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To live was to fear.
Every waking moment of Basil’s life was tainted by anxiety. It’s only natural. In a world of monsters, where he was the only human…
How could he not be afraid?
Those things were everywhere. They were black and shapeless. They moved erratically and made strange noises. They were inconsistent, too. Some would be tall, some would be short. Some were wide, some were thin. Some had hundreds of eyes, some had none.
Some were peaceful, and some were not.
Basil could never tell what kind of something a monster would be.
…
He’d moved to a new place recently, dragged along by a kinder something that took him in. He liked this monster. It looked more like him than the other ones. Looked almost human…if not for being a tall black silhouette with four eyes and claws.
Basil sighed as he adjusted one of his plants, pursing his lips. The monster that took care of him now was nice…unlike the last ones. He shuddered, then shook his head. It was better not to think about it. He was in a new place and should be happy.
But…
It was lonely in this world. Being the only human was hard. He wasn’t even sure how he’d held on this long–it was a miracle he hadn’t been killed yet. He kept getting lucky with the passive somethings. It was welcomed, considering his childhood was filled with hostile ones. It was nice to be safe for once.
Basil heard a strange noise and opened his bedroom door. His monster caretaker was trying to tell him something. Basil tilted his head. It made a ‘follow me’ gesture, and Basil did so. He was guided to the front door.
Did it want him to go outside? Well, it’s not like he was opposed to that. This town seemed to only host peaceful somethings. Might as well go on a walk, maybe find some new flowers to look at and admire.
…
Well, this wasn’t a part of the plan.
Basil felt himself being dragged along by a something, and couldn’t find the will to fight back. It was a little bit smaller than him and kept a relatively light grasp on his wrist. It was peaceful. Of course, the shadowy monster was still pretty intimidating, but Basil had built up a good tolerance. He wasn’t as afraid of the smaller ones, especially since this one didn’t have claws.
It also had a fun shape on its head, which…wasn’t cute, per se, but it was interesting. It also had no eyes, which comforted Basil. He never liked having eyes on him much.
A garbled sound came from the monster, a limb sticking out from it and pointing forward. Basil looked ahead and saw a bunch somethings, all different shapes and sizes. It was slightly discomforting.
Soon he was right in front of them, with the something that had been dragging him moving around, making noise. He could feel the attention of the other monsters shift to him, and tensed. They all seemed peaceful, but Basil couldn’t help but be wary. He studied them all, noting their most distinctive features.
The smallest something rushed toward him, vibrating in place. Basil took a step back instinctively, warily watching the formless creature jitter around, three eyes staring at him intently.
Similar to the smallest something, the tallest one of the bunch also had three eyes, all in a row. It sported weird spikes on its big head and had a disproportionately long neck. It would be great if it was more humanoid, but unfortunately, the rest of it was just a mass of darkness.
The second tallest was much wider, its body almost flowing along with the wind. One eye sat starkly in the middle of where its face would be, vertical and bright. The eye suddenly shut, before opening back up to reveal a mouthful of teeth. Basil didn’t appreciate that much at all.
All at once, Basil’s ears were assaulted with a cacophony of noise. Every something was turned to him, trying to communicate. Basil gave a weak smile, glancing between them all nervously. He ended up just waving his hand, hoping that sufficed.
The smallest something continued to vibrate, now circling him. It was eventually taken away by the long-necked one, which…bowed? Was it apologetic? Basil found these monsters to have more humanity than most. He could already tell they were like the kind one that took him in.
As he continued to stand and watch the monsters interact amongst themselves, no longer staring directly at him, his eye was drawn to a splash of color near the second tallest something. Slowly, the color was more clearly revealed.
A…hand? Basil blinked. He took a cautious step forward, beginning to move around the creature to try and see what the hand was attached to. Soon, something became apparent to Basil, and a shot of euphoria unlike anything he’d ever felt almost knocked him off his feet. He could barely contain a shout of excitement.
Two beautiful eyes stared back at him before they drew away almost shyly. Basil couldn’t help himself from getting closer, drawing near the human–it’s a person! a real person!–and opened his mouth to speak.
“Hi!” Basil squeaked and felt embarrassed. He covered his mouth, face completely flushed. The person stared back at him, slowly moving out completely from behind the something and approaching him. Basil stayed rooted to the ground, not wanting to alarm the other. They seemed shy.
“…Hi.” It was a melodic voice. Well–any voice would probably be melodic to Basil. All this time he’d just been hearing garbled noise and static.
