When the Universe Breaks- A Shred Squad Story

(13) Blood and Water

                        Dawn's POV
      "Welcome to Sector 2:00!" Was Duni's, frankly overly excited, exclamation as he stopped suddenly in the forest. He turned to face us, his eyes serious, showing a hint of something I couldn't put my finger on, perhaps something nervous. "This sector, much like the last, has it's own forms of ruthless terror. Though I will refrain from telling you about them here, to keep you all from running the other way already." A smile played on his face, as though he was finding joy in those words, or maybe our reactions. The way we squirmed and tensed at his words, perhaps. The anxiety in my chest grew a bit more. I certainly didn't want to send up like Thomas, that was horrible.

     "Ve're already one man down, so remember zhat, and be careful. Vith one less idiot, it should be easier to keep track of you all." Hissed DDawn, and I briefly saw Cory's eyes narrow in rage. "'One less idiot'?" Ash growled, "Have some respect you insensitive piece of sh-" She was cut off by Duni, "That was his own dumb fault and you know it, now let's go, before something eats one of you." Duni grumbled.

     This time though, DDawn led the group, while Duni held back to walk next to Uni, talking to him excitedly. Uni glanced away uncomfortably, and I held back a laugh as I watched Uni try to shuffle away, only for Duni to link arms with him. I then noticed that, lagging behind the group a few feet, was Ash. Her head was bowed and he red hair covered her face in a semi-dramatic fashion. Her fists were also clenched tightly, her hands shook in a silent rage that almost seemed to radiate off of her in thick, red waves.

     I slowed my pace until I was at her side, and I looked ahead, speaking calmly. "Hi, my name's Dawn, I don't think we've formally met." My voice was quiet, and she looked at me, though it was more of a glare. "Ash." Was her grumbled answer. "Sorry about your friend back there." I said, glancing at her to meet her eyes. She smiled, a chuckle escaping her lips, "Tommy was...Not my friend." She said, but a small hint of sadness made it's way into her smile. "Yeah, I think all Tommy's can be pretty annoying, huh?" I joked.

     "Shuddup, cream-dip! I heard that!" Snapped Tommy from in front of us. I tensed, and Ash and I looked at each other in sync, matching expressions of surprise. Then we both laughed a bit, "Real smooth, Dawn." She joked. "They apparently have great hearing too." I laughed. "So, Dawn, are you excited for our upcoming adventure?" She asked, a bitter hint in her tone. "Well, as much as I'd love to say I was, franlkly...Not really." I admitted. She nodded, "Not a fan of danger then, huh?" She asked, and I opened my mouth to answer, but the group suddenly stopping cut me off. It appeared we were at our first obstacle. Yay.
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Meanwhile.....

                      Bri's POV
     I sat in the living room with Uni-Chan, Dashlie, and Underfell Cory, squirming under the awkward atmosphere. Everyone had long since gone silent, Uni-Chan and Dashlie sat on either side of me on the couch, while UFC sat by the window, staring out of it boredly. When UCF finally broke the silence, I had hoped it would be something to start a conversation, but as the words left his mouth, I tensed. "I think there's another döppleganger dude outside. He looks like the dude with the trenchcoat." The red-sweatered Cory announced, his blue camera lense looking back at me.

     Dashlie sighed dramatically, "Oh great! Just what we need!" She exclaimed in annoyance. I sighed, standing up from the couch, "Oh come on, Dash, it can't be that bad." I argued with a smile as I walked towards the window, looking for the, presumably Tommy, man. Though what I saw was not at all what I was expecting. It wasn't some happy-go-lucky guy in a bright yellow mask, he wasn't smiling and he didn't look...Well. He was soaking wet and bloody, dragging his feet as though he could barely walk. His face was emotionless, his mouth was slightly open and redish water slipped down his lips in a steady stream. I didn't even realize that UF Cory had run out to bring him inside until he was already stumbling through the door. Cory was helping him walk with a arm wrapped our him, though it seemed more like he was just leading him.

     Finally seeing him closer took my breath away, and I couldn't help but stare. He stood before me, slightly taller than myself. His trenchcoat was laid heavily on his soaking form, littered with rips and cuts that seeped blood that dripped down his body with the water. His hair was short and messy, his skin a deathly pale that was unusual to see Tommy with. A large, bruising, bleeding cut was blatent on his forehead, as though he had been hit with a rough force. His red-rimmed eyes leaked a water in a bloody stream that didn't much resemble tears as much as just a flow that couldn't be stopped. It was like he was a deadman walking, and in a way, maybe he was.

     "IGOU!" Wailed Uni-Chan as she jumped from the couch in fear, she covered her eyes and ran out of the living room. The strange Tommy didn't react, he only stared me down with emotionless blue eyes that made me feel uncomfortable. Dashlie got up from the couch and grabbed his arm lightly, pulling him slightly towards it. "Come on, let's get him on the couch before he collapses and we have to pick him up. I don't know about you, but I don't want all of that blood and water all over me." She spoke in a tense voice that didn't exactly seem angry or rude, it was strange. His sat heavily on the couch without a sound, he only stared forward, barely blinking.

     I ran to grab some first-aid supplies from my Cory's backpack that he had carried on the trip, while Dashlie and UF Cory watched the odd Tommy. I returned to them a few moments later with a couple of rags, a towel, and a first-aid kit. I gave him to towel, but he made no move to use it, so Cory took to trying to dry him with the towel while I tried to treat his cuts. It was strange though, because no matter how long Cory rubbed the towel against him, or how long I tried to dry his wounds, he wouldn't dry. His skin stayed soaking wet, and so the bandages wouldn't stay put. I tried desperately to tighten them and stick them, but they wouldn't stay for long, and if they did, they soaked with water moments later and remained useless.

     I sighed in worried frustration, wiping a wound with a rag in a pleading attempt to dry the area, but water remained no matter how hard I tried. Then the Tommy's blue eyes shifted to my worried face, and he lifted his hand slowly, and grabbed my wrist. His fingernails were bloodly, and his fingertips were ripped, like he had struggled to free himself from somewhere. Or something. I felt nausea, but I didn't have the heart to make a face with him in this condition. I looked him in the eyes, and he slowly shook his head, gently tugging my hand away from his wounds. His eyes held a sad sympathy, one I'd never seen Tommy have before. He opened his mouth to try to talk, but blood and water was the only thing that came out. It bubbled out heavily, making him cough harshly. He then looked at me silently, and he forced a small smile. He mouthed something to me, and I watched his lips intently, a heavy feeling tugging my soul when his words finished. 'You can't save me now.' Then I remembered a roleplay that Nick had told me about that involved a car crash, and a dead friend. My heart dropped in my chest as I remember it's name. Echo House...This Tommy died in a car crash, he had drowned. I felt tears brim in my eyes, knowing that Nick would hate himself if he knew the Tommy he had created was here right now, suffering and silent. But for right now, Tommy needed me, so I tried not to think about that.

I drew Echo House Tommy because I love his design lol, I think he's one of my favorite characters, and he isn't even a main one...Wowzers. Also, I didn't shade it because it's 3 in the morning, and if I don't post this chapter I won't be able to sleep lol

A/N Wow, I loved writing this one, just because the idea of Echo House Tommy being there was a random idea that I thought was interesting. Sorry if I spoiled Echo House for anyone😅, but in my defense, the roleplay is kinda old...Anyways, I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT DAY/NIGHT, AND I SHALL SEE YOU NEXT TIME, BYEEE!!!!!!