Andy's Apple Farm: Dolce's Game

CHAPTER 17: CATASTROPHIZING CATASTROPHIES (pt. 1)

A/N: Dolce's internal narration / **Dolce's negative thoughts** / *Flashback/ Dream sequence*

WARNING: Though not explicitly shown--there are talks of drug and alcohol abuse if you're uncomfortable with that stuff.

Night had set in over the apple farm from what Dolce could see through the heavy plastic sheet that covered over the damaged window in Andy's bedroom. Thankfully the replacement was going to be ready within the upcoming days for pick-up. (All paid through Dolce's pay of course.)

She had already changed into her pastel-teal, black-trim sleepwear long ago after dinner. There was a disconcerting look on her face as she paced back and forth about the room. She stopped in her tracks when she heard the door knob turn and saw Andy entering, now dressed in his dark-green PJs.

There was a near tangible awkwardness that weighed heavily in the air around them.

"...So, um..." Andy hesitantly started. "...That was certainly an eyeopener, for all of us. Here I thought we were just going to have a sit down about your powers and Peter. How nice it is to know...we're just characters in some game a human created too."

"Andy..." Dolce softly got out. "I'm sorry...It was only recently I remembered that last part...I can't begin to imagine what's going through your mind right now..."

Andy weakly scoffed with a half-hearted smile. "It's obvious isn't it: We technically don't exist. I don't exist. Our lives can easily be re-written or erased at the press of a button. I can't say I know everything about human technology like whatever this 'CSMPC' system is, or 'program' you spoke about, but I know that much is possible. It's true though, isn't it Dolce?"

Dolce hung her head, but her silence was all the answer he needed.

"What is Peter then? Some sort of monster a human conjured up, like with magic?"

She shook her head, uncertain. "I don't know...I can't remember how it got in contact with the people it took into the game..."

"So...what happened to those humans then? Do you think they're somewhere in this world too? But we haven't seen or met anyone that remotely looks human around here or in town."

"I think I might have an idea..." Dolce thought warily. "I don't know...But if I can somehow get in touch with them, then maybe I'll finally get some much needed answers and then we will all be-."

She stopped herself mid-sentence, seeing the crestfallen expression on Andy's face. "'And...' Even if you are just a series of numbers and code, you are more real than you can fathom. No game I've ever seen or played had characters who could feel the things like you, or anyone else in this world do; who can care for others, and love like you do." she sincerely stated, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Andy shrugged off her hand and walked back over towards his sleeping bag on the floor instead of his own bed.

"Andy." she said, turning around to face him. "I...really am sorry...To you, and our friends...If it wasn't for my empathetic sorry-ass getting involved in something it shouldn't have, then...maybe none of this wouldn't have happened." she said tensely with some frustration in her voice. "You wouldn't have found out the truth like this. You, and everyone wouldn't have been made a target by Peter. Now we gotta live with the consequences of me trying to play the 'hero...'"

"Dolce-."

"-It's just like back when I was a kid—Someone gets picked on, and no matter how many times I tell myself: 'it's not my problem,' I go in, deal with the bullies, then I get in trouble for it." she vented, before finally sighing. "'He' was right all those years ago—'I'm not a hero.'"