Them~*Little Nightmares [Read Description]

2~*Never Let Go

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You finish your cookie, walking to your dresser. You take out your stuffed animal and hugged it close. It was damn near in rags, one pull on the hanging string and it would fall apart. Covered in black ink from the leeches tampering with your belongings, scratches as its stuffing puffed out, lacking more of the resource. Your neutral expression became a frown, turning to look at the prisoner you had assumed was your age finishing their last piece of ham. You shy out for a moment but gain the courage to talk to them again.

"What's your name?" You'll ask. How? They've been quiet ever since you caught them scavenging through your things. Little did you know, you blurted the question out loud as the eyes looked towards you, and holds up six fingers. You tilted your head in confusion. What could that possibly mean? However, that name sounded all too familiar, stammering out a sentence as your heart skipped a beat in hopes of someone you knew, and it hasn't done that in a while.

"Y-your name is six?"

They nod and continues to eat, avoided talking to you further, stuffing the last bits of ham in their mouth so they wouldn't expose impolite mannerisms while (as if stuffing their face wasn't impolite already) you stopped, feeling no need to go further. As soon as they 'told' you his name, more questions erupted into your mind, but it was best to let them open up to you on its own accord, instead of forcing it to only scare them further.

'What a weird name—'

You smile and sat next to who you know now as Six. You might as well get to know him better, considering he might be here for a while. He seemed like a prisoner, and they were definitely not around to roam free. You'd get in trouble if the staff saw you helping him. It's been quiet this last hour. The only sounds you could hear was the ringing in your eardrums and leeches nearby. All the commotion was often on the other side of the boat.

"How long have you been in the maw?"

Two fingers are put up, referring to days. Possibly as a enslaved, they couldn't have gone around here on their own. It's nearly impossible. This place is well guarded for a hellhole, you were caught almost immediately, only traveled on your own for an hour or two.

"Oh—"

They get out some paper and a pencil from their pockets. You concluded that they didn't want to speak to you, and you respected that fully. It took you a while until you started talking as well. Being interrogated by monsters isn't exactly pleasing, to say the least. You look over the piece of paper as they showed it for you to read.

How long have you been here?

"Three years, although I wish to leave."

You can leave with me.

"I'd love to....but sadly I can't. They treat me well enough anyway, why would I want to leave? You know, you're setting a record for being alive the longest."

Six chuckles and finishes their plate.

"Why can't you go, [name]?"

You shocked in fear, chocked that they used their voice this time. They know your name. How? Maybe your conscious was correct?

"H-how do you know my n-n-name?" You stammered throughout your question. It never got this bad, but your knees were shaking. Having not interacted with someone outside these walls in such a long time, you never felt this growing excitement inside your chest, spreading to the rest of your nerves.

"I've known you for a while, I don't think you notice but.....we used to be friends...when we were kids...before your disappearance."

You suddenly remember. You'd play, day after day, even though you thought their name was weird. You were often made fun of you being a match for one another, but that was for either of you to decide. You remembered when you'd spend time with them, so much to the point your parents had to make a curfew. Your heartbeat said that the feelings were still there. It just stopped when you stopped seeing their face, hearing their voice, and let alone their name.

"S-six?"

They hug you, squeezing him as hard as humanly possible. You sniffled strings of snot falling from your nose. You couldn't believe it was them. Yet, you wondered how they ever got here, in such a big body of water. Did they come to save you? We're they even aware you were here?

"I-i can't — believe it's y-you." You let out tears you've been holding back. the past few minutes, the tension rising as the silence seemed louder than your stifling. They write on the sheet of paper as you dry your eyes, losing more room the more words they wrote, probably have to speak sooner or later if there wasn't enough room.

[Name], I came here for a reason; to save you. I missed you so much, and I'm not leaving unless I got what I want.

"W-well..I was kept here by Geisha, to take her place..when I'm older. She's always been a stern woman. If I leave...who knows what she'll do to me."

You're pulled in for another hug, a feeling you haven't felt in a long time. The butterflies in your stomach reappeared, the same butterflies you felt when they kissed your cheek before they left on a trip to visit their grandparents, exaggerating that you'd wouldn't see them again, squeezing onto each other's hands, begging to not let go of them. It felt like a second without them was a second too long. That memory was long gone the moment you stepped into these walls.

"I won't let that happen."

Your pupils dilated, overjoyed by the sudden confidence in their voice. You could tell puberty was getting to them, their voice was deeper than you remembered. You wanted to laugh at the change, yet, you continue to sniffle as you pull away from the hug that was well needed.

"I'll go—"

You take your stuffed animal and hold it close to you, and you pack your lighter in your pocket as Six held your hand. You looked one last time at your room. It wasn't filled with much then, and it isn't anymore. The items you owned were very limited. The room looked as empty as it did when you arrived, and you felt this decision would benefit you for the better. You haven't seen the light of day in years, and it was time, time that was wasted and taken away from you. You wanted to leave, and you needed to. Courage filled your chest, your hand intertwined with theirs. Nodding in their direction as the lighter lit up to illuminate the eerie place you once called home.

"Take my hand...and this time, never let go of it."

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Word Count; 1.170k