Archive of Our Own

“How rude of you to intrude stranger .”

You’re able to see me? How curious.

“You’re hard to miss when you know where to look.”

I suppose, we are alike in many ways. Feasting on fear and terror, although you seek it out, passively observing, while I orchestrate it .

“I wouldn’t call this passively observing”

Indeed, and that’s why I’m here. You see my orchestra needs new players, new soloists to take the stage. I believe one of these two has potential to be in my grand symphony.

“Really? This lot? Up-pu-pu, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were kidding”

Never, I wouldn’t dare! It’s been quite some time since I’ve had a conversation this amusing.

“Then why these two? They aren’t prime material, especially the rabbit.”

Ah and that’s where you’re mistaken, I’m not here for her.

“...The other one? Now I know you’re joking.”

I’ve already said I’m not here to jest.

“The rabbits a shaking leaf in the wind, perfect to rend apart and eat away at. Why pass that up for the fireball of energy over there. Then again… what a delightful scream she made…”

Hmph, while yes she’s quite the ball of anxiety she also has something I cannot simply ignore. A fire of bravery simmering in her soul, ever blazing although it is trampled by terror. That kind of courage is not one easily quashed, my wrath will only fuel that determination.

“You’re a fool, she’s nothing more than a rodent who couldn’t keep her mouth shut.”

You seem quite agitated, have I stuck a nerve? What’s of it to you? Shes no longer a threat in your way, not like that.

“Whatever, do what you want with the other one. Shes a bore anyway.”

A pleasure doing business.

Leave a message at the tone,

“Heya, I’ll just leave a message.

I know this was all sudden, but I needed to do this. Really, I swear!

Maybe it was boredom, maybe it was claustrophobia, maybe it was the artblock-

…

Okay it was definitely the artblock- but I really just needed to get away from it all for a bit, ya know?

I swear, I’ll be done and back down to the city before ya know it. In time for your next play too, I swear on my skateboard.

Love ya, softie.”

With a final, albeit silent, button press on the phone the message sends leaving me with this.

A small cabin is the middle of some woods that I don’t even know the name of, trying desperately to get over an abysmal stint.

I glare daggers at the graffiti cans that I’ve set on the porch edge right next to my skateboard, both just sitting there begging to be used.

Why’d I even bring them out here, s’ not like there's anything to paint.

UGH, I meant that as like there's nothing to paint on but the thought of the art block sends me into another anti-creative spiral.

WELP, time to die I guess. I fumble with the keys to the door, it being stubbornly resistant before opening with a click and a groan.

The interior is pleasant enough, simple and kinda plain but homey in a weird way. With a resounding sigh that could beak someones back I flop onto the couch, pulling my very stained sketchbook out and setting my hat to the side.

I’ve barely added anything to it as of late… but the person at the art rink did say “connecting with nature is a great way of revitalizing creative spirit” honestly, probably a load of bull but I’m kinda desperate so we’re gonna see if there's any merit to their words Vee.

Okay but do I just hang out in nature??? Or like draw it????? They didn’t give much more advice than that uhhhhhhhh how about sitting on the porch and I’ll draw the first thing that moves!

GREAT IDEA. Could never go wrong. Best idea to ever idea.

- 5 hours later.

THIS SUCKS

A forest this dense and NOT A SINGLE BIRD, RABBIT, NOTHING???????

I drag my hands down my screen in frustration, night having already consumed the cabin with now my screen and the glow of the porch lantern illuminating the woods. Casting the empty yard in a moody glow of soft yellows.

WOULD BE A GREAT SETTING FOR AN ANIMAL TO DRAW RIGHT ABOUT NOW.

I pause my internal frustration, expecting the universe, or the admins I guess, to respond and deliver me an animal to draw.

Instead, I get nothing.

How great.

I know I'm not just blind or anything cuz I haven’t picked up on ANY movement at all! Not a single thing has come to visit this porch. Seriously, five hours and- hey wait.

No movement? I glance over to the lantern beside me and… Yeah nothing.

No bugs… Normally they’d be swarming all over me due to the light off my screen but now there's…. Nothing? I can’t even hear any crickets or cicadas… 

Huh…. It’s probably nothing…. Has to be right? I try to grab my phone from my pocket, figuring I could just look up if there's been something up with the bugs in these woods but…

SHIT MY PHONES GONE.

