Abominations for Solutions

Them

"Hey, that's right. You came from such a horrible place. They can die. Your real life begins now. Just realx."

A hand rested on the top of his hoodie. He felt everything but relaxed. Gradient's eyes bolted open, yet he felt like his eyes and body were living in two separate worlds. The only things that he could register was the utter darkness, a voice as smooth as swift knives, and the light purple aura that hovered above his head.

Was that fire? Oh no no no.

Gradient's soul sped up like never before, drawing him fully awake.

"Look who's awake!"

Gradient gave out a fearful cry, trying to wriggle out of the grasp that kept him immobile. "Paperjam!" He hollered, catching sight of a stranger with a mass of purple flame shrouding their face, a thin smile slid across a piercing white complexion. "Where am I! Paperjam! Help! Don't hurt him!" Gradient thrashed about, his limbs smacking against the floor.

"Wow... I've never seen someone be that reactive before! He's gone through some serious trauma. Star, help him up. Careful." Gradient felt arms wrap around him as he was thrust up from his curled up position on the ground.

Plop. Gradient's body bounced up and down on some kind of elastic seat. As he sat himself up, his eyes involuntarily bulged, his mouth quivered. He was so utterly confused. His hands and limbs jittered and weakly glitched at the sight of so many skeletons arranged out before him.

Directly in front of him stood a thin skeleton wearing a fitted shirt and spacious pants, adorned by a cross-like belt winding around their waist. It must be the one with the purple flame and stretched smile. Her hands outstretched in a stance, ready to make sure Gradient didn't run off. And she was staring at him with a grin that Gradient couldn't quite tie an emotion to. Well, at least he thought she was staring, as he couldn't see her eyes. Behind her stood a cheery skeleton who was as tall as the purple one's shoulder. He was dressed in a green and black attire with a star crown circling his skull, a cherry red eye displaying a curious star.

Gradient jumped. To his right, another teen skeleton clasped the armrest and gazed at him with two bulging starry eyes, paint-like markings staining his face. Gradient's eyes drifted across the skeleton's peculiar form, revealing a white suit and a matching cap. Something about this one was different, Gradient couldn't quite put his finger on it. He continued to shake, his eyes glued onto the skeleton's unmoving smiley expression. But there was something else... off in the corner a hardly visible tall skeleton with artistic cyan streaks running down his face leaned against the wall. And his shirt was off?? Gradient blushed profoundly, his eyes darting back and forth.

"Huh, he's kind of dumb looking," the shirtless one said, crossing his arms. "I wonder what two anomalies created that thing. Guess that's why his parents didn't want 'im. But... now I guess we have to deal with his hideousness." The skeleton smirked, chuckling softly. Gradient pouted, tears forming in his sockets as he gazed at the deep purple ground below him.

"Crescent!" The purple one abruptly shrieked, making Gradient jump. "Do you want me to tell him how you got here? Don't scare him, he's scared enough, just look at him. He's so small and scrawny, and look, some of his fingers are broken... Poor thing."

"Hmm I think he's kind of cute!" The paint splattered one said, reaching out to fiddle with Gradient's scarf. Soft glitches began to spark off of Gradient's body at the touch, drawing fear into his chest. Please not now.

"Get the hell off, Palette, since when did you get so touchy?" The purple one said, slyly.

She was probably the leader of whatever this is... I should try to be friendly, maybe that will make them stop staring at me. And maybe then she'll let me go home.