“I–I’m Basil!” Basil stumbled over his words, holding his hands close to his chest. He nervously shifted on his feet, wondering fleetingly if this was all just a dream. After all, to see another human, especially one so wonderful, was a direct answer to his countless prayers and wishes.
“…Sunny.” Sunny. What a good name! It fit him perfectly. He was so incredibly bright in comparison to all the monsters everywhere.
“Nice to meet you!” Basil smiled wide, taking a step forward and grabbing one of Sunny’s hands. He couldn’t help himself. True physical contact…he’d always wanted to experience it. Sunny’s hand was so warm and soft. Basil never wanted to let go.
Basil had so many questions he wanted to ask. After all, he’d never met another human before. He wondered how Sunny held up on his own this whole time. If it’s anything like Basil’s experience, then he was probably so lonely. Basil wanted to outright tell Sunny that it’s okay now–that they didn’t have to be alone anymore–that they now had each other. But he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Instead, he just continued to smile warmly at Sunny, and Sunny tilted his head in return, eyes sparkling under the sunlight. Basil felt like the whole world faded away and it was just the two of them for that one, perfect moment. All the awful things in his life up to this point were worth it–because he made it! He found the one he was looking for!
It would be just the two of them against the world.
…Unfortunately, an eyesore ruined it.
Garbled sounds came from the right, and Sunny pulled his hand away. Basil frowned instinctively, turning to the something that took Sunny’s attention away. It was the second tallest, the one that brought him the most discomfort. That stark eye was too all-seeing, and when it focused its gaze, Basil felt that it saw directly through him.
As if it were staring into his soul...perhaps even draining it away.
“Basil,” Sunny said his name, and Basil turned to him, intently focused. He’d never heard his name said by anyone before. It was almost too much. Basil felt completely overwhelmed. He wanted Sunny to say it again. He wanted to give his name to Sunny. No one else could say it anyways–they were the only two humans, right? So his name belonged to Sunny.
And…Sunny’s name belonged to him.
Basil flushed at the thought. He was so incredibly happy.
*
Life was good.
Basil was happy.
He had a friend. He felt alive.
Today they were finally alone, those somethings not around. Sunny seemed particularly attached to the one-eyed monster, and Basil figured it was his caretaker. Basil wasn’t really close with his own, but that’s to be expected. After all, he was unlucky and started out with horrible caretakers.
Basil leaned against Sunny while Sunny doodled in his sketchbook. The two of them were currently in the backyard, leaning against a tall tree. It was a perfect place to sit. The shade was just right.
“Hey, Sunny…” Basil rested his head more on Sunny’s shoulder, and the other hummed in response. “I was just wondering…” He was nervous. He’d never talked about it before. There was no one to talk to about it. But now, he could finally talk to someone about how scary the world was and the monsters infesting it.
Sunny paused in his drawing, hearing Basil’s tone. He turned to him, eyes focused on his friend. Basil gave a shaky smile.
“How do you feel about the monsters…? Or, uh, somethings?”
“Something…?” Sunny blinked.
“Oh! Um, that’s…that’s what I call them.” Basil forgot that he came up with the name. He mostly called them that since they all were so different, and didn’t resemble anything specific.
Sunny nodded slowly, before turning back to his sketchbook. “I think monsters…are cool.”
“You do?” Basil studied Sunny’s face. “Aren’t they scary, though? They can hurt us if they want to, and we can’t really hurt them. They’re stronger than us.”
Sunny brought the pencil to his mouth, chewing on it for a moment. He then went back to drawing. “I guess, but…they can be cool too.”
Basil thought about it, then understood. Sunny grew up in Faraway, which only hosted peaceful somethings as far as Basil was aware. “I get scared of them a lot,” Basil mumbled, getting closer to Sunny to peek at what he was drawing. “I mean, they’re all shadowy and creepy. Some of them have lots of eyes too. Doesn’t that freak you out?”
Sunny leaned his head against Basil’s, and Basil melted at the gesture. “A little.” Sunny’s pencil scratched across the page, and soon it became clear he was drawing a something.
“I just worry sometimes because there’s so many of them.” Basil found himself staring at Sunny’s hand moving across the page rather than the actual drawing. “What if we get attacked one day? How would we survive? There’s only two of us.”
Basil shifted, trying to get a look at Sunny’s face. Sunny's expression was schooled into neutrality as always. Basil was getting better at reading him, though. He could see the tiny quirk of Sunny’s lips and became happy. Sunny enjoyed spending time with him!
“Hmm…we can fight.”
