Chapter Text
11
Blood-Stained Hands
3,
2,
1
I lunged forward instantly as my environment set in, the wind blowing back my dark, tinted purple hair and my long hat. My tendrils behind me stretched, preparing to snatch any survivor that came my way.
The map I was set in was dark, though moonlight shone down, illuminating my body as I rushed, scanning the area. A church building was set overhead surrounded by grayish ferns and flowers. I was immediately thrown back to the church I'd pray in everyday with Amarah preaching to them and I.
It only fueled my anger. I remained determined.
Footsteps overhead.
As I turned to the noise, chasing after it, my body suddenly dropped in the euphoria gifted to me. My stamina was restored back to me when the survivor was within radius. My hat snarled.
"Ah, I see," they had told me before, a hand on their chin. They bared a wide grin, though no eyes, and much like myself, they were pitch black. Phosphorus.
I adjusted the hat on my head. The discovery that my hat would speak for me was peculiar, although a relief. Having to communicate by writing was a pain in the ass.
"...Yes," my hat spoke, the voice deep and scratchy, nothing like the voice I'd known while alive. "John Doe had told me that this place was some sort of hell."
"And he'd be right."
I rose a brow, staring at Phosphorus as he took another sip of his tea. We sat outside, watching the moon gradually climb its way up in the sky.
Phosphorus continued, "This place is hell. A prison, if you will. Everybody here is here for a reason, some sort of connection, usually with a survivor."
I froze, thinking back to them.
Could it be that...
They were here. I could now see it for myself. They stood beside another survivor, their eyes wide and the color in their face drained as I rushed over to them. Raising their hands, they called out.
"Azure?"
I ignored them, slamming a tendril right into them, knocking them back, and then snatching them by their neck, lifting them in the air as anger seethed through me.
"You," my hat hissed. I tightened my grip on their neck as they weakly tugged against my tendril, that manic smile remaining on their face as they stared down at me. They began to turn blue.
"...A-az--"
I flung them back. They landed harshly on their back, their dagger clinking further away on the ground, shining from the moon above. I began to make my way towards them slowly, teeth gritting in anger as they whimpered softly.
I stomped right into their stomach, watching as they arched their back, and a sharp gasp from their throat.
"Coward!" I snapped, putting more pressure on my leg as they struggled beneath, coughing and wheezing.
"...What are you here for, Azure?"
"...I wouldn't like to answer that."
Phosphorus narrowed his eyes, though didn't protest. He set his tea down on the grass, humming in acknowledgement.
"Very well."
"...What about you?" I asked. He physically hesitated, his eyes meeting mine.
"I'm unsure."
Blood trickled from their mouth. They stared at me, speechless. I continued to press down on them, my entire body shaking, eager to see the brutal end of them, to bury their face in the fucking dirt, and--
Excruciating pain attacked me from behind, and I was stunned, shielding myself as I was slammed to the side, still standing, but nearly knocked over.
"Two Time, run!" A voice called out. I turned my attention to the sound as my eyes lay on a woman with pink hair, a shadow cast over her face. She wore a heavy coat, hat, and bright red lipstick, a contrast to the pale yellow of her skin.
John Doe... I thought to myself upon seeing her. Could this be his connection?
"And the others. What about them?"
"Mm?"
I stared down at my feet.
"...What's their purpose for being here?"
I stabbed a tentacle into a yellow, curly, brown-haired male who smelled deathly of fried chicken. He yelped as I shoved him to the ground.
"Well," Phosphorus said thoughtfully, tapping his chin. "1x seems to have some insane hatred for an admin named Shedletsky. They constantly mention the man, actually. If you'd like to hear an hour-long ramble from them, mention his name."
Phosphorus chuckled, and I laughed.
I smashed the yellow man down to the ground and penetrated him in the back with a tentacle, not daring to look at the scene nor listen to his cries of agony, unaware if he was... my mind remained insistent on finding Two Time and taking my revenge.
Just then, from the corner of my eye, a shadow moved. Alert, I turned, my eyes falling on the same person who'd stolen my very life. Their dagger flashed in their hands. My eyes widened.
They raised their dagger as they swept past me.
I screeched loudly, shielding myself with my tendrils, unable to move in my paralyzed fear.
You're going to have to kill to survive here.
It comes natural to me.
I'm not a killer.
A cry rang out.
I unshielded myself, my ears ringing. I turned myself around to see Two Time hanging from my tendril, penetrated into their stomach, blood dripping down as they coughed, spurting out blood, staring back at me in terror.
My rage overcame me.
I threw them against the wall of the church building, gradually building up the courage to face them as they gasped for air, a hand placed on the wound they'd received.
I'm not a killer.
...natural...
...we have no choice...
I knelt beside them, listening as their choked sobs filled the air, their eyes watering as they whimpered out my name.
They deserve this.
"...promise me...your love is eternal."
A wave of shock struck me.
Tears flooded my eyes, and I reached for their face, cupping their cheek with my hand, ignoring the trembling that took me over. Tears flooded my own eyes as I watched the light gradually drain from theirs. My eyes trailed down to the hole in their stomach, noticing the blood drip down and stain their clothing, leaving behind a puddle of blood stained on the ground.
I gagged.
I'm not a killer.
"I'll train you, teach you our ways," Phosphorus told me as he held a dandelion in his hands, twirling it around in fascination. "I can see your future, and it's bright, Azure."
"...What if...I don't want to?"
His expression faded as if my words were a surprise to him.
"It's not like you have a choice," he murmured, meeting the flower once again. I watched as he brushed it with his index finger and then suddenly crushed it with his fist, brows furrowed. I shuddered, cautiously watching as he turned his palm downwards, dropping the crushed dandelion onto the ground.
"...I know," my hat's voice was as taken aback as I was. "But--"
"There's no 'but', Azure. In this world, it's kill or be killed. We've been given a chance to take revenge. Take advantage of that and use it wisely."
Tears streamed down my face as I stepped back from the lifeless body on the floor. I raised my shaking, blood-coated hands, that dizzying feeling returning to me. Everything fell still while the world spun around me, trying to shove me down, catch me off guard.
The timer that was ticking down grew muffled as I stepped forward and tried to catch myself as I nearly fell, hugging myself tight.
And in a flash, the world changed. I was back in the cabin, a muffled round ended playing in the background. Voices kept yelling at me from all around, though I only curled up into a ball, attempting to shield myself from the disappointment I knew I'd receive from the others.
A cold hand was placed on my back, and I knew exactly who it belonged to.
"Azure, you did well. Come on, to my room."
All I did was nod as I was lifted up, leaning forward as I stared down at the planked floors, ignoring the voices that called my name from behind.