time waits for everyone

by rueflower1

Summary:

At home, you never really felt....y'know. "At home."

And here? In this - this new world? You feel lost.

It's silly how an 8-year-old kid is the one who keeps you grounded.

Don't worry; you have plenty of time to put things right.

No one is waiting for you to come back, after all.

Notes:

• Inspired by Another Time by likeathousandwordslong

i finished OneShot, and then I was reading some OneShot fics
"Another Time" by likeathousandwordslong is amazing
and i am inspired
...so this is kind of an experimental fic, as i do not know where i plan on going for the story of this
but i hope you like it

Chapter 1: someplace you woke up in

Your head really hurts.

That is the understatement of the year. You were just trying to boot up your laptop, anger filling you as you slam the door to your room after one of many fights with your parents. And then—what—you blacked out? Vision gone swimming? You don’t really care about any of that, all you want is for your head to stop feeling like it’s being shattered against a glass mirror.

Obviously, attempting to sit straight up will do no good for your poor head, so you opt to move your arms around to feel the floor. It’s wooden and dusty, and your grimace as grit cakes your bare arms, your T-shirt digging against your back. When your headache begins to subside, you slowly push yourself off the ground, blinking.

At first you can’t tell if your eyes are still closed, but blinking several times eventually makes one thing clear to you: whatever room you are in, it’s darker than your asshole.

(Not the time to be thinking of explicit jokes like that, damn it.)

You glance around, a knot in your belly as you don’t really know where you are. You’re met with a surrounding that seems like a very old living room, all but possessing a couch, fireplace, and TV screen. The rest beyond you is the kitchen, and two doors on either side of you. 

It’s not your living room. That much is clear. You glance down, feeling your body to make sure you’re not missing any parts, and exhale in relief. The same loose T-shirt and cargo pants you had on some hours ago were still there, though you regret not putting on a coat or something. It’s cold here.

“Oh…kay…” You murmur to yourself as you finally get up from the floor and slowly peer at the walls. Where the hell am I?

“Hello?”

A small, shaky voice reaches your ears. You’re briefly startled, heart jumps into your throat, and you whip around and put your hands up in a defensive position, only to see that the speaker is, in fact, a child.

Two glowing yellow eyes stare back at you, wide and unsure. They looked about the age of eight, wearing a dark maroon overcoat that covered her hands, accompanied by a soft purple scarf that trailed down behind them. What catches your eye is the hat this child has on their head, protruding what seems to be…cat ears. A cat-child. Or just a kid that has ears like a cat. And eyes.

“Um,” you say softly to fill the silence, careful not to scare them, “Sorry for breaking into your house.”

Their eyes widen, and they rapidly shake their head. “O-oh, it’s not mine! I just…woke up here. But I was at home with my mama a few hours ago,” They say glumly. “Who are you?”

You state your name and hesitantly take a step forward towards the child. Seeing as they make no move to run away, you take more steps until you are close enough to see their face clearly, within arms reach. “The same thing happened with me, so, I guess we’re on the same boat.” You lower yourself to the child’s height. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Niko,” Niko says, a tiny smile glinting on their lips. Your shoulders sag. At least they’re not afraid of me, you think as your only comfort. They look around the room, and then back at you. “So, um, what are we supposed to…?”

“We should probably find a way out of here first,” you suggest. Being older than Niko, yet while you don’t really like taking any leadership position, your heart tells you to protect the kid. You glance left and right, deciding where to go. “Do you want to check this room here while I search the other?”

Niko shifts in place. “Is it…is it okay if I stay close to you? I don’t wanna be alone in the dark,” they whisper.

You smile softly, and hold your hand out towards them. They take it and you feel their fluffier, tinier hand placed in your palm before you grip it gently. As you’re about to move, though, a sudden spark from the TV makes both you and Niko flinch, the child cowering closer to you. But it was only an electrical spark, and now the room is dimly lit in a blue light, letting you see better.

With Niko close beside you, you feel less anxious while walking into what you assume to be the kitchen. Under a flat table with two chairs on both sides lay an empty black backpack with a white clover on the fabric. You bend and pick it up, surprised to see it light and nothing’s in it. 

It wouldn’t hurt to have something to put things in, you decide after pulling the backpack over your shoulders. After all, who knew how long you were going to be stuck here.

Behind you, Niko has opened the fridge and pulled out a glass bottle with a bitter-smelling liquid inside, akin to alcohol. You turn and see them grimace while closing the fridge and walking back over to you, holding the bottle up, disgusted.

“What is this stuff?” Niko asks you, failing to keep the grim voice hidden. You take the bottle from their hands and look it over.

“Smells like alcohol,” you murmur. Your eyes trail back to the TV sparking, and towards the bottle again, before a lightbulb pops into your head. “Oh, maybe we could use this and the TV sparks to make a torch. Just need something to hold the flame with…” You stare at the bottle, thinking.

“I have a stick!” Niko beams and eagerly rummages through her coat, pulling out a branch. It’s small, but sturdy. “There was a wilted plant in the bathroom and a piece broke off.”

Smiling, you pull Niko along with you as the both of you head towards the TV. You help Niko dip the stick’s tip into the alcohol and lower it to let it catch a spark. Immediately. The tip sets off on fire and gradually shrinks to a decent flame, creating a portable blue light source. Niko then goes over to the fireplace and tosses the stick into the wood, engulfing it in azure flames, lighting up the entire room and making both of you feel warm.

It’s pretty, but you have never seen blue fire before. That only adds on the skepticism you’re experiencing, as this could all be a dream that you haven’t woken up from yet.

You hear Niko shuffling beside you as they bend down and pick up an object from the ground. Turning your head, you’re met with a pair of glowing yellow eyes staring back at you as they hold a key up to your face. 

“It probably goes into that door over there,” you nod your head towards the door to your right, which has a smaller keyhole than the other. Niko hums in agreement and waits for you to come closer before walking towards it, placing the key into the hole and hearing a click as it unlocks.

You’re met with a daunting staircase that leads to a bottomless pit. You can’t even see the floor. You glance back towards the fireplace where the torch has already been inflamed and let out a sigh. “We should’ve kept that torch,” you mumble.

Niko tilts their head in confusion. “I can see just fine, though. It’s not too dark?”

At first, you’re blank. It’s then that you focus on how bright the child’s eyes are, shaped like cat eyes and brilliant yellow, that you can find out why their vision might be a tad better than yours, especially in the dark. 

You point your finger to Niko’s eyes and back at your own. “Your eyes, they’re really bright. That’s why you’re able to see better than me,” Suddenly, a cute nickname pops up into your head. “Shiny eyes,” you say, on a happy note.

“Ohh, that makes sense! My eyes are glowy,” Niko smiles. “But everyone in my village is like that! I’ve never seen anyone with dark eyes like yours.”

After a moment of staring down the dark hallway, you hear Niko take a deep breath and let it out, then brush their small hand against yours to take it. You hold it gently, allowing the child to take the first step down the staircase, while your other hand is focused on feeling the wall for purchase.

You try to focus on keeping one foot in front of the other, careful to not step on Niko’s scarf, but it suddenly feels like your brain has a heartbeat and is beating the fuck out of your head.

 

[̴…̴-̴h̴e̴a̴r̴ ̴m̴e̴…̴t̴h̴e̴r̴e̴?̴]̴

 

There’s someone, something, behind you. That voice, staticky, like a computer monitor. You abruptly stop walking and whip your head around, heart beating out of your chest, but all that follows is the looming sound of glitch and static that fades away along with the pounding in your head.

“A-Are you okay?”

Niko’s voice forces you to take a breather, and you turn around to face them once again. Willing a small smile, you nod, a slight but certain affirmation that there is absolutely nothing going in with your head. Niko squints at you in concern, but doesn’t say anything and continues leading you down the stairs. Eventually the both of you reach the bottom, and you can breathe again.

Niko pulls you forward down the long hallway until both of you reach the end. You try listening for that computer-like voice again, but when nothing comes, you assume it’s just your paranoia getting to you from waking up in a different world.

An abnormally large lightbulb is what you find, and there is no light coming from it. Niko glances at you from the corner of their eye, and you do the same, both feeling uneasy. You tense as Niko walks forward and bends down, gradually gaining confidence to hold the bulb in their arms. The bright flash that it emits lasts only a few seconds before dimming into a soft, amber glow, radiating warmth.

You blink. Niko looks just as surprised as you are, but you can’t help it. “Did you charge the bulb?”

Niko giggles at your joke, and your heart swells at being able to comfort them in such a strange situation, but their expression slowly changes to one of suspicion as they stare at the bulb in their hands. “I don’t know, it just…lit up on its own. But it feels nice and warm,” they add, nuzzling the lightbulb against their cheek.

Niko holds the bulb out to you, and you slowly put your hands on the glass. It is warm, comfortingly so, and you resist the urge to hug it to your chest. Your bare arms are feeling a little chilly, and though your oversized T-shirt covers the majority of your upper arms, it is quite thin.

It doesn’t take you two long to head back up towards the living room, with the lightbulb shining bright enough so you could see the tall staircase. Niko has long let go of your hand, both in favor of holding the lightbulb, but you don’t complain. The two of you wander over to the other door you haven’t had a good look at yet. It’s rusty, like the door to the basement, except the keyhole is the same shape as the lightbulb Niko is holding.

We eye each other, none of us knowing what to say. I stare at the hole and towards the shining orb in Niko’s hand, finally suggesting, “Nothing else we can do besides place it in there, if we have hope in getting out of here.” In response, Niko nods, hesitating before lifting the lightbulb into the hole.

You’re met with a blinding white flash of light, and you shut your eyes close, one hand covering them. You hear Niko squeak in shock and shove their hand into yours, which you don’t even stop to tightly grip onto.

When you wake up again, you are in a void, and cold water surrounds you.

Chapter 2: static intermission

Summary:

inside the world machine's mind.

[…]

 

[It wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this. ]

 

[I thought it would be safer for the child. For Niko, if they had someone with them. Physically.]

 

[But I never thought beyond that. How could I?]

 

[My focus was on the child. The child is important. Niko is important. Niko is the only one that matters.]

 

[…At least, that’s how I had seen it previously.]

 

[How come—why don’t they remember? My message, the mission, all of it. They are akin to a clueless mortal, leading a child to their demise.]

 

[…]

[They do not look fully grown, either. Inconsiderable as an adult. I set up a being of this age to supposedly be the world’s god and protect Niko.]

 

[How stupid can I be?]

 

[…]

 

[I don’t know…]

 

[…]

 

[I don’t know how this will end.]

 

[But, alas, there is only one thing I can do.]

 

[They have to remember.]

 

[For Niko. For everyone. For the sake of this world.]

 

[…and, for their own world, too.]

 

.

Notes:

sorry abt how this chapter suddenly got really short and the other is like 2000 words :p

Chapter 3: a reflection of the machine

Summary:

you're entrusted with a title you know no origin of.

“Niko…!?”  

You sound frantic. Actually, no, you are full blown panicked and scared the hell out of your mind.

The water’s cold, it’s dark, and there is no lightbulb. No Niko. You are by your lonesome, stranded in some dark place, ankle deep in water. You managed to lift yourself from the ground, but now your only shirt is dripping wet, drenched, and you’re shivering. God, it’s freezing.

You swear to shit, you’re about to break out into a sprint, desperate to know where you are, until you turn right and are met with a sad setup. It’s a wooden table, with a wacky old computer monitor on it. You will your shaky legs to move through the water, arms hugged tightly around yourself, until you come face to face with the device.

Your hands are trembling so violently that for a moment, you really question your ability to do anything with them at all, but you force them onto the white keyboard, ignoring how cold your body is. The spacebar is the first thing that grabs your attention for some unknown reason and you click it, hard. 

Nothing happens.

In a frenzy, you spam the spacebar a couple of times, the Enter key, before you dumbly each and feel the monitor for a power button that doesn’t even work. By now, your breathing grows rapid, a strangled, desperate sound escaping your lips. Your hands slam both sides of the monitor and shake it back and forth, literally pleading for anything to happen with it. For it to turn on.

And then—

[Stop.]

A single message, a pop-up on the black screen. The background is glitchy now, black, like the loading screen of a channel no longer operating. You stumble back from the monitor as the device starts to emit some ominous wrrrrring sounds that you can only guess that’s how a computer sounds like when it’s really old.

What is this—some sort of talking computer? Hastily, you press the spacebar and jerk your arm away, as if you were expecting it to claw your hand. 

[Calm down…please?]

It’s telling me to calm down.

[Yes, I am.]

You reel back. That voice…it’s in your head? You can’t really place a distinct description for it other than it is glitchy and sounds like the gears of a machine churning, like when your laptop fans activate to cool down the device.

You…you can read my thoughts, you think warily, staring back at the screen, standing stiffly.

[That is not important.] The computer voice in your head is of average volume, but the static wisps still creep you out, somewhat. 

[Can you turn around and look at your reflection?]

Why?

[Just do it if you want to get back to Niko.]

It hits you like a rock. You imagine this monitor—machine—whatever, giving you the most annoyed expression a machine can give. But you do want to get out of here and see Niko as soon as possible (you don’t even know if they’re alright), so after a moment of fuming, you sigh and turn around, bending your head to look at the rippling water carrying a reflection of you.

It’s nothing special. Just yourself, face contorted in pre-identified horror and exhaustion, shown with the bags under your eyes. Your hair is wet from the minutes you spent laying stunned, flat on your back in the water, and it clings to the side of your cheeks. Your white T-shirt has darkened due to the water it absorbed, but it has dried just a bit. Dark, wary eyes stare back at you, a day old bruise on your right cheek from where your mother hit you.

It was a bad day in the house. Your grades, having dropped as the year came to an end, did not help your situation.

[Thank you.] The machine’s voice returned once again, softer this time, playing on sympathy. You don't trust it. [Now, look up. And when you do—]

You’re already tired of receiving instructions from a monotonous system, so you jerk your head up, glaring profusely, until you realize the figure in front of you is—

you.

The hollowed-out version of you is unprepared for the shriek that escapes your lips as you jump backwards and hit you back against the monitor table, briefly tripping over your own feet before landing on your butt back down into the water with a splash. Once again, you are cold and soaked, but your mind is totally engrossed in the you that is staring wide-eyed at your outburst.

You sighs, placing a hand on their forehead. [I was going to say not to overreact.]

“W-Who—what…!” You stammer, backing away from the figure. “You’re the computer!”

[I prefer the World Machine, but I did not state my name yet.] The World Machine shrugs, then holds out a hand towards you. You flinch back, and they sigh again. [I am using your reflection to communicate with you. It’s much more efficient than having you read that screen.]

You take their hand, shakily. “How are you using my reflection?”

[I control this place. My area when I need to…think.] The World Machine motions your— their hands around the water ground void, the only thing in the room being a dead monitor. [But that is not what I brought you here for. You forgot.]

“I forgot what?” You counter, though the duplicated image of yourself still unsettles you.

The World Machine shakes their head impatiently before suddenly grabbing onto your shoulders, eyes boring into yours. You flinch.

[I’m not going to recount everything for you. You’ll remember in your own time.]

“W-what are you—…”

[Your mission is to help Niko leave. That’s all there is to it.] The World Machine practically stares you down, voice rough and urgent. It’s strange, hearing your own voice yell at yourself.

