I guess someone's trying to say something to me via my dreams, because this is the third time in a row I've seen that weird Pentagon guy in my sleep.
He regarded me with a curiosity of sorts, the exact kind Fresh had when he saw me for the first time.
I knew they had something to do with each other. I don't know why but they just do.
Friend? Foe? I don't know.
He lifted up a long, slender finger and pointed it over my shoulder. I turned around, only to see a sea of red blood on the floor.
I took a step back. Whose blood was it? Why was there so much? What happened?
Telling from the colour, it was fresh. Whoever's blood it was, they were attacked recently.
There was a lone figure lying in the middle of it all. Limp. Unmoving. Dead. I'm not sure what he's even wearing, it was so much blood. it stained their clothing, their face, their hands, everything. But from here, he had short hair, were wearing a tailcoat that had a gaping hole through it revealing a wound, though what colours they were was was greek to me. Oh my god, was he missing a leg???
I approached him. He was obviously dead but still. I mean, he has to be right? Nobody should be able to survive that... Right?
"Um... Hello-'
I was interrupted by a sudden jerk backwards, like someone took a hook and yanked me backwards by the neck.
A voice echoed through my ear, a woman's voice, deep, melodious and calming. It probably didn't belong to the Pentagon guy.
"It's dangerous."
When I looked behind me, I saw another figure. It was a dark-skinned woman. Her blue hair was dead straight and covered part of her face. It was cropped at at angle and her nose was flat and greek-like. She wore dark blue robes that were decorated with lighter blue and white square-like designs. Her headphones were white. And the design on them was a bright blue square, just like Tetra.
Where did the pentagon guy go?
"Who're you?" I asked. She stayed silent. "And why did you jerk me away?"
She just pointed behind me. I turned around, worrying about what I might see, only to see that bloodstained figure now standing up. He was hunched over, bent and his arms were dangling beside his mangled torso.
Now that I see the front of his body, I see all the wounds that caused that blood loss. There were deep gashes in his torso, each deeper than the other, blood oozing out of the valleys of crimson rivers. But there was one that stood out above all the others - a deep circular gaping hole that literally let you see through him. Scarlet water dripped down onto the ground. It looked like he was struggling to balance, and I couldn't blame him, he was stabbed to the point of death.
"Um... hello?"
He raised his head towards me, and I felt a cold shiver travel down my spine.
And then I woke up.
I'm not sure how you're supposed to react to such a weird dream, first off, Weird Pentagon guy, Mysterious Square lady, this bleeding dude who looks like he just came back from the dead - Dear god what have I been SMOKING
When I sat up in bed, the Corrupted who was taking care of me immediately made her way over. I haven't fully taken in her appearance the last time I was awake, so now that I see her for real, I'm taking in everything. She had curly, silky long hair that was tied up into a ponytail, and she looked about in her mid-twenties, around the same age as Barracuda but slightly older. She wore a hoodie with knee-length denim shorts, black and pink respectively. Her face was dotted with freckles. that stood out like lightning bugs. On the side of her headphones was a design of a strange, swirling pattern, kinda like a lock of hair or a stroke of a painter's brush, it was unfamiliar to me, but still undeniably artistic and beautiful. She cocked her head to the side like she was saying "How are you?"
"What time is it?" I asked. She lifted up her sleeve and showed me her watch - 5:27 PM.
'How long was I out for? Like, since I fell off the roof?'
She held up six fingers. Six hours.
"Think I can walk?"
She nodded.
I shifted my weight onto the side of the bed, letting my feet touch the ground. I didn't realise it until now, but Fresh (or maybe the Corrupted, I dunno) took off my shoes and socks. The corrupted held my arms and supported me as I took my steps. I shifted along the ground like a baby, and I could finally balance myself.
"Thanks"
She bowed her head.
"By the way, what's your name?"
She pointed at herself like she was saying "Me?"
'Yeah, you. My name's (Y/N) but I'm pretty sure you already know that.'
She put her hand down.
"Sunset."
'Sunset?'
She nodded.
"Why thank you, Sunset, I appreciate it!" I smiled. She smiled back. When she did, the smile on her face radiated such a tender, amicable light that warmed my heart, just like a sunset. I guess that's where her name came from? Her lightning bug freckles shone brighter as her smile grew wider.
"I'm gonna go find Fresh now" I nodded. She didn't object, she just simply stepped out of the way and watched me as I walked out of the room. But before I could make my way any further, I stopped.
"Um, how do I get there? I don't think I've been in this part of the tower before."
I'm not quite sure why, but when we made our way to the roof, there was no music playing. Just silence. Maybe the occasional wind whistle here and there, but it was complete silence. Whenever I make my way up to the throne room to meet Fresh, he's always blasting music at full volume. So where were those loud, ear-piercing guitar chords now? I dunno why but I felt uneasy. He was upset, wasn't he?
Even his "throne" seemed empty.
But it was so big, he very well may be up there, just not visible from my angle.
"Fresh?" I yelled out, voice echoing through the empty skies. "Are you there?"
I heard a grunt come from the end of the throne. So he was there.
'Ah. Sunset, erm... Can you do me a favour?'
She smiled her radiant smile. She didn't respond - she knew what I was gonna ask and acted accordingly. She held my hand as we walked to the bottom of the "throne", and she leapt up, almost as gracefully as her king. The force hit me, and I cringed. It felt just like falling off the roof, only shorter. And with a support. A warm hand. When Fresh transported me to and fro the throne, he always held me up in his big, warm arms bridal style. Sunset just held my hand. Maybe it's because he's stronger than her.
When we had finally landed onto the main "stage", I saw a figure sitting on the other side, legs dangling off the edge and looking towards the sky. Fresh's royal cloak fanned itself across the floor. He looked sombre. Something was bugging him.
"Fresh?" I called out. No response.
I quietly dismissed Sunset before I approached him. He was looking up at the sky, if t were any other day I'd think he'll be cloud or star gazing, but with these skies there's nothing to look at. I sat down beside him and looked at his face.
"Woah, Fresh, have you been crying?"
'No.'
Fresh grumbled crankily as he looked away from me, concealing his face. He can't lie to me, I know the look of a crying person all too well, I have a habit of looking in the mirror to make sure I'm socially presentable after I cry. Puffed eyelids, pink skin, warm and moist air around his face, If he thinks he can lie to me, that's adorable. He is a terrible liar.
"You wanna talk about it?"
'I'll pass...'
"So you're admitting that you were just crying"
'No.' He stubbornly replied.
It was kinda strange to see such a huge hunk of a man be such a softie, but oh well, I'm not judging. I just hugged him. His torso was so big that my arms couldn't even reach the entire Circumference of it. He tensed up before he hugged me back. And there we remained for minutes on end. I don't think he wanted to let go. His whole body didn't feel warm, it was as if he was clutching me tightly for the sole purpose of keeping himself warm.
And well, who am I to disobey a king?
"I miss the sun." He said, looking up at the sky. "I haven't seen it for over a thousand years."
'Yeah... Where is it anyways?'
"It ran away as soon as I appeared. I don't know why."
'Oh. I'm sure it gave you fond memories.'
"Very fond memories."
Silence.
"Hey Fresh, want a hot chocolate?"
'Sure. Why not.'
"Okay, I'll call a few Corrupted."
'Nah, I'll do it, you can't even get down here without breaking your legs.' Fresh said, standing up. At least he wasn't being condescending?
She did call in a few Corrupted. For a hot chocolate or two. He also asked for Dumpling and a blanket.
But the moment I saw which Corrupted came in with his order, I almost fell off the throne.