Stranded

Lost in Memory-Act 5 Finale

~Subject 2: Remote POV~

Taco and Book are discussing more. Taco hasn't gone back up to see everyone in days. Maybe it's time to get her back up. Book finishes a bottle of water and sets it down next to herself.

"Taco, It's probably time you let everyone know you're still okay." I say, tapping my fingers rhythmically on the counter. Taco looks at me for a few seconds before nodding.

"You're right. You two can keep discussing while I'm gone." She gives a thumbs up and walks out the door. I look to Book, who's face melts into shame.

"Are you going to tell her?" I ask quietly, Taco just out of the way. Book looks to me in slight confusion.

"Tell her what?"

"Tell her what happened to everyone here?"

"Like... Like Snowball?" She replies, looking around in fear. I nod slightly. Book recoils in her seat, and her face turns faintly green.

"I... I don't quite get what you mean." Book looks to the multitude of appendages sewn to her skin, "I want to stay friends with her, I don't want to hurt anybody." Book scratches her face, it contorts slightly.

"That's not true. You'd hurt the torturer, right?" I question, and she wipes the sweat off her face. She's forgotten. Hasn't she?

"I don't want to."

"You should want to. She hurt you, made you do things you regret." I pressure further, maybe I can strike a nerve. Maybe I can remind her. What she's meant to do. What she had to do.

"I... I don't want to hurt anybody." Book takes a deep breath, and tugs at her extra arms.

"Not anymore."

~Match's Perspective~

"So... What did you want to, you know, talk about?" Match asks, and Firey leans back. Match's room is eerily dark, and there aren't any available lights. Firey solved the problem by being a walking torch. He only dimly lights the room, creating a haunting atmosphere.

"I was just wondering how you've been taking Bubble and Pencil's deaths." His voice is faintly macabre. Match freezes, and looks down. Her expression darkens, and she attempts to dodge the question.

"I've been okay, what about you?" She sighs, and backs her way into her chair.

"No. Seriously." Firey speaks directly. He won't take nonsense as a final answer.  Her hands curl up squeamishly, and she pauses for a few seconds. They feel like hours. Finally Match takes a deep breath and leans forward. Her palms are slightly sweaty.

"... I just. I don't want to believe they're gone." She remembers what she did. She remembers the pure emotion she felt.

It was Pin wasn't it? The one who led her and Bubble to Pencils last moments of remembrance. But Bubble didn't react. At the time Match assumed that Bubble just didn't care. But Bubble cared. Bubble cared with all her heart. Teardrop didn't let Pencil get murdered. Teardrop couldn't fight back to what happened to Pencil.

What if it was Pin who killed everyone?

What if she got reckless, and killed Needle too early?

What if she went insane and...

Coiny.

"Where's Coiny?" Match whispers softly, and Firey pauses. He had been taking in her words. He didn't want to believe that Leafy was gone either. He didn't want to... Needle was still alive. Needle had to still be alive. It burned internally, and he let the tears fall. They hurt. They were painful, but Firey had to remain strong.