Chapter Text
Omori did not succumb.
Once more, they dueled. The overarching sounds of violin, metal, and eldritch horror screeched through the void of the White Space, returning like echoes even louder than before, even if there was nothing to reflect off of. Then, the endless cacophony came to a brief respite.
cccRUNCH
Sunny struck with a perfect allegro, causing Omori to stagger, falling to the ground once more. Both were covered in endless bruises, cuts, and gashes. Neither was panting, however.
Omori did not succumb.
He huffed, returning to his position, ready to fight against Omori once again. He will not waiver. He will regain control. He will not die. Not here. Not now.
Omori, on the other hand, was surprised at his counterpart’s ability to persevere. His expression had barely changed, but Sunny’s eyes held a glint of determination. That endless will to never give up. Both of them knew they were getting nowhere. The injuries on them were superficial due to them being in White Space. It didn’t matter. Not really. It was all in the mind’s eye after all.
Sunny took the moment to take it in. To just… see. Calling it “White Space” would be inappropriate at this rate. Every time he struck down Omori, this plane of existence became bloodier. Red.
Vestiges of Something crawled up Sunny’s spine. What was happening in the real world? How long have they been fighting?
SLASH
Omori will not succumb.
More hands sprung from the ground around Omori’s feet, poised to strike.
How long… Weeks? Months? It didn’t matter in White Space.
Sunny gasped. In a lapse of concentration, the bow in his hand slipped from his fingers, giving Omori an opportunity. He dashed forward. Panicked, Sunny tried to eva--!
SQUELCH
The hand seemingly phased through him. The massive, dark-red hand caused immeasurable amounts of pain. The sound was awful, like a thick spear piercing flesh. Sunny screamed in agony. It felt like he was being ripped apart. The hand suddenly retracted, jerking Sunny forward as he fell to the ground, writhing.
Sunny, on the floor, tilted his head to glance at Omori. His counterpart’s attacks had stopped momentarily, his eyes dark pits of nothing, staring uncaringly. Sunny took a deep breath and stood, resuming his piece.
Sunny closed his eyes and remembered to CALM DOWN and CHERISH his friends’ wishes.
Sunny will not succumb.
Undeterred, he picked up his bow, and Sunny began to play once more.
They dueled.
Again.
And again.
And again.
“We’re sorry, but… frankly, there’s nothing more we can do.”
“...I’ll leave you to process.”
Aubrey gave one final glare before scoffing, folding her arms and tilting her head down, crestfallen. Kel couldn’t blame her, and neither could Hero. It seemed possible but highly unlikely.
Sunny was in a coma.
None of them nor the doctors knew why for certain. Though, many of them who examined Sunny speculated it was a combination of new trauma, severe malnourishment, and the loss of an eye. That, along with the other health concerns of being self-isolated for four years all contributed to a simple, horrifying fact. Sunny was in a coma.
And there’s nothing they could do about it.
Suffice it to say, Sunny’s move was stalled.
The little victories.
“...I hate this,” Hero said in a quiet voice. It was so quiet, almost no one heard him.
Basil, Kel, and Aubrey, dazed from the doctor’s report, broke their trance and turned to look at Hero.
“I hate this,” he said louder. “I hate this so fucking much,” he enunciated further. His teeth clenched.
Kel hissed almost inaudibly through his mouth. Hero swearing was never a good sign.
“It’s just--,” Hero exclaimed, before cutting himself off. He took both of his hands and cupped his face before wringing his hands through his hair, combing it. “It feels like I’ve lost Mari again. ”
Kel and Aubrey had their full attention on Hero now. Their gazes were tight and full of sadness. Basil closed his eyes and turned away, guilty. No one knew. Not yet.
Hero leaned on his neck, looking up at the ceiling. His eyes were glassy, threatening tears. “Basil...Kel...Aubrey,” He looked at them, his eyes burning like a kicked puppy. Pure childhood innocence. “Why does this keep happening to us? What did we ever do?” Basil grasped the sheets in a vice-grip.
Basil was only half-listening to Hero’s lament. On the inside, he was at war. This was all his fault! Why? Why did he have to come up with that stupid plan! Basil closed his eyes, his hands gripping the sides of his head. We didn’t even know if she was dead at the base of the stairs, he thought. She could’ve been fine if we just acted--.
And now. It’s all his fault. All of this.
All of this anguish. Sunny’s coma. Hero’s grief. Aubrey’s descension. Your fault. Your fault. Your fault--.
Your.
Fault.
Basil let out a gasp, openly sobbing.
“Basil?”
“Hey! Basil?! You okay?”
“...”
“I…”
“I-I…!”
The ‘I have to tell you something’ was on the tip of his tongue. So close to being out in the open. So close to admitting.
But he shut his mouth, ashamed. “...nevermind,” he said timidly.
“Don't give me that shit,” Aubrey snapped. “You--,” she let out a sigh, her face not softening, but retreating to a neutral tone. “It’s okay to cry. We don’t know if Sunny will wake up, but that doesn’t mean we’re gonna fall apart.” Kel, who had been uncharacteristically silent, finally spoke up.
