[ Cruel Winter - A Inanimate Insanity Invitational AU ]

Chapter 21 - A Tragedy

Test Tube followed wherever this voice was leading her. "We're almost there," It told her. "...Yep. We're almost there." She whispered in response, a subtle smile plastered on her face.

Yet she didn't know what was to come. Her footprints broke the smooth layer of snow, leaving a trail to the cave where she was heading. She hadn't been there since–well–she broke her head in the strange terrain and met the snowflake creature thing.

Hopefully that won't happen again. Or—Well—Hopefully nothing bad will happen.

"Ok, Test Tube, your almost there. Just take a left, and the cave will be there." The voice guided her. "Ok," She muttered. Test Tube continued to do everything the voice told her until she ended up at the cave.

As she took a step in, she felt a wave of aura wash through her head. She winced slightly. Test Tube waited for some assurance of these voices, but got nothing of it.

She shuddered, just shaking it off as some mystical effect of the cave. "So, the stone... The stone... The stone..." Test Tube whispered to herself, pacing back and forth.

After a while, the voice shouted something in her head. "Test Tube, it's the crystal..."

Test Tube shook her head. "Oh, right..." She sighed. Test Tube continued walking through the eerie atmosphere of the cave. She could've sworn she heard... Footsteps.

As much as she wanted to ignore it, pass it off as her imagination running wild, she just couldn't.

She whipped around. Nothing was there. Test Tube took a deep breath of the cold air and turned around. She tugged her cloak nervously.

It was... Colder than usual. "Test Tube, come on," The voice urged her. Was it losing it's patience? Test Tube shuddered, carrying on.

All she could hear were the sounds of water dripping down the stalactites on the top of the cave, the sound of wind bustling through, and the faint, taunting illusion of footsteps ahead of her.

She kept walking on until she felt the cold breeze of the crystal cave entrance. "Here we are, weird voice in my head. The cave. With the crystal. Can you tell me why you want it so much now?" There was no reply. Test Tube grumbled, taking a step inside.

"Hello, Test Tube."

Nickel was infront of her. "...Nickel? What are you doing here?" Test Tube stuttered. Nickel stepped forward in almost a slumping motion, just to make this more dramatic it seemed.

"Don't you know why, Testy? I mean, I'm sure you know what the little voice in your head has told you," He chuckled. Test Tube stared at him in fear, nearly choking up.

"Going on a secret mission for a silly little stone? And without my permission? Oh, dear, I won't let that slide." Nickel slid a pocket knife out of his side bag.

Test Tube froze up, not having any weapon to fight with. All she could do now is hope she could make it out alive.

Nickel lunged for her, but she ran to a wall of the cave and ran on the ground beside it, practically running in circles. "Test Tube, grab the stone." The voice demanded. "Not now, not now..." Test Tube whispered, still being chased.

"What do you mean not now!? You've stalled long enough," The voice hissed. "Not now." Test Tube repeated. "TEST TUBE, GET THE STONE." The voice snapped. "NOT NOW." Test Tube raised her voice.

Nickel stopped and blinked at her got a moment before quickly getting back to chasing her with the knife. "TEST TUBE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET THE STONE." The voice repeated. "NOT. NOW!..." Test Tube suddenly froze in place, shaking violently.

Now granted with the chance, Nickel knocked Test Tube to the ground, putting the knife to her throat.

Her trembling seemed to stop. "You won't be coming back." He whispered. "...What- What do you mean?" Test Tube blinked at him. "...I'll let you live, Test Tube, but on one condition. You can't come back to my kingdom." Nickel glared down at her.

Test Tube's heart sank. "...No... No- Can I- Atleast say goodbye to my friends? To... To Fan?" She begged. Nickel laughed. "You REALLY don't know what 'you can't come back' means, don't you?" He pressed the knife against her neck.

"I... I can't even say goodbye...?" Test Tube began growing lightheaded once again. The world began spinning around her, and she couldn't tell whether it was the pain in her neck or the dreadful thought that she couldn't say goodbye.

"...Fine. FINE. Just- Stop!" Test Tube snapped. Nickel simply glared at her, saying nothing. He watched as Test Tube seemed to slowly stop struggling.

Test Tube went limp as everything in her sight turned dark.

Test Tube's unconscious body lay on the ground. "Good. Now that that's taken care of," Nickel walked toward the crystal, grabbing it and chipping a small piece off of it so they'd believe she was dead. He then put it in his bag and began heading outside, uttering the words "They can't stop me now."

Nickel stepped up onto the throne, everyone gathered around him nervously. Clover sat beside him, as Balloon, his second in command, was hanging out with OJ now.

Clover seemed... On edge. Nickel took a deep breath. "Everyone, I have terrible news." He spoke. The entire crowd tensed up.

Nickel pulled a green-stained shard out of his bag "Test Tube has been mauled by the snow leopard." The entire crowd gasped in terror. He had said it in such an emotionless tone.

Fan broke into tears right in front of everyone, falling into Lightbulb's arms as she tried to calm him down, trying not to start crying herself. Everyone in the crowd was either shocked or crying.

Clover was staring at Nickel, just as shocked as everyone else... But for a different reason. Nickel set the stained glass down, shooting a glare at Clover with a look of ' Keep quiet '. Clover winced and jumped back.

Nickel hopped off the throne once again, Clover following. Once they got to a cabin, Clover spoke up. "...Uhm... Nickel, you didn't have anything to do with Test Tube's death, right...?" She asked.

Nickel turned to her. "Why would you think such a thing?" He asked. "...It's just- That glare you gave me-... I-It felt like you were telling me to not say anything..." Clover mumbled. Nickel stared her dead in the eye. "And you won't, correct?" He demanded.

Clover stared at him nervously. "Nickel... Why did-" Clover was cut off as Nickel grabbed her. "AND YOU WON'T, CORRECT?" He repeated, forcefully squeezing Clover's arm. Clover winced, just wanting him to stop. "...Of course." She whispered.

Nickel let go of her. "Well, aren't you a good girl." Nickel muttered quietly before walking outside.

Clover took a deep breath. "...I know he isn't trying to hurt me..." She whispered to herself. She stumbled onto the couch, holding her arm and taking deep breaths. "...It's fine... Everything is fine..." She whispered. "...It was a dumb question anyway..." She chuckled.