Chromatober 2023

Day 11 - Lull

Series: Original Rainbow Quest (Part 5 of Hunted)

--- Indigo Steve P.O.V. ---

I have to wake up.

The thought struggles through my hazy mind, and I hold onto it tightly.  It's difficult to remember why I must wake up, but it's the only thing I can think, here in this dark void.

I wonder, briefly, if I've woken up before, but can't remember it.  It's difficult to remember anything here.

My name is Indigo Steve.

I have fallen to the darkness.

I have to wake up.

The more I think, the harder the darkness fights me.  It presses closer, constricting around me as if it could choke out my mind.  Can it?

I have to wake up.

An image presses to the forefront of my mind: the Middle World, blotched with an inky black substance.  The darkness, on the prowl.  That is what I have to fight against.  But I'm no use here in this void.

I have to wake up.

Slowly, I open my eyes.

There is fire, and the echoes of screams out in the distance.  I look around in a haze of smoke.  Real smoke this time, not just darkness.  It stings in my lungs.  I take a step away from the nearest flames, and feel my foot hit against something.

It's a steve.

The Yellow Steve is crouched on the ground, eyes watering with tears as he struggles to overcome the darkness.  He's not winning.  I can see the corruption spreading up his arm, creeping toward his eyes, where it will take full control of his mind.  He glares at me hatefully.

"I won't give in!  I'll keep fighting!"  He tries to pull out his sword, but the darkness causes his arm to spasm, and he drops it.  The darkness is protecting me from this steve.

I feel sick.

...Did I do this?

"I- I don't want-"  Off to the side, a younger steve is caught in the same dilemma, face strained as the darkness creeps up his cheek.

"Hold on kid!  Keep fighting it!"  He glances toward the two of us, and his eyes widen in fear.

"He's right behind you!"  he shrieks, terrified.  I spin, expecting to see Void.  There is no one.  Only me.

...Is he scared of me?

My name is Indigo? Steve.

I am part of the darkness.

I have woken up.

A darkness creature runs up to me, and bows respectfully.  Behind it, a small group of Yellow Steves does the same.  Their eyes are black, hazy from confusion.  They are no longer in control.

Because of me.

I can't have done this.  I couldn't have been asleep for that long.  The guilt holds tightly to my heart, stronger than the darkness ever was.  It clouds my mind.

A flash of movement.  The younger steve is repeating the bow.  His mind was not strong enough to fight the darkness.  I am not strong enough to fight it.  How comforting it would be, to fall asleep again and not remember.

My name was Indigo Steve.

I have been part of the darkness for a long time.

I want to fall asleep.

Something dark and hazy presses on my mind, and it's not the smoke.  The darkness is welcoming me back.  Once I give in, there will be no more guilt.  I can pretend I never saw the damage I caused.  I will be Corruption Steve again, and it will be as if Indigo never existed.

It will all be okay, if I just give in.

I let the darkness lull me back into unconsciousness.

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Word Count: 548