Liberty To The Lost || Elliot-Centric Forsaken AU

by L3V11ATHANX, Whit3GuysRREALLLL

Summary:

Elliot realizes that, slowly, the Spectre will hurt them all— it’s not like they can keep dying over and over.

- - -
Elliot had been slowly going insane. He couldn’t even do a generator in peace.

He felt the presence of others, however the lack of solitude was unwelcome now. While their usual warm glances had at least some meaning to him, he couldn’t help but despise the feeling of being watched.

Any, any, reminder of what it was doing was something Elliot hated with his whole heart. Anything and anyone related to it was something or someone horrible, someone who only deserved the worst.

The worst, even more horrid than what he was going through. The fact he could never be at ease— was torture no one deserved. Not even 007n7, though he was close to it.

- - -

Chapter 1: Prologue

Elliot had been slowly going insane. He couldn’t even do a generator in peace.

He felt the presence of others, however the lack of solitude was unwelcome now. While their usual warm glances had at least some meaning to him, he couldn’t help but despise the feeling of being watched.

Any, any, reminder of what it was doing was something Elliot hated with his whole heart. Anything and anyone related to it was something or someone horrible, someone who only deserved the worst.

The worst, even more horrid than what he was going through. The fact he could never be at ease— was torture no one deserved. Not even 007n7, though he was close to it.

“—Even though he had destroyed the pizzeria—“ Elliot thought with a side glance to the man helping with the generator. “‘Does a devil deserve no chance to redeem himself—‘ Something Chance always said whenever he was confronted about his gambling addiction.”

“—It wasn’t like he didn’t want to recover,” Elliot pondered. “But it’s not like he wants to either…” He looked at who was getting chased— Noob, to dwell his thoughts onto.

“—They”, Elliot paused, “just want their issues to be pushed away. That’s why they drink.”

“Hey—“ He looked up, his train of thought broken. 007n7 was speaking … to him. “Can I… ask for something? It’s okay to refuse, I can understand.”

“Pizza?” Elliot assumed.

“Uhm… a little help with this puzzle. The reds are blocking out the blues.”

Elliot sighed in response. Walking over, he kneeled close to 007n7. He stepped aside as he got off his knees, letting Elliot finish his work.

“— Always getting others to do something for you.” He thought, yet knew the words would probably cause 007n7 to just back up and leave. “Because he can’t take accountability… but he did just apologize— somewhat, atleast.”
“Thank you.”

“Mhm.”
- - -
Elliot looked upon the ceiling’s boards, finding himself resting on the couch in the lobby. He didn’t feel the velvet of the couch, yet it was touching the back of his calves. His mind was elsewhere, searching for an answer between the brown boards coating the ceiling. Though, he was likely to find one. There was a gaze looking back at him.

The Spectre had been following Elliot for weeks. Ever since his last attempt of escape, emphasis on attempt, it had been forced to watch over him. Not by anyone else, of course, the Spectre had complete control in this realm. But, whenever someone gets dangerously close to leaving and potentially ruining that said power … Unfortunate restrictions and restraints must happen.

Sitting up, Elliot sighed. Noob and Guest were the only other two in the lobby. No one was around. It was cold, the air felt heavy. They had never felt this alone. Did anyone else see these things? It has to be some trick. He stares up at the eyes, meeting their strong gaze.
It’s all in my head.

He tells himself this over and over, as if it were a mantra.

It’s all in my head.

But was it really?

Falling more into the spiral of his despair, his head rested in his hands, elbows on his knees. He sighed, breath shakier than his leg as he bounced it. Elliot’s mind raced, knowing— knowing, deep in his bones beneath all the layers of flesh, he was being watched. He looked over at Guest 1337, who was already looking at him.

“You… good, kid?” He crossed his arms, brown eyes looking him up and down.

“Do you ever think you’re—“ Elliot paused. He looked back up, and… that was it.

The eyes were gone.

He could feel the warmth come back to his body. He looked over at Guest, his pupils shaking. He squinted as Noob rested a hand on the chair, holding a beverage. They looked a little concerned, eyes darting between the two.

“…Everything okay here?”

Elliot made eye contact with Noob.

Only their eyes weren’t black.

They were a deep hue of red, almost like the eyes peeking through the cabin. The eyes that had followed him everywhere. The eyes that had come near him, just close enough to radiate light— just to shut as he finally felt anything close to the sun.

“Noob.”

“What?”

“The last thing I need right now is for you to chug another drink, just so you can ignore your feelings and the fact that we’re being bet on like dogs in a cage fight. The last thing I need is for one last person to act like we aren’t insane.”

Guest had stood up, Noob stepping back. “Elliot. Calm down,”

But he was already out the door.

Sitting down by the docks, he rested his hands in the water. On a hot day, it felt like the only relief he could get around here. Splashing water onto his face, he felt the cold liquid drip down onto his red button-up uniform.