“Fight? You think we could win?”
“Yeah.” Sunny sounded fully confident, and he began sketching out two people directing weapons at the something.
“I guess if we really tried. I’ve never fought a something before.”
“Me neither.” Sunny shrugged.
“Well, the monsters you’ve met are all nice, right? I doubt you would need to fight them.” Basil was jealous–not of Sunny, of course. Sunny deserved the world and more. He was just jealous that he didn’t end up in similar circumstances. Maybe if he didn’t grow up with hostile monsters, he wouldn’t be so afraid of them.
“Some…were mean.” Sunny replied, and Basil’s eyes widened.
“Really? They were? When did you meet them?” Basil became worried. “Did anything hurt you? That’s not good.”
“No.” Sunny shook his head, smile more prominent than before. Well, calling it a smile was an exaggeration, but to Basil, it was vibrant. “A cool monster helped me.”
“Mari?” Basil tested the name, finding it odd. Sunny named the somethings around him for easy reference, and Basil was wondering why he hadn’t been doing the same. It does make it easier.
“…Yes.” Sunny began drawing a tiny monster on the page, and Basil could recognize it as Mari. It was a bit inaccurate because it was so small, but that’s to be expected. It was hard to capture the somethings correctly. “Mari helped me.”
“I’m glad you have a cool monster on your side.” Basil suddenly frowned. He had another question he wanted to ask, but it made him shy. He was worried it was weird, especially now after hearing how open-minded Sunny was.
“Um, have you ever been…lonely?” Basil managed to get the words out. His face was red, and he felt like he was going to start sweating. “I–I mean…with so many monsters around…I know I get lonely.”
Sunny slowly stopped drawing. He placed the sketchbook aside and fully faced Basil. Basil avoided eye contact, lips wobbling. “Well, I’m…not lonely anymore because I–I have you! Do you…feel the same?”
Sunny stared at him, and Basil grew increasingly nervous. Why did he ask something so stupid? He’s going to ruin it by making Sunny uncomfortable! He just…wanted to be validated. He wanted to know that he wasn’t alone. Life had been so hard before meeting Sunny, and Basil desperately needed to know if Sunny felt the same.
“…I did.” Sunny glanced down momentarily, eyes downcast. “Mari…got busy. There were others around…but I…was just there.” It was a longer sentence than usual, and Sunny’s expression was vulnerable. Basil quickly held Sunny’s hands, staring at him encouragingly.
“I’m…quiet.” Sunny lowered his head. “Boring.”
“No! You’re not!” Basil immediately shook his head.
Sunny squeezed his hands, a gesture of thanks. “Maybe not…” Sunny pursed his lips. “But…I’m different…from all of them.”
Basil noticed Sunny’s downcast expression and wanted to help. He hadn’t meant to make the other sad, but…a part of him was happy. It seems like he wasn’t alone in his discomfort around somethings, or the feeling of being an alien amongst them. Basil liked to think he was the normal one–now him and Sunny–but they were the minority. Maybe it wasn’t the monsters intruding on their world. Maybe it was the other way around.
...
Basil shook his head. No, obviously humans were around first. It only made sense. The somethings took over at some point. But, it’s okay now. He’s not alone anymore.
“Being different is good. I–I’m different too, right?” Basil lowered his head, trying to meet Sunny’s eyes. Sunny hesitantly looked up. “Just because we’re not the same as those monsters, doesn’t mean we’re weird or boring.”
Sunny’s expression softened. There was something in the way that Sunny looked at Basil that went over Basil’s head. He could never completely tell what Sunny was thinking. But right now, there was warmth. And Basil wanted to cling to it desperately.
“…Right.” Sunny smiled, and it was more visible than it'd ever been. “Thank you…Basil.”
Basil lost his breath, stunned. He found himself shaking, unable to handle the amount of joy in his mind. He was shy, embarrassed even. But he was so, so happy. Years of being alone, years of being afraid…
All of it was okay. The universe bestowed upon him a blessing. To make up for all the horrible things that’d happened to him, the world gave him Sunny.
He couldn’t wait to experience more fun things with Sunny with not a care in the world. Maybe Basil could even become closer with the pack of monsters around Sunny. After all, the ones in Faraway were all peaceful and seemed genuinely friendly.
Basil could be wrong about the somethings being only monsters. Perhaps some of them had a speck of humanity to them.
Perhaps he and Sunny could live amongst them happily.
*
It attacked.
It attacked Sunny.
