A Tragic Creation 3: At Pepperland's End

Chapter 18: It Visits Again

Randel had this dream once before.

Pepperland, free of the black liquid, was completely empty, apart from him.

Remembering what had happened last time, he looked around, waiting for...

"You know Randel? I think it's time you and I have a talk with each other."

Taking in a breath, Randel saw the creature floating down from the sky, landing right in front of him. 

It still resembled him, and that fact made Randel shake a little.

The black sun on the faded blue tie was especially unsettling.

"W-w... What do y-you want this time?" Randel asked after a moment, trying his best to not let his fear show in his voice.

The creature stepped forward.

"Now, now, I just came here to talk, nothing more."

It stepped even closer.

"Just tell me... how much do you care for him?"

Randel drew in a breath.

"L-listen... You l-leave Ringo alone."

The creature stopped right in front of him, and it smirked.

"You didn't answer my question..."

It reached its arm out and grabbed a hold of the dark green collar of Randel's shirt.

Pulling it down, it chuckled a little upon seeing the faint hickey marks on Randel's neck.

"But, as I see, You like each other a lot."

Randel smacked its hand away, stepping back as his face went white.

"H-h... H-how did y-you know?" He asked, pulling his collar back up.

The creature groaned in response.

"You know, you two should really check if I'm not around before you get all freaky. I was able to see everything through the bandstand's window."

It scoffed.

"Good thing you told Ringo to stop there. I think I would have-"

"W-what's your point!?"

The creature stared at Randel for a moment, studying him.

"You really have gone crazy, haven't you?"

"S-shut up..."

"Now, come on. I'm giving you a chance to rule over everything, and what do you do?"

It stepped forward.

"You're just denying me because you like Ringo way too much."

Randel gulped.

"Y-you're wrong. I'm n-not doing this just because we l-love each other, I'm a-also doing this for Pepperland."

The creature stopped in its tracks and crossed its arms.

"Pepperland, huh? What's so special about it? Just filled with a bunch of-"

"It's not!"

It tilted its head.

"My my, have you lost your mind, Randel? Say, if I'm not mistaking, you didn't care about it when you were first created."

Randel clenched his hands up into fists.

"T-that was over a y-year ago. Besides... Ringo showed me how foolish and blind I was."

"So he did..."

The creature chuckled.

"It seems like his tear really did give you his caring side. If it would have been anything else, you wouldn't have cared one way or another."

Randel squinted his eyes shut, trying to stop the tears from escaping his eyes.

"I-it was you who made me think otherwise. I-it was your f-fault that... w-when I c-came back..."

"Yes, I suppose you have a point. But... I didn't tell you to, oh, break his nose or slap him, did I?"

Lips quivering, Randel opened his eyes, glaring at the creature before him.

"I... Look, I d-don't know what you're getting at, but whatever it is, I'm not changing my decision!"

After a moment of silence, the creature sighed.

"I thought that you'd might say that."

"So... just let me wake up now!"

"Oh, I will..."

The creature slowly rose up into the air, and what sounding like rushing water became audible in the distance.

Randel gasped when he saw the black liquid quickly approaching.

"But, before I do... Just remember this..."

A large black wave formed as Randel stared up at the creature in the sky.

"I'll be waiting for you, if you survive that is."

Before Randel could respond, the wave came crashing down above him.

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Randel shot up, taking in a sharp breath as the image of the wave crashing down on him flashed in his mind.

After a moment, he calmed down enough to look around.

He was on the hill, sitting next to Ringo, who was still fast asleep.

Turning his head away from the Beatle, Randel looked around for anything that was odd.

The creature was nowhere to be seen.

The black liquid had not gotten closer.

Everything was still the same as it had been when he went to sleep.

Sighing, Randel laid back down on the ground, staring up at the night sky.

Rolling over onto his side, he stared at the Beatle who rested on his back.

"A-at least y-you're still here... Ringo..."

Randel put an arm around Ringo and rested his head on his chest, closing his eyes as he tried to relax his mind enough to go back to sleep.