“I can’t do this anymore.”

He whispered to himself.

“I don’t think I can.”

Elliot dragged his hands out of the water, flicking them onto the dock boards.

“Heya, Elliot!”

He turned around— Chance. Flipping his coin, grinning as he landed on heads instead of tails— despite there being no circumstance where he would win anything, he was still doing it. Force of habit, Elliot supposed.

“…Yeah?”

“Hand me a slice, we gotta talk.”

Someone to listen to him.

He patted the wood next to him, pushing himself over as the gambler sat down.

“So… uhh… Guest told me about your freakout.”

“I know. He can’t keep anything to himself.”

“Woah, that’s not what I’m implying.”

“What are you implying, then?”

“I’m… thinking you’re right.”

 

<-- drawn by shedletsky

Notes:

special thanks to shedletsky/john for cowriting and drawing this chapter’s graphic!!

Chapter 2: Rebellion

Notes:

its like two pysch ward patients talking to eachother!!!

Elliot looked at Chance, his gaze staring into his own reflection; meeting his own black stare. He could see the despair in own self, how… crazy he looked. His eyes were widened, his hands shaking. One was mid air, reaching back to grab his bag. Wait—

“I left it in the… cabin.”

“Huh? Oh, that’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” Chance waved his hand, “Was just making conversation.”

“Yeah.”

The two sat in silence for a bit, the only sound being the repetitive cling of Chance’s coin. His legs were crossed over the darkened surface, eventually dangling one in the water. Elliot observed he didn’t care about his shoes or thousand-dollar suit getting ruined. He fiddled with his collar in his other hand, adjusting it to wrap around his neck.

Elliot sat his hands on his knees. He stared into the distant land of grays and blues, knowing he’d never be able to feel fresh air again.

He was outside.

He was breathing.

But he wanted more. Sure, he was alive after all the repetition of torment, but what was a garden without bees or butterflies? Without pollinators to carry the seeds to multiply the beauty?

His mother had a garden once. It was full of roses and poppies, daisies, dandelions, sunflowers— a mosaic of colors, and the two would spend hours in there— waiting for Dad to come back.

“Elliot.”

Marigolds. Asters. Peonies. Azaleas.

“Elliot.”

Irises. Dahlias. Jasmines. Alliums.

“Dude.”

“Huh?— Sorry, sorry…Uh, what’d you say?”

“Nothing, just wanted to point out how pretty the world looks right now. The moon’s at a pretty good angle, so you can see the outline of all the trees.”

“Yeah…I like how they look right now. But, can we get back on topic?”

“Right— I think you’re onto something. Guest said you were acting crazy, but I know— deep down, that we’re being supervised.”

“Exactly. Whenever you stare into the ceiling boards too long…”

“You…” He paused. “…see them too?”

Elliot looked up, as did Chance. Their gazes met, and for once, neither of them felt alone.

Elliot felt his breath hitch, his fists clenching. He knew he looked crazy. Yet, somehow he didn’t care. He finally— finally— found someone who could understand them. He had managed to find the missing piece of a puzzle, hidden deep under the couch. He had managed to escape the mental prison the Spectre had trapped him in.

Chance watched the man across from him suddenly jolt up— his eyes shaking between the cabin and him. He was taken aback, staring straight through Elliot. He looked him up and down. “You… good?”

“You actually see them.” Elliot cackled, clutching the edge of the docks. “I’m not… insane. I’m not in the minority for once.”

He grabbed Chance by the shoulders.

“You actually know what I’m talking about!”

He felt himself break into a laughing fit—wiping the tears from his eyes as he let go of his left shoulder. “I’m not insane!”

“Elliot—“

“No. No! I’m so happy, Chance. I—“

It happened again.

He watched slowly as the gambler’s expression shifted to a blank one, and he could see in his shades— his did too. His hands dropped to his sides, still shaky.

“Sorry, what were we…?” Chance tried to call out, but Elliot was already leaving. His boots creaked against the wood, his figure getting smaller and smaller.

- - -

By the time Chance caught up, the man had already ran into the cabin. He knew he was leaving a trail of lake water behind, but all he knew was Guest was about to get torn to shreds. Not really, of course— there was no one who could beat Guest in a fight— verbally or physically. He’d been through it all already, but Elliot didn’t know that as well as the other sentinels did.

“Do you realize what you’re doing?!”

Elliot yelled, pointing at Guest accusing as everyone else just... watched. Chance didn’t blame them, this was the most entertaining thing to happen in awhile— “— Get it together, Chance.” He thought. “No time to goof off.”

“Elliot.” Guest said placidly. “You’re assuming things.”

“No! I know what you’re doing. You've been through so much, yet did that shred all your empathy?”

“I understand you’re upset, but you have to listen.” He put emphasis on ‘listen,’ grabbing Elliot’s wrists roughly. He leaned in, his eyes squinted. “What were you talking about, being bet on?”