Basil stared down at the monster–Mari wasn’t a befitting name anymore, not after that scene–and trembled.
Everything…everything was almost ruined.
Basil felt the world around him tilt and warp, and nothing made sense to him. It took a while for his vision to return, having completely blurred out the moment he saw Sunny being attacked.
Now, Sunny stood by his side, expression vacant and confused. Basil crouched down beside the something now situated at the bottom of the staircase, the eye closing and opening to show teeth before blinking again, returning to that piercing gaze. The something stared at them both, and Basil felt a strange emotion boiling just under his skin.
Basil had to do something. If Sunny hadn’t been quick on his feet, it would’ve been him at the bottom of the staircase–or even worse. The something could’ve consumed Sunny–destroyed him right in front of Basil. Basil would’ve been unable to do anything about it.
“Sunny…” Basil couldn't say anything else. His throat closed up.
Sunny was looking at him, expression contorted. His eyes were empty, the shock of what had just happened pulling him into a dissociative state. It only made sense. His caretaker had tried to hurt him–tried to kill him.
Basil had been naïve. They both had been. The moment the something grew irritated, it lashed out, fully intending to cause harm. And now the monster lay, staring up at them both, eager to continue its attack.
If they left it to recover…wouldn’t it just attack again? Basil couldn’t stand the thought of Sunny getting hurt or disappearing. It was too much. This something almost caused the end of his world. It was mocking him, still blinking that bright, soul-sucking eye.
“Everything is going to be okay…” Basil turned to Sunny, giving his best smile. It probably looked wrong, but even then, Sunny looked somewhat comforted. His gaze was still distant, though.
Basil walked toward the monster, nervous with each step he took. He prodded it quickly, before pulling back. It didn’t attack. Basil felt relief. It was too hurt to attack right now. While it’s down…
“I can fix this, Sunny. We just need to get rid of the monster.” Basil grabbed onto the something, trying to lift it. It felt horrible to touch, but he had to. He needed to get it outside and keep it trapped somewhere. After all, somethings don’t really die, do they? At least, not as far as Basil’s seen.
At a certain point, Sunny started helping him. They both carried the monster out through the glass door, with Basil occasionally muttering comforting words to Sunny, who was still reeling from the betrayal.
They both stood outside underneath the morning sun. Basil squinted, looking around the backyard and trying to figure out how to keep the something from attacking them again. It was heavy and uncomfortable to hold, so Basil didn’t want to carry it too far.
As he looked around, he noticed a jump rope situated on the ground near the toybox by the tree. Basil remembered bringing the toybox out recently so he and Sunny could play a specific game with it. It wasn’t helpful for the current situation, though. He’d just leave it there. He glanced at the jump rope instead.
…Right! They can tie it up!
Basil dropped the monster on the ground, and Sunny did the same. Sunny’s eyes were trained on Basil, waiting for the next step. Basil grabbed the jump rope a little bit away and returned to the somethings side.
He tied the rope around the monster, but it didn’t do much. The shifting mass that was its body wasn’t inhibited at all. It was frustrating. Basil wracked his brain for another solution.
The wind rustled the leaves of the tallest tree, the one he and Sunny loved sitting under. Basil turned, staring at a branch out of reach. His eyes were then drawn to the toybox on the ground and he had an epiphany.
If they hung it from the tree, the something wouldn’t be able to get down! They would be safe!
It was a hassle. Basil struggled to get the rope secure around the something, but eventually managed to by messing with different knots and placement. With Sunny’s help, he used the toybox and got high enough to tie the other end of the jump rope around the tree branch.
They both stood a distance away, staring at the something swaying in the wind. The eye continued to blink at them, harsh and unforgiving. It was still eager to harm them, endless hostility pouring from its very being.
Sunny was crying. Basil grabbed his hand, hoping to comfort him. The betrayal was probably more devastating than he could imagine. Basil had grown up with hostile somethings but Sunny didn’t. This was all new to him.
“It’s okay, Sunny…it’s just a monster. It’s just a something. It…it won’t hurt you anymore. Everything is going to be okay…”
Sunny looked at Basil, lips trembling. He looked down at his feet, and they both turned to walk back inside.
“Right…” Sunny whispered, finally speaking. “It’s…just a monster.”
Basil didn’t know what would happen after this. Would one of the other somethings in the pack take care of Sunny now? Maybe Basil could bring Sunny to his own house? He’s sure his own caretaker monster would be okay with it.