Uhm uH that CANNOT be good. Did I leave it inside???? I get up from my seat and hurriedly try opening the porch door but… locked.

It’s locked.

Several questions shoot through my mind at once, I know I unlocked it earlier, where's the key now, how did it lock again???? But those questions are stifled as the lantern on the porch side table goes out in an instant.

Oh god I’m in a horror movie.

Leaving the faint pink glow of my screen as the only thing illuminating the porch and the yard that stretches out behind it. That light is now betraying me though… as a sound finally breaks through the silence, and my sensors finally detect movement.

But it’s not small, or subtle. It’s large, imposing strides that slink in the borders of the illumination from my screen.

Then I see it.

It’s unmistakable against the pitch black.

A set of piercing red eyes, paired with a gaping jaw.

BOOK IT. 

I don’t hesitate for another moment, racing in the opposite direction. Scooping up my skateboard and graffiti cans on the way before meeting the dirt path that leads away from the cabin. WHY DID I GRAB THESE??? BAD IDEA??????? DEATH WISH MHAPS?????

Whatever monster that was gives chase on my heels letting out a thunderous roar. OKAY OKAY DON’T PANIC.

You’re now on a path in the woods! Running from a GIANT MONSTER!!! The faint out lines of the trees fly by as I continue to sprint down the trail, each step mirrored by the stomping and snarling of the beast on my heels.

But then… slowly… It fades… The creatures roars fade into the distance but I don’t dare stop running. And eventually the world lightens…. The outline of the trees becomes clearer… I can actually see the path instead of just running blindly hoping I’m on track.

And eventually I come to a boarded up fence… I can see cabins on the other side and there's weird cake like statues trying to get over said fence, actually no on second glance they are definitely alive???? Moving at least but their attempts are pathetic. Theres also- A PERSON?!??!

“Hey! Help please!?” I try to wave and get their attention with my arm that's not carrying my stuff but they don’t respond… actually they don’t even bother to look my way… Welp. They’re no use.

I approach the boarded fence and quickly slide my skateboard and cans between the boards before attempting to scale it cuz like I’ve never climbed a fence this high before but It can’t be that hard right?

And then I black out.

AND THEN IM AWAKE AGAIN.

My body feels sluggish, like someone placed an anchor on top of me…

My visual preceptors finally kick in as I fin-

“What are you?”

I scream in reflex as I realize THERES A PERSON ON TOP OF ME- IS THAT A KNIFE?????

They tense up at my very distinguished and not at all pathetic yelling, putting their hands up defensively.

“Mystical box, I am not your foe here. The Spawn has blessed you with your second chance, I am but merely a witness.”

. . .

“WHAT?”

What does any of that mean, where am I? What’s going on?????

The person is still sitting square on my chest, criss cross apple sauce, like a cat proud of its latest catch.

Looking around the area is… strangely empty? Theres weird walls and pillars everywhere but no real structures other than…. Is that a rocket ship???? I don’t get to inspect further though as the stranger on my chest man-handles my head into looking at them.

“You are quite the oddity, never before have I seen someone blessed with an appearance like yours” Something whips around behind them, curling and unfoiling… Is that a tail?????

“I literally have NO IDEA what ANY of that means. PLEASE GET OFF ME."

The crunching of grass nearby interrupts the arguing as someone out of sight rounds the corner.

“TwoTime what in blazes are ya doin- ah,” The approaching voice and footsteps stop for a second, “-ah… I see.”

The stranger, now known as TwoTime, puts their hands on their hips in… triumph? “I have found a strange mystical box, similar to the one present back in our courters! Perhaps this is a sign of the Spawns-”

“It’ aint, just a newbie.” The figure finally steps into view, staring down at me. He’s… short. Really short, I can tell even just from laying down, with grey skin, an orange hardhat, and a set of eyes that read ‘I’ve been done with this shit.’

“Ah? Is it like the divine pumpkin?”

“Errrr, sort of. Also ‘it’ sounds a bit rude, ya think?” The man pushes Two Time off of me and extends a hand. “Sorry bout our friend there, bit of an odd one they are.”

“It’s fine…????” with the extended help I pull myself off the crisp grass, dusting off any dirt that remained, “I’m just…. So confused…”

“Figures, ya meet anyone before them?”