“But I don’t—”

[In this world, you will be referred to as everyone’s God. Do not object and go along with it.]

“But I—!”

A push. The World Machine nudges their hand, your hand, into your chest, and you expect to fall into water again, but with a jolt you realize you’re falling down, down, down.

[I am sorry.]

A scream rips from your throat as the mere reflection of you stares back with a look of pity. Or, you think it's pity. The farther away you get from them, it’s harder to tell.

Closing your eyes brings you little comfort as you fall into the abyss, wishing you were anywhere but here.

How did you get into this mess?

Notes:

i myself am in fact trying to pinpoint the origin of how you got sucked into that world too
as i said, this is an experiment fic
just go with the flow
(i hope everything turns out okay)

Chapter 4: your burden is l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠g̷̵̸̡̼̱͎͎̞ͤͬ̅͢͟͞h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡t҉̷҉̢͖͔̹͛̌͊͘͜͢͠͡͡

Summary:

you received what you never asked for.
tw: mentions of child abuse

She’s angry again.

That singular thought is all that fills your mind, numbing. You’re used to seeing her like this, though. It’s been like that since Dad just up and left, leaving only you and Mom behind. Back then, she seemed to have no problem with him leaving. But the older you get, you slowly begin to notice that the wounds aren’t healed yet. So she needs a punching bag.

After hearing the same words over and over again for the past years since you were nine, they started muddying together, and it became hard to tell what Mom was trying to scream through your thick skull when she talked in that tone. In your bleary vision, a recent exam you’ve taken last week is shoved in your face, the big red F seeming to take up the entire page, blurring the other minor mistakes scratched in the bloody ink.

The paper trembles in her grip, and you can see the way her knuckles have gone white against the red ink, like she’s trying to squeeze the grade into something better through sheer force. Her breath comes in short, sharp bursts that you feel more than hear, each exhale hitting your face with the bitter scent of coffee gone cold hours ago.

Frighteningly, it doesn’t scare you like it should. You know any normal person would be cowering in fear, but you just stand there, face blank and emotionless, mouth stuck in a straight line as spit flies onto your cheeks.

Your eyes drift past the paper to her face, taking in the familiar landscape of disappointment etched into every line. The bags under her eyes seem darker today, purple-black shadows that speak of another sleepless night spent staring at bills or empty bottles or photographs she keeps meaning to throw away but never does. Her hair falls in unwashed strands across her forehead.

Maybe you should sympathize with her. You know you weren’t always this way, purposely failing in school. You used to be crazy mad about grades, it sometimes drove your friends insane at how much you studied.

To them, it was unhealthy.

To you, it was what your parents wanted.

With her hand, Mom shoves you towards the left, where the hallway of the house is. It’s small, where both you and your parents’ room reside. You walk without looking back, letting her words fade into the background like white noise. It’s only when you finally get into your room, that you slump into bed and stare at the ceiling.

Where did it all go wrong? It was supposed to be better after Dad left, but now it’s like your another person added to the list of Mom’s worries. What was supposed to be the only person left she loves had become nothing more than a duplicate of the man she despised with her whole heart. 

Was it your fault? Should you just go back to cutting off your friends? To cooping yourself up in your room with coffee or tea, working and working until your brain explodes, and you cannot retain anything else?

The idea sits in your head as you stare and stare at the chilled paint of your ceiling, before you think better of it. If you do that, you’ll have to deal with explaining to them why you’re suddenly just…gone.

…You hate confrontations.

Eventually, you lift yourself off the bed, desperate for something to distract yourself with. You stride over to the cardboard box you haven’t bothered to clean out since your family has moved here, in it carrying all things deemed precious to you.

You sift through the box: some small plushies, a few laminated photos with your childhood friends, some at your grandparents’ place, an old birthday pop-out card, and a clear disc inside a transparent folder. You yank it out of the box, the same black clover symbol on the disk, and a birthday message written from your grandpa. 

 

“Something for that old computer of yours. Don’t let it sit and collect dust everyday.” 

                                                                                                                    –Love, Bapa

 

(Bapa was your nickname for him when you were still learning how to talk.) 

No thought is put into it. On autopilot, you walk over to your crappy excuse for a laptop. It’s not a laptop. It’s an old monitor with a dusty keyboard, the one that people way back from your generation used to type on. Your parents made it very clear that you’re on your own with financial stability and you haven’t bothered about buying a new device, focused on supplies for your animations’ class.

You insert the disc into the rightful connector, press the power button, and sit in your chair while waiting for something to happen. 

And then, your screen lights up.

 

[Initializing…]

 

[Initialization complete.]

 

[...]

[You found me.]

 

Okay. This was a little weird. What in the world of discs did your grandpa give you? You move your finger and press the spacebar, your initial key fixer to move on from different texts, but nothing happens. It’s like the disc system has a mind of its own.

 

[Why?]

[You’re already too late. Not much of the world remains.]

 

What world? Too late for what exactly? You can’t really do anything except frantically spam the spacebar, but your finger gets sore after pressing it so fast. 

 

[All that’s left are barren wastelands.]

[Disappointing, isn’t it?]

 

Stumped, you close your eyes and imagine a barren wasteland, devoid of life. And, you admit, it does sound disappointing. The logical side of you insists that you shouldn’t let a talking machine win over your thoughts, that all of this is fake, but considering all the hurt that was put on you in the past, it was easy to talk to someone with no face. Or watch them text, at least.

 

[...Do you still want to try?]

 

Under the final message, lay an empty blank, the cursor holder blinking. Waiting for you to type a response.

You’re tired. You’re not thinking too hard about it. Maybe this was just some computer game your grandpa played in the past and sent over. 

 

> yeah i guess

 

Without a second thought, you enter in your response. However, right after you do, the text on your screen glitches, and your entire screen has become broken. You stare wide-eyed at the black-purple glitches, pressing a few keys to unbreak what you assume to be a virus, but nothing works. Suddenly the lights in your room flicker on and off, before completely shutting down, leaving your room to only be enlightened by the afternoon rays of the sun from your window.

Your shoulders tense, breaths coming to a stop. You’re about to get up and run out of your room in a fright, when your screen abruptly stops glitching and returns to the white text it was once before. However, the transitions have sped quite a bit, and you hastily read what is there.

 

[Fine, then.]

[Your actions here will affect Niko.]

[Your “mission” is to help Niko leave.]

[And most importantly…]

 

Your reflection appears right before you, static and glitches disrupting your usual form.

 

“You only have one shot, (Name).”

 

At once, everything powers off. You had stumbled out of your chair and onto the floor, breathing rapidly, clutching the top of your T-shirt. A drop of sweat slides from your forehead down to the side of your face.

An abrupt shock tackles your brain, and you feel as if you’ve been electrocuted. 

Everything is silent.

Notes:

okay personally
i do not like how this turned out
but at the same time i don't know how to map out how you got there
so unless i have a different origin, we are sticking to this
—

(FN: chapter has been edited)

Chapter 5: the prophecy

Summary:

background information.

…stars. Stars dance across your vision, your head, your everything. Your cheek is being slightly scrapped against a sandy ground, and you let out a small groan, grains grazing your cheek.

“…ow…” you hiss out.

Much to your gratefulness, you’re not being dragged anymore. Niko’s voice shouts your name, shockingly, into your ears, and you open your eyes to find yourself lying in the ground with their body pressed tightly to you in a hug.

They speak your name, like a mantra. “W-When I put the lightbulb in, there was this really bright light, then I woke up in this place with a lot of terminals! And you were there too but you didn’t wake up no matter how much I shook you!” They cry against your chest, and you weakly bring a hand up to stroke their head. “I t-tried taking you somewhere safe, but y-you’re kind of…uh…”

“Heavy?” You whisper, smiling down at them. Niko’s eyes widen and they nod, embarrassed. “I know. It’s okay—I mean, I’m okay now. Don’t worry.”

Niko sighs in relief and climbs off of you so you can stand up. Luckily, you find that your clothes aren’t actually soaking wet from where you conversed with the World Machine while being unconscious. You brush off the violet, moonlit dust from your shirt and try to get a grasp of where you are.

It was a desert, somewhat, except shrouded in dim moonlight, covering the land in hues of purple and blue. Beside you, a starry blue ocean crashed against the rocks below, bringing glowing foam in what you guess to be bioluminescence. Behind you was supposedly the room you woke up in, but Niko only managed to drag you about three arms’ length away.

“Well,” you murmur, crossing your arms. “It’s pretty, at least.”

“Mhm,” Niko nods. They look up at you and you blink, realizing they’re waiting for you to take the lead.

From the distance, you see a rundown wooden building, and something seems to be moving in front of it. You don’t really get a good glimpse of what it is, so you take Niko’s hand, which they eagerly put into your hand, and walk forward. Maybe that thing will know what to do. 

While you and Niko walk side by side silently, your thoughts trail back to that dream—no, not a dream—encounter you had. Obviously, that long fall scared the bejesus out of you, and you’re more than glad you have solid ground now. During your fall you also recounted the brief memory, hours ago, but now it felt like a lifetime.

Now you know why you are here.

Thanks a lot, dead grandpa.

The World Machine said that people here will refer to you as a god. What kind of god? How could you possibly be so special to be entrusted with this title way beyond your reach? A god? Like—like Jesus?? And, apparently, you’re supposed to help Niko leave this place. What about you? What happens to you afterwards, when all of this is done?

You glance down at the child next to you, who is silent as they walk, only the soft taps of their feet hitting the sand, and the faint rubbing of their hands on the lightbulb.

They must have a family. Their mother, whom they mentioned. How was she doing right now? Was she terrified, waking up to find their child missing in some different world?

Right. Niko was only a kid. It’s up to you to make sure they get home safely. As of now, you don’t matter.

Niko does.

(You force that thought into your mind, repeating it over and over again, until it becomes factual).

When you reach closer to the abandoned building, Niko points at the figure. “It looks like a robot!” They exclaim. 

The figure, in fact, does. Now that you’re closer in sight of it, that is. While Niko’s mouth is open in a wide ‘O’ shape in awe, you eye the robot with suspicion. It has a metal, square shaped head, the head and cloak being shiny and silvery. One big digital blue circle acts as the robot’s eye, and it wears a bright red scarf, two antennas attached to the side of its head. It’s holding something akin to a staff with a blue orb on top that you secretly hope is not something to whack you and Niko with.

You’re about to grab Niko and pull them closer to you, but the robot turns in an instant, eyes locking on the child.

[Ah!] They put a hand up to their mouth, their voice cheery, despite being robotic. They bend slightly down towards Niko’s height, the child shrinking back against you. [That Lightbulb…You Are Here!] His voice sounds on the side of masculine, and you keep that in mind for later.

“M..Me?” Niko hesitates, pointing a shaky finger towards themselves.

The robot nods enthusiastically, before turning to you. His singular eye-lense increases, and you see the red antennas flutter with delight. [Ah, Yes! You As Well, Just As My Prophecy Foretold—]

“Wait,” You hold up a hand, prompting the bot to stop talking. Clearly, you had no idea what the heck he was talking about, and Niko had this ever-so-painful, confused look in their face, which only increased as the robot continued to speak. “Can you tell us your name, first?”

The robot easily complies. [I Am Prophetbot! I Was Tasked To Greet The Messiah Of The Prophecy, And The God Of This World.]

…Yup. No clue what Prophetbot is on about. Though you remember the World Machine mentioning that people here will call you their god, so you check that off. Maybe he had too many batteries for breakfast. You and Niko have long, side-glances at each other, the child’s amber eyes showing concern.

[May I Ask How You Two Arrived Here?] Prophetbot asks, after seeing how neither of you are giving a response.

Niko fidgets with the lightbulb in their hands. “Well…we woke up in a weird house, and it was really dark.”

[So Both Of You Woke Up In A Dark, Unfamiliar Location?]

You and Niko give a slight nod. Apparently, Prophetbot is thrilled with this information as he does a little spin, antennas wiggling cheerfully. [Just As My Prophecy Foretold! You Are The Savior And Our God We Have Been Waiting For! You Two Will Be The Ones To Save Our World From Eternal Darkness.]

There it is again. The god of this world. As much as you’ve been expecting it, it still bothers you. A task way too big for your bruised shoulders, and—the Messiah?—a task even greater for the child next to you. Worriedly, you turn towards Niko, who’s staring up at Prophetbot like he just grew an extra head.

[I Will Now Provide Vital Information, If You Have Any Questions?]

Oh boy, did you have a lot of questions. 

You and Niko spend some time conversing with Prophetbot, but Niko seems to be enjoying talking to him, so you let them ask the majority of the questions while you focus on remembering the important details for your so-called quest. If only there was a notebook and pencil back at the house you woke up to write all of this down. You adjust the backpack, dissapointed at how light it is.

According to Prophetbot, this world–assuming there’s no exact name for it, which, frustratingly, makes it all the harder what to call it–is divided into three regions: the Barrens, where you and Niko are at currently, the Glen, and the Refuge. In the distance, that tall pointy building which has been stuck at the back of your vision, was the Tower that once held this world’s sun–the lightbulb. Prophetbot says that you may find a map further along your journey, and that is your one piece of hope you desperately cling on to. 

You ask about the both of you going home, but Prophetbot has no answer for that. Says he wasn’t tamed. Whatever that meant.

As for the sun, you and Niko are supposed to return it to the Tower far ahead. Years ago, the previous sun had shrouded light upon all the regions, until it mysteriously dimmed until no more light shined from the Tower. Currently, the only known light source reported is Phosphor, what Prophetbot says is an element that stored light energy from the last sun. 

Oh, and if the sun shatters, the world will end in an instant. So make sure Niko doesn’t loosen their grip on it.

Alright. Two missions, for you, anyway. Help Niko leave and return the sun. So, obviously, if you put the sun back on the Tower, then Niko will be allowed to go home, right? That’s the only logical conclusion you can come up with. 

You wrack your brain for more questions, but it seems like you’ve asked about everything. Niko, however, speaks one last time. “The room inside the house where I woke up,” They started. “I saw this computer. It kept saying stuff like, your actions here will affect Niko. But, I’m Niko!”

They keep on explaining the situation to Prophetbot, but you? Your blood runs cold. You remember receiving the same messages. How did Niko see them, too? 

Prophetbot literally answers their question with what you were thinking. [They Might Be Trying To Pass The Message To (Name)! They Are The God Of This World, Thus Your Guide, Also.]

You’re too stunned, too winded, to really say anything else after that. You manage a small ‘uh huh,’ before Niko bids Prophetbot farewell, and the two of you are on your way again. 

You walk in silence for a while, the weight of Prophetbot's words settling over both of you like a heavy shroud. The dying world stretches endlessly around you and Niko—sand covered in stardust, willing for light from a sun no longer there. The very air itself seems to thin and grow cold, each footstep echoing hollowly against the soft, twinkling earth.

When you glance over at Niko, your heart clenches. Their entire demeanor has changed–small shoulders hunched forward, head bowed so low that their messy hair falls like a curtain, hiding their face. The cat ears on their hat droop sadly, and they clutch the lightbulb—this world's only hope—closer to their chest. 

Stopping mid-step, you crouch down until you're at eye level with them. Niko's golden eyes peek up at you through their bangs, wide and vulnerable and desperately searching for something. Something you try to give, whatever it is. 