At least no matter what happens next, Basil knows that Sunny will be safe…for now. This had been a wake-up call. He’d grown too trusting, too soft. He stopped seeing the monsters as what they are, and this was the consequence.
They had both been wholly unprepared for the betrayal.
*
Why…
Why was this happening?
Where did he go?
Basil sat in his room, alone, crying his heart out. He covered his face with his hands, sobbing loudly.
Was he abandoned?
Did Sunny hate him?
What…what happened?
Sunny slowly distanced himself from Basil…and from all those monsters as well. Basil went days without seeing him. Then weeks. Then months.
Basil went to Sunny's house, but the door was always locked. The one time he was brave enough to use a different entrance and attempt to break in, a monster blocked his path.
And it was the scariest one he’d ever seen.
Basil tried to comprehend its appearance like he did with the other somethings, but for some reason, his vision constantly betrayed him. The silhouette of the monster always rapidly shifted at a pace he couldn’t keep up with and left him with an incredible feeling of unease and nausea.
It made him sick.
And so he fled.
He ran away. He left Sunny behind in that house.
For…years.
For years.
Basil looked at his hands and stifled a hiccup. The monster that took care of him…doesn’t get up much anymore. Instead, a new one arrived.
And he hated it.
It always pestered him, making incessant noise and dragging him around. It made him leave the house and go to a strange place filled with other somethings.
Hostile ones.
…
At least the monster didn’t make him go to that place anymore after he was attacked.
Basil continued to learn his lesson. Every time he thought that maybe somethings could be good, maybe they could have humanity…
He was proven wrong time and time again.
To live was to fear.
Basil had forgotten that once meeting Sunny and the pack of somethings that hung around him. But now he relearned and it cemented itself into his psyche.
If only he’d been more alert.
If only he’d protected Sunny from that monster.
Then, maybe Sunny wouldn’t have disappeared from his life.
Even if Sunny managed to avoid harm by pushing the monster, it didn’t matter. The reality of what the world was must have irrevocably changed his perception, causing him enough fear to hide away.
Basil wanted to be there for him…but he was scared too.
The monster that guarded the house terrified him.
And Sunny…
Would Sunny even want to come out?
Basil trembled.
Did…did he really lose Sunny? Was he doomed to be surrounded by monsters for the rest of his life? Was everything really hopeless?
He…
He wanted to die.
He didn’t want to live anymore. How he made it this far was a mystery. Maybe he was about to hit his breaking point before. Maybe he’d been in a place as low as this many times in his life.
But the moment he saw Sunny’s smile all of those thoughts had disappeared.
And now they were back.
The sun shined brighter when Sunny was by his side.
Now the world was a dull grey, the dark somethings polluting everything.
It wasn’t enough to take Basil’s hope.
They had to take Sunny’s too.
...
He…should wait.
He should wait a little longer.
Maybe Sunny would come out again. Sunny wouldn’t forget him, right? Sunny would come and save him. And…Basil would do better next time. He won’t be so useless. He’ll work to protect Sunny in return for the joy Sunny gave him–for the friendship and warmth Basil had never experienced before him.
“Sunny…”
It was so lonely.
He was so, so lonely.
He didn’t have anything.
He was alone, surrounded by monsters.
Trapped in a world that didn't welcome him.
*
Why did he come outside?
Why did he bother?
Basil just wanted to play at the playground one last time before he finally succumbed to the hopelessness that had been gnawing and chipping away at him for years.
Why couldn’t the somethings just leave him alone!?
What did he ever do to them!?
He was human and different–but did it matter that much? Did it truly make him that unsightly that he needed to be mauled the moment he was seen?
Everything hated him.
This cruel world…
Basil hated them back.
They took everything from him. They ruined his life. Those monsters tore away at every bit of happiness and joy they could find, leaving him to rot in misery.
His sun…his only friend…his most important person…
Wasn’t it enough to take Sunny from him?
Why do they keep doing this?
Basil lay on the grass, staring up at a monster with one long vertical eye. It reminded him of the betrayal. It reminded him of the past–of what he had lost. This something was tall, limbs long and crooked with way too many sharp claws and it was disgusting.
It was so ugly.
And it hurt him.
He opened his mouth, to plead, to beg for it to stop…
But nothing came out. His world grew more and more desaturated, darkness creeping in permanently. He felt like his blood was freezing inside of his veins, and his breaths became more and more shallow.
Why couldn’t he breathe?
Everything hurts.
His skin felt stapled to his muscles, and he wanted to tear at himself until all of it was destroyed, leaving only his bones to creak under the dark sunlight. His eyes stung, and his vision distorted. Basil wanted to gouge them out.