“They’re all watching us!” He cried, trying to break free— to which Guest let go. “The… him… it… I don’t know!” He finally admitted, burying himself in his hands. He sobbed and wiped snot all over his palms, scarred from the temperatures of the oven. “I keep… losing it all. I keep watching and watching my days slip by like… like nothing’s happening! But I know what’s going beneath the surface.”

Guest darted his gaze to Chance, then back at the pizza deliverer. He had a look in his eyes only describable as pity. Chance knew he’d seen men go mad with the rage of the war, but the despair of a time loop?

“We need to… to…” His eyes peeked through the gap in his fingers. He looked at Guest, tears streaming down his cheeks. He was still shaking, like a leaf, almost unable to stand. “ Fuck! “

“Guest.” Chance finally spoke up, mouthing the words as his gaze flicked between the two. “Can I—“

He nodded, and Chance slowly walked over to Elliot. He made sure his footsteps were perfectly balanced, so Elliot could turn around and just meet his gaze one last time—

“Get away! Leave me alone!”

“Elliot—“

He took a swing. Wildly. No perception, just guessing— but when he heard a grunt, he felt satisfied. He rushed forward, grabbing Chance by his neck as he raised his wrist again. His other hand clamped around his neck, feeling two glover hands trying to pry back.

“Elliot!— Stop!” He was forcibly lifted off the gambler, his arms pinned behind his back as he was slammed into the wall next to the door. His face dug into wood, his forehead meeting closer to the cabin than he’d prefer. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Elliot hiccuped through his sobs, shaking. Chance’s heavy breaths echoing throughout the cabin as someone else helped him to his feet.

He closed his eyes and heard a distant voice.

“ Trying to rebel again? “

Chapter 3: Chapter Two

Elliot was taken out of the game the next round, too. Everyone had voted against him, Guest, and Chance going in— because it’s not like they could leave the two alone.

Elliot sat on the chairs, his scooted extremely close to the table on the loft. Guest sat across from him, appearing bored. Yet, he also seemed angry. He had every right to be upset, and Elliot didn’t blame him for that.

“So, you’ve calmed down. Do you remember what happened?” Guest sat his hands, crossed, on the table. He raised an eyebrow, looking at the pizza worker.

“I attacked Chance.”

“ Why, though?”

He shrugged, biting one of his nails. He darted his gaze, from the lantern on the table to Guest and back. “I don’t really know why, but—“ Pausing, he bit down. Hard. “…I’ll tell you soon.”

“Soon?” Guest now had a tint of rage in his eyes. “You can’t tell me now?”

“No, just…” Elliot looked back at the ceiling— the same spot above the couch. Narrow eyes squinted at him. “—Don’t do it.” Said his conscience, knowing the risk of The Spectre hearing them was too great.

“I…”

“We’ll have this discussion later, then, Elliot.” Guest glared at him as he pushed in his chair. “I want a clear response by the next round.” He nodded, then walked down the stairs to check on Chance. An ice pack was to his head and he was resting on the couch, as Elliot saw whenever he looked to the eyes. He rested his head on the table.

He needed to get out of here.

- - -

Guest listened to his heavy boots thumping down the stairs, Chance’s head turning as he did.

“Hey.” Chance waved, turning his body as Guest moved to sit next to him. He scooted further into the pillow on the couch. His nose was bleeding, but he had a tissue plugged up his nostril. “Everything go okay?”

“No. He didn’t give me a solid response. I got frustrated and left.”

“Oh.”

The silence was a little awkward after that. Chance didn’t really know how to reply, and Guest sat with his arms crossed occasionally sighing. He eventually looked up, after what he guessed was five or ten minutes, looked up at Elliot. He was still sitting with his head buried in his hands, and then he disappeared.

Guest blinked, then he was off the couch. He fell onto rough ground, bumping his head against a nearby wall. He let out a low grunt, pain ringing through his skull. Despite the fact the round just started, he could already hear music incoming. He swiftly got onto his feet, deciding on whether or not he needed to distract the killer or get away from them.

Taking a glance into his surroundings, Underground War being the current map. White walls encased everywhere he looked, meaning he could find a safe place to sneak up on the killer, then he could stun them.

Carefully, he made sure his footsteps were light. He’d learned and done this plenty of times, it being second nature to him. He ducked behind the closest wall when the music was close, and as Coolkidd turned the corner—

“You’re no fun—“ He wiped his eyes, except Guest was gone.

“Elliot!” Guest called, turning on his heel. He looked in every angle he could see, until he saw a red button-up.

“ What is that kid doing?”

- - -

Elliot sat still, his head in hands. He wasn’t shaking. His shoulders weren’t moving with his hiccups. He was just… still. Unnervingly still. His eyes darted back and forth, until he landed on the veteran. Widening, his eyes stood still for once.

