Scrubbing Out the Stains

Chapter 8

"Other than needing a lot of magic, you also need to keep in mind of your actions."

Brim sat in Error's lap and observed the scrolling panel in front of them.

"When you destroy something, it will be gone. Unless you can recreate it, it will stay gone."

"I know that you can recreate simple objects, but living beings?"

Error looked at Brim. He shook his head.

"That is why you must be careful."

Error opened a portal to an AU.

"If you just destroy an AU on its own, then you subject the Monsters to the Void."

"There's nothing wrong with the Void though?"

"For you, that is. A regular Monster would lose themselves in the Void."

Error paused. The Anti-Void filled with silence, with Brim looking expectantly up at Error.

Brim is an innocent child. Not yet experiencing the horrors that they had gone through, nor even knowing about them yet. But they were addled with one the heaviest jobs of the Multiverse.

Her hand clenched tightly, unknowing to Brim.

But if Error were to abandon this child...

If they went through life ignorant, then that would be an even more horrible crime to commit. To go through life without knowing about the consequences of your actions, nor the implications behind them...

Error did not want this child to suffer such a harsh fate.

"That is why you must kill the Monsters first."

The light in Brim's eyes startled, "But that's cruel!"

Error placed his hand on Brim's head, "What's even more cruel is losing your sense of identity and forever wandering a place where there is no place for you."

Brim turned his head to stare at the portal.

What Brim saw was daily life. Monsters went about their days in the present. The wrapping of a scarf on a cold day. The gazing at the glittering rocks of Waterfall. The buttercups were bathed in an artificial light.

It was the scene of life.

Brim could tell that for some Monsters, this was all they had. A life with their loved ones, the comfort of warm food, or the small joys that cross their path ever so often. They had their thoughts, ideas, Souls, and yet..

He must kill the innocents for the multiverse.

"You carry a heavy duty, Brim."

Brim feels a large skeletal hand rub their skull.

"You are only getting started, but you must be prepared."

Brim looked at Error.

Various cracks and chips carved their place into Error's body. They have lived a long life, you could even tell from a distance.

He was tall and strong, yet his shoulders looked to be weighed. Her hands were rough, but held a trembling gentleness to them. Their eyes looked at Brim with such hope, that it almost distracted Brim from the sadness that coated their magic.

Error was a contradiction.

Brim couldn't stop his question.

"Were you prepared when you took upon your job?"

Error paused and closed the portal to embrace Brim, as if she was able to shield him from any harm. Her hands held a firm hold on Brim's clothing.

He didn't know why, but Error seemed so small in that moment.

"Of course not."

(A/N: This is like a filler chapter, but I was listening to some sad music so this got produced. Anyhow, I gotta brainstorm what I want to do next).

Published November 4, 2022