Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sound of the large metal doors whirring to life, slowly opening to show a large lobby of people, criminals , is nothing compared to the sound of your own heartbeat beating against your chest. The area is heavily guarded, with a person standing post at every possible door, unmoving. It’s bigger than you expected, but you aren’t terribly surprised. These peo- criminals wander around, some partaking in conversation, some filling inside the submarine that lies quiet in the water, others typing away at tablets that look similar to the one you received, and some looking at the new haul of fellow inmates gathering to partake in this life-threatening expedition. You don’t bother to try to remember faces or define features. These are people who are expected to die, just like you. 

They are expendable. You are expendable. Urbanshade has made that quite clear.

Your name, your past life, your life…It’s all meaningless. 

That is to say, if you were actually like the rest of these people here. In some ways, yes, you are. However, there’s one key thing that makes you different from the rest. They are here for some supercharged crystal. 

You are here for information. 

Stepping into the crowded lobby, taking in your surroundings as best as you can, you wonder just what exactly you’ve gotten yourself into. The sound of submarines submerging into the water, sirens notifying their departure, is one of the first things you notice. Some criminals go in alone, others in groups of two or three. The area is relatively big, but you notice that everyone huddles closer together with a few stragglers. It’s rather damp, the water in the area making the air cold and wet. You debate whether you want to try and spark a conversation with a nearby group or see if you can try and join a group on their departure, so you can gather any type of intel. However, you think otherwise, figuring that they would slow you down or leave you behind. You know that once you go down there, you might never come back. This was a risky operation. More risky than you initially thought. Taking a seat on one of the empty benches, you decide to give yourself a mental recap on why you are here. Why your reason for agreeing to this mission was different from everyone else's.

Just as you were getting ready for bed, your computer pinged a message from your work email. The late-night air was seeping through the bedroom window, bleeding behind the blackout curtains, with the bed begging you to join it. There was some temptation at first to ignore it, but curiosity always won in the end. A quick read wouldn’t hurt; it wasn’t like you needed to answer right away, as you were off your self-proclaimed clock. Skimming through, the first thing you noticed was that it was addressed to a fake name you used recently. The second thing you noticed was that the sender was a big-name company you’ve heard many times before. Innovation Inc. was a corporation that’s been thrown around in your line of work before, albeit never directly. 

The basics of the email consisted of simple facts on how they found you and what they know about you, which wasn’t a lot, thankfully. That means you did your cover-ups well. The next choice of words is what catches your eye. 

We ask for your assistance in infiltrating a rival company that’s been rumored to be involved in many different allegations. The biggest being human experimentation. 

You’re skeptical for a moment, but continue on. 

Urbanshade, as of late, has been slipping in many ways other than reputation. Innovation Inc. is very aware of how easily rumors can be created and spread; however, the following document provides us with some basic elements that might be much more than just rumors

Opening the document, you find statements of criminals sent to death row supposedly going missing, and checks signed off on by Urbanshade given to a variety of prisons. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together; however, this alone wouldn’t hold up in a court of law. There is no definitive proof that these two instances are related, with the addition of how much money can make a person (or a court, in this case) turn a blind eye. Urbanshade makes a lot of money with the “progressive” weapons and military supplies they sell and from the lesser-known underground deals they make with fellow corporations and rich CEOs.

We request that you infiltrate Urbanshade and collect any data we can use against them, shutting them down quickly and effectively. There will be a hefty reward provided. 

The amount of zeros provided makes you do a double-take, almost frying your brain. You could retire early and be set for life if you do this. Hell, your children and grandchildren might not have to work a day in their lives with this type of money. You don’t have any children, but the fact still stands: you’d be stacked. The money you make now holds you steady, comfortable even, but greed is a sin you partake in often. It’s why you started this self-proclaimed business in the first place. The best way to put it is, you are an intelligence agent, a spy, one would say. However, you’re not recognized by any official government, but you sure made one hell of a name for yourself in the underground. Your methods of getting information are a grey area at best, murderous at worst, never killing without reason, and avoiding it as best you can. You avoid any kind of violence if you can help it; however, you learned very quickly that violence is the only way out of certain situations.. 

Getting off track, you respond to an email. It's sloppy, and there are an embarrassing number of grammatical errors, but you don’t seem to care as much as you should. You can save all of the professionalism for when you discuss details in person. The briefing was short; most of everything wasn’t worth remembering. You remember anyway. You have an excellent memory. Photography, to give it a name, but you make sure to only linger on the important details. So little to begin with, most of it being rumors, theories, and guesses.. 

All you know for certain is that you’ll be taken to a secluded area underwater, communication with anyone outside is restricted, and there's another man on the inside providing information about Urbanshade to Innovation Inc. in exchange for his and one other party member’s freedom. You wonder why Innovation doesn’t just have him do all of this dirty work since he’s already there, but you have a gut feeling that they don’t exactly plan on helping this poor fool in the way he probably thinks. You know firsthand that big corporations only care about the stock they make for the buyers they receive. While advising to find this person, Solace is what they said his name was (that name reminds you of the sweet old lady you meet at your usual cafe once a month), and helping him out, providing aid to him and his party, isn’t necessary. Your priority is to bring back all the information you can and help shut down Urbanshade for good.  

Creating a fake criminal file with fake crimes was easy work for you. Bringing your contraband items (Half a pack of cigs, a communication watch, and a tiny notebook with a pink glitter pen) was easy. Getting Urbanshades' attention was just a stroke of luck. Now, everything that you are going to do will be equivalent to running in the dark. Even if you could find this Solace guy, you have no idea where to look. It’s not like you were given any information on these inmates and their backstories. You don’t even know what he looks like. Perhaps you should do this alone. Many of these people seem eager to rush ahead, while you need to take your time. It wasn’t like you actually needed the crystal that Urbanshade urges everyone to get, as you don’t need it to get out of here. Still, there are so many questions running through your brain that you're genuinely upset that you’re not omnipotent, so you can go ahead and answer them already. 

You pick yourself up and head to one of the smaller submarines, hoping that no one decides to suddenly join you. 

—

The sound of running, banging, shooting, and screaming isn’t unfamiliar to Sebastian. It’s easy to ignore it after a while. The low growls of the good people in the next room over or the distant whir of turrets free firing fall short on the large beast. It’s the same old story with the same old plot. The large serpent-like monster never bothers to remember names to faces, calling everyone the same. A group of expendables left his shop not too long ago, their conversations leaving a trail of echoes behind. A new haul of criminals should’ve arrived not so long ago, so Sebastian expects to see them very soon. He’ll greet them when they arrive and when they leave. 

He hated waiting here. Sitting motionless until told otherwise. It was… irritating. Still, when the door outside his shop shuffled open, he fixed his hair and stood up straight, using his tail to flick the vent door open.

“Stranger. In here.” He ushered in a gravelly voice. You painfully crawled your way into the shop, your body feeling heavy and wet. It wasn’t from water, though. You felt like you were hanging on within an inch of your life, but still, the large amalgamation of different aquatic creatures caught your eye.

“Dats a big fish.” You mutter to yourself. You didn’t expect him to hear, but he did. You know he did if the slight twitch of his lip didn’t indicate anything. You like to think you have a good read on people, but as of late, you aren’t too confident. So much has happened in the last thirty minutes, and it’s been more than too much. You cough in pain and in embarrassment. You weren’t doing too hot. Still, you pull yourself out of the vent, and the large fish man starts his greeting.

