Chapter Text
June 20
The guys were sitting in the kitchen for a while now. Not talking at all, just sitting. Duck was trying to solve his crossword, but hasn’t asked his friends for any help yet. He wasn’t actually doing his crossword, just staring at it, spacing out. The other two were doing the same, just spacing out and thinking. About what? About the fact that they haven’t done anything for the past who knows days or weeks or month, it doesn’t matter.
The gloomy atmosphere was around the house for a while. It was affecting all of them, they were running out of energy to deal with it. It felt like something has changed for them completely. As if someone died. That’s how it felt. Something died and now they cannot move on from it.
Not one has come to take them on a ‘’fun’’ adventure, nor teach them about weird things or topics. What happened? That’s all they do, they wait for something to happen and it happens. What are they even supposed to do without all of that?
One of them suddenly slammed their hands on the table very hard, it made Yellow one gasp . It was Duck, he was still looking down at the table while the other looked at him with confusion filled in their gaze. He looked at Red and asked
- Check. The. Schedule. – he said with an irritable expression.
- Oh right, okay… - Red said a bit quitter than usual. He wasn’t used to be the target of Duck’s anger.
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
- Uhm, don’t want to, ruin your mood there but uh, there is nothing to do today—
- OH GREAT! JUST PERFECT! – said Duck cutting of Red – THERE IS NOTHING TO DO, AND THAT OBVIOSLY NOT GONNA CHANGE FOR A LONG WHILE!
Screamed Duck before crossing his arms. All three of them were internally screaming the same thing but founds out Duck was brave enough to say it louder.
- Well, maybe if we will just wait, someone may come and-and fix everything and stuff, one of these guys? – said Yellow, instantly regretting saying that when Duck stood up and started to leave to the other room.
- Where are you going? – asked Red.
- Somewhere else, because as I can understand, nothing will happen if I don’t start doing something! – answered he in a hurry – maybe I should do or touch - triggering something, that will make sure that one of those guys would come and fix this situation!
And thus he left, leaving the other two behind. It was awkward for both of them, but at least better than the overall atmosphere haunting them in this house.
- Hey, umm, do you have any idea of what’s going on? – asked the tall one from the other.
- What?
- I’m asking you if you know what’s going on… did you notice anything lately…?
- Uhh Yes-No or maybe? I don’t know… - said Yellow with an unsureness in his voice.
- Well tell me, we should start doing something anyway right? – Red tried to sound cheerful, which is didn’t happen with that monotone voice of his.
- Well, to start off, I’ve lost my reflection…
- Wha- how can one lose their own reflection??- said Red trying not to call his friend stupid for saying that.
- It wasn’t just my reflection; it was someone else… - there was a pause – someone else entirely…- said Yellow after but quitter.
It took some time for Red to imagine how that would look like, because that’s obviously not possible, then again this whole house, softly-speaking, was unusual.
- So? How did it look like?
- It was like-like me! But smarter and-and clever! And we used to talk, but now he hasn’t come to talk to me… -said Yellow with melancholic tone to his already struggling with words voice.
Huh, seems like it deeply upsets the speaking one. Red took a note of that. He decided that he will ask about that some other time, he doesn’t want to turn his friend’s mood even worse.
- What else have you noticed?
- Hmm maybe this feeling… - said Yellow rather confused.
- Feeling? Like what?
- Something died. And-and now I feel weird. – Red nodded, leading Yellow to continue. – You know, as if now I can remember and think more clearly, and-and see what surrounds me? It’s hard to explain…
Red felt understood. In fact, he felt the same. He used to be in some sort of eternal perplexity, but now he felt at ease. For the first time, he actually remembers what was yesterday, and the day before it. He can clearly feel the time passing. As if something that was holding so dearly onto him had gone, he felt free.
- Yes, you’re right, I feel the same.
- Huh? Really? You do? – asked the other.
- Yeah, and I don’t mind it one bit actually! – excitedly declared the taller one.
