Chapter Text
The walls darkened slowly, or maybe he was slowly losing himself...
The blackened figure slowly faded away, thinking his job was done; Skid could only stare as he was forced to dance a dance that used to be for happier times. He could only stare as his consciousness threatened to fade away with his best friend’s. Stare as he was losing himself...
…
So, why was he not gone yet? His hands, legs, body, even face succumbed, and his movement was being controlled but his mind hadn’t faded; he wondered why. As he wondered, he started to question if he could just...stop. So, he did. He stopped. He stopped talking, stopped dancing, just...stopped. The corruption was lifting just enough for him to control his own actions. He managed to get off Pump and lay down for a while, even managing to get a few minutes of blank thoughtlessness which he assumed to be sleep. He’d take anything at this point.
Eventually, he forced himself to stand, breaking the peaceful darkness, and walked towards the exit of this awful place. Every step creaked loudly, and it was only made louder by the constant ringing in his ears, maybe from standing up too quickly...or just standing up at all. Then, as he was about to grab the doorknob to exit this nightmare, he felt a hand on his shoulder, reminding him of an immediate issue that he had briefly forgotten about.
“Skiiiiid? Where are we going?”
A distorted but awfully familiar voice called out to him. He turned back around to see his best friend looking at him with a smile that was just too wide for him. His huge, blackened eyes surrounded by rims of pink stared at Skid, through him even; his wide, sharp and toothy grin made Skid shiver. This person was once Pump, his best friend; now Skid didn’t even know if the person that earned that title was still in there.
“....Uh..”
Skid fell silent. He didn’t know where to go, where he would ever take Pump or if he even wanted to be by the side of the person that locked him into their mess by digging his nails into Skid’s thighs as he tried to escape. And yet, he felt like he couldn’t leave his best friend behind. He stared at the faded ebony floor and tried to think of a plan. They couldn’t go home; he couldn’t let mom see him like this. So, where? ...He had no idea. No plan. His head hurt too much to think properly.
Pump waved his hand (claw?) where Skid could see it to get his attention, seemingly noticing Skid’s pain and distress.
“Skid, why are you fighting so hard?” He asked, his voice somehow getting even more distorted, “This could be so much easier if you just give in.”
Skid looked up at Pump, who was now trying to give him an encouraging smile like he used to but, the smile was still too wide, and his eyes showed darker intent.
“He’ll take care of us. Like he always has.” …Always has? What did he mean by that? “Just give in.”
Skid was skating a little, staring terrified at Pump and wondering what he might do if he refused. For a moment, he considered his options before talking again. He prayed that his words could reach this person or even the boy he knew, buried deep within this thing.
“I can’t. I-I don’t want to. Pump please...” He backed up, truly afraid of this creature with Pump’s strength but possibly none of his kindness, “Please don’t make me...”
Pump was now staring back at Skid, saying nothing. The silence consumed the room; Skid could only hear his own quiet whimpering and the clattering of his teeth as he waited for Pump’s response. He waited, anticipated for Pump to get mad, to start yelling or attacking or at least to keep up that creepy smile like villains do in movies when they’re plotting something but...none of that happened.
Pump looked...disappointed, like a child whose mom didn’t get them candy when they asked, but nothing more. No hatred, or anger, or even malice.... just a defeated, disappointed look. It was somewhat comforting to see. Skid felt his shaking lessen, his chattering teeth calm.
“If that’s what you want, okay.” Pump perked up a little in that oh so familiar, comforting way when he was trying to be encouraging, “But, if you ever change your mind; I’ll be here to help.”
Skid let out a sigh of relief at being given an option, maybe there was a bit of Pump in there.
“Sooo...where are we going?” Pump asked again. And again, Skid didn’t know, “Maybe Ms. Lila or Kevin or-”
Skid shook his head; he didn’t want his mother to see him like that. He clasped his claws around one of Pump’s claws.
“We should go...away.” It hurt him to say that. Despite not wanting his mom to see him, he wanted to see her. He wanted to hug her, he wanted her to tell him that everything would be okay, he wanted her to tell him that she loved him and always would, he wanted her to tuck him into bed and read him a bedtime story like she always did. But he just couldn’t do that.
“Away? Where?” Pump asked curiously.
“Just...away...from people.”
Pump gave Skid a look, not understanding why that would be necessary. Skid didn’t blame him; he barely knew why he needed to get away. He just...needed to. Pump shook off the confusion and went back to his wide grin.
“Sure, as long as my best friend is with me! Let's go to where you want to go!”
Skid, still holding Pump’s claw, guided him out of the mansion. The outside was dark with the twinkling stars and the pale moon being their only source of light. He briefly turned back to the rundown mansion that was once a place of fun and great adventure but was now the place where he lost everything. He scowled at the building, as if glaring would make the mansion feel bad. As if buildings could even feel bad... He turned back around and walked down the hill hand in hand with Pump. There were days when they would roll down the hill just for fun, today wouldn’t be one of those days, would they ever have one of those days again?
They walked into town; they couldn’t go home so they’d just have to live somewhere else. Maybe one of the emptier houses. People haven’t lived there since Skid was born so they could just live there. With that thought he walked to the abandoned side of town, Pump let himself get pulled, no resistance. It was almost creepy how reactionless Pump was. Now, Skid was happy that Pump wasn’t fighting him but, it felt like he was pulling around a doll rather than a person.
After an hour or two of walking, they made it to a small and stable-looking house. Skid turned the knob to be surprised by the fact that it wasn’t locked. Finally, something was going their way! They entered; the inside was a lot more decayed than the outside. The walls were chipped, and the paint was peeling away. The living room was covered in dust, dirt and mold; as Skid and Pump explored the other rooms, it seemed to be the same situation with every room. Eventually, they reached a room that looked like a really big bedroom. One of those bedrooms that goes to the parents. Skid stared at the bed, he wanted to sleep so badly...But what if he didn’t wake up? What if this...thing on him and Pump spread in his sleep?
With that thought, he sat on a bed and stared into space. Pump joined him, face planting onto the bed with a loud BOOF! It made Skid giggle from the comforting familiarity. Pump turned his head and smiled at Skid’s giggling. This smile wasn’t wide or creepy –even with the teeth- it looked like a Pump smile. It made Skid’s heart light and warm to see his friend peeking through the madness. Soon after, Pump started to doze off, barely able to keep his eyes open. It seemed like he was also tired. That made sense, Skid had to remember that he wasn’t the only one going through this. He couldn’t imagine what Pump was feeling right now, being trapped or under someone’s control.
It was now time for Skid to be the comforting one, he smiled and petted Pump’s head like his mom did for him whenever he was scared or didn’t want to sleep.
“It’s okay Pump, you can sleep. I’ll be here when you get up.”
Pump looked up at Skid and stared with a soft expression.
“You promise? ...You promise you won’t leave?” Pump asked with a slightly worried tone.
“Don’t be silly, Pump. We’re best friends! I won’t ever leave you behind.”
“...You promise?” He repeated.
“I promise.” Skid meant it. He could never leave his friend behind.
That seemed to be the encouragement Pump needed to drift off. Skid got up and looked in the drawers until he found a drawer of sheets and blankets. He grabbed a blanket and brought it back to the bed, tucking his friend in before getting back onto the bed and tucking himself in next to Pump.
“...Good night, Pumpy.”