In Charlotte's Eyes

ONE: [C] Begin Facing The Truth

Some time passed.

Charlotte was standing with Aaron and Rebecca. The other two leaned against a wall, smiling, talking to each other.

“Hey, Aaron.” Charlotte suddenly said.

He looked at her. “Sup?”

“Why do you waste your time on your art?”

Aaron stepped backwards. Rebecca looked at Charlotte with shocked disgust. “Wh-What?” He stammered.

“Your hobby is pointless.” What the fuck? “Such a waste of time.” Why would she say that?

Rebecca suddenly vanished. “Wh-..?” Aaron took another few steps back.

“Nobody wants to buy your art.” Charlotte grinned. “You’d be better off giving up.” This wasn't her.

“But I..” He looked down with despair in his eyes. He had a look of dread as he faced the truth.

“Carlos does so much for you, doesn't he?” She grinned wider. “You just hold him back.” She shook her head, shrugging.

The world around them began dissolving; becoming simple and closed. Charlotte finally noticed the shapes. The tells of Abstracty. This was a dream. “I..” Aaron’s lip quivered. “Maybe I do..” He muttered in disbelief.

How could she be so cruel? “Hey, I know you're strapped for cash,” She held out an open palm. “But could you give me some money? I need it.”

His frame began dissolving into a collection of geometric shapes. He looked at her hand. “Oh..” His voice became distant and echoey. “Sure..” A wad of cash appeared in his hand, and he placed it into her palm.

“Thanks, Aaron.” She beamed. “Now come with me. I wanna spend my newly earned cash on a motorcycle. You'll help me pick one out, right?”

Aaron smiled, but he looked like he was held captive. “Of course.” He forced out.

She looked away, into the distance. “Thank you.” Suddenly, Charlotte was the one staring at her imposter and Aaron walk off together. But as they walked, Charlotte’s fake had her face trained on her; like an owl. It has an abyssal, vile grin. “This is you.”

Charlotte’s eyes shook. She was on her knees. She said nothing.

Suddenly, Abstracty—in the form of Charlotte—and her were face to face. She looked up at it, mouth agape. “You can't deny it.”

She..

“...”

She..

Couldn't..

Charlotte’s eyes snapped open and she sat up. Her senses were very aware. She blinked, looking all around her. Nobody was there. An uncomfortable groan escaped her, as she breathed slowly. She was in her spot of solitude, just as she was before falling asleep. Charlotte refused to move from her spot for days—not even to help get a stake out of the ground. The others would send somebody occasionally to check up on her, but she would always brush them off, largely ignoring them until they left.

She didn't know what time it was. She never knew what time it was. She felt restless. Even though she didn't have the desire to get up normally, she stood up. Things on The Plane were quiet. Charlotte preferred it this way. She started walking away from her spot on the floor.

As she began wandering, she noticed a few of the others. Contact Lens, Tray, and Bassy all slept peacefully together in their limbless state. Folder was comatose, as per usual. Airline Food was awake. He waved at her with a deadpan expression. She ignored him.

As Charlotte began moving farther and farther away, the color of the world began dulling. The angles of the grass blades changed. The rusting palette of the world reminded her of her own situation; how her life had been reduced to a dry, dull, boring life.

Charlotte remembered overhearing that this is where Backpack disappeared to all the time. It seemed to work for him—he became more and more active with the others—so maybe it could soothe her, too.

A towering cylindrical shape formed in the horizon. It stretched upwards endlessly. As she got closer to the base of the tower, a pair of figures came to her eye. A small, cyan, transparent object, and a green backpack. Backpack and Scenty.

Charlotte stopped in front of the two. Their eyes were closed, both of them sleeping away next to each other. They leaned on each other. She stared at the two. She didn't have a reason why. She had no clue what enticed her to study them. But staring at them brought a feeling of longing.

Longing for what?

Scenty had probably comforted Backpack before falling asleep together. After a long minute of staring at them, she forced herself to turn away.

She longed for comfort. She longed for her friends. The friends she wronged. “Aaron..”

She walked away.

“This is who you are..” Abstracty’s voice echoed in her mind.

No.. She couldn't be that cruel. She couldn't.