In Charlotte's Eyes

ONE: [C] First of Many Absences

Charlotte needed to win. She needed to, not only for her personal need, but for another reason, as well. A reason that.. seemed right. Her teammates were awkward around her now. She didn't need their social relationship, anyways. It wouldn't help her win. Even so, that made it so that she didn't have anybody to talk to between challenges.

Charlotte didn't know what to do in the meantime. The few hours of downtime between the challenge and elimination felt even longer than it usually did. She watched others from afar as time went by. Backpack and Scenty had kept each other company since the end of the challenge. They both, somehow, had optimistic smiles as they talked away.

Charlotte would look away, guilty and jealous. She wished she had one of her friends to talk to. But they would all probably be mad at her. Parker probably told them.

Her teammates—Circle, Subway Seat, and Whippy Creamy—talked between each other, too. They didn't seem to have a care in the world. She was the black sheep of the team.

She looked down, disheartened.

She just needed to win.

Minutes passed. Charlotte waited impatiently. “Alright,” Airy’s voice finally started, thank goodness. “We can-!” He cut himself off, the sound of squeaking coming from the air. “Start the elimination now.” He continued, his tone settling back to normal. Charlotte raised her brow, but dismissed it quickly.

Backpack was teleported in the middle of everyone. Obviously, being the only one up for elimination, he was going to finally leave. Just get it over with.

“Okay, the first eliminated,” Weird squeaking noises sounded again. “Is-!” Airy seemed panicked. After another moment of these strange noises, the sound of glass shattering sounded. Airy’s voice exclaimed in shock, then withered in groans and moans of pain.

Charlotte looked up with concern. Her lips parted slightly, her brows scrunched. She looked for the other’s reactions. They all seemed just as concerned and confused.

A minute passed. Airy hadn't returned yet. Things were silent on The Plane.

A few more minutes passed. There were a few murmurs between duos, but things still stayed relatively silent. Charlotte awaited for Airy’s inevitable return. There's no way he would be gone forever, right?

An hour passed. Contestants would infrequently go to Backpack and give him apologetic looks or condolences. They all knew how much it meant to him to finally leave. Having to wait even longer after just being on the brink must have been devastating. Charlotte kept her distance.

A few more hours passed. Charlotte sat by the pool, eyes trained to the floor. Airy still hadn't come back. But it wouldn't be for forever. She knew it wouldn't.

Someone approached her. She didn't look up at them. They plopped themselves beside her without a word. From her peripherals, she could see it was Circle. She looked at his side. His legs, his right arm. She turned her gaze away soon after.

“Hey, Moldy.” He finally said. He sounded casual. She hummed in acknowledgment, not moving. “Sooo, do you have any theories as to what's going on with Airy?” He awkwardly asked.

A long huff came through her nose. “..Nope.”

“It sounded like Airy got hurt, somehow.”

“Mhm.”

“How does air even get hurt..?” He wondered in a whisper.

“...”

“When do you think he'll come back?”

“Don't know.”

He hummed. “Hopefully soon, though, right?”

“..Hopefully soon.”

She glanced up. Backpack was gone.