“Welcome in, stranger! Don’t be afraid; I won’t hurt you despite what you may have seen, heard, and/or have been told.” He cheers. There’s a feeling of false warmth to his tone, but if he’s going to be the first thing that isn’t going to kill you on sight, then you’re going to take the temporary sanctuary. 

“My name is Sebastian. Your only friend, ” He greets. You have a feeling that he doesn’t actually want to be friends. However, the name reminds you once again of the sweet old lady you meet twice a month for coffee. It’s a name she’s thrown around a few times. The name Sebastian Solace echoes in your mind; however, you ignore it. This could all just be coincidental. After all, Sebastian Solace was human… And dead. 

And this was a fish man. Not dead. (There was never an official body.) 

He goes on about the basic details of the mission Urbanshade has sent you on and how he will send you the data you collected in exchange for the items on his tail. You aren’t sure you want to part with the information you’ve almost died getting, but the medkit felt like a gift sent from heaven. It was glowing in its white and green hues, and you almost snatched it right where you stood, but stopped yourself.

“I don’t know if I can afford any of this.” You mumble sadly. Your body is flaring in pain. You wonder if you’ll die right here in the shop because you actually have no idea if you can keep going.

“Worry not, friend; you can check your balance right on the wonderful tablet provided to you by Urbanshade.” He said, pushing hair out of his face. He has three eyes. Cool. Unhooking the tablet strapped to your belt loop, you fiddle with it slightly and notice a number that kind of looks like currency. Interesting indeed. When you touched whatever seemed important, it melted away, but you had a strange feeling like you didn’t actually lose it. This place was so fucking confusing. No logic or reason. The number itself was large. It felt like a whole month's worth of work squished into a little over thirty minutes' worth. Placing the tablet on the floor, you looked back at the medkit that was calling your name like a siren to a sailor.

“Just unhook the item of your desire, and the data will automatically transfer to me.” He chided. Humming to yourself, you unclipped the medkit and sighed a breath you didn’t know you were holding. Looking back at the tablet, you notice that you still have an impressive amount of data left over. You wait before you decide to buy anything else. 

“Would it be alright if I patched myself up first…you know. Before buying anything else?” You asked cautiously. The fish man, Sebastian, cringes visibly before nodding hesitantly. He’s supposed to be a friend after all. He needed to play nice if he wanted you to trust him. Thinning your lips, you take a deep breath before sitting against a crate and pulling your shirt up. 

“ What? ” Sebastian's voice growls in anger, startling you and letting go of your torn-up shirt. “Are you doing?”

“Ah. I had been attacked earlier. Some sort of beast behind a door with a distorted smile tore a nasty scratch on my chest, and I want to check the damage.” You explain hopefully. In all honesty, you have no idea how you survived. It could be worse, you suppose. Sebastian clearly isn’t happy with this answer, but allows you to continue. Pulling off your shirt, you notice your wife-beater is soaked in red and torn open with three claw marks shredding the fabric into pieces. You touch the wound carefully, hissing in a type of pain you temporarily forgot about until now. 

Lifting the undershirt and letting it rest around your neck, you take the medkit and start patching yourself up. This whole place is a living hell. First, you were almost attacked by some monstrous angler beast, only surviving by narrowly hiding in a side room before it could reach you. It ran past you, its screams fading away in the distance. Then you were almost used as a pincushion from roaming turrets, quickly learning that the desk and lockers were bulletproof, but you still got nicked by stray bullets. Then you got unlucky and picked the wrong door, granting you a meet and greet with some sort of reddish monster that landed a harsh scratch to the chest before some sort of robot laughed at you for choosing the wrong door. You have no idea what you signed up for, but you’re quickly regretting it. No amount of money can be worth this. 

Leaning your head against the crate, you gather your bearings and put your shirt back on. Groaning, you get up to browse Sebastian’s shop once more. There are a few light sources and some sort of card reader? It’s red with a few interesting markings, but the thing that catches your eye is a vanilla file on the desk next to Sebastian. The label reads "Z-13," while a big red stamp inks "[Classified]" in the middle. 

“Is this for sale as well?” You ask. The angler seemed to remember that you were still here and grimaced at the question. His file wasn’t one he gave out often, making it expensive on purpose. The thought of some random expendable knowing who he was right off the bat made him uncomfortable, but he was in no position to refuse if they actually had enough. You did. He hummed in a way that made you think that your assumption was correct. You picked it up, and, alongside all of your other collected data, it melted away. You sneered silently because you wanted to read it now, but clearly it wouldn’t let you. 

“I’ll have it ready for you when you return to the surface.” He said. Looking at your tablet, you notice that you have nothing else to spend. Damn it. This file better be worth it. “If you are all finished, then the keycard will be on the table for the next room.” You could feel his wavering annoyance seep through his teeth. Clearly, he wants you out of his shop. Not needing to be told any further, you make your way to the vent.

“Thank you.” You state, genuinely thankful for this semblance of a break. “For letting me rest and providing aid.” You can see him pause for a second, only a second, as you make your way out of his shop and back to the hell you were pushed in. 

“Don’t mention it.” He muttered, waving you away, glad that you’re finally out of his hair. The sound of your footsteps fades into the distance.. 

—

Not even twenty minutes later, you find yourself face-to-face with the black void. Glowing teal eyes in a pair of three bore into your own as a familiar voice greets you. 

“Oh. Hello. You died. Such a shame. I’m sure you already know who I am, considering we met not too long ago. An impressive feat considering it is your first time down here.” Sebastian greets. You gasp at the realization that you are somehow still alive. The last thing you remember was seeing the same creepy angler monstrosity as before, charging headfirst into you, ripping your head from your body. Piercing teeth ripping your flesh like paper as blood rushes down your body. Gripping your neck hastily, you feel a fresh scar completely healed but heavily jagged, wrapped around your neck.

“I have been asked to fill the role of providing you with the information on all the dangers in here since those idiots decided not to. Whenever you die,” That statement grabbed your full attention. “You’ll be brought here, and I'll provide a document detailing what caused your oh-so-early demise. I am limited to the amount of information I am able to share, unfortunately for you. All documents are heavily classified, covered in black lines and redacted text. The more you die, the more information will be revealed.” You can feel yourself trembling. This wasn’t real. You died. You know you died, but somehow you’re back. You can hear Sebastian shift around, filing through a metal cabinet, but you can’t focus on anything else. Breathing was becoming hard, and any sort of attempt at composure wouldn’t stick.  The fish before you tossed down a file. Your eyes met the same ones that killed you. Z-283, or The Angler. The only thing you’re allowed to read is how an electromagnetic pulse will flicker the lights before its arrival. It is advised that you bring along a type of light source, as it will break all nearby electronics. Closing the document, you allow yourself to just…breathe. Sebastian says nothing, only watches you with his unwavering eyes.

After a moment, you pull out your little notebook and pink glitter pen to write down your findings. 

Angler - Distant screaming, flickering light. Hide when nearby.

“This one is fast; make sure you’re out of sight whenever it passes through.” He suggests as he takes away the file. With nothing else to focus on, you take in your surroundings. It was like you were in the void, the darkness cloaking Sebastian along with it. The only thing you could see clearly was the desk in front of you and the fish’s three striking blue eyes and glowing esca.

“Where… am I?” He asked hesitantly, looking for more reassurance than anything. Something to keep your mind off the most recent events. 

