Chapter 1: Changes upon the Wind
Summary:
Changes. Lots of changes.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
007n7 can't think straight.
He grows afraid of the gazes that follow him everywhere, no matter where he moves. He doesn't remember when it started. But he knows part of the eyes that follow him are from the survivors who hold distaste. The other is from the Being who threw them into its sick, twisted game. Despite wanting to rekindle understanding with others, he knows he has no right to deny their anger.
Even though those feelings overwhelm his mind with heavy thoughts, he doesn’t believe he can refute or repent for the consequences of his biting past.
The heavy burden of responsibility hangs around his scarred neck.
007n7 was known for ruin, and will always be known as someone who ruins. Builderman's distaste, Elliot's heated gaze, it was all he was truly known for.
His past was enough to choke him, but never to kill him.
No, it already has. He's already dead. Has always been dead, and will continue to be dead. The responsibility of trying has always been a burden.
The fear of dying again and again has faded when the realization hits him like a truck.
He's already dead. (So why does he still want to feel alive?)
007n7 has noticed how his body runs cold. Noob rubbed against him once, and they asked. (They asked if he was okay, asked if he was sleeping well.)
007n7 couldn't give them an answer.
In front of any mirror, his complexion was deathly pale. He couldn't feel anything beyond his touch; everything was numb. He was already dead—so why was he still standing and breathing? He was already dead. A scar beneath his chin served as a constant reminder of the reason, the cause. He was already dead. He had failed C00lkidd and couldn’t do anything for his son, not now, not ever.
He's already dead.
...
He wishes it stayed that way.
007n7 has lost any appetite the more the cycle continues. His stomach growls but the pang of hunger stays absent. He already eats less, but he thinks it would be better if he didn't eat to save food for others. (There was plenty of food to be taken. He doesn't like how he is reminded that he is free to take more.)
007n7 could feel the shivering cold enveloping his body. No blankets nor fire could ever warm his resting body.
He was a corpse, a walking reanimated corpse.
...
He doesn't feel like himself anymore.
Dying on repeat has been slow, painful, and torturous.
007n7 wasn't afraid to die anymore— The pain may be present but the fear of death has faded. All gone but static. Dying to his son over and over must've been pathetic. He doesn't even fight back, doesn't even talk back. He accepts the warmth of his son, who burrows his head on the crook of his father's neck. (He thinks he deserved to die over and over for letting his son down. For letting him be stuck in the idea that everything was just a game.)
Wire, run, die, repeat. Wire, run, win, repeat.
Has anything changed? No, nothing changed.
...
He tried something bold during intermission.
007n7 took an unused knife and a trick of code that lies beneath the safelock of his GUI.
...
It didn't work.
He merely bled. In his cabin and during the round from that cycle. How cruel of that Being to make him particpate in the round as he bled profusely.
(It had confused 1x1x1x1 when 007n7 merely stood miles away from their sight. They have not attacked 007n7, yet to see the man bleeding certainly struck them in confusion. They tried asking how he had managed to injure himself, but seeing a knife left unattended with red remains was all 1x1x1x1 needed to know.
Was it mercy that they killed him quickly or did they take advantage of the fact that they could get rid of him immediately?)
The pain merely burned 007n7 awake.
It strangely made him feel animated, alive. The momentary relief, the quick trip of pain washed away the moment he hits the ground hard.
He can't do that again.
Not when the Being appeared from the corner of his eyes and blocked the command away, he doesn't think he can get any knife from the kitchen unused by Elliot too.
He got up from the floor and examined his C00lgui, it only has his clone ability and teleport again.
The persistent gaze faded only when 007n7 resumed inactivity. The Being seems to allow him freedom as long as he doesn't repeat the stunt he pulled.
...Was The Being just being careful in fear it could lose a (valuable) toy?
007n7 knows his deaths, will always be unnoticed. (No, not noticed. Unappreciated. Everyone dies too after all.)
The repeating bland cycle of death and revival all blurs his senses. The monotonous cycle brings the survivors together. But never him.
It's awkward, it's hard. Nobody except Guest or Chance tries to bring up getting to know 007n7 better. Forced laugh, darting glances, and low grumbles were all 007n7 needed to know it would never be changed.
It still hurts, he unfortunately admits.
Nothing changes.
But the berating of Elliot and the lectures of Guest have become white noise 007n7 dares to feel comfort from hearing.
In some way or another, he notices the attention he receives. 007n7 can't help but be aware of the subtle advances. Two Time often sneaks glances at him, offering bandages and sharing pizza. Noob asks him a few questions as a way to break the ice. Guests frequently rush up to check on how he's doing, and Chance gives them a supportive pat.
Each time he dies, Elliot asks if he's alright. It was odd.
(007n7 wouldn't know it himself, but the shine behind his eyes has already died, and the smile he graces others has become empty as he tells the same lie, "I am quite alright."
An eerie sight everyone has agreed was not alright.)
He doesn't deserve any of it. It is such a waste that they worry about a dead man.
007n7 ignores the glances of curiosity and worry, he always hides, like a coward he is. (Elliot was right after all. He has always been right. A changed man is still a dangerous man.)
Everyone was a better person than 007n7 could ever hope to be. How could he be anything else when he let his son drown in the world of his imagination, believing that everything is just a game? When he made people miserable and destroyed their lives?
When he took the easy way out.
007n7 ruins everything. Even his own very life. (He refuses the acknowledge the voice that whispers that he can gladly do it again.)
The Being seems to taunt him in every corner of his bad decision. 007n7 doesn't know why the Being was still keeping him alive. He wasn't even important, wasn't even "entertaining" to keep around.
007n7 sighs as he looks down at the reflection of the rippling water. The cold hardwood of the dock keeps him stable. He doesn't think he needs forgiveness anymore when he has already lost his life. This new "life" is not redemption. Only agony awaits him in this cycle of torture.
He thought about taking Chance's gun when they weren't looking. To do something and deepen the scar that aches in each contact. 007n7 had wanted to risk it. But how would the group react if it were Chance's gun that took him out? What if he merely revives again? The risk was not worth the shot knowing The Being would seem to try and keep him alive to play more rounds. 007n7 wished it had grown tired of him already.
He was losing all the more reason to live anyway.
(What would his son say if his father suddenly disappeared and no longer appeared in any rounds?)
On his way to sneak into the kitchen to appear so that Guest doesn't come knocking on his door, he overhears the others talking about what happened before they got into this situation again. 007n7 couldn't help but eavesdrop. He shouldn't be. Yet something compels him to listen.
"You think my family is still searching for me?"
...
"I'm sure they are, Elliot."
The lingering conscience of wanting to be a better man for his son stabs him for the past he failed to take responsibility.
“...Yeah, thanks—”
“I still can't believe magic man here got taken from his sleep. You'd expect someone like him to recognize something is off!”
Elliot grumbles as Chance interrupts him loudly. Dusekkar seems to take offense as he waves Chance away.
“...Taking me as I sleep was unjust, such a way to force me to adjust. Do not mock me like that, Chance. We all have heard about your song and dance.”
“I was taken with style!”
“You're still leaving a mystery.”
“Spawn does like the mystery. The obscurity of the gambler's life before is what makes them interesting.”
“Aww, that's— Hey! Do you mean you think I'm only interesting because of—”
The conversation fades to a buzzing hum. Everyone was comfortable in the presence of others. The feeling of being irrelevant forces its way up to 007n7's skin. He knows he has heard of how everyone got here but the reminder of what they have left behind in their life haunts 007n7.
He doesn't have anything to return to. (His son. His son. He wants to go back with his son. He wants his son to be free, out of this purgatory.)
Why could that Being take them to play its sick and twisted games? What made it so interesting in their individuality to be forced to participate in its amusement?
007n7 is a changed man. He promises himself to be. (What changed in him only proved him to be useless. Useless. Unwanted.)
Everyone wants to go back to their lives, to continue where they left off, and back to their family, to their loved ones. 007n7 can't go back. (He wants to. Is he even allowed to?)
He feels solemn heaviness hearing their wishes from the thin wooden walls. 007n7 wants to help them. (Despite the others not wanting to help him, he tells himself it is alright. He doesn't need help.)
“007n7, there you are. Go grab a portion.”
007n7 almost gave a huge flinch when a familiar, large, blemished hand gave him a pat on the back. Finally, the man he waited for has appeared. He doesn't have to worry about Guest knocking on his door with food that will only spoil in his cabin.
He turns with a familiar smile, “Yes, I will. Thank you.”
He doesn't look when the hand retreats, not until the footsteps fade. He waits for a moment until he feels that he is in the clear.
007n7 stands by the door and timed his action. He took an empty plate from the shelves and placed it near the sink. Quickly retreating from the back door, he disappears without a trace.
Everyone was a better person than 007n7 could ever be. Unhelpful, selfish... Perhaps to show that he truly changed... the bare minimum that he could do to help is to get them out of this purgatory. Even if he knows it won't earn his redemption.
But 007n7 he will make it his redemption.
...
The coding of the being who keeps them trapped, it must have a weak spot, right?
...
007n7 promises he will break it to ruin. That was all he was known for after all.
...
The Spectre would like to see him try.
The Spectre loves its toys equally.
But it certainly hated the admins. Annoying at best, disruptive at worst. One of its best feats was taking the Man of Robloxia himself. He can try all he wants but he will not find any fault to crack.
The worst was the Pumpkin one. It was the admin, The Spectre, least liked, having a hard time catching the man off guard. So in revenge, it gave him slowness in using his abilities permanently. The Spectre was sure the pumpkin toy was cursing its name but what could he do against its greatness?
The Spectre carefully chose its toys to live up to its expectations. They did give certain entertainment, giving a fight against the myths they had once faced and being smart in surviving.
Although one of the toys didn't live up to the high expectations, it still had its moments.
The Hacker was boring. Stale and broken.
The toy didn't fight back. Against the killers, against his teammates. The Spectre has seen his great chaos as a Feared Hacker in Robloxia, so how could he be so... lacking? Uninteresting. It had weakened the Hacker, but it knew he could change its code to have more abilities to make rounds a little bit exciting.
Did the Spectre make the wrong choice? No, he must have something on his sleeves, yes?
Wrong. The toy was awfully so boring. So depressing. To witness the arguments between the survivors' group was fun, at first. The Spectre started to lose interest when the old argument repeated. Does the Pizza toy not ever get tired? The Spectre was certainly getting tired from the lack of action it was getting from the other toy.
It was sad. It was bad. The Spectre cooes at the despair of the toy but it decides to leave him be.
Oh, how wrong it was to be. It was glad to be.
The toy suddenly grew a spine and challenged The Spectre's authority.
At first, The Spectre was surprised. Annoyed even, when the toy suddenly changed tactics from his usual moping. The man who gave up trying, the man who keeps crying. The man who lost his shine was unexpectedly trying to cross boundaries of The Spectre's rules and making it completely obvious that he was making changes.
The Spectre liked it, this toy would finally keep things interesting! It wouldnt be as annoying as the admins who has lost their ways of coding until it started disliking it. The Spectre hated it.
The first change the toy made was to make the intermission longer. Pausing the usual game time and giving a whole day or two of rest. The cowardly toy doesn’t even speak when his group looks for clues about why time could be forgiving. It took the Spectre merely seconds to fix the issue, but it made sure to send a warning.
A lighthearted threat, to not make things he will regret—
The toy ignored its warning.
(How infuriating.)
The next step the toy made was to make the killers move slower, making some rounds easier. 1x1x1x1 in particular. The change of pace did not bother the others but it certainly enraged the Virus. The Spectre cannot say it liked it, not when they fail to show action and The Virus cursed it for their changes. Why was it being blamed? It was the Hackers fault in the first place!
The Spectre boiled at its toys audacity.
It found no fun at all.
It punished and depraved the Hacker toy from his everything. Taking out his sight, giving him blindness until he dies. The panic was short-lived when the man somehow fixed his own code. The Spectre was not going to lie, it was amazed how fast the toy fixed it own sight with his 'C00lgui.'
The Spectre tries to strip away his panel, preventing him from doing anything for several rounds. It was fun seeing the man reprimanded for doing nothing. But it made the toy jittery, more on edge, and more prone to harming himself. Urk. Not again. Enough with that in its realm. The Spectre let him have it back seeing the stillness it didn’t like. It need it's toys active, working, not broken in a way it didn't want.
The Spectre decides to outright kill him after being unable to think of a creative way to punish its toy when it started to be bolder and change the games objective.
It hopes the warnings of punishments was loud and clear.
007n7 died again. (Maybe he deserved that.)
Before he could touch a generator, he received an electrifying shock that paralyzed him head to toe. He gagged from the static air before he felt something pierced his heart. Sudden and swift. It still hurts. It was cold but it burned.
His vision swims to multitude of colors before he found himself back in the main cabin.
007n7 clutches his chest, trying to find the familiar beat that faintly appears before sighing away. He slumps against the wall, sliding down, he tries to collect his thoughts.
The sting of the shock left him unguarded as he shakes. It's cold. It aches. It feels empty inside.
Maybe he should stop. Maybe that was enough. The Being seems to keep taking something from 007n7. If it's keep taking, why not his life entirely?
“Ex-hacker.” 007n7 blinks away the sweat falling from his face. Two Time stares at 007n7 with a blank expression. 007n7 gives them a nod of acknowledgement. “You departed quite immediate. The round has only started.”
“Sorry.” was 007n7's automated response.
The familiar sharp smile graces Two Times face, meeting 007n7 eye-to-eye as they closes their distance. “Spawn would appreciate it if the ex-Hacker tell the reason why that must be.”
What could 007n7 even tell Two Time? He doesn't even know how it happened. Had the Being rigged that generator? Or was it only meant to kill him?
He can't really tell Two Time The Being has a feud with him.
“...The killer found me.” It sounds reasonable, right?
There was a glimmer behind Two Time's eyes, a knowing spark. Oh. 007n7 wilts. He expects Two Times usual line something that goes “The Spawn disapprove lies” but the other merely watched 007n7 collect his bearing in silence.
It seems Two Time grew bored from the silence as they decided to start the conversation with the question they seems to be dying to ask. “Those alterations, it has been the ex-Hackers making, is it not?”
007n7 flinches.
“Do not worry, dearest ex-Hacker. It would seem the Spawn blessed only me in observance.” Two Time begs closer and closer, 007n7 had to put his hand in front to stop Two Time from advancing. “Two Time—”
“But I may ask, could you make adjustments for me? It would greatly please the Spawn.”
“You want me to make adjustments... for you?”
Two Time's tail excitedly wags behind their back, with their crazed smile and stare. 007n7 wanted to decline, the changes could be noticed by the Being or worse, have some negative effects on Two Time.
“Do not think too much of it, ex-Hacker. I can see it in your expression that you worry too much. I can handle such changes.”
“Are you sure about this, Two Time?”
“The Spawn does not like hesitation.” A wry smile strains from their mouth.
007n7 rubs his forehead. He can't regret, he can't decline. He told to himself he would help everyone out of this hell. Changing their code is part of it, right?
Yes. Anything to ruin The Beings game.
The sight of Two Times excited laughter when they landed a long ranged lunge brought short exhilaration to 007n7's chest. They were able to hide long and catch John Doe off guard. Glee twinkles in Two Time's eyes even when they've lost that round. Their smile shines with pure cheerfulness unlike the faux merriness they usual plaster on their face. “The Spawn praises the ex-Hacker's work, but it advises me to practice more of my work. From the bottom of my heart, I thank the ex-Hacker!”
Telamon above, he misses seeing such a happy smile. He misses his son so much.
007n7 doesn't know what Two Time told the others but now they come flocking in asking him curious questions... and requests.
(Upgrade me too, please!)
“⬆️📈💣👀🙏!” The usually reserved demolitionist who doesn't come near 007n7 unless circumstances jumps him with wildly fluttering signing hands.
...What can he even change in Taphs code that won't be too damaging and noticeable? Can he even make modifications that won't ruin their health? “Do you... have anything specific in mind for me to change?”
“✨️.”
A slow thumbs up comes from Taph.
007n7 fears what might be going on in Taph's mind.
The toy continued to give changes.
(007n7 is tired, so tired he keeps repeating the same mistakes he keeps doing on multiple situations. He can't keep up with the requests. Butchered voices and scrutinizing gazes keeps burdening his already weary mind.
But he has to help them even if its risky. He's going to get caught but he has to keep moving. Keep helping. He has to. He has to. He has to. The altering of the admins code has taken a toll on 007n7's exhausted mind and overexerted his C00lgui.)
The Spectre doesn't even realize the changes until it watches a round itself.
The Pumpkin toy floats faster using his wand, he easily casts without getting caught. He can... sprint? No way it would do that for the annoying toy who took its time!
The toy that loves traps could immediately throw their traps. Instant. Traps. How scary.
The ranges of the other survivors, the cultist toy especially.
Oh how dare this Hacker.
(“You've done well, 007n7.”
“Huh. I didn’t know t-thats possible! Thanks, 007n7!”
“The Spawn is gracious to your utmost care.”
“Yer being a great help for the team, I... respect that.”
“Much obliged, do aide more as required.”
“...Okay, I guess. ...Are you al—”
“T-thank you, 007n7!”