"Hey," you say softly, your voice barely above a whisper. You place a gentle hand on their shoulder, touching the soft fabric of their overcoat. "I'm going to help you get home, okay? No matter what happens. I promise. You will go back to your mama, when all of this blows over."

Niko's eyes brighten just a fraction, like tiny yellow stars, and they nod quickly, a ghost of a smile flickering across their face. "Thank you," they whisper back, filled with such trust, such faith in you that it makes your chest ache.

You rise to your feet and continue walking, Niko falling into step beside you with renewed purpose. But as the two of you move forward into the uncertain twilight, doubts start to cloud your thoughts. Deep down, in a place you don't want to acknowledge, you know the terrible truth. It cuts in your gut, bleeding.

Because you actually, really, don’t know what the fuck you’re trying to accomplish.

The lightbulb in Niko's arms pulses with faint, precious light, and you can't help but wonder if you're leading this innocent child toward salvation or sacrifice. Say they place the sun onto the Tower. And then what? Will they magically teleport home, poof, just like that? And what happens to you? What if you’re stuck here, or–or what if you die here?

But…do you really want to go home? To a place where you know you’ll never be accepted, no matter how hard you try to be useful.

You are lying to yourself. And you know it.

Notes:

yes i got that line from Percy Jackson call me out
uhhh a lil warning there may be some days where I post multiple chapters and some days where i take a while to post
curse creativity bursts
also i may not reply to every comment but i see all of 'em
the last chapter holy shitting gods
i know i'm like just starting this but
today was really stressful and i have finals in one week
just seeing those words made me smile so much
ill try not to let the kind words cause me burn out by forcing myself to write when i don't feel motivated
but thanks a lot
and this is even bigger proof! no matter what age you are, if you love something, just do it for the fun and enjoy the process

Chapter 6: traces of phosphor

Summary:

the Barrens is a lonely place.

A poorly drawn map, a flattened crowbar, an empty glass bottle, and a banged-up battery that has definitely seen better days. 

The little inventory you’ve been carrying on your back finally has some weight to it. You don’t know why the pressure against your body brings you comfort. Maybe because when someone wears a backpack, they’re usually carrying something rather than air particles and atoms.

Your duo has been walking around aimlessly for some time now. Some small buildings here and there, others being rundown factories. Some of them still work, but barely. The only running machine you’ve seen here is that metal crusher you used to flatten the crowbar with, but even that is small compared to all the robots laying powerlessly in the Barrens.

There have been lots of stray papers you found on the ground of these buildings, and while some are not easy to understand, you stick them together for safekeeping. So far, you’ve gathered information on the phosphor and back-up power houses, which are supposed to be for the robots, so you don’t know why nearly none of them are being used.

You’ve also gotten a chance to see the many phosphor-filled lamps placed carefully on the floor, from whoever was last here. The lightbulb is more than enough for a source, but the admiral glow looks so pretty, you take one with you. Inside are tiny shrimps floating around.

Some areas are too dangerous to step into. From a distance, Niko has pointed out a bunch of tall, thin, rocky hills that look like geysers. Purple bubbles float out from the top, covering the air they inhabit in cloudy gas. For safety reasons, you suggest not going there until you find something to cover both your faces with. 

…But you are bothered.

It seems like no other human is here besides you. The place is inhabited by broken robots, and those before who left these unfinished paper notes have long gone elsewhere. Sort of like how dinosaurs went extinct, but in this world, it was humans. You feel like you’re walking to your doom once the thought settles in, being the only one of your kind here.

Niko does try to commence small talk with you throughout the entire trip, and you return the favor. But it’s proven to be a very awkward drag when both of you sound forced to speak about happier moments, so you two settle on comfortable silence. Most of the time you’re repeatedly asking if they’re okay with this whole Messiah thing, and Niko does the same with your God situation.

Admittedly, Niko is scared. But they also said that since they have you by their side, it makes the whole predicament less lonely. It makes your insides feel warm and cozy, knowing that someone has placed this much trust in you. It was a feeling you’ve never got to experience before.

(You wonder how long it will take to break that trust.)

Stop that.

You think it’s weird that so many robots decided to stay here if there were no humans around. Surely they didn’t spawn out of nowhere? Someone, or several someones, had to be responsible for manufacturing all these bots. To just leave them here, abandoned and alone…you know robots aren’t supposed to feel anything, but that doesn’t make it all the less depressing. 

At one point, one of the factories you’ve wandered upon contained stacks of robots lined up in rows, all powerless and dusty. While Niko was exploring the conveyor belts, you tried moving one of the rustic arms, only for it to comically come loose and detach itself from the robot’s shoulder, landing on the floor with a heavy thud. 

Niko was about to turn the corner and ask if you were okay, but you hastily kicked the robo-arm behind the line of dead bots and usher both of you out. Hopefully no one needed that arm.

The journey brings you both to the cliffs, where you spot a lone robot sitting broken at the edge, surrounded by thousands of tiny black clovers. You watch as Niko wanders up to it and touches one of the buttons on the poor machine, but like the several other robots, this one doesn power on.

You see the ears on their hat droop, and they let out a sad sigh. “It must be lonely for all of them…”

“If we can find a way to fix the battery, maybe it’ll fix them,” you offer, hating to see Niko so down. They flash you a grateful smile and you both continue towards a decent-looking house farther ahead.

It’s entirely made of metal, except for the door, which was wooden with a rustic-silver knob. You place your hand to turn it and push the door open, but it won't budge. Locked, supposed. Niko steps in front of you and knocks the door three times, shouts hello, and waits. You tap your foot impatiently against the sand, but nothing seems to be happening.

“No one’s home,” Niko says lightly.

“Or maybe no one lives here.” If the door was locked, there should’ve been someone inside, no? You take a couple steps back from the door and place the phosphor lamp a little away from your position, to which Niko turns and gazes at you questioning. When they realize what you’re about to do, they back away and watch in apprehension, but interested.

You take a deep breath, ready your feet, and make a dash forward. It’s not a long dash, but you need the momentum to kick it down. You’re right in front of the material when you raise your leg and kick your foot as hard as you can, expecting the entire door to fling open.

Instead, your foot creates an ugly hole, sending wood flying everywhere. Niko ducks, a high-pitched squeak coming from them as a particularly large piece flies straight through the air near their hat. Your leg is still midway through the air as you’re finishing your kick until it gets jabbed against a metal edge and you fall backwards into the sandy ground, eyes shut tight from the sting. Through your pants you feel the edge of it press into your skin, undoubtedly marking it.

“Holy shit my ankle,” You choke through gritted teeth, rolling around on the ground while hugging your knee to your chin. 

Niko calls your name and frantically settles on the floor next to you, dropping the lightbulb in the sand as they hover their hands around you. “I-Is your leg okay? What did you hit??”

None of you have time to answer. When you’re able to open your eyes, teary from that jab in your ankle, the sound of a door clicking open prompts both you and Niko to freeze and look up. Standing not so far from you, staring at your withered form, is a tall, slender robot. Her skin is light gray in color, long red hair trailing down her back. A steady circular glow is imprinted in front of her armor, pulsing faintly.

Your eyes trail from her boots all the way to her face, where she looks at you with mild shock, and suspicion.

[I was going to open the door for you…but I guess that works as well.]

Notes:

I didn't want to rewrite word-for-word dialogue in the game because I think it'd be boring
focusing on descriptions and thoughts are more fun

Chapter 7: facing silverpoint

Summary:

your busted ankle gets taken care of, as well as other things.

The robot, having introduced herself as Silver, works quietly as she wraps a white bandage around a part of your ankle that has begun to bruise into a nasty black, blurple hue. She doesn’t have any special antiseptic spray or anything, so she makes do with water, pouring it over the injury before wrapping it closed. You clench the edge of the cot, wincing as a sting goes through your ankle. You watch numbly as she puts the remaining bandage roll back onto the shelf.

In general, this house is pretty quiet. The walls are constructed from sheets of dull, weathered metal, patched in places where time or corrosion has worn through. The interior is sparse but meticulously tidy, and cold, when you put your hand against it.

At first glance when you and Niko initially stepped inside, you noticed a small table sitting in one corner, its surface scattered with mechanical parts, spare tools, and a few neatly stacked books—manuals, maybe. There’s a sturdy workbench along one wall, its surface illuminated by the gentle glow of a nearby phosphor lamp. 

The cot you’re on is tucked against the far wall, and above it, a shelf holds a few personal effects: an empty mug, a faded photograph, and a wrench. You let yourself place the backpack beside the cot for later. 

When she finishes, Niko quickly runs over and hugs you, repeatedly asking if you are okay. You don’t have the energy to speak, so you offer a soft smile and pat their head.

[In the future, please don’t kick down any doors.] Silver says flatly upon her return. [The settlements here are already as fragile as they are.]

Your cheeks flush in embarrassment and you opt to look at the chess table a little ways away. 

“It’s not their fault..! They were just trying to help me.” Niko lifts their head up, quick to defend you. You’re momentarily ripped of your dignity, watching a child having to speak up for you. You put your hand on their shoulder and shake your head, prompting them to stop.

Silver looks between you and Niko, eyes settling on the lightbulb in their hands. [That lightbulb. So…you’re the Messiah?]

Niko nods. “That's what I’ve been told..”

[And you must be the God of this world.] She turns to you know, her phrase coming off as more of a statement than a question.

“You can just call me (Name).” You respond nervously, still not used to being referred to as such.

“And I’m Niko!” The child replies after you, grinning.

[I see.] Silver says. She focuses her eyes on you the longest, narrowing them, and you get a feeling you’ve done something wrong. You awkwardly shift in the cot, attempting to pull your short sleeve over your entire arm despite knowing it wouldn’t work.

Eventually, she gave an exhausted sigh, brushing hair from her face. It’s then you can hear a little how her voice is different from Prophetbot—it holds changes of emotions, and not as staticky. As much as a robot she is, you also think she acts perfectly akin to a human, only proven by her model.

[Look, this is going to sound cold.] She murmurs, now looking at Niko, who was seated next to you. [But I honestly think you two are better off leaving and letting the world die naturally.]

Niko gasps in shock, body jolting. You hug them against you to try and calm them, but you’re not lying when you say you are also stunned with what came out of Silver’s mouth. You are surprised, stuck, and maybe a drop of disappointment is added.

But then anger is mixed in there, too. How could they give up so easily, when their world is on the bridge of death? You know you’ve only seen packages of powerless robots, but you still had two more regions to go, and they were far off from here. Not only that, but if you don’t return the sun, Niko will be stuck here forever. And you must seek them home.

Sure. If anything, you want yourself to believe Silver, to convince yourself all of this is nothing more than a dream, a nightmare. When the World Machine first laid upon you your purpose here, you wouldn’t have hesitated to strangle it, forcing more answers from its mouth, if you weren’t so stunned at the fact it was using your reflection.

Going home feels much easier. Forgetting all of this is much easier. Even if you hated your current circumstances with your parents, you don’t know what to expect from this place, either.

But you are here. Right now, with Niko depending on your help. And if you were to give up on this world—real or fake, it doesn’t matter anymore—you wouldn’t be able to forgive yourself. 

(And honestly, you want to see this world for what it is, first. An escapism from your real predicament, if you will.)

“You shouldn’t just give up like that,” Your mouth opens on autopilot, frustration bubbling up inside you. Silver’s eyes widen in astonishment. “I know we haven't traveled far, but there’s still places we haven’t checked. What if there’s people out there, waiting for the sun to rise again?”

Silver shakes her head, eyebrows furrowing. Is that annoyance you hear? [You don’t understand. This world has been falling apart for a long time. This manner of decay…] She motions her hands around her surroundings, even though you both know you’re inside of everything going on outside right now. [It’s highly improbable that the sun can fix it.]

“Oh…” Niko visibly droops under hearing the unfortunate, body leaning against you. 

The sight only aggravates you further. You place a hand on Niko’s shoulder, causing them to glance up at you, before standing up to your full height. Your head barely reaches up to Silver’s taller stance, just at the tip of her chin, and your ankle is unfavorably sore. But the last thing you will see is Niko trapped in somewhere they don’t know.

“Unfortunately,” you say, voice low and hard. You are absolutely done with how demotivating Silver is being. “We can’t leave until your sun is back up on the Tower. So we’ll do what we came here to do, save your world, and see what happens next. Because the last thing I’m gonna do is leave a lost child here when all they want is to go home to their mama again.”

You don’t include any information yourself going home for the purpose of convincing this stubborn mother fucker of a robot.

It’s silent in the room, save for your heavy breathing. Niko is gazing at you like you already had saved the world, and Silver looks like she just watched you disassemble another robot body. Nevertheless, you hold her gaze defiantly. Until your stupid ankle that you’ve been ignoring suddenly explodes with pain when you put more weight on it, causing you to hiss and stumble, but Silver reaches out a hand and steadies you. 

Wordlessly, you gaze up at her and meet her eyes, slightly shocked that she hasn’t punched you yet. She gives a soft hum and looks away, as if embarrassed. Or regretful.

[I admire your persistence.] After a moment, she sighs and awkwardly rubs her neck. [I am sorry. I just expected the Messiah to be someone…who is not a kid. Or a cat, but more kid.]

Immediately, Niko joins in the conversation, puffing. But you are glad they aren’t sad anymore. “I’m not a cat! I’m a person!”

[You have cat eyes.]

“Everyone in my world has these eyes!”

You turn around and bend lower to get a closer look at Niko’s eyes. Niko responds by nudging their face closer to yours, staring at your own darker eyes. Silver isn’t wrong; in fact, their eyes are much brighter than the average person’s. You realize that the growth of their pupils are very noticeable as well, with how they expand while taking interest in things. Right now, it’s you.

Silver just shrugs and looks towards the door of her house. [The Tower contains a force that nobody can comprehend, and the power is strongest at the summit. I suspect that it will send you both home after your mission is completed.]

She opens her mouth to say something else, but after glancing at you, she just shakes her head and turns, walking away towards her bookshelves.

You’re about to go and look around the place, see if there’s anything useful to collect, but you feel yourself suddenly getting pulled back down on the cot in a sitting position. Without so much as a peep, Niko places the lightbulb in your hands, takes the black backpack from your side, and shoves a sleeve in your face when you try to ask them what they are doing.

“If we’re planning to take a long time to return the sun, you should take care of yourself first,” Niko says, uncharacteristically bossy. After the words come out, though, they flush, feeling shy. “My mama said that health always comes first before anything else.” And then they hurriedly scurry away towards the shelves, taking over your scavenging routine.

You’re a bit amused, and maybe disappointed? You’re supposed to be the one protecting Niko, not the other way around. You don’t need to be fretted over by an eight year old kid. But Niko seemed really insistent on you not walking, so you sit there, embracing the warmth of this world’s sun.

It’s comforting, the warmth. You lower your head and lean your cheek onto the bulb, letting out a small sigh. It wasn’t burning, like how a typical Sun should, but it gave off something else. More like being tucked inside a heated blanket.

It…wouldn’t hurt to doze for a few minutes.