Basil wanted to rip off his ears.
He wanted to snap off his arms.
He was to break every piece of himself.
He wanted the pain to stop.
…
Noise.
Loud, incomprehensible noise.
It was different.
It wasn’t near him.
Basil lifted himself up, staring to the side. A large, lanky something stood a short distance away, bellowing angrily. The three eyes across its face were narrowed, and it took a shaky step forward, the shadowy mass that was its body jittering erratically.
But Basil’s eye was drawn to something else.
Someone else.
“…Sunny…?” Basil’s eyes widened, and he choked on his words. He stared forward at that splash of color, at those eyes he’d adored…
His other half.
Sunny…came back for him.
Sunny was here to save him.
Finally…
Finally…
Sunny looked at him, and Basil reached out. He trembled, sniffling as his body ached. It was all going to be okay now. He would be freed from the suffering he’d endured all this time. The loneliness that kept its grip on his heart, the agony that suffocated him would all be eased by the presence of the only other person in this awful world.
Basil smiled shakily. He hoped he didn’t look too ugly. He hoped Sunny still loved him.
Sunny walked toward him.
Basil hiccupped, scrambling to get on his feet again. He was so happy. He was so relieved. Everything was going to be okay. Everything was going to be okay–
Why!?
Why was the monster in the way!?
As Sunny grew closer, the something that had been hurting Basil blocked his path. It made shrieking sounds, waving its limbs at Sunny and roaring. Basil cowered, covering his mouth in terror at the sound.
Basil once again tried to get up and run around the monster. He had to do it. He needed to be with his precious person. He needed to be with Sunny. Sunny was the only thing he had.
Basil successfully got up and moved to the side, beginning to stumble around the monster. As he did, he looked for Sunny, wanting to see his face again. He’d memorized every feature, every slight blemish or flaw on his skin in the past, but now Sunny was older and changed. Basil needed to file away Sunny’s new appearance into his memory.
But as Sunny tried to draw near, the something grew even more agitated.
Its focus returned to Basil, and he took a step back instinctively, whimpering without realizing. He shrunk into himself and prepared for it to attack him once again. He was ready. It was okay. He wouldn’t mind it as much. Sunny was here now…he could handle it.
The something turned to Sunny.
…What?
The something with three eyes approached again, but was threatened away as the monster with one eye waved its limbs. After the action, it approached Sunny, and despite the loud sounds the three-eyed monster continued to make, the something with one eye didn’t stop.
Basil blinked rapidly, still unable to move out of fear.
Why was the monster getting close to Sunny? It was supposed to attack Basil. It was supposed to ignore Sunny. It…
The something was shifting in the wind, growing larger as it growled at Sunny. Sunny stared up at it, eyes widening a tad. Basil watched the way Sunny’s bottom lip trembled, and the way he tried to move back but was too stiff to do so.
Sunny was afraid.
Basil’s expression morphed, mouth strained in a fearful grimace.
It’s happening again.
Basil tried to get himself to move. The closer the something got to Sunny, the more his mind rattled. Thoughts slated through his mind, none cohesive or comprehendible, merely a discordance of anxiety and dread.
Sunny was shaking.
He finally came outside.
He finally came back for Basil.
But now…
He’s going to be hurt.
He’s going to get attacked again.
Last time…last time Basil didn’t do a thing. He stayed at the bottom of the stairs, frozen in shock and fear, staring up at the scene with a sinking feeling in his stomach. Sunny almost died that day, and only through sheer luck and circumstance was he able to come out of the situation unscathed.
But this time there wasn’t a high place to push the monster off of.
...
Basil noticed something shiny and glanced down at Sunny’s hand, seeing him pull something out of his pocket.
A…knife.
Basil felt relief. Sunny did have a weapon to protect himself with. For a moment, Basil fondly remembered their discussions about the somethings, and the battles they would have with them if the time ever came.
But in reality, it was terrifying.
Sunny’s trembling hand lifted the knife, and the monster roared. Even the three-eyed something next to Sunny drew away, making little shrieks.
The knife…wasn’t enough, was it?
It just seemed to aggravate the something now looming over Sunny, its limb waving erratically. Basil watched it move and saw it drawing even closer to Sunny. It was only a matter of time before it truly struck.
At that thought, Basil felt weird.
He had been so afraid all of this time.
He let these monsters hurt him.
He let these monsters push him around.
But…
That shouldn’t be how it is.
