Tommy's Guide to Breaking out of a Timeloop

Chapter 2

"Toms, come here! I wanna show you something!"

Giggling, the young boy raced down the steps. He noticed his father sitting on the sofa, an old cigar box on his lap.

"Hey, buddy!" Phil smiled and ruffled his son's hair as the six-year old pulled himself onto the couch.

The boy grinned up at his father, then shifted his gaze to the box. "What's that, Papa?" He asked, the "s" being drawn out by the gap where his two front teeth should be.

"These are old photographs, Toms." The older man rubbed a spot of dust off the surface, a sadness in his eyes.

Phil unlatched the box, carefully opening it and turning the box towards Tommy. "Go ahead, Champ. Pick any picture you want and I'll tell you what I remember about them."

Tommy peered into the box, then reached in and fished a random photo out. He looked upon his treasure, and was surprised to see a boy who looked to be about double his age. He had dark brown hair and appeared to have a strange, badly made flower crown perched lopsided on his head. A large flower was covering on of his eyes. Other flowers were littered around any exposed skin.

The flower boy wore what looked to be a flannel, one sleeve rolled up and the other left neglected. Although the image was blurry, Tommy could make out black dots floating around him. Bugs, perhaps.

Phil gently took the photograph from his son's small hands. "Ah, this was one of my best friends. Told us his name was Tubbo. He always had these little bees following him around. They loved his flowers. He somehow managed to train a few of 'em, and sent them after me and the others." Phil chuckled as Tommy listen, awestruck. "Kid always needed sunlight, needed water, always needed CO2. Said he needed it for 'photosynthesis.' I'll bet he was just bugging us the whole time. We had a bet that he didn't even go through it."

Excitedly, Tommy rummaged through the box once again, this time with cautious warnings from Phil about bending and wrinkling the photos. After being satisfied with the mixing of the pictures, Tommy plucked another one from the pile. On the back of this one, it was labeled, "Death herself."

Turning it over in his hands, Tommy let out a sound of awe. What greeted him was a beautiful woman with rolling black curls along her shoulders, a small smile on her lips. She wore a long, black dress and was posing professionally in front of a small library. In the backdrop, there was a desk with an empty birdcage sat atop it. The door of the cage was wide open, as if the bird inside had been let free. Blurs of children running littered the background.

Phil's eyes seemed to droop slightly, but the change went unnoticed by his son.. "This," he began. "was Miss Raven, but her name was really Kristen.The children called her 'Death.' Supposed they got her mixed up with a crow. A group of 'em are called a murder, y'know." The man smiled half-heartedly. "Miss Raven was kind and caring, a perfect woman in every way. She took care of the kids, making sure they didn't do anything they would regret. She kicked butt whenever she needed to. She could do it all. She saw everything. Nothing is a secret under Miss Raven's eye."

Tommy admired the photo, eyes filling with pure awe. "Papa, can I ever meet Miss Raven?" He grinned up at his father, and Phil smiled back, despite the crinkle in his brow. "Can I ever meet the children?"

"Perhaps someday, Tom. When you're ready, and they're ready to see you." Phil tucked a strand of hair behind his son's ear. He let his hand fall to the boy's shoulder. "But it'll only be when they need you, Tommy. Only then, can you pass over to their realm." There was a long silence before Phil turned the box back towards himself, and began looking through the photos. He paused on a specific one and turned it to face Tommy.

"This is where they live, Tom. A place called L'Manberg." Tommy gently took the photo from his father. It was a peculiar place, seemingly perched above a lake or ocean, relying on wooden poles to hold it up. There was a sort of pavilion, surrounded by staircases leading to homes made of wood. There were people walking around the small town, some of which Tommy recognized from the photos.

"It was far, far from other towns and villages, so we got the entire place to ourselves. Most of us got our own homes, since there were more than enough for all of us." Phil explained. "But some wanted to share. Like Tubbo and Ranboo, or Dream and George. Sometimes, Miss Raven would send off Sapnap with those two, make sure they weren't up to anything."

Tommy beamed. "I'm sure they'll give me my own house when I go, since they'll see how much of a big strong man I am now." The boy puffed his chest out and placed curled fists on his hips, mocking a hero pose. He had on a grin so large it took up half his face.

"I'm sure they will, Big Man." Phil agreed, placing a hand on his son's head. "I'm sure they'll have a special one just for you. Now, go run off. You can play until supper time, okay?" Phil didn't wait for a response, knowing the child would jump off the couch and sprint away without answering. Phil watched his son until the wall obscured him from view. He then busied himself with picking up the discarded photos, pausing while gathering Miss Raven's. He sighed, rubbing his thumb against the photograph. Tommy would find her when it was time. He was sure of it.

———

"If all goes well, we won't have to use the dreamon."

Phil scowled, moving in front of his son. "You won't have to use the fuckin' dreamon. Are you mad?"

Eret's eyebrow quirked up, as if amused. "Now, that's really up to you. But will you come peacefully or not?"

The beast, "dreamon," even, was growing more agitated. Snarling was followed by the shadow sprouting what seemed to be tentacles from it's mouth. Whatever the hell it was, Tommy sure didn't want to meet it face to face.

Phil's stance changed, shifting his weight to one foot. He was blocking Tommy more now, putting himself between Tommy and that fucking beast."You're nothing without those monsters behind you, you know that? Those beasts are ruling over you. Got you in their nasty, grimy grips. You're not gods. You'll never be. You're just a failed experiment. Think you're all that." Phil scoffed, giving off more confidence than he probably felt. Shut up, Dad, Tommy thought. You're fucking us over.

Charlie opened his mouth to respond, but Eret held their arm in front of him, silencing him. "You're testing my patience." She said through gritted teeth. "Im sure you wouldn't mind your son becoming dinner?"

Phil went silent. Tommy could his brows were furrowed the way they so often were. "No," Phil began hesitantly, as if testing the words on his tongue. "But if necessary, I will."

"No!" Tommy found the words coming out of his mouth before he had time to think. He shoved past Phil, his father glaring at him. "No. My father won't be eaten. I won't be eaten. You randos need to fuck off before I call the cops on you.

"Tommy.." Phil warned, voice strained. But Tommy wasn't listening. He made eye contact with his father, the older's eyes dark, brows furrowed. Tommy tried to match his father's energy and turned back to the two men.

"No, no 'Tommy.' You bastards need to leave. Get the fuck out. Piss off. I don't want your asses anywhere near us. You'll take your little dreamon, whatever that is, and go."

The end of his sentence was met from silence. Tommy stared daggers into the pair. But then the taller one started laughing. "Oh, that was hilarious. You seriously think we're gonna leave 'cuz some 12-year old asked nicely?" And just as soon as he had begun laughing, his expression hardened. "Sorry kid, but your dad's coming with us, no matter what either of you say."

Tommy was about to argue, but he heard a sigh behind him. He whirled around, thoughts swirling in his head. No, his father couldn't be surrendering now. But to his horror, Phil stepped forward, both hands held up next to his head. "Alright, mate, I'll come with you. But let me say goodbye to my son first." Eret nodded stiffly in approval, and Phil turned around to face Tommy.

Tommy's head swam as his father gripped his shoulders, the two white-eyed men waiting impatiently.

"Tommy, listen to me. Listen carefully. Find Jubilee and board the train. Find the raven and open it's cage. End the loop."

"Wha-" Tommy felt lightheaded. "What does that mean? Hey- don't touch my dad!"

But it was too late. The men were already dragging Philza away.