shed a few tears. He did not want to accept this. "Why... Why would you design a world like this... What kind of world is it if everyone in it must die forever and never live in the real world?

Well, we all have our own set of skills that we use to satisfy are desires. My desire was to create a world which I control and get to mess with its inhabitants. You know, play God in my own fashion. And why do it with boring human characters when I can do it with cute cartoon animals! You'll be amazed the unique kills you can create in a world like this!

The Stranger sat up quickly in anger. "You sick fuck, they are still people! All you've done is placed them in different bodies! It is still murder!"

Well, technically I did not murder them, they bring this upon themselves or by others, like yourself. I just set up the situation and let them do the rest. You see, Stranger, they are special compared to you.

"What do you mean 'special'?"

Well, when you came into this world, I was not able to properly give you your own traits and personality, thus you break any rules or barriers that I have set up, which is both sad and good really. But them, they are different. I've made each one special with a unique trait, but they all follow the same principle: no self awareness of this world and its actions, no worry.

"You mean... they know nothing of anything that happens? They are forced to die and they don't realize it?" The Stranger laid back down in disbelief.

Well, it's not all bad. By forgetting their deaths, they don't have to live in fear. They simply live as if they were actual human beings, just inside the bodies of colorful animals.

"Why? Why tell me all of this? Why are you giving me all this information in one setting? And why are you making me live in this hellhole?!"

Because you have total awareness of this world and lack any connection to it. You can break the boundaries and go crazy without my authority. So, I tell you this now, because I want to see what you will do with it. You know the truth now, and you will be haunted with the fact you will always live with it and be the only one who will ever know of it. We will get to play together and cause so much mayhem, and it'll be so much fun to do it with someone who actually has self-awareness this time. The only one with self-awareness.

The Stranger began to shiver and cry as he began to yell. "But I don't want to play your shitty game! I just want to go home, away from all of this death and destruction! I want to see my family and friends again!" The Stranger began to hug himself, rocking back and forth.

Ah, but Stranger, this is your new home now. I'm the only family you've got now, and these people will be your new friends. Stranger, this is your new reality, now and forever, and we are going to have so much fun together!

And that was it. The voice left the Stranger alone in pitch black darkness of the dumpster, alone and afraid of the world. As the Stranger laid back crying inside the dumpster, he could only think about what he had just heard.

This was not his reality. The people here are real but placed into the bodies of colorful cartoon animals, and are forced to die in the worst imaginable way possible without any awareness of it ever happening. All of this that happens, and ever will happen, is all done by a mad man that he could only speak to.

And he was the only one who knew of this. The only one with awareness of anything. The Stranger will be forced for the rest of his life to watch others die in front of his eyes or by his hands, and he had no ability to help them.

Nor the ability to bring himself back home.

The Stranger could now hear the pouring of rain as drops began to fall on the lid of the dumpster. As the rain picked up in pace, the Stranger could make out the sounds of pain and agony emitting from the screams of innocent people. The Stranger decided to stay inside the dumpster. It was better (and safer) to do so than to try helping them. He was alone now, and he had to protect himself.

As the the screams began to pick up volume and pierce through the walls of the dumpster, the Stranger could only murmur to himself as he lied in terror.

"I want to go home..."