It’s the somethings that were intruding on the world.
It was he and Sunny who were the important ones.
It was them who were human.
And now, once again, the monsters were acting out, readying pain and threatening their joy.
Sunny finally came to save him.
Basil was ecstatic.
But now…
Sunny was going to get hurt.
This time, Sunny couldn’t fight back against the monster. A measly knife would do nothing, not when the something overpowered him easily. A slash would just do surface-level damage, which would be naturally regenerated anyways. The shadows that formed the monsters couldn’t be destroyed.
They could only be disoriented temporarily.
Basil bit down on his lip and felt everything around him begin tilting.
Sunny was trying to save him but was going to die.
Sunny was going to die.
Basil finally got to see him again, finally had that spark of hope…
And that something was going to take it away from him.
Once again, a monster was going to ruin everything.
...
Basil was terrified.
Basil couldn’t move.
The something once again roared, becoming even more erratic in its movements, Sunny was barely keeping a grip on his knife, eyes tearing up.
This…
Basil took a step forward, breaking free of the fear that had paralyzed him.
This can’t be the end.
Basil took another step, completely focused on the monster that was going to hurt his friend.
He had to save Sunny. He had to be useful for once. He can’t stand aside and do nothing like last time. He needed to help. It was time for him to stop being so pathetic.
The limb raised high, about to strike down. Sunny hunched into himself.
Basil ran forward.
Finally, his thoughts were quiet.
The anxiety dissipated.
He was determined to protect the only thing he had.
He was determined to save Sunny.
Basil was weak, Basil was nothing–
Basil tackled the something.
It writhed around, jolting in shock at the sudden attack and losing balance. Basil’s eyes were wild, and he frantically gasped for air as his brain spun. He needed to make it stop. He needed to save Sunny.
Basil glanced to the side and noticed a limb had broken off of the monster. Basil quickly reached for it, but not before being thrown off of the monster. Basil gripped onto the detached limb, still on the ground. He rolled over, getting to his knees. He saw the something stare directly at Sunny–
Basil got up.
Basil lifted the limb of the monster.
Basil swung it as hard as he could.
Nothing…
The something shrieked, making a distorted wailing noise and attempting to attack him. Basil lifted the limb and hit it again, seeing the shadows that made its body swirl and shatter at random, forming and deforming.
Basil hit it again.
Then again.
Then again and again and again and again and again and again–
Another something approached. Basil turned, seeing the three-eyed monster focusing on the one on the ground, the one that finally stopped moving. Basil took deep breaths, lifting the limb and pointing it toward the monster.
“Don’t…don’t…” Basil gathered the strength to speak, his blood rushing to his head as he shivered with adrenaline. “Stop…hurting us…” Basil sucked air through his teeth, moving away from the successfully incapacitated monster on the ground. It wouldn’t be down for long, but he and Sunny could run away in that time.
Basil hurriedly dropped the limb, feeling disgusted that he had to touch it. He looked up at Sunny and rushed to him, trying to smile while he cried.
“I–I did it, Sunny!” Basil reached forward and grasped Sunny’s hands just like he used to, relishing in the warmth. “I defeated–I defeated the monster! We need to run before it gets back up again!” Basil stuttered, still jittery from what had just happened. He felt tired too, having used a lot of energy to fight back.
“Basil…?” Sunny’s confused voice was barely a whisper. He stared at Basil with wide, unseeing eyes. Basil happily nodded, before growing nervous once again.
“We–we should go now! Come on, Sunny!” Basil then flushed, gripping Sunny’s hands more tightly. “I…I protected you this time.” Basil gave Sunny a desperate smile, looking at him with reverence. “I promise…I promise I won’t let any monsters hurt you anymore. So…so please don’t leave me again…I was so scared and lonely…”
Sunny didn’t move, continuing to stare at Basil with a vacant expression. Basil began to grow uneasy.
“Why…are you looking at me like that?” Basil then had an idea. “Oh, are you looking at something else?” Basil turned around and saw a crowd of somethings standing around the one on the ground. The one with three eyes moved from its spot, approaching the limb Basil dropped a distance away.
Its eyes then moved to stare directly at him, and Basil’s blood went cold.
For some reason…
That gaze felt human.
“B–Basil…” Sunny spoke up, and Basil whipped his head back around, staring at him fixedly.
“Yes?” Basil got closer, wanting to hug the other but also not wanting to be weird.
“You said…monsters.”
“…Yeah?” Basil tilted his head. “A monster attacked you, just like last time.”