“🫵😇👍.”
“Oh, thanks 007n7! I really needed that!”
“Thank you!”
“Thank you.” “Thank you.” “Thank you.”
So many voices.
“007n7.”
“007n7.” “007n7.”
“007n7.” “007n7!” “007n7.” “007n7.”
“007n7.” “007n7.” “007n7!” “007n7.”
“007n7?” “007n7!” “007n7.” “007n7.”
So many... noise.
“007n7!” “007n7.” “007n7.” “007n7?”
“007n7.” “007n7!” “007n7?” “007n7.”
“007n7.” “007n7?” “007n7!” “007n7.”
“007n7?” “007n7?” “007n7?” “007n7?”
“007n7?” “007n7?” “007n7?” “007n7?”
“007n7?” “007n7?” “007n7?” “007n7?”
“007n7, are you listening?”)
The Spectre had a hard time reverting the changes. It couldn't reverse the changes. It couldn't revert the changes— Oh! No, it can still alter some of it.
And it started with the cultist. It had an annoying time listening to the screams of the Pink child about their stabbing, twice.
The Hacker was truly testing the limits of The Spectres mercy.
“WhAt M4de Y0u tHINk Y0u c4N HAve chAnGEs W1tHouT MY KN0WledGE?”
The Spectre had enough. He still wouldn't stop.
(He can't stop, he needs to help his team. He has to do more. He can't rest, not now. A dead man doesn't need any rest.)
Alone in his cabin, there was no one to help him. No one to see them.
The main house was close yet he doesn't scream for help either. You would think he finally formed a bond. How funny he doesn't.
(He couldn't handle their voices. Their stares. It's everywhere all at once.
The Being appears.)
There was surprise in his eyes but it soon disappeared to anticipation. Expectation.
The toy doesn't flinch. Not even a squinch. No fear, no panic. Just nothing. He was in no rush, accepting the fate of dying in The Spectre's hands. The Spectre wrapped its "hands" around its toys neck, pressing against his jugular and cutting the air flow.
The toy only stared right through The Spectre without a single hint of movement as his careful laboured breath becomes choked exiting his mouth. He looked at the Spectre as if observing it like some sort of specimen, with a burning gaze and teary eyes. He waits for his death.
Oh is that so? The Spectre observed the man back with sparkling interest.
CRACK.
It snapped his neck brutally.
It watches as he respawns back clutching his neck, gasping desperately.
The heated gaze was back, challenging and defying. Despite the glare, the Spectre could see the hint of disappointment. Was he disappointed he got caught? No, that would be shallow. Why could he be disappointed?
(Why couldn't it just let him die?)
The Spectre smiles manically.
Was it disappointed in The Spectre? Now isn't that cute? What more could The Spectre take away from the man who holds nothing dear but his son?
What could this man have to gain to have his spark back? Did he think he could win against The Spectre?
The Spectre already knew that this toy was broken, unrepairable, but now it wanted to see how far it could break him.
It grew to love the Hacker's insistence to try, to repeat, and to fail. Has he been driven to insanity?
(The Being must be learning, to immediately block off 007n7 attempts and laugh at his face with strange symbols in his panel.)
The Spectre found him adorable. There was nothing left for him to try but he still makes an effort to ask for a confrontation. It loved his poor unfortunate soul.
The Spectre decides to change its approach. In some way, from what it understood. Dealing with the Hacker was the most fun it had than just watching its other toys suffer.
007n7... has become the Spectre's favorite toy.
007n7 doesn't understand the strange change. He knows he angered the Being, but after the incident in the cabin, 007n7 questions if he still wants to continue challenging its coding and die trying.
It was lacking, flimsy. Yet it was strong enough to stand against the prodding. A firewall of broken and corrupted codes. The Being seems to flaunt to everyone that no matter what they do, no one can transform its very core. It was right. He can only make modifications, no deletion. To alter the existing codes, unable to make new ones. (How was it that the Being only allows 007n7 to have his power to code and not the admins?)
But who was 007n7, if not the Greatest former Hacker Feared in Robloxia? He can't go back to his old ways but that doesn't mean he can't apply them.
He worries about continuing. Worried that the Being would harm them more because of 007n7's insistence. It his fault again. (Just when can do something right?)
But it became weird.
The Being didn't kill him anymore, it stopped giving him punishment him too. Instead it... gave him a gift?
“Two Time... did this come from you?” Two Time stares at the small cardboard box still sealed in 007n7's hand. Looking up to 007n7, they shook their head. “Although I have reasons to make you a gift, I have no materials to make one for now.”
Noob declined it giving it too. “N-no! Um, It- I didn't make that. I d-don't really know what to even gift you aha...”
007n7 only learned it was from the Being when it appeared in his cabin.
He had to pause. His hand immediately hides his C00lgui behind his back in the process of managing his codes stability. (It was malfunctioning too much. He was making too much mistakes lately and it wasn't helping the team.)
The box was now on the floor.
By the cabin's window, the Being in absolute darkness looms. It had no physicial form, yet 007n7 could see its eyes piercing through the room. Its eyes blink with an unsettling blend of humor and terror, responding his shock with an mocking awareness.
Elongated shadow pushes the box towards 007n7.
“WHy hAVe yOU NoT oPEnEd My gIFt_?”
Click. The door closes.
He ignored it.
He headed straight to the declining bed, skillfully ignoring the gaze that watches. His heart skipped a beat. 007n7 doesn't grace the Being with an reply and instead tried to focus on his C00lgui.
He expected the Being to lose interest or take the C00lgui away again, but it did nothing.
...Was it watching him reorganize his code?
The eyes now uncomfortably sit behind his back. It's curious, it's distracting.
No, he can't let it distract him. He have to alter the adjustment it made against everyone. The unfair modification that unmotivated others but couldn't vocally point 007n7 at fault.
But he can't do that right now. The Being might get ideas. He takes a sharp glance, immediately turning away when the eyes took notice and lights up mockingly.
Yeah... The Being is probably keeping an eye on him. That could only be the possible explanation.
He can't do anything else but focus on his own code. He can't just let this Being learn how it manages others.
That would be dangerous.
[ .Thing 007n7 = new Corruptable (true) ]
An hour. Or maybe two. The Being stayed in the cabin with him for more than an hour.
He wasn't transported to any games. He was lost in his own thoughts, convinced that the eyes watching him from behind belonged to his friend. It felt familiar, and he couldn’t help but think it was his friend, he couldn't shake that feeling.
While he was busy tinkering with the code of his clone, he found himself expecting to hear a familiar voice ask, “Why are you still changing an already perfectly coded clone, Seven?” He could almost hear the mocking tone accompanying the words, “God, you’re such a perfectionist, Sev.”
Then reality set in, and he realized there was no voice, just those eyes—still there, watching and waiting.
Staring.
There was no ████ to mock him anymore.
“...”
It pushes the box again. This time, in front of 007n7. He stares at the box on the floor. Open it or deal with it watching him all day.
“...”
“HAVe yoU FInaLLY dECidED?”
There was an underlying threat. Of course it wouldn't like getting ignored.
007n7 simply wanted it gone. Away from the cabin where he felt a fleeting sense of privacy and safety. He mentally urges himself to open the crudely taped box.
Oh.
God. He wished he didn't.
“How...” His heart drops into his stomach as fear becomes the reason it beats. His hand wanders to the picture in the box and onto another.
Pictures of him, pictures of C00lkidd, pictures of the two of them.
Each of every pictures we're his moments with C00lkidd. It was haunting, it was mocking. In different angles, in different locations. “How dare you!”
But his hand caught on a different type of paper, underneath all the layers of the photos, there was a newspaper. A note attached.
[Infamous Hacker 007n7 dead by Suicide!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Do you think your son found you dead or was he still lost somewhere hoping you will find where he fled?]
[Do you wish ███ ██ █ ███ ████?]
...
...
It was giving him false hope. It got to be.
It has to be.
“DO yOu LIke iT?”
It laughs in glitches and static but 007n7 doesn't hear it. Instead, he hears a different laugh, a low pitched child laugh. A killers laugh.
His sons laugh.
007n7 feels his mind going blank. There's a pounding pain inside his head that constricts and weaves until it fissures and aches.
His son is-
(████ tells him his son will never be coming back. ███████ told him that he will never get to see his son again. This Being has to be lying. Because 007n7 could see in front of him that—)
Too much red. Too much blood. On his hand, on the pictures, on the floor, on his foot. It's his blood. It has to be his blood. It stains the newspaper and drenched the note. Unreadable. The pictures, they all blur from the blood and 007n7 feels repulsed. He gagged at the stench of his own blood. It splatters on his face, on his clothes. It's a stain he couldn't remove. The blood was everywhere. The blood was everywhere. Red swims in his vision.
Why couldn't he just stay dead?
Maybe if he— Maybe if he could just—!
Absolute darkness covers his sight.
“OH. THat wASNt wHAT I HaD iN MInd.”
Emptiness still wraps around his sight. A slight opening reveals an eye that demands his focus.
It glares. It burns.
He can't close his eyes.
“ThAT WASn't thE reACTIon _I waNTed to sEE.”
He can't look away.
“H0w D1sAPPoinTIng. I d0Nt w4NT Y0u rUInED l1K3 tHIS. I'll lET yoU FORgeT. JUSt tHIs OnCE.”
Then it blurs.
Don't break now, 007n7.
007n7 opens his eyes, feeling a blur in his mind that makes him dizzy. What was he doing? Did he really fall asleep right after a round against John Doe? He has things to do, he can't sleep yet.
He gets up from the bed and notices a glowing note on the nightstand. Taking a quick breath, he squints to read the writing.
[ I hope you learn to like my gifts in the future. — The Spectre ]
“...” 007n7 couldn't help but scowl. Was the Being— The Spectre— calling its punishments "gifts"?
007n7 crumbles the paper without any second thought.
He mutters, “It can't get worse.”
...
Some trinkets... and a cake. A blank white cake. 007n7 has no idea what is going on in Spectre's mind. Was this a reward for surviving? No, it couldn't be.
007n7 doesn't remember anything notable happening against a recent round with Jason. Having been on the sides to offer the medkit for Guest and making sure he times it well. He only remembers Jason staring through 007n7 as he stood in place in front of the killer before Guest rushed forth and ordered 007n7 to hide.
It continued to give him things he can't even use in its realm. He already knew it was messing with him but what was the use of the things it keeps on giving?
It was an unbreakable shield in this round as 1x1x1x1 is the killer this time. 007n7 knew it came from The Spectre because Dusekkar wasn't present in the round. He double checked with his C00lgui.
When 1x1x1x1 found him, they looked so confused. They have tried to hack against the shield but it received no damage. 1x1x1x1 growled against the fissure and slammed their fist against the shield. “H0W 4RE Y0U DO1NG TH1S, H4CK3R?”
“...It wasn't me.”
1x1x1x1 doesn't look like he believes him.
007n7 stares at the Daemonshank. Would the ability pass through or will it kill him in place?
“Do you want to- to try killing me with the... ability?”
1x1x1x1 stands frozen in place, as if contemplating. 007n7 was sure they were waiting for him to start running, or were they waiting for him to be caught unprepared?
Against all odds, 1x1x1x1 slowly turns, walking away. He hears the wind up of their skill, and at the corner of his eyes an image of his panel flashes.
Shedletsky was down to 87%.
“...Oh.”
The Spectre had a good laugh when the virus couldn't decide to kill the Hacker. They left the Hacker alive as the Last Man Standing but they merely kept an eye on the Hacker. The Spectre was glad the Virus could see the potential of its favorite toy!
(“WH4T D1D Y0U 3V3N D0. H0W H4VE Y0U 3VEN 4CH1EV3D TH1S.” 1x1x1x1 kept prodding and poking against the shield.)
Now it wonders... what could it give 007n7 next?
Oh, it knows!
A tea party with his son.
Sounds like a neat idea.
Notes:
-I have no hopes for this. I'm either going to only send the updates to Paper or post it all the way, whatever floats my boat.
Yes I insinuated that C00lkidd is dead.
Yes I know I put The Spectre/007n7 with nothing actually happening between them and there will be development. Maybe. Lmao. (It's one-sided. And will stay that way.)
Chapter 2: Something Deadly Survived.
Summary:
Some tries to help. The Spectre spends time with 007n7, before he gets to have a tea party with his son that doesn't even last, and a round with an old friend.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ting!
The coin lands on heads.
“Hey 007n7! You have been... acting re~ally weird recently.”
Chance sought out 007n7 after noticing him quiet following a round and another. This round, especially, must've been harsh. Against his son who killed him extra brutally?
It was easy to find him, thankfully.
He was sitting by the docks, alone in the open darkness, a usual place that Chance immediately thought of while looking.
It was him who noticed 007n7 acting strangely. They were sure Guest was on his tail, too, given the way he keeps notifying others to keep an eye on the infamous ex-hacker.
Chance didn't think it would hurt to be the one asking the man.
Ting! The coin lands on heads.
The man wasn't looking any better. Geez. When did it start anyway? Was it during the round where 007n7 somehow copied Dusekkar's shield? Well, not that it matters, oh, who was he kidding? Of course, it mattered.
(007n7 panicked. He panicked from the many questions, so many loud voices inquiring about the Dusekkar shield, which "he" perfectly copied. “It-it wasn't me. I didn't do that- I–it wasn't me!”)
007n7 seemed shocked by their approach before settling back to his usual neutrality. “Hey man, mind if I sit?”
“Oh- it's just, yeah... Feel free.” 007n7 slides to the side, giving room for Chance before turning back to his panel with unease. Chance hasn't seen 007n7 doing anything remotely different besides fidgeting with his panel. Seriously, they haven't even seen the man join in any recreational activities to have fun! (Well there was the awkward tension between Elliot and 007n7, but that shouldn't stop them from bonding for being part of the group, right?
They've been together in this hell now.)
“Sooo, what has been on your mind lately?”
He flips his coin again. He got tails this time.
“It's... nothing really. I can handle it, don't worry about my problem. Besides... is there anything you want to be fixed?”
Chance frowns. They turn towards 007n7 with slight concern. As much as they wanted to bypass the sudden misfortune he received, they didn't want to tire out the already exhausted guy.
“Yeah! No. Man, give it a rest, will you? You've been going 24/7 with those fixing stuff. I'm sure you desperately need to take a breather after the whole... sudden debuff incident.”
“No!” 007n7 jumps, “No- I need to, there's still much to fix. I can't just stop now or else the Spectre would–!”
007n7 bites his lips and covers his mouth with a hiss, his tail lashing out.
Yikes.
“On the bright side!” He tries to think of any positive outcome. (He hasn't seen 007n7 have any positive reaction. They don't know what to say.)
“That! Uh, we've been surviving! Yes, more lately thanks to you! And I think that's a feat.” Chance tries to place a hand on 007n7's shoulder, but he saw the way he flinched so they immediately took their hand back.
“Say, as a celebration and a token of appreciation from the whole group. We celebrate in the main cabin!”
Click. The coin lands on tails.
A tired sigh evaporates through the cold air and Chance immediately knew the impending answer, “I can't do that, Chance. I can't... ruin the others' fun.”
(007n7 feels too heavy. He can't add to the problem. It's not going to help him, it's only going to make everyone's worries worse. He knows that.)
“... I'm sure they need it more than me.” An empty smile that you would usually see on Two Time was present on 007n7's expression.
It looks emptier than usual.
“I'm certain people want you there. Me included.” They see 007n7's eyes glimmer before it fades.
For a moment, Chance wanted to note that, until he caught a glimpse of a picture in 007n7's other hand. It looks brand new, recently taken.
A picture of a familiar red little guy.
“What's that?”
007n7 flinches. Instead of answering, he pockets the picture and avoids Chance's eyes. Before they could comment further, he heard Elliot's shrill voice in the distance, making him turn.
0:01.
They hear a recognizable chime of time, and Chance looks back at the man, only to be met with empty air.
Click. Their coin turns to tails. Weakness I.
“...Huh.”
He failed that desperately. Should he ask Elliot to try and talk to 007n7?
The Spectre keeps giving 007n7 pictures of C00lkidd having fun in what seems to be a killer's side cabin. Although distorted to some degree, he could recognize his son just from the tattered blue scarf hanging around his neck.
(It was broken and ragged. Irreparably damaged, he couldn't just sew it back together. Its color was dull, lifeless. Just like—)
The wide, mangled smile on his son's face brings a shiver down 007n7's spine, but he couldn't get himself to throw the pictures away.
It was his only way of seeing C00lkidd peaceful whenever they're not playing. He was having fun and 007n7 only hopes nobody on that side is hurting C00lkidd.
007n7 noticed the pattern of occurrence within the time frame of the Spectre giving him photos of C00lkidd. One, whenever he is playing against him, and two, whenever it's been five rounds without 007n7 facing his son.
007n7 doesn't know what the Spectre wants but it seems to be trying to prove that C00lkidd was happier without 007n7.
(It has to be lying. His son misses him just like how he dearly misses him, right? He can't be happy having 007n7 without his side for such a long time. He doesn't know if he can "live" knowing that his son prefers to stay with the people who kill them repeatedly than to be with him.)
