Work Text:
The floor creaks beneath my every step. Fear envelops my mind, fight or flight racking my brain– I could leave right now. I don’t HAVE to do this, especially not for a measly $20. But I’ve gotten this far, so what’s the point of turning back? “C&A testing facility– do not enter.” My breath catches in my throat as I mumble out the title of the room, the sign hanging half-hazardly off the door. Camera fumbling in my hands, I squeeze my eyes tight as I open the door, unsure of what I should expect. Light leaks in through a hole in the roof, illuminating an otherwise untouched computer lab with electronics littered across the floor and wires strung across desks.
It utterly bewilders me how nobody has ransacked this place yet– I mean, each of these computers and the tech that sits along with them have to be worth a good 200 each, if not more. Everything looks old, though. From the 90s, at least. What stands out against the dusty technology is a seemingly brand-new headset. Like, fresh out of the box new. My feet carry me closer before I realize what I’m doing. “Are you seeing this?” I say aloud, to no-one in particular but my camera– which I’ve now set down on a desk to examine the headset. It seems to be something akin to the VR family.
My fingers trace the large C&A logo on the side as the metal glints in the sunlight, wires trailing down from a compartment in the back. I peer inside to see the mechanics, just a few sensors and a velvety plush cushion for comfort rimming the interior. It seems clean; clean enough, anyways. I slip it onto my head, turning to face the camera. “It’s pretty cool.” I mumble, trying to figure out how to sit down and turn it on whilst my vision is enveloped in the darkness.
Suddenly, the thing turns on all by itself, a white screen blinding my eyes– had it already been plugged in? I mean, there wasn’t even power in this place. Maybe it was bluetooth'ed to something outside of the building. I reach my hands out, trying to take it off while elevator music seems to play out of thin air. “WELCOME.” A robotic voice booms as the screen changes from white to blue, code trailing down. 1s and 0s shift, slowly changing into a green landscape. “ENTER?”
I snicker softly, deciding to play along. Maybe a game had already been booted up. “Uh, yes?” I reply, fingers still trying to undo the headset. I can’t seem to get a grip, as if my hands were grasping into the air. The screen flashes white again and the music stops as my whole body goes limp. It was like dying. Peaceful bliss, y’know? It felt right, like I was moving through space and time all at once, head reeling in the euphoric sensation– and then, a wall. Or more-so, the floor?
The hard granite was freezing cold against my skin. The cold subsided soon after the rough landing as my hands grip the ground, trying to stand. “God, what was that?” I mumble, moving up to take off the headset once more. But it wasn’t there. All I could feel was plastic. Slick, smooth plastic. My eyes readjust to the light, in which I became more aware of my surroundings. A circus themed map. Music began to play once more, a sickeningly cheery tune that felt too eerie of a contrast for the dysphoria I was feeling right now.
“Oh gosh, are you okay?” A saccharine voice calls out as footsteps get louder and louder. I lift my head up, blinking in confusion. “..What? Where.. headset.. It’s not coming off..” I mutter, trying to run a hand through my hair– in which I grasp synthetic strands that feel too gelled down for comfort. “Hey, hey!” The lady calls out, still trying to help me up. “It’s okay. We were all confused when we first got here, too.” I start to giggle, then laugh. “Okay, wow. Good game. Everything looks and feels SO real!” I try to stand as my knees crack against the granite floor once more, bringing yet another burst of laughter from my gut.
“Seriously though, how do I leave? Is this thing locked until I give it a code?” My body falls over on its side, curling in on itself. I squeeze my eyes tight, as if the darkness might let me out of here. “Leave! Exit! Exit game! Hello?” I yell out, still snuggled up in a fetal position as another voice joins my own. “Woow, what was that, 2 minutes? A new record! We oughta get you a plaque.. that is, if you make it until then.” The smug man crouches over my body, poking it. “She’s a goner.”
“Jax!” The lady’s voice threatens, pushing him away. “Cmon, hun. Get up, it’ll make more sense in a little while.” I whine in response, still holding my eyes shut. “Guys, what are you– oh.” More footsteps follow. “Newcomer?” The timid one asks. “Neeewcomer.” The smug one replies. “Should- should we get Caine?” She asks, watching the man eye my body like a vulture stalks dead meat.
As if on command, a wildly eccentric man yells out. “Welcome! I see we have a new guest!” He looks down, squinting. “..A very, very FRIGHTENED guest! Well, worry not my petrified periwinkle pear! I’ve got a tour that’s SURE to knock your socks off! If you had socks! I’m your host and ringmaster, CAINE!”
