Default Settings // Sequel to "Factory Reset"

Chapter 13: It'll Hear You

Chapter 13: It'll Hear You

"No, no, no!" Ruby kicked the wall in frustration. The mirror shimmered and the image of Red talking to Lapis in the Kindergarten disappeared. "She can't just do that!"

"Obviously she can." Mindscape Sapphire folded her hands in her lap, sitting on the floor away from Ruby's outburst.

Ruby turned around with wide eyes, annoyed. "You aren't helping." Ruby began to pace around the mirror room.

"Pacing isn't going to help you either," Sapphire said, still not moving.

"Yes but it alleviates my stress better than you are," Ruby grumbled. "First she steals my body and then she decides to prance around in front of my friends and-and Sapphire, the real one mind you. Who does she think she is, that power hungry little-"

"Breathe Ruby," Sapphire interrupted her calmly, "You'll never defeat Red if you keep yourself so worked up."

Ruby stared at her for a while before letting out one more stressed scream and kicking the wall again. Breathing hard she followed Sapphire's instructions, took a deep breath, and sat in front of her. As she was used to doing as Garnet, Ruby placed her hands in her lap and closed her eyes.

"Control yourself," Sapphire said quietly. "Think of yourself talking to the real Sapphire."

Ruby focused all that she could, even though she felt no different.

"Imagine you're talking to her," Sapphire continued. "Try saying something."

"I..." Ruby struggled with what to say. "I..." Ruby frowned before opening her eyes. She was still in the same place she always had been.

"This is pointless."

Mindscape Sapphire sighed. She could feel Ruby's frustration; after all, she was Ruby in a way.

"You have to keep trying," Sapphire stood up, "You'll never defeat-"

"You'll never defeat Red with that attitude, yeah I know!" Ruby groaned, "I think I got the message after the hundredth time you've said that! Why am I even listening to you? You aren't even real! I'm just...just talking to myself like a maniac..."

"Ruby-"

"No." Ruby held her hand up to stop her. "I know what you're going to say but no, I'm not trying again right now. I just, I need a break alright?"

"Ruby I'd highly advise you to be careful with what you say." Sapphire's voice took on an almost fearful tone. She looked around her surroundings as if she was expecting something to happen.

"Or what!" Ruby seemed oblivious. "Or-or big bad Red is gonna come get me! I just want one second to think! Is that too much to ask?"

"Ruby you are opening a part of your mind that I suggest you stay away from. The consequences of your actions-"

"They aren't my actions anymore," Ruby turned around clenching her fists at her sides. "They're Red's, who's more powerful and smarter and-and...how can I possibly stand a chance against her?"

"Ruby plea-"

"Why don't I just give up?"

A silence burst through the room, almost as if an energy surged forward and pushed all the sound out of the small place. A bad feeling crept up Ruby's spine.

"Sapphire?" Red turned around, "Wha-what was..." Ruby stopped short. Sapphire wasn't standing behind her anymore. There was only inky darkness in her place. If Ruby squinted hard enough though, she could see something else.

She wasn't alone.

"Who are you?"

No response.

Ruby looked around. The mirrors still remained as they always had. If she looked into them, she could see hundreds of herself; still, there was only one figure.

"You don't belong out there anymore...you know that right?"

"What?" Ruby asked. The voice that spoke was garbled and hard to understand but, to Ruby, it almost sounded familiar.

"You're corrupted. Can't change that now can we?"

"Who are you?" Ruby asked, more forceful this time.

"Wouldn't want to ruin the fun. Gotta keep them guessing."

"Keep them...keep who guessing?"

If it was possible, Ruby thought she saw the darkness smile. It inched towards her. Ruby stepped away but soon felt her back hit the wall. The darkness only crept terribly closer.

"What do you want from me?!" Ruby shot at the figure but it was no use. The raw power from the darkness almost felt like it was sucking out all of her energy. Her entire being felt as though it was being pulled into it. Ruby stared at the nothingness. The nothingness stared back.

"What do you want from me?" Ruby asked. Quieter now. Her voice quivered.

"Iwantyoutostayoutofmyway."

In an instant the darkness grew and flooded over Ruby. Despite not needing to breathe, Ruby began to understand what the humans talked about. About drowning. She wanted to take back everything she said. She wanted to try one more time. Helplessly, Ruby tried to scream out one last cry, a plea for help from anybody. Anybody. Anybody. Anybo

d

y.

The mirror room was empty.