The chill of the Showfall Studios Mall was ever-present, a constant reminder of its hollow vastness. Ranboo, adorned with his metal mask, connected to his jawline and brain by a web of intricate wires, had made this forsaken place his home. He wasn't alone, though. Someone and Zero, two Showfall Studios workers with hearts of gold and a shared hatred for Hetch, had become his family. Together, they navigated the cold corridors and the eerie silence, finding solace in each other's company.
But solace was fleeting. Ranboo often felt the weight of the mask pressing into his skull, an intrusive presence that burrowed deeper into his mind with every passing day. His thoughts were a chaotic whirl, impossible to grasp. One night, as he stumbled through the dimly lit room, shadows dancing on the walls, the mask seemed to tighten its grip, sending waves of pain through his body. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" Ranboo screamed, his voice cracking with desperation. He swung his arms wildly, trying to keep anyone from coming close. His mind was a battlefield, and he couldn't tell friend from foe.Someone and Zero, alerted by his cries, rushed to his side. They exchanged worried glances as they tried to calm him, but Ranboo's fear had taken hold. Without warning, Zero slipped behind him and pressed a hidden button on the back of his head. The mask released a small hiss, and Ranboo's legs gave out beneath him. He crumpled to the floor, his screams turning to whimpers.As he lay there, a third figure, a technician who had once worked for Showfall, knelt beside him. They gently rolled him onto his side, injecting a sedative into his arm. "It's okay, Ranboo," the technician whispered, their voice a soothing balm to his pain. "You're safe now."The sedative spread warmth through his veins, pulling him towards unconsciousness. As darkness enveloped him, the chaos in his mind began to quiet, and he slipped into a fitful sleep.---When Ranboo awoke, he found himself in a different room, a place that felt foreign yet oddly comforting. His mind wavered between moments of clarity and confusion as he lay there, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The faces around him were unfamiliar, yet there was a sense of safety in their presence. Every action, every touch was gentle, careful not to cause him any more pain.Days passed, and Ranboo's strength slowly began to return. He found himself able to sit up for longer periods, the food and water helping to restore his energy. The technician who had first attended to him was a constant presence, monitoring his vitals, changing his bandages, and offering comforting words.Ranboo's memories of the past year were fragmented, haunted by the relentless torment and isolation he had endured. But he also remembered the brief moments of hope, the small acts of defiance against his captors that kept him clinging to life. Now, in this place of recovery, those memories were like shadows, retreating in the light of his newfound safety.One afternoon, as the technician adjusted his IV, Ranboo found his voice-weak, barely a whisper. "Why... why did you save me?"The technician paused, a look of empathy in their eyes. "Because you deserved better. No one should have to go through what you did. We couldn't leave you there."Tears welled up in Ranboo's eyes, the emotional weight of his ordeal finally finding an outlet. The technician gently held his hand, offering silent support as he cried.---With time, Ranboo began to walk again, albeit slowly and with assistance. The backroom where he had first been taken was now a place of solace, filled with warm light and comforting sounds. He was visited by a therapist, someone who helped him start to process the trauma he had endured. Each session was a step towards reclaiming his sense of self, of rebuilding the person he had been before everything went wrong.Ranboo's days became a routine of rest and rehabilitation. Someone, Zero, and the technician treated him with kindness and respect, ensuring he never felt alone or forgotten. Slowly, he started to believe in the possibility of a future beyond the pain.One evening, as he sat by a window watching the sunset, Ranboo realized just how far he had come. The journey ahead was still long, and the scars, both physical and emotional, would take time to heal. But for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope. He had survived, and that was the beginning of his road to recovery.---As the last light of the day faded, Ranboo felt a sense of peace settle over him. The mask that had once controlled him was gone, replaced by the warmth and care of those who had saved him. And though the shadows of his past still lingered, he knew he wasn't alone. With Someone, Zero, and the technician by his side, Ranboo was ready to face whatever came next. In the hollow vastness of the Showfall Studios Mall, amidst the cold and darkness, hope had found its way back into his heart. And for Ranboo, that was enough to keep moving forward.