And in them, was a reflection of a kid who never escaped the burning eye of the Spectre.

“Elliot, kid—“

He didn’t bother looking up.

“Tell me what’s happening. With you, with whatever you’re going through, the eyes— Whatever. Just tell me.”

Elliot’s hands dropped, his tear-stained face finally showing. His visor was messed up, barely showing his eyes. He couldn’t help but start to shake, not because of Guest’s touch on his shoulder, but because someone was listening to him. But he knew about what him and Chance had talked about. What was meant to stay between the two of them.

“He told you.”

Chapter 4: A Misty Memory

“He fucking told you.”

“Elliot—“

“That was supposed to stay between us.” Elliot grabbed the grass beneath him until his knuckles were a pale shade of yellow. Guest had beads of sweat on his forehead, blatantly obvious, and he stammered through his words.

“You have to understand,” Guest was barely able to get his words out, before promptly stopping. Stumbling over his words, he eventually got out something. “He had to give me the whole situation. So I could help understand—“

“You can’t understand me! You don’t know what everyone here is actually thinking! We’re being conditioned by this…” Elliot fiddled with the grass between his fingers. “entity! The Spectre! And I’m not forgetting it for once, because the Spectre is making me forget! It can’t see the rounds!”

Guest looked at him like he was insane.

He sighed, pinching his nose bridge. “Kid…”

“What? Chance already told you, you should've expected that.”

“No. I’m trying to grasp this. This is alot of things to take in at once, especially because there’s evidence.”

Elliot stayed silent. Looking away, he finally released his handfuls of grass. He averted his gaze to the white walls, the bricks being stacked up and up to form a tall wall–the repetition comforting to Elliot. Back when he was still…alive. He’d always try to avoid the topic of his death. Especially after the last view, just before his crash—

“Kid?”

“Oh. Huh?”

“How’d you find out?”

Elliot paused. He looked behind him, staring into the abyss of white. Stacked and stacked. Perfect recognition of pattern. He sighed, burying himself into his hands.

Looking up, “I don’t know.”

The silence was awkward— especially when Guest started staring into his soul. Deep into his eyes, searching for some kind of answer. As if he’d never been in this kind of situation. One where everyone was pressuring him.

Hell, he bodyguarded almost every round. He knew how pressure felt— but not Elliot’s pressure. Not the pressure of knowing everyone was at his fingertips, and if he made one slip-up… The Spe— it would do worse than death. Worse than what they were going through right now. All of them. Though, they just needed to plan it. Carefully, at that.

“You…don’t know?”

“Hey guys—?” Shedletsky’s voice sounded from behind them. He was carrying a large hat, a chunk missing from the rim. “Noob said that, basically, there might be a new person. We’ve seen this hat on the missing board.”

“Let me see that—” And Shedletsky handed it to Guest. He observed it, turning it around. He ran his finger over the large lump taken out. “Jane, right? Missing since— what, a month or two now?”

“Sounds ‘bout right.” Shedletsky shrugged.

“Where’d you find it?” Elliot chimed in, standing up to reach the two’s height. He followed Shedletsky’s gaze as he looked at the toy area under ‘Brandon World.’

- - -

She could feel the eyes on her. Prying underneath her jacket and into her skin, seeping between layers of flesh— all the way through to wrap around her bone like a snake trying to capture its prey. She knew they were trying to find her, so she stayed safe behind the white box hiding her from the gaze of the unknown.

Where the hell was she? She’d lost her hat, her coat was a little too thin, and her axe was god-knows-where. She looked behind her—Good grief, who were those people?

“Hello?” The middle one called out, their footsteps that were ruffling the grass stopped.

“We have your hat.” The one to his right stated, waving it around. Was he… barefoot? Jane turned back around.

What the hell was happening to her?

Chapter 5

Notes:

shedletsky / Whit3GuysRREALLLL wrote the second part, thanks dude!!!

“Let me get this straight—“ Elliot pinched his nose bridge. “You… know one of the killers?”

“Yes. Specifically John.” Jane adjusted, sitting up in her chair. She was practically being interrogated. Her forehead creased with worry, her eyes squinting. “I don’t understand why that’s such a big deal.”

“You knew him before…this.” Guest raised an eyebrow. He crossed his arms as he leaned against the cabin walls. “You have to understand what this realm is.”

“I’d love to, but I can’t fathom anything that’s happening. It’s like he didn’t even recognize me— but I didn’t recognize him either. He had this weird corruption affecting him…” She gripped the hem of her coat, obviously uncomfortable.

“Because he’s a killer.” Guest answered.

“…What?”

“You’re a survivor. You survive. All we have to do is figure out your role and get you adjusted.”

Elliot watched her face shift. Confused and desperate to just… horrified.

“No, you’re… I still don’t understand. What? What do you mean, survivor and killer? My John— my husband, at that— isn’t some murderer!”