“You are in the in-between. The place you go when you die.” The other provides, being surprisingly helpful. “You’ll be seeing this a lot. When you are ready to leave, just stand up from your chair. You’ll fall through the darkness and be brought back to the lobby to do this whole meaningless endeavor once more.”  That did nothing to calm your nerves. 

“So you’re saying that I'll come back every time I die?”

“Pricely.” 

“My god. I’m in hell.” 

“So it would seem.”

Everything felt surreal. You couldn’t seem to catch your bearings; however, deep down, you knew you had no choice. Biting your lip, you take one more sigh, standing up from the chair, and falling through the empty void. Preparing yourself to try this again one more time.

Chapter Text

Booting up UrbanshadeX…..

Loading…..100% complete

Welcome back!

The tablet in your hands loads quickly, but your thoughts were too clouded for you to process it. Dying for the first time was an experience. Yes. That’s how you’ll put it. An experience. Undergoing the reality that this is still life, aware that you are no longer in the world you once knew. Looking around, you wonder how many deaths these people have gone through, how they died the first time, and how they found the will to keep going. Dying and reviving. 

Dying and reviving

You wonder how long it’ll be before you’re desensitized to the thought of that concept. Not a feat you’ve thought long about before, but now, feeling the moment your head detached from the rest of you before instantly blacking out made you recoil. The scar around your neck makes you want to reconsider. It weighs heavily on you, making you wonder if you're also scarred by the bullets and those large red monsters. Did every mistake leave a permanent reminder of your failings? 

However….

The smiley face monsters….

We're soooooo cool! Getting past the attempted murder, they seemed like intriguing little guys. Back when you were younger, you had a fascination for the supernatural and the cryptic. You remember being 10 years old with a dream to find things like Mothman or the Loveland frog. The paranormal also caught your interest, and you often sneaked away at night to explore abandoned buildings in the hope of finding a banshee or phantom well into your teen years. Now you actually found something that would put your younger self into a coma. Sure, dying wasn’t fun, and you know if you dwell on it for long, it’ll send you into a spiral, but if you just shove that into the mental jar, things seem to be a lot better. For now, you’ll focus on the more positive aspect of this whole ordeal. You wonder if Sebastian would be considered cryptic. He was really cool, too. Fish people weren't on your bucket list of what you’ll find down here, but neither was coming back to li-. Nope, into the jar. 

Focus! 

You can geek out later after your mission is over. Current priorities take over childhood fantasy. You need to collect more data and find more information that will satisfy Innovation Inc. Maybe Sebastian has some knowledge you can use. You also need to find Mr. Solace and update him on the situation. Maybe the two of you can team up and find a way out of here together. A good place to start would actually be mingling with your fellow inmates. There is a sliver of a chance that you’ve already seen him around. Before you do that, however, you want to mess with the provided tablet you got before you were transported here. You also need to find a way to safely communicate with Innovation Inc. to keep them updated on your own progress (would they even believe anything you’d say?). 

The first thing you notice is a red icon in the corner with a black skull next to the number one. Was this a death count? That’s good to know, you suppose. The next thing you see is a shopping catalog. In it, you notice you can buy a variety of suits. All with different patterns and colors. You wonder how the hell anyone was supposed to buy anything with no currency. Was there currency down here? How does one earn money? Under the shopping catalog, you saw a document section. You wonder if this is where all of the assets you collected went. Then you remembered that you lost most of it buying things from Sebastian. The memory of him stating that the documents will be blacked out until you continue on your path, only unlocking the more you die, lingers for a moment. Maybe you should try a few more runs before trying to scroll through the documents. There isn’t much you can do for the time being other than collect and gather.

Putting your tablet back on your belt loop, you decide that your next best course of action is to mingle. There are people who are wearing the provided jumpsuit, but there are a nice handful who somehow acquired the ones in the shop. So it is possible. Looking at their faces, you notice that there are some who are barely scared (you don’t know that for sure since the suit covers everything from the neck down) and others who look like they’ve seen the depths of hell. There are people of all kinds, making you wonder what they did to end up down here. You approach the first somewhat friendly-looking group of people you can find. Two men are caught in conversation; you have no idea what they’re talking about, but you hope they know a thing or two about the underwater cage you all seem to be trapped in. One was noticeably taller than the other by a few inches. The shorter man had three long claw marks running through his face, while the other looked like his right eye was melting right off. It was rather gruesome, so you had to steel yourself to make sure you did not stare. 

“Hey guys.” You greet in the best casual tone you can muster. You never really feared talking with people. Given your job of choice, it was a skill you had to fine-tune in order to get the dirty details of the people you were trying to infiltrate. Taking on different personas depending on the group to falsely earn people’s trust, after years of practice, was an asset that you found yourself using often. One of your greatest weapons in your arsenal of skills and tricks. The look they gave you was skeptical, but they didn’t ignore you at first glance. 

“Hey.” The taller one said. He was leaning against a crate, arms crossed and posture relaxed. He didn’t seem threatening, but you didn’t lower your guard. 

“I noticed that you two seem a lot more…casual… about this situation than most anyone else. Do you guys have a lot of experience?” You wanted to get straight to the point, and with the emphasis on your words, they seemed to know what you were talking about. There were so many people to talk to and so little time (was time tracked down here?). Humming softly, the taller one shrugs his shoulders.

“You could say that. There are definitely people who have been here much longer than us, but I think it’s definitely been about a few weeks.” He provides, straightening himself up to properly talk with you. He could tell that you're from the new batch of expendables, but with one quick glance at the scar circling your neck, you've already seen the horrors firsthand. You watched the shorter person's body tense at his friend's words, but he continued to say nothing. Only watching and listening.

“That’s… not reassuring at all.” Your tone is light as you chuckle at the poor attempt at a joke. The man chuckles along and uncrosses his arms. 

“Yeah, but there’s nothing we can do but hope you or someone else finally gets the crystal.” He sulks, scratching just right under his eye.

“What happens to the rest of us if someone gets the crystal?” You ask. You’re not too worried about yourself since you know Innovation Inc. will provide you with an escape, but surely not everyone will be pardoned. The thought was almost saddening.

“They’ll fucking kill us, most likely.” The shorter man finally spoke up. His tone was sharp, but there was an underlying fear in his tone that, finally, the next death they may encounter will be the last one. A permanent game over. You figure that if Urbanshade doesn’t kill them, then every criminal will be sent back to death row. There’s only one crystal, so only one person might be pardoned. 

“I think that if you and a group get the crystal, everyone in the group will be pardoned.” The taller man provides. It’s a little more comforting, you think. “We were actually going to head down a bit; do you want to join us?”

You debated whether you should or not in favor of talking to more people. A voice in your head reminds you of what Sebastian said. The more you die, the more information unravels in the documents. You’re not the suicidal type, buuuttt…

Cool monster or death.

Cool monsters….or death……

“Sure! That would be greatly appreciated.” You agree. You can practically feel your younger self vibrate. 

—

You quickly find that being with other people is a lot better than you expected. You learned a few tips that you were quick to write down in your little notebook with your glitter pink pen, such as the little robot you control the turrets with is named Painter. You can figure out which door to go to if you listen out for breathing or circuit flickers. This was all so exciting.  The place you are in is called the Hadal Blacksite. It’s an Urbanshade division focused on research and containment. They weren’t exactly sure what happened to cause this breach of monsters running loose, but that already was a lot more information than you were hoping for. Your own research in Urbanshade concluded in very minimal results. Coming here alone was already a lot more than you expected. You can’t fathom the type of secrets you’ll uncover the further you go into the facility. The three of you powered through the rooms one by one. It wasn't long before you realized that the layout was different from the previous one. That is when David, the taller of the two, said that the facility changes every run (Cryptic building???), but the number of them stays relatively the same. It counts down to a hundred, and everyone assumes that the crystal is inside room one. 

