I won't let you. (Suntan) (Original Starfall AU)

Layers.

"We meet again, dreamer."

Longsnout.

"Yes, that is me.

Why do you even bother to try?"

I try hard to ignore it, but no matter where I am, it's voice comes from every direction.

Upon analysing, Orange space was a bit different from last time. Now, instead of sharp teeth holes there were just crazy shaped closed slides, whose ends were not to be seen.

"Why are you trying to get deeper?"

Deeper? I don't even know what's going on. Is this a casual returning nightmare? Or is it a place?

"Are you really here? Or are you my hallucination?"

That's a good question.

"You be careful with peeling down the layers. Everything is going to be worse."

Without further thinking, I hopped into one of the slides. It was burning in touch, but soon I found myself in a playground. Not just any playground, our playground.

"Hey! Hey! Sun! Here!!"

A younger version of Kel called me, so I followed the call.

"There you are!! I reserved this swing for you!!"

"Thank you..."

We were just swinging in silence until Kel spoke again.

"Why'd you leave me?"

I looked to the side. Where Kel was there is only a orange-black shadow left, with big white eyes and smile scribbled over with red.

"You ignored all of my pain I've been hiding for everyone to be happy."

"I-"

"What the kind of friend you are? I know.

Worthless. Ignorant. Selfish."

The words echoed in my mind, multiple eyes appearing and staring at me.

"You could've prevented this mess.

It's your fault. What's wrong? why won't you smile? Look at this painful work of art! It's yours!"

"Look, look, look!"

The voices were everywhere. I closed my eyes, and they faded away.

"How much do you think you will live with that?"

Longsnout can be ignored. Why I'm even there?

"You're trying to help, aimlessly."

Who?

"Your beloved."

...

Longsnout can be ignored.

If it helps, I chose another one of the slide, it was yellow-red.

I found myself in endless clearing with some colorful flowers. In front of me was a treehouse.

The ladder didn't creak or move as I climbed it, unlike every other time I've been to the treehouse. I was always afraid of it breaking, or falling over, but everyone helped me to be courageous. Now there wasn't anyone, but the ladder wasn't a problem anymore.

"Hi Sunny!! I made some toasts with jam, do you want some??"

I knew it wasn't real, but I nodded and ate it anyway. The first time since four years ago, I enjoyed the taste and structure of food.

"Don't you think it tastes better with friends?"

I just wanted to say yes, but the bite I took turned into heavy sticky gooish material, that prevented me from opening my mouth. I tried to talk, scream, but nothing worked.

"Do you feel it? Do you feel my pain?"

The same shadowy thing appeared.

"The pain of having no one to talk to. I just had. To. Smile."

It came closer. I froze. It put it's fingers on my mouth's corners to lift them up. The hands were warm and goomy, just like the substance. It also left some of it, preventing my mouth to go back into the neutral state.

"How is it? How are you feeling? Oh right you are not supposed to talk about it. I'll assume you're okay, because you're smiling! What could be possibly wrong?"

As soon as I felt the jolt of my muscles moving, I tried to run away. For split second on treehouses entrance I saw that all the flowers on the clearing were now black and dead. I speeded through the ladder, but now it was creaking louder and was really wobbly. At the last step it broke, and I fell down the hole that just opened under.

"Taking away your voice... You did it for yourself, but you were lucky to have the choice."

Again at the main orange space. I don't want to do this anymore, but I have to if I want to make a progress. It feels like everyone i helping me, and I do not return that. How selfish. If I just have to live, I need to repay everyone.

By saving Kel.

"What are you waiting for? Wasting time and space again?"

I shook my head for myself. I promise I will be helpful.

Third slide. Blue and green.

Branches were all around me, but in front there was some kind of light coming through.

I pushed myself past them and saw the little clearing, with lake and the weird statue. Even our picnic blanket.
There was a familiar figure sitting over the dock. I sat beside him.

He just stared at the water. I did too. I didn't want to see the shadow anymore, but I knew I will have to face it.

"Did you ever feel like ending your own life?"

I looked over to my right with fear, but there was no shadow. Still the same person.

"I did, but... the mantra of keeping my friends happy just kept going on. I couldn't ignore that. That was my sense of life. My goal. My purpose.

Now that I'm gone... I feel guilty."

"I'm sorry, Kel. I am so sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry-"

He was no longer there. Like he is totally gone. But he is still somewhere, right? I am still there, so he has to be there too.

"I'm sorr...y..."

Everything seems so... peaceful. Unlike any other spaces. The lake reflected everything like a mirror. I looked at myself in the reflection. Beside me was a orange glow. I closed my eyes.

Kel is alive.
Everything will be fine.

_______________________________________
959

I had 3 days to learn 20 different names, locations and characteristics of local winds and I still forget them after a minute, I don't recommend advanced geography qwp (it might be just the teacher tho)