Pretending

14: The Sapping Sip

As Balloon, the light of the hotel grew bigger as I walked closer. This would be easy. Just go in, give Nickel the soda, and get out. Simple. Just remember to give him the one on the right. I don't really want to die again. But, that would mean I would have to keep killing, keep being people I'm not. Dying would save everyone that I haven't already dealt with, but the masks...intrigued me. With them, I didn't have to always be Trophy, the self centered idiot that blackmails people for fun. I could be others, I could be better people. I wouldn't have to keep being my horrible self. Now that I think about it, forgetting myself with one of these doesn't sound so bad...

After a few more minutes, I reached the front doors of the hotel. I knocked, with Knife replying.

"Oh, hey Balloon."

"Hi Knife! Uh, you know where Nickel is? I need to talk to him."

"He's probably up in his room as usual."

"Thanks."

I walked away from him, feeling his glare on my rubber back. The stairs seemed gigantic as I climbed up them. I didn't know if it was Balloon's size, or just the horror of this getting to me. Each step felt like climbing a mountain, the halls I went past feeling like deserts. Knowing that they all thought I was dead, and couldn't care less, really hurt. But what hurt more was that Cheesy was hurt even more. Knowing that one of your few friends just up and dies is terrible. I shook as I walked past Cheesy nad Trophy's...no, the room I used to share with him. Geez, this one was taking me fast. I had to hurry up, or else there would be 2 inflatable victims here. I could die so easily. Just a hard poke could kill me. A single bite would pop me. Wow, guess I'm not the only one who worries a bunch.

Once I finally made it to Nickel's door, I took a deep breath, and went to knock on it. But something stopped me. Telling me to go back and admit it was me. That I was working with Taco and killed all of them. No.I can't go back. It's too late now. But why do I value myself over about 20 others? What makes me more important than the rest of them? God, Balloon, get out of my head! I sighed off his and my own doubts, and knocked. Familiar footsteps came form the other side, as I instinctively stepped back. I thought I was friends with him during season 3, why am I...err, Balloon, still scared of him?

"Oh, hey Balloon."

"Oh! Uh, hi Nickel. I brought a drink for you."

"Thanks."

I walked into his room, Nickel sitting on his bed. his leg reached for the safe Dr. Fizz, and I was a little surprised by this.

"No! Oh...uh...take this one, it's, uh, colder."

I handed him the other can, and he reluctantly took it.

"So, why are you doing this? It kinda feels like you're trying to kill me or something."

That made me internally panic. A lot. I had to think of something, quick.

"Well, I just...just felt so scared by this, and...I at least want someone on my side. I bet that at least 3 objects here think it's me. But...I've changed. Season 1 was so long ago!"

"So this is a bribe?"

"Oh...heh...kinda...I guess."

"Well, I think it worked."

Nickel opened up the can and took a long sip. He started coughing and hacking. My cue to leave.

"I'm sorry, Nickel."

I opened up the window and jumped out, Nickel's glare of pure hate and betrayal about popping me. That "I'm sorry" was genuine. That wasn't me...no, it was. That wasn't Balloon saying that. It was me. Now, I could only hope he wouldn't want me dead along with Marshmallow and OJ as I slowly descended to the grass.

I landed with about no noise. I started to run for the Perilous Forest. Wait, where am I going? The hotel is getting locked up soon, I need to get back in before I'm locked out again! N...no...I need to get back to Taco. Why am I even thinking about that traitor?! I...I'm Trophy...right?

The chilling presence of the woods almost froze me as I started to walk in. As soon as I was concealed by the trees, I tore off the mask. I went back to my body once again, sighing whilst I did it. I almost lost myself there. I almost became an exact copy of Balloon. And if I did, both of us would be punished for Nickel's death.

With Balloon's mask in my left hand, I made it back to the campsite, panting heavily.

"Well, look who decided to come back. So, who died."

The way Taco emotionlessly asked me who I killed startled me. Geez, I thought she would at least have a tiny bit of regret, but I guess not.

"It was Nickel. Got him as Balloon."

"Well done, Assistant. Thankfully, I managed to find another Setwood, I can finally remake that mask that you broke. Consider yourself lucky."

So, those masks were made of...Setwood? I thought those were fiction. Guess there's still a few left.

I sat on a nearby log and laid my metal head down to try and get some sleep. The wood felt oddly smooth. The log wasn't skinned or cleaned, yet it was smooth as the kitchen floor. Weird.

So, I and Taco, 2 objects presumed dead to all but each other, sat in that small clearing in the woods, hoping that this would be over. At least, I was.