A Tragic Creation 3: At Pepperland's End

Chapter 27: All at Once

Randel yawned as he stared up at the blue sky, still tired from his lack of sleep.

Ringo was sitting beside him, looking around at the three others that remained, wondering what they should do now.

He still had no idea about what Randel had gone through last night.

Randel bit his lip as he thought over it once again.

Somewhere within him, it felt like something was beginning to unravel. Whatever it was, it was making it harder to completely deny the creature's words.

After all, it was right, in a way.

Randel knew that he wasn't meant to be like this, but he knew better than anyone that it would be a dark day where he actually went back to who he was meant to be.

Still, that notion did little to soothe the thoughts in his mind.

It was something that he had always known, but it was only now that he was actually thinking about it.

It was getting harder for him to identify himself.

Shaking his head, Randel turned his head to look at Ringo, who didn't seem to notice.

Just the sight of him made all worrying thoughts cease.

In that moment, Randel silently promised that he would continue to love him for each day he would remain the gentle and caring person he was now.

At least, he thought he was still that person.

Randel sighed as he laid his head back on the ground

Of course, Randel knew of the chance that he could suffer the fate that so many others had already before long, and that fact made him feel almost as scared as losing his mental stability.

A few feet away, Ringo's alter ego and the two blue meanies all sat together, silent.

For a while, the five stayed like that, either looking around nervously or staring off into nothingness.

It wasn't until a loud sigh emitted in the direction of the bandstand that anyone moved.

Randel sat up and turned his head around, and Ringo did the same.

"Oh come on. It is so boring watching you all just sit around and do nothing," the creature stated, flying over to them.

On instinct, Randel scurried back a bit, stopping when he was next to Ringo's alter ego and the blue meanies.

The creature stopped in mid-air, lowering itself down to its feet right next to Ringo, who slowly began to move back.

"I want some excitement here for a change," it stated, crossing its arms.

Randel gulped, shaking.

Ringo stopped when he was a few feet away from the creature, and he stared up at it with wide eyes.

The creature sighed as it looked down at Randel.

"Randel, I suggest that you move to the side for me."

Randel stayed still.

"Now. Or else."

Randel gulped.

"I-I'm not..."

He looked to his side, seeing that Rino's alter ego and the two blue meanies were also shivering.

The creature sighed dramatically.

"Hmm... If I can't get you to do it..."

Without warning, it flew towards Ringo and picked him up off of the ground, holding the drummer by his arms.

"W-what are you doing!?"

Ringo felt the creature's arms move to that they were around his mid-section.

The pair were now hovering several feet off of the ground, and the creature moved a few feet ahead so that they were above the shore of the black liquid.

"N-NO!" Randel screamed, getting up on his feet instantly.

"Oh, so you're willing to agree with me now?" 

The creature spoke as Ringo struggled, hearing the Beatle letting out yells as he looked down below him.

"P-please, I'm sorry!" 

Randel fell to his knees.

"I take it back, I promise!"

The two blue meanies held onto each other tightly as Ringo's alter ego stood up slowly, staring at the scene.

Ringo stilled himself as the creature tilted its head.

"Alright... I'll leave him alone..."

Without another word, the creature flew over to Randel, lowering Ringo onto the ground.

"But... I still want them."

It pointed to Ringo's alter ego and the two blue meanies, all of whom shivered.

Before Ringo or Randel could act, the creature quickly flew over to them, grabbing one of the blue meanies.

"N-NO! I D-DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

The creature ignored his screams as he threw the blue meanie into the blackness, watching him struggle in the shallow liquid.

Quickly, it grabbed the other blue meanie and threw him in as well.

The creature smiled as it watched their bodies slowly turn grey.

Ringo's alter ego stepped back, eyes wide and face pale.

Once the blue meanies were nothing more than black globs, the creature's gaze turned to him.

"U-uh... um..."

"Say..." the creature started as it slowly approached him.

"I always liked the fact that you resemble Randel and that pesky little Beatle."

Randel held onto Ringo tightly as he shook.

Ringo wrapped his arms around him as he too shivered.

The creature took a hold of Ringo's alter ego and carried him up into the air, flying over to the shore once again.

Ringo's alter ego stared at the pair down below.

"D-Don't feel guilty!" he shouted.

"A-after all-"

"BE QUIET!"

The creature's yell echoed throughout the area, making the man in his arms close his mouth instantly.

After a mercifully short moment, the creature let go of Ringo's alter ego, who fell face first into the liquid.

Randel closed his eyes and buried his face into Ringo's shoulder.

The sounds of muffled screaming slowed to a stop as Ringo's alter ego turned grey, and everyone watched as his body was overtaken by the liquid.

Once it was done, the creature turned back to face Ringo and Randel.

Ringo stared up at it with a grim expression.

They both stared at each other.

"Well then... I'm done here..."

The creature began to fly off.

"For now, that is."

Ringo waited until he couldn't see the creature anymore.

Slowly, he and Randel walked back a few feet onto the hill and sat down, Randel keeping his face buried in his shoulder all the while.

Ringo looked around at the liquid that now entirely surrounded the hill and sighed, patting Randel's head.

It was just the two of them now.