[ Cruel Winter - A Inanimate Insanity Invitational AU ]

Chapter 28 - The Edge

Lightbulb and Paintbrush had fallen asleep in the cabin, the fireplace still going. Well— Lightbulb had fallen asleep. Paintbrush had been staring at the fireplace all night.

Lightbulb had her arms wrapped around their waist, so they didn't want to move and wake her up. They looked at an opening in a window. Still nighttime. They sighed, staring down at the sleeping lightbulb.

They then blinked at the fireplace once again, the red glow of the flames shining against their face. It was the fire that brought warmth to their cold mind.

They just... Couldn't believe it. OJ was gone. Why couldn't they have held on? Why did OJ slip away? Why couldn't they save him?

They clenched their fists. And why didn't Nickel do anything about it? Nickel was the one that caused it! Purposefully even! Paintbrush narrowed their eyes at the fire.

This was Nickel's fault, they told themself. But.. That wouldn't bring OJ back, would it? Oh well. They still wanted revenge on Nickel.

They sighed, staring at the fire once again. That was when their door creaked open. Paintbrush looked behind them to see... Cabby? "..Hello, Paintbrush-" Cabby mumbled. "...What are you doing here..." Paintbrush narrowed their eyes.

"Ah... Well, I need to ask you a few... Questions." Cabby replied, clicking her pen again. "...Alright, but be quiet. Lightbulb is asleep, and I don't wanna wake her up." Paintbrush sighed.

Paintbrush stared at Cabby, who was still focused on her clicky pen.

"Cabby." They seemed bothered. Cabby snapped out of it, putting the pen in her bottom drawer. "Right! Sorry." She whispered.

Cabby quietly rolled over to Paintbrush, settling herself beside them. "...How do you go to sleep on those wheels?" Paintbrush asked.

"...Oh, uh. I sleep standing up-" Cabby replied nervously. "...Isn't that- Painful, at all?" Paintbrush mumbled. "...No not really. ANYWAYS-" Cabby was shushed by Paintbrush, who pointed at Lightbulb.

"...Alright. Look, I have questions, as I stated earlier." Cabby whispered.

"Alright, just say it already, cabinet lady." Paintbrush snapped in a low voice.

Cabby grumbled, shaking her head. "So, how exactly did OJ... yknow.." She asked. "...He... He.. He drowned. Me and Nickel got into an argument.. OJ- Tried to intervene, and.. Nickel pushed him in..." Paintbrush replied, shifting their hands together nervously.

"...Ah. Wait, so Nickel did it?" Cabby raised a brow. "..Y...Yes. Yes he.. Did..." Paintbrush started to tear up.

Cabby put a hand on Paintbrush's shoulder. "...Don't cry, Paintbrush. I.. can't pretend to know how you feel, but.. I can tell you that everything is going to be ok. Alright..?" She mumbled. Paintbrush wiped their tears. "..Y...Y...Yeah, you're right." They sighed.

"...So. You're telling me that Nickel killed OJ." Cabby's voice flattened. "...Yep." Paintbrush whimpered. "Well! Nickel told us that OJ just slipped into that ice gap!" Cabby gasped quietly.

Paintbrush stared. "He did WHAT." Their voice raised. Lightbulb started to wake up. "...Huh... Paintbrush...?"

"...Uh. Go in the other room, Lightbulb..." Paintbrush sighed. "...Mkay." Lightbulb shrugged tiredly, heading into the room that would've belonged to OJ.

Paintbrush turned back to Cabby. "...So anyways. HE DID WHAT." Their eyes widened.

"...Yeah. Nickel told us that. It.. Wasn't true? Of course it wasn't. Nickel's notorious for lying. Especially because he lied about Tes- Sorry, I'm getting off-topic. Haha, with so much knowledge, I have so much to talk abou-"

Cabby was slapped by Paintbrush. "Alright, I get it!" They sighed.

"...Hmmmph... So first, Nickel KILLS OJ, then he lies about it?! EUGH, I WANNA KILL THAT SON OF A-" Cabby covered Paintbrush's mouth. "SHSHHSHSHSH- Lightbulb is still in the other room!" Cabby whispered loudly. "Right-" Paintbrush sighed.

Cabby put her hands together. "Look. There's something we both want from Nickel. For me? I want his leadership. He's such a jerk. I mean, haven't you seen how he acts towards Clover? I'd be a much better leader than him," She smirked. "...I mean, you're probably not wrong." Paintbrush shrugged.

"And you? You want vengeance for your dead friend. The one that Nickel shamelessly took the life of." She added. Those words seemed to set anger in Paintbrush's mind. "There's something we both want. We both want him dead. And you see, bud, I got an idea how to do exactly that."

"Well, what is it..?" Paintbrush asked. Cabby snickered. "Well, just let me show you." Cabby started rolling away. "Wait! Cabby- ...Could you give me a lift?" Paintbrush asked. "...Uh.. Sure?"

Cabby grabbed Paintbrush, who was still wearing the blankets, and put them on her head. "Jesus christ, you're cold." Cabby mumbled. "...Yeah, probably because I was in that water- Oh god, do you think I have hypothermia...?" Paintbrush asked worriedly.

"...I'm sure you're fine. Come on." Cabby sighed, rolling outside.

Cabby and Paintbrush kept moving until they reached a cliff. "...Woah..." Paintbrush gasped. "Pretty, right? It's called.. Uh..." Cabby grabbed one of her files, inspecting it carefully. "Oh, yes! It's called Snowpoint Edge." She exclaimed.

"Anyways, you see.. We'll lead Nickel here, then, we'll push him off. It's a 70 foot drop, he'll be dead for sure.." Cabby chuckled.

"...S..So that's all we have to do? Shove him off a cliff? Sounds easy enough." Paintbrush muttered. "Yeah, it does..." Cabby replied. "So, when do we do it?"

"Tomorrow." Paintbrush replied.

"...Ooh.. That's a bit early.. But.. Ok. Shall we go back?" Cabby asked. "...Yeah. I'm really cold..." Paintbrush sighed, shivering slightly. Cabby began rolling back. "...So... Once Nickel is done.. Are you taking over, Cabby?" Paintbrush asked.

"That's what I'm hoping." Cabby replied with a shrug. "If I was leader, I'm sure things will be better. For everyone, yknow? I hated seeing Nickel push people around..." She mumbled, staring at the ground. "That's fair." Paintbrush replied.

As they got back, Cabby dropped Paintbrush off at their cabin. "Goodnight." She whispered. "..G..Goodnight.." Paintbrush replied, stumbling inside.

Paintbrush laid down on the couch, staring at the roof for a while. "...I can't believe we're going to do this." They whispered. "...Don't worry, OJ. He'll get what he deserves..." They closed their eyes, getting comfy. "He will.."

The next day, they were woken up by Lightbulb. "Painty. Paiiinty. Cabby's at the door." She poked them. "Eh..?" Paintbrush's eyes fluttered open. "...Oh... Thanks, Lightbulb.." Paintbrush yawned, standing up and stretching before walking outside.

Cabby was there, waiting. "Paintbrush, are you ready..?" She asked. Paintbrush nodded. "Yes, let's go." They murmured sluggishly. Cabby put Paintbrush on her head and rolled over to Nickel's cabin, carefully knocking on the door.

Nickel opened the door, seeming frustrated. "What is it..." He grumbled. "Me and Cabby we're gonna go to uhh.. Snow.. Hill... Ugh, i forgot. Anyways, we're gonna go sightseeing! Wanna come with?" Paintbrush asked.

"...Yeah, I don't see why not." Nickel replied, yawning. "Great.. Come on." Cabby smiled.