PhoenixSMP: Followers of The Nameless

-Chapter 3-

I bolted upright and gasped for air as my hands felt for my throat. Then, an unfamiliar man burst into my unfamiliar room.

"Are you okay? I heard-" he paused as I inched away. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just thought I heard a scream... Did you sleep okay?" He walked towards me and the need to put distance between us grew fervently. I slid off the bed and backed myself into the wall, searching for a window.

"What are you doing?" a scolding tone came from the doorway and I froze.

The unfamiliar man slowly turned around, as if he was in a horror movie, to a woman wearing a feline-like mask.

"I was-" he began but she cut him off.

"Cornering your guest in their bedroom?"

"No! They screamed, I was trying to see what was wrong..." he looked back at me still pressed against the wall, "I see... I'll give you some space." The masked woman and I watched him walk out of the room.

"I'm so sorry we made you uncomfortable. My name is Blur, that was Crit. Is there anything you need? Anything I can bring you?"

I didn't respond. Why would I? I don't know these people, I just wanted to know where Bob was and leave.

"You know, I don't feel comfortable speaking to strangers either. It's okay, this is your room. No one else will bother you. I'll bring you some food soon."

And with that, she softly shut the door, leaving me to my own devices. I peeled myself from the wall and began searching the room for anything of value, anything that would tell me where I am. But the room was devoid of anything except a bed, a bedside table, and a storage box. I checked the table and found a small note.

Come find me when you wake up. We need to talk. -Bob

I turned around, ready to run out the door, when there was a soft knock. Blur opened the door, holding steaming bread and a glass of water.

"Well, nice to-" I cut her off.

"Where is Bob?"

She paused, weighing her answer. "He is... indisposed, at the moment. But, I could take you to him once you finish eating." She was too polite to refuse.

I approached her and took the bread and water I was offered.

"Crit made the bread, he told me to say he's sorry. He does mean well even if he's not paying attention. And drink all of that water, your voice sounded like it needs it. I'll wait in the hall."

I muttered a quiet thank you and retreated to my bed to enjoy warm, crispy bread and refreshing water. I can't remember the last time I had food, I don't think I ever got hungry in the other place. But after the first bite of bread, the emptiness in my abdomen made itself known. I ate so fast I didn't even taste it.

It took longer than I thought to meet Blur in the hall. I started to feel sick not long after I finished drinking the water. I did my best to ignore it and opened the door. Blur seemed to freeze and look me up and down for a moment before she spoke.

"That was quick. Did you like the bread?"

I only nodded in response, my head was starting to spin. I felt so heavy. I slumped against the door frame and looked at Blur with pleading eyes.

"Oh, my. Are you alright?" She sounded so... happy. It was the last thing I heard before I fell forward and Blur caught me.

-Blur's POV-

"Oh gods, I can't believe I've embarrassed myself like this. I just couldn't stop talking! But, you understand, right? I mean, how could I not lose my senses before someone as lovely as you are?" I ranted to my unconscious lover, "You just took my breath away and I wanted to give you everything, but I had to get you as far from that miscreant as possible. You've even caught the attention of Cake Goddess: Clou'dea, how could I not realize you're special?" They began to stir against my chest, "Not yet, my love. We're almost there." I coaxed them back to sleep and continued our journey. We'll be home soon.

-Bob's POV-

"So, I really think if you smiled more that people wouldn't be as scared of you." said Crit, after his hour-long, one-sided heart-to-heart.

"I do not give two shits about how people feel about me. Let them be afraid."

"What about that person upstairs? Do you want them to be afraid of you too?" I wordlessly stared at him, "I think I'll go get us some more wine." Said Crit, making an awkward escape to an adjacent room.

"Clou'dea said they'd be fine, how much longer are they going to sleep?" I muttered under my breath.

"Oh, they woke up hours ago. Blur didn't tell you?"

I jumped to my feet. "What? Hours ago?" I paused, thinking of all the possibilities. Did they hate me after what happened with Static? Were they afraid? Of all the questions going through my mind, one reoccurred. "Crit, how did you hear me from the other room?"

"Oh, dear, there's a hole here isn't there? Um, uh, I think I know how to fix it. Hold on."

"...What?"

"Don't worry about it, just stay right there... And don't move!" Crit pulled a bag of tools out of literally nowhere and surveyed the room. He paced and prodded and eventually he returned to the table they both were sitting at, before Crit caused such an obvious blunder. "Here it is!" He set down his bag and put his arm though the table like it was made of air.

I had no words. I could only watch as the room flipped upside-down, leaving me to fall into the ceiling. But, something was wrong. Everything was made of air and nothingness, so I fell right through, past the second floor, through the roof, and into the sky. My head spun as I tumbled and flailed upwards. Or Downwards, I couldn't tell. Then, I blinked and I was back at the table sitting across from Crit.

"So, what were you saying, buddy?" he said innocently.

"What were the tools for?"

Crit got up and stood in front of the forgotten tool bag as if to hide it, like a guilty child. He kicked the bag under the table with his heel.

"What tools?"

(A/N)  *     *     *  (A/N)

Hi! 

Crit derailing absolutely every aspect of this story will be commonplace.

Have fun. No one is safe.

:>