“No one has ever reached the final room, but many have confirmed that it does exist.” Clayton, the shorter man, says. The three of you are looting a rather large room. You hum, filing the information for later. The distant sounds of other people dying and anglers screaming unnerves you, but the other two don’t seem to mind it. Currently, you guys are in room thirty-seven. 

“Have people seen it?” You ask as you pick up a DNA vial, watching it as it melts between your fingertips. 

“Yup,” Clay says, popping the P. He was currently looking through the office drawers, but nothing seemed to be of use. He asked annoyedly. “But there are a lot of people who claim the anglers and entities get a lot more active and aggressive once you get to the ridge. Actually, there was one group that got the closest.”

“The ridge?” You ask, look up at Clay. You hear David pip up

“It’s the place where the crystal is located.” The man informs. You nod in understanding, following the two into the next few rooms as you write down your findings in your tiny notebook with your glittery pink pen. As a pair of doors opens, you faintly hear a voice over the intercoms, but you're too busy wondering what the ridge is like. What would happen after you were to retrieve the crystal? Why is it so important that Urbanshade sends so many people down here to risk their lives? 

“Hey! Pay attention!” Clay smacked your arm. 

“ Wha-huh?” You stumble, almost dropping your items as you’re broken away from those trains of thought. You hear NAVI say something about a JetSuit Evaluation Course. What? Looking at Clayton and David, you notice that they’re putting on some sort of suit. Scrabbling, you usher yourself to follow in their lead.’’

“I’m going to active training mode real quick since our new friend probably hasn’t seen this room yet,” David claims as he walks over to a lever, pulling it down. Were you friends now? NAVI’s little chim of “Training course activated” catches your ears. 

“Oh no. What’s happening?” You panic, looking between Clay and David. Clayton smirks at you, the first time he’s ever actually done anything close to smiling since you talked. “Guys…What’s Happening?” 

“Don’t worry! You’ll see!” Clay cheers, clasping a hand on your shoulder. 

—

The screams that come out of you are anything but brave. You can barely focus on anything in front of you, more worried about the WALL OF FIRE chasing behind you. You’re not new to parkour, but THIS was a new extreme. Clay and David were in front of you, not too far ahead, thankfully, but they seemed to be getting the hang of this much better than you ever would. You’d be jealous if you weren't so fucking terrified (and so enthralled).  It felt like you were running and jumping for hours when really it’s been five minutes. Still, the cry of relief that sobs out of your mouth would’ve been embarrassing if, again, you weren't so terrified. You see the end of the course just within your reach, and as you make the final jump, grasping towards the end, you fall, rubbing the tip of your finger on the edge. Welp, this is where you die this round. Burnt to a crisp like a roasted chicken over a bonfire. 

“Dude! Help us out here!” Clay yells. You notice that both of them have hold of your hands, and you do your best to climb up. You struggle a bit in a panic as the firewall creeps closer, but you manage. Once you're up, the three of you run down the final hall, watching as the firewall stops in its tracks. Once the conclusion of the course reaches its end, the three of you collectively sigh. Collapsing on the floor, you're tempted to kiss it, appreciate it for what it's worth, and apologize to it for taking it for granted. Never again will you take the sweet, sweet ground for granted. 

“I get that you’re in love with the floor and all, but we have to get a move on.” Clay sneers in disgust. Groaning in despair, you hush the floor a sweet farewell before pulling yourself up and following them ahead. HQ pipes in, apologizing for the inconvenience, and you notice that you're all provided with some healing items. The next few rooms were just like the last. Dark, wet, and creepy. The amount of lingering assets was less than favorable, and there wasn’t much to note. The light flickered, and you noticed Clay claim a nearby locker. 

“You take this one. I’ll see if I can find one ahead.” Before you could argue, David ran up ahead. You want to call out to him, to tell him that you didn’t mind dying. A huge lie, as you were terrified of it, but you wanted to see more of the files, and he was long gone, and before you could formulate any other thought, the distant scream bounced off the walls. This one felt different. You could hear David’s bloodcurdling scream in the room over. 

‘Doesn’t matter, just get in,’ A voice scolds. Just in the nick of time, you rush into a locker, and an angler rushes past you, seemingly faster than normal. It makes your blood run cold. You have to stop yourself from heaving in the locker. Drums were banging in your heart as you slowly made your way out into the dark room. Gagging, a hand slams on your mouth as you swallow down your nausea, clutching your stomach close. You really hope David survived, but you know very well he didn’t.

“Dumbass,” Clayton murmurs, clicking on a flashlight he found a while back. It blinds you temporarily, but you don’t care. You could practically hear the crunch of David's bones and flesh. You’re reminded of your first death. The way your head snapped clean off, parting from the rest of your body. The scar feels heavier than normal. “HEY!”

A jolt circulates throughout your body, snapping you out of your dwindling thought. 

“I’m going to keep going, with or without you.” Rushing to Clay’s side, you follow him into the next room. You step into something you pray is a water puddle. Even as Clayton’s light peers down slightly, you look ahead. A dead body shouldn’t freak you out this much. You’re used to death. You’ve taken lives before (and each time it sickens you to your core).

You

Are

Fine!

“I still remember my first death.” Huh?

“It was to The Angler, like many others. You…” Clay sighs. “You never really forget your first. But the more you come down here and experience death over and over. You get used to it, as fucked up as it sounds.” You keep your head forward, but you can’t help but steal a glance at the other every so often. 

“Point is, don’t,” He groans, collecting himself for a moment. “Don’t worry about David. He’ll be okay. He’s probably already in the lobby.” 

“Are you two friends?” You ask, pleading to get off the topic about death and dying. 

“Not exactly. We just so happened to get in the same sub one time, and we never really parted after that. I don’t really expect to see him again once this is all over.” He pauses for a moment, the silence creeping in between you two. Then he continues.

“Still, having someone in these expeditions brings a twisted type of comfort in a place like this. Your past doesn’t really matter in the face of de-” He cuts himself off, taking in a sharp, jagged breath. You hum, already knowing what he was going to say. Maybe they aren’t friends, but it’s clear Clay found a sort of comfort in David. Rubbing one of your arms, you look away. After this run, you have no idea if you’ll see these two again, just like Clay said. You still have so much to find and a shit ton of people to talk to. If you’re going to survive mentally, you need to get a grip. Embrace that you’re going to die again and you’re going to see others die again. 

Dying and reviving. 

Dying….and reviving. 

An endless cycle until someone claims the crystal.

Chapter Text

You and Clay die to an angler named Pinkie, not too long after. As the two of you were talking, too caught up in conversation, the distant screams of an angler fell on deaf ears until she was just a few feet away from you. By then, when you turned to her, the pink monstrosity was at your throat, pinning you to the floor and sinking teeth in your flesh, ripping your torso in half.

“Back here again, are we?” Sebastian’s voice distracted you from your growing panic. It was soothing for some reason. Gravely and raspy. You look up at him, cloaked in darkness once again, only revealing his glowing teal eyes and esca. He tosses down a different file, everything marked with the exception of Pinkie. Getting a good look at her, she was a pinkish purple hue with four pupils and long, sharp teeth. You note that the light won’t flicker if she approaches, which you assume is the reason why you didn’t notice her arrival. 

