ONE Human

Part 6: Long Timespan

(Lava Bucket's POV)

After a tough night, the morning came. I didn't quite get that much sleep, but it didn't matter since one of us would be going home today. A few hours into the morning, I looked around trying to find something to do before the elimination. Backpack had been sitting with Scenty discussing about the plan we had and the future, that's when I figured I'd wanna talk to someone before I might head back home. I suddenly noticed Pearl looking sadder than he did yesterday, I knew it had something to do with what I did yesterday and felt awful for him. I wanted to make things right before I most likely leave, and started walking towards him. I sat right next to him and he looked over a bit nervous, to which I looked back after a few seconds. He said "Do you still need me away from you? Can you handle it?" I sighed feeling terrible for what happened and I was about to say something when Airy said it was time for the elimination.

I went back over to where the others were and waiting before Airy would tell us who is gonna go back. However Airy was sounding a bit more uneven than usual and that's when we all were starting to get confused, none of us knew what was going on. Eventually it sounded like Airy collapsed and it all went silent. We waited and waited, the whole day went by and nothing happened. Most of the contestants gave up at that point and eventually it was just me and Backpack. It then looked like he noticed something and went off, I didn't want to be alone so I got up and followed him. As we continued walking we noticed that the grass was starting to lean towards the direction we were walking. Backpack pointed out yesterday how the grass was pointed towards the sky, and only now it's started pointing where we were walking, which made me certain that we were getting close to something. We eventually found a huge tower sticking out of the ground, while the sky had become darker. We tried to see what this was with everything we had, but unfortunately we couldn't get anything. Backpack decided to head back to where everyone else was, while I decided to stay, I sat down next to the tower, lost in my thoughts.

(Pearl's POV)

Two months had gone by ever since Airy disappeared and it looked like everyone had started getting used to living here, well, almost everyone. We worked out a routine for plenty of us and even made activities. If we decided we were gonna live here we needed to make some shelter. So we got some wood from some of the pillars in the first challenge to make some places for us to relax. I had become more than used to this way of living as I was starting to gain more friends with the other contestants who were like me. However, I hadn't seen Lava Bucket for a few days so without telling anyone, one evening I went off to look for her. I looked around the main area where everyone was and I had no luck, so I decided to go further and I noticed a big tower in the distance along with someone there.

I rolled over faster and that's when I saw it was Lava Bucket. She looked to be very depressed, like she always looked ever since Airy left. I decided that enough was enough and I needed to try one last time to talk with her. I was still mad about what she did two months ago, I didn't want her to be upset about it still. Besides, people like her should deserve second chances, so I went to her. I didn't feel like saying something immediately since I didn't wanna drive her off again, so we sat there in silence for a few minutes until I eventually wanted to say something and I asked "What is this thing?" Since I wanted to know what it was since I never saw it before. She then broke her silence with "We've been trying to figure that out for the past few months."

I then asked her "So why have you been here for the past few days? The others are starting to worry about you." She then looked over to me and sighed, to which she followed up with "...I just don't know what to do at this point. No word for a few months..I'm probably never gonna make it home. My family is probably worried about me, they most likely think I'm dead. And now almost everyone hates me." I felt bad for her and said "..Listen, I understand you don't wanna be here anymore. Some others know how you feel. But if Airy isn't coming back, this is just how we have to live from now on. I get it, but we just have to live this." She then looked over welling up tears again and said "Okay..I'm sorry I hit you. I've just been going through too much." I decided to comfort her and wrap my arm around her. I then said "I forgive you. You don't have to tell me everything, I just wanna be here for you."

What happened next kinda surprised me, she asked me if I truly hated her, to which I said "No" since I didn't actually hate her, even though I was upset about her hitting me. She then told me about how there were voices in her head telling her how apathetic she is, and how it keeps getting in her mind. She even said how she's been having visions and that's why she ran away that day. It all made sense now, so I continued comforting her and said "I won't let you be lonely in a time like this. I'll be with you till the end." This made her feel much more assuring as she looked much better. After a few minutes, she got up and said "Let's head back, everyone's probably wondering where we are." I was glad she was better and that I was able to help, so I started rolling after her once she started walking after looking at the tower one last time. I knew loyalty would pay off eventually.

(Lava Bucket's POV)

Three months had gone by ever since I made things work with Pearl, and things were starting to get better for me. The voices I've been hearing haven't been active once since I officially became friends with Pearl, and those thoughts were in the back of my head. I even started to talk to more contestants about my life when I was a human, what I was like, about my friends and family, my dream about being a musician, even some of my greatest accomplishments. Saying all of this made me feel more comfortable around everyone. I even started going to Scenty's sessions which really helped me lower my stress, and I was able to talk to her whenever I needed help with something, or when I just wanted to talk with her.

As for the tower we found, we sadly didn't figure out anything about it. Me and Backpack would head there every day to try and figure out at least something about this tower. We tried everything, even throwing dirt and some lava at it. Sadly, nothing we did worked. I would update Pearl on the situation everyday and I'd always tell him that nothing changed. We were still unsure about what that thing was, or what it could do, but we were still persistent.

More months go by and we're pretty much all adjusted to this life by now. We still weren't able to figure out what that tower was, but that didn't matter at this point. I was definitely getting used to being an object and even starting to incorporate what I wanted to do here, most likely as a way to prepare myself for the future. I found some sticky notes with just some scribbles on them, so I turned them over and started to write a song with the pen that was there. It really did help me adjust with this place as well as prepare for the future. But then, one day came. Pearl and I were just sitting near the bushes, just looking at the view and enjoying each other's company, when suddenly a familiar voice came on. "Sorry for the delay everyone, I'm back. It's time for the elimination." It was all over, either me or Backpack was gonna be alone.

To be continued