My whole body lifts up, resulting in another whimper slipping from my throat. “There she goes. Fresh meat to the grinder.” I finally open my eyes, staring down at the group of.. people? A purple, anthropomorphic bunny, a raggedy-anne doll, a jumble of toy parts, and a walking set of ribbons. From behind a pile of pillows, a living chess piece stares at me. “..What the f%$k.”
My face is pulled unwillingly towards the man keeping me in the sky– who turns out to be a pair of dentures with a body. And eyes. “No, no my dear! We are running a family-friendly program! So allll of those rotten, vile words are absolutely not allowed!” I blink. No. No, this just can’t be happening. I mean, no! Right? I’m dreaming. Or I died. Is this the bad place? It certainly isn’t heaven. The voice interrupts my train of overthinking, snapping me out of a daze. “Come along now, my treasured trinket! Lot’s to see, we do have an itinerary!”
Faster than I can question what the man means, I’m teleported to a new map, still ragdolling in the nonexistent air. “THIS,” He yells, loud enough for everyone in a 2 mile radius to hear, “is The Grounds! Delightfully rendered, if I may toot my own horn. Have a BLAST drowning in the digital lake, or sit in the Very Real Grass™ and have a picnic!” He sounds too proud of his work for anyone to not admire his tenacity. I almost forget that I’m trapped in a digital hell as my eyes trail on the horizon.
“..Neat.” I turn to him, and he looks as if he’s smiling– or, his.. entire head smiles, pulling me closer. “If you think THAT'S ‘neat’, my dear..” We float into a white void that seems to scramble my memories more than they already were. “The Void! Not even I know what lies past these lines of code.” My eyes go unfocused, anxiety pluming in my chest like ink in water. “Can.. could we leave this one?” I ask, trying to look at anything that isn’t the endless stretching of pure white. “Why of course!”
I blink, and we’re back in the spot we began. A big-top tent of red and yellow walls and hallways that lead to who knows where. My feet hit solid ground once more, and I sigh a quiet breath of relief. “Oh look, she didn’t abstract. I owe Ragatha $5 now.” The rabbit speaks, crossing his arms. The doll turns to him, squinting her eyes. “Jax, you don’t have any money.” He shrugs, slumping against a wall.
The doll brushes off her light indigo dress, placing her hands in her front like a proper lady. “Hi! Welcome back, um..” She trails off, looking at the man of molars. “Caine, did you give her a name?” He turns to me, quickly spinning his whole body around as if physics didn’t apply to him. “Whaddaya say, my untitled project? Ready for a name? Should we use the spinner?” I raise a finger in protest, but before I can get a word out a large slot machine appears. “Hey, I mean– why don’t we help her out this time?” Ragatha waves her arms wildly before turning to me. Caine nods, supervising the group.
“I.. actually don’t have a name in mind.” She mumbles, tapping her chin. “Merde?” The ribbon with a mask speaks up, nervously fidgeting with what seems to be her hands. “Merde? Like.. what ballerina’s say to each other? But I’m not a–” Interrupted, the bunny speaks up. “Oh-hoh-ho, guess again tutu.” He points to a mirror, my feet betraying me as I slowly step over to it.
I stare into the reflection, but it isn’t me who's staring back. My delicate fingers trace my jawline, which feels more like ceramic rather than skin. My hair is grossly purple and pulled up into a curly bun, which bothers me more than it should. Two pink, rosy circles lie under my eyes like poorly done blush. I take a step back and examine my outfit. A monochromatic ballerina dress, like something out of swan lake. Mismatched black and white gloves and pointe shoes. I look like I just escaped out of a music box.
“That’s not me” I say, matter-of-factly, crossing my arms. “But Merde,” Caine begins, already adopting the new name chosen for me. “That IS you! It’s your avatar!” I tap at the mirror, watching my reflection mimic my every move. “Alright, I’m heading to my room. Let me know when Merde’s identity crisis is over.” The mix-matched jumble of toy parts begins to hobble away, before being pulled back by some invisible force. “Marvelous idea, Zooble! We can have an ADVENTURE to help our little primadonna to get adjusted to her new life!”
Caine claps, opening a large portal. “That is NOT what I meant, and you know it!” Zooble yells, the portal swallowing them whole– alongside the chess piece, who seemed to roll into it. The rest of this group follows, leaving me standing by my lonesome with this maniac of a ringmaster. “Go on! I’m sure this’ll fix those worrisome wonders of yours!” I frown, making my way into the portal.