“She’s right,” he echoed. “Sunny’s not dead you guys… he’s gonna be okay. Everything is going to be okay.” Kel sounded assured of himself. As if, there wasn’t any alternative. Kel said so, so it must be true. For a moment, Basil almost believed him.
Their words were all for naught, however. As kind as the words were, Basil’s head was swimming with dread and fear. It meant nothing to him. None of those words would matter if they found out what happened. After his and Sunny’s skirmish the previous night, he realized something important. It was never was Something that pushed Mari. It was Sunny. Always.
The thought horrified him. He and Sunny had always been each other’s closest friend, despite the tightly-knit group they had. Well, not for much longer, Basil thought. Kel’s usage of Basil’s signature line made him fall even deeper into guilt. Just another reminder that everything and everyone are certainly not ok.
It didn’t matter anyway. It’s not like he could say anything pertaining to Sunny or Something. So he said the only thing he could.
“... ok .”
Hero gave Basil a tiny smile, and patted the bed, motioning Aubrey and Kel to sit near the bedside with the spare chairs. Hero took Aubrey’s hand in his left, and Basil’s in his right. The others followed. Soon, they were sitting in a full circle, hand-in-hand, being there for each other. For the rest of visiting hours, they gave each other quiet assurances. They discussed what to do next, despite how few options they had.
Late morning turned afternoon, the afternoon turned evening. It was almost time to go. The sun was setting on the horizon. Yellows, oranges, and reds mixed together and scattered into a vibrant waveform. The sky was dashed with new hope and a hope for a better tomorrow.
He was starting to ache.
Sunny didn’t know when it started or how. The passage of time is hard to follow in White Space, after all. All he knew is that he was starting to ache. It was tiny, minuscule even. It was certainly nothing to worry about for the time being. What made it so startling was the fact it was there at all. He was in Headspace. He wasn’t supposed to ache like this. Despite it though, a horrible, real-life throb spliced across his entire body. And yet, it was there, threatening.
Sunny didn’t want to admit it to himself, but his will was starting to creak and bend. His thoughts flared with conflicting solutions and voices. Persist. Persist. Persist. Give up. You’re use-- NO! Persist. Or You’ll die. Keep going. Don’t Succumb. Give up, it’ll be easier. Just close your eyes and leave this dream.
With a voracious attack, Sunny once again struck Omori down, the bow of his now-mended violin soaked with blood. Sunny flicked his wrist, the blood splattering to the floor, disappearing into nothing. Annoyed at the oppressiveness of it all, Sunny t’ched before resuming the battle, poised to end it soon.
It was getting quite annoying actually: the repetition. Strike down Omori. Omori will not succumb. Omori strikes Sunny down. Sunny will not succumb. Over and over again. Sunny knew confronting his alter-ego was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever done.
He just never expected it to end up like this .
He hated to admit it. But at this rate…
At this rate…
Omori might win.
If that happens… if Sunny succumbs…
It’ll be all over.
He… He won’t let that happen. He knows that now. They deserve to know.
...
Could he--?!
Before he could finish the thought, Omori dashed at Sunny’s open midsection, the knife glaring red with power and malice. Sunny turned at the last possible moment, the cutting tool gashing his side not unlike how he attacked Aubrey on the first day. Sunny retaliated, knocking Omori away, dazing him momentarily.
He needed help. But… he couldn’t get it? He was in White Space. There wasn’t any way to contact someone. As far as he was aware, his body was still unconscious, probably at a hospital or his own bedroom if Sunny had to guess.
Could he somehow reach out to Mari? She was able to come to him in his dreams before… But before he was wracked with regret and guilt. It could be possible but-- no. It wouldn’t work. Omori was here. His interference won’t allow Mari to enter White Space. Her form is already intangible as it is.
It has to be someone outside of Headspace entirely. Someone in the real world. It had to be someone close to him. Someone who understood.
Sunny’s head was running in circles. He hoped, nay, begged for someone to help. He wasn’t sure if he could win anymore…
Someone heard.
Basil was discharged a day later, not suffering nearly as severe wounds as Sunny. Honestly, he was grateful. He felt like he was going to suffocate in that hospital. Even when Hero, Kel, and Aubrey stayed company with him for a majority of the 36 hours he was utterly exhausted mentally.
The hospital was too clean for Basil’s taste. He’d rather be outside, digging through mud and soil, caring for his flowers. He wanted to get out and take in nature’s aroma. He wanted to go out and just think for a while.
“Polly?” Basil’s voice cut through the thick silence of the house, the sound reverberating like an echo chamber.
Polly turned to where Basil was sitting on the couch, fiddling with his camera. “Yes, dear? Are you alright? Something acting up?”
Heh. She really was too sweet for her own good.
“N-No no,” Basil stuttered out. “I just wanted to say… I’m going to visit Sunny’s house for a while. I’ll be back… later.”