“Jane—“

“Listen to me!” She yelled, causing Noob to raise up from their booth next to Shedletsky. “I don’t know what you’re trying to get me to believe, but I’m not going to just… believe the first person who talks to me in some alleged fucked-up game a divine entity is caus—ing. I…” Her mind went blank. Elliot could tell just from her expression.
Sitting down next to her on the couch, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. The same thing happened to me.”

“Shut up, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jane looked away from him, clutching her coat hem because it was the last thing she had of him. Elliot assumed, at least. “You don’t know what I’ve been through.”

“We don’t,” Guest sighed. “But we can listen.”

- - -

It’d been about a week since Jane first was forsakened. Shedletsky had been counting the days on his 2013 calendar. He didn’t know how to feel. He had no clue anymore. So he walks, he needed somewhere to think.

The path hurt a little to walk down, but he had walked it every week with Noob and Builder. He passes the infoboard, her missing poster still up. He rarely went to the docks— he just thought it would be the most quiet place to go.

And it kind of was.

The sounds of the water were peaceful. He just sat there for a bit thinking. Jane was… Interesting. Kind of rude but he didn’t blame her for that, alot of people are rude when they first get here. It’s what’s expected. Dying and ending up here isn’t a situation you’d expect. She’s probably just scared. Anyone would be in a place like this. Especially now, things were getting more and more confusing. He preferred to stay out of all that conflict,, for now at least.

At least ten minutes go by. Some spent thinking, some spent just listening to the water. He hears footsteps approaching slowly.

“Oh, admin. Am I intruding?” It was Two Time. He had expected them to show up— this was where they spent alot of their time. Usually 007n7 and them come to the docks by now.

He stands up and dusts himself off

“No, of course not, don’t worry. The docks are all yours buddy.” He walks back to the cabin. Sure, he thought about everything for a bit. But he still hadn’t had an answer to his own question. He still didn’t know how to feel about any of this. Jane, the situation with Elliot, hell— he had been here for a year and still didn’t know how he felt about that either. He stops as he hears a voice.

Noob calling him over to a booth asking if he wanted to drink.

Notes:

shorter chapter, dw next one will be more exciting and way longer

Chapter 6

Chapter by Whit3GuysRREALLLL

Summary:

elliot tells people about what's going on.

Notes:

WRITTEN BY TELAMON/SHEDLETSKY

Elliot was restless, he hadn’t been getting sleep. That and the rounds feeling as if they were getting longer and longer had him on the brink of insanity. He had to tell more people what was going on,, only Chance and Guest knew, that left 8 more people to tell. He didn’t have much to think about it before the first round of the day had started. He didn’t care who it was, he just needed to tell people. He ended up just running to the first group he found. Noob, Shedletsky, and Builderman. Elliot was quick with his feet, catching up with them behind the graveyards gates.

“Hey! Can I talk to you guys for a minute,,?” The three stop talking and turn to look at him, all confused.

“What’s up Elliot? Everything okay?” Shedletsky asks. Everything Wasn’t okay.

Elliot struggles with his words. He doesn’t know how to ease them all into this.

So he doesn’t.

“Listen. There’s something controlling everything. The Spectre. It can't see the rounds yet but it’s the reason things are how they are. I don’t know how but we need to stop it somehow — we-”

“Woah woah, slow down. Give us a second to process this.” He turns to Builderman and gives him a questioning look. Builderman nods.

“Please— I’m not lying please believe me…” The three stay silent for a few seconds, until noob steps forward.

“We.. We believe you. But w-we can talk more about this sometime later, we’re mid round.,,” Shedletsky and Builderman agree and they all head a different way

Elliot was… Relieved. But a looming feeling of dread hung over him. A dread of what would happen now. He just hoped they really did believe him and weren’t just saying that to make him feel better or anything.

- - -

Shedlestky turns to Builderman

“Well?” He asks, although his “question” was very unclear.

“Well what?”

“Do you.. Think we should believe him..?

“Guys, i-i think he’s telling the thruth,.” Noob chimed in. Builderman nods.

“We just need to try to understand a bit more.”

Shedletsky didn’t know how to feel anymore. He had no idea what to believe— though he did know one thing. He trusted his friends. And he trusted Elliot.

Notes:

hey, a few of the next chapters will come A LOT slower and be written by me. things have come up and I'm gonna keep uploading to the main story, shorts, and character descriptions. check those out if you're tired of waiting. -telamon/shedlestky

Chapter 7

Notes:

felt a little evil… -ciaran
yeah... I don't think 7n7 will be around glass anymore.. -TELAMOOOOON!!!

The beginning of what they—Elliot, Shedletsky, Guest, everyone, really— called the rebellion. Except, there was one person missing. Not “everyone.”

007n7 sat alone at a booth, out of the corner of Elliot’s eye. Lonely, sitting with only the memories of his son instead of the physical being. Alone. Lost. Pitiful. He just looked pathetic.