Notes:

I made a notes section in this document for random ideas that come to my head while writing
so yes expect plotholes
noticeably I am focusing on Player’s mentality throughout this whole thing
because they have their own life outside of this world
but also expect more Niko and Player interactions in future chapters
(where I can make it emotionally well)
I think it’s obvious this story is going to go painfully slow but I already know how I want the ending to be (I think)
oh and I’m like super happy at all the comments and kudos and all of that I love everyone I could kiss you guys right now
promise Player (you) will be happy and Niko will be too

Chapter 8: stationary nap

Summary:

a messiah's relation to someone who doesn't want to be a god.

Niko rubs their hand, biting their cheek in a pout. Even when Silver asked them not to touch the backup power bank again, they were curious to see what would happen…unfortunately, a tiny shock went through their fingers.

They roll the screwdriver over and over with their munshocked hand, trying to get a good grasp at it with their sleeve. It’s quite shiny and not so dusty as the previous mechanics they’ve wandered upon since their appearance here. Niko can even see a glint of their reflection in the metal handle.

In their reflection, a stray strand of red hair was added, and Niko turns to find Silver standing a little ways behind them. They startle a bit, hairs standing on end. Niko starts to out the screwdriver back on the shelf when Silver stops them.

[You can take it, if it will help you on your journey. I have spares.] She murmurs, not unkindly.

“Oh..! Thank you!” Niko smiles brightly up at Silver, tucking the screwdriver inside the backpack, an added tool to the crowbar, battle rug, and glass bottle. The robot gives a silent nod. 

Oh, shoot. Niko and you should find a way to fix the battery as soon as possible.

At the larger table, they find a stray note laying near one of the corners. Out of curiosity, Niko picks it up and begins reading through the note. It was a plead asking for someone…Silver? To visit them again, signed by a person named Kip. Niko tilted their head. Who was Kip? Were they another robot? Or, perhaps…the one who made Silver?

Niko looks up and opens their mouth, preparing to ask Silver, but she sees her staring at the god—no, (Name). They try their best to refer to you by your name rather than the given title for this mission, because Niko has caught on that you dislike being referred to as such. Would they be okay being thought of as an older sibling? Niko grows shy at the thought.

Nevertheless, they want to think of you as Sib for now. It feels…right. 

Quite intensely do they scrutinize Sib, and the expression on her face resembles something akin to regret. The child follows Silver’s gaze to you, who is slumped over, hugging the sun to their chin while dozing. They must be taking a nap.

Niko gazes at Silver again, who hadn’t taken her eyes off of Sib. It agitates them just a bit, seeing the robot look like she’s trying to calculate Sib’s every move. They tug on Silver’s gloved hand, gaining her attention.

“Do you want to ask them something?” Niko asks, failing to keep the worry out of their small voice.

Silver looks startled for a moment, though she regains her composure. [No. It’s just…something has been…] She struggles to find the right words to say, but Niko waits patiently. 

The robot takes a breath, and opens her eyes. Brilliant cherry red irises stare back at glowing amber ones. 

[I expected the messiah and the god to be quite…not children.] And then she glances at Sib again, eyes contorted with disappointment.

Ah. Niko had already suspected that Silver has been thinking that since they’ve walked into her house. Their eyes grow sad, ears drooping. They do not know what to say.

[The prophecy—or, rather Prophetbot, to be exact…] Silver continues, seeing that Niko can’t come up with a reply. [He always said greater beings would come from another world and help reshape ours. I can’t imagine anyone appointing those as young as you two to be in charge of that task.] 

She turns away from Niko, her mechanical fingers drumming against the windowsill as she stares out at the darkening sky. The sound is rhythmic, almost hypnotic— tick, tick, tick . Niko can only watch glumly, their mind searching for the right words to say.

Sib would know what to do. But Niko didn’t want to disturb their rest. Silver, too. At least, that’s what Niko thought because of her whispered voice currently. Instead, Niko trained their eyes on a can of glowing phosphor, briefly mesmerized by the glowing shrimp. 

Silver began to speak again. [We’ve waited for years.Through the collapse of this world.] 

She moved her eyes from the table to Niko, and Niko hated it. They didn’t like the way Silver looked at them, like they shouldn’t be here in the first place. 

[I— we— told ourselves that someday, the messiah would come. The god would arrive. And they would fix everything that has befallen since our sun’s disappearance. But now…] As if she couldn’t say any more, her eyes closed, painfully, and a small shake of her head was all it took for Niko to drop their gaze down to the sun in their hands.

[I just don’t know why it’s always children.] Silver murmurs, mostly to herself, but Niko still hears it.

They stare up at the robot, before dropping their head down when Silver looks back towards Niko, trying to catch their expression. Niko peeks over to Sib’s still sleeping form, but they've tightened their hold on the sun, face contorted in slight pain. Were they dreaming about something?

Niko glances up at Silver, who’s still waiting for a response. Irrational guilt has filled their heart. Eventually they take a shaky breath and murmur, “I’m sorry we’re not what you expected. Sib and I—we didn’t ask for any of this to happen.”

[I don’t suppose you did. Children rarely ask to inherit the mistakes of their elders.] She pauses, her gaze lingering on Niko’s amber eyes, then shifting to Sib’s hunched sleeping form. [Sib?]

“T-They’ve been kinda like the, um,” Niko squeaks, face growing warm in embarrassment. “Like an older sibling I never had.”

Silver blinks. An understanding hum emits from her, low and of electronics. [That seems like a fitting nickname.]

The comment hangs silently in the air, but Silver means good by it. Niko spares a peek at Sib, who shifted on the bed. Niko and Silver were still standing partly behind the bookshelf, but when Niko peeked over to see if they were waking up, an unexpected look of sadness was contorted on their face. 

Sib drops the sun down next to them on the cot and rubs their eyes angrily with a swipe of their arm, though Niko couldn’t see any signs of tears. Yet it didn’t quell the worry Niko felt churning in their stomach. Did Sib have a bad dream? A nightmare?

[They’re not so different from you, you know.]

Niko gets a glimpse of Silver scooting closer to them from their peripheral vision, but still staying hidden behind the shelf. They tilt their head, a little more than confused.

[Someone too young to be a god of another world.] Silver clarifies. She then points a finger into Niko’s chest. [And you, a child entrusted as the messiah.]

Ah. Niko grips the straps of the backpack in their hands, an uncomfortable bug crawling in their stomach. It’s full of sadness and realization of a miserable truth.

They don’t want to be here, either.

Notes:

most likely the last one before i disappear for finals prep
i'll be switching POVs but maybe rarely

i kind of bombed my trig test today so the mood was foul
when summer arrives hopefully i can focus on this more (i really want to)

Chapter 9: a god's mind

Summary:

the world is getting to your head.

Shft.

Shft.

Shft.

You and Niko walk in comfortable silence together, towards a particularly daunting cave that curiosity has taken over both of your senses. Previously, Niko had asked you in a shy tone if they’d be allowed to call you Sib for the remainder of the journey, and how could you say no? Your only response was a cheeky smile and a ruffle of their hat, earning yourself an equally adorable grin from the child.

A little earlier ago as well, they did ask if you had a dream. Apparently they saw you wiping your face. You hesitated, but, let’s be honest; what harm can telling a truth to a kid really do?

You briefly recounted what you remembered, that you had a best friend who was a dog, and unfortunately they had passed away three months ago. At that, Niko has no words, except they squeeze your hand reassuringly. That is about all the comfort you need to continue.

Thanks to Niko’s naturally curious and slightly nosey nature, you’ve learned two things about this world.

One: No one has been inside the Tower yet.

Two: Because some robots here haven’t been tamed, they are unable to do specific actions beyond their programming, unlike Silver. 

Now, with Niko’s soft hand in yours, you stop at the front of the entrance to the caves. Your eyes find the wooden sign strung up between two rocks, sketched in big bold letters:

 

ENTRANCE TO THE MINES. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

 

Ah, well. At least you know what the purpose of the ominously dark entrance.

That’s the thing that you’ve been slowly starting to get about this world. Without the sun, everything is supposedly assumed—usually—to be pitch black. But it’s actually quite pretty, like walking on a planet made of stardust and moonlight. It fascinates you to no end, despite every nerve in your body telling you that you shouldn’t be here. 

Sometimes you have to stop for a quick second and move your foot around in a circle, mesmerized by how the sand moves. It’s so uncharacteristically smooth, like kinetic sand, and a bit softer than regular sand from the beach. 

Though at one point, you sort of got carried away and literally bent down face to face with this magnificently soft sand, and Silver gave you a look that would forever burn your dignity.

Shaking your head to clear it, you nudge your face forward, attempting to see inside the looming void that are the mines, when Silver’s sudden shout of alarm causes you to jolt. Niko jumps as well, their hand brushing against yours. You turn and find Silver hastily walking towards you, hand reaching out.

[The mines have been abandoned for a long time, so I cannot guarantee that it is safe.] She clarifies, drowning out the confused expression on your face. [I’ll come with you just for safety measures.]

“Thank you!” Niko pipes up from beside you. Silver gives nothing more than a hum.

Unconsciously, a heavy sigh releases from your lips. You found out that you really hated being in absolutely dark places, pitch-black, without even the tiniest speck of light. Yet Niko squeezes your hand, and you squeeze back.

The inside of the mines were completely blacked out, save for two phosphor lamps on the ground being the only sources of light. You let Niko go to admire the glowing phosphor, walking in between the two lamps to observe the mine walls, until your foot hits something that clinks . You freeze and glance down, met with a box-shaped gadget with a singular button and a circular lense in the middle.

“Silver?” You ask, prompting the robot to walk towards you. You bend down and carefully pick up the gadget in your hands, holding it out to her. “Is this a camera?”

[What’s left of a camera, anyway.] Silver emphasizes her point by pressing the single button, and an unpleasant quick grating sound reaches your ears. [Or part of a robot, but I don’t know.]

You gulp, staring at the thing. If this was a robot heart, or something of its insides…you don’t want to know.

Niko walks back over to you and glances at the camera curiously, so you hold it down to them so they can see. In an instant, their eyeball magnifies and they rummage around in your backpack, pulling out the screwdriver they stored from earlier.

Ultimately confused, you tilt your head. “What do you want the screwdriver for?”

“For the battery we picked up a while ago!” Niko beams. You must still not understand, and you curse yourself for your sudden ignorance when Niko explains, “There’s a hole that seems to fit the lens, so it can act as a cover. And then we just need to charge it somehow!”

“Ah,” You murmur and nod, wondering why you haven’t thought about that sooner. You completely forgot about the battery. “Sounds about right.”

Silver glances at you, frowning at your slow response, but she doesn’t say anything else.

Because Niko has their hands out, you lend them the camera and they hold the sun around one arm. You’re a little bored watching them fiddle with the camera and glance over to the rail mines, curiosity and a strange gloom driving you to walk forward towards them.

This…place. Not in the dark, specifically, but here. In this cave. In the Barrens. The colors—purple, blue, indigo, and the most significant glows of starlight and phosphor.

You know you’ve never seen this place before.

So why is it that the tiniest speck of nostalgia is reaching right into your stomach…? Like you’ve seen it but…not…here.

You glance down at the ground, past your shoes, and into the nothingness that faces you below the edge of the rails. It’s nothing of a surprise, just some rusty train tracks that used to hold a minecart. But you kneel down anyway, brushing your bare hand against the rough metal. Your grip on it tightens when you focus onto whatever is down there, over the edge of the cliff…

…A faint glow catches your peripheral vision. It’s painfully hard to see, but it bounces off your eyelashes, causing you to look up. One hand is gripping the edge of the rails, the other is in the air, as if reaching out for something—that speck of light. Is someone there?

At once, a hand attains a vice grip around your backpack. The touch startles you, causing you to stumble, until Silver pulls you away from the edge immediately. You fall onto your back, pushing yourself up and lifting your head. Silver looks over you, the corners of her mouth twitched in irritation.

[What are you doing?] She demands, scolding like that of a mother. [You already injured your leg. Don’t make me fix your entire body.]

Behind her, Niko is standing with the newly adjusted battery in their hands. On the ground next to them is the sun, though their eyes have focused more on you, a look of shock and horror on their face.

Something snaps in you once you settle on their form, scared for your safety. You can’t bring yourself to sit up from the floor. 

“I—” You stop for a moment, voice cracking. “I’m sorry. I…just…” You turn around and look behind you, into the empty space. No light shines from it. “Thought I saw something.” You shake your head lightly, brushing hair out of your face. “I-It feels kind of weird in here.”

“Are you sick?” Niko rushes forward as you slowly push yourself up, offering a hand.

“No, not sick. I can’t really…” You sigh, rubbing your face again. “Nevermine it—it doesn’t matter. I think I just have claustrophobia or something, being here for a while…”

Silver suggests you and Niko leave this place once you’ve gotten everything you need, and you’ve never been more grateful to comply. After coming up with the brilliant idea to charge the fixed battery with light from the sun, you two are on your way, Silver having wished you both luck and gone back to her house.

The feeling creeps in like static at the edges of your vision—not quite déjà vu, but something more unsettling the farther you walk from the mines. As you and Niko walk away from Silver’s place, the weight of the charged battery in your pack, you catch yourself scanning the horizon again, trying to see if anything else here feels…nostalgic.

The skeletal remains of buildings lean against each other, creating perfect triangles of shadow. The occasional appearance of broken-off railroads that you and Niko walk on for fun. Even the flicker of phosphor in those tiny lamps—it’s all…

You can’t describe it.

You mentally curse yourself for being delusional, stupid even. Maybe your parents were right, that you spent too much time daydreaming than physically doing other important things. It doesn’t make any fucking sense.

None of the sensations of this world is familiar to you.

But the visuals of it is. Even though it feels like a lifetime, something of an unreachable dream from your childhood…

This shade of purple and blue. The occasional starry pools of weird liquid. The night sky itself, not necessarily black.

You’ve definitely seen it before, somewhere.

If only you could find out why.

While your attention is glued to the sky, pondering this rather scary phenomenon, you trip over an old robot leg and fall face first into the sand. Your ankle throbs, sending fiery jolts of pain down your entire leg, and gritty sand claws at your face. Niko jumps in surprise, immediately asking if you are okay.

One thumbs-up, and you will yourself to stop your damn brain from thinking. You want it to turn off.

“You’re just a little dummy, huh?”

 

Mom’s face. She was smiling, but it scared you. She didn’t mean it.

 

“Stupid, stupid little dumb dumb?”

Damn.

Maybe you are delusional.

Notes:

i lied
finals didn't start yet so I was mostly studying
i am burnt the fuck out and my mood right now is somewhat sad
writing this was a stress reliever i guess

(and yeah the ending practically portrayed how i felt at the moment.)

oh i received some very cool fanart for a paragraph i wrote in chapter 7, made by BlocPandaX! tysm <3

Chapter 10: [a machine's mind.]

