Death Stranding: Higgs

Chapter Fifty-Three: Speak Your Mind

-Sam's POV- After what feels like a very, very long time of Amelie spilling out her life story, both Higgs and I sit in the wet sand, probably looking like idiots.
Judging by the look on Higgs' face, I don't think he'll ever fully recover.

The blood on his face has completely dried by now, the red blood staining his lips, chin, and even his neck since he never wiped it off. Kind of reminds me of getting your face stained with red berry juice, which is funny, but not now...
Right now, I can feel my brain getting fried behind my wide eyes. Like the blood on Higgs' face, the mascara on my cheeks is clinging on like tar.

Higgs is the first to speak, much to my surprise.
"So...you're both Amelie and President Bridget Strand? I need to take this all in. I can feel my brain leaking out of my ears."
"Ditto," I mutter, beginning to question why I came with Higgs to do this.
"I understand that it is much to take in," Amelie begins. "Ame is French for soul. Lie, a word that is false in the English language. Amelie: a false soul. The soul is a lie."

"Then what are you?" I challenge. "Are you even human? Some sort of alien?"
Amelie looks between the two of us. "I am the sixth extinction entity. That is all I am, and all I ever will be. This is my 'human' form, so to speak."
"So, you're a female version of death? Extinction equals death, you bring the end of days. Boom. The clock resets, everything restarts like you deleted a save from a video game. Bridget has no daughter. She couldn't even have kids to begin with." I say, getting up and pacing as I ramble on.

"You... your body and soul got separated, right? Bridget is your physical body that aged. Your soul, Amelie, was the one that spoke with me. Talked to me. You used me...made me do all the dirty work with the Void Outs and the bombings! You sat back and watched me unintentionally help with your plan!" I realize all of this instantly.
Amelie just nods, her expression blank.

She knew I'd figure this out eventually.
"But there is one thing I do not understand," She begins, actually looking confused.
"The chemistry between the two of you...." She trails off. "That...connection the two of you have for one another. That strong feeling of devotion. I do not understand that."
"What?" I blink, looking over at Higgs, who looks just as confused. "You mean, love?" I guess.

"Affection in general." Amelie admits. "I've observed the way you two interact. The bonding, the jokes, how you two bounce off one another. Then something cracks, and you two fight, yell, hit one another. After that, the affection is back. It sways like a metronome, tilting back and forth, back and forth.
Love, affection. Hate, violence. Then it repeats. Why? Why keep the cycle going, knowing where it will always end up?"

Higgs and I look at each other again, then shrug.
"That is how love works, Amelie." Higgs says softly. "People fight. It's human nature."
"Higgs has a point," I say, walking over, but still keeping a small amount of distance from him. "Love is complicated. It can never be perfect. We all have good and bad days."

"But why do you want the world to end, Amelie?" Higgs asks. "What will you gain in doing so?"
Amelie turns away from us, walking into the water.
"You both have two options you can choose." She states, not looking back.
"One, you two wait here and watch the world burn, erasing everything and we start anew. Your second option is to use that gun to shoot me or yourselves. The choice is yours. Choose wisely."
****
(The choice is yours, Troy. What will you do?)
[ ] Shoot Amelie.
[ ] Shoot yourself.
[•] Drop the gun and hug Amelie
[ ] Do nothing and watch the world burn.
****
-Higgs' POV- I grip the gun, then drop it in the sand. Sam watches with wide eyes as I run up and hug Amelie from behind, stopping her in her tracks.

She remains still as I weep.
"Please don't to this," I beg. "There is still so much left to live for. I want to not live in constant fear. I want to live life normally with everyone. Let humanity live."
"You do realize that you are only evading the inevitable? This extinction will still occur. Perhaps not in your time, but it will happen. This could be eons from now, but it will only be minutes for me."
"I understand," I sniff, not letting her go.
"Very well. You are a good person, son of Clifford Under. Your father and everyone else will be happy to see you return."

I let her go. "Both of you may leave. I will not hold you captive here any longer. To leave, run along the shoreline heading West. Eventually, you will hear the voices of everyone. When you do, both of you dive into the water. You will both wake up safe at Bridges. I wish the both of you luck along the way."
"Oh, God, not more running." Sam groans.

"Thank you," I smile shakily.
She nods, a small smile on her lips as well.
"Go. Live the life you've both wanted, wether that would be together, or apart. Both of you are in control." With that said, she backs away.

Both Sam and I look at each other, then begin running West. Soon enough, we both hear the voices calling out to us. As instructed, we both dive into the ocean, then everything goes black.