At least, in Elliot’s eyes. Guest 1337, who was across from him, spoke about the man differently.

“He could be a help, Elliot. He knows how—”

“How to betray us? How to lie to our faces?”

“What—Elliot. Push your hatred aside for five minutes and just listen to me. Please. He could be a method to reach the killers.”

Elliot watched the man adjust in his seat uncomfortably. Across of the cabin, but he could hear them.

So, Elliot would give him something to remember.

“All I’m saying is that with his past…” Elliot waved his hands, shooting him a glare that he acted like he didn’t see.

“If I can move on, why can’t you?”

“Because he neglected his child. Look, I’ve dealt with people like that in the past.

They don’t care.”

Following his words, a loud crash was heard. The two turned, where 007n7’s fist was bleeding— slamming against the table as his glass shattered across the floor and the booths. He used the other to hide his face. Shame. Out of shame. Elliot thought.

“What the hell, dude?” Chance looked at the worker from the couch.

“He made that decision.” Elliot grabbed his nose bridge.

“So did you— You didn’t have to say that, Elliot. You know damn well that would’ve hurt him.”

“Then go do something about it!” He screamed, raising his arms with his voice. He leaned into Guest. “You clearly, clearly have something against him, too. Otherwise you’d be over there right now.”

Guest broke eye contact between the two. He looked over at 007n7, but Noob was already over there. All they could do was watch as the two— the default and the hacker, the victim and the attacker— started talking.

- - -

007n7 didn’t bother to look up, wincing as glass dug into his palms between creases. Blood streamed down, pooling onto the table, as he just sobbed into his palm.

“007n7–“ Noob wanted to sit down, but the glass resting against the seat made that challenging. “Hey, uh…”

He couldn’t bring himself to reply. He knew that he was under the pressure of an audience. He never performed well under stress. Especially the stress of what he put himself in. God damn it— He shouldn’t think of that right now. He needed to focus on something else. But how can he do that when he caused it all?

The countdown echoed in his ear.

Five.

He always did this.

Four.

He could never maintain anything.

Three.

He’d always been a failure.

Two.

What would they think of him if they knew?

One.

He felt as the glass was ripped from his hands. The skin tearing as he felt rings of pain shoot through him, something familiar. The same feeling after he lost him.

He witnessed as Noob disappeared before his eyes— as did the others. And as his vision snapped in and out, the last thing he saw was Elliot’s disapproving glare

and the burn scars on his arms.

 

As he fell onto the grass, blood kept pouring. From his hands, his radial arteries, his nose— even the healed scars.

And then he heard a familiar laugh.

Turning, he shook as he realized what happened to the man that used to be his best friend. What was ringing in his ears was even worse than the sight.

“I’m telling d-da— swish! ” 007n7 watched as the same thing he saw countless years ago corrupt the man he once knew— hit his chest. The voidstar dug between his ribs, causing him to try and grasp his chest— but the damage had been done.

He threw up. Blood. Crimson red leaking from his mouth and nose as he tried to look up.

And he was gone.

The lobby slowly faded back into view. Noob looked concerned, their gaze flickering from his bloodied hand at his vest to his pupils.

“Do you not kn-know what’s happening? Have they not..not told you?” They stuttered and stumbled on their words.

“…Huh?”

And before anything could happen, he was back on the grass— except nothing was staining the grass below. Sneakers came into view instead of purple and black. He looked up, panicked.

“They haven’t.” 007n7 finished finally. “But I know what’s happening.” Raising a palm to his knee, he got up.

“…You do.”

Noob spoke.

And the conversation was interrupted again—

“I’m it— I’m it I’m it!”

Chapter 8

Chapter by Whit3GuysRREALLLL

Summary:

At this point everyone knew what was going on. The rebellion was at play and they needed a plan.

Notes:

I, TELAMON, WROTE THIS CHAPTER!!! YEAH!!!
not that good but I tried..

At this point everyone knew what was going on. The rebellion was at play and they needed a plan. Elliot, Shedletsky, Guest 1337, Builderman, Dusekkar, and Chance were sitting at the small table in the lobby. Everyone else was coping from the news and trying to distract themselves from their fear.

“So.. How are we gonna do all this?” Shedletsky asks, masking his fear with forced ease.

“The rounds should be a place to talk— somewhere we won’t be found. It won’t be watching when we meet, so we can plan things sound.” Dusekkar chimes in, Elliot nods.

“I agree. Next round we should meet somewhere in the middle.”

- - -

Time slips by, spent chatting or rotting on the couch. Eventually the round begins. Everyone meets in the middle of the map as they were told. The six of them were the only people who went in.

“Is everyone here? We have to walk and talk so the killer doesn’t find us— come on.” Everyone follows Elliot

 

“We need to come up with ways to do this. If we want this to work we need to collaborate. Anyone have ideas?”