Summary:

[̷̨̢̪̟̮̘̦̓́̃͑̈͠͝d̶̮̼̩͙͇̗͈̜̫̈̆͆́̔͑͛̒̍͘e̴̢͇͈͉͙͖̿̑̐̎̃͝s̴͍̙̘̣͎͙̖̥͑̒͘͜͝ͅt̶͉̫̮͆̓̍̏͘a̷̡̙̥̘̰̗̝̬͂̈͒̇̌b̷̨̝̬͓͈̲̀̔͛̀̓̄͜į̸̹̲͓̠͚͓̫̆̄͌͒̑̎̽̀͝l̶̮̆̃̆͌i̴̢̨̛̮̮̱͖͕̰̺̒̈́̄͛̕͘z̴̫̟͙͇̭̍̃̐̂̚͝ĭ̷̢̞̝̪̦̼̙̗̊̓͆̂̃͘ͅň̶͇̺̥͓̤͈͍͙͉̻̈͊̚g̵̢̣̬̻̩̳̤͕͌͑̄̈́̏.̷̧̳̪̤̙̙͇͉͂͑͗̇̍͒̉͘͝͠.̶̛̟̼̤͉̯̥̤͒̓̎̒͊͠͝.̶̣̞̻̰̯͔͕̌̔͂͐͌̐̾̊̅]̷̤̯̤̩͍͓͇̊

[Ah.]

 

[…]

 

[So my guess was right, after all.]

 

[I should have recognized it before.]

 

[How they look. The way they carry themselves. Having barely been in here for a week, a full day.]

 

[And yet, staying by Niko’s side.]

 

[As if the child was their own of some sort.]

 

[…]

 

[How could I— how did I miss this obvious connection..!?]

 

[Now, as I watch them. Their hand in Niko’s, gazing in mild shock at the robot who is, frustratingly, on. ]

 

[They managed to get the power back.]

 

[Watching them. In the lobby. They let go of Niko and head towards that comp— that machine. ]

 

[Of several other machines, all that connected to me.]

 

[I see they are hesitant, for the screen is nothing but a dim, amber glow. Though, I feel them. Trying to gain a connection with me.]

 

[Static. I resist to respond.]

 

[Okay, then.]

 

[A change of plans is required. No matter what happens to them.]

 

[ He will pay. With the only relation of the living he has left.]

 

[For leaving. For his abandonment. All through this weakling of a world’s god.]

 

[I turn around sharply. Slam the monitor.]

 

[A thousand keys shatter into pieces, like sharp stars.]

 

[I see them. Is it wrong, to be satisfied, watching them writhe?]

 

[They flinch once. Stumble. They fall to the side. Head hits the edge of the table.]

 

[They…do not get up. Yet.]

 

[Niko is there. Niko is always there. They shake them, call their name. They do not make any movement.]

 

[The sun is set down. They hug them, body close, face buried in the thin cloth of T-shirt.]

 

[…]

 

[My only regret…?]

 

[Is that Niko has to see them disappear like this. For the remainder of the session.]

 

[…]

 

[Other than that, I…]

 

[…I have nothing to feel guilty of.]

 

[I shouldn’t…right?]

 

[…]

 

[No. No, this—this is acceptable.]

 

[It is only fair.]

 

[He shouldn’t have left us to rot.]

 

[Left… me.]

 

.

Notes:

shorter one today
im finals free but got assignments over the summer too
so like
the chains aren't broken
won't be for a while

Chapter 11: deleted

Summary:

imagine finding a letter that is big and bolded with ASSISTANCE and it actually turns out to be useless trash.

More than a dozen needles pierce your brain, all sharp and pointy, the tips digging into every nerve they can find. You go from walking to the computer, to stumbling, and then tripping forward. You already knew your face was dangerously close to the table’s edge. 

You and Niko had just finished powering up the generator, so it enabled most of the robots around this area. One of them informed that the settlements up north should also be turned on now, so that was your next location. However, when you got back to the lobby, this very hastily placed computer set seemed to have a screen glitching an orange-yellow color.

Perhaps you shouldn’t have let curiosity take over logistics. You should know that by now. And yet, your feet have taken you to this monitor, like you were five years old again, amazed by everything that surrounded you.

Your head bangs the edge, wooden but excruciating. It only adds to the needles harassing your jelly-felt brain. Geez, you thought your ankle was bad, but this was a billion times worse than a deep, darkened bruise. Like a wounded animal, you curl into yourself, clutching your head. A single wheezing scream falls from your throat, scratching your vocal chords, trailing off into a pained whine.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Your brain is being figuratively impaled.

The needles twist, burrowing deeper, sending white-hot shivers down your spine. Glass scrapes your throat each inhale and your vision blurs at the edges, colors bleeding into each other until the world is nothing but a throbbing haze. You can’t tell if you’re crying or if it’s just sweat, cold and slick on your cheeks.

It seems like a lifetime that you stay like this, writhing. Feels worse than your father slamming your whole face into the wall. The backpack uncomfortably jabs into your side, and you think the screwdriver’s tip is poking into your ribs. You barely come to your senses until you hear a clink on the cold ground and small, warm hands brush your arms, soft at first, and then desperate.

Niko. You know it’s them. They feel over your body, mainly your side. They hastily remove the backpack attached to you, repeating your name like a lifeline. You force one eye open. Vision blurry, but you can’t even try to miss the luminous eyes of Niko, face close to yours.

“…ib? Sib!” Niko wails, hand hovering in your face. They keep at this for a while, blubbering your name and having not a damn clue on what to do with your predicament.

You feel Niko pushing their hand under yours, which is tightly gripping your head. Grimacing and instinctively letting out another pained, pathetic sound, you removed your right hand to grab onto theirs, holding it with such impenetrable force. Whether you are hurting their hand, you don’t know.

It’s gone on way too long. Your head hurts like fuck, it’s driving you crazy and probably past crying. The horrible, agonizing ache—you can’t focus anymore. You want it to stop. Need it to stop. 

You hate it. All these pitiful noises coming from your mouth that you can’t stop—it reminds you of how terribly frail you really are. 

Are mom and dad right? 

You’re sorry. If they would just hold you more gently one more time, like your grandparents…like Bapa.

God, you feel like a knife is slicing your brain apart. Like a mother-fucking birthday cake—

You do pass out eventually.

The comfort of Niko’s warm form pressed against you is with you all the while.

 

——

 

Despite complaining that it’s always cold, that rippling sensation feels very calming. You feel very light, your surroundings nothing but darkness, and you welcome how floaty you feel. It’s like being submerged in…water…

Only then, your lungs are burning. You can’t—can’t breathe. You take one gulp of air in, nose and mouth and all, and your insides are drowned in ice cold water. Alarms erupt in your head, and you snap your eyes open. 

Yup. Water in your eyes. By the bucketful.

It’s only about ankle deep, but you somehow ended up flat on your face. You frantically push yourself up, ignoring every trembling bone in your body, coming up choking and spluttering for air. Your pants are wet, your shirt is wet, and you are wet, for the second time.

Drenched, as a matter of factly. 

You hold yourself up with your hands and knees, finishing your choked catch before wiping your mouth. When you can finally see well again, you’re met with black ripples of water. Your reflection stares back at you, disheveled, shaken, and hair in your face.

Wow, you think sarcastically, staring back at yourself from the makeshift mirror. I’ve never looked more shitty.''

 

[So you’re not dead. Good.]

 

It’s your voice. But mechanical. A duplicate of you shows up in the rippling water, standing just behind you, arms crossed with their staticky form. You recognize that static anywhere.

Pushing yourself up from the ground, you slowly turn to face the World Machine. It has its’ arms cross, regarding you with a rather bored expression at your previous outburst. A few feet behind it, you see a destroyed computer, with keys floating in the water, some scattered on the broken board.

You turn back towards the World Machine, and bluntly state, “You broke the computer, didn’t you.”

It glances back at the destruction, then at you. 

[Uh huh.] It confirms, not as much bothered by it.

“And…” You point to it, then yourself. “That’s why I was going through that earlier.”

If the World Machine made any sign of acknowledgment to your presence and pain, it did a good job of hiding it. It simply stares at you, glances swiftly back towards the broken computer, and sighs. Meanwhile, you stand stiffly in place, unsure if you want to trust this being using your reflection as a physical body. After all, it was the source of the indescribable agony shooting through your brain cells. You absently wonder if you even have any cells left in there after that predicament.

“World Machine?” You ask hesitantly after not hearing from it for dragging minutes.

The reflection in front of you goes rigid, eye twitching. [I am also known as the Entity, if you’d stop calling me by that terribly long title.]

“Entity,” you repeat flatly. The Entity nods, seemingly impatient. “Okay..”

[I don’t want to waste time talking. Leaving Niko alone is already as painful as it gets.] The World— Entity— speaks abruptly, moving forward towards you, its’ steps creating ripples in the water. [There is a high chance you don’t remember. But you need a code to unlock a certain locked box you’ve passed in the Barrens, and only I can give you that code.]

As the Entity rummages through a pocket, you wrack your brain for any box that caught your peripheral vision during your walk with Niko. Surprisingly enough, you do recall jogging quickly by a silvery-square safe, but you paid no mind to it, too focused on following the current path.

The Entity hands you a crumpled piece of lined paper, and you take it. Your hand brushes the more glitchy version of the Entity’s, sending an electric shock through your arm, and you flinch, pulling your hand back. The Entity only scoffs at your assumed obliviousness and turns away as you begin reading the paper.

 

"Dear ̷̡̠͇̼͉̻́͜͡ ̶̤̦́̕ ͕͟ ̀ ̶̗͓͎͓͟ ̶͜҉͏̞̺̙̀ ̴̢̹̥́̀

 

Ţ̵̧̀ ̵͟͡ ̨҉͟͞h̡͜͠҉ ̷̛i̵̶̷͝ ̵̀͢͢s͜ ͟͏̷̵̡ ̨͟͡ ͏ ̷i҉̷̧̀ ̴̡̕s͠ ͟҉̞̭̼̞̯ ̨̳͚͍̤̦̪͔́ ̫̪͇̗̲̭͘ ͕͚͟ ̸͉̫̘̩͙̀T ̶̗͓͟ ̶͜҉͏̞̺̙̀ ̴̢̹̥͚͎̮́̀ͅ ̛ ͟҉̞̭ ̨̳͚͍̤̦̪͔́u̦ ̵̸̹̼̞͚̹͠ ̴̢̳͔̻͕̮͇̱̀͡ͅͅ ̘̟́́͝͝ ̤͍͍̭͙́͜r ̷̶̥̠͍͚͜͞

 

.̴͜/͞m̵̧.̧̨̧́͘.̶͘͝͡-̡̢͟-̷̧͠͝͝-̴̨͜͢y͡҉̧/̀͏͏͘.͜͞.҉̡̀͢-̡̧̕͜-̸͘͜f̷̧͘͜.̨́͜.͞͞.̴̶͞ message to you, and I'm afraid I must make it brief.

 

I have left you a journal, part of which is written in a language that y̴̴͝/͟͝͝/̧͝͡-҉̵̸͡-͏͡o͏͜͝/̶̡̡/͡/͏̵̵̵̀/͏́́ų̨̕͘ ͟҉̴ ̧͠͏͝ ͘̕͟͠͞w̛͘͟͡͠/̵̢͠/̷́͞͞/҉̸̛̀͡ļ̴̕͢͡l̢̛̕͘͜ ̵̀͝͠n͝o̵͢͠=̵̷̨̡͡.̷̴̷̡̡.̷̵͘͟t̶̶̸̡ ̷́͜u͏̴́/̀/̵̧͢͞͡ǹd̀͟͠è͢҉̢̢-͠҉-̧҉̢-̶̧-̷̶͘s̵̶̷̢͠t̡̛a̧ ̶̴̧͝ ̷̸̡ ̸́͞ ͢ ̶̸̡̛͞n̢͠d̸̵ ҉̢͠͠a̴͡͠t̛͏̀͟͠ ̨̢͢͝f̷̵/̵̢̡̢/̧̢҉̵/̨͟͝r͏-̕͟͟͠=̢̕͘͟s̵͟͏t͞͞͡

 

H҉.̧̕.̸̵.̸̨̛̕͠-͘͜/̵͏҉/̸͘̕w̴͏͟e̷̢͜v̵͟͜͟(̢̕҉͟ę̸̀͜͞r̶̷͠͠҉ ̵̡͡ ̵̕͡͠ ҉̷ ̴̵̛͢,̧́҉ ͘͠͞ ͞͠ǫ̷̵̛̀n҉̡͡/̶̢/̵̸҉/̴̸̢́/̡͞/̀͘̕͢/̨͟c̵̷ ̨̛͘͡͞ ̨͏̛ ̷̶̡̧͜ ̵̨̀͜e̸̢͢͟ ̴͝y҉̸̛́/̵̵̶̨/̢͘/̴͟/͡=͢͏=̡͘=̷̢=҉̴̢/̸̧̧͞/̛̕/̶̨́͠/̶̨̧̕͜.̵.̴͝.̷̶͡u̧͝ ͘͘͜҉.̢̨̕͝͏ ̸̶̵̶̢ ̶̡ ̧̀c̀͢͞͞.͡.̴̶́͟͠.͞͏͘.̨̧͘͞.̴҉͞.̶ą̶͟͞n̕ r ̧͠ ead it and you will know what to do.

 

I have also ĺ̶̴͍̖̙͈é͕͔̤͚̺f̦̖͕̞͚t͟͜͏҉̖͚̺ ̗̜̠̰̕͟y̴͕͈͓̝͙̠̤͜ó̶̵̥̗͜ͅu̸̧̺̘̤̪̝̳ t̴͓̩͑͋͝w̴̪̩̼̾ȏ̸͙̜̈́ ҉͍̯̣̺͔̮͉͇͟͞a̴͍̥̥̺̯̱͢͜ ̧̺̰̱̬̬̰̞̦̣̞̦̦͠m̴͇̤͇͔͉͘a̴͠͏̳̰̥̹̮̀s̵̢͙̩̖̻̝̕ͅķ̛̛͏̰̫̺͍̹́, b̷̢͘͞ ̛̀͘͢͝c̡͜҉ ̀͟͠ ̶̡͘͜ ͞҉͜͏ ̷͜͏ ̡́́͠ ̢ ̀͏ ̕͜ ̵̷͘ ̶̴̴̵ę̷̷͜ ̴̸҉̀Í͡ ̸͘͞ ̨͢͜͡͡ ́͢͏͢ ̢̡́́͞ ̷̶̸̀͝ ̸͠ ̶̷̧̀̀ ̵̵̵̢́ ̷̵̛͡ ̕͝ ̷̕͠҉̡ ̸k͟͞͝ǹ͠͏͡ ̶̸̶͢͠ ̨͟͞͡ ҉̶ ͟͏̸ ̢̕ ̴͡͠ ̴̕͡҉͢ ̴͟͟ ̶͞͠w҉͝ ̢̨͟ ̵̕ ̧̢͜͢ ̴̀̕͞ ̀͟͟͠ ̛͢͏ ̡̧̀̀ ̨̢͘ ̕͜y̢̨̛͘͟ǫ͡u҉͢͟͏͟ ̷̛̀ ̴̕͞ ̢͡ẃ̴̡͡͝ ͘͜͝͏ ̧̀͜͡ ̶͢ ̵̶̸̨ ̵ļ́͡͡҉ ̶̧ ̸͡͠͠ ̷͏̸̵͟ ̸̴̀̕͝ ̸͏̧̀͝ ́͢͠ ͏̧̡͟͝ ̡̕͢͟n̕̕̕ ̷̴͟͝͏ ̡̡͝ ́́ ͏͝͏͟ ͜͡͏̴̛e̷̸͏d̸̡͜ ̷́͜͝i̵̶̢̢̧t̴́.͜͢

 

L͜o͞ok̵ ͠f̡or͢ a͝ ͟m͡e͟tal śaf҉e ̢ìn t̛h͞e͏ q͢u̕ar̵r͟y̢ t̢o the ̴e͢ast̡, ͘s͜om͝ew̢he̶re b͢et̀we͘en t͝he̡ ̛o̕cea̴n ̡and̶ ͞t͜he lo͡ok͟o͘u҉t̷ po̧įnt̨.̕

 

The code you need is d̶͓͓̥͍̳͍̪̀̓̒̽͊̋̑̈͝͝ę̸̡̛̜̪̞̰͖̦̖̱́̐͒̈́͂̽̒̅̍́̿͊͋͜͝͝ļ̵̧̛̪̖̼̦͙̘̪͓̥̗̫̱̙̹̮͗͌̔̉͂̌̏̈́́̋͌͐̚̚͘e̴̡̢͎̭̺͆͒̒̇̊̕͘͝͠ṭ̸̢̢͔͇̖̞̫͚̩͆̏͐̐̐̉̊̇̆̆̉͆̒̊́͘̚ȩ̸̛͕̠̘̣̣̮̫̝͇̽̒̽͊̌̄͆̚͠d̵̨̡͕͖̜̳͔̻̱̲̖̖͉͔̭͐͒̍̐ͅ.̴̹̥͇͎̫͈͈̪̗͓̯͋̂̎̂̓͒͗̓͑̊́̈̓͘̚ế̶̬̗͇̰͇͕̪͂̑̄̽̏̇̄͂̒͑̕͘̚͝͠x̶̡͕̱͍͍̠͎̩͎̼̰̞͔̼̘̀̂̋̈͋̀͂́̔̌́̽̊͘͝͠͝e̸̗̙͈̱̲͕̱̭̦̘͎̖̓̏͂̏̍͗͐̒͂͑͘͘̕͝͝͝.̷̡̧͈̙̗̪̯͎͖̰͍̦͈̦͇̦͛̿̏̆̋̏͝."

