In Charlotte's Eyes

ONE: [C] Develop a Doubt

“Okay, it's time to eliminate someone.”

Another elimination. Charlotte didn't care to look up and pay attention. She was getting tired of this place. She just had to suffer through it for that prize. She had to keep herself in for the sake of the money.

“I'm gonna eliminate someone.. now.”

After a moment, Charlotte glanced up. Backpack was still there. Meaning Soda Bottle was gone. She looked back down.

Well, that was that. Just another person out of the way.

“We'll start the next challenge soon.” Airy said. “Give me a second.”

Charlotte sighed, forcing herself to stand up. Her other teammates were already standing together, so she joined them, awkwardly standing by, but not joining their conversation either.

“Hey, Moldy.” Circle greeted with a smile, catching her attention. “Good to see you again.” He raised a brow confidently, a hand on his hip.

She sighed through her nose, looking away and putting both hands on her hips. “Hey.”

“Ready for today’s challenge?” Whippy Creamy asked casually.

She didn't glance at him. “..Yyyup.”

“Hey guuuys,” Airy came back. “Check it out. I made.. cloudsss.” He sounded proud.

Charlotte looked down. This was stupid. Clouds? Who cares about some clouds?

“Ooh!” Subway Seat said.

Suddenly, her team started positively talking up the clouds Airy made. Each of them made a statement or two about them. Charlotte glanced up at the clouds, now semi-curious. But, the clouds were less than interesting. There were only two, and they were small. They didn't move like normal clouds. They were stationary. It barely added anything. Disappointed, she looked down again.

They were just a bunch of corny, easily impressed doormats. They were her teammates now, but they wouldn't be later. That time would be nice.

“Alright,” Airy started. “Now that we got that out of the way, we can start the next challenge.”

“Ow-.” She heard Circle grunt from behind her.

She glanced behind her. A small rock sat on the floor, in between her and her teammates.

“Your next challenge is to throw your rock into the tub.” So boring. Charlotte rolled her eyes, leaned back and picked up the rock, then tossed it up into the air. The rock sailed over the edge and she could hear a small plop, confirming it fell into the pool. “The last team to throw their rock into the tub is up for elimination.” Charlotte stared at the sky, waiting for Airy to notice she had already done the challenge. “Three, two, one, go..” She blinked tiredly. “And Moldy wins immunity for her team..!”

Finally. “This is getting old.” After that last tiresome challenge, she didn't care for this uninteresting cycle anymore. She wished she could make her conscience blackout while her body did the rest of the simple challenges for her.

She removed herself from her team again, sitting down against the tub. She looked up at the two clouds again. They looked like clouds made by a four year old. She looked away. Aaron would've made better looking clouds.

Any of her friends would have. That's just how incompetent this host was. Even though Airy created clouds, Charlotte was convinced this man was no god. Any other god would be more experienced than he was.

So, if he was no god, then how could he grant a wish? Even something as impossible as granting immortality? She shook her head. Whatever. All she was gonna ask for was money. Nothing else so cartoonish.

“Aand Airline Food’s team is safe.” Airy announced. “That means Backpack and Scenty’s team are the last ones to throw their rock into the tub.”

Of course. They were always the last ones to do the challenges, because they both refused to compete. “Tch.” Waste of time. She looked between her legs, at the floor.

“And Scenty throws the rock in to win for her team.” Airy announced.

“Huh?” They willingly did the challenge? Charlotte looked up.

“That means Backpack is up for elimination this round.”

Scenty walked up to Backpack. Backpack briefly said something to her.

“You don't deserve to be here, Backpack.” Scenty responded, pointing at him. Her voice was just loud enough for Charlotte to overhear. “You didn't deserve to see a child impaled by a stake,” Her tone was stern. “You didn't deserve to have your leg broken, you didn't deserve to drown..! Since the very beginning, there has been no one more deserving to leave this hellscape other than you!” There was a subtle crack in her strong demeanor. “And it's been six eliminations too late for me to finally realize that. I've been selfish to spend even a second prioritizing my own well-being over yours.”

There was a small pause. Backpack said something else to her. Another short, brief phrase.

“It's not, Backpack. I'm done delaying what should have happened long before any of this happened. I'm not sleeping another day here until I see you gone.” She stood up tall. “I really don't wanna be here, I really, truly, don’t.” She shook her head in rhythm with her words. “But knowing you're back home—safe—is worth staying here until I'm the last one left.”

There were no more words said between the two. Backpack was at a loss for words. After a moment, he stood up. Tears shimmered at the edges of his eyes, threatening to spill.

Then, the two hugged. Charlotte kept her gaze lingering on them for a while longer, until Backpack crumpled in her arms, sobbing quietly.

Charlotte shouldn't care. They were just two faces in her way to winning this competition. Even so, she couldn't help but feel something strong towards the duo’s moment.

Was it guilt? Empathy? Sympathy? Jealousy?

Charlotte looked down. How long had she been here for? A week? Backpack and Scenty had only known each other for a week, yet they built such a strong emotional connection for each other, that they’d be vulnerable and cry with one another. They had empathy for each other. Soda Bottle was the same, too. As serious as he seemed, he was trying to help Backpack and Scenty leave, too.

She glanced at Scenty and Backpack again. Scenty’s team awkwardly stood by, wanting to help comfort them, but not knowing how to, or whether the pair wanted it or not.

They were..

“...”

But.. she was, too. She had tried to save Subway Seat when he was drowning. But, that ultimately came to winning the challenge. Not because she cared about his well-being.

Scenty’s team and Backpack were now sharing a group hug.

Charlotte thought of her friends. Kylee, Leon, Suzuki, Aaron, Carlos, Rebecca..

Parker..

“...” Her closed lips quivered once.

She missed her friends.

She looked back at Backpack and Scenty’s team. Tray was smiling. Backpack was smiling. All of them were.

Scenty, Backpack, Soda Bottle.. Even Tray, Bassy, Contact Lens, Subway Seat, Whippy Creamy, Circle.. they were all good people. They all were concerned for one another. Charlotte was an outcast in that regard.

She was Moldy.

A total jerkwad who insults people for her own self image.

She thought about her last moments at home before being transported here.

She had even manipulated her friends on multiple occasions.

She disrespected Parker. She disrespected all her friends. Friends that had been so kind and considerate, that they sacrificed a boatload of cash for her to live. So that she could rectify her mistake and move on.

“...”

A..?

“...”

..No.