“N-No, I just woke up.”

“Ah, so new-new. Bit odd” He brings a hand to his chin, “Last two to show up happened in between rounds, not durin.”

Last two to show up? What…

“Sorry, ramblin’s not gonna help you survive this place.”

SURVIVE?

“Yes indeed!” Oops said that outloud, “The spawn has graced us all with lives a plenty, chances upon chances to earn our salvation and cleansing.” TwoTime ‘explains’ with an almost manic grin.

“Not the most useful way of explainin it, but- yeah. Were in a ‘death game’ of sorts.”

I must be blue screening because the two look at me with a mix of confusion and expectance.

“I have to be dreaming right…?”

“Fraid not, someone's already out there hunting us down. If were too slow bout moving I’d say it’s right about time we get ambu-”

He’s cut off by a monstrous roar as SOMETHING FLINGS ITSELF OVER THE NEARBY WALL????

The creature, an all too familiar mass of black fur and those piercing red eyes, hurtles itself towards TwoTime with feral claws swinging wildly. I can only register the other man yelling something along the lines of “THATS NEW” before I take off sprinting in the other direction.

OH GODS, OH ####…. But roughly after ten seconds of running my legs… start to feel heavy??? That’s odd… Normally I can run for way longer without getting tire- Another monstrous roar echoes from behind me- NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT!

I keep pushing myself further, eventually slumping behind one of the many walls scattered about.

This is…. Awful… What even just happened, where am I…? A death game???? Those words come back to haunt me… I’m really stuck here aren’t I…?! I reflexively pull my antennas downwards, huddling in my knees, desperately trying to shrink in on myself and disappear.

But it doesn’t work, of course it doesn’t… this is reality whether I like it or not.

Footsteps approaching remind me of that as someone comes around the wall and slams themself down next to me, startling me first prompting me to scream which then causes them to yell as they realize they did not pick an empty spot to rest.

“OH- SHOOT, uH-” The man with brown hair and wide eyes stumbles a bit, clearly disorientated- IS THAT BLOOD? “-Oh no- you’re the new person Builds mentioned- uH”

“You’re bleeding?!??!?!?”

“Oh.” He promptly looks down at his blood covered shirt and gives it a curt shrug, “Least of my problems right now kid, don’t worry bout that.”

“I REALLY THINK I-” He tries to cover my mouth with a shushing noise not realizing it’s just an animation “ -SHOULD BE WORRIED”

“Quiet down kid-” He takes a glance out from the wall before peeling back around, “Don’t wanna lead that thing here, right?”

“Uh…. yeah????????”

“Good, firstly: You ARE the new person. Right?”

I nod, not really fully understanding what that means yet.

“Got it, great. Name and what ya go by”

“Veeronica, she is fine.”

“Cool, I’m calling ya Vee-” Yeah that’s about what everyone calls me, “Got any abilities?”

Hah?

“Any what?”

“Any uh…” He stops for a second, pondering how to explain it, “Special things or items you can use to help defend yourself or others. Like uhhh…” He fishes around for a second in his pocket before pulling out a whole leg of fried chicken??????? “I’ve got these chicken legs here that-” He starts to bite into it as he talks, “heal- me… prtt usfl stff” He swallows after a few seconds of chewing and the rest of the leg just vanishes. With a grin he pulls up the edge of his shirt where the blood had pooled to reveal a perfectly healed torso. “See?”

“Imma be so real, what the #### just happened.”

“Yeah that’s probably the most sensible reaction. Anyway, got any items or stuff on you that fit that kind of description aside from the obvious?”

Aside from the obvious? Oh. I glance down at my side to see my skateboard that I’ve been holding this whole time.

“Did you not realize that was there?”

“I may be a bit of a dumb ###”

“Fair enough, kid” he says with a laugh, he raises up the wall and dusts himself off before turning to help me up, “Names Shedletsky, by the way, but Shed is fine for short. If you ever need protection during one of these rounds don’t hesitate to run to me, got it?”

“Uhm…. sure?”

“Great!” he cracks a smile, before turning “Now I’ve gotta go help the others with whatever THAT was, keep yourself away from the action for this round. We’ve got this handled… probably ” he drops his voice at the final note, down to an almost whisper that I’d assume he was hoping I’d miss. I didn’t though and as he runs off the worry and fear I didn’t realize was missing returns.

