Memories came cascading back in that moment. Those years of thoughtless misery and mournful joy. Those years of walking and walking, driving and driving, swimming and swimming and shooting all returned to the forefront of my mind, casting lifelike images into my mind. It felt more real than reality in that moment, transported back to the past, That moment, when I thought my life would be over. I had a chance, and I didn't know. I didn't trust her to find a way. Instead, I did unforgivable things and lost her…
The blame belongs to no one but myself, and seeing the very device Monika worked so painstakingly on just to get back to me settled that blame firmly into the deepest pits of my stomach.
"Quickly," Phone Girl's voice blared into my head suddenly, "Before they come back. There's not much time. Natsuki, do you remember how the machine works?"
"Roughly. I watched Monika tinker with that thing for god knows how long, I'd better know how to use it." Natsuki taps her finger on the device's main screen, opening up its console. After a minute or two of typing into the console, the machine begins to rev up. "Say, PS… How's this going to work with our old bodies? Aren't they in a freezer in the middle of the woods right now?"
"You won't be going back to your old bodies. I can instead go ahead and change the information in regards to your bodies in this world, and that'll translate to the real world. Don't ask me how it works, but it worked for you when you were thrown back the first time."
I sigh. "I guess concepts like the law of conservation of mass and the passage of time only moving forwards have been thrown out the window for a while now. I shouldn't be surprised…"
The second Natsuki chimes in with a simple, "I'm so fucking confused right now."
"We'll debrief you when we're out of here. Anyways, I think I've got the bridge working!" Natsuki steps away from the console as sparks begin to fire from the giant device. "I couldn't figure out how to change the location it drops us at, so it should be the same as before: Xavier's apartment."
"That works. We're good to go, then?" My question is answered soon after, as a portal lights up in between the frames of the device. There is only one way to go from here.
Through.
…
Holy shit.
I just thought I would sort through the filing cabinets, to see if I could find that botched-print document on Xavier again. I'm trying to put a puzzle together in my head right now, and this is WAY more than I bargained for.
I mean, there's no way it could possibly be true… Right?
Could the boss really be… And Quandary…?
No. No, it can't be real. This all must be a practical joke played by Quandary. That's something she would do, right…?
Come to think of it, though… When was the last time I talked to her in any substantial way? Have I ever done that? She's my only coworker friend, but… Maybe it wasn't as close as I first thought.
Thinking back, this is starting to make a lot more sense. Her frequent disappearances as soon as the boss showed up. The boss never calling Monika by name. Amazon. All of the strange things she's said in the past. It all adds up, and I don't want it to.
Were we ever really all that close, even?
It is in that very moment that I realize exactly how alone I am in this situation. No one would believe me. What could I do, even? I rack my head, thinking of a way to get myself out of this situation. A way to stop a disaster like this from happening.
That's it!
The only people who would believe me… The only people that could possibly help. Of all people…
Before I even quite realize what I'm doing, I lunge across the room for the weapons drawer. But just as I get ready to figure out the combination on the lock, I realize the drawer opens on its own.
And the gun is gone.
And the moment I turn around, I realize exactly where it went.
"Congratulations, Wyatt Williams. You've figured it all out."