“Wait! Where’s Clayton?” You panic, suddenly remembering your fallen acquaintance. 

“He was here just before you. Only one person can be in this room at a time. Easier to keep track of who I talk to.” Sebastian answers, a claw closing the file and pulling it away. “He’s probably already back in the lobby with the rest of them.” 

“I see,” You sigh in relief, leaning back on your chair. You want to take a moment before you go back. Sebastian let you last time, maybe he will again. Should you ask? You have been meaning to talk to him anyway.

“Hey, Sebastian…” You try. 

“Hmmm…” It sounds annoyed, but he allows you to continue.

“Do you know, everybody ?” You asked. He pauses for a moment, tapping his claws against the desk in thought. You can’t hear anything else. It was as if the outside world was hidden away, covered by a black fog. You try to focus on him alone. The tapping of his claw. Your shared breathing. 

“Names get fuzzy depending on who, but I generally remember faces. There are so many of you idiots that it gets difficult to keep track of you all, but there are a select few that stand out. Mostly with how much of a migraine you all give me.” He answers truthfully. He leans away, and his hands disappear in the void. You can tell he isn’t fond of anyone, but it’s something. You wonder if he has any friends, but in a place like this, you doubt it. He didn’t like other people, and the monsters you’ve met don’t seem like the friendly type. Should you ask about Solace? He said he’s not good with names, but perhaps there’s a chance he knows who that is? 

You groan quietly. Maybe not. At least not right now.

“I understand.” You don’t even know if you can trust him. You have no idea of his stances with Urbanshade, and you can’t risk getting any compromises. Standing up, you let yourself fall through the void, finding yourself in the lobby shortly after. 

— 

In the lobby, you find yourself going around and talking with new people. There are so many different people, you understand why Sebastian doesn’t bother with names. During this, you find out NO ONE knows who Solace is, and if they did, they wouldn’t remember. You debate whether you should just try another run instead; maybe you’ll have more luck with researching the monsters down there. You wonder about how many there are in total. 

Maybe just one more group.

In the corner, tucked away from the subs, you see a group of three chatting idly among themselves. One of them, a girl, was sitting on top of the crates with her legs crossed. Next to her was a person leaning against the crates, nodding along to the conversation. Across from them was their third who-

Did- Did he have a tail? What the hell? And why was he so damn tall?

 “Excuse me.” You grab their attention as you walk up. They stop their conversation to look at you, the girl staring you down like she was hunting prey. That was kind of unsettling, but you shake it off when her expression gets lighter. You introduce yourself, and they follow your lead. 

“HI! “ The girl cheers happily, jumping down from the crate and shaking your hand excitedly. She has way too much energy for someone in the situation that you are all in. You notice that she has long, dark hair tied up into a ponytail with a large blue bow. She’s wearing a dark blue jumpsuit to match, but the glasses on her face are noticeably cracked. “Name’s Mariposa, but you can call me Mari. These are my friends Iv and Deli!”

“Damion, but you can call me Del. Just Del. Don’t call me Deli.” The tall one greets. He doesn’t shake your hand, and his voice is very monotone but soft, so it doesn’t make you feel unwelcome. He had short, messy black hair, was paler than snow, and indeed had a long black tail. It was then that you noticed that Mari was still shaking your hand until he was forcibly stopped by Del. 

“My name is Ivan.” The other greets. His hair was a curly mullet, and he had a long scar from the bridge of his nose down to his chin. You could also see hearing aids in his ears. You wonder briefly if he had hearing problems, but you know it would be rude to ask.

“What brings you to our little band? ” Mari vibrated. She was noticeably shorter than the others, but her most noticeable feature was her pointy, sharp teeth. You had so many questions for these three alone, especially regarding the tail. 

“R-right! Um. I was wondering, by any chance, if any of you know a man by the name of Solace? No one else really does, and I’ve talked to almost half the people here.” That wasn’t an exaggeration either. You assume you spent over an hour going to different people. Some ignored you, and others gave you bare minimum answers or gave you things you kinda already knew. At one point, you saw Clay and David. You waved at them, some small part of you relieved that they were somewhat alright. The three paused for a moment until Damion and Mari looked at each other in some sort of unspoken conversation.

“Mari and I do, but he wouldn’t be too happy if we told you where to find him. He’s sort of a private person, and he’d have our heads if we shared that with you.” Damion explained. It wasn’t favorable, but it did give you a sliver of hope. At least you know that he does, in fact, exist. 

“Are you sure there’s nothing more you can give me?” You pleaded. Mari shakes her head vigorously, making you deflate slightly, but then Ivan pipes up helpfully. 

“You can find information about him in Sebastian's shop. For a price, of course. That damn fish is so greedy. He won’t share shit with you if you can’t afford it.” The other said. There is a lingering disdain in Ivan’s voice that makes you assume he wasn’t too fond of the merchant. There were a lot of people who didn’t seem to like Sebastian at all when you brought him up. Some called him useful, but almost everyone called him a prick or some variation. He did come off as standoffish and easily irritable. 

“Wait! Are you talking about the folder in the desk that sells for a thousand assets?” You question excitedly, remembering the exact file you bought when you met him for the first time. If you are correct, then you could start jumping for joy since you have the file. The reason why you haven’t looked at it until now is that you wanted to get more information before documenting it. There was the addition of needing to find Solace and have a safe way to communicate with Innovation Inc. The watch on your wrist is supposed to help you do that, but there is danger continuously surrounding you that you haven’t had the time. 

“That’s the one!” Mari confirms. This was perfect. This was so perfect. For the second time since you’ve been down here, you felt true excitement. Something other than growing panic and fear. 

“Thank you so much. You have no idea how helpful this is.” The gratitude practically pours out of you as you thank them, getting ready to take your leave. 

“One more thing! The three of us were planning to take an expedition later today. You should join us! We can answer any questions you might have!” Mari offers. You pause for a moment to contemplate. You are very curious about Damion's tail…

“Sure! That would be great!” With that, you turn tail to find a different spot, somewhere a tad bit more secluded. Pulling up your tablet, you look to see that your death count has gone up by a number. You think back to the scar on your neck and then reach for your right shoulder. You feel a new one from where Pinkie tore you in half. You trail your hand from your shoulder down to your left hip. A fresh scar lies ridged across your body, and you can’t help the shudder that spikes through your body. Nope! Into the Jar!

—

Pulling up the document’s tab, you watch as the world around you goes dark. This was new. You’ve never really felt reality shift as you find yourself in the in-between. Most of the time, you feel burning hot pain for a split second, and then you black out. It was weird, to put it lightly. A familiar voice calls from within. 

“Fancy some light reading? You don’t have many documents to sort through.” Sebastian chimes. 

“I know. I just want the one I purchased from your shop.” You can’t help the giddiness that flows through you, but you hold your tongue when you hear the low growl that emits from Sebastian. You hear him shuffle around for it before tossing it to the desk a bit harsher than normal.

“I don’t know why you would want to read that one, but please …Be my guest.” You almost don’t want to know anymore. You’re scared that he might just blow your head off for even looking at it. Still, the label Z-13 is calling to you. After a short mental debate, you open it and start reading. The first thing you notice is a picture of Sebastian, and ‘oh’ . This was his file. Okay, well, that makes sense. Next to the picture is another, but this one was of a human. It’s a mugshot, and the name reads ‘Sebastian Solace’, and oh . 

