Pretending

13: I'm...Alive?

The harsh light of the sun shone into my eyes, near blinding me. The sounds of the forest came from every angle, almost overwhelming me.

"Welcome back to the realm of the living, Assistant. How have you been?"

I slowly got to my feet, and turned to face Taco. I was still partially blinded by the light of the sun, so it took a few seconds to find her.

"W...why?"

"Well, it's time for Phase Two."

"What do you mean?"

"Simple. Threw your corpse out into the field. You can't be a suspect if you're presumed dead."

As my vision adjusted, I saw the deactivated body of MePhone leaning on a nearby tree. That means...she revived me. After brutally murdering me and gouging out my eyes, she brought me back. I guess she does care.

"This time, I'm going to let you do this killing your own way. Use this poison on someone. I want another death by sundown."

Taco handed me a green bottle, labeled with a cartoony skull. So, just kill another with poison. Shouldn't be too hard. Oh god...I'm starting to think this is normal. I'm probably permanently ending lives daily now, why wouldn't it be normal? So many deaths, all because of me...I couldn't be in a worse mental state right now. At least I knew how I was going to do this one.

As I went for the pile of masks, Taco ran out of sight. Didn't matter to me. Might get more on her good side if I do this myself. So, I reached for Balloon's mask, and prepared to give Nickel his last Dr. Fizz.

The forest seemed...brighter now. Guess dying messes with you a little. But, how would it mess with my vision? Those things had nothing to do with each other! Unless...

I can't dwell on this. I had to just get this over with. The less time I take, the better. Gives me more time to think. and I can get through with this faster too. Honestly, I have no idea why Taco wants everyone dead. Sure, they all hated her, but why kill them all? I could only hope that she eventually unlocks MeLife so everyone can come back. Wait...she had to bring me back somehow. She did unlock it. Has she locked it again? Is she going to keep MePhone, like she did with MePad? Hmm...that gives me an idea...

After some more running, I had made it to the forest's edge once more, with a perfect, yet distant view of the hotel's front doors. And what I saw surprised me a whole lot. I couldn't make out much, but I knew what was happening. Apple must have escaped the mansion, and blamed Paintbrush. That scream could be heard from a mile away. Now, everyone thinks it's them, and they're being kicked out. Surprised no one's killing them. But I guess that would only raise more suspicion. I saw Paintbrush walking away from the hotel, their suitcase rolling behind them, tears in their eyes. They walked towards the vending machine, presumably to grab a drink before they left for who knows where. As they went to grab one, a familiar pipe poked puffy of the side of the machine, with Lightbulb jumping out.I quietly got closer, staying hidden in the bushes so I could hear them.

"Woah! Oh...hey Lightbulb..."

"Hey Painty! Why are ya so down?"

"They all think I did it...I can't live there anymore..."

"Oh no! Ya couldn't have done it! I know! Hey, why dontcha stay down in Test Tube's lab until I can prove that you didn't lay a finger on anyone? I'm sure she'll be fine with it!"

"Okay...how do you get in there anyways?"

"Just press a few buttons in a certain order, and the pipe will come out and suck you into the lab!"

"I kinda need to know the order..."

"Oh yeah!I knew I was forgetting something! You start with this one, then over here, up one, hit number 2 again, and then the bottom right!"

"Thanks Lighty..."

"Anytime bud! Sorry, but I gotta go now! Bye!"

"Bye..."

Paintbrush's somber mood really hurt. I had done this to them. I ruined yet another life. That makes 4 mentally destroyed objects now, all of which are my fault. I took OJ from Paper, Fan from Test Tube, as well as getting her locked up in her lab forever, Marsh from Apple, and got Paintbrush banned from the hotel. All in a week. And I was about to make that 5 today. As Paintbrush put in the code and entered the lab, I went behind the machine, tearing off a back piece from it so I didn't have to risk grabbing one from the front and getting caught. I reached inside the hole I made and pulled put 2 Dr. Fizz cans, and poked a tiny hole in one of their tops, and put quite a few drops of poison into said hole. I just had to remember that the poison one was in my right hand. I'm sure Nickle wouldn't notice. Still behind the machine, I slipped on Balloon's mask and became him. He sure did have a horrible past. And wow, is he jittery. I felt like I was constantly shaking, even though nothing was. He must be a caffeine addict. After the transformation ended and processed all of his, and now temporarily my memories, I held the 2 soda cans and walked to the hotel.