I’m… actually in a death game…

Okay. Okay. Don’t panic! Don’t panic any more than you already are!

Another unholy guttural roar echos from across the plains sending shivers that wrack through my metal spine. OKAY YEAH TIME TO MOVE. With an invigorated urgency I start attempting to dart between the different covers scattered about, moving from pillar to pillar, wall to wall. Each glance around or over sending further shivers as I catch glimpses of that… THING.

I duck behind another wall and prop myself against a weird… generator looking thing. Why’s that even here theres nothing it could possibly be powering around here. This entire place is weird and makes no sense.

Propping my arm up on it results in a quick shock, not a painful one but enough to startle, firmly grabbing my attention. Now with a closer inspection the weird generator has a bunch of disconnected wires inside each with a different color.

This seems important. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Okay but what if I….

With a firm twist and yank I attempt to connect two yellow wires together, finding they bind with surprising ease.

Wait is this a puzzle thing?

I ####### LOVE PUZZLES.

- 30 seconds later

The green bar on the front of the generator fills to completion as the generator kicks on.

HECK YEAH,

In celebration of my epic puzzling skills I pumping my fists, quickly cringing as I realize what I just did. Thankfully there was no one around to see that!

A snicker sounds from just of out view.

I stand corrected.

A handsome, not in a ‘im attracted to him’ handsome but in the ‘he’s a handsome person and you’d be stupid if you said otherwise’ kinda guy, stands off to the side with a smirk that barely peaks out from the hand that’s attempting to conceal it. When they notice they’ve caught my attention the smirk grows even more, now breaking out into small concealed laughs as he attempts to turn away and hide his eyes with their fedora. “Sorry! Sorry, caught me off guard-”

“-I cannot believe this, only been here for a minute and I’m already being bullied.” I put my hand over my chest in faux offence, “Thats a crime ya know, being mean to me. Can’t believe this.”

He snickers more, but tries to compose themself “Truly a mistake on my part, friend, ya just finishing up that generator there?”

I turn my attention back to it, still proud of my work “I think so? I like those kinds of puzzle things so I figured it would be a nice distraction from the big scary monster”

“Oh yeah, absolutely. Speaking of which-” He flips a coin in the air, letting it hit their palm before pulling out A GUN AND FIRING IT- “BULLSEYE!” Another roar echoes from behind the wall before loud echoing stops fade out and a new voice joins.

“Truly well aimed friend! Although it seems this trial is not ready to end.” A pumpkin… deer… guy floats around the corner wearing an intricate blue robe and wielding a giant wooden staff. Complete wizard getup. “Ah! I see we have a new companion in these trying times, let it be known that you are not alone and we will stand by your side.”

“That one didn’t rhym-” The fedora wearing person is promptly bonked on the head before they can finish. “OW???? It’s not MY fault you can’t keep up the gimmick!”

The pumpkin guy doesn’t respond to that but turns his attention back to me, the me who is currently feeling completely bewildered at what the #### I’m looking at.

“Apologies for the abysmal circumstance, my fellow survivor here is named Chance. The one before you is fluent in many arts, but you may call me Dusekkar.”

“Yeah you know what, a rhyming pumpkin wizard is probably up there on weird things to happen today but I will gladly take WEIRD over TERRIFYING DEMON MONSTER.”

“I do agree with much certainty that that creature is one of a demonic creed” Not specifically what I meant but OKAY? “It’s claws have already spilled some blood, do we know which of our friends have….” He pauses, “met… the mud?”

“That ones a stretch and you know iiiiii-” Dusekkar raises the staff into a whacking position- “UHHHH I know Elliot and Noob already got taken out?????”

“Then this meeting is adjourned, I do hope see our newcomer once we have returned.” And with that he floats off… huh…

“Returned…?” wait…. “TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD?????”

“Hey hey wai-”

“WHY AREN’T YOU FREAKING OUT ABOUT THAT????” In the panic I start shaking their shoulders,

“It’s UHM. It’s a BIT HARD TO EXPLAIN- DUSEKKAR HELP ME HERE” The pumpkin man was too far to hear, probably getting added to the body count!!!! HE COULD BE DYING AND WERE JUST SITTING HERE DOING JACK ####.