Okay, so a lot of gears are clicking in your head. For one, Sebastian and Solace are in fact the same person. Technically, that means you did find Solace without even knowing it. Okay. That’s okay. The second thing that clicks is that Sebastian is, in fact, not human and not dead . That’s fine too. This is all fine. Alright okay. You keep reading. 

What you find is less than favorable. It’s downright disgusting. Human experimentation? The false accusations and being proven innocent? It would’ve been heartbreaking if it weren’t so tragic. God, this was sickening. You feel extremely guilty for being relieved that he’s the only one, but you can’t imagine forcing others to go through something so painful and twisted. You assumed that Urbanshade was into some dirty shit, but this? This was inhumane. How long have they been doing this, and how long have they been getting away with it? You feel almost excited by the thought of tearing the damn corporation to the ground. It nearly makes this whole ordeal worth it. 

“Not the happiest bedtime story around, is it?” You know he can read your thoughts on your face, but you can’t help it. The last time you felt this sick was when you- Nope! In the jar. 

“Sebastian. I’m so so-” 

“Save it. I don’t need your pity.” He snapped, voice laced with venom, ready to sink into flesh at any given moment. Clearly, he’s not over it, but you can’t exactly blame him. You nod instead, closing your mouth shut. Sebastian Solace was alive. Mrs. Solaces’s son was alive and in front of you. It was unthinkable, but the proof was real and right in front of you. You can’t help but soften your eyes, letting your growing hate for Urbanshade die down. It’s not pity you feel. It’s something much more careful. Kinder. You think about the stories that his mother would tell about him. He was so well-mannered and kind to everyone around him. He loved his sibling so deeply and was very close to his mother. She didn’t believe for a second that he would hurt all those people. His mother was devastated to find out that her baby had been executed for a crime he didn’t commit. His family didn’t even find out until two years later that he had been found innocent, but by then, the damage had been done. There wasn’t any closer. No final moments to say goodbye.

Should you tell him? Tell him that you’ve been looking for him and reveal who you are. You weren’t exactly looking to save anyone. Sebastian wasn’t even on your priority list. Maybe now isn’t a good time. You’ll hold off on it for now. A part of you wants to help him, but you know he doesn’t even like you. Would he believe you? You immediately cross out the thought. You shouldn’t be thinking like this. You don’t know if you can trust him, the two being the same person be damned. You couldn’t even guarantee his safety. You are going to do what you’ve always done. Worry about yourself. Innovation said that he wasn’t a priority and that you didn’t need to worry about him. Still, the information he provides is useful.  

“Are you going to sit there or do you want to read something else? My file surely isn’t that interesting.” His annoyance doesn’t fall flat on you. Shaking your head no, you brace yourself to stand up. Sebastain was not important to you, but if the time comes when he provides you with provisions of worth, then you’ll reconsider. Use him for what he has and then leave him for Innovations to deal with. 

“No. I think I’m going to go. Thank you.” You still need to contact Innovation Inc. At least let them know you are alive and give them your findings. Actually, this file is exactly what they need to shut Urbanshade down. You can’t just ask to take the file with you. It doesn’t take a mastermind to know that Sebastian would shut you down with a hard no.

“Don’t tell anyone about what you read in here, yeah? If you do, I’ll tear your head clean off just like that, Angler.” He warns, a single claw pressing down on your neck scar. You know exactly what Damion meant when he cautioned you about Solace- er, Sebastian. Nodding vigorously, you make sure that you’ll keep your lips sealed. You won’t tell a soul.

“Good expendable!” The merchant said, patting the top of your head. You felt the tension leave your body as you stood up, exiting the void and going back to the lobby. Maybe you should go find the group that invited you to join them on their next expedition.

Sebastian, on the other hand, had no idea what to think about you. You were just like everyone else he’s met so far. There was not one singular trait that made you special to him. When he first met you, he thought of you as simple. Mundane even. You were too casual about undressing in front of him, which annoyed him, but he didn’t dawdle over it, and then too casual about buying the file he didn’t even want to give you. There weren’t many who had access to his file. The number of people alone could be counted on two of his hands. The two times you died, He noticed that you ingrained the little information provided into your head. So laser-focused, practically studying it. 

And then, as he watched you read his file, he observed all the different kinds of faces you made. At first, the biggest ones were disgust and anger. But then, as you kept going, it turned into something so different. It wasn’t pity. It didn’t feel like you were pitying him. It felt like you were mourning something for him. Crying unspoken tears for a person you have barely just met. That also boiled something within him. He didn’t need or want your sappy feelings. He was glad that you left shortly after. He couldn’t bear to see you stare at him with those caring eyes. The tightness in his chest lightened after he threatened your head, eyes tracking you as you fell into the black abyss. There shouldn’t be people coming to him anytime soon. Maybe he’ll visit Painter. It’s been a while since he’s done that.

—

Making his way through the blacksite was easy; Sebastian found himself at the doors of a chained cell. The merchant triple-checked to make sure that the scrambler was turned off and that no one was able to come into his shop. A few well-placed land mines didn’t hurt anyway. 

“You really came!” Painter’s voice cheered. Sebastian noticed how much Painter would light up when he came over. It made him feel better. He doesn’t remember the last time someone was genuinely happy to see someone like him, but it didn’t matter. The little AI was the only thing that truly mattered to him in the end.

“For you? Always.” Sebastian softened. Slithering into the cramped room, Sebastian patted the top of Painter's computer. He knew he wouldn’t feel it, but the gesture was appreciated nonetheless. 

“Does this mean we’re finally getting out?” The AI drew his smile a little wider, hopeful for some good news. It was immediately crushed when he heard the merchant sigh in disappointment. Both of them knew he didn’t need to say anything to realise that this wasn’t the reason for Sebastian's visit. The painter didn’t try to dwell on it long, grateful to see the other anyway. There was solemn silence for a moment before the computer spoke up.

“I miss it. The sun, I mean.” He muttered. The fish hummed softly, pulling his best attempt at a smile he could muster. He did too. Almost more than anything. He was too tired of feeling the cold, dark, damp walls of the god forsaken facility. Tired of sleeping on the wet floors and shuffling through the dark, if those stupid fish broke the little light that they had. Sebastian didn’t care for the expendable, and the other monsters around here weren’t much for conversation. He was lucky when he found Painter. Someone worth talking to. It was never boring. It wasn’t long until Sebastian started considering Painter like a younger brother. He wasn’t anything like Tulio, his human brother, but that was because they were different people. They were so different, but Sebastian loved them both dearly. He misses his siblings. His mother. There were days when he couldn’t help but wonder how they were. Did they miss him? 

He couldn’t wait to take Painter far from here and show him the world. See the sun and the sky. He wouldn’t give up for the sake of the other. He wanted Painter to paint again. Then he’ll do all he can to help Painter remember his creator. 

Maybe they’ll finally be happy again. 

“Any news from Innovatian Inc.” The robot started again. Sebastian growled. 

“Nothing. Their last message was from a week ago, but they haven’t given me anything!” He sneered. He doesn’t understand why they have just gone dark. The last thing that they said was that they were grateful for the information provided, but it wasn’t enough for them to make an expedition down there just yet. The same shit that they have said before. When Sebastian made contact with them, he assumed that they were going to be actually useful. He knows that Urbanshade and Innovation are in competition with one another. He’s seen the statistics between them, but they were so slow with the progress that they were supposedly making. 