The message was clear. I’m going to visit the tree. I’ll be gone for the whole day.
“...” Polly analyzed Basil’s face, her expression not betraying any thought. “Take as much time as you need. Okay?”
“Hm. Okay.”
Basil shuffled to the door, grabbing the now worn and torn water-proof coat. It was still the same one from four years ago. Quaint.
It was exhilarating to go outside and just take in everything.
Basil was really scared. He didn’t know what to do anymore. The moment he was out of sight of the house, he ran. He ran and ran. He didn’t stop until he reached Sunny’s home. The rain was blisteringly cold, but Basil didn’t care. Not much to feel anymore. Not much to care for.
He stepped inside the conveniently unlocked door and made his way over to the sliding door. He put his hand on the handle and-- stopped.
What the hell am I doing? I can’t. I can’t do this. Something is out there. Something is watching. I don’t-- I can’t! I don’t know what to do!
…
I wish Sunny was here.
BASIL is AFRAID.
But then… a shift. A faint ripple in reality. Was it Something? Playing a trick on him? Almost instinctively, he thought of Mari for some odd reason. Her warm smile, her cookies, her words.
Calm down. It’s not as scary as you think…
God, it’s like she was right there… whispering reassurances...
Basil remembered how to CALM DOWN.
He opened the sliding door--.
Bile threatened to pour. He turned, slamming his hand into the outside of the house, trying to acquire steadiness. He failed.
Basil collapsed, hand over his mouth, the other to the ground, trying to keep himself from falling into the now-muddy backyard.
You shouldn’t have looked back, Sunny .
Basil couldn’t tell how much time had passed, but eventually, he readied himself and turned to face the music. Step by step, inch by inch, Basil forced himself forward to the base of the stump.
Once he was a few feet away, Basil stopped.
For a brief moment, he thought he saw Something. A flicker of wind, a change of the rain, and suddenly, it was there. He blinked. Once. Twice.
And then, it disappeared, as soon as it came
Basil let go of a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He opened his mouth, trying to find words for a person who didn’t exist anymore. Stuttering incomprehensibly, Basil shut his mouth, deciding to keep quiet and simply muse. He figured it was wrong to speak up. He didn’t have the right to say anything, let alone apologize.
And so, he stood in the morning dew, the rain, and the howling wind, taking in his sins.
Inhaling deeply, Basil found a comfortable position at the base of the stump, and decided to sleep.
It felt like Basil was… falling? He didn’t know how to describe it. It was if he was descending… but not? Was this what zero gravity felt like? This place… it was so quiet and peaceful. He wanted to stay here forever... in this space.
Basil.
“Gah!” Basil let out a yelp, flailing his arms around, his eyes wide. “Who just said that?! Where am I?!” The voice was booming and fizzling. Like static on a TV screen, it flickered and cracked.
Calm down.
Basil gasped again, the voice was clearer now, unlike before. He turned in the direction of the voice to see--.
“No! N-N-No no no no. Not this dream again. Please!” It… it was Something . It was here! It was right there! Basil’s breathing constricted, a crushing pressure surrounded her neck. The figure floated over to Basil, like it was gliding on air. It enveloped Basil in an embrace.
Literally an embrace.
A hug.
Not a maw ready to consume him, no single-eye spindly thing ready to kill him or Sunny.
It was just...
Shhhh… Basil… look at me.
“M… Mari…!”
Listen carefully, okay? I don’t have a lot of time here.
“Mari, oh my God. Mari! I’m so sorry.
I’m so sorry!”
It’s okay. I forgive you.
For the first time, Basil lifted his face completely. His eyes were red, thick with tears and guilt. He sniffled, and wiped his pupils with part of his sleeve. Mustering the sum of his will, Basil looked at Mari and…
“It’s really you… I can tell.” Basil's voice was so quiet, yet it reverberated across the whole void. “You’re… monochrome?”
Heh. Hey, don’t look at me. You’ve gotten a little taller, huh? Just listen for a minute okay?
Basil gave a firm nod.
Sunny’s in trouble.
“Wha--?!”
Just wait. He’s stuck in his own mind. He reached out to find someone to help him. Since he’s not dead, he can’t leave. But he can’t
give up
either. He’s trapped. You need to help him, Basil.
“Mari… how can I possibly help? How are you even talking to me? How do I know you’re not just some figment!”
Factually? Yup. I can’t prove I’m not a figment of your imagination. The only reason I can talk to you at all is because you’re so close to where… you put me. Hey! I see that look! Before you start, Basil... I love you so much. I love you how I love Aubrey, Kel, and Hero, okay? Never forget that. You have to stay strong, okay? Promise me. Promise me you’ll stay strong and get to Sunny.
This was so much so fast. How could Mari, (even if it was Basil’s imagination) entrust him to saving someone?!
Because you love him, you dork.
“Eh--?!”
It stopped raining.
Huh. Basil blinked, expression deadpan.
He shifted his head to the ground. There was a single flower growing there, one that wasn’t there during the drenching.
A single, white egret orchid.
Basil understood.