Being on edge and tired, he couldn't handle the stress of talking to anyone without them repetitively asking how he was doing. (They were just trying to understand, why is it so hard to acknowledge that? But he's fine, isn't he? He doesn't need to make them worry about a dead man.)
There was another photo he received the following round against Pr3typriincess.
A picture of a table set in the middle of an eerie darkness. 007n7 had to make sure he was seeing the photo correctly astuffdjusted his glasses.
It was a table. (He thought he saw an eye staring back at him.)
He blinks.
It remains the same.
“What does it want to see me this time?” He holds his pounding head. He paces around his room as he reminds himself that there's no one coming to check in on his room, but he can't help but feel that there are eyes always watching him.
It's always there. Always there.
But there is nothing there.
007n7 goes to secure the lock of his door. As he touches the handle, something creeps up in his vision.
He twirled, and he was caught.
007n7 grunts, thrashing against the cold touch of darkness, back against the door and his vision darkens. A breathless gasp leaves his mouth as his legs wobble from the incoherent reality fading to darkness.
He opens his eyes.
“Oh! Oh!!” An excited childish voice vibrates in the darkness. Cold sweat falls as 007n7 looks up from his dizziness and widened his eyes.
“Dad! Dad! You're here!!” C00lkidd excitedly calls for his father standing like a statue, unmoving and frozen. “Mr. Voice didn't lie, you're here!”
C00lkidd is here.
C00lkidd was jumping up and down, easily pulling his dad with pure excitement towards the small round table and forcing him to sit down on the chair with a crudely drawn “Best Dad!!” It was the same table set with an added flair.
Everywhere he looks it was tainted with red. He feels sick.
C00lkidd hugs him from the side, warm and tight.
(His body is so cold. So cold against his skin. His son, C00lkidd wasn't moving as 007n7 held him close. He was so cold. So cold. Oh god, he was—)
007n7 held back a choked noise from the surprise and pain. “Stay here, okay?! I have to bring the yummy treats Princess always brings to parties!”
(He doesn't want his son to leave him, he doesn’t deserve this. He just wanted to be better, why did it have to be so hard? Why does he always fail?)
“C-C00lkidd, wait— ugh!” Bindings appears and wraps around his arms to stay put before 007n7 could dare to think of following his son's disappearance into the darkness.
“C00lkidd? C-C00lkidd!” He screams. “C00lkidd, please come back!” (He doesn't want to be alone anymore.)
007n7 thrashed against his seat as silence and darkness surrounded his being. ...He was gone.
He slowly wilts, feeling the familiar gaze setting upon his back, his sides, his everywhere that darkness faces. There are eyes somewhere, it's always everywhere.
...Was this a dream? Another game reserved for torturing him? Had that Being finally gotten tired of his intrusion into its code? What does it plan on doing to him? (To C00lkidd?)
It does not calm his panicking heart. He closes his eyes, forcing himself not to mind it, not to pay attention to his surroundings. To focus on—
He flinches when a cold wet touch of ink-like substance ghosts on his left shoulder. He stares at the shadowy figure that enthusiastically circles around the table, and back to his side.
“...You.” 007n7 takes in his fear and pushes it down hard. It tilts its head, with slow blinks and an invisible grin. “Me?”
It takes a seat next to 007n7.
007n7 physically recoils away from the Spectre, dragging the chair that binds him. He glares at the Being who gave no other response and merely fills the empty cup with the drink.
“H4ve n0 FEar. I'm GRacING y0U WIth sUCh GIft. D0 leARn ON hoW tO aPPreCiaTE tHESE, h4CKer.”
There's nothing on the table. Only a tea set. Confetti surrounds the table with red paint and handprints. 007n7 feels lightheaded, he doesn't want to see red anymore. He doesn't want to feel the ache anymore. “This is not a gift.”
“IS iT NOt? It's aN aCTIvitY yoUR s0n SEEms t0 L1kE_ OH, D0 yOU NOt lIKe it?”
It feels like a mockery against him who failed to protect his son. It has to be. “I would be more happy if you could just leave me alone.”
Or take my life as a whole.
The Spectre leans close. 007n7 could almost see an offended expression popping from its face if it wasn't for the total darkness it seems to merge with.
“OH, bUT wHy WouLD i Do THaT wHEN yoURE tHIS INTereSTing?”
What is it that this thing see in 007n7? He doesn't know what could ever be more interesting about him.
“Why am I here.” He was too tired for anything, too tired to even care.
“TeA PArtY WIth YOuR SoN.” 007n7 feels repulsed. Should he feel joy? Eyes were watching him and he doesn't know what he wants in this crude party of hollowness.
“wHY s0 D0wN? ArEN'T Y0U suPPOsed to BE H4Ppy_?”
007n7 releases a shaky breath. He turns away from the Spectre. “...I just want to see my son.”
A playful hum plays within the darkness.
“YOu'LL SeE hIM iN moMEnTs. DiDn'T Y0u sEE y0uR SOn ALreADy? WAs tHE pHOTos nOT enOuGH?”
“Just let me see my son without any of this!” He didn't want to see his son in some static picture that could disappear at any time.
He just wanted his son.
Why can't he just have him back? He's dead.
...
Silence.
The Spectre's silence was deafening.
007n7 was almost afraid to look up.
He messed up, definitely.
“...HM.”
He can feel its gaze grazing against his head as he keeps it low. His heart was beating out of his chest, terror rose from his heart before it pummeled to his stomach when the inky hand extended to grab his chin.
“JUst wHAt D0 1 NeEd to d0 THaT wiLL MakE y0U SAtisFIED?_ I thOUGHt y0U ALreADy LikED my gIFTs wELL.”
007n7 doesn't know what to say about it. (Can he even say he hates it? When he desperately searches for signs that he could still see his son)
“SINce YOUr SOn BADLy...” The Spectre's eyes suddenly turn to glee. “WOUld yOu likE To WATch HIs PL4y?”
Watch my?—
He couldn't even respond before the Spectre dragged him close and a panel akin to an admin. A viewing camera. Oh. No.
No, no, no, no. NO!
[ “Mr. Voice, you lied! You lied!” C00lkidd stomps against Guests stomach, robbing the air out of his lungs. C00lkidd throws a block against the man as he rolls away. Guest takes a sharp turn and makes a big distance. “Agh!! I don't want to play with you! I want to be with my dad!!”]
“C00lkidd...” There was a twist in 007n7's gut. He doesn't want to watch his son murder everyone in cold blood.
(“I want to be just like you, dad!” A toothy grin, a wide smile. Such a joyous sight if it wasn't for the fire that spreads in place. No, no. You can't be like me. Don't become like me. “Are you proud of me?”)
DON'T RUIN YOUR LIFE LIKE I DID.
“SuCH a CUTe, INteRESting sON of YOUrs. LOY4l tO0. ARe yOU pRoUd of HIM?”
Am I proud of the product of my own making? (The same that became his undoing?)
007n7 should've hidden the C00lgui somewhere more secure. This is his fault.
[ “I want my dad, I want my dad!” C00lkidd walkspeed overrides against Chance, taking half of their health. He takes aim, a perfect aim, but the gun doesn't go off. “Shit!” ]
He doesn't need to look when he hears a familiar crunch and a thud.
Was this his fault? It has to be his fault.
Even in death, his sins cannot be washed so easily. 007n7's chest pangs in deep bitterness that he could almost taste it.
[ “If I tag you all right now, maybe Mr. Voice is going to let me have time with dad.” C00lkidd steps on Builderman's body. He turns to Guest eating a pizza and Elliot motioning to Noob to get going as he taps his wrist.
“You're not going anywhere!” C00lkidd rushes forward, completely ignoring Guest raising his arms and towards Noob. “Gotcha!” ]
Snap!
Tears rolls down on his face. He doesn't want to see his son like this anymore. “Stop it, please...”
“Stop making him kill people anymore.”
[ “Do you think your father will be proud of everything what you've done?” ]
Elliot?
“OH! HE's maKING thIS INTERESting.”
[ “Papa will be proud of me, because I am the C00lest tagger ever.” C00lkidd manifests a block and it hits Elliot right at his forehead. He reels back from the pain, only for him to stand his ground and hiss at the kid. “No. He won't be.” ]
Something breaks inside 007n7's chest.
[ C00lkidd's manic smile grows enraged. “Mr. Elliot, you say a lot of mean stuffs.” ]
The Spectre appears closer. It looks back and forth at the panel and 007n7's blank stare before flicking it's "fingers."
007n7 doesn't even react, even when the Spectre releases the bindings of the chair, he remains still.
...Am I proud of C00lkidd?
“HAVe fuN wITH yoUR sOn.”
Finally! C00lkidd was so excited to see his dad again! This time they won't be playing but they'll be talking and spending time again! C00lkidd missed spending time with his dad so much, playing just wasn't enough. Not to mention how he just wouldn't get up whenever he gets tagged. But C00lkidd understands, his dad is the best hider among everyone else, so it's understandable that he gets tired too much!
C00lkidd didn't like that Mr. Voice made him play before he could have a tea party with his father though. They lied!
C00lkidd finally appears in the dark dark room where he was allowed to decorate much he could. When his eyes lands on his father sitting patiently on the chair, he was so happy!
“Dad! Dad! I'm here!” He wants to tell his dad so many things!
He jumps onto his father's lap and hugs him tightly. (He doesn't hear the choked cry his father muffled.)
“I was going to get the cookies Priincess made 1x bake, but Mr. Voice lied to me and made me play a round!”
C00lkidd feels his dad put his hand on top his head and he giggles as the familiar touch caress his hair with such gentleness. “Mr. Elliot almost ruined my day because he said so many mean things.”
(“You're just hurting your father, the more you continue. Why can't you learn that?”)
Mr. Elliot was very mean during that round. Why would he hurt his father? Sometimes, accidents happen!
“Dad, you're proud of me, right?” The hand stops in place, C00lkidd thinks his dad is sad because of Mr. Elliot again. He tries to look up but his dad just dragged him closer to his chest and hugged him tightly. “Dad?”
There was a muffled cry. Oh! Oh no, he made his dad sad again. C00lkidd places his hands around his fathers back and lets him burrow against C00lkidd's larger body. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry...”
No, why is his dad saying sorry!? “Noo, don't cry dad! I should be the one sorry. Don't cry, don't cry.”
C00lkidd feels really bad now. He was supposed to be happy, his dad was supposed to be happy! How will they be able to have a fun tea party now if they are both sad?
The events of the "tea party" passed like any cycle in the purgatory. 007n7 doesn't try to reason with the Spectre anymore.
But the Spectre "tried" to improve it's ways of gifting, in return he is forced to stay with it as it watch him edit codes. It allowed him to keep having more and more "tea parties" with his son while also invading said "tea parties."
(He learns random facts from C00lkidd who sings praises about his new friends but 007n7 can't keep giving him the same smile, not when his son keeps pointing out how "sad" his smile was.)
He doesn't want to repeat anything anymore, he doesn't want to try, and make another mistake. He just want to be gone. Gone, gone, truly gone.
Why is it so hard to stay gone?
The ripples underneath the dock glisten under the artificial light of the moon. 007n7 doesn't want to do anything but stare at his reflection stuck in place.
...What if he-
“007n7.” He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. It's Elliot.
He doesn't have the energy to face him, not now, not ever.
“Can we talk?” He doesn't feel like he want to. “We've been seeing you less and less and... I- we, are worrying about you.”
He doesn't deserve such worry.
“Let's go inside the main cabin and—”
“It's alright, Elliot. I'm fine. I'm just a little tired.”
He hears a click of a tongue.
“No, you're not. Don't you dare repeat that sentence, not in front of me.”
What?
007n7 turns in shock and stare at Elliot. There's no ire yet he feels so bare. “You don't have to pretend. I know how tired you are.”
“...” 007n7 looks away. Of all people, why did it have to be Elliot?
“What do you want me to do?”
“...Talk. To me, to anyone. We all know that you need rest too.” Elliot steps forward. His hand stretched for 007n7 to reach. “You're pushing yourself too much. And, I'm sorry.”
007n7 feels his eyes burn, a shaky smile quakes in his face, “What are you even sorry for?”
There was no change in Elliot's expression. It was... indifferent, yet there was a wince of regret, of sorrow.
“For denying that you've changed.”
007n7 doesn't know why but he feels lighter. Although the Spectre keeps reappearing here and there, it doesn't... feel that much heavy anymore.
(“M4Ke thINGS mORe inTEREsting, PLeASe.” It asks him with animated joy.)
“How are you?” Guest asks. He still couldn't give an answer, Elliot forbade him from answering “I am alright.” It was still hard to not say the repetitive words but Guest waits for him, not demanding, not asking, just waiting.
“I think I can handle it.”
He... tries to accept Noob and Chance's request to stay with them but he couldn't stand staying with everyone, not without feeling someone is looking at him. The gaze was just always there, always following him. It makes him sick.
He still feels empty.
But he hopes everything stays bearable.
The Spectre doesn't think 007n7 can spice things up alone. And it's getting a little predictable. And it wants to have things a little more interesting.
There was a friend... a friend of 007n7 in the past right? A weird name something akin to... Swa... Swae? Judanoli? The Spectre couldn't care less about the name. It only knows 007n7 has a purple friend who took the voidstar and was equal to 007n7's standing as the most Feared Hacker.
Maybe they could make things interesting together! 007n7 does miss his friend, doesn't he?
“OH iT wiLL BE a WonDerFUl gIFT!”
There is a new killer.
And 007n7 wishes it was anyone else. He didn't know at first, not until he noticed strange visions dancing around the generators. It's purple, it's familiar.
The generator was fake.
There was a laugh in his mind and it echoes like a broken record. It was familiar, there was only one person who could make that horrendous laugh and it sends shivers down 007n7's spine.
He wanted to run, he had to hide. He has to run. He has to run. He has to, he—
Purple hijacks his C00lgui.
No.
“0H, there Y0U are, [S3V3N]. 4 L-L-L1TTL3 Bird_ T0LD M3 That Y0U W0ULD be H3R3!”
Noli.
There was shouting everywhere, but everything all becomes a blur when Noli, the brightest star there is, was right in front of him, cackling and standing.
(He has so many regrets and Noli was one of them. He shouldn't have done everything, he shouldn't have ruined Noli. He should've stayed dead.)
Why can't his past stay dead? Why was he such an idiot? Why couldn't he just stay dead? Why did he have his mistakes again and again and again.
(“Noli, I'm... not trading my son to be with your star.” He hissed at the bright star burning his eyes with his blinding light. Shame burns his face, he couldn't look at him right in the eyes. “I've changed. For my son.”
“B-B-BUT WH4T 4-4B0UT M3, WHY C0ULDN'T Y0U ST4Y?” He couldn't even mutter an apology, what a coward.)
Now in front of the person who is the direct reflection of his past, what can he even do to face him at last?
“D0N'T B3 L1K3 that, [S3V3N.] D0N'T g_t D-D-D1STR4CT3D N0W.” Noli's smile twists into something sadistic, “Y0U don't G3T T0 SH3D Y0UR T34RS N0w. 4T L-L-L34ST N0T Y3T-Y3T.”
007n7 didn't even know he was crying.
He doesn't move, not away from Noli's attack, not from his charging. He accepts the pain.
He deserves it.
He was thrown to the ground with such anger and the touch of the star charred his skin. It burns, it burns. But he can't help it. He deserves it. He screams in pain when the star stamps against his chest as Noli cackles. Was it in delight or in brewing anger?
“Y0U KN0W [S3V], 1 D0N'T R-R34LLY H4V3 T-T-T0_ D0 th1s 1F Y0U just 4CC3PT MY [ST4R].” Noli pushes 007n7 to the ground with the their feet on his shoulder.
“[P4INFUL], 1SN'T?”
It is.
“I'm... sorry.” He truly means it.
“...Hah.” Noli bitterly laughs and he presses the star further. 007n7 couldn't focus on anything but the burning sensation against his chest. He can't breathe. He can't see.
There's eyes watching him.
“You're [S0RRY]? THEN 4CCEPT T_T_THE STAR.” and stay by my side.
007n7 hears those unspoken words like a sad tune he cannot forget.
But he can't. (He won't. He's a changed man. He's a changed man. He's a changed man. He's...)
007n7 sight refuses to focus. He hears Guest's scream cut through the fog and pushes Noli away. “Hurry, help him up!”
“Y-Y0U WILL N0T [H3LP] HIM!”
Elliot and Noob hurriedly carried 007n7 up but before before Elliot can give him his pizza, the Void star comes rushing in and explodes on 007n7's face.
Fissure of colorful purple takes over his sight.
He dies.
“...[NO.] H-H-HE W4S not SUPP0SE TO DIE, NOT YET- NOT YET!”
[.Thing 007n7 = Corruptable (High) ]
007n7 wakes up not in any cabin but in the darkness of nothing. It hurts.
There were eyes watching him. Waiting for him. But there is only silence.
He wants everything gone.
...
He doesn't know how to feel.
He doesn't want to feel.
He truly couldn't do anything right.
Cold ink submerged 007n7 body. It wraps around his arm and it somehow keeps him steady. His head feels like cotton.
He really wants to be gone to truly feel nothing.