“I see. Well, I’m sure they will come for us eventually. We just have to stay positive!” The other cheers. Sebastian was almost envious of the way Painter carried himself sometimes. Then he feels guilty for even thinking in such a way. He knows Painter is just trying to survive, just like the rest of them. 

“Yeah, kid. We just have to be positive.”

Chapter Text

You’re currently in the submarine alongside Mari, Del, and Ivan. Del is currently typing away at his tablet and in conversation with Ivan, while Mari has taken a comfortable seat next to you. When you found them in the lobby, they were all getting ready to climb into a Sub. You ran to approach them to ask if you could join them, and as Damion agreed, Mari and Ivan pushed you in, eager to get a new party member. Ivan claimed it was so they could even the odds. 

“I’m so glad you could join us, newbie!” Mariposa cheers. It makes you slightly uncomfortable, but it doesn’t seem like she’ll actually bite. Hopefully.

“Thank you for having me. Sorry, this is only my third time down here, so I’m still kinda running in blind.” You apologise, but Mari waves you off, unconcerned about the potential liability you might pose.

“Don’t worry about it, friend.” The girl shuffles excitedly next to you. She was close but not too much so that it felt like she was invading your personal space.

“I’m so sorry.” You hear Del pip from across you, and you could almost hear a hint of playfulness in his tone. What? What is that supposed to mean? Ivan only sneers at your obvious confusion. Before you can even ask what he meant, the submarine opens as NAVI calls for a standback, and the group makes their way out. You follow close behind them, HQ right above, summarizing the objectives. Mari runs off to find the key card while Ivan and Del crouch down to open a nearby crate, a green flare right next to it. A walkie clicks to life, and you can hear Sebastian's voice groan on the other side. 

“I should’ve charged you more for this.” 

“I love you too, Sebby,” Damion states in a tone you think is sarcastic, rolling his eyes and sticking his tongue out. Ivan and Mari giggle before the latter runs to her friend.

“What’d you get this time?” Mari asked, jumping onto Del’s back and peering over his shoulder. You see Ivan clasp a Medkit onto his belt while Damion spins some sort of flash beacon in his hands. “Ooohhhhh, he’s going to shoot you again.” Mari chuckles, getting off his back. She was very giggly, as you noticed. You can only wonder why.

“How did you get that?” You ask instead.

“Whenever you’re in the submarine, you can pre-order certain items from Sebastian's shop before your run. Not sure if you know this, but whatever asset you get from a run will turn into kroner, which you can use to buy items or one of Urbanshade’s new suits using the tablet.” Ivan responds, following Mari, who ran towards the door to slide the key card. You hum in understanding. Well, that explains that. Mariposa said that you were allowed to ask them any questions, but you still pondered whether that statement holds true. 

The four of you walk from door to door, gliding through with ease. Ivan has been the most helpful to you, while Mari has been the most vague with her responses. You learn that there are these plant-like creatures that try to attack you if you step on their grass. You also learn that Sebastian likes to plant mines in random rooms, so you gotta watch where you step. Ivan knows how to deactivate them and offers to show you if you all happen to stumble upon them. 

“Oh, there’s also the eyeinfest-” Ivan was then cut off, getting slammed onto the floor by Something you could barely describe. Before you could even react, you hear loud footsteps coming towards you, and in a black blur, the thing gets punched against a locker. Damion punched the sucker again and again until it slid lifeless on the floor. You hear its bones cracking as its foot repeatedly bashes its head against the floor. 

“That is what we call a Wall Dweller.” Mariposa chimes as she helps Ivan back onto his feet. You feel bad about temporarily forgetting about him, but you can’t seem to look away from the smackdown Del is giving the damn thing, the room filling with sickening crunches of its skull.

“They’re beings that hide in the walls waiting for a bite to eat. Then they stalk until they deem it is clear to attack. We don’t see them often, but Del really doesn’t like them.” Ivan provides, dusting himself clean. You can see Damion finally start to let up, leaving the dweller almost unrecognisable from when you first saw it get pinned to the floor. It had no arms or face, but with the beatdown Del just gave it, you assume that wouldn’t even matter; it would’ve been gone anyway. You can hear him huff momentarily, catching his breath after walking over. 

“I think it’s dead.” He claims. You don’t expect anything to get back up after that. 

“Are you positive?” Mari asks, it’s more hopeful than skeptical, but not for the reason you think. 

“Dude. I just beat the shit outta that thing.” He deadpans. You hear Mari cheer as you turn back to Ivan. 

“Are you okay?” You ask. Del seems to remember that his friend was just attacked and turns his whole attention to Ivan as well. The other waves you both off, reassuring you that he’s okay. You sigh in relief and then apologise for not helping. You were just stunned, unsure of what was happening and unsure of what to do. Ivan reassures that he’s alright before you hear the sounds of something wet crunching in the background. You turn to see Mari pull off the Wall Dweller's leg and take a huge bite out of it. Your jaw drops, even more stunned by her actively eating the thing . 

“Mariposa. You have to stop doing this.” Damion casually says. 

What? “WHAT?” 

“Yeah, she does that,” Ivan says, like it’s the most normal thing ever. You really hope it isn’t, but you have a strong feeling that it’s not. None of them will elaborate. All of them keep walking. 

“W-...wait. What about the dweller?” You ask. 

“Relax. Like I said, we don’t see them often, so we shouldn’t have to worry about them.” Ivan reassures. It does nothing for you, and you can’t help but look over your shoulder every so often. 

“I see.” You can only respond. 

—

A few more doors down, a few Anglers running amok, and one jetsuit evaluation course later, the four of you reach Sebastian's shop. You all fill in one by one, with Mari in front, you close behind, then Ivan, and lastly Del. 

“Oh, for the love of-” Sebastian groans annoyedly. It doesn’t take a genius to see that he does not like these four. His whole demeanor changes from neutral to irritated in an instant once he lays his eyes on them. 

“Hey Sebast-” Damion starts, as he climbs out of the vent, reaching for the beacon he purchased earlier. Before he could even finish his sentence, Sebastian grabbed him by his neck and crushed the beacon to pieces. 

“Don’t. Even. Try. It.” He growls, slamming the hybrid against the shelves across the wall. You hiss in pain, you don’t even feel. 

“At least he didn’t shoot you this time.” Mari muses, not even batting an eye as she browses Sebastains's wears. Damion just groans in pain, lying face-first on the ground. Walking over, you go to help him up. 

“Fucken Dumbass,” Ivan mutters, picking up a hand crank for himself. These two are oddly okay with watching their friend be used as a rag doll. He mutters a thanks, and you hiss again at the large purple bruise forming on the side of his head. It’s bleeding slightly. You hope he doesn’t have a concussion, but with how hard he was thrown, you’ll keep an eye on him just to be sure. 

“Deli is just fine, see? He does this a lot, so Sebby came prepared.” The girl across the shop sings songs. The way she says the nickname sounds mocking but not entirely mean. You can see Sebastian’s fingers itch to grab his gun, wanting to pull it out of his holster. \

“If you three are done gollygagging. GET OUT!” Sebastian roars angrily. 

“God, can you be any louder?” Ivan sneers, cringing as his hearing aids ring loudly in his ear. He flips off Sebastian before grabbing the keycard and crawling through the vent. The other two followed shortly after. You stand there stunned, unsure how to feel.

