❛ BACK FROM THE DEAD. ❜ // 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝐴𝑈

❲ The Gearboy. ❳

Phoenix's POV :;

I was walking back home while listening to some music on my airpods. It wasn't anything special - just pop and the like. Initially, I planned to walk back to the apartments with Xavier but turns out he walked home earlier, calling out sick. Which I didn't exactly believe.

The guy's really cool though - really chill too. He's a bit of a weird guy, but that's besides the point.

As I was walking though, I saw a garage sale of a neighboring building. Well, not exactly neighboring- it just wasn't far from the apartments. I glanced round about before sighing. Well, what's the worse that could happen? Plus, I still had my money from lunch. So, maybe?

I was observing all the junk they had on the table. Most of them were pretty useless for me. Helmets, toys, clothes even... yeah, they weren't much in handy. Though, I did see a little tacky gaming device. I picked it up, turning it around looking at it. It seemed really, really old.

Though, turning it on, it seemed pretty functional. It worked good as knew.
“Interested, kid?” The garage owner asked me while looking at me. I glanced up to him before shrugging my shoulders, “I mean - it works pretty good.” I claimed, putting it back while saying so. The guy simply just handed it back to me, saying “Nah, you can have it for free. It was cheap when I got it anyway, so it's no use for. Plus, not like I have kids.”

I looked down at the device for a quick second before I smiled, looking back up at him. “Thanks for it!” I called out as I walked away with the device at hand.

-

As I arrived home, I was on my bed trying to figure out what games I could play in the device. It seemed really old, so there's no way I could play any of the recent games at all.. so, I just popped in a Mario game I had. At least it still fit in.

After turning it on though, it was a tad bit glitchy as compared to before. But still, I somehow managed to play the game on it for a good hour or so before I heard a knock on my door. I glanced at it for a quick second before yelling out for whoever was on the other side, “Come in!”

And in came Xavier. “I see you've already made yourself comfortable coming back.” He said - mostly commenting on me playing the game. I just scoffed playfully, “Speaking of, did you get an early leave? I didn't see you at all at school.” I asked, my eyes still on the game.

“Mhm. Our last class was free, so I didn't have anything to do.” he simply replied. I hummed as I smashed the buttons on the gearboy, still focused on it. Which got Xav's attention. He inched closer to me, peaking over at the game. “You never showed me this device.. did you recently get it?” he asked, tilting his head slightly to the side.

I nodded before explaining, “It was a garage sale. Got it for free too.” Xav smiled before commenting, “Garage sales always have the freakiest shit dude. Who knows, that thing was probably used for getting signals judging by the antenna. Maybe even a ghost finding device.” I just chuckled while shaking my head.

“Imagine.”

Just then, the game suddenly shut down. Well, damn it. I hit it slightly against my hand, in hopes that it will start up again. But unfortunately, it didn't. I just sighed in defeat before putting it aside, “Looks like the years of neglect kicked in.” I said, crossing my arms. Xavier picked up the gaming device, examining it for a while.

“Seems pretty old too. Something you'd get in the 1950's or something.” He said. I shrugged my shoulders slightly. Well, I guess the guy did give it for free for a reason. I got off my bed before glancing over at him. Who was.. pretty focused on the thing. “Hey - if you want it for display, you can take it.”

Xavier's POV :;

“Woah hold on - why would I want something like this for display? Would've still made a point if it was functional.” I said - well, yelled out almost. “Oh, what? You scared that Saaaalllyyy might come after you?” Nix teased. This guy sure is an idiot..

“I don't fuck with garage sales dude. They're always sketchy, no matter the price.” I said, having a good reason to not keep it. But, he just shrugged his shoulders, “Sure, you're just scared you might get cursed.”

I just sighed out of frustration. Why even buy it if it looked, and even is, really old? It's obviously not gonna work anytime soon. “You know what? I'll keep it. If I get cursed, I'm coming after you first.” I said, pointing at him to which he tried to act scared. “Oh, just how scared I am!”

- - -

2:43 AM.

I was up doing practically nothing but just scrolling through my phone. Pheonix went to sleep a while ago, leaving me completely alone. Sage fell asleep a while ago too.

Hm.. Maybe I should try that little gaming thing outside.. The antenna probably does catch signals. I mean, what's the point in having one then? Unless it actually doesn't work and is just there for display, then that's on me.

I got up, picked up the device and quietly stepped out of my room to the front door, slowly closing the it behind me praying that my parents won't hear me. I glanced around the hallways before hoping into the elevator and pressing the button to the ground floor.

I just stood nervously, looking at the device. I'm an idiot.. It didn't work before, why am I expecting for it to work again?.. I've already come so far anyway, there's no point in going back. The elevator door opened and I stepped out. Luckily, no one was at the table - a chance to go on and step outside of the building.

And, well, I pretty much spent the next 10 minutes doing nothing but going around the building to see if the antenna works at all. And it didn't. Which was weird.. making phone calls wasn't an issue in the building at all. I mean it did prove one point though, the device was completely trash. I sighed and just threw it away - in the direction in front of me.

In front of the treehouse behind the building.

I turned around and walked away in defeat at this point. I really did waste 15 minutes when I should've fell asleep. I get why Nix got it for free in the first place. It was full of junk, and completely useless in the first pla—

...Static?
‘Is that static?’ I thought to myself. I turned around to see the device working.. with some text on the screen. I glanced around before running towards it, grabbing it and observing the text. “Press To Play.” Huh.. looks like it did work. I debated whether or not if I wanted to sit out here and play the game.. Well, what's the worse that could happen?

I pressed a button, and within a second it felt like my skin was crawling out of my body.. Or sounded like it. I looked back to see a very.. vivid figure.. The sight made me jump back, tripping down while trying to get away from him.

He did not look human. He didn't look.. alive.

Brown hair, going down to his hip.. Baggy eyes.. A T-Shirt with the text ‘Sanity's Fall’ on it..

Sanity's Fall.

“...Larry Johnson?”

“Long gone, pal.”

- - -

(Words: 1291.)