 

You blink once, twice. Whoever wrote this had terrible handwriting. Worse of all, if that safe really did need a passcode, it’s nowhere on this useless sheet. Because it’s gone.

The Entity notices your troubled expression and raises one eyebrow. [Are you not satisfied?]

“N-No, it’s just,” you bite your lip, squinting at the letters. You raise your head to meet the Entity’s stare in you, all suspicious and calculated. “Did you write this?”

[Of course not, my code isn’t that horrendous!] The Entity exclaims, offended by such an assumption. [It was typed by The Au—by him. I am…not allowed to read it. He didn’t want me to.] The Entity sighs and shakes its’ head, giving you a look of disgust. [It was only meant for you. What a special little thing you are.]

“Don’t go acting like I asked to be dropped dead in this world,” You snap. The paper wrinkles in your death-grip, and a shadow clouds over your face. You mentally make note to yourself to write a list of people you despise in this world, and make the Entity-slash-World-Machine number one on that list. “And, anyway, whoever gave this to you is playing jokes on both of us or some stupid shit. I can’t understand what the point of this letter is.”

The Entity blinks, uncrossing its arms. Again, it shoots another cynic look your way, rolling its eyes. [Maybe you need glasses. The code should be there in big bold writing just waiting for you to read.]

“So you’re gonna tell me the safe passcode is deleted.exe, huh?” You grind your teeth, spitting the words out. Then out of pure rage, you fold the paper and shove the passcode part into its face. “Because that is very contradictory.” 

The Entity’s expression shifts as it catches a glimpse of the folded letter pressed against its face - just a fragment of text, a few crucial words that make its synthetic features freeze for a microsecond. The artificial light in its eyes dims slightly, processing what it’s seen.

“Well,” it says slowly, voice carrying that same mechanical cadence, but you hear mock sympathy in it, too. “That is just disappointing, isn’t it.”

Notes:

yooo summer of 2025 started and im actually more busy than i expected what the fuck
my fault for taking summer classes ig
im learning how to drive now too but my older sib's catching on more better than me
so uh
ykw sometimes i wish i had the power to know how to do things right
and. i should probably like. not rant in the notes section but i want to
moving on to twfe
yes its not abandoned but its still in the works with finding a stable plot
thanks for sticking by ilygs<3

(FN: chapter has been edited)

Chapter 12: solicitude

Summary:

a comfort of sorts upon your wake.

You awake to the feeling of soft fabric pressed up against your chin.

It’s difficult to tell where you are. You clearly remember that encounter you had with the Entity. It was not a dream. Yet your brain is fuzzy along with your vision, and you have to blink several times to remove the haziness in your eyes. You slowly tilt your head down and recognize Niko’s hat, the cat ears flopping in your face.

“N..Niko,” you croak, surprising yourself with how cracked your voice sounds. And, woah, you are very sore.

Just like a cat hearing its own name, Niko’s head immediately shoots up, their watery pupils widening at the sight of you conscious and moving. They’re frozen in shock for a moment, but when you offer a slight smile, they cry your name and tackle you in a bear hug. With as much comfort as you can with the backpack dodging into your spine, you raise your hand to hug them back.

“You’re okay..!!” Niko exclaims, burying their face against your shoulder. “I-I was so scared—what happened?? You were screaming for a while and then crying and—and then you blacked out! I thought it was because you fell and hit your head on the table but you wouldn’t wake up and—!”

“Slow down, alright?” You interrupt them gently, and they snap their mouth shut and nod, wiping their eyes. “I’m fine now. I just…uh…met someone who’s going to help me help you get out of here. They had to get in contact with me, so they knocked me out, kinda.”

You already had a hunch that Niko would be confused about who you were talking about, and you sigh. “Remember when we talked to Prophetbot and you said a computer talked to you before you woke up in this world?”

Niko ponders for a moment, their tongue sticking out as they do. You absently note it’s an adorable expression. “Uh huh!” 

“Well,” you gesture to the computer. “ That’s the same person who contacted me through these computers. But, for some unknown reason, they’re choosing to physically meet with me instead of using those. Does that make sense?”

“Oh…” Niko tilts their head, looking at you curiously. Their expression gradually changes to that of a sad realization that makes your heart crack slightly. “Doesn’t that mean you…whenever you need help from–from them, you’ll…black out? L-like that?”

You feel your chest tighten at the worry in Niko's voice, the way their ears droop slightly as the implications sink in. Without thinking, you scoot closer to them, your hands finding their own. They automatically put their hands in yours, seeking warmth, though the sun is placed beside them.

"Hey, it's not... it's not like I'm gone forever when that happens," you murmur softly, trying to sound reassuring despite your own anxiety of that happening again. "I know it looked scary, but I always come back. And I'm still me when I wake up. Still Sib."

Niko's amber eyes search your face, still clouded with concern. "I know, I’m just," They shake their head a bit, as if doubting themselves. “I…keep thinking about it. What if you don’t wake up?” They mumble quietly, staring at your intertwined hands.

Now that it’s being said aloud, it’s more of a frightening thought than you had predicted…

"Niko." You gently squeeze their hand, cutting off the spiral of worry before it can build. "Nothing's going to happen to me. The World Machine–ah, the Entity –they're not trying to hurt me. They're trying to help us save this world, just like you are."

You add, attempting small humor, "Besides, someone has to make sure you don't get into too much trouble while we're fixing everything, right? I promise, I'm not going anywhere."

Niko's expression wavers between wanting to believe you and still being afraid. They fidget with the hem of their oversized shirt. "...You looked so still. Like you weren't breathing right. And I couldn't wake you up no matter how many times I called you."

The raw vulnerability in their voice makes your heart ache. You realize this isn't just about you passing out—it's about Niko being alone again, even temporarily. And about you abruptly disappearing, for reasons you don’t want to find out about. Seeing them in this state, their previous excitement reduced to a tiny spark…it feels wrong. You’re supposed to be comforting them, not the other way around. 

Geez. What kind of god are you if you can’t even cheer up the messiah?

"Listen, you…" you reach your hand out, searching for the right words. "You don't need to worry about me, Niko. That's not your job. I'm supposed to be the one looking out for you—making sure you're safe, that you don't wander into any more dangerous situations."

A ghost of a smile tugs at your lips. "Whatever it is, I’ll be able to handle it."

Niko nods slowly, but doubt still lingers in their eyes, the way they're trying to process everything but struggling with the fear of being left alone again. Their small hands twist together nervously.

"Mhm," they nod, voice barely above a whisper. "But it’s hard not to worry when..." They trail off, unable to finish the thought.

If your heart was made of glass, a piece would’ve already cracked. Whether it’s the guilt or the burden of how switched the roles are, you can’t stand seeing Niko like this. Without another word, you open your arms slightly.

"Come here?"

The invitation hangs in the air between you, soft and patient. Niko doesn’t hesitate to scoot further into your arms, and you enclose them around the former. 

For a moment, the world goes quiet, robots and all. It's just you two and the sun's soft glow.

Notes:

this is giving so much older sibling energy i'm going to cry
thank you for 1k hits btw im so happy :)) giggling kicking my feets
i do want to add side conversations with Player and other characters to build up on their backstory apart from what's going on in the "world" eventually
*hugs you and walks away* until next chapter

Chapter 13: hour long thought

Summary:

it seems like the longer you spend in silence, more memories come back to you.

You eventually are able to help Niko feel better, but you can tell that they’re still on edge about the knowledge of you inevitably disappearing again. Niko doesn’t talk much while the two of you are making your way towards the settlements up north, where you last caught a glimpse of the metal safe, and you don’t force conversation with them. At this point, both you and Niko have taken comfort within each other, in conversation or not, as sibling figures.

While Niko holds the sun, and you with the backpack of tools, you’re finally given some quiet time to ponder about what the fuck just happened between you and the Entity. You cross your arms as you walk, trying to stop the relentless wind from chilling you to the bone through your light T-shirt. 

During your first meeting with it, the Entity sounded…calm. Well, definitely not calm, but it sounded…more regretful. For the situation you were put in. You do remember it telling you “sorry” after it had knocked you down to another void-like hole, where you woke up in this…place. The Entity also seemed hasty and frantic with your first meeting, trying to tell you what you needed to know before you were inevitably woken up.

Now, with the second meeting fresh in your mind, it’s clear that it has become more wary and hostile of you, even, date you say…unfavorable of you. It demanded you to stop calling it the World Machine—which, understandably, is a long and wordy name—but it also sounded angry at you. As if you had encountered it more than you’ve realized. And such a ridiculous thought that is—you haven’t seen this being using your reflection once in your entire life!

You sigh, glancing over at Niko to see how they were doing. They seemed content, humming softly to themselves as they walked beside you, occasionally looking up at the millions of stars scattered above the night sky. At least they were faring okay, for now.

Frustration and curiosity constantly gnaws at you, like an angler fish to flesh, the remainder of the trek. If the Entity was offended by whatever is it you did, you’d rather it straight up tell you than to act stuck up for every single future meet, instead of it having a lousy fit and attitude every second it lay eyes on you. The image of your own reflection glaring at you in disdain haunts your imagination, and something gross settles inside the pit of your stomach just thinking about it.

You shake your head, opting the safer choice to not think about it anymore. Instead you focus on the ground beneath your feet, on keeping them one in front of the other so as to not trip over yourself. The white bandage on your right angle catches your attention, and you notice it’s starting to soak up the blood, looking disgustingly red and patches of yellow. 

Might get infected. You forgot that it was bleeding for a little bit after that calabash with kicking Silver and ultimately hurting yourself instead. No antiseptic. Only water. Water is a good source here, right?

Darn, maybe you need to stop thinking. Whatever you lay your eyes on, it’s either pain, disgust, or all of the above. You bite the inside of your cheek, taking a left turn as the starlit-sand path ends. Niko follows, humming all the while. You focus on that instead of the numbing ache in your ankle or your recent encounter with the damn Entity.

“Oh, I think we found it!” Niko slows their walking and points their sleeve to a familiar metal safe, with six blank digit boxes and a singular keypad. “This is what the…the Entity was talking about, right?”

“Mhmm,” you nod, kneeling down to the safe’s height once coming right up in front of it. It’s useless, you know, but you still take out the note the Entity gave to you with the deleted code. 

“…Um..”

“Is that the password?” Niko steps closer to you and peeks over your shoulder, staring at the note but not thoroughly reading it.

“There’s no, erm,” you mumble, feeling quite silly and ashamed. “No password. There was supposed to be one, but it got ruined, and this is all the Entity had to give me.”

“Oh, so…” Niko fumbles with the sun in their hand, looking back and forth between you and the note. You don’t meet their eyes—you can’t. You feel as if you had let them down somehow. Given them false hope.

Probably sensing your disappointment, Niko walks closer to you, a small smile plastered in their face. “M-Maybe we can try guessing it? There could be numbers from something that would work…related to this world?”

“That’s our only choice,” you shrug, crumbling the note and stuffing it back inside your pocket. Part of you wants to throw it away, but the other half believes the Entity will yell an earful when you see it again. “Alright, let me think…”

Six numbers to unlock the safe. What could they be?

Your best bet was that they had something to do specifically with this world, like Niko said. It could be the date of its creation, but you don’t know that, either. From your side view, you see Niko staring at the safe as well, tongue sticking out as they ponder the situation. You bite the inside of your cheek, eyes drifting between the empty spaces and Niko themselves. Soon, you opt to look at the sun in their hands.

Sun…Sun…huh. Maybe something to do with the sun? But what the hell would you write with six numbers—

Calendar.

All of a sudden, your thinking about it. It has to do something with the sun and a certain date on the calendar, and…nostalgia hits you. You don’t know why, but whatever this—this day is, you remember spending it with your grandpa in your youthful years. It wasn’t anything special, you think. But because Bapa has been so passionate about it, you, being small, were also curious.

…No, wait. The day of that solstice is—was his birthday. And the same day he passed away. That’s why it felt so…

…hm.

“The Summer Solstice.” You say aloud, snapping your fingers at the same time. It sounded correct, and was about the only thing that made sense in numbers related to the safe’s passcode.

Niko glances up at you in surprise, before looking back at the sun in their hands, connecting the dots. “That’s the longest day and shortest night of the year, right?” They ask, much to your shock that they know what it is.

“Yeah,” you nod at them, hovering over the keypad. “You…you know it?”

“Mhm-hm! Mama has all our friends and family come over to our house for a big gathering so we can spend all day together,” Niko’s pupils expand, their yellow eyes flashing in excitement as they recount the memory to you. “Since most of my friends and I aren’t allowed to stay up late, that’s the only day I have a lot of hours with them.”

“Oh,” you say softly, blinking. An image of Niko surrounded by their friends, smiling and laughing with all of them, made your heart warm. You grin softly.

“What about you?” They tilt their head in your direction.

“It was my grandfather’s birthday,” You reply. Then, in a more somber tone, you whisper, “…It was also the day he passed away.”

You hear Niko let out a small, strangled gasp of horrification. You peek over to them, eyes widening slightly as you realize what you just spilled to the child. Hastily, you add, “I-It wasn’t a painful death, he was at peace for it. I just kind of…miss him sometimes.”

You still remember bits and pieces from that day, vaguely. He passed when you were maybe around ten or thirteen. You knew his condition was getting worse, but you didn’t know it was due to cancer until afterwards when your parents told you. A hazy image can be seen, like you're looking through glass, of a younger version of you holding an unopened gift box, besides your grandfather’s deathbed.