“We need someone to make sure everyone’s stable. Who here is most fit for that?” Chance asks.

“I can do it, I’m probably one of the most stable people here.”

“You sure guest?” Shedletsky asks, eyes narrowing slightly. Guest nods.

“Now, Shedletsky, Builderman— i’ve noticed something weird about the lobby,, it’s never cold in some places. You two and Noob should try to find spots like that in your spare time. And make sure you guys try to watch for changes.” They don’t reply, but they all seem to get it.

“We might need someone to distract it from everything else right? I can do that. Easy.”

“Chance, that’s a lot. Are you sure you can handle it?” Elliot raises an eyebrow.

“Hm,, maybe we can split that.” chance gives a grin and elliot nods in agreement.

“And what about—” The conversation is suddenly cut off by the loud terror radius and the sound of running.

Chapter 9

Chapter by Whit3GuysRREALLLL

Summary:

shedletsky and builderman talk

Notes:

WRITTEN BY TELAMOOOOOOON!
I suck and this took too long (SHORTEST CHAPTER YET..) ALSO WRITERS ARE A GAY COUPLE NOW

Shedletsky was far too lackadaisical to be of any help to them yet. He wasn’t trying to be, of course. He was just,, worried. He had no clue how to help. Everyone else was doing their part, helping to plan, or at least trying to chip in somehow. He was yet to do anything.

He sits at the dock, his legs dangling in the water. He didn't know anymore. He didn't know how to feel. He didn't know how to help. It was like he was lost. a fragment of his being. And he hated it. He hated feeling like this. When didn't he have something to hate?

He becomes so entangled in his thoughts that he hardly even knows the slow and careful footsteps approaching.

“John? Can we talk?”

He stares down into the deep blue for a minute. He didn’t feel like talking, but Builderman was already next to him.

“About what?”

“You just seem a bit out of it, and I wanna make sure everything's okay.”

Shedletsky faces away. Everything wasn’t okay— nothing was okay. But he would feel shame in saying that. It wasn’t like he could say most of it in the lobby anyway.

“Things are.. Fine.”

“Are they?”

Shedletsky takes a deep breath, pausing for a minute or two. He wanted to hide how genuinely upset he was. He didn’t want to say anything, but there was something about Builderman's voice that made him feel a little bit safer. He can hardly get his words out, and when he does they come out quiet and strained.

“No. They aren’t”

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

“I don’t know.”

The two sit in silence for a little, listening to the soft ripple of the water and the crickets outside.

“I get it’s a lot John, but you don’t have to be scared,”

“I AM scared.. Scared I’m wasting everyone's time. Scared I'll always be nothing for everyone, forever.”

“John. You won’t be nothin’, next round we can talk to Elliot, okay?”

“Okay,, Sorry I got so worked up.”

“Any time John, I’ll listen if you need anything.”

“Thanks builder.”

Chapter 10

Notes:

elliorm
- written by ciaran

Elliot had been doing some thinking. Alone. Away from the others.

And he had never felt worse.

If it was true the Spectre was watching them— and, being honest, it was— then had it overseen all of his weakness? Had it seen every moment of immaturity and violence and vulnerability— Each and every time he’d cried to Chance about it? God, he was pathetic. Sitting on the edge of the couch, his head buried in his hands. He could hardly think about anything other than what The Spectre had seen. It knew everything.

Everything.

And it wasn’t even trying to stop them.

“Hey! Elliot.” Shedletsky leaned over the couch and stood next to Elliot. He smiled, “You okay?”

“Just…thinking. What’s up?”

“Noob, Builder and I are gonna head to the board. You interested?”

Elliot shrugged, leaning back. “I—No thank you.” He looked back at the group near the door, Builderman awkwardly trying to make small talk with Noob. “I need to do some planning.”

“Oh, okay!” Shedletsky said.

Elliot leaned back into the couch. His mind wondered as he stared off into the distance. The eyes were back. Staring directly at him. The same pair that had been there the whole time— watching Noob and Builderman, him and Shedletsky, even right now.

Watching. Waiting. Blinking with each tick of the grandfather clock.

Tick.

Everyone around him could die if he even slightly messed up.

Tick.

He could lose Chance. Shedletsky. Guest. Builderman. Two Time. Taph. Noob. Dusekkar. Jane. Everyone.

He could hear distant sobs in the background from the ex-hacker. With each blink, they just got worse. Until he was screaming sobbing, begging for a life that god wouldn’t give into his hands. Since the others were in a round, he assumed 007n7 thought he was alone.

Elliot raised up. Slowly and steadily, looking at him. His head was in his hands, and for a split second, he could see himself. Desperate. Longing for people they didn’t have. And begging a god that was turning their prayers into curses. “Please, please!” He could hear himself begging. “Where are you?”

Through all the smoke and fog, he saw one figure.

It.

Him.