“I hate those three. I hope their next death is long, slow, and painful.” The merchant growls. Maybe joining them was a mistake. While they were informative, they were all just so very casual about their situation. They laughed and joked without a care in the world, like they weren’t in the same situation that you were in. You hum, noticing that it is just you two in the shop now. Their distant laughter makes you consider whether you should’ve joined them at all. They weren’t like Clay and David, you notice. Clay said so himself; the two weren’t friends, but those three, they felt more like a family than a couple of friends trapped in an ocean prison. Bickering back and forth like siblings instead of worrying about the dangers of the facility. It makes you wonder how long they knew one another and what they did to arrive here. 

“If you’re not going to buy something, then you can just leave.” The tall fish remarks.

“Right!” You head for the vent. You contemplate something for a minute. Whether you should tell Sebastian about your job. You remember that he was looking for a way out of here. That Innovation Inc. was supposed to help him and one other person out of here. It would only be right to at least offer your hand.

“Um, Sebastian.” You hesitate. 

“Ugh. What is it?” His eye twitches. Maybe some other time, then.

“N-nothing. Bye!” You say instead, crawling through the vent. You see the three friends lingering by the door, waiting for you. 

—

“Nice of you to join us!” Mari cheers, clasping a hand to yours and pulling you along. You stumble slightly and the affirmed affection, but it isn’t unwelcome. 

“Yeah! Thank you.” You smiled shyly. You aren’t sure why you feel flustered; normally, you're good at taking a front and wearing a mask. Noticing how they waited for you made you feel happy. It’s been a while since you had good company, you think.

The three of you wander from door to door, making casual conversation. You learn that Mari, before getting into her habit of crime, bred butterflies. Ironic because of her name, but it wasn’t the reason why she started doing it. You also learn that Damion’s full name was Damion edge lord the Fifth, an interesting choice indeed. The scar on Ivan's face was there long before he got down here, but he didn’t say how he got it. 

“I’ve been meaning to ask, Del.” You start, catching up beside him. You cringe at the nickname. Was it right for you to use it? He said you could, but it felt awkward to do so. He hums in acknowledgement. Leaning back slightly, you stare at the tail that drags along the floor. “Sorry if this comes off as rude, but how did that happen?”

“What? OH! You mean-” He starts, but gets shoved to the side, cutting him off effectively.

“Funny story actually.” Mari starts. You check to see if Del’s okay, still worried about him getting slammed against the wall. He stumbles but fixes himself straight. He grumbles but says nothing about getting shoved. He takes a spot next to Ivan instead. 

“During one of our first runs down here, I found this pretty blue vial of DNA just lying around here.” You notice that the girl likes to talk with her hands, making fun gestures with every word she spews. “I wanted to know what it does, but didn’t want to test it on myself, so I showed it to Deli and triple-dog dared him to eat it.” 

“And you did?” You asked, concerned.

“She dared me, too. I couldn’t reject a dare!” He says it like the thought itself was outlandish. 

“And a few minutes later, he was wiggling on the floor, screaming in pain. You know the works. There were some gross sounds, and all of a sudden, he was growing a long black tail fin. I think he grew taller, too.” Mari finishes. 

“So you just do anything she tells you to?” Your tone is skeptical, but Damion really doesn’t seem bothered by it. 

“She is basically our leader. She’s good at keeping us together and forming a plan. Ivan is our brains, and I’m our brawns. We got a good system going,” He says. They do seem to work well with each other. It almost makes you envious. Having a strong team. You usually work alone, and you don’t doubt that you’ll end up alone after this run. 

“Don’t worry. You can join us whenever you want! You’ve been a lot of fun!” Mariposa chimes, breaking you out of your growing thoughts. You smile, feeling better, but you shake your head no. You shouldn’t get attached to anyone. You’re not aiming for the crystal like the rest of them because you aren’t fighting for a way out. You have a guaranteed trip to safety. They don’t, and it’s not like you can take them with you. You aren’t even sure if you’re going to take Sebastian with you. You might be the only person making it out of here alive. Getting attached will be a liability. 

“Thank you.” Is all you say. They can’t know about you. Was that selfish? To keep an important part of yourself hidden away from people who were just trying to be nice. These were prisoners, though. They are here for a reason. A different reason than you. Even so, it makes you feel like a liar and a cheat, but you’re used to that feeling. 

Being a fraud on other people. Lying and pretending that you are a friend so you can use them. You’re untrustworthy. It’s why you are alone. 

You are alone. 

You don’t have to be. 

You don’t have to be alone. 

Just look into my eyes.

“Snap outta it!” Someone yells your name. You get pulled somewhere and gasp for air you didn’t know you needed. Panicking, you look around you, surveying your surroundings. You can feel your heart beating against your chest, lungs gasping for much-needed air. The walls continue to leak, the air around is damp and salty, but you’re okay. You think.

“Eyeinfestation got you good.” A muffled voice claims. Who…

“Are you still with us?” Someone asks. It sounds familiar, but everything around you still feels fuzzy. Taking a moment to regulate yourself, you practice some breathing exercises a friend once taught you. In and out. Ivan, Del, and Mari surround you, concern plastered on each face. It feels suffocating for how close they feel.

“I-i. Wh-what?” You can’t seem to find the words. 

“You accidentally fell for Eyeinfestations' hypnosis,” Ivan states. Eyeinfe- huh?

“What is….whatever you just said?” You asked, confused. Your body suddenly feels really hot, and your eyes sting like crazy. It’s concerning, considering how cold it’s been this whole time. You’re not sick, are you?

“Eyeinfestation. She uh- She’s this reallllllly big shark thing that kinda gets in your head. She tries to get you to look into her eyes. If you do, though, you get turned into soup!” Maripose explains. You hum, filing that information later. You’re grateful that they were there to help you, but now you're curious about what her file states. 

Mariposa takes hold of your hand and smiles. It’s a little softer than when she usually does, and you have to wonder why. You know, when she said that you two were friends now, but it felt a little too soon to make such claims. As she marches off to the next door, she cheers loudly. 

“This is it, guys! This is the run I swear!” Raising your interlocked hand to the sky, you can’t help but feel her optimism encourage you. Your blood runs cold when you hear a distant scream echo through the halls. The four of you stop in your tracks, Ivan and Damion snapping their heads towards Mari. 

“You just had to say something.” Damion deadpans. 

“Oops.” That's all the girl can say, shyly looking away from the daggers Ivan is giving her. 

“WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING. HIDE!” Ivan yells. The two others seem to remember the situation that you all were just put in and scrabble to find a nearby hiding spot. Mari leads you to a locker and takes the one next to you. You’re so confused, fearing almost paralysing your body, and staring face to face with a bulletproof locker. 

“Whatever happens, just pray that it doesn’t break the locker.”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN?” You cry out. This whole trip has been nonstop confusion. So many questions and so few answers. Mari says nothing more, jumping into her locker. You hear a scream behind you, and without thinking, you jump in. There’s banging from Damion’s hiding spot, with his muffled curses being drowned by the screaming. You peek through the lockers' little air vents, and whatever was attacking Damion turns to make eye contact with you. 

It’s over to your locker in a split second. Its cries are deafening as you desperately try to keep your locker shut. It’s relentless, but you do your best.

As if luck is not on your side, your fingers slip, and the doors to your locker are slammed wide open. You only get a moment to see dozens of eyes boring into you before the world goes dark.