Bittersweet Aftertaste

nightmare nightmare nightmare

A/N: Whoever understands the chapter title reference gets a cookie

The forest was quiet, not a single noise or animal being around. The trees looked darker than normal, almost looking rotten. Espresso scrunched up his nose at the disgusting sight. He held himself low, trying to make as little noise as possible in case anything was lurking out.

He kept looking around, his path seeming endless. Trees and sugar rocks anywhere and everywhere he looked.

There was a shuffle from his left, making him stop and snap his head in the direction of the noise. He held his breath, waiting for something or someone to jump out from the bushes but nothing happened. He sighed and continued his walk down the bumpy road.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, anxiety making his blood rush. He could feel his heartbeat against his throat as if it would burst through his lungs at any moment. He swallowed, turning to look behind himself.

He froze, seeing a cookie stand behind him. His mouth hung open as his voice got stuck in his throat. The cookie looked... wrong. It's face looked mashed or maybe melted? He wasn't sure. He never saw a melted cookie personally but he was getting the gut feeling that the cookie's frosting was running.

His hands shook, trying to figure out if that cookie was a friend or a foe but his mind didn't seem to work. It took a step closer, making Espresso panic more but he couldn't move.

The stranger cookie's face begins to morph with a sickening splashing noise. He felt his stomach turn, the noise sending nothing but raw fear through his soul. His breath hitched, finally managing to take a step back.

"Don't run from me." it called out. It's voice was familiar yet wrong, like a record player just barely out of tune to be noticeable. Espresso shook his head slightly, unable to muster out any words still. The cookie sighed then crossed its arms disapprovingly. The way it moved struck him with nostalgia.

"Do we really have to do things the hard way?" it asked, its face still morphing rapidly. It all finally clicked to Espresso, that cookie looked exactly like him. The way it moved and talked, it was his voice and behavior.

He grits his teeth trying to hold back his fear and confusion from showing. The copycat shook its head and shifted its weight around impatiently. He took a deep breath and took off in the opposite direction. He heard the other cookie running after him, their footsteps being almost in sync.

He panted, moving as fast as he could while dodging branches and rocks. He took occasional glances back, making sure the copy is not catching up to him too much. He had a sudden idea, turning to the side and bolting into the forest going off path.

He put up his arms, shielding his face from the branches slapping him every so often.

He looked back, taking note of the thing being finally gone. He smiled to himself and turned his head back to watch where he was going, just in time to see himself step off the edge of a cliff.

His blood ran cold, time going almost in slow motion. He whipped his arm down in an attempt to grab onto literally anything. He fell, feeling his hand slam into smooth sugar stone.

He squeezed his eyes shut in pain and gripped the edge, trying his hardest to prevent himself from slipping down further but to no avail. The ground was too smooth, his fingers slid down in seconds and he was falling.

He watched the cliffside pass him in horror, feeling the wind blow his hair and coat all over the place. He squeezed his eyes, waiting for impact.

He crossed his arms in front of his chest and grit his teeth hearing the wind blow past him as he crashed into the ground.