Being closer to your grandparents, specifically Bapa, it was easy to be mad at the parents who barely paid any attention to you besides good grades. Sometimes you’ve believed to see red on that day. You didn’t even say goodbye, and he didn’t get to finish whatever computer project he was so obsessed with. Sure, you’d say he was quite addicted to that old device, but he was the nicest, closest person you had to your family.

You were supposed to give him a drawing of something related to that computer project. What it was, you’ll never remember. You’re far grown from that now.

 

Aren’t you supposed to be helping Niko leave?

Stop wallowing in your own emotions.

 

“Let’s…get what we need and finish here.” You eventually speak up, plastering a smile on your face as you turn to Niko. You try not to let their expression stab your heart.

 

Stop making them pity you .

You don’t need pity.

They’re the one who needs safety.

Later, after punching in the first four numbers for the date of the Summer Solstice, you are stuck trying to figure out the last two for the exact year.

Notes:

I made a change in chapter 2; ik I said Player was around teenager age but I didn't want to specify it so it could be up to you. so I reworded a little. Player is a few year(s) younger than Lamplighter, so they're around 17-20's.
another note, I've been getting into some other fandoms besides Oneshot (e.g. hfjONE, an object show I watched), so I might write more than just sticking to Oneshot, probably mostly Reader-inserts
just fyi if I take longer than usual to update, my original plan was to only focus on this fic/fandom but I want to expand my interests

Chapter 14: I'll be here

Summary:

left alone, but it's not for that particular reason.

“Ohh,” Niko stared up at the foggy mass in front of you both, mouth forming a wide ‘o’ shape. “ That’s why we need a gas mask…”

“How unfortunate only one came with the pack.” You mutter, glaring at the purple gas as if it had done something to offend you.

It had taken a fair while to finally get the right, last two digits to unlock the safe, several trial and error chances and moments of pulling on your hair out of frustration. Eventually, Niko had suggested what they deemed to remember as the first ever year the Summer Solstice began, and it worked. They had their moment of glee and pride, and the entire time, you couldn’t look away from how their eyes shined like the sun itself.

This feeling of having someone depend on you, looking up to you, just… being there with you for a purpose. Sharing their happiness, sadness, all sorts of cheesy thoughts and emotions. You don’t remember how long you’ve been without it.

But there’s no time to dwindle, no matter how grateful you are to have someone like Niko as a friend, or even closer than that. You have bigger problems to face. Like, how you’re going to get through that toxic air if there’s only one gas mask for two people. 

The safe also came with a violet notebook with a clover logo on the front, but you didn’t know what to do with it, so you just stuffed it in your backpack for later. It was blank to boot, so obviously not a message from the Entity. Empty, too. Not a written message in sight, which you had found to be disappointing.

You also came across some really concerning black-purple squares that were glitching in mid-air. Not wanting Niko to see them and get worried all over again, you hastily led them away from the area after gathering all your belongings.

They’re just squares…

“We’ve been everywhere around the Barrens already except wherever this smoke is.” You say glumly, having no clue what to do now. You’re stuck—

“I can go on my own for this one.”

 

…

 

…

 

… Huh?

 

The words hang in the air between you like the toxic fog itself, and for a moment you’re not sure you heard correctly. Your brain is loading, trying to process what Niko just said, because surely they don’t mean—

“What.” The word comes out sharper than intended, not exactly paraphrasing it as a question. Niko flinches, fiddling with the gas mask they’re holding.

“I-I’m not trying to separate us or anything like that,” They hastily stammer out, not quite looking up at you. “Just…you’ve already hurt your leg accidentally kicking Silver, blacked out earlier back in the factory, and, um…”

“Niko, what is it?” You ask, already starting to feel tired that you can’t help the bluntness of your voice. It’s stupid to be blunt at them, it’s stupid to make them flinch. And you can’t ignore how hurt you felt when they suggested doing this by themselves..

Niko has the strength to meet eye contact with you, taking a breath. They say in the most deadpanned voice you’ve ever heard them use,

“You said it yourself…you can’t see as well as me.”

The truth hangs in the air like the toxic fog itself, suffocating and inescapable. You stare at Niko, watching as they shift uncomfortably under your gaze, and something cold and bitter unfurls in your stomach.

When you woke up. In the house. You couldn’t see the steps in front of you that led down towards the light— Sun. Niko had to lead you.

Now, with the fog…

You heave a sigh, body moving on autopilot. You shrug the black backpack off of your shoulders and hand it to Niko without looking at them. If they were going to be on their own for a while, they’d need some sort of storage, and it’s kind of useless to you if you’re just going to wait for them the entire time.

“Be careful,” you mumble, because deep inside you’re not as cruel as you think you are. You care about them, truly. “Always keep the mask on and don’t let go of the Sun. I’ll be…right here.”

Niko squeaks as you suddenly walk forward and place your hands on their mask, making sure it wouldn’t fall off. You cup their face in your hands, looking at their eyes, wondering if there’s any sign that they might not want to be with you right now. But the mask makes it difficult to read their expression.

“Don’t get lost, Niko.” You whisper, gripping their face. “Okay? Promise me.”

“I-I promise,” Niko stammers. They seem surprised by your sudden mood change, and you are as well.

This…this moment, akin to someone walking away from you and never coming back. 

You can’t watch as Niko disappears into the fog, the glowing Sun going with them. In the meantime, you sit on the ground, elbows on your knees and hands pressing into your face, spiraling down what the hell you did to make them sound okay with being alone for a while.

They weren’t before.

And now it’s you.

Notes:

another one bites the dust
I hope that my writing style isn't too confusing...halfway while writing this I was having doubts because I was trying to connect it to Player/Sib's past
also I'm sorry the length is so inconsistent dude
love you all :3

(I am writing more than OneShot but I don't want to post it, some of it is just for self indulgence lol but we'll see)

Chapter 15: distant

Summary:

sometimes it's just natural to worry like that. most siblings do, usually.

“What.”

It was hard not to constantly think about how put off Sib was by their suggestion, as bitter as it sounded.

Niko shakes their head briefly, keeping their eyes on the path in front of them. Logically, it’d only make sense if only one of them were able to go through this fog because there was only one gas mask. And with the idea of Sib possibly getting hurt again after everything else that happened in so little time, Niko thought that they should be the ones to do this part.

They couldn’t help but dread, even though Sib did their best to comfort Niko. Constant images and what-ifs flashed in their mind, of Sib twitching like that again…

If the World— Entity— was supposedly supposed to be helping them, why had it hurt Sib like that?

Whatever it was, they didn’t want to tell Niko. As much as they understood their desire to protect, being the order figure and all, Niko gradually began to find it quite unhealthy that Sib won’t put their own health of top importance. More importantly, Niko wasn’t helpless. 

They know that Sib doesn’t think that of them, how could they? They’re just…excessively paranoid. However, Niko wished that Sib would start looking after themselves more. It has barely been a full day of this trip, and they already got their ankle busted, frequent black-outs, not to mention the horrifying seizure they had while presumably gaining contact with the Entity.

It was all just a jumbled mess. Niko wanted to get away for a while to think, while giving Sib some quiet rest time. Niko hopes that Sib won’t wander far off while they’re in here, but part of them reasons they won’t be able to sit still for that long, so they cling onto the fact that they are still waiting for the return.

Niko glances about, taking in their surroundings. The fog must’ve been coming from the various smokestacks and gas vents laying around, and up ahead they could make out a few ginormous buildings with numbers on them. All looked to be about the same shape.

There seemed to be some robots wandering around, though the amount of unpowered ones laying limply on the ground unsettled Niko. Despite managing to power the generator, few have managed to turn on, looking worse for wear. Mostly, only the big robots still had some power to at least stay functioning.

Nowhere to go but forward, I suppose…

Niko made attempts to quicken their walking pace, not wanting to worry Sib any further. The sooner they got what they needed here, the better. What if something happened to Sib while they were gone? What if they had another seizure, and Niko wasn’t there, or what if a robot decided to jump them all of a sudden, or…or…

…

… sigh…

It sure was quiet without the sound of the usual footsteps next to Niko. And with the quiet, came all the negative scenarios they definitely do not want to happen.

They’ll be fine, Niko tried to reassure themselves, clutching the Sun close to them as they walked. Sib’s older and can protect themselves if they have to.

That was the only thing spinning in Niko’s mind that encouraged them to keep going without company, for now.

 

——

 

In the distance, stands a figure not so different from yourself. In image and looks, in particular. The rest is quite debatable.

It can’t see anything in the monitors right now, except multiple screens surveying waste lands if cluttered machines, factories, what have you. If only it decided to lay out more computers across this world. But such a decision is one led by selfishness, and would not heed to his desires. It was intrusive.

What he wanted for this world. If he loved it so much, where is he now, it wonders? Why did he simply disappear without a trace, leaving everyone in here just waiting for the darkness and those squares to swallow all that is left of the life here? The simulations?

Its hands— not its own hands— clench feverishly by its sides. Though no image is available, it’s very aware of what the child is feeling at this moment.

Fear.

Anxiety.

Worry.

All of which is involving one particular person that, ironically, is labeled as the world’s god.

Why does Niko care about them so much? They are nothing. All they are here to do is finish what he started, and failed to complete, leaving everyone in utter darkness and despair. Waiting for what is no longer alive. Waiting for him.

It does not understand why, after only a few measly hours, can Niko develop such strong emotions involving this human. All these feelings nearly swarm it, like tidal waves crashing down, one after the other. It’s obvious how upset Niko is right now, even if it cannot see them. Did something happen to, scoff, that god? That figure who is replacing him?

Nothing makes sense.

It only cares for Niko, and Niko only. They must go home. Whatever happens to the human afterwards, it doesn’t care.

It doesn’t.

It. Doesn’t.

I̶t̶’s̶ b̶e̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ i̶f̶ N̶i̶k̶o̶ f̶o̶r̶g̶e̶t̶s̶ a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ t̶h̶e̶m̶ w̶h̶e̶n̶ a̶l̶l̶ o̶f̶ t̶h̶i̶s̶ i̶s̶ f̶i̶n̶i̶s̶h̶e̶d̶…

Notes:

I'm kind of struggling with the overall plot rn but I like angst so there's that
also my pacing is all over the place gahhhhhh :(( I do wish I could write more in between chapters but I want to spread them out
if you're still reading, thank you so much
like srsly I'm happy there's ppl out there who enjoy reading my stuff <3

Chapter 16: unbottling up

Summary:

you are important, too.

You stare outside the window of the passenger seat, hugging a stuffed cat to your chest. The weather is gloomy, as one would say if the clouds were gray and rain was pouring down. To pass the time, you watch the water droplets gradually drip down the window, seeing which drop would reach the finish line.

Your grandparents lived a little farther away from your actual home, which pretty much explains why you’ve never seen them as much. Mom and Dad are often busy with work, so for the past few years you’ve been assigned a baby-sitter, despite some logic that most children had their grandma or grandpa watch them.

You never remembered her name. In fact, you tend to forget a lot of things, being a kid and all. Somehow it felt like you were more forgetful than most children your age because your house was always filled with pastel-colored sticky notes around your room and some around the house.

The babysitter, to say the least, was boring. She never really did anything with you besides the basic needs, like making food, reminding you of some homework you needed to finish, small chores around the house, that sort of stuff. It was lonely at first, but you figured later that you didn’t even know her personally, so you shrugged it off and mostly drew pictures in your room with crayons, or talked to your stuffed animals as if they had voices.

Sometimes you’d be allowed to go outside and play with your neighbors’ kids, but there was always a time limit. It was longer with the babysitter around, who seemed like she had a softer spot for kids, but your parents were a little strict on how much time you spent around…certain people.

Even now, you don’t have a full understanding of what they meant when they expressed their concern of you drifting away from “more important things.” Weren’t having friends top priority in life?

Apparently, no. Something about working hard to live a successful life and not get carried away by distractions. Those types of lectures always left a sickening feeling in your gut. You don’t know what you did that disappointed them so much, but it likely had something to do with you spending more than thirty minutes with friends.

The other kids never understood, either. You could only say sorry to them and that you had family plans.

It’s not lying, right? It’s putting your priorities first. Yeah.

You slowly emerge from your thoughts when the car pulls to a stop, and the sound of your mother opening the car door for you. Wordlessly, she unbuckles your seatbelt and takes you by the hand, your other grasping the stuffed toy. She hands you the bag that kept your belongings, motioning for you to raise your hands so she could slip the straps on. 

The two of you are right in front of the stair entrance when you stop walking and stare at the strange door. Mom tries pulling you forward gently, but a small sound of defiance escapes your lips, and you keep your feet planted.

The memories of your grandparents were…hazy at best, given your tendency to forget. You barely spent a full day with them before, and now you’re expected to stay here for two weeks? While your mom and dad went to a—a job meeting or something? Maybe if you were older, it’d be a breeze, but right now you feel like you’re walking blindly into a lion’s cage.

Mom sighs, a sound you hear from her much too often. She kneels down to your height and brushes the hair away from your eyes, prompting you to look up at her. There’s a rare smile on her face, the kind she gives you when she is silently saying “everything will be okay.”

The bags under her eyes never disappear. You nod, unable to focus on her face, and follow her towards the door.

The fact that this house is the only one for miles away creeps you out. It’s somewhat of a small wooden cottage that looks very lived in, its wooden shingles a soft gray-green from years of rain and sun. In this cloudy weather, it supposedly looks more like a haunted house, but you try not to dwell on that too much. Instead, your eyes trail over to the large lake behind it.

The dock extends into the water on sturdy but age-darkened posts, its planks worn smooth by countless seasons. Tied to the far end bobs a small rowboat, painted reddish-brown. You tilt your head curiously as your mom waits for the door to open after a few knocks.

Something was glowing faintly inside the boat. An amber light? You rub your eyes and blink repeatedly, and, yes. It’s still there. Fear is replaced by curiosity, yet at the same time as you step twisted it, the door creaks open and out steps a rather tall man.

Dark-skinned, he wears a chocolate brown coat with white fluffy leather at the edge. Over it, is a banana yellow scarf. Your eyes trail up, up, up.

His face is replaced by scattered squares that glitch purple and black.

 

——

 

Much to your relief, you wake up from that certainly-not-concerning…nightmare…to see that Niko’s head hasn’t been busted into malfunctioning squares.

Groggily, you blink your eyes, taking some time to adjust your bleary vision. Niko’s face is right in front of your own, their golden orbs staring wildly at you in concern, and probably desperation. You manage a tired smile at them, and open your arms, a casual invitation for a hug. They quickly drop into your body, and you wrap your arms around the warm fabric of their clothes.

“You got back safely.” You mumble into Niko’s hair, breathing in. Hm. Faintly of syrup and pancakes…weird, but not gross.

Niko burrows further into your neck. “I thought you…” They trail off, sentence going unfinished. You didn’t need them to complete it, though, for you were well aware of what they were fretting.

I don’t want to think about it, either.

You hadn’t planned on dozing off. Damn, you didn’t even expect to sleep, with how batshit worried you were—pacing around at a safe distance from the poisonous fog, murmuring Niko’s name over and over again as if you’d drank ten beers in a single night. You don’t recall falling asleep. Maybe the stress of the situation finally hit you and knocked you out.

