"What…?"

The sudden response from Tyler was shocking to me, between the explicit use of my name, not to mention… Asking me to leave? What does that-

"Did you ever consider, even for a second, that I wouldn't want to see you after all that's happened?" Just as soon as I begin to step back in shock, Tyler steps forward to close the distance. "That I wouldn't want to see you after you shot me in the fucking head?"

The world is spinning, and I feel as if I'm losing my balance. "You… Remember that?"

"What, did you really think you'd just be able to do that and get away with it? Do something like that to your so-called best fucking friend and just be able to keep on like normal!?" He leans back for a moment and sighs. "Did you really think you could just go back to being buddy-buddy with me after that!?"

I don't move, knowing that I couldn't even if I tried. All I can do is stare up at him, paralyzed. Finally, though, I manage to force words out. "Time went back… I- I thought…"

"Do you understand how fucking shitty it is to act like you can so much as talk to me after that, just because you didn't think I would remember!"

There's a short silence, but the look in Tyler's eyes is deafening.

"Tyler- I'm… I'm sorry."

"And forgive me for thinking that sorry isn't going to cut it." Tyler sighs. "Did you even once bother to ask yourself why I'm in this simulation to begin with?"

"Of course I have, I've been trying to find you for months! I've been asking myself that question ever since I first found out you were gone!"

"Xavier, I left because I wanted to be away from you."

…What?

"Amazon, or the government, or whoever the hell is running this shitshow at this point offered me hush money, but unlike before time switched back I didn't need it. You'd just fucking killed me and I wanted to get the hell away from you before anything else, so they put me in here where they thought you'd never be able to get to me." Tyler's voice was filled with nothing but resentment and anger. "But clearly even that wasn't enough, huh? You just had to rescue your little made-up damsel in distress?"

I struggle to not crumple onto the ground below me. My eyes are locked to the carpeted floor, no longer able to stomach the pure, unfiltered hatred in my former best friend's eyes.

All I can manage to mutter out is a silent, defeated, "Where's Elizabeth…?"

"No clue, and even if I did know it's none of your damn business. You hurt her more than shooting me through the fucking head hurt me, so wherever she is I'm sure she wants nothing to do with you."

Hundreds, thousands of emotions, thoughts and regrets shoot through me like a fighter jet. Heavy feelings of what was, tough realizations on what is and impenetrable grief on what could have been. If-onlies and what-ifs occupy my head, I start to hyperventilate, and my balance finally falters.

As I crumple to the ground, all of those thoughts go away.

Instead, what's left is,

In the place of all remorse,

A strong urge to be anywhere but here.

…

I can't believe I'm doing this…

I'd been trying to convince myself out of this all morning, and yet I'm here again. Right here, the very place I wished I would never have to be ever again. The very place that occupies my nightmares most. The very place, more than anything else, I hoped I'd be able to forget.

My dad's house.

It's okay, Natsuki. You're good. You got this. I try to reassure myself that it won't turn out disastrously, but that's much easier said than done.

Phone Slut told me that there's no staff watching right now, so this is my only chance. I damn well know that.

I get that, but it's still scary now that it's right in front of me. One knock away.

Hell, PS got me to schedule a meetup with that stupid clone of me just so I could get this far. Said she would tell me what that weird machine I found in the shed does if I did. Don't know what stake she has in it, but I guess that's the push I needed.

Not that I couldn't use another push right about now…

No. I can do it. I've come so far, and that's not going to stop now.

I reach my hand out to knock…

…But just as I do, the door swings open.

"Don't think I didn't see you standing out here like a fucking pussy bitch. Are you coming in, or are you gonna chicken out like a little fucking pissbaby?"

Fucking hell, do I hate her.