Check out Paper's Noli design
Notes:
- Y'all gonna hate me when we reach Chapter 4 fr. (Paper especially)
I had a whole section about Noli having a longer part but it got deleted. Such tragedy.
Reading your comments has been fun, I'm glad you're in for this ride.
Edit: oh my god there's errors and jumbled words
Chapter 3: All the Secrets that you keep, oh they see you in your sleep.
Summary:
The past continues to be a shadow that sticks to the present, preventing it from moving to the future. But he tries to understand, the past just wishes the present had not let go of his hope so soon.
More people are noticing, wanting to help. But he doesn't see it, not anymore.
Chapter Text
The Spectre seems to be extra cruel to 007n7 this time around. Intensifying the torment and making him run further.
He doesn't understand, but this time, he doesn't want to understand.
Every round, every game, he's been against Noli. And Noli always saves him for last, for a mockery of privacy, of peace.
He just wanted to die immediately.
He begs, he pleads to Noli for death, but Noli would prolong his death in creative, torturous ways. How suiting for him to die over and over again to the person he hurts the most.
Regret hangs over him every time, all the time. Noli has every right to be angry. He deserves to let out his anger, for being left behind, for being betrayed.
But 007n7 just wished it stayed that way.
He doesn't understand why Noli would keep asking him the same question repeatedly. (“M-M-M4YB3 if you just 4-4CC3PT [this] it will 4-4LL fade T-T0-T0 ████”)
007n7 can't do this anymore.
He almost broke down when Noli mocked his son's cry as he died. I'm telling Dad. He laughs.
Facing Noli, the more he became erratic (and desperate), was making things worse.
He can't keep up with the glitched conversations. His pleadings and broken words just continue to break 007n7's mind. Endless repetitive interactions, repeating conversations...
Why can't he escape his past?
He doesn't want to go back.
He doesn't want to. For the sake of...
...
Why can't he just stay dead?
He wishes he could simply remain dead.
007n7 convulsed at another rough charge of Noli that pinned him to the wall. The pressure takes his breath away.
Another round with Noli, another (useless) conversation that starts with a plea.
“[SEVEN.]” Ah, the unbridled anger behind Noli's soulless eyes, his rage-filled gaze pierces harshly. Speaking feels out of reach. He doesn't think he has any right to look through them with understanding anymore. Not that Noli would.
“Please.” He doesn't even know what he's pleading for anymore.
“Why D-DO [Y0U] keep D-D-DOING TH1S?”
It is 007n7 who wants to ask Noli that. A question that continues to haunt 007n7. Yet 007n7 already knows what the reason must be.
Hate. Grudge. Anger. Pain. It's all written in Noli's expression. Unchanging, unfazed. It hasn't faded despite 007n7's many deaths.
Noli continues to push 007n7, crushing his neck with his skeletal hands. The desperate hands clasps around the arm but he doesn't fight back. Noli notices that.
“ALL TH1S. 4-4-4ND F0R WH4T? [You] won't 3V3N F-F-FIGHT BACK!” Noli tightens his grip, strangling the air from 007n7's lungs.
“WH3R3S [THE S3VEN] t-t-that [I] USED T0 K-KN0W?”
007n7 breaks.
Who was the one Noli used to know?
What was the version of himself that still haunts Noli? What is it that makes Noli remember that one the most and miss it to the point he wants the present to regret ever changing?
Why does that part of him exactly matter? Why does that continue to haunt him, to prey on his present, making him unable to live for the future?
Noli, the person you knew just wanted to be better.
But 007n7 gives a different response.
“Gone. Forever and ever gone.”
The air stills. Static dances across and between giving no room to breathe. It's heavy.
The arrogant, wild young Hacker has been buried deep with regrets. 007n7 wishes that version of him had died too when he pulled that trigger.
If he had no right to live, on what grounds would that be the same for his past self?
He struggles to find air for his burning lungs, “He's dead. Soon, I will be. No, I already am.”
“You're just torturing a reanimated corpse.”
Noli finally allowed him to breathe, and he gasped deeply, struggling to catch his breath as the choking persisted.
“I am as dead, as you think you are.” He thinks. He rests his head against the hand that strangles him.
“...I can't do this anymore, Noli.”
A slow smile found itself widening on 007n7's face, cold and fake. “So will you please kill me?”
007n7 didn't think that the decay of Noli's mask would make it as expressive as it was in the past.
(Noli finally understood. All those rounds with 007n7 pleading for death, it wasn't just an excuse to escape pain, to escape him. He wanted a way to get rid of everything. The guilt, the sorrow. Wasn't that the exact same thing he did after the death of his kid?)
“...” Hollow eyes stare back. Noli couldn't see his reflection in 007n7 eyes anymore.
...
It all doesn't matter anymore.
He lets go.
007n7 collapses to the ground, He feels cold.
“[S-S3V3N].” Careful touch of skeletal hands ghosts on 007n7's cheek as if afraid to break porcelain. 007n7 closes his eyes. He is a glass that has already been broken.
“Won't you help me die, Noli?” Won't you let the past die with me? Please, let my past die with me.
...
“...How... P-P-P4TH3TIC 0F you... T-T0 alw4ys b3g F0R D3-DE4TH.” His voice cracks despite the harsh glitch. You don't deserve it, You don’t deserve it, 007n7 thinks he hears. You haven't suffered enough.
It was almost disheartening. Almost. “[N0.]”
Of course.
007n7 could only laugh. “...How cruel of you.”
“...Y-Y0UR3 the [0NE] cruel H3R3, 007n7.”
He can't help but acknowledge the truth in that.
But he’s had enough. 007n7 can't keep doing this anymore.
Because he can't bear to keep up with the burden of continuing any longer.
The round ends. For the first time against the new killer Noli, 007n7 was finally seen seated at the victory table.
Yet he feels no triumph. He doesn't feel like he won anything at all. There was no rush of reward despite the cheerful atmosphere congratulating him for winning against Noli.
How did you win against Noli? You survived his torture! Are you okay? Did he hurt you too much? Are you okay? Are you okay? You don't look good. Are you okay? Are you okay? 007n7, are you listening? Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you-
He didn't win against Noli. Noli left him to continue to rot and he thinks that's worse than wishing for death.
(Noli looked at him with just a blank expression. No worry, no emotion. Just a stare that keeps 007n7 grounded.
Noli doesn't know if he pushed 007n7 too far.)
God, he was truly so useless.
Noli doesn't kill him anymore. He doesn't hunt anyone else but he always sticks to 007n7, often sitting with him in a far corner or just perfectly replicating 007n7's standing.
He doesn't talk, he doesn't act.
“I'm sorry.” How many apologies has 007n7 told Noli to the point he must be sick of it?
He always leaves whenever 007n7 apologizes.
And 007n7 has never felt so alone. (Abandoned. This must be what Noli felt when 007n7 chose his son over him.)
007n7 found himself once again under the watchful gaze of the Being. Though he had nothing to offer for its attention, it seemed content to observe him as he stared into nothingness. It's a reprieve. He guesses.
All he felt were heavy eyes watching him, a burden he was growing too accustomed to. As long as those eyes didn't belong to his team, as long as there was no noise accompanying the scrutiny, he could manage.
But for how long?
“Spectre,” he called out to the Being that manifested in the bleak, unlit room.
“Y0U F1naLLy C4llED.” It replied.
“When you finally get tired of me, are you finally going to kill me?”
(007n7 feels sick watching his son kill everyone one by one. He had to intervene, to try to stop his son with the Freeze Command. Never again, never again.
“Dad, why is it cold?”
007n7 could hear the Spectre's laugh behind his mind. More, it demands. 007n7 can't do this. Your team will need it. 007n7 felt nauseous.)
“...” It looks offended. Insulted. “WhY woULD I GET tiREd OF YoU?_”
Why wouldn't you? He was no longer a challenge for the Spectre and he knows that. It had learned to adapt quickly to the patches he applied. He had stopped trying to alter codes, only doing so when the demand was high. Yet, the Spectre kept pressing him to create surprises, and he couldn't understand why he kept falling for its tricks.
He doesn't want to anymore. He didn't want to entertain it anymore.
“I have nothing to show you anymore.”
Cold eyes roamed around 007n7, tempting and testing. It surrounds 007n7 with calculative desire that exposes his vulnerabilities. He feels sick.
“NO, Y0u stILL H4ve SOmetHING. I KN0W y0U DO_ I'LL JUsT HaVE TO FORCE iT OUt,” It sounded joyous announcing its findings. 007n7 doesn't want to be part of the Spectre's musing.
“1F I T4Ke OuT yoUR SAdNeSS, I W0Nder IF ThAT WILL Fr33 Y0u TO BE M0Re_ EXPREssiVE?”
“What?”
The Spectre moves dangerously close.
“IF I BR3AK THroUGh YoUR C0De_ AND CHAnGE WhAT mAKES yOU S4D, yoU'rE GOING T0 BE_ M0re ENTERtAinING, MORE CrEAtiVE, m0rE IMaginaTIvE.”
It places a steady "hand" on top of 007n7's shoulder, it swings around to point at the C00lgui.
“M0RE ALIVE.” It says.
[ BR34CH3D!!! OH NOES D: ]
007n7 widens his eyes. “Don't touch me!”
Jumping out of his bed, he defensively wraps his hands around his panel, panting. There was a creepy smile lingering in the darkness, the Spectre's smile stuck to 007n7's mind.
[.Thing 007n7 = new Code Change (True) ]
His C00lgui was glitching, almost breaking apart. And the turmoil affected his mind, creating a crack that felt like it was splitting his head open.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.
It. HURTS.
Knock knock.
He flinched.
Muffled voice. “—07n7? I have something to ask you.”
Before 007n7 could yell at the Spectre to get out, it immediately disappeared. Gone without a trace.
...
As if it hadn’t just tried to shatter his mind.
“Hah.” He is sick of it.
007n7 slides against the wall, heaving and grunting against the pain. Burning tears filled his eyes as a wretched sob escaped him. He couldn't continue like this. He couldn't do this anymore.
He can't, he couldn't, he couldn't, he couldn't.
If he couldn't run away, why couldn’t he just disappear altogether?
“...007n7? Are you there?” A rough voice pierced the silence. 007n7 supposes that Guest 1337 is outside his door, worried about the noise. In his mind, he apologized, but he didn’t want to open the door.
He is so tired.
How pathetic must he be to be heard?
He is just so...
...
He doesn't response. Guest 1337 lingers before the cabin door with his eyes looking at the window of the bedroom.
He knows 007n7 is there, especially the muffled cries behind the walls.
He is suffering and Guest can't help him if he won't open the door.
“007n7, open the door.”
He doesn't. Guest doesn't go, not until the rounds countdown started to tick.
“...I hope you will open the door.”
Because we are here for you.
Noli thinks Seven can't keep doing those stunts anymore. Yes, Noli is angry, he's sad. But Sev was teetering on the very edge, and Noli doesn't think he wants to be the one who pushes him off the ledge.
Seven's empty gaze haunted Noli. The smile that used to radiate pride had vanished, replaced by a fabricated facade in the name of being alright.
It sits the same. That haunting expression sat in the back of Noli’s mind, he hates it.
It isn't worry. No, he isn't worrying.
It was agonizing to be the one who found out his decaying body, abandoned for a second time since he had found him.
He didn't know if he should be hurt that Seven wants to die or by the fact that he refuses Noli's extended hand. The hand that offers him a place for acceptance. (To come back.)
Seven wanted to vanish forever.
(Noli was terrified of being abandoned again.)
...
No, he can't have that.
He couldn’t let that happen.
He just wanted his friend back. But Seven didn't want him back, he didn't want to return.
I'm sorry. He keeps saying like a broken record on repeat.
Those words have lost their meaning.
If only Seven could accept Noli’s [star], everything would be forgiven.
...Was forgiveness truly what he sought?
[“The friend you're looking for is gone.”]
Dead, he says. In a sick joke of eternity he claims forever.
[“He doesn't even consider what you think. What you want. He doesn't want to go back.”]
Noli wished the voice of the star would be wrong, just once. Playing in those rounds with Seven just proves its point all the time.
Why can't Sev prove him wrong?
Noli really hated seeing (His old friend) Seven walk around with nothing behind his eyes. One thing he was right about himself is how he is just a walking corpse unable to find his right, his will to live.
“S3V3N.”
It's like Seven doesn't even see him in front of him.
(007n7 feels bare under the scarring gaze that scrutinizes his movement. He stares at Noli, awaiting the silence that will drown him.)
If there was something Noli had with Seven in common, they were both stubborn.
But Noli feels the need to give in, because he doesn't know how long he can hold his silence anymore.
As much as he wants Sev to suffer, he was still... his best friend.
...
Can they still be friends even after all of this?
“Drat! I can't believe my gun exploded!”
Chance coughs away the gunpowder that exploded on his face. He wiped off some that poured onto his mouth.
Elliot is dead, he couldn't save him. Don Sonnellino immediately went after him but the moment he saw Elliot's bright red visor, it was over for his friend. Talk about unlucky.
(“Don't worry, Elliot! I'll save you!” He aims forward. Don Sonnellino stops with a steady step and an easygoing smile. He grins. A challenge. Chance takes it and they pulled the trigger.
BANG!
“Ow! Fuck!” But the gun exploded on his face. Elliot not even skipping a beat yells out, “You idiot!”)
Well. He is going to hear about Elliot's nagging about gun safety later.
Click. It lands on tails. Weakness XII.
“Lady Luck, where are you when I need you the most!?”
Ting! Finally, his coin lands on heads. One charge.
“...Chance? What are you doing?”
Chance immediately lit up hearing 007n7's voice, “007n7, my man!”
Good to know that he is still alive. “My gun's kinda busted, could you- uh, help me?”
007n7 slowly blinks. He reaches out his hand and Chance eagerly gives it to 007n7, “Cool, thanks!”
He doesn't see the dangerous glint in 007n7's eyes and the way he hold it, they were too focused looking for signs of Don Sonnellino.
Before they could ask if 007n7 found a medkit, a familiar briefcase was thrown right between him and 007n7 immediately cutting Chance to run forward.
“Ooh! He's here AND angry!”
He couldn't check if 007n7 ran as well.
But what they do know is Don Sonnellino is right on his back. Shit. At least he isn't going after 007n7.
“Chance! Get back here!” He hears Don Sonnellino rushing forward, tailing him behind.
He'll get his gun back later.
He flings his coin mid chase. Heads. Charge two.
“You're not runnin!”
Yes he is.
Don Sonnellino misses him by a meter before summoning that annoying familiar burner phone. Chance took the time and booked it away.
He hopes he can find 007n7 quick to get his gun back.
Click. They got heads. Weakness XII. God damn it.
“There you are, coward!” Don Sonnellino shouts just right behind.
Chance hat fixes as he forces his legs to keep moving.
I am not surviving this one.
Click. And it lands on tails. Weakness I.
Chance ran off quite immediately after hearing the Mafioso just right around the corner and 007n7 didn't even think of dashing away when he heard him.
He didn't think it was worth it.
He was just going to die anyway.
“...” He stares at Chance's busted gun. An easy fix, only soaked in too much gunpowder that Chance failed to see to be a problem.
He immediately restored its damage. It was an simple hot-fix.
...
It feels ill-fitted between his hands but light enough to carry and...
And...
...
...He wonders.
His hand tightly wraps around the flintlock with his index shifting to the trigger. It's cold. Under his chin aches for attention.
“Are you gonna do it?”
007n7 looks up expectantly. It's only but pitch darkness. Suddenly, it wraps around his senses. He can feel that someone is watching him but he doesn't care.
It was probably just the Spectre. It always see everything after all.
“Go on, and let's see how this one will end.” The voice in his mind beckons. “You might find the answer to your peace.”
He closes his eyes.
...
Just another try.
For another death.
It's just going to be another death.
Cold metal presses against the scar that stings. Click. Click.
It doesn't shoot. Click.
Click. Click.
Just... why won't it shoot?
Click.
He fixed its coding damn it! Why doesn't it—
Click— Bang!
The loud detonation of the gun echoes through the night and the one who witnessed the sight covers their mouth in horror.
His body falls like ragdoll.
007n7 returns gasping and retching against the wooden floor of the main cabin. It hurts. He wheezes out the pained breaths out of his throat as it constrict and suffocate him out of his mind.
Of course, it wouldn't work. Of course it doesn't let it work!
“Hahaha... hahahahahahaha!!”
He is losing his mind.
But he saw it work. 007n7 saw nothingness. He felt nothing. There was nothing. It was momentarily but it was everything.
The gun worked and 007n7 only have to make changes for it to truly work.
“007n7! Are you okay?” Elliot came rushing out of the kitchen, his apron covered in dough and powder.
He found a way.
007n7 gives Elliot a warm smile. “I've never been better, Elliot.” Elliot made a strangled noise at 007n7 sudden optimism.
He finally took steps closer towards 007n7. He helps 007n7 walk towards the sofa, observing the mans body language. What made this guy so... surprisingly happy? Elliot worries. He notices the glimmer of a familiar firearm and looks up at 007n7 confused.
“007n7, why do you have Chance's gun?”
Elliot expected a rushed answer, a surprised reaction. However 007n7 merely looks. His hand raises the flintlock and his mouth turns to a smile.
