Chapter Text
“Huh. So this is what your dad’s flower shop looks like in the Dark World?”
Susie looked around at her surroundings. Seemed like they had fallen onto a small, wooden platform, with a rickety old catwalk leading off of it. Not unusual in the slightest by this point. Really, it just looked like a repeat of the Fields of Hopes and Dreams, or Cyber Fields, or the first leg of the TV world, or even parts of the Church. Just this time it was made of musty old boards that looked like they were gonna crack at any minute.
“Whatever. Let’s just find that fountain and get out.”
Kris nodded in agreement.
They started along the paths, each step causing a sickening creak from the wooden boardwalks.
“Hey, Kris! I think I see something over there!”
It looked to be a light from a room. “Good, that’s one step closer to the fountain…
Uh, Kris, I’m not the only one who sees that… right?”
Kris nodded slowly, looking over at the strange figure standing before them.
The two could barely make out the silhouette of a tall, spindly-limbed individual, wearing a cowboy hat and boots. The edges of the figure were jagged, like a compressed JPEG, growing and jittering in an offputting manner.
“Kris… am I going crazy, or is that fucking Woody? Like, from Toy Story?”
Susie cleared her throat and called out to the stranger.
Umm… hello? Who the hell are you?”
No response.
“Hello?”
The pair started to approach the figure, until they were only a few feet away.
“Are you… gonna say anything?”
Finally, the darkner(?) spoke.
“Friend Inside Me”
Well, sort of. It made sound, sure, but its mouth didn't move. Its face was blank, holding the same expression, staring right into the Lightners’ SOULs.
“What?” Susie said.
“Friend Inside Me”
“I… I have no clue what you are talking about.”
“Friend Inside Me”
“Come on, say literally anything else!”
“Friend Inside Me”
Susie swung her axe in anger.
“Friend Inside Me”
“Dammit… clearly this dude isn’t gonna help us. Come on Kris, let’s just go find that damn fountain.”
“Friend Inside Me”