On their way back to the others, Credence noticed a few subtle changes in their environment. Some of the cracks in the walls had either been patched or were completely gone. A potted plant now stood beside the nurse's office, its leaves a bright shade of green. Though the cafeteria was still infested with spiders and cobwebs, there were fewer bloodstains and dirty dishes on the counter.
When they reached the recovery ward, Quico's koala had scooted to the edge of the mattress and was hugging himself tightly. The stuffed animal was rocking and trembling while Chilindrina sat beside him, gently rubbing his back. Credence sat on the koala's other side, holding out the picture he colored with Chavo.
"Here you go, little guy," he said, speaking softly to the frightened plushie. "We made this just for you."
The little wala gasped, reaching out and taking the picture. "What a nice picture!" he cooed, holding the picture up to the light so he could see it better. "It reminds me of Quico's drawings. He made very nice drawings. But then... he stopped using colors." The koala's expression changed, his furry features downcast. Sniffling, Leon wiped his eyes with the back of his paw and looked up at Credence. "Quico became very sad. He worried about you a lot because you're old and sick. He wants you to stay with him forever. Quico planned to stop Death, to trap her. He asked all of his toys for help. But... when he found his dad's grave in the cemetery, he knew he was too late."
"He was too late?" Credence echoed, his eyes widening. What was this toy on about?
The koala nodded. "Yes," he said in a small voice, avoiding eye contact with the Obscurial. "Quico used to have another daddy before you. He... he couldn't accept the truth, that his dad was dead. He was very angry, challenging Death in the graveyard. Us toys, we fought her when she came for you. Quico begged and pleaded. Some of us were taken by her monsters. And then... she left us, never to return. I don't know what happened to him after that. The last time I saw Quico was at the graveyard."
Suddenly, the koala jerked his head up, staring at the door across from his bed. "The graveyard!" Leon exclaimed, startling the little girl beside him. "I should go back there! Now that I have my body back, I can return to my duties." But then he paused, looking down at the picture Credence had given him. "Can I keep this picture? It's very nice. Oh, and the coloring pages too, please. That'll give me something to do while I watch over Quico's daddy in the cemetery."
Credence was still, taking a moment to process what he had heard. Apparently his honorary son was facing the same struggles, unable to accept the fact that he was going to lose everyone he'd ever loved. Quico had seen it for himself, the headstone with his father's name on it. And yet he still fought and wept, desperate to save what remained of his family.
So where was he now? Where had Quico gone after forcing Death to retreat into the underworld? What stories could he tell if they managed to find him? Even more important was the question regarding his departure. Why exactly did he leave? Was he forced to abandon his friends and family, or had he been taken by one of the monsters?
Looking around at the broken remnants of the hospital, Credence saw the world contained within his nightmares shift once more. Blood was seeping from the cracks in the walls, crying out for those forever lost. He could try to make this a better place, but as long as he was struggling to come to terms with his death, this world would remain his own personal Hell.
"Of course you can keep the coloring pages," Chavo said, smiling and hugging the stuffed animal. "You deserve them for being brave enough to fight Death." Leon held the stack of papers against his chest, hopping down off the mattress and taking the box of crayons. Chavo then turned to his uncle. "We need to find Quico and figure out what he did to stop Death. I'll take his koala back to the cemetery and ask him to show me the grave he watched over. Maybe Quico will go back there."
"And we can search the city," said Chilindrina, taking her father by the hand. "No one can survive for long here anyway. If Quico is still out there, then we'll find him faster if we split up."
Upon hearing this, the Obscurial felt his heart leap into his throat, strangling the scream that was threatening to burst from his lungs. How could they even think of separation in a world like this? Didn't they realize that they could easily get slaughtered by the horde of monsters out there?
"Uncle Blueberry, are you okay?" Chavo looked up at the Obscurial, who appeared to choke on the words he couldn't bring himself to speak.
His muscles twitched in violent spasms, convulsively gripping his daughter's hand. He didn't even realize he was shaking, the color rapidly draining from his face. "You can't leave," Credence whispered hoarsely, a thickened slurry of parasitic residue rising in his esophagus. He staggered sideways, dizziness overwhelming his senses. "They'll kill you. It's... it's not safe out there. You're just.. children... They'll kill you. They'll kill you, I know they will!"
The Obscurial slumped against the wall, finally releasing his daughter as his fingers dug into his scalp, gripping fistfuls of his ebony hair. Even when he closed his eyes, Credence couldn't escape the horrendous visions that sprang to life before the blackness of his mind.
The crows had resurfaced, their cries mimicking his voice in mocking tones, calling his daughter's name as her flesh was ripped from the bone. Against the backdrop of a crimson moon, blood spurted from her writhing form, her limbs torn from the shredded remnants of her body. Time and time again he was forced to watch as his daughter was brutally slaughtered, only to rise once more, screaming his name in agony.
