The End

I opened my eyes, squinting in a bright light. Where were we? We had gone through the door, now what?

My eyes adjusted and I was gasping. We were in a small quaint neighborhood, on the sidewalk in front of a house with a tire swing out front.

I felt a hand tighten on mine, and I looked back. My new friend, companion, ally. His usually angry grey face was frozen in a look of awe.

“Karkat!” I whirled on him, eyes shining.

“..What?” His gaze focused from looking around, and he rubbed his face slowly. “Where the fuck are we?”

“Home!” I said excitedly, nose already beginning to sting from the threat of tears. “I-I’m home!”

“Yeah, you are…” Karkat looked dejected, eyes shifting away. “So, we won?”

“Yeah! We did! Isn’t that great, Karkat?” I looked anxiously at my house. My dad had to be in there.

“Yeah, it is. But John...” Karkat bit his lip. He opened his mouth to say something; then sighed.

“What is it?” I looked expectantly at him. “Spit it out, and I can introduce you to my dad! And then show you my room”

Karkat let out another shaky sigh. “Don’t you find it funny we’re the only ones here?”

I pursed my lips, pondering the fact for a moment. “Yeah, that is kind of weird. Do you know why?”

“It’s…” Karkat furrowed his eyebrows, looking like he was about to break down. “It’s because everyone is dead.”

“What about Gamzee? He isn’t dead!” I protested.

“John. Focus. Everyone is dead. Everyone. And that list includes John Egbert.” Karkat covered his mouth, eyes downcast.

“..Oh.” I concluded. I could feel my face begin to pale, my body felt empty. “So… Dad isn’t here?”

“I don’t think so.” Karkat shook his head slowly.

I looked back at the house. “I… I wanted to see my dad again.” I let out a pitiful sniff, eyes beginning to brim with tears. “I wanted to spend more time with you guys! I don’t want to die!”

Karkat steeled his jaw, chin wrinkling in a funny way. “John…” He gave up, and hugged me stiffly. “You asshole.” He said gruffly.

“Why am I an asshole?” I wiped my eyes, embracing him tightly.

“For making me know I’m going to miss you.” Karkat’s shoulders loosened, letting out a sniff. “Now grow up, you’re 16.”

“17 now… It’s my birthday today.” I said with an empty tone, wishing my eyes would stop streaming with the sudden emotion.

“Yeah, so man up. You saved your world. Isn’t that enough?” Karkat looked up at me with an unsure look.

“No… That’s not what I wanted to do! I wanted to have fun, to have a good birthday. I didn’t ask to do something like this, to meet you aliens… To die like 4 times, either!”

Karkat looked hurt, wriggling from my grasp. “You didn’t like the fact that you met us, finally?”

“No… That’s not what I meant; my brain is just fuzzy right now.” I rubbed my head, grimacing. “I can’t think straight.”

Karkat murmured something, eyes fixed on the sidewalk in front of us.

“Huh? You said something?” I leaned in, daring him to meet my eye.