“I WAS DOING FUNNY PUZZLES AND PEOPLE WERE DYING.” I feel non existant tears coming on, “UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH”

“Oh gosh- Lady Luck please help me here- It’s okay?????? They’re just… sleeping?????”

“IM NOT FIVE DUMB ###”

“YOU’RE A ROBOT I DONT KNOW HOW THAT WORKS-”

“The Spawn has graced them!”

Both me and Chance let out very manly and not at all girlish screams as the tailed weird person appears behind me… looking SCARY!!!!

“WHY DO YOU HAVE WINGS NOW- WHY ARE YOU COVERED IN BLOOD- DID YOU KILL SOMEONE????”

They look mildly perturbed at the last question but remain eerily static with a painted look of glee. “I have already reached my ascension for this round, the others will merely have to witness from the luxury of the cabins”

Chance calms slightly upon seeing TwoTime the tension easing in their shoulders, “TWO- I have told you not to sneak up on people like that,” They go over to pat the shorter sentinel on the shoulder, “Seriously you could wind up getting someone… hurt… ah.”

Even from behind the shades I can see Chances eyes wander to the unfurling… things on TwoTime’s back, closely resembling their tail but instead a pail imitation of ‘wings.’ “As I already said, I-I’ve obtained my second life for this round. Truly I have been blessed.” The smile on their face strains as they wince slightly, the wings twitch alongside them, either mirroring that pain or being the source of it.

And im standing here still confused as hell “Can I get an explanation still???? As to what any of this means??????”

“Right uhm,” Chance puts his hands up to readjust his fedora but stops and settles on pinching his shades instead, “So uhhhh people are dead that much is true… BUT! They’ll be okay, anyone who dies here just gets sent back to the cabin area until another round starts. As for them,” They motion over to TwoTime, “their ‘gimmick’ of sorts is that after hitting the killer enough times they get a second life of sorts…”

“Truly wonderful, yes?” They nod eagerly, clearly proud of their ability.

“It’s great Two, saved our asses and yours too many times to count at this rate.”

“So… All of this really is like a game?”

“Yeah pretty much, standard video game stuff but like real .”

Great, just- WONDERFUL.

“So- now what?!??? Do we just finish the puzzle generators until we die or- or do we just sit in a corner until that THING gets us?!”

Chance does a so-so motion with their hand, “eeeeeeeeh- either or, we just gotta wait out the clock. Once you can hear the ticking noise that means the rounds got thirty seconds left.”

“Ticking noi-” Just as I begin the thought I start to hear it, a faint pendulum ticking of a clock. “... Oh… Oh thank goodness that means it’s over soon right?”

TwoTime grins and nods, “Yep! As long as no one else suffers a horrible gruesome death at the hands of that devilish beast we should all be perfectly fi-” before they can finish they are cut off by a loud roar as the monster hurls itself over the wall straight ontop of them, ripping their body clean in twain.

Theres a pause as the shock settles, neither me nor Chance say a single word as the monster stretches and contorts while digging its claws further into TwoTimes lifeless form. Then it stops, turning it’s head towards the two of us as blood and drool drips from it’s jaw. Chance raises his pistol, lining it up to take a shot but it makes a pathetic clicking noise.

They lower their weapon back down, sweat starting to pool on their temple. They shakily flash me a weak smile before bolting while yelling “BOOK IT!”

YEP TIME TO RUN AGAIN, This time the monster in on my heels, not distracted by any other distractions or chaos, but dead set on me. The grass below clears to dirt, as I attempt to duck behind a tree but the monster was still too close. It lurches and takes a swing at me, tearing chunks of metal and fabric off my shoulder. On pure reflex I scream, waves of pain so intense they make my feelers go numb and my vision swims. I continue trying to run, trying to make any kind of distance from the beast to no use as it continues to pursue.

Then it happens, I trip on something. A silly mistake of course, I mean tripping on something while getting chased? What is this a horror movi- The pain in my arm flares but my vision whites out as the beast yanks on my tail, dragging it outward. When my vision returns I’m in the air, being held from the waist by large claws that constrict around my body. The creature eyes me, carefully looking over it’s next victim with a manic toothy grin.