Inhaling deeply, Credence finally released a tortured scream. This was immediately followed by a gush of rancid fluids, vomiting the essence of his Obscurus onto the cold linoleum. Overcome by his emotions, he leaned against the wall, sliding downwards until he was sitting on the floor.
Chilindrina moved to stand behind her father, carefully avoiding the puddle of vomit. Holding his shoulders, she felt him start at her touch, a low gasp cutting through the silence. He was approaching hyperventilation when his daughter's arms wrapped around his chest, leaning her weight against his back.
"I'm not going to leave you, Daddy." Her warmth embraced his trembling form, a wretched sob escaping his lips. The Obscurial closed his eyes, a trickle of blackened fluid running from the corner of his mouth. God, it hurt so much, just thinking about losing them. "It'll be okay. We're going to find Quico, and then everything will get better."
Of course she believed that, thinking in her innocence that the magic of a dream could make it right. As if that were enough to protect them from the monsters.
"No, it won't." Credence spat out a mouthful of black ooze, coughing and retching as a surge of bile joined the growing pool at his feet. His shoulders shook, sobbing before the little girl. "I'm going to lose everything."
Chavo came forward, holding his uncle as the Obscurial wept, shuddering beneath his cloak. "I'll be alright, Uncle Blueberry. I'll have Quico's koala with me." Said koala was now waddling over to join the others, his tiny paws clinging to Credence's leg. "We're here for you. That's why we came here in the first place, so I'm sure Quico must still be out there. He wouldn't abandon you. He just wandered off and probably got lost somewhere."
Hearing these words failed to comfort his uncle. For at that moment, Credence's mind began conjuring images of Chavo desperately picking apart his daughter's remains, searching for only the juiciest morsels of flesh to stave off the ever-present hunger. This brutal imagery brought with it a renewed surge of nausea, his stomach aching tremendously. He couldn't force himself to continue. It was all too much for his heavy heart to bear.
Sobbing, Credence remained on the ground, the children holding him tight. If this was all a dream, then why couldn't they vanquish the monsters that lurked on the outskirts of town? Surely they could make it better if they tried, with a little love and some hefty repairs to the building. Chilindrina often spoke of wanting a hospital in the basement for her ailing father. They already had everything they needed. There was no need to leave, no reason to wake up now.
And yet he knew that was a lie. Credence was not a child. He was a grown man who had witnessed the true horrors of reality. A reality that often proved humans could be worse than the monsters that haunt our dreams. Still, he tried telling himself that everything would be alright if they stayed here. Just like he tried to convince himself that he wasn't going to die.
"Not dead... I am not dying, I am not going to die," he muttered, gasping and struggling to take a full breath. That's when he heard it, that familiar voice, so warm and soothing, cutting through his panic and drawing his attention away from his fears.
"Credence," a delicate voice whispered. Lifting his head from his hands, the Obscurial opened his eyes, tears blurring his vision. "It's alright. I'll watch over him."
Once more the angel stood before him, Grandma Jeanne Marie, in all her radiant splendor. She had taken Chavo aside, standing next to him with her hand on his shoulder, smiling warmly at her grandson. Her wings enveloped the little boy and his frog, a gentle light surrounding them, piercing the shadows that filled the dreary hospital.
Though he wasn't sure of this person's identity, Chavo felt comforted by her presence, allowing her to pull him into her embrace. Leon was also touched by the love and kindness that seemed to radiate from within this heavenly being. The tiny toy toddled over with his stack of coloring pages to join Chavo by her side, almost as if he was drawn into her light.
"The struggle is inside of you," said Jeanne, leaning down and wiping the tears from his eyes. "The monsters, all of the pain that exists within this world, all of it is inside your heart. You can't make this world a better place without facing your fears. I'm sorry, but you have to let them go."
"No," Credence whimpered, tears streaming down the sides of his face, trickling past her fingers. Swallowing hard, he forced his words past the lump in his throat. "I would rather stay here and suffer if it means I won't lose them."
"You would rather they suffer with you?" the angel asked, keeping her tone gentle. "I can't protect them forever. Sooner or later you will have to bid farewell to your family." Turning slowly, she began to lead Chavo towards the exit, her wings brushing against the doorframe. "You need to find Quico," she told him, the little boy peering out from beneath her wings and waving goodbye to his uncle. "He will help you on your quest. Go now. I can only protect them for so long, Credence."
Credence reached towards them, his mouth opening wordlessly, failing to call them back. In a last-ditch effort to retrieve his nephew, the Obscurial hurriedly got to his feet, stumbling as he ran towards them.
"Chavo!" Credence exclaimed, only to watch as the boy turned and vanished along with his grandmother and the koala, the angel whisking them away to the cemetery.
Only a handful of feathers remained, shed from the angel's shining wings. Lowering his head, the Obscurial watched them drift towards the floor, slowly spiraling and landing at his feet. A scattering of tears joined the feathers on the floor, dampening the soft edges and contours. And yet he still wasn't ready to move forward. Credence wanted to stay and fight for these children. He wasn't ready to wake up. He didn't want to die.