His Soul

Reliving a Memory

Contains spoilers to the Bonus Chapter of the game.--

Curioso's wording surprised you. 'See inside his soul'? You assumed he wanted to have a deep conversation with you. Despite how tired you felt right now, you were more than willing to endure a few more hours of consciousness if it meant you could get an insight into this creature's past and feelings. It was everything you've been waiting for.

Filled with trepidation, you nodded your head, the words failing to leave you as you were stunned into silence.

That was when it happened - you got a clear look at the blue flames flickering in his mask's eyes when he moved closer towards your face. Your eyes widened as your heartbeat quickened, unsure of what he was going to do. Bite you? Kiss you? Both of those options had your head spinning. Before you had a chance to protest, a bright flash blinded your sight and senses.

-----

. . .

. . .

When you opened your eyes, Curioso was gone. You could only see in black and white until your sight adjusted and the color gradually returned to your surroundings. Your eyes darted around as you realized you were no longer in your small apartment. Instead, you appeared to be standing in a run-down bathroom.

Actually...you weren't standing at all . Your perspective was farther down below, like you had fallen to your feet and were sitting in the far corner of the room. When you went to stand, your knees buckled beneath you, and you realized this wasn't what you thought at all.

You were already at your full height, but that couldn't be. You felt little and...different? When you held your hands in front of your face, a small pair of light-colored palms met your eyes. You felt the familiar sensation of fear and anxiety swell in your chest. You were about to call out to your jester friend - ask what exactly was going on here, but you were interrupted before you could.

"Curioso! Unlock this door! You can't change the fact that nobody wants to see you at the party!"

You jumped at the voice and whipped your head over to the door - where a woman's silhouette met you on the other side. She appeared to be holding a piece of paper in her hand, but you couldn't make out what was on it. You blinked stupidly at the sight and frantically searched around the room. She was talking to Curioso, but how did she know him? Where were you exactly?

The woman attempted to open the door but the handle would not turn. She banged angrily on the tinted glass, hard enough that something abruptly fell off from the wood and landed onto the floor. It looked like a panel, which had clearly been concealing something underneath it. Before you could move, another figure joined the woman across from you, urging her away with a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on, mom! I don't wanna be late! Leave the freak!"

She was led away despite her insistence. The paper slipped from her fingers and slid underneath the door. As their footsteps disappeared, you realized your chest was heaving and you were pressing yourself flat against the wall. You felt terribly confused and disoriented.

"Curioso?" You called out weakly, your voice still sounding as your own, but everything else about you was feeling...odd.

"I can feel that you're scared, Detective." His voice sounded from around you, distant like he was in another room, but clear enough for you to understand. "None of this is real. You can calm down."

"What is going on?"

"You're inside my soul, reliving a memory of mine. A day I remember so clearly..."