As they said that, they felt closer for a bit. They haven’t been the most talkative around here, so it was refreshing to finally let it all out, even if it wasn’t much. It was mostly Duck who was rumbling about anything here, especially if someone or something was disrespecting his godly nature. Speaking of which where did he go?
- GUYS COME HERE! – squawked Duck from the other room.
The two of them first looked at the direction of Duck’s voice than at each other, as if agreeing that they should come. And so they did. The stood up from their chairs and went to Duck. Not in a hurry but not slowly either.
As the came closer they saw Duck’s figure looking quite impatient. They were at the door, they haven’t been there for a while, or have they? They weren’t sure…
- Look what I’ve found out! – exclaimed Duck proudly.
He slowly reached for the door, opening it fully for their view.
- What the hell? – said Red dumfounded with the scene he sees in front of him.
Yellow and Red were thrown back by what they saw. They saw something unimaginable. Haven’t they been living in a distant place, with no people or other houses? There used to be a forest and a field that seemed to be reaching forever… but now. This is an entirely different location – a neighborhood.
There were houses scattered all around their house, some kids playing around in their own front yards, some adults were doing a barbecue or cutting grass – it gave the air a refreshing smell, so good. All the people around were all sorts of creatures. Looking like them but not entirely, all of them were unique. They had different faces, voices, heights, bodies, clothing, overall unalike to each other in every way.
The heavy atmosphere seemed to leave the house as soon as they saw the beautiful scenery here. Breathing started to get easier, but they still were in a good kind of shock. Shock of excitement. Or maybe it was fear?
The shock was coming from the fact that none of them tried talking to the trio nor have they tried to teach them about anything. No one is trying to hurt them, they are not one of those guys. How is that possible?
- Hmm? Pretty neat huh? – Duck was pleased with their reaction. – What do you think?
- THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD?! – exclaimed Yellow already screaming
- Seems like that...! – added Red – What are we standing for?! Let’s go out!
- UHH STOP THAT! –Duck stopped Red as he started to step out of the house. Freedom seemed to be the weak side of him. Duck closed the door, then started to go away from it to the other room.
- Aww why? There are so many neighbors we have to meet! – whined Yellow as he followed behind Duck. Red did the same
Eventually they stopped in the kitchen. Back where they’ve started their day. Duck fixed his suit then started talking once again:
- There is one other thing I noticed while you two were wasting time! –he pointed at the … stairs?
They didn’t notice the stairs all this time? Red felt a shiver go down his spine. Yellow felt some kind of Deja vu but that didn’t last long.
- I want to go in there! But… uhhh…
- What? Are you scared? – teased Red the feathered one.
- Ugh nonsense! You think I’m scared? I’m the most venturesome one out of you two! That’s why I’m the best! –Duck surely didn’t let that slide –Didn’t I go up and searched the whole house for those guys? Hmph! You guys should be grateful I’m even in your presence and—
- So what’s up there? – interrupted Yellow. –I feel that the weird f-feeling creeps out from there the most… do you? –he awkwardly asked looking Red.
He nodded. Not just the weird feeling, but the particular feeling of death was coming from there, nowhere else. Duck raised one of his eyebrows as he continued.
- Anyway I don’t know what’s up there, but we should investigate before we do anything else.
- Why? Cant that wait? – claimed Red, visibly impatient to go outside – something that doesn’t happen too often.
- Well what if there is something more important? I don’t want to leave before I get to know what’s going on in this cursed house! Can we agree with me now?
Duck waited for a response. He didn’t get one, instead the other two just moved towards the stairs.
As they moved up, their legs felt heavier. Something was trying to keep them away from what’s up there, for sure. Or maybe it was just their mind playing with them a silly game of fear. Even Duck felt himself getting sweatier than he was. Yellow was letting out short unsure ‘’Umm guys?’’ and such. And Red was trying to keep a cool façade, but inside he felt very much anxious, more anxious than the other two.
What is that, that makes them feel this way. Duck thinks its fear of unknowing, Red thinks it’s the fear of returning back to his perplexity state of consciousness, and he doesn’t want that after tasting the sweet freedom. And for Yellow? He felt- no he knew there was a dead body in there, maybe even multiple…