“I fixed it.”
Elliot examines the flintlock. Well, it did explode on Chance's face since they failed to save him. But why is it on 007n7's hand?
...Maybe it's nothing. He sees no problem.
“...Alright. Stay there and wait until I finish baking the pizza.”
Before he could go back to the kitchen, Chance appear out of thin air and exaggerates a gasp. He falls dramatically on the sofa next to 007n7.
“Chance!”
“That was stressful!” He cackles as he places a hand on top of his face. “..He wasn't happy.”
Slowly exhaling, they turn to 007n7, confused. “Oh hey, 007n7. How did you die?”
Don Sonnellino didn't stop chasing Chance, he went after Chance the whole time so how did he die?
“...I fixed your gun.” 007n7 doesn't give a definite answer. There's a spark Chance doesn't notice. “I altered some of the codes to give more... possibility to shoot.”
Instead, he hands out Chance's flintlock. Chance excitedly takes it from his hands, “Oh sweet! Thank you very much!”
Elliot pokes Chances forehead with annoyance, “That doesn't solve the problem does it?”
“Ow, ow. It's fun. It's the risk of odds, you know that.” Chance perks up when he saw 007n7 leaving through the door, “Hey man, where are you going?”
007n7 stops. He turns with a slow smile and teeth. “I just have something to test out.”
Elliot squints. There's something off, he doesn’t like it. He wants to stop 007n7 but that would just make things more awkward. “...Sure. Be back before dinner.”
007n7 stares. Elliot stares back.
He leaves without another word. Silent and worrying.
Chance leans in to the sofa close enough to Elliot and whispers, “He wasn't like that during the round.”
There's a twist in Elliot's stomach and he doesn't like it at all.
Fixing and filling up codes was easy. 007n7 had no problem repeating those process but it was different when it comes to admins.
But Chance's gun wasn't created by the admins.
It was an ordinary, just particularly at odds with luck gun that can be duplicated. Recoded and altered.
...
007n7 now has his own version of Chances gun, he just doesn't know how he could proceed with his plan.
Shooting himself again would just be meaningless. He had to make sure there'll be no return, no lies of peace.
He needs something.
He examines the gun with his hands. It feels absolutely cold but it helped with the ache underneath his chin.
It felt liberating. He finally found a way.
“YoU'RE PLANniNG SomEThInG.”
The Spectre appears without a notice nor care to 007n7's surprise. He hides the duplicate inside the inventory of his C00lgui.
It wraps its "hands" around 007n7 with cautious curiosity. “hOW CUTE.”
He ignores the familiar chill that runs through his nerves.
“DO Y0u_ TH1nk THIS c4N heLp YoU?” It points at his head. He let's it.
“HM.” The Spectre twirls with its erratic eyes. Scanning. It looks at 007n7 in elation.
[.Thing Flintlock(duplicate) = new string ??? (True) ]
“nO M4TTER.” It cooes, caressing his hair with disgusting gentleness. “EVEn IF yOu ARE THAT SmaRT... yOU'RE neVER gOINg tO ESCapE mE.”
007n7 wants to laugh.
How long can he find what could help him use that gun?
-
Taph has to tell someone immediately. What he saw and what was happening to 007n7. He has to tell someone or anyone.
He has been running, searching for anyone.
What 007n7 did wasn't right and clearly the man needed help. He isn't the right person to do that and he doesn't know if he even can.
Maybe Builderman! Or or Dusekkar!
The admins could totally help 007n7.
As his feet continues to stomp forward, a briefcase comes clashing against his nose, making him fall backwards.
“Finally found you, uccello fastidioso.”
No! Taph wildly gestures, hands flying around to the point their message doesn't make sense.
“You can't plead with your life with this one.”
“✋️!!!”
Mafioso sneers against Taph. “No.”
He couldn't. Yeah. That happens all the time. But Taph can finally tell someone about 007n7 now.
(If only they could understand him.)
Taph waddles to the kitchen to see Elliot and Shedletsky chatting over the counter. No other admins in sight but it could work. He waves for their attention.
Shedletsky smiles as he notices. “Oh, Taph. What is it?”
Taph started pointing at the door and gestures 007n7's burger and a gun.
Elliot looks at him confused before turning to Shedletsky for translation. “This little guy is telling us that he saw 007n7... holding a gun?”
Taph nods vigorously with his ear wings flapping, before he could motion the gun going under his chin, Elliot sighs and leans against the wall. “...You probably just saw 007n7 fixing Chance's gun. It's probably nothing and it won't be dangerous if thats what you're worried about.”
No, no! 007n7 used the gun to himself! Taph waves his hand, mimicking how 007n7 held the gun again before pointing at his chin and doing an explosion with his hands.
Shedletsky took a double take, looking more confused. “...No, you probably saw wrong, Taph. Chance's gun can't hurt other survivors.”
“Sorry, what is he saying?”
But it definitely killed 007n7. Taph was sure of what he saw. He clasps his hands together and shook them back and forth. Believe me, he signs. Shedletsky looks peculiar in reacting but he places a soothing hand on Taph's shoulder. He doesn't tell Elliot what Taph wants to say.
“...Let's check on 007n7 if that's going to help you calm down, alright?”
Yes! Yes! It was what Taph had wanted and he hopes the others would soon take notice of it too.
“Elliot, will you be coming with us?”
“...No, sorry no. I still have to finish preparing for dinner.”
“Alright, talk to you later, yeah?”
“Taph are you sure of what you saw during the round?”
Shedletsky wanted to be sure. He knows Taph can say out of the world random wonders but he knows when it comes to serious matter, he wouldn't be unreasonable.
“💯.” Taph firmly stood his ground and Shedletsky had no other choice but see it for himself. They knock at the cabin near the dock and waited for the owners answer.
...
It takes long.
Taph nervously caresses their wing feathers, looking every corner with wariness.
Shedletsky tries again, “007n7?”
There's shuffling behind the door. Click. The entrance slightly opens. Taph perks up and tugs Shedletsky's shirt.
“...Shedletsky?” A soft tired voice whispers behind the door and Shedletsky tilts his head motioning Taph to answer with him.
Taph shakes his head and tries to push Shedletsky forward. He relents.
“Taph here wanted to check up on you, 007n7. Says he's been worried about you that's all.”
From the crack of the door, Shedletsky watches as 007n7 looks away apologetically before widening the open door to some degree.
“I've been doing fine.” He says with an empty smile. “You don't have to worry.” Not anymore.
Taph tugs Shedletsky's shirt firmly.
Shedletsky sees what Taph has been worried about.
“...007n7—”
“Is there anything else I can help you with?” 007n7 doesn't let him finish.
It takes him a moment to answer, “No, that is all what we need.”
007n7 crinkles his eyes before closing the door with a clink.
Shedletsky couldn't help but feel like he was talking to a wall.
Taph taps Shedletsky by his forearm and he shakily signs. How do we help him?
Shedletsky doesn't know if he has an answer to solve it like an admin.
Notes:
- One more chapter to go. Oh no?
- Once again, thank you for your comments, I love reading them.
- Someone actually guessed my schedule of upload but I screwed up because I became busy lmao.
- I love Chance and Noli. Taph too, but I don't think I can speak emojis.
I find the fact Paper has her avatar as Catherine from Limbus Company funny. “Reading Chapter 2 has got me already Heartbroken so I am Cathy to show the staggering Heartbroken effect you left on me.”
What am I, Erlking? /j
Chapter 4: They come for you.
Summary:
?
Chapter Text
They're getting too curious.
“007n7, how are you doing?” Shedletsky would grin widely, friendly. A conversation that fades to obscurity that 007n7 doesn't mind. Only for Shedletsky to sneak him observing gazes. Overbearing analyzing eyes that follows him every where he goes.
It is probably nothing.
“007n7, maybe you should sit this one out.”
Too cautious. Builderman who is usually too wary to come up to him, suddenly offers a suspicious helping hand. He doesn't take it but he smiles at the effort. Because Builderman is not going to have worry about him anymore.
It's nothing. He doesn't mind.
“007n7. Stick with me.”
Too... vigilant.
Guest doesn't stop hovering around 007n7. He sticks around even he isn't in danger. He did that during almost every previous rounds but this time he has more insistent he stays with him.
It's nothing.
He can deal with this.
“H-hey! 007n7, I- I was wonder if y-you could stay with me?”
Too insistent.
Noob tries their best to open up more conversations now and sticking to him like some little kid following him around.
007n7 doesn't dare to call them annoying but everything that they have been doing has been bothersome.
They all won't leave him alone.
He wonders why that is.
The gun sits heavily in his inventory. He can't wait to use it.
“I'll live a life I won't regret.” 007n7 once promised Noli that he would always be there with him as they imagine the fame they could have as the Feared Hackers in Robloxia.
“Do you swear to always be by my side?” Noli had asked 007n7 that jokingly but he knew 007n7 was serious when it comes to commitments.
Sadly 007n7 didn't keep those promises.
He ended up hurting Noli more than he hurt himself with decisions.
But he tells himself it was alright, everything will be okay. He has... a son to take care of.
Two Time worries for the man whos might disappear at any given moment time. They've noticed. They've watched. They know.
Reaching out to the ex-Hacker was tasking, even more so now that they don't know what changed. They didn't see what changed and that's what bothers Two Time. They don't know the reason and the only way for them to have some knowledge about his odd behavior was asking the man himself.
007n7 doesn't like giving true answers. He hides, he stalls, looking so afraid of others when they inquire him about his well-being.
Two Time also knows that they need his moments alone. 007n7 doesn't function when it comes to groups, making him panic even more.
That's why when rounds with the killer Noli stopped attacking everyone altogether, they were the first one to follow.
They have been ready to defend 007n7 knowing that this specific killer has always saved him for last. They we're ready to lunge not until they heard; “I'm sorry.”
He sounded so defeated.
They had to take a step back. Two Time watched like an eagle on what the killer might do to 007n7 but the killer instead gripped their star harder and walked away with no other action.
Hearing his footsteps disappear in the fog, Two Time watched 007n7 slump against the wall and break down.
...
They shouldn't be witnessing such vulnerability.
They have to help, they have to do something, somehow.
Those specific moments repeat whenever the Void Star Leader becomes part of the round. They stand idle, not talking, not attacking. Just, there for 007n7 and only leaving whenever 007n7 apologizes.
Two Time doesn't feel like they're allowed to ruin this practiced interaction. They understand it's... tranquil essence. They see 007n7 at ease with Noli, a feat rather rare for someone who always look around with caution.
Some have voiced their concern.
But Two Time asked them, “What can you do for 007n7?”
A question Two Time ask their self too. They don't know what to do for 007n7.
That made Elliot and Chance back off from trying to get in-between the "truce" between the killer and 007n7. But the most stubborn one didn't back down.
Instead, Guest tried to interfere with 007n7 and Noli's silent reverie.
“[LEAVE]. D-D-D0N'T_ T4KE him [AWAY].”
It resulted with the killer gripping Guest 1337's forearm with fierce brutality, almost breaking his bones in the process.
“...Noli.” 007n7 tired voice rings softly against the glitches. In Guest 1337's surprise, he lets go. Noli looks at 007n7 hurt and betrayed but he looks away and back to Guest with neutrality.
Two Time saw the way the killer leans over Guest 1337 and whispered a request, a demand, drowned by the sounds of glitches that Two Time couldn't hear.
“W-W-WATCH OVER [him], S-SS0LDIER BOY.”
(But seeing Guest backing away from the killer... it was a suffice interaction to let the holder of the Void Star and 007n7 have their silent moment together, alone. Uninterrupted.)
They couldn't.
“Forgive us Spawn for failing our duty as a member of the team.”
Something in 007n7 changed.
007n7 looks to be... in high spirits.
Two Time has been seeing signs, seeing the forewarning.
They don't know how to approach him. They don't know how to help him.
They promised they'll protect him in the shadows. Waiting for any of the killers to slip up, always ready to dash and help 007n7.
“H-H-HOW DARE Y-Y0U, S3VEN.” Noli stares at his lifeless body. A gun and a letter. I'm sorry, it says.
I'm sorry, he says.
I'm sorry, such a word Noli couldn't believe.
What's the point of apologies if you weren't going to live about and say it in person?
I'm sorry, Noli wanted to say.
There has been a sudden shift in Seven's demeanor. Of course Noli would notice, he is was his best friend. He knows what others doesn’t and that there is something wrong with Seven.
The moment the round started in Yorick's Resting Place, Noli immediately rushed forward to find Seven. He ignored the surprises of the survivors and the yells from the people who got affected by the Void Star.
The only person that matters is Seven.
He wasn't in the house, of course, that's where Noli started. He wasn't in the graveyard area. The damn pigeon was making his nest infested trap there.
There was somewhere he thinks Sev might be and it was the tower.
(Noli remembers that Seven loves being in high places, to be able to see everything from the far above and have a grandiose flair for everyone to witness.)
Seven sits by the ledge of the tower.
There was his best friends lonely figure sitting above so small, so unlike to the prideful figure he used to know.
Noli slowly ascends up the tower with heavy withering steps.
“If I were to want to remove something... what would be the string command to get rid of it?”
“████, duh. Sev, have you been sleeping well?”
“Genius.”
“...[SEV3N].” Noli stares at the serene expression of the man who has looked so defeated in all the rounds he ever stayed with him.
There was a gentle smile.
He... hated that kind of smile.
“Do you remember, Noli?” There was nothing behind his eyes but he wears that stupid smile. It doesn't fit him. It doesn't suit him. It doesn't work on Noli.
“R-R-REMEMB3R [WHAT], S3VEN?” He hissed at the sudden talkative mood Seven expresses.
“...” Seven doesn't look at him, he doesn't face him. He stays seated at the ledge of the tower and Noli took it as a sign to sit beside him.
He's cold. He is a half-decaying corpse, Seven is...
Seven is here, with him, alive, breathing, existing. He can put aside his anger, his pain. He just wants Seven to be with him. Even if its a lie, even if Seven isn't like him. Noli doesn't want to be abandoned again.
“If I were to get rid of something... what would be the code so that it doesn't come back?”
Noli perked at the familiar question phrased differently. The Star urges him to give an answer but something inside Noli doesn't want him to give it.
Such a random question.
“What M4K3S Y-Y-YOU THINK I [remember] THE_ THE ANSWER?” He says with practiced disdain, it comes out of his mouth so easily. Seven just chuckles and turns to Noli with dead eyes.
“Because you're not someone who forget, Noli.”
There was something in Seven's tone that rang alarm bells in Noli's mind. There was something that he is planning and it sets Noli on high.
What is it?
He hijacks the C00lgui.
Seven widens his eyes in surprise as Noli uses the Void Star to bypass the fire walls and slither through his damaged code within the C00lgui to find anything peculiar.
There was.
Seven has a gun in his inventory.
He's not one to use-
(There was a gun lying on the floor. Such mockery that it stayed pristine next to the gruesome red that splatters everywhere. Noli felt elated. Noli felt sick. Noli wanted to-)
“[SEVEN]!”
Instantly, Noli aims to grab Seven's shoulders only for Seven to throw himself of the ledge to avoid his touch. “[NO]!”
Noli watches as Seven jumps down and roll up, immediately picking himself up and running away. Noli picked up the pace.
He yells, “[D-D-DONT] RUN AW4Y, SEVEN!”
Seven was getting further away from his reach, Noli tries to activate his Void Rush.
He flinches, a familiar dagger digs deep burying inside his skin but he didn't pay any attention. It wasn't important, it isn’t important!
“[DONT ABANDON ME AGAIN SEVEN]!”
Don't leave me. Don't leave me. Don't leave me. Don't leave me.
He was beyond mortal comprehension, he was almost a God, no, he is a God. But everything that has been woven by Seven, it makes Noli want to come back as the simple Noli who was friends with the idiotic Seven, the Prideful Seven. The Hackers who caused chaos to pass time and have fun.
He doesn't want to be alone. (And the only one who understands him was Seven.)
He doesn't want to be alone.
“D-D-D0N'T LEAVE ME, [SEVEN]!!!” He let's out a guttural scream when Seven turns around one last time.
A farewell written on his face, a cruel message that he never wants to face. A smile. That stupid smile, that stupid smile, that stupid smile, that stupid smile!
THAT EMPTY SMILE DOES NOT FIT.
From the entire map, everyone heard a broken scream of glitches doused in agony and anger.
007n7 was abandoning Noli again.
Deletion was the answer Noli gave 007n7.
The true erasure of everything and the absolute removal of anything. If a code that has been hit with deletion, it wouldn't come back, right?
007n7 knew Noli wouldn't forget, he knows he got the last farewell. His message.
It makes him sad.
But at the same time glad that Noli wasn't as mad as he thought he would be.
...
[ .item Bullet = new ]
He hums to himself, a familiar tune C00lkidd used to love. He can't seem face his son in any round and he doesn't know why that is.
He was finally alone.
There was no one to ruin anything, no one to ask him anything. Just pure silence and darkness.
It feels lonely.
007n7 double checks everything and everyone's location. He didn't show up in the main cabin, he never left his cabin.
