Branches of Time.

ACT 1: conclusion.

(cw: death, violence, blood, + loss/grief at the end)

(june 11th, 8:35pm)

As she slowly handed me an axe, she reminded me that I was doing this to save so many markers from what will happen someday in the future.

Yeah... if I don't kill now, then... he might strike whenever... come on [Player], collect yourself. You can do this, there's no backing out now.

She took us to the keyboard room, and began to type in a code for me, all while I began to mutter to myself.

"Everything is going to be okay, Marker, he won't be able to hurt you now."

...

"Wait, Monkey Hat, this isn't-"

She quickly shushed me, saying that she knew.

"Remember what I said? He wouldn't care if you killed him, it has to be someone he cares about. An eye for an eye, after all. If he hurt someone you care a lot about, then hurt someone he cares about back."

Right... I'm doing this for you, Marker... I wish I could've said something about this beforehand, but... I always loved you. Not exactly as friends, but not really lovers. I don't exactly understand either...

I just, I always loved how optimistic you always were, how much you could ramble on about your interests, and how excited you would get. I always found that adorable... just like you were.

If this all goes completely wrong, and I don't ever get you to tell this, then... I love you.

"[Player]? You ready to let him know how it feels, once and for all?"

Right... I'm doing this. No turning back now, [Player]. You got this... do it for him.

"...I'm ready."

{...}

I made it. Died like six times, but ehh, whatever. Monkey Hat kept my hyped, repeating what I was already telling myself: I got this.

I sighed, a bit too loudly. Fuck, he heard me. Guess I gotta act quickly... remember, [Player], NO TURNING BACK.

I silently jumped to the small platform he was on, and swung, barely missing him. Fuck...

"[PLAYER], WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" he yelled out, quickly standing up, and leaning onto a wall. "ARE YOU INSANE?"

I didn't respond, just froze up as he ran away. Snapping back to my senses, I chased after him, still holding the axe.

The time pressure felt so much worse, until I realized something. I could just jump down, and end up at a spawnpoint.

Letting myself fall off, I knew that the axe would respawn with me... and it did.

Wait... where did Monkey Hat go...?

As Danger finally reached the entrance, he turned to me, almost terrified as I charged, swinging... directly onto him, but...

He flinched, causing me to only hit his left eye. Or is it right? Well, it'd be to his left, so... which term is it? No, no, you're distracting yourself with stupid questions.

Neon yellow ink began to circle around both of us, giving off small electric shocks. Danger quickly held a hand to the injury, before looking up at me in fear.

...fuck... just fuck...

"Wh-Why are you doing this...?" he asked, slowly pinning himself into the corner. "What's wrong with you?"