Then, maybe out of boredom, maybe out of sheer amusement, it decides to finish the job. Taking it’s free claw it grips my neck, pressing and pulling. If I wasn’t screaming before I definitely am now, someone else is yelling too, the noise is all too much but the pain is worse. With a sickening screech of metal tearing… it breaks. The worst of it passes, my screen thuds to the grass, tossed aside like garbage. I see my body hit the ground too, falling like a puppet with it’s strings cut. Theres people around… people…. And… nothing.

Then I’m awake again.

Panicked, disoriented, and most of all in complete disarray. The phantom pains of having my head ripped from it’s socket linger, not yet daring to settle. Theres people around, each painted with a different expression from confusion, curiousity, worry, panic, it’s all too much.

I slide down against the walls and floor, the cool wooden planks doing nothing to ease the stress and tension. Then, just as I was hoping for the panic to finally ease, even more people round the corner and crowd into the room.

“Kid? KID?” I think someone’s shaking me now, I can’t tell since the room was already spinning before… actually no yeah someone’s shaking me. It’s the guy with brown hair from before… Shed? Was that his name…? “Builds you’re the robot expert what do we do here?!” Theres so many people talking… It’s so loud…

“Giv her som’ space Shed- actually” The rest tunes out, as seconds blend into minutes into what seems like hours. People come and go, most going, very few staying. The world stays, and I don’t want it to. Why me? Why did I do to deserve this? I dont want to die but every movement feels like climbing a mountain so what else am I to do but fall back down the cliff?

Then it finally, after an eternity, settles.

Vision returns. Feeling returns. Movement returns.

I’m…. okay.

“Feelin better?” Theres a fondness to the voice, a soft layer of genuine concern. “Wasn’t a pretty way to go.”

“Is it… going to be like that every time…?”

He doesn’t respond for a moment, “Yeah… Yeah it will. It never hurts any less, never gets any easier. Hard t’ get used to dying…” Theres a soft chuckle at the end, not of humor but hopelessness. 

“Can I ask you something…?”

“Go right ahead.”

“Why me?”

“...” He hesitates for a moment, lingering in the silence, before placing a hand atop my head. “I don’t know kid. I don’t know ur story or what could’ve led ya here, but…” He slouches down, turning to meet me at eye level, “we will be here to protect you, care for you, just as we’ve done for each and every other person here. This place is hell, sure, but we’ll make the most of it, ay Shed?” He turns towards the brunette, who was leaned against a couch towards the center of the room.

He’s clearly been listening in on the whole conversation, and jolts a little when the attention is turned to him. “Y-Yeah. It SUCKS to get used to, and the dying thing really doesn’t get any better but we’ve all got each others backs here and that now includes you. But also, uh, don’t like… feel bad about panicking or freaking out about this stuff, trust me we were all chickens with our heads cut off when we first got here. No judgments.”

That… doesn’t really ease my concerns but… I have people I can rely on here… got it…

The older man… Builds? Relaxes slightly and raises himself back to his feet, offering me a hand to get to mine. “For living arrangements, you’ll have to stay in the main cabin here until I can finish building your personal one. Won’t take more than a day or two, unless ya want anythin special.”

Wait, “You’re gonna build me a house????”

Shed chuckles, elbowing the smaller man. “Oh of course he is, Mr. Builderman couldn’t possibly pass up the opportunity to make something, could he?” prompting said smaller man to shoot him a death glare.

Double wait…

“YOU’RE BUILDERMAN????”

“It took ya that long to realize that?!”

“All the porchlights have gone dim, not a soul in sight. What brings you out here on a chilly night?” Dusekkar leans on the porch rail, illuminating the house with the glow of his pumpkin.

“Needed a breath of fresh air b’for I head to bed, what of it?”

“If I didn’t know better I’d say you’re quite fond of our new friend.”

“It’s nothin Matt.”

“You said that for John-”

“And look where that ended up.”

Dusekkar frowns, a sigh following as he pinches his brow. “I suppose you could answer a question for me then, if you have the time.”

“Shoot.”

“Do robots dream of electric sheep?”

“Depends.”

If you were to ask the girl huddled inside on two restaurant booths pushed together to make a makeshift bed? She’d tell you she was dreaming of electric rabbits.