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Sanford sat on the edge of the cliff, glaring off into the distance. Things were so quiet now a days, the environment, the towns, his voice, all were nothing but a fade. It was just so different since his partner was gone. A shiver ran down his spine just thinking of him. The silence didn’t last long, as he heard footsteps creeping up behind him. Two large shadows covered his back. Sanford slightly turned his head, although he already knew who were there. As he turned, he saw the two figures, and of course……it was Church and Jorge.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Jorge asked turning to his partner to answer.
“It looks like little Sanford” Church added, “aww and he’s all alone” they mocked him “where’s your smaller friend?”
Sanford turned away from them, he just wanted them to leave.
“Well? We’re waiting…” Jorge leaned in closer, listening.
"Leave me alone….” Sanford turned away from them, he felt heavy, the weather felt colder. The two go3lms looked at each other in confused by Sanford’s actions. Silence filled the area.
"Is this a trick?” Church hissed.
Sanford turned again to talk but was cut off.
“It is, isn’t it? You and your little friend are going to plan an ambush on us, or maybe even try to attack us right now” Church’s enthusiasm sparked at the thought, Jorge joined in “Bring him out, we’re ready” both bursted out laughing with excitement.
Sanford felt anger, he hated thinking of him, he hated the go3lms for bringing this up, he hated feeling this way. Out of frustration and anger he stood up and turned to the go3lms and snapped.
“HE’S DEAD OKAY?!” he cried “GONE, SHOT DEAD, NOT COMING BACK, NOW WILL YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?!” the two go3lms stopped laughing and glared.
“O-oh….” Jorge stammered. “Well then…” Church began, lowering their head “there goes our idea”
Sanford stood frozen, all his emotions were building up, he wanted cry, he wanted kill, he wanted to just leave. He quickly turned away from them, his body was shivering of his thoughts ‘Was this right? Should he have told them that Deimos is gone and he’s all alone? Will he become their punching bag, or even worse would they kill him?’.
The two go3lms turned to each other and discussed among themselves. After some muttering a voice arose “You know what” Church peeked their head up “Screw it! We don’t need him!”
Jorge turned and looked at them confused “We don’t?” Church turned and looked at him “of course not, he’s weak, the less of him, the more of a chance we have of finally winning”
Sanford turned back and mad eye contact with Jorge “you know Church… why don’t you go after him this time” Jorge’s dark blue eyes glowed more brighter than before.
“It’d be my pleasure” Church smirked underneath their mask.
“Please, just leave me alone” Sanford whimpered. Church and Sanford slowly began circling each other, Jorge stood back keeping his distance.
As they circled each other, thoughts flew through Sanford’s head. He knew he could take Jorge on, sure he was bigger than him, and stronger, but not clever. Church on the other hand was different. Sure, they were smaller then a regular go3lm, but they didn’t lack strength or speed. Deimos would’ve usually taken them on, not Sanford. Dei was always the quickest, and more moveable. Sure, not quicker than Church, but it was better then what Sanford could do.
After a few seconds, Church lunged forward, charging towards Sanford.
He stood in place, paralysed on the spot. His whole body felt cold.
“Come on Sanford” he heard a voice in his head “Fight back! You can do it” they got louder and louder, yet he didn’t move, he watched the go3lm get closer and closer.
“This is your life, fight back!” he could feel his emotions swelling up “Think of Deimos”. And with a swift punch, he fell to the ground, pain rushing to the side of his face.
“COME ON” Church snapped, kicking Sanford constantly as he struggled on the ground.
“GET UP YOU WORTHLESS GRUNT” they yelled; Jorge realised what was happening and ran in to stop it.
“Church wait!” he ran and grabbed Church’s shoulder “we’re not here to kill him remember”. Church turned and looked back a Sanford, watching his mouth pour with blood.
A loud sigh escaped their mask “come on Jorge, let’s go” Church huffed walking towards their partner, they looked over their shoulder, staring back, Sanford struggled to get up.
