In Charlotte's Eyes

ONE: [C] We Still Remain

It took a while to get to The Plug. Once they got there, they all huddled around it, studying it thoroughly to flesh out a plan. At first, they just tried to pull it out straight up, but they couldn't get it to budge. They muddled over it some more and then tried to climb it to see if there was anything useful to help unlodge it. Nothing came up. Finally, they had Atom investigate in between the small cracks of The Plug. He didn't find anything important, either. The seven of them continued to brainstorm and attempt to pull it out for hours, but nothing worked.

“Hey, guys,” Airy’s voice startled everyone, most notably Soda Bottle. “Your next challenge is to find the rock in this pile of sand,”

“Everyone, we're going to pull The Plug out NOW.” He instructed, ignoring Airy’s challenge explanation.

“First person to find it- will be safe from elimination.”

Everyone scrambled, taking a spot around The Plug. They each knelt down and squeezed their fingers in between the cable and plug. “On my signal, pull!” Soda Bottle shouted, taking charge.

“Three,”

“Three, two,”

“Two,”

“One, pull!”

“One,”

Everybody pulled up with all their might.

“Go..”

They couldn't get it out. Soda Bottle grunted loudly, getting ready again. “Again!” Everybody obeyed, readying themselves again. “Three, two, one, pull!”

They pulled up again. Nothing.

The man in charge growled. “Again!” Before everyone was even set, he counted down again. “Three, two, one, pull!”

Everyone pulled up again. This time the effort lasted longer, but to no avail. “Keep pulling!” Scenty shouted as they all took a break. “We can do this!”

That encouragement made Charlotte focus up. She grit her teeth as Soda Bottle counted down again. “Three, two, one, pull!”

Once again, they all pulled up, putting their backs into it. No luck.

As everyone caught their breath, Soda Bottle turned away and looked up to the sky. “WE’RE NOT GONNA PLAY YOUR GAME ANY LONGER, AIRY!” He shouted in retaliation. “SEND US HOME! WE DEMAND OUR FREEDOM! NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!” He put a fist up to the sky. Charlotte felt inspired. They were revolting against this wicked thing. “THREE, TWO, ONE, PULL!”

They all pulled up again. Nothing.

“WE’RE DONE BEING YOUR TOYS!” He continued ranting. “YOU'VE TORTURED, BROKEN, AND ROBBED US FROM OUR LIVES FOR TOO LONG!” He turned back to The Plug. “GO, THREE, TWO, ONE, PULL!”

Once again they pulled, everyone giving it all that they had. They still couldn't break through.

“AIRY! THIS. ENDS! NOW! NOW, AIRY! NOWWWW! THREE, TWO, ONE, PUULLL!”

They pulled up again, though this one felt noticeably weaker.

Soda Bottle was immediate in counting down, shouting as loud as he could, motivating everyone to go again. “THREE! TWO! ONE! PUUUULLLLLL!”

Charlotte gave it all that she had and then some. She felt like she was going to break her wrists. A chorus of struggled grunting, and nobody gave in. Finally, The Plug gave way, popping up and out of the hole. It retreated up into the sky, out of sight. Everyone fell back, recoiling from the amount of force they had been using. They all stared at the empty plug, mouths agape.

Holy shit. They actually did it. The Plug was out.

They all let out labored breaths as their accomplishment settled in. But, as soon as it had come, it quickly retreated, as The Plug shot back down from the sky, back into its place. Immediately after, everyone was transported back to the main area of The Plane, all of them exhausted and suddenly defeated.

Scenty stood up, tears in her eyes. A little ways away, a giant pile of sand was there; something that wasn't there previously. Hopelessly, Charlotte closed her eyes, arms limp. Everybody was silent, except for their quiet, ragged breaths.

As the silence ensued, the harsh reality was finally settling in for everybody.

It didn't matter what they did.

They were stuck there.