Trust falls

Realisation

@GreenGelly's part

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I woke up, the horrifying realisation of what I'd done crashing over me like a tidal wave. Slumping down again, I felt my pages crinkle with shame.

I had nearly killed Snowball. How could I, a dictionary of all things, be so careless with my words?

The irony wasn't lost on me - a repository of knowledge unable to keep my mouth shut. The early morning light filtering through the leaves suggested it was around 5AM, amplifying my sense of dread.

"Great." I muttered bitterly. Time to get killed and bombarded with questions. A dark thought crossed my mind - maybe I should just help the murderers. What did I have to lose at this point?

Staggering to my feet, I trembled, feeling the glue inside me churning uncomfortably.

We had been teleported to a vast beach, a serene lake nearby. My eyes landed on Cake and Clock, an unlikely pair I never expected to see together. Curiosity overrode my fear, and I crept behind a large palm tree to eavesdrop.

"Who do you think is the third murderer?" Clock asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.

Cake's response was surprisingly nonchalant. "Someone like Robot flower perhaps. Wouldn't it be funny if it were Grassy?"

Clock's next question caught me off guard. "What's going on with you? You've been more confident lately, standing out more than your usual self."

I leaned in closer, desperate to hear more, but my eagerness betrayed me. I lost my balance and tumbled out from behind the tree, landing just feet away from Clock. He jumped in surprise, his gears whirring loudly.

Cake's eyes met mine, cold and calculating. "Book, what are you doing here?"

Before I could respond, Cake darted towards me, wrapping me in a chokehold. The pressure on my spine was intense, and I could feel my pages crumpling.

"Clock, help me kill her. She knows." Cake hissed, his usually sweet demeanour completely gone.

Panic surged through me. "WAIT!" I managed to yell, my voice strangled and desperate.

"What?" Clock snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin.

Cake loosened his grip slightly, allowing me to gasp out my next words. "I'll help you," I wheezed, fighting for air. "Kill."

The moment hung in the air, heavy with tension. I could see the gears turning in Clock's mind, weighing the pros and cons of my offer. Cake's grip remained firm, a constant reminder of the precarious situation I found myself in.

————

Soon enough, I found myself with Puffball, my heart racing from more than just physical exertion.

"Well, why did you bring me so far out in the forest? I wouldn't be surprised if we were by the other team's border." Puffball snapped, her voice tinged with irritation and a hint of fear.

I was panting heavily, struggling to keep up with her swift flight. The irony of our situation wasn't lost on me - a flightless fry trying to match race with a floating puffball. "To flex about how you can run, boy?" I managed to gasp out between breaths.

Suddenly, the weight of my knowledge pressed down on me. I had to tell her. "I know who the murderers are." I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Puffball's expression shifted, a mix of interest and wariness crossing her face. She tried to brush it off, but I could see the curiosity in her eyes. "Well, who is it then?" She asked, trying to keep her tone casual. "And how did you find out it was them?"