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Charlie let out a small, unneeded breath. He’d been in whatever this place was for way too long and Charlie felt as if he’d lose his mind. He’d been dead, killed by what Ranboo had called “security”, for God knows how long. No company, no one to help him process everything…
And as Charlie began to, once again, lose himself in his thoughts, he heard it.
Charlie blinked, his heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t heard anything but his own thoughts in what felt like two eternities, and whatever it was sounded like footsteps. He waited what felt like hours until the thing that made the sound, a barely visible and faraway figure, got just close enough to recognize. And oh God did Charlie recognize it.
“God, dude, you don’t know how happy I am to—”
Charlie cut himself off. His newly formed smile quickly faded as soon as the horrible, full realization of what had happened hit him, “Ranboo, I thought you made it out…”
Ranboo said nothing, their eyes looked as if they were unfocused, yet fixated on something far behind their friend. Charlie looked over his shoulder, nothing interesting was there. Just the usual, endless black void.
“Ranboo?” Charlie walked over and grabbed their shoulders. “Ranboo, can you hear me?”
Again, no response.
Charlie could feel his heart shattering, he could feel himself breaking down. This couldn’t be their fate, to die and be trapped in limbo forever, hoping and praying to not be revived by Showfall. It shouldn’t be happening, not to them, not to anyone.
He could feel his eyes begin to water, he could feel the guilt rise up in his chest and mind. If only Ranboo didn’t notice him during the stream. If only they had made it to the doors before the employees locked them. Maybe then Charlie wouldn’t be dead himself and not have been forced to know the truth. Maybe then Ranboo would still be alive.