Elliot, Dusekkar, Taph, Guest, Builderman, Shedletsky, Two Time, and Chance in a round against 1x1x1x1. Noob seems to be asleep as he couldn't find him anywhere else in the cabin and it was the perfect time.
The perfect copy of Chance's gun and a special bullet reserved just for him.
They won't need to worry anymore.
He hums a tune, returning to his cabin and locking the door on the way. He sighs. He forgot to clean his cabin. Pictures were... littered everywhere. He doesn't feel like picking anything up.
007n7 blacked out every picture he had of C00lkidd. He couldn't bring to look at his son and pretend that maybe he was still alive. He doesn't want to see his innocent smile and joyful laughter. It's not really true, isn't?
C00lkidd is gone and he can't hope anything anymore.
The gun in 007n7 hands sings for him. Do it. Closer, he brings it up underneath his chin. Do it. It clicks with excitement as his finger grazes the trigger.
...
“Hah... haha.” Oh, he has no other options left. He just wants to be free. “I'm such a weak man after all.”
.Item Bullet = new Delete (True)
...
BANG.
The C00lgui breaks on the bed, cracking and jittering.
Noob flinched at the sudden noise that echoes in the distance. What was that?
They were afraid to check it out but they're too curious. M-maybe he could ask for 007n7 to accompany him? They saw him a few moments earlier when they were in the game room. 007n7 has got to be in his cabin.
Noob got to 007n7's cabin, they were very afraid of what caused that loud noise.
“0-007n7?” They knock.
Noob frowns, usually 007n7 would immediately answer. They try to open the door but it was... locked.
“Um...” Noob tries to look around. Oh, 007n7 has a window, yeah, they can go check that out!
“007n7!” They call through the window.
It's too dark. They try to squint really hard to see anything through the fog and darkness. It doesn't look like 007n7 was in his bed. So where could he—
Noob sees a familiar burger hat from the little reflection of moonlight. So strange, why is 007n7 so far up there?
“U-um! Excuse me, 007n7! Can you accompany me for a little while?”
Noob doesn't receive any response. They squint harder now that there was more light coming from the artifical moon.
...
“...007n7?” 007n7 wasn't responding.
Noob doesn't know if it was their instinct of knowing something was wrong but they knew they had to get in there somehow.
They return to the locked door in an instant and started banging against the door. “007n7, p-please open the door!”
They try to shake and twist the knob but it wouldn't budge. They weren't strong enough to burst the door open. “007n7!”
Noob begins to feel dread lurking up their stomach. They got to open the door somehow. They have to open the door.
This was Sixer all over again. Their disappearance, their lack of understanding. Oh Admins, oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no. This can't be happening, this isn't happening.
Noob takes a deep breath with their eyes watering, “0-007n7, I-I need you to open the door, please!”
They still can't do anything.
“Please...” Noob weakly slams their fist against the door, begging, hoping that whatever the noise was, it did not come from 007n7's cabin.
It keeps hearing the crying of the weak toy banging against 007n7's cabin, so the Spectre had to check.
It was getting annoying. So loud.
It manifests out of the darkest corner and steps closer towards 007n7.
“007n7~ WhAT diD YOU dO?”
It receives no answer. It looks down in ire. It blinks it's eyes in surprise.
Why isn't he respawning? Ooh, what a bloody mess.
The room was a mess. Papers scattered, the photos it gave 007n7 were all scratched out, and perhaps ruined beyond recognition. Worse of all was how its toy destroyed its own C00lgui, breaking it into pieces. It was connected to the man's very code, how did he manage to?
The Spectre frowns. It can't access the man's code anymore.
...
[ .Thing 007n7 = code (invalid) ]
He deleted his own code. The string that keeps him alive. That's...
...very impressive.
“007n7?” It pokes the man, there's too much red falling out of his chin. Flowing like an endless waterfall. He did ruin his own code so it has nothing stopping the flow. He could almost look like he was at peace. Oh, that is so cute, it could watch him sleep all day.
Did he think there would be peace in "true" death when he was in its realm?
It burst into cackles as it caresses the face that held such an expression. It hated that. “I hope you'll have a good dream, 007n7.”
Because who said I was letting you go?
Stitch, sew, fix, and save.
The Spectre never claimed that it didn't have a failsafe.
Red strings started sewing a perfect copy of the C00lgui. No, it's not perfect. It will never be perfect. Just a replacement. For now. “Open your eyes, 007n7. Everything will be perfect. Just for you.”
How long has it been since Noob had their back against 007n7's cabin door? It felt hours but Noob knows it has only been minutes. They felt weak and scared.
“Noob, what are ye doin there?”
Noob looks up in surprise to see Builderman who came out of the main cabin looking tired as ever.
“B-Builderman! Q-quick open the door please!” They immediately got up and started pointing. “You h-have to open it now, 007n7 hasn't been responding!”
Builderman frowns. He takes out a hammer from his belt and immediately strikes the doorknob. It comes undone and Noob spends no time rushing inside the cabin, slamming the door open.
Builderman follows in suit but he slowly takes in the state of the cabin. ...It needs some—
“007n7! Are you—”
Noob touches 007n7 by his shoulders.
Noob stops. There's something sticky coloring their hand. It stains their sleeve, their knees and drips on the floor.
It's red.
It's red. It's red. It's red. It's red.
They shriek, pushing their body on the floor away from the red.
“What's the matter?!” Builderman enters the room and immediately noticed 007n7's state.
What's wrong with his—
...
As if everything was wiped. His codes, his C00lgui, Builderman can't see anything.
...
He's dead.
“He'll... He'll revive... r-right?”
[ .User 007n7 = 01000100 01000101 01000001 01000100 (?) ]
“H-He will b-be back, right?”
[ .User 007n7 = 01000011 01101000 01100001 01101110 01100111 01101001 01101110 01100111 (true) ]
Builderman looks away.
The round finished with Guest as the Last Man Standing. It was tiresome, but he managed to pull it off.
(1x1x1x1 behavior was unusual.
“TH3 H4... 007N7. 1S H3 N0T 1N TH3 R0UND?”
“TH3 GL1TCHY N0L1. H3 K33PS M3NTI0N1NG S0M3TH1NG WR0NG 4B0UT H1M.” They misses their entanglement. Whether by accident or on purpose, Guest wasn't going to question. “D0 M3 4 F4V0R 4ND CH3CK UP 0N H1M.”
“...I N33D T0 KN0W H0W H3 1S D0ING T00. F0R H1S S0N, 1 M34N.”)
He did.
007n7.. Guest 1337 doesn't know where 007n7 disappeared. It has been three rounds since and he has yet to see the man by the docks or in the kitchen.
Strangely, he hasn't taken part in any of the rounds either. Guest found it odd, and usually, 007n7 doesn't go anywhere, and he has nowhere to go in their limited space.
Where could he be?
The group were upstairs having a meeting of some sort. Hushed voices and angry whispering, but Guest 1337 wanted to look for 007n7 first before inquiring them.
“7n7?” He decided to look around, maybe he would find clues.
Guest 1337 exits the main cabin and stares at the one on the far side.
The cabin lay in a mess with the door left ajar.
He's surprised no one has noticed it. (They were either too tired to see, too tired against C00lkidd and Noli who were erratic, always killing survivors when they don't get the answers they're searching for. One round against Noli, and two against C00lkidd.)
The chill of the entrance whispers disarray, hinting at a stillness that Guest could only describe as terror.
With a heavy heart, Guest entered 007n7's cabin, expecting him to be somewhere, anywhere. He isn't.
Guest 1337 doesn't want to sit around knowing 007n7 is missing when another round is starting. He has 20 seconds left.
It's dark. He takes careful steps. But Guest could see the floor that it was littered with desecrated photos of a familiar red figure. Each and every one of them was scribbled with desperate ink and hurried writing.
Every picture is about 007n7's son. A damning message of 'Why do you keep showing him when he's dead?', 'I know he is dead', 'It can't be my son', 'Please let me see my son', Wrecks Guest 1337's heart. It is messily plastered on a picture of 007n7 and his son together.
C00lkidd is dead, morphed into a monster that haunts 007n7.
13 seconds.
Guest's gaze lingered on the bed, where faint particles flickered and dissipated into shimmering binary code. A broken panel caught their attention. Broken? It seemed to be the very same panel that 007n7 held all the time, now marred and unusable. What happened?
He tries to touch it.
An electric shock surprises him rendering his arm numb. He mutters under his breath as he shakes the numbness away. 4 seconds.
He can't focus on that now. Maybe late—
The floor is marked by splatters of color. Guest squints to track where it began.
There’s a gun.
...
1 second.
The round starts.
...
Guest 1337 takes a deep breath, his hands tremble. He failed. He failed 007n7.
Noli was seething. Seven isn't showing up. (He needs to know if he was okay. He needed to know if what he insinuated was a lie. Because Noli doesn't know what to do if Seven abandons him again.)
Seven's "team" wasn't any help either. They give him vague answers, shrugs and "I don't knows"! He needed to know where he was, he needs to know where he is!
He voids rush through the Tempest. He looks at the survivors list and Seven wasn't there.
He comes across the Noob. Shaking like a leaf. Pathetic. Pathetic. They shouldn't be part of Seven's team. Seven was suppose to be with him and not with them!
If he was with Noli, maybe he can prevent any of this!
He wants Seven to come back. He can prove that they can still be happy together. That they can still go back. He doesn't want to be alone.
Not now, not again.
He hurls the star towards Noob and grabbed them by their collar. “WH3R3 1s [SEV3N]!?”
There's a new fear behind their eyes. Not the usual killer fear. Something more. They try to open their mouth only to come up with a whine as Noli shakes them. “[4-4-4NSWER] ME!”
Noob shakes their head, no, they say.
Noli knows the answer. He doesn't want to acknowledge that. He wants a different truth. A lie that wouldn't at least hurt.
He isn't ready.
Noli was ready to throw them furiously to the ground until a familiar deep voice answers him.
“He's dead.”
Who was it who ruins his—!? Builderman. He stares at Noli, with pity. He hated it. “His code... wiped out.”
Noli's eyes turn to static.
...
“H4_-HAH.”
He let's go of Noob.
“If I were to get rid of something... what would be the code so that it doesn't come back?”
Seven you... absolute cruel bastard. Noli releases a broken laugh. “H4h.”
He uses Observant and teleports to the furthest generator. Away.
Alone. He's alone. He's all alone. Again.
It hurts more than it should've.
He's been abandoned once he should've expected it.
...
Noli does not have any tears to shed.
But he wants to cry.
They "won."
Instead of celebrating, instead of being happy, Guest 1337 straight away ran out of the main cabin, and Shedletsky follows. Noob started sobbing, looking away from horror as Builderman quietly tries to soothe them.
Elliot... blankly stares at his hands. He could certainly have helped. Maybe if he just...
...
Who was he kidding? He didn't try for 007n7. He was still afraid the change was a facade, a lie to get him to lower his guard. He opened up to the man with little effort.
007n7 is dead.
And Elliot should've seen the signs.
...
007n7 is dead.
It changed everything and nothing.
Everyone comes to face regret but a dead man cannot be helped. Did they try their best?
Elliot felt breathless. He felt weak.
007n7 is standing there. 007n7 is over there.
Eyes crossed out with strings attached. Like a puppet being maneuvered as desired. He isn't 007n7, that isn't 007n7.
“Where is 007n7?”
The censor changes to a "!" and immediately switches to a message bubble typing.
[ I am 007n7. ]
“...What did you do to 007n7.” Elliot glares at the sky. There was a rumbling laugh.
“d0 Y0U L1Ke tHIS vErsION oF mY TOY?_”
Elliot feels sick.
“i FixED Him. i CAN CH4NgE hIM hOWEver I LIKE!” It cackles in delight. It makes 007n7 twirl and swing.
“I CaN aLSO mAKE hIm a KILLER. WoUlD yOU ALL bE inTEREsTED plaYING agAinsT hIM?”
Notes:
[ .User 007n7 = 01000100 01000101 01000001 01000100 (?) ] = DEAD
[ .User 007n7 = 01000011 01101000 01100001 01101110 01100111 01101001 01101110 01100111 (true) ] = Changing
We finally get to the end of this journey.
- 007n7? dead, the 007n7 that became the killer? A broken shell, or what remains of 007n7 that the Spectre could “fix” to have its toy back. This 007n7 is akin to a clone, at the same time it's not, since he has what 007n7 left behind: memories.
The only memories he has, though, are all about C00lkidd. He has no best friend, no team, and no enemies. Just a son that he could see as long as he did what the Spectre wanted him to be, entertaining.
- The Spectre doesn't let 007n7 in the killer cabin and instead makes him stay in the empty darkness. A toy reserved only for its eyes.
Thank you for all the support and comments you gave me along this story.
I will continue to write as 007n7 as my muse but I will perhaps focus on the collab story me and my artist paper has in progress. Or maybe start another story where the other survivors try to get 007n7 back?
Who knows!
Ps.
I can make an extra chapter of the survivors reacting to "007n7" playing against them. If you want, wink
Edit: I SWEAR TO GODDDD WHY DOES IT KEEP HAVING ERRORS
Edit 2.0: it's too funny not to make extra chapters about this version of 007n7. I might.
Chapter 5: [EXTRA CHAPTER] You got eyes on You.
Summary:
It can play with the survivors, it can go against survivors!
Chapter Text
He feels light.
He... feels light. Something is helping him balance and tugging him to follow its direction.
He follows.
Something isn't right but he couldn't place a finger on what. Something is screaming at him that everything isn't supposed to— His legs feel wobbly. He can't stand but something stops him from falling forward.
He doesn't remember where he is. He doesn't know why. All he knows is that he has to return home to find C00lkidd.
There's a laugh behind him. It's excited.
The thing helping him leads him outside, and there are people. A man with blue hair, a man with a hard hat. He doesn't recognise anyone.
But his attention turns to a certain man, there's a man with a red visor staring at him, horrified. Everyone is, but he doesn't know why he focuses on the other, wearing a pizza worker uniform. He seems to recognize him.
“Where is 007n7?” The man asked with fear behind his shaking eyes.
He is surprised. This man, why is he searching for him? He tries to speak. He couldn't.
He uses his C00lgui to speak instead.
[ I am 007n7. ]
There's a flare of anger.
He loses focus.
There's a voice talking to him.
“007n7 how do you feel?”
Who are you? It doesn't answer.
...
I feel light.
“Do you need something?”
Have you seen my son?
“Do you want to see your son?”
Yes.
“Then, entertain me.”
Don't entertain it. Don't entertain its request.
Red strings tie around his neck. He lets it. He feels nothing.
(007n7 screams. It hurts! It hurts! He couldn't get the strings off, he can't control his body. It isn't listening to him. It's only listening to it.)
He wakes up next to someone trying to talk to him. He feels lightheaded. He listens. He smiles.
The person stops. He looks at them. He types.
[ What's wrong? ]
Guest 1337 doesn't like the Spectre's cruel joke.
It has taken it too far.
There sits the copy of 007n7 perfectly still on the sofa of the lounge as Noob tries their best to look at it. They try to talk to... it.
It listens, it stares. But it doesn't speak. No, it couldn't speak. The bright scar underneath his chin was the cruellest reminder of the reason.
Guest feels vile looking at this 007n7. It has stitching all over its body, C00lgui merged as part of it.
It is not 007n7. It's... all wrong.
There are strings above 007n7 that make him move, that tug him to follow actions. Sometimes it looks forced, sometimes it makes its own movement. But it doesn’t feel like 007n7.
Guest can't look at this 007n7. It's delicate, it's broken. It's breaking. The Spectre doesn't care. It keeps stitching, revising, redoing.
Guest 1337 felt rage.
As much as he wanted 007n7 alive, this cannot be the answer to his wish.
This isn't 007n7. This isn't 007n7.
It turns to Guest, tilting his head confused.
...
[ What's wrong? ]
But this version still retains the usual care the man held for others. It's revolting. It's sickening.
But despite all that, he'll be damned if he doesn't protect this version of 007n7.
The threat of the Spectre making this 007n7 become a killer against them hangs over Guest's neck heavily.
He doesn't think he can hurt 007n7.
No, he will never hurt 007n7.
“007n7, when the round starts... don't... go alone, alright?” Guest tiredly pats it.
[ What are these rounds? ]
“We run away from killers.” Guest bluntly spoke, “And one of the killers...”
He stares.
“It's your son,” and it might be you, too.
The C00lgui plastered on 007n7's face types. [ Hahaha, what a funny joke. ]
It holds a simple smile.
[ My son doesn't kill people. ]
Guest, let's go.
C00lkidd would never hurt anyone. Accidents happen all the time. He had to accept that. (C00lkidd is hurting too many people. 007n7 doesn't think he can compensate them for all the damage but he tries. He's trying to teach C00lkidd, he swears.
Nobody listens.)
“007n7, what is it that you remember?”
His son, his innocent son C00lkidd who loves to sneak into his room to use his C00lgui he hid somewhere. His retirement as a Hacker, working multiple jobs and his peaceful life with his son, with no worry.
“Do you know why you are here?”
Was he supposed to know? I don't know.
“Do you know what you did?”
007n7 had done so many bad things in the past. I don't remember.
“Do you know why they are staring at you like that?”