The two blurred.

What the hell—

“Stop!” He yelled. He clutched his head, now the two remaining people in the lobby were both crying. Elliot hiccuped into the bend of his arms, his head fallen. He sobbed and wailed, just like 007n7 did.

The ex-hacker stopped abruptly, tears probably still streaming down his face as he slowly got up.

Elliot could hear footsteps, hear the shakiness of the man’s breath, yet he didn’t stop him.

“I’m sorry, Elliot.”

“No you aren’t.”

“I thought I was alone.”

So he was apologizing for sobbing, but not mangling half his body? “Mhm.”

“Do you…uh…” 007n7 paused. He probably hadn’t had social interaction in awhile. “Want me to sit with you?”

“Just go away.”

And as he was about to reply, a scream echoed from the open cabin door.

- - -

Noob fell to the ground, grabbing the last picture of him.

“Noob? Noob, come on—” Shedletsky grabbed their shoulder, but they batted him away.

“He’s gone.

He’s gone and he’s stuck in this stupid fucking place! ”

“I’m sure he isn’t—“ Builderman chimed in, attempting to help.

“He is!” Noob screamed, slamming the picture on the ground as tears stained it. “You’re trying to silence me because I’m right!”

“Noob. We just want to help.” Shedletsky sat down next to them. “What usually helps you calm down?”

“I don’t know! I don’t have anything I can do here, I—”

“You have us.” Builderman said softly.

Noob stopped.

They wanted their best friend back. Not Builderman. Not Shedletsky. Noob just wanted Guest 666 back. They’d be able to say that they were sorry, somehow, someway. But instead, he was stuck in this stupid piece of paper.

Until Shedletsky grabbed it.

“What the hell are you—”

He got up, waiting for Noob to reach out. And as they did, he gave it back. Then, reached for his own.

“Noob. I want you to do something with me, okay?”

“What?” They didn’t mean for their tone to be so disrespectful.

“Rip it on three, okay?”

“No! I’m not—“

“You have to let go.”

“What?”

Shedletsky looked them in the eyes. “You need to let go. This is how I got over the people on the board. So, on three. One.”

“…two.” Noob said.

“Three.”

The papers were shredded almost instantly.

Noob’s shoulder heaved up and down, carrying the weight of a thousand others.

“Do you feel better?”

Instead of actually replying, Noob got up on their legs.

And hugged Shedletsky.

Chapter 11

Chapter by Whit3GuysRREALLLL

Summary:

Their rebellion was finally in motion. Elliot had tasked Shedletsky and Noob with scouting for blind spots in the lobby while everyone else was caught up in the day’s first round.

Notes:

this sucks... sorry for the wait.. WRITTEN BY TELAMON writers are still gay for eachother

Their rebellion was finally in motion. Elliot had tasked Shedletsky and Noob with scouting for blind spots in the lobby while everyone else was caught up in the day’s first round.
Both were fine with the arrangement—Noob had a distraction, and Shedletsky felt useful. Elliot had chosen them for two reasons: one, Shedletsky’s situation; two, Noob’s breakdown the day before. As soon as the morning’s round began, they met up.

The previous day, Elliot had outlined their plan— wander the lobby and discuss oddities. Unsettling eyes, sudden cold chills, the strange red tint that sometimes clouded everyone’s vision. Things that the spectre was taunting them with. No, it wanted them to know. It left a perfect trail. After all, it was running a game, and it was probably getting boring by now.

Noob had thought things would be simple, that their end would have no consequences.

Now they were here, a place mildly worse than their life before this. But at least they had something . Maybe a reason to keep going? No, it just helped them sleep, they thought. They didn’t even know if this plan would do anything.

What they did know was that someday, eventually things could be different. And today could be a first step to that

“Noob? Everything okay?” Shedletsky looks at them, the air cold and heavy.

Noob nods, looking around to every gap and crack in the cabins walls.

“Y-yeah.. I’m f-fine,” Shedletsky tips his head left a bit and they both walk that way, standing next to the booth they usually would be drinking at.

“Do you ever notice weird things here?” The air gets heavier, Noob nods.

“D-doesn’t everyone..?”

The room grows colder and colder. Shedletsky taps the table a few times, Noob looks ever so slightly more alert.

“M-maybe f-fresh air could help?” Shedletsky agrees quietly and the two rush out to the docks.

… But it felt different. The air wasn’t so heavy and the only chill was from the wind.

“Do you ever feel like we’re being watched?” There was no reaction from the entity.

“I k-know we are.” Still nothing

“Is it safe?”

“I… Don’t know..” They look around, no eyes in sight. Shedletsky takes a deep breath.

“It's safe.” He sits on the edge, legs in the water.

“D-do you think Two T-time knows?”

“They might.”

Notes:

hope you enjoyed!!! special thanks to shedletsky (my friend) to helping with writing

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Liberty To The Lost