Eventually Sanford sat up ‘great, just great’ he thought ‘now they know I’m weaker, weaker than before, they know I’m on my own, now they’re going to kill me’
his thoughts paused
'actually… maybe that won’t be too bad, it’s not like anyone would care, heck they probably wouldn't even notice. Sure, I call Hank my friend, but even then, I don't think he thinks of me as his. Besides he's always sucking up to Doc to help him, Doc being his "best buddy" all because he can bring grunts back from the dead. Hank doesn't know a friend when he sees one. I don't even think he cared of Deimos either, I guess he thought I was a better friend, that's probably why he always put us two together hehe.... that or he was a asshole. Guess dying could mean I would be able to see Dei again.... maybe'.
From the corner of his glasses, something shimmered from a distance. His… hook? What was that doing there? He never remembered bringing it with him. He crawled over and picked it up.
As he examined it, an idea hit him, an idea that could get a certain someone on his level. The idea made him feel better about himself, in fact, he felt powerful.
He turned his head, the footprints were still visible, so he followed them. As he walked further, he noticed that they split up, due to their size differences Sanford could tell whose footsteps were who. He followed the bigger footsteps, leading straight ahead.
The sky had turned dark blue, Church’s eye glowed in the darkness. They struggled caring their bag across the ground. It was always them having to go out and hunt for supplies, sure they could’ve gone to Merc and grabbed whatever they want for themselves and Jorge, but everyone there are so boring, heck that was the main reason why Jorge and them decided to have their own hideout.
Just ahead of them, Church could see an old abandon building, windows cracked, half the roof fallen in, door partly cracked, yep that was home.
Church dragged the bag across the ground, for a bag full of scraps it sure was heavy, not like it bothered them, but it was still surprising to them. Eventually they made their way, no lights shown through the cracks of the door ‘was Jorge already asleep?’ Church thought.
Slowly they opened the door, as always it let out a loud creaked. The room was filled with darkness.
“Jorge I’m back!” Church called into the dark void. Nothing.
‘Odd’ they thought, it was only on rare occasions Jorge would be asleep by now, he would usually wait for them to return and would pack things away.
Church knew that Jorge couldn’t have been doing anything that would require too much energy, so they were disappointed that he wasn’t there. That’s what they agreed on, they would go out and find supplies and he would do the packing. Ignoring their thoughts Church tried calling out again, just in case he didn’t hear them.
“I couldn’t find much but-” their voice was cut off by a fizzing noise.
A light flickered behind Church’s back. Slowly turning around, Church glared at the light switch, it seemed to be smashed. Turning around Church glared at the light flickering. After a few seconds it stayed on.
‘what was going on?’ they thought.
Church glared underneath the light and saw a familiar figure covered in red.
“JORGE?!” Church cried, dropping the bag they were holding and ran towards him. His face was ripped apart, his eyes laid aside of his face, mouth dripped with blood, his stomach oozed out with organs. Church could faintly see his chest armour across the room.
They fell to their knees and glared at their partner, tears swelling up. The darkness of the room felt like it was creeping closer.
“Oh, what a shame” a voice arose from the dark, “too bad he was just a regular go3lm” it chuckled.
Church glared furiously across the room, eyes darting left to right.
“SHOW YOURSELF YOU COWARD!” they cried into the abyss. Silence filled the room. A familiar figure appeared from the shadows; his hook drooled with blood. Sanford.
“Oh, what’s wrong Churchie, scared?” a smirked crawled up his face “we both know that you and Jorge always come back” he chuckled. Church struggled to stand up, they felt so weak.
“Y-you don’t understand!” they hissed. Sanford didn’t know the incident that happened at Merc, he didn’t know that a go3lm went berserk and destroyed nearly everything, that cloning has stopped, he didn’t understand the fear.
“Very well then” Sanford whispered; the light began flickering again.
“There’s really only one thing I can say” his smirk grew wider, “I guess you can say that…” he paused.
“We’re even”
The light flickered one last time before bursting. Nothing but the sound of silence and darkness filled the room.