HATCH

Enter the hatch

⚠️TRIGGER WARNING: CRINGE STUFF AHEAD AND MENTIONS OF SUICIDE. IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, THEN PLEASE SKIP AHEAD. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.⚠️

"Something's in this hatch, I know it," I peered down on the darkness despite not making out anything. Aniki just looked at me, speechless.

"Aren't you scared to go down there?" He suddenly asked.

I only shook my head by deep inside, I was afraid.

"Are you going to leave me here?"

I was surprised with his sudden question.

"Of course not! You're coming with me," I answered.

"No, I'm not."

I wondered why he didn't want to come with me down the hatch. Maybe it was because he came from down there in the first place and that he doesn't want to go back. He was so adamant on staying.

"Well, the choice is in your hands," he shrugged his broad shoulders but I could tell he was up to no good if I went down the hatch myself.

I thought to myself for a while.

After minutes of silence I decided.

I stood in front of the hatch. I could feel Aniki's burning gaze on my back as I looked down below.

Suddenly, the lights went out. I scrambled around for my flashlight and pointed it around in panic. On my left side was the woman from earlier who was now standing on the ceiling, she was upside down. On my right was the bald guy and the long haired girl.

They were all staring at me as they were audiences and I was on a stage.

Aniki stood up from the bed, standing beside me.

I turned to face him and to my surprise, he looked extremely sad. His sorrowful gaze was resting on me as his eyes slowly turned completely black.

Then he was suddenly angry.

"Will you go there and leave me here? Or will you stay and be with me forever?"

It was a trick question. I didn't know the outcomes of both choices but I was sure one of them lead to freedom, especially the first one.

Aniki was supposed to be dead. I didn't want to violate him in anyway by taking advantage of his dark side and getting what I want. I didn't want to interfere with life and death with someone who's supposed to be dead.

Looking at him, I took a step forward.

He looked so broken rather than angered.

"yn..."

"I'm sorry, Aniki."

I was about to get to the ladder when Aniki suddenly pushed me to the wall, gritting his teeth.

"You... I've done everything just to keep you happy. Why can't you do the same?!" He yelled in my face, his eyes burning into my soul.

I was scared stiff. I hated seeing him angry even though this was the first time I did so.

"Things had to be done. You're already dead. Everything isn't real here," I barked, trying to sound brave although I was breaking. "I'm sorry."

Aniki began to cry black tears, staining his face as he desperately held on to me but I managed to break him off.

"I love you, please remember that." I told him.

With that, I jumped down the hatch instead of climbing the ladder.