I don't remember any one of them but they introduced their selves to him. I don't know.
“Do you know what you need to do?”
A voice behind his head screams at him to give up. Another made a deal with him, to be an entertainment, and he will see his son. I don't know.
“007n7, you are not okay.”
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I'm alive.
I am. ALIVE.
“007n7, do you know?”
...
Am I dead?
“007n7, wake up. We can't do this.”
The C00lgui behind him cracks. Strings cover up the cracks and attach to his back.
He doesn't pay any attention.
Noob cannot look him in the eyes. Does he even have eyes? Every time they do, they remember the 007n7 who sat cold with blood dripping down his chin. The eyes that glaze with emptiness. It makes them want to throw up.
They cannot look at him without their voice breaking, their hands shaking. Without wanting to break down.
They can't face him, but he is... alive, right?
They want to hug 007n7 but his body is so cold.
They can't sleep, despite knowing that 007n7 is alive. That he returned. It is so deceiving. He doesn't know what is wrong, why others are looking at him weirdly. Noob doesn't have the heart to tell him.
Builderman, Dusekkar, Guest and Elliot all tell them this is not 007n7.
But 007n7 is here. He is...
...
Noob doesn't want this. “007n7, w-why?”
[ What's wrong? ]
He stares. Noob doesn't look up. They don't want to. They didn't have to. Cold arms wrapped around Noob's body and they flinch from contact. After such changes, they don't think they want it to graze their body. It's rough, it's painful.
They don't want to push him away but the touch was piercing.
This is not 007n7.
And Noob cries on 007n7's shoulders, wrapping their hands back for comfort. They hope something in this 007n7 still remains the same as the 007n7 they know.
Strings continue to wrap around him, and some of them manage to cut through his skin, becoming part of him. He can tug it, it tugs him back.
Something is trying to sever its connection. The other doesn't let it.
He doesn't know why it's trying to sever the harmless strings. (It hurts, it hurts, it hurts. The strings are drowning him in pain and confusion as they wrap around him with a false sense of security. He wants it off his body, but he can't cut it.)
“007n7, what do you remember during college?”
(Memories are leaving him. There was someone. He was always there with him. Always joining in, always—) I was alone. I was a Hacker. I got too cocky and caused damage left and right. C00lkidd changed me. I wanted to be better. (Always there. Waiting for him.)
“007n7, do you remember who you've hurt the most?”
I've hurt people. A lot of people. I do not remember. (The burning pizzeria. The screams of anger and sorrow.)
“007n7, what did you do when C00lkidd disappeared?”
I was looking for him. I kept looking for him.
(There was a gun hidden inside one of the shelves. I killed myself.)
“007n7. How are ya faring?” Builderman finds him alone by the docks. Instead of sitting, it only stands on the dock watching over the still water. The C00lgui panel floats towards Builderman. [ Hello Builderman. I am not causing trouble. ]
“Yes. that is quite... a feat. ...What are ya doin' here?”
[ I don't know. ] It types. [ I don't remember. ]
“Alright.”
Builderman sits beside 007n7, feet dangling from the wooden dock. “Won't ye tell me what ya remember?”
[ ... ] The C00lgui pauses. It sinks to Buildermans eye level and glitches. [ My son. ]
“C00lkidd, right?” The red monster. He can't say.
[ I remember him missing. I was... trying to search for him. ] Builderman reads. [ But I couldn't find him. It took me days before I found myself here. ]
He doesn't remember anything he have done. Was it a pity to have him the same innocence akin to a child?
[ Builderman, there's a voice saying that I could see my son if I follow. ]
He frowns. “...You don't actually believe it, do you?”
A happy face.
[ No, I do. ]
[ I just need my son and everything will be better. ]
He was promised that he would see his son if he participated in the rounds and entertained the Spectre.
He is confused. The others say to run away or to hide. Do not entertain the Spectre. To run away from anyone with a killing intent. Why must he run?
He needs C00lkidd.
He'll do anything to see his kid.
[ Hello. ]
John Doe stares. The round has only started but this man went to him first?
Confusion. The man disappeared. But he's back? It doesn't make sense.
He shouldn't care. He thinks.
He rushes forward and gives a big slash, ripping the man's chest. The C00lgui on the man's face glitches, he looks down at the damage before settling to a simple [ Ow. ]
Strings hold him in place. He doesn't topple.
[ Have you seen my son? The voice say you know my son. ]
John Doe lowers his claw. He looks around. C00lkidd, he means. He nods. A happy face glitches in the panel. It disappears as immediately as it appears. [ Where is he? ]
Not here. He can't say.
...
Doesn't he know John can't speak? John Doe stares.
...
He waits for an answer. John can't give him any answer. He is wasting his time. Was this his new strategy? No, something about him changed. John Doe can't tell what he did.
[ My son? ]
Nowhere here.
John turns around to search for another player.
He sees Builderman.
“...Hello John.”
“nO. YOU cANNoT inTERRUpt tHEM wHen ThEy'RE PLAYinG.”
[ Playing? ]
“ThEY haVE An OBJectiVe.”
[ But I want to see my son. You told me he knew my son. ] He looks up at the Spectre leaning down to match his sight. [ Will you let me see my son? ]
“Hm~ I KN0W!”
Red strings hold his body suspended, entangling him. Red strings connect. They shimmer faintly in the dim light. (007n7 gasps, his throat constricted, wheezing as he fights against the restraints. He tries to draw in a breath.)
An unsettling weightlessness envelops him, making his head feel fuzzy. Blood stains the cold, hard floor, its vibrant crimson smearing across his trembling hands. Claws. (It hurts.)
There's a pang of Emptiness. He doesn't mind.
“WhY DON't we TrY oUT thE cOD3 CHangE?”
Entertain me.
...
His mind is filled with cotton.
How... does he entertain the Spectre?
“007n7, do you have the heart to kill people?”
(I don't want to kill anyone. I don't want to kill anyone. I wouldn't murder anyone!) Does it matter? (His heart no longer beats.)
“007n7, do you know the burden of your past mistakes?”
Those were just collateral damage. Infrastructure damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage.
Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage. Damage.
“007n7, will you do anything to see your son?”
Yes.
[ Objective: Kill Play with everyone to see your son. ]
“007n7, We can't do that.”
He can do that.
(“WE CAN'T DO THAT! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! I WILL NEVER DO THAT!”)
Strings attached to his back puppet his body to move forward.
The Spectre remembered John was in the round, oh it can't have John. It needs to see what 007n7 can do as the killer.
As compensation, the killers need a show too.
John Doe gets teleported into the cabin confused. He had 2 more minutes... what happened?
“...WHY 4R3 Y0U H3R3?” 1x1x1x1 and C00lkidd stare at John Doe, blinking at them, confused. “Yeah, Mr. John! You're way too early!”
He was there. He... was chasing Builderman.
He grunts.
“D0N'T T3LL M3 Y0U G4V3 UP. J0HN, 1T H4SN'T BE3N 1 M1NUT3.”
John violently growls, shaking his head. “D0 N0T R41S3 Y0UR V01C3 4T M3!”
John looks at 1x1x1x1, offended.
That TV that never seemed to work, thrills in delight. It flashes to life.
C00lkidd was the first to notice.
“What's this?”
There's something odd about this round.
Ting! The coin lands on heads.
Chance stares at the ruined pizza place. A mockery for Elliot. He sees Elliot in the distance and they wave for him to come closer. “How are you feeling, buddy?”
“I'm doing fine! What do you think?” Elliot snaps.
“Geez, I was just asking man.”
“Sorry, I just...” pain squeezes on Elliot's face. “Really hate this... map, that's all.”
007n7. Chance knew the cause of Elliot's jittery behaviour. Chance doesn't know how to react to 007n7's action. Not to mention, return.
But 007n7 didn't return as a whole.
Chance doesn't know how to approach him. It was his gun found next to 007n7. But at that same time, they were in a round.
007n7 had no way of getting their gun, so how?
Elliot sighs, “Let's stick together and find the others.”
Ting! The coin lands on heads.
Chance hums, “...I'm sure they'll be fine.”
Click. He takes one look at their coin and frowns.
Weakness I.
“I...would rather not take my chances.” Elliot pauses, he looks at Chance's stupid wide grin and scowls as he points, “No pun intended.”
The map was eerily quiet. So unlike other maps that all may have the same dread, but weren't as silent as this one. The silence was ringing.
There seems to be eyes watching.
“Who do you think will be the killer this time?”
“I don't know..”
Click. The coin lands on tails. Weakness II.
“It can't be that purple guy Noli, he's loud and glitchy. He... stopped attacking us.” Chance reasons. He looks at a strangely highlighted generator. “And he can't possibly do that.”
“Do what?” Elliot asks as he squints.
Chance turns to Elliot and back to the generator, and he rubs his eyes for good measure.
It... wasn't glowing?
“Huh. I must've seen wrong.” Click. He got tails again. Weakness III.
Elliot mutters under his breath, “So far no one has yet to get hurt.” He tugged Chance closer when he saw them distracted.
“Chance, stick with me for a moment until we see who the killer might be.”
“The killer hasn't started hunting us, think they're giving us a free round?”
They only give them a free round if 007n7 was in the game.
...007n7 must be in the round.
Chance really wanted to know who the killer might be now. He thinks it's the Cult Leader. Elliot seems to catch on to his plan as he looks at them resignedly.
“...Just help me find Guest and I'll let you wander off on you're own.”
“Yes!” Chance fist-bumped the air and followed Elliot in suit.
Instead of finding Guest, they found Two Time. They seemed to be staring at the... fire blocking an entrance? No, it wasn't really blocking the entrance it was more like... placed there to be an inconvenience.
Strange. Has that fire been there since the other rounds?
Click. The coin still gave him a tail. Weakness IV.
“Two Time buddy, what are you doing?”
Two Time slowly twists around. They looked at Chance and Elliot, “Greetings Deliverer. Gambler. I seem to find myself in a pickle.”
“Two Time. That's a fire, just a small fire.” Elliot points.
Although it seemingly moved to the centre. But still, they can just walk past the fire.
“I know what a fire is, dearest Deliverer. It is just that...” Two Time seems to think about doing something before they silently walk towards the part where the fire isn't touching.
The fire won't let Two Time pass.
“What the hell.”
“Huh. Well, that IS strange.”
Now Chance was very curious, it had been a minute or two now, but the killer hadn't appeared, not even once.
Is the killer hiding?
The coin lands on tails. Weakness V.
“Hey, why have you three gathered here?” They all turn to Guest 1337. Guest cautiously looks around the area before relaxing his tense shoulders.
“Hey, Guest. Have you seen the killer?”
Guest squints. “...No I haven't... I thought you all had, seeing you here, cuddled up in the way.”
Chance frowns, “Ah, shucks. Even the big man doesn't know.”
There's a buzz in the air that Guest couldn't name. It sends his nerves on high alert and the hair on his arms to stand up.
Something is brewing in the dark.
“Stay on guard. I have a bad feeling about this.”
Chance dared to wave it off.
“Probably won't be too bad. If anything, they should be friendly. I don't know how long this round's going to take.”
Ting. Tails, again. Weakness VI.
“Speaking of... has anyone seen any of the admins?”
Guest turns to Chance. His eyebrow twitched slightly as he looked at the flintlock before he decided to look around. “I was going to ask. I have run around the perimeter searching for them, but not once have I seen any of them.”
Oh, that's bad. “Maybe they're doing gens..?”
Ting! The coin lands on heads. Three Charges. Nice.
“Well, we better find them now, or the killer finds us first.” Elliot stretches and looks around searching for a familiar accessory.
“...The killer must be watching.”
Must be paranoia. Chance could feel someone was watching them too.
But Chance doesn't recall seeing anything out of the ordinary apart from the small fire blocking their way.
“Chance, your gun... about 007n7.”
Chance frowns. They know where this is going. He knows. Chance stares at Guest 1337. “I didn't give him my gun.”
The coin lands on tails. Weakness VII.
(“Mr. 1x, what are they talking about?” C00lkidd inquires. Tugging the virus towards the playing television. Why is it working now? 1x1x1x1 squints their eyes.)
Chance doesn't remember having any prior interactions with 007n7 asking for his gun before his... death but he knows they never directly gave him their gun.
...Or maybe that round during—
“...Don Sonnellino.” Chance whispers breathless, unheard.
Guest sucked his breath. He doesn't hear. “I see.”
...
Against Don Sonnellino, when the gun exploded on his face, he ran to 007n7.
He did give him their gun, didn't he? He did. They asked him to fix his gun, leaving it unattended in his hands to somehow make a copy out of it. What a stupid bastard I am.
Chance feels a choking hold of regret and responsibility against him.
(Was it his fault?)
...How tense.
Chance looks away from the straining silence. Changing the topic effectively, “O-oh hey, my coin gave me my lucky number.”
Elliot raised his brow.
“...In weakness. In weakness, man.”
Elliot just looks away and Chance can't help but feel hurt.
(“Oh! Oh! It's Dad! My dad- looks odd..?” C00lkidd slowly sits down in front of the television.
“He isn't supposed to be like that.”
John Doe agrees.
“J0HN D03.” John stands beside C00lkidd. 1x1x1x1 gives him a look. They have a bad feeling about this.)
“...The... 007n7. He—” Two Time stands surprised, they pause too late. Everyone immediately turns. “...Please hold on for—”
“Oh! 007n7!” Chance immediately jogs towards 007n7 with a big smile.
“...007n7, you—! Guest?” Elliot lags behind but Guest stops him before he can come any closer.
(“W-W-WH4T are y0U [W4TCHING], kid?” Noli enters. Usually he doesn't leave his room anymore, not unless he needs something or to entertain C00lkidd's antics to distract himself.
The moment his eyes landed on the television, he zoomed in close to C00lkidd, wide-eyed and in shock. “[!?]”)
There are so many strings attached to his back.
“You gotta stick with us, man–” Chance's voice cracks, he took a heavy step back away from 007n7, “And don't go alone in... what the heck?”
007n7 turns with an uncanny feel and a blank expression..?
(“I didn't... Mr. Noli, why is my dad acting like that?”
Noli ignores his question. Builderman told him 007n7 is dead. He knows what it means for a code to be deleted. It never returns. That is not Seven. So what is that?)
...This has to be a clone right?
His body bleeds black. Red strings puppeting its movement. It doesn't look like the 007n7 who returned. He is wearing a black jacket.
“...Have the ex-Hacker been able to duplicate like that?”
No, has it always had too many strings connected behind its back?
It started walking towards Chance. Scanning. Waiting.
“007n7?...”
The C00lgui started typing.
[ Hi! ]
A hand drenched in glitches and black reaches towards Chance. Guest 1337 pushed 007n7 away from them and raised their hands to block. Guest flinches at contact. A claw. It's a claw.
Guest felt something spike in his chest.
“What are you doing, 007n7!?”
The C00lgui types.
[ I have to entertain the Spectre. ] A smile spreads across his face. Wild and static. [ If I entertain the Spectre, I can see my son. :D ]
Guest felt bile rising up his throat.
(“J0HN.” John Doe grunts. He tugs C00lkidd by the back of his shirt, but the kid was stupidly strong. “No!! I have to see what my dad's going to do! What does he mean by that-”)
[ Will you help me entertain the Spectre? ]
007n7 slams against Elliot.
Elliot struggles against his hold. It's like his previous attacks, his previous terrorism in the pizzeria.
Elliot couldn't breathe. “...N-no. No, don't do this. Don't do this to me again, please.”
There's an indifferent smile on 007n7's face. This is not 007n7. No, this is 007n7 of his past.
Again, he's ignoring Elliot's pain.
There's a crunch against Elliot's arm.
Elliot screams.
“T-that's not how you play! Dad, what are you doing!”
“C00LK1DD, 1TS B3ST 1F Y0U D0N'T W4TCH.”
Shoot him. Shoot him! Chance points the gun at 007n7.
.
...Can he even shoot him?
He hesitates. They couldn't pull the trigger. They have to pull the trigger. “Chance!”
They don't know who is calling them, but he is trying. He focuses on 007n7 empty smile.
Imagine, imagine that 007n7 is...
...
Imagine that 007n7 is anyone but not 007n7.
“J0HN, C0V3R H1M!”
John Doe was already doing that. “Nooo! I wanna see, I-”
BANG!
Red viciously drips.
007n7 falls to the ground.
“D-dad?”
“...” Noli doesn't react. There's yelling beside him as the other two try to block C00lkidd's view. It is not 007n7 but he can't stop watching.
“...” C00lkidd heart sank in to the cold, his father isn't getting up. His filtered view breaks. (It isn't a toy gun that stuns.)
1x1x1x1 covers the kid's eyes with their hands, motioning C00lkidd to look away. They can feel droplets of tears falling away caught by their hands.
Of course, the Spectre just had to open the eyes of the child in such a gruesome manner.
“Oh. 007n7, GeT uP.”
It hurts.
“007n7, stay down.”
Yeah, I would like that.
“007n7, dOnT yOU_ wANt tO sEE yoUr sON?”
...I want to see my son.
“You have no more son to see, C00lkidd is dead.”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No.
He is not.
Chance let's out a shaky gasp. He did it. He actually shot 007n7. Oh, Admins, what has he done now.