Sunny’s shoulders slumped. He stared at Basil, and the warmth Basil had always delighted to see in those wonderful eyes wasn’t there. The meaningful gaze was replaced by something else.
Sunny opened his mouth, then closed it. He continued to stare at Basil.
Basil tilted his head, growing more and more unnerved. Something felt wrong. Everything did. Although he’d just protected his friend, and finally did what he was supposed to…
Why was it so quiet?
Everything was silent.
Usually, the monsters would make plenty of sounds. They might even try to attack him since he defeated one of them. But instead, there was nothing. An eerie quietness fell over the park, and only the sounds of birds chirping could be heard.
Sunny stepped away from Basil, gently pulling his hands away. Basil tilted his head and felt the sudden urge to cry. “Why…are you…” Basil’s voice sounded pathetic to his own ears, and he reached after Sunny. “Don’t…don’t go...please…not again…”
Sunny wasn’t looking at him. Why wasn’t Sunny looking at him? Basil followed the gaze and realized Sunny was looking at the felled monster.
Oh, was he worried about it waking up? As long as they ran away now, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Basil went to say that.
"Basil..." Sunny...hadn't spoken.
But if it wasn't Sunny...who said it?
Basil turned to the side. The monster with three eyes was right in front of him. Basil shivered, hunching a bit.
"Basil..."
Monsters...don't speak. Basil was hallucinating.
It...was a monster.
It was a something.
Everyone...but he and Sunny were monsters.
...Everyone?
Basil felt a sharp pain in his head.
It hurt.
It hurt so badly.
Why did they hurt him?
Aren't they supposed to take care of him?
They're monsters.
All of them.
Basil looked around.
He looked down at his hands and his clothes.
He wasn't stupid.
He wasn't useless.
He was worth something.
He didn't deserve pain.
The world was infested.
He was the one who was normal.
He looked at the grass.
The grass that should be green.
It's scary.
Why do they scream and yell?
It hurts.
It burns.
It's not right.
They're not human.
Humans wouldn't do that.
He looked at the limb a bit away.
The limb that was now missing claws.
Shapeless shadows.
Monsters with claws and limbs to hurt him with.
They were going to kill him because he was the last one left.
He was the last human in this world overrun by monsters.
It only made sense.
He looked at the something.
Looked at what was around it.
To live is to fear.
The darkness that'd tainted his life since the moment he was born...
Learned helplessness...
Agony...
Denial...
Pain beyond belief...
Everything hurt...he was so alone...he wanted to love...
He wanted to be loved.
Basil brought a hand to his mouth.
The world wasn't meant for him.
He was different from all the monsters.
Would there be another human in this world?
He hoped so.
It was so lonely.
It was suffering.
Basil noticed it wasn’t actually silent.
"Worthless!"
"You should've never been born!"
"Shut up! Stop screaming!"
Monsters say the meanest things.
Monsters shouldn't be able to speak.
...Right.
Monsters can't speak.
Only garbled sounds.
Only nonsensical shrieks.
Basil heard shouting and screaming.
Every monster around him...
"I'll give you something to cry about!"
"You think this is bad? I've got something much worse if you don't shut up!"
"I wish something would finally kill you."
It was always something.
Something.
Somethings.
Basil heard crying.
Somethings can't feel.
They feel no remorse or guilt.
They don't feel love.
They don't feel anything.
That's why they were monsters.
Because he could feel and cry and fall from piercing agony..
But the somethings taunted him.
They never understood him.
And so they continued to be without shame.
They continued to cause pain.
He’d learned something over the years.
It was a fact that solidified him being human.
It was a fact that made the monsters not.
His skin was wrong.
It wasn't supposed to be this color.
Red was leaking from him.
Why do the monsters get to stay the same?
Why does he have to go through such changes?
What are these lines on him?
Somethings don't have to feel it.
He'd tried to give them the pain they gave him.
It didn't work.
Monsters can't be harmed.
They can't die.
Basil looked at the monster on the ground one more time.
Looked at the not green grass.
Looked at the matted color.
Looked at the mangled features.
And then he looked at Sunny.
"Basil, I like this photo..."
"You do?"
"We...are all smiling…."
"Well, technically only me and you are. Monsters can’t smile."
"...I forgot that’s how you see them."
“Huh?”
“Nevermind.”
And he knew.
He realized.
His eyes…
His mind…
The world he’d suffered in…
All of it…
That fact he believed…
The thing that made him human...
...
Basil dropped to his knees.
...
Somethings don’t bleed.