Phytoremediation

Gone fission

Basil was trembling in his seat. Partly because of the water covering his clothes, but also because of what happened to Kel.

He wouldn't just do that to himself...

The sweatervest clinging to his chest  made his fears feel that much closer. As though death were sitting on his body.

He looked to Sunny at his right. Basil expected his usual flat expression, but instead, Sunny had gritted teeth and wide eyes. Basil glanced at his hands that were gripping his knees. For once, it seemed Basil was more composed than Sunny.

"Are you okay?" Basil whispered.

"I- I'm... I'm fine." Sunny's voice was shaky. For both of them, it took some time for the realization of what had happened to hit them.

Is Kel gonna die..?

The two had been stewing in their thoughts for far longer than it seemed as Marc pulled into Sunny's driveway. "Alright, Sunny, we're at your house." Sunny shook his head, and his face returned to the usual lack of expression. Basil could still see the fear in his eyes, though.

"Thanks. I'll see you later, Basil." Sunny stated as he left the car and walked stiffly to his door.

Marc pulled back out of the driveway and drove into their own. Marc stopped the car and sat still.

Basil undid his seatbelt and was about to leave the car until Marc spoke up. "Basil."

"Yeah?" He replied.

"If you need anything, just tell me. I'm here to help, you know." Marc continued.

"...okay." Basil responded before exiting the car.

That was weird.

Basil scratched his nose as he took off his shoes. Marc came behind him.

"I'm going to bed, I think." Basil addressed Marc without facing him.

"You sure you're okay, Basil? You don't need anything?"

"I'm fine, Marc. I just need sleep." Basil muttered, taking off his second shoe.

"Alright..." Marc said in a doubtful tone.

Basil walked upstairs and proceeded to undress in his room and changed into a set of pyjamas. He'd have to shower in the morning. Basil flopped onto the bed, tired from the long car rides and day of fun he had... fun until a certain point, that is.

Basil quickly drifted off to sleep, imagining Sunny by his side.

--

Awakening in a pure white room is a bit hard on the eyes. Basil rubbed his eyes to try and ease their pain, which did little to help. Basil squinted at the figure in the distance.

"Good to know that's something else the hands can do." The figure seemingly said to himself. The voice was very recognizable.

"It's you." Basil said in a mixture of emotions. Mainly fear and anger.

"It's me." Omori agreed.

As the surroundings became less painful on the eyes, Basil opened his eyes more and began to see things more clearly.

Pictures were scattered around Omori's room. The pictures were all of Kim for some reason.

"Sorry for the mess." Omori said, still looking at his large floating screen-like thing in the air. Basil tried to see what was on it but was unable to see from his angle.

He decided to get closer. "I mean, I'm not really sorry. Your opinion of me means nothing." The screen was a repeating videographic of Kim laughing in the pool.

"She's so beautiful..." Omori said quietly before turning to face Basil. "I need you to help me. If you do, I promise never to bother you or Sunny again."

"What is it?" Basil asked skeptically.

"Tell Kim my name. That is all. It must be clear that I am a person, by the by. Something like, 'have you ever met Omori?' would work." Omori said as he proceeded to form a new Kim into existence next to him.

"Try it out." Omori motioned to the Kim dummy.

"Um, hey 'Kim,' do you know Omori?" Basil said unnaturally.

"Oh, yeah, that instrument brand? I know they make pianos and stuff." The Kim dummy promptly responded, startling Basil.

"See, that's why you must make it clear I am a person. Lest they confuse me for the piano-guitar-amp-motorcycle brand that shares my name." Omori said, throwing his shoulder around the fake Kim.

Basil put two and two together, remembering what happened yesterday. "Did you make Kel hurt himself?" Basil pressed angrily.

"No, I took control of him, and then hurt him when he started thinking demeaning and objectifying things about my soulmate." Omori clarified.

"So that gives you the right to FUCKING KILL HIM?" Basil raised his voice, ignoring the risk to his safety standing across from him.

"Grievously injure him." Omori corrected, "He isn't dead yet."

"Fuck off, dude. I'm not going to help you hurt Kim." Basil stormed off but was somehow made to walk in a circle, returning to Omori.

"I don't want to harm Kim. She is the incarnate of beauty and intelligence. The only person who I believe to be an equal, even superior to me. I need to go inside her head to learn more about her preferences. Who to possess. How to impress her. All those kinds of things you probably wish you knew about Sunny." Omori rambled. His demeanour was far different than his usual cold and intimidating personality.

Speaking about Kim made his eyes light up the same way he used to see Sunny's light up whenever he was happy. The difference is that Sunny's happiness was far less tied to harming others.

"If I do this for you, you won't bother me, Sunny, OR our friends." Basil queried.

"Promise." Omori lied.

"Fine, I'll try and talk to her about it." Basil figured a decent plan. Omori could read his mind when he was in his room, though.

"The person who tells Kim has to know about me already. I couldn't communicate with that Aubrey girl yet. Get a new plan, and get out." Omori said with an eye roll.

On cue, Basil vanished.

"Back to just you and me, my love." Omori said to the false Kim, before practicing a new dance he learned with it.

"Da dada, da dada, da dada, da dada. My sweet, beautiful peach..."