No, no. 007n7 is the killer. He can't feel bad now. He has to protect Elliot. He—
C00lgui flashes with glitched emotes. [HA HA HA HA HA ]
Red strings contorts 007n7 with exaggerated movements. [ Ow man XD ]
[ That's cheating. ]
Distorted loud noise blasts all around the area. Elliot can't get up, the clatter of noise was terrifyingly familiar. It's making him nauseous.
007n7 moves in a petrifying speed, taking up the space between him and Chance.
He leads Chance's gun up to his chin and grins.
[ You go for the chin. ]
BANG.
“...7n7, what the fuck.” Chance rubs against his chin, it stings but there's no scar similar to him.
...Ow.
Guest promised himself that he will protect everyone.
He failed to protect one.
Guest promised himself, he will do no harm against him. But how can he protect the others without force?
Guest takes Elliot by his uninjured hand, and dodges an incoming slash. He holds back from pushing his knuckles forward, standing his ground by silently glaring at the C00lgui above 007n7.
“007n7.” He pushes Elliot behind, a signal to run away.
[ Yes, Guest 1337? ]
“Snap out of it.”
The C00lgui behind 007n7 pulses.
I'm trying.
Elliot continues to sprint until his stamina depletes. His broken arm aches with burning laceration that he hopes later would be fixed.
Elliot... is glad he still remember the nook and cranny of this map like the back of his palm.
He can't do this.
He can't face him.
Not like this. Not when it's using his face. He wipes away the blood dripping from his nose as his ears ring from discomfort. Not again.
“Elliot! There you are!”
Builderman.
“Builderman, help me.”
“You're hurting Elliot.”
Who is Elliot?
“You killed Guest.”
(He almost landed a punch, it would've been better if he punched. Why did he stop mid-swing?)
He'll be back. (I won't be surprised if he started hating us.)
“You shot Chance.”
It won't scar. (Didn't it scar me?)
“You're unforgiveable.”
But (we're) I am doing anything for my son. (We're truly unforgiveable.)
It shouldn't matter.
“What will C00lkidd think of us?”
“That's not my dad...” C00lkidd sobs against 1x1x1x1. They won't allow him to watch but he can understand now. It is not his dad.
Mr. Chance shot him but there's something wrong with him. His body can't be twisted like that.
Mr. Noli hasn't made any move to comfort him, his eyes are locked on the television, watching his dad move like he's a doll.
But his dad isn't a doll, his dad is...
Is his dad okay?...
What happened to his dad?
“Can't believe John would break yer arm like this. No, I can totally believe it.” Builderman muttered. Elliot hissed as bandages wrap around the aching arm with a stick to keep it steady.
“It wasn't John Doe. He isn't the killer.” Elliot slumps against the machine, slowly feeling revitalized. “It's 007n7.”
“...” Builderman narrows his eyes. But John was just there. Don't tell me-
“I CaN aLSO mAKE hIm a KILLER. WoUlD yOU ALL bE inTEREsTED plaYING agAinsT hIM?”
“...Well, I'll be damned.”
The Spectre is truly experimenting on what it can do to 007n7's body. It's bad enough that its desecrating his body, now it's forcing him to play?
Truly a heartless Being.
“Stick to my machine for now. Lest he appears, start runnin'.”
There's a beep in the air and out of instinct Builderman turns behind him. A face on a panel surprises him with glee written as its eyes.
This bastard teleported. Of course this bastard can teleport.
[ What are you two talking about? ]
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
“Elliot!” He yells. He didn't need to command Elliot, he has already started running.
“007n7, we can talk about this.”
Builderman glances at the open area where Elliot left and back to 007n7 who moves like a mannequin.
[ Hello, Builderman. What do we talk about? ]
Was this mockery, copying his innocence? Builderman scowls.
“Yer givin' Elliot a bad time. Why don't you explain to me, Why?” He slowly retreats, back against the opening.
007n7 started playing a annoying, high pitched song.
The panel started writing, [ The Spectre wants to be entertained. ]
“...You don't hav'ta entertain it, 007.”
He pauses, he slowly stalks forward. [ But if I do. I get to see my son. ]
...
Using his son as a mean. Now ain't that fucking cruel?
“...Ya can see yer son in rounds like this, y'know?” He tries.
[ I am the Spectre's entertainment. What else can I do? ]
No. No you aren't 007n7. Builderman bitterly thought.
1x1x1x1 can't stay they are enjoying this show. That Being has to be playing with 007n7. That Hacker doesn't even look alive. The Spectre seems to be using his body as a way to be more vile and remorseless.
C00lkidd doesn't like this either. Understandable, the Hacker was, dare they say it, a toy moving under the Spectres influence.
They tried turning it off, plugging it out, destroying it. Nothing worked.
Noli doesn't bat an eye, he's too focused on the damned situation to even help consoling C00lkidd.
“Why is my dad like that now?”
“1 D0 N0T KN0W, C00LKIDD.”
“...Is it my fault?”
“...N0, 1T W0ULDN'T B3.”
C00lkidd won't admit that he feels that it is.
Builderman is dead. Dusekkar is dead. Guest is dead. Chance is dead. Now it's Two Time dying against 007n7.
“Forgive me for failing my duty as a sentinel.”
They couldn't backstab 007n7. They didn't want to. Two chokes between their words as 007n7 stabs out their heart.
Elliot is dizzy.
There's a blood pooling down on the ground and he can't help but feel it is his.
The terrific music that haunted him on every waking hour suddenly started to pitch in.
[ This song is familiar. ]
Spooky, scary skeletons, Send shivers down your spine.
Elliot wants to throw up. He thought he have recovered, forgotten and moved on after the man changed.
Shrieking skulls will shock your soul.
007n7 approaches. [ Hello Elliot. ]
Elliot takes careful steps back.
“This is why I hated you.” Elliot spat. “I hated you.”
Hated. Forgiven. Elliot tried. He truly did. He tried to accept the man's word of change, believing it was possible, believing it wasn't a lie.
Seal your doom tonight.
After seeing the man dead? He knew he had to believe it now.
Even when it was too late.
But it's all back to zero. He was doing things he promised he'll never make with malice.
007n7 paused, the static panel blinks at Elliot, awaiting for him to finish his words. [ You hated me? ]
It only made Elliot angrier. “I trusted you.”
I thought you will be fine, but Elliot guesses that was also his fault. He didn't pay attention to him. And that was his fault. He is fueled by rage towards himself.
Elliot's temper seems to have won over his fear as he closes the distance between him and 007n7 as he furiously jabs a finger.
“You say you've changed? So look around, did you!?”
[ Do I know you? ]
[ Have I hurt you before? ]
[ I don't remember. ]
007n7's mouth tried to open. Trying to say a whisper, a breathless mutter Elliot could miss if not for their close proximity. “...I... changed.”
(He doesn't realize that it was 007n7 who answered, not him.)
“That's where you're wrong!” Fury finally presents itself to the face of Elliot. Burning tears falls unstoppable, “What is this if you've changed?!”
007n7 pushes Elliot harshly and suddenly.
[ Stop that. It's hurting my head. ]
[ I'll make it quick. I'm sorry. ]
[ Elliot? I'll be sure to remember. ]
[I'll apologize later. ]
He makes empty promises.
It hurts. Elliot can't help but weep. He can't heal with 007n7 as another killer.
Maybe if he just continued to help 007n7, none of this wouldn't have happened.
The damage and the stick on his hand disappeared without a trace but he feels the piercing pang.
There's a warm hand patting his back and Elliot can't help but break.
Noli feels the hollowness of his chest spread. If this 007n7 cannot remember what he have done to Elliot, what more about Noli who was his best friend?
This 007n7 is not his Seven.
1x1x1x1 keeps C00lkidd occupied as John Doe tries to 'talk' to him. He doesn't acknowledge him.
...He wants Seven.
[ I did what you asked for. ] He tells the darkness. He surrenders his body to its cold hold.
[ So will you let me see my child? ]
It laughs, grating his ears but he couldn't care. It was numbing. “Oh, yOU diD WEll, 007n7. YOu Did SO WELL.”
“YoU DESERve a rEWARD For EnterTaINING mE!” He feels the rush of the cold breeze against his skin, and he accepts it.
He's in a familiar void. A familiar table set with the decoration. It feels familiar, but he doesn't remember where he has seen it. There's nothing but darkness.
He sits down, patiently waiting for his son. He feels excited. To... to see his son.
He doesn't pay any thought to the banging at the back of his mind.
C00lkidd doesn't want to see my dad. 1x said it might not even be his dad and he wholeheartedly agrees.
His father cannot be broken like that.
His dad is strong! And- and cooler than a "carbon copy" posing like him! (He heard Mr. Noli call him that. So he can't be wrong about it.)
He doesn't want to see his dad like that.
But Mr. Voice is mean. “YouR FATheR waNTs tO SeE yOU.”
C00lkidd sees his dad sitting idly. His body... isn't like what he saw on the TV. “...Papa?”
He's wearing the cool blue vest!
“Papa!” He runs. Excitement filling his face until he sees his father's face. C00lkidd stops.
[ C00lkidd? ]
His dad gets up and- and moved mechanically towards him. C00lkidd can't stop looking at the bright scar. That wasn't there before. (No, there was a scar, it was just... it wasn't bright as this.)
His dad envelops him in a strong hug. C00lkidd doesn't like this. But it is so warm, “...Are you really my dad?”
There's tearing running down on his face again. He can't help but remember the way Mr. Chance shot him and the way he fell to the ground lifeless.
His dad violently flinched, he kneels on the dark floor and meets C00lkidd's sight. [ Of course I am! What makes you ask that! ]
“You died!.. You died! Mr. Chance shot you and then- and then you started moving weird!”
The panel goes blank.
C00lkidd is so scared. Why can't his dad talk?
[ I never died C00lkidd. What are you talking about? ]
What?
“Noo!! Mr. Chance shot you! H-here!” C00lkidd grips on his dad's shirt and points at his dad's temple. “And you weren't getting up...”
[ C00lkidd... Shh, shh. It's alright. I'm here, I'm here, alright? ]
(He doesn't remember. That never happened. What is C00lkidd talking about? How does he know... Chance?)
No, there's something missing. But C00lkidd can't tell what is. His dad hugs him once again, humming and caressing his head as he cries.
“Why- why are you talking like that?”
He tries to open his mouth. (He can't, it hurts, it hurts. He can't say that to C00lkidd.) He smiles.
[ I'll find a way to fix my voice, alright? ]
He let's his child cry on his chest.
Nothing matters. He has his son.
Although he is saying strange things, he will always listen. A child imagination can be wild.
As long as his son is alive...
Yes, as long as he's alive... then he, too, will do anything the Spectre wills him to do.
He returns to the familiar lounge feeling weakened. He... was with his son. Talking about...
He doesn't remember.
“007n7?” Builderman and Chance gawks. He smiles. [ Hello Chance, Hello Builderman. ]
Chance tries to hold a friendly smile. Builderman doesn't grace him a smile. They put a distance.
“H-hey man. What you did last round was...” Chance rubs his neck, eyes darting away from the bright scar on 007n7.
There's a loading interface on 007n7's panel.
[ What are you talking about, Chance? ] He tilts his head. Chance gave him a glare looking wounded. “Y-you shot me, man!”
He loses the smile. [ When did I shoot you? ]
[ I don't remember. ]
All the distress on Chance's face fades. They turn to Builderman with a heavy pause. They whisper.
[ I'm sorry. ] He smiles.
There's a tug on his string, he doesn't respond.
(You're not sorry, you're not sorry, you're not sorry, you're not sorry, you're not sorry, you're not sorry, are you?)
“...So. Did ya see your son, 007?”
[ I didn't. ]
( I don't remember. )
Dusekkar doesn't know how the Spectre thinks nor does he wants to guess how it process. He merely knows that it is having fun messing with 007n7. If he could call the one who returned '007n7.'
007n7 partake in rounds in a role of random. Dusekkar has kept notes, 007n7 will join the round as a survivor if he is not desperate to look for his son following anyone in tandem.
He becomes a killer whenever desperation calls for it. How does the Spectre see it fit? Most of the survivors doesn't know how to act around the man, at least it isn't a ban.
Elliot has taken the hardest toll, a harder soul to console. The trauma of his past, such a shadow it cast.
Dusekkar is trying his hardest to help everyone as he promised.
Noli was starting to hate the Spectre. A round with this false Seven, it's a pathetic taunting.
He is not Seven. It's not Seven.
He rushes forward, aiming at the false Seven. [ ! ]
He slams against the duplicate with such hate it cracks the ground and the C00lgui on his face. [ Ow. ]
“H-H-HOW DARE y-you_ TRY 4ND REPL4CE [HIM]?”
It looks around confused.
[ Who? ] It asks.
“[SEVEN]! Y-Y0u CANNOT REPLIC4TE HIM!”
[ Hahahaha. ] It had the audacity to laugh. Noli sees red. [ I am 007n7. You're confusing me for someone else named Seven. ]
Noli slams the fake hard on cold concrete that it cracks the screen. [ Ow. ]
“You A-A-ARE NOT [SEVEN.] Y-YOU WILL N4V4R_ B_BE 007n7.”
[ Do I even know you? DX ]
Of course you do.
Noli wants to laugh. (He wants to cry.) You were the only one to understand. To give, and to make me like this. “Y0U'RE not [S3V.]”
He clutches the duplicates vest and weakly punched its annoying panel. “Yo-y0u're [N0T] Se-Seven.”
[ I'm sorry. ] It types. [ Would you like me to be? ]
Such a damning suggestion. He almost said yes.
Noli feels empty. He cackles until his laugh faded to cries. He wants to kill the copy. He wants to choke it until it admits it isn't Seven.
If the Spectre was going to bring back Sev, couldn't it at least bring back his Seven? “WHY D1D I-I-IT HAV3 to BE [YOU]?”
A stupid smile sticks on its face. Noli wants to break that stupid C00lgui on its face, so he could at least see its empty gaze. Empty eyes that wouldn't lie to Noli. (The eyes that will tell him that his friend is dead and will never be coming back.)
Noli yanks the strings, forcing it to come closer.
Noli loves pretends. And he can pretend that the 007n7 in front of him is the one one he needs. As long as he close his eyes and never look at its design.
This... 007n7 is still his Seven.
“hOW aR3 y0u FARinG, 007n7?” It taps the C00lgui that connects the strings to it's body. The Spectre was proud of its work.
It could create a body but it could never replicate the mans subconsciousness.
So it had to trap what remains of it in his C00lgui. It didn't know corrupted and deleted codes would be hard to mix together. It was glad it loves experimenting. Giving up wasn't an option when it comes to losing its favorite toy anyway.
It wonders what's going on behind the C00lgui when the 007n7 interacts with others. It sees it glitch and tug the body to get away but of course, it doesn’t let him. 007n7's interaction was most fun!
They are getting along pretty well, they try to guide 007n7 and making meaningful bond.
But of course, The Spectre makes him forget every time he play as a killer. The only bond he needs to remember is with it. It doesn't need more.
Well, his child as well. If he would remember they're interaction while in its realm.
It twirls the body and examines its state. The C00lgui pulses. As long as he can still play, he will entertain the Spectre.
Forevermore.
Edit: oh hey paper made a interpretation of 007n7.
Now i wonder if I can rope her to drawing some scenes...
Notes:
“A replica cannot replace the original.”
Why?
“Attachments. There are people who would rather keep the old than have a new. It's all about affection and effect.”
What if the original doesn't want to return?
“What can they do about it?”
-
Hiiii please don't kill me (Paper specifically) I have some due paper tonight k? thanks~ /j
OKAY! It finally, finally ends! I am (NOT) sorry for the ending. I'll... write something good for 007n7 I promise (I dont)
Ps. I do not know what to write for 007n7 next so if you have any suggestions, why not lol (I don't mind ships)
But I'll probably, finally, work on me and my artist Paper collab 'Let our [Hearts] be Aligned' that is a Space AU focusing on you know it! 007n7. Will it be hurt again? Well, you've read this. I hope that's enough answer for you.
Once again, thank you for reading this story and I now close this chapter with me taking a bow.
Edit 2.0: someone help me Paper won't stop saying Desuwa, did I break her 🙂↔️
Edit: if anyone's curious what Abilities I gave Killer 007n7
PASSIVE
Marked Generators
“It's the only thing you can do, so just focus and do it.” — 007n7 (?)
Mark every generators with a red string. If a survivor works on a generator for more than 3 seconds, they are highlighted. The red string connects to the survivors who first touched the generator allowing 007n7 to deal more damage when attacking.Teleport
“I can't find him. I can't find him. I can't find him!” — 007n7
Teleport to the furthest survivor and gives them slowness II for 3 seconds. Highlights the survivors for 4 seconds.Distorted Music
“It's my favorite song!” — ████
As long as the survivors are in range of the awful distortion they get Slowness II. 007n7 gains Speed II.Clone (He didn't use this one)
“Wow! It really looks like you!” — ███
When summoned, it attacks any survivors in range for 5 seconds before going passive and following survivors around. Shows 007n7 the aura of the survivors when in range.Feel free to use this idea or change some of it.