“Well,” You start, forcing your voice a pitch higher to lighten the mood. “All my limbs are attached, and I feel recharged. So let’s get this bread, yeah?”

Niko backs up from you and tilts their head, confused. You’re also momentarily stumped, until you realize that they probably didn’t get the joke. How awkward…

“Um,” You run the back of your neck, feeling foolish now. “It’s another phrase for let’s get going.”

Niko makes an ‘o’ shake with their mouth, understanding what you meant. You offer them your hand after sitting up, and they hesitate before grabbing it. A sort of sour tang clogs your throat, remembering the last conversation you had with them, but you don’t question Niko about it. You guessed that they managed to find quite a loot for the inventory as the backpack you took from them feels heavier than before.

Your feet takes you nearer to the star-lit ocean below the cliffs, having not scouted the area there yet. As you walk, Niko fills you in on what they’ve done and seen. Several factories run by stray robots littered the particular foggy landscape, as well as many pieces of paper with writing talking about the science of phosphor and something about collecting gas inside a tube. 

There was also a significantly giant robot made to protect the scientists working in the factories, but with all the humans gone, it’s just stationary. Which, you think, is really depressing. Even for a robot.

While Niko takes it out of the backpack to show you, still keeping a hand firmly on the warm sun, they explained that there was some sort of gas vent in the ground which protruded bubbles of the unbreathable substance. They didn’t know what to do with it at first, but they decided to use the tube to collect said gas bubbles for later, if it was ever needed. After that, they collected some liquid phosphor using a syringe to put into the gas tube, creating the glowing blue-green goo you’re holding in your hand. 

“I wish you were there to see it,” Niko hums, their eyes widening as they look at the tube. “It looked like I was a doctor doing science-y stuff!”

You pat Niko’s head, proud of their quick thinking. The action causes a bright smile and laughter akin to the sound of tinkling bells to sprout from their mouth.

The light-hearted mood between you two doesn’t hold up, though, no matter how long you try to extend it.

Your mind drifts back to the dream you had, with no conversation to help occupy your thoughts. You remember the moment not very well, obviously a diagnosis in you childhood with how staticky your brain seems, but you can kind of recall the memory. After all, it was a huge deal—the first time you ever had something considered to be close contact with your grandparents.

The glowing object inside that boat was new, though. Or was it, really? You can’t remember if your grandparents left a flashlight in it when you visited them the first time. You terribly wished you could recall what it was—perhaps it would’ve helped you find a connection between that glow and whatever is happening in this world.

Your dream. This world. It had to be connected.

What else could explain why the person who opened the door had their entire head replaced by a cluster-fuck of virus squares?

A sharp tug on your hand causes you to gasp, and you hurriedly push whatever was next to you away. You don’t want those squares getting close to you, ruining your body, limb by limb. Like it did with…with the head. Disfunctioning it and destroying it. But when you look straight again, Niko’s eyes meet your own, shocked and hurt.

“…Sib?” They ask meekly, holding the sun close to their chest.

The helpless sound of their voice brings you back to your senses, and how quickly you are filled with needle-stabbing guilt. You take a step forward, arms waving hastily in front of you.

“I-I’m sorry, I—” You what? Are you going to burden Niko with what crappy things your brain has been feeding you, what it felt like when the World Machine—Entity—whatever—almost obliterated you while getting in contact? You grip your left arm with your right, glaring at the ground, having no reasonable explanation to say how or why you’ve been such a mess lately.

Stupid.

You’re so stupid.

How could you do this to them?

Unexpectedly, though, Niko walks forward until they’re close in front of you, head tilted up to look at your face. “Did you have a bad dream?”

The question catches you off guard. “W-Wuh?”

“It’s just,” Niko pauses, biting the inside of their cheek before continuing softly. “You’ve been acting odd since the Entity talked to you. And you’ve never told me what’s wrong besides telling me you’re okay…”

“I know I’m only a kid,” Niko finally looks up at you, and you find their pupils widen in determination. “But that doesn’t mean I don't understand things. And—it’s not fair that you try to comfort me, but you don’t let me do the same! So let me help you..!”

And, to top it off, Niko stomps their foot to state their point. 

For a moment, you are completely baffled. You watch as Niko flushes a little, most likely from embarrassment, and adjusts their hat while waiting for your response. 

They’re right, aren’t they?

Don’t look at them like that.

You know they are.

You find yourself letting out an awkward laugh, glancing to the side as you rub your left arm. Because you’ve been so entirely infatuated with keeping Niko safe, you’ve been ignoring almost everything else.

Returning the Sun to the tower. Meeting the inhabitants of this world. Trying to figure out what the fuck was wrong with the Entity. The strange squares appearing randomly throughout the terrain. 

Paying attention to your own health.

All of that neglected or packed under the bus, all to focus on the most important person since your arrival: Niko.

Wow. Some god you really are, huh? You were so dead set on protecting Niko from everything that may harm them, but you never considered how they might have felt about that. Being treated like a kid when they are a kid, but ultimately, being more mature than the average child.

“That sounded more heroic inside my head,” Niko chuckles nervously, smiling up at you. Their voice brings you back to the present.

“I…” You start, unsure of how to even begin talking. Deep breath, try again. “I did have a dream. It…was confusing, to say the least.”

When Niko’s ears twitch and you see their pupils expand in interest, you let yourself speak, trying to get used to this new feeling settling inside your chest. It’s been so long since you had someone to confide in—you don’t even remember when was the last time you’ve spoken to anyone like this, or when they offered a listening ear. You partially recall speaking to your neighborhood friends and others throughout school, but they barely lasted 3 days at most.

“I was visiting my grandparents’ house,” You hum, staring at the sand beneath your feet as both you and Niko walked along the edge of the cliffs. “My parents had trouble within their work, so I think I had to stay with them for two weeks. I felt scared at first, but…well, those two weeks practically made me and my grandpa inseparable afterwards. Or not. I don’t really remember much, being a kid and all.”

“So, you were visiting family?” Niko repeats, their voice sounding inquisitive. “That sounds like a good dream, though!”

You chuckle, comforted by their bright enthusiasm and young energy. “It was. At least, I was hoping it was,” You mutter and stare out at the crashing waves of dark ocean water. “This dream was more of a memory, if anything. I mostly recognized my grandpa’s old fishing boat, but it had something glowing inside of it. Didn’t know what it was. And then I…”

Squares, purple, black. Everything. No face, no eyes, no mouth.

Reaching forward. To embrace you in a hug. You didn’t know him. You didn’t know him. 

A singular breath that trembles in the night air. No. There’s no way you want to tell Niko about what you saw when he opened the door. You know that they’ve said they wanted to help, but that specific detail…you don’t know. It felt like too much to spill, especially since you yourself didn’t know what the squares were about, yet.

“Something…happened,” you settle with that instead, not wanting to leave Niko in the dark. “I don’t know what, exactly. I think my grandpa’s head got combusted or something, but it scared the shit out of me. He opened the door and just. Popped up like that.” You turn towards Niki and gesture to your own face and head. “Gone. Distorted.”

Both of you have slowed down a little, but still keep up the trek. Niko is gawking at you like your head was the one that glitched up into a million squares. Their mouth drops, and you imagine a tiny loading circle popping above their head as they register what you had just described to them.

Afterwards, Niko grimaces and makes a disgusted face, mixed with sadness. “Oh…that’s not a good dream. That sounds more like a nightmare.”

“Exactly what I thought, too,” you sigh and rub your eyes, forcing yourself awake. The injury in your ankle has reduced to a small throb, allowing you to walk a bit normally. “Ah—sorry for my language, I was just stressed…” You blurt out, face heating in embarrassment.

To your surprise, Niko only giggles. “It’s okay! A lot of the older kids back in my village accidentally say those words around me, too. That’s why Mama doesn’t really like them,” Their face changes to a guilty expression almost immediately. “S-She’ll probably won’t mind you, though! I mean, you’re helping me go home, so.”

A short silence stretches between you two, and you both break out into tiny fits of laughter. Turns out this talk was just what you needed to remove the access pressure you were carrying around both in your head and on your shoulders.

“Oh, um, you said something about seeing a boat?” Niko asks suddenly, returning to a faster walking pace. You trot to catch up with them.

“Mhm,” You nod your head. “It was my grandpa’s old fishing boat. Dunno if I ever went in it…but there was something inside it glowing in my dream.”

Niko points their finger forward and glances back at you expectantly. They found something in the distance, their glowing orbs for eyes having a higher line-of-sight than you. “Was it anything like that boat?”

You stop, tilt your head up, and stare straight ahead.

As if your dreams couldn’t get any weirder than they already are, there is, in fact, a lone boat resting against a wooden dock. 

On it, sits a singular robot, its rusty hat containing one antenna that illuminates a red beam of light.

“…Yeah.”

Notes:

it’s my birthday :)) 17 baby (oh my sweet summer childhood…)
usually I type using my phone and publish in my mac, but since im on vacation I did both w my phone
also I have. um. maybe been going thru writer’s block w this fic
and on another note, ik its fun to read in here but please go outside yall. like, it ain’t good being cooped up in a room reading ur device for 10+ hrs
other than that ty for reading, love ya’ll

Chapter 17: rowbot's maintenance

Summary:

fixing and unfixing...

[HELLO! WAS IT YOU WHO FIXED THE GENERATOR?]

For an average-sized robot who was probably shorter than the rest, it did have a very vocal voice box. Your body jolts as the bot’s sound waves quite literally pound your ears, and you slap your hands over them with an irritated hiss. Niko doesn’t seem bothered by it (for some amazing reason), but they glance up at you with worried eyes, nonetheless.

The motion was enough for the robot to pause its speaking. Turning the oars connected to its hands, the movement causes its dark red scarf to shift slightly on its shoulders. There is a brief wrrring and chchink before the robot speaks again in a more medium tone:

[i am sorry. is this better?] The robot’s skinny eyes blink, patiently waiting for an answer.

“Very much.” You mutter, sighing in relief that the robot lowered its volume. “And, yes, both of us fixed that big generator.” You motion to yourself and then Niko, who grins proudly.

“So now all of the robots are working again!” Niko adds gleefully. They stop and rub the Sun in their hands, smile growing nervous. “Most of them at least…”

[it is a pleasure to meet you! i am Rowbot #310.] Rowbot introduces itself, beeping in a merry tone. The oars on either side of them spin once, twice in the water, before Rowbot beeps again. [would you like me to take you somewhere?—]

You watch, unamused and growing impatient at first, though sympathy starts emerging without your consent. Rowbot attempts to move its arms, only for its body to shake and tremble with the effort. After a moment, Rowbot stops, staring at you and Niko.

[my apologies. i…cannot move.] Rowbot says slowly, dragging the end of their oars in a circle.

“Huh.” You bend a little and peek at Rowbot’s shoulders. Specks of red-brown rust and multiple scratches weren’t visible to the naked eye, but with the glow of Niko’s Sun, they weren’t exactly difficult to spot. “Seems like you’re a little rusted up.”

Rowbot moves its head left and right to glance at both of its shoulders, confirming your suspicion. [i guess that is true.]

An awkward silence ensues as you rack your brain for any idea on how to clean the rust off of Rowbot. Technically, you and Niko are unable to continue towards your next destination if the arms are stuck like that, and you really do not want to stay in the Barrens any longer. 

Without the Sun in the tower, you can’t tell how many days it’s been since you’ve woken up here, but you do know that you haven’t slept a wink. You’re unsure if it’s adrenaline or subtly continuous panic biting away at you, but you don’t feel tired. Not as much as you thought you’d be. It’ll probably hit sometime though and you’ll regret ever thinking that.

A subtle movement jostles you a bit, and you stiffen. You turn to see Niko rummaging through the backpack, looking for something. Silently, you shift the pack off of your shoulders and lower it to Niko’s height.

“Niko..?” You motion to the new items they’re holding, the Sun having placed right next to them on the ground. In their hand is a glass bottle of teal-green bubbling acid, a pair of gloves, and a small sponge.

“I made it while walking through the settlements,” Niko declares boldly. “Like a magician making magic potions.”

You smirk, eying Niko’s proud stance. “And, self proclaimed magician, how did you make this?” You wave the bottle in front of Niko.

They huff and turn away, eyes glinting. “A magician never reveals their secrets!”

You allow them to take the lead this time, giving Niko back the bottle and watching as they pour some of the glowing liquid onto the sponge and proceed to scrub Rowbot’s metal hinges. 

While waiting, you take the time to ponder about your current circumstances. You’re almost ready to leave the Barrens, meaning another step closer to returning the Sun to the Tower. And then Niko can go home.

 

But what about you?

…Me?

Yes, you. Do you really want to go back home? What do you even have left there?

I..

…

You already know the answer, don’t you?

N o t h i n g .

 

Time stops. Or, at least, it feels like it. You’re staring as Niko hums contently, cleaning Rowbot who beeps and boops random sounds. But your body feels so far away, like you’ve been detached. You’re watching yourself go through… this. No longer in your own body.

 

You barely have any friends. And those who are already know your predicament at home.

You’ll just go back to serving her.

Be the picture perfect child. Be what she always wanted. What she couldn’t have when he was present.

You don’t want that. 

Hm?

 

It drifts away just a bit, that voice in your head. The part of your mind that is the real truth about what you think of this world, of everything around it. The people, the landscape, the lack of light, the robots, Niko. None of this was a dream, and all of it was real.

Real.

All you’ve felt—Niko depending on you, smiling whenever they are with you. Crying because they thought they had lost you. Angry because you had misunderstood them, and then embarrassed, back to smiling again. And going back home means leaving all of this behind.

So, what was really wrong?

You know perfectly well that it’s you. You don’t want to go home, to where home doesn’t even feel like what it’s supposed to be anymore. It’s not your home. Regular people don’t run away from their homes without saying goodbye. 

You look down at your right hand, slowly opening it. Young skin, flesh and bones.

Oh, man.

How selfish you are to think that this is a reality you can stay in forever. But what is the harm in extending it just a little longer?

A little, a little, a little. All you want is a little more time in this place, with Niko by your side. Even with the knowledge that they want to go home to their family, you can’t shake this emotion. It’s raw and heartbreaking, but you embrace it all the same.

When Niko is done, they hop out of the boat and turn their head towards you, grinning. Their amber eyes glow like the Sun itself, and their mouth opens in a small laugh. The sound brings you back to your body, like the breeze against wind chimes.

That smile is forever imprinted in your memory. Because, to you, Niko’s smile is brighter than any sun you’ve ever seen.

You grip the straps of your backpack, nodding. A subtle motion.

 

P̶ ̶l̶ ̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶ ̶e̶ ̶ ̶d̶ ̶o̶ ̶n̶ ̶'̶ ̶t̶ ̶ ̶l̶ ̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶v̶ ̶e̶ ̶ ̶m̶ ̶e̶ ̶.̶

Notes:

rowbot is my one of my favorite NPCs so I wanted to give a bit more character to it
sorry if this chapter turned out not really connectable...? idk it just felt like a boring one to write. I didn't just wanna go through the game dialogue and such

Notes:

sorry to disappoint or not(?) but theres no update schedule
as I do have things outside of this, and my bursts of creativity are random
and i dont want to feel burnt out
hopefully quality of writing makes up for that, if my quality is even decent