Beyblade Burst Adventures

You Are Awake, Collect the Evidence

In which Shu's journey through the Merged Realities continues, but when it's time to turn in all he's collected, he receives a startling and unsettling surprise. (Set after the events of Try to Wake, Try to Escape, but it's not canon to the story. Inspired by Fran Bow.)

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Entry 248, October 19th.

I've managed to collect nine pieces of evidence. I need one more before I can finally expose Ashtem and have him sent back to prison. The last one is in a system of tunnels, Spryzen said. It's a long ways outside of town, and to reach the tunnels I have to go down a well. I ordered a grappling hook online so I can climb down without hurting myself. The Gods know I have enough injuries to deal with in the Merged Realities.

It will be here tomorrow. Until then, I'm going to get all the rest I can, just by myself. I've been doing well enough convincing the others nothing's changed (and nothing has changed... For them), so they're not overly worried.

I just realized that if we hadn't made an agreement to never read each other's therapy journals, I might not be writing any of this down. I don't know why it stuck out to me, really... I guess maybe because I just thought, "What would I do if I couldn't write this down? Couldn't vent just a little?" The thought of not being able to write out my thoughts scares me... (The only reason I miss entries is because I forget, okay?)

I'm just glad I can write this down, without having to worry about anyone else reading it and worrying about me, because let's be honest, I'm not worth it anymore. The unconditional love and kindness I've been shown is treasured, and far more appreciated than they'll ever know, but it's also grossly unnecessary. If even just one of the others had died to get me out of that chamber, things would be different.

And me writing down that whole spiel for the dozenth time was also grossly unnecessary, ha. I'll cross it out tomorrow, for now I just want to sleep.

Shu laid in bed, still and quiet as the night itself. He was supposed to be sleeping, but his eyes were open, and his gaze was fixated on the nightlight adorning the wall. When it wasn't on it was a dull gray and it looked like a deodorizing-spray plug-in, but when it was on it blazed with a gorgeous royal blue light.

The light reminded Shu of Valtryek's aura, and the feeling that he was surrounded by the strength of the kindhearted Valkyrie was a great comfort to him. It helped him feel more grounded and safer than he would with a regular nightlight.

Tomorrow, I'll get the last piece. Then I can turn it in and have Ashtem arrested for his crimes... He allowed himself a small smile, slowly closing his eyes. And I'll finally be free...

"I'm afraid your freedom will be much harder to attain then that, Red Eye." A voice laughed, and Shu's blood ran cold. He bolted up in bed and frantically searched the room for the owner of the voice, for that horrible, venomous man.

His gaze settled on the far right corner of his room, where the red glow of the nightlight just barely reached enough to reflect against the black eyes of his mask. The figure who stood there wore a smirk, unaffected by his body melting away, dripping down to the floor.

"A-Ashtem... How did you get here?!" Shu yelled, pressing into the headboard of his bed and trying to still the tremors wracking his body.

"The same way you found your way into all those buildings and sites where you found those nine pieces of 'evidence'." Ashtem replied, stepping into the light and coming closer to Shu's bed. The eyes of his mask oozed black like a cut oozed blood, and they stared right into Shu's soul. "You think you're quite sly, don't you? You can't hide your plans from me, Red Eye."