Chapter Text
Stumbling up the hills, a small boy ran, wind running through his hair. His breaths came out quick and rushed the faster that he breathed, picking up speed. Getting up this mountain wasn’t as easy as he’d once thought it’d be. Everyone said you didn’t return if you fell down here and he needed to see it up close. Some sort of escape from everyone will be just what he needs. Dust brushed from his steps, reaching the cavern. The raven haired boy glanced back behind him to gather his surroundings-foot catching on a vine.
The boy’s body tumbled down for what seemed to be hours before he felt himself hit the ground hard. His shoulder ached from the hit, leaving a numb tingle. Surprisingly his headphones were left around his shoulders and undamaged from the fall, unlike him. The cheap cell phone of his lie on the ground, screen cracked and ruined. No point in calling anyone now.
Around him was a general darkness, leaving him lost. He slowly sat up, hand brushing over a few golden flowers. He seemed to have landed in a bed of them. If that helped break the fall, he’d be surprised. The rest of the area stayed an overall dead dirt and patches of dying grass. A light in front of him caught his attention, raising a brow at this, he stumbled to his feet and paced towards it.
His sneakers laces clicked on the dirt, arm slipping to hold his bruised shoulder. It could be dislocated even, he couldn’t be sure of anything. After a few moments of wandering, a small growing flower came into view. It’s bright petals hurt to look at if he stared, bringing back the dizzy feeling from this experience. “H-hello?” He asked, almost expecting the weak flower to talk back.
The plant swung around, revealing a large grin and light brown bangs by it’s light eyes. “Oh!” It exclaimed in a male’s voice, flashing that cheshire grin once more. “Have you fallen down here as well?” The flower asked.
Kevin nodded, squeezing his shoulder to ignore the pain. The flower quickly noticed the wince, sly grin spreading across it’s face. “You’re hurt aren’t you?” It asked. “Man, they really should give humans proper welcomes down here! Guess I’ll have to! Name’s Ross!” The so called Ross told him. “Since I’m a nice guy, I’ll help you with your arm. It’d be rude to just make you deal with it! Plenty of others are hurt from the fall as well.” He continued.
The raven haired male visually relaxed, nodding once more for him. He was at a loss for words really. “Thanks, my name’s Kev-” He yelped, feeling roots wrap around his ankle. He tugged at his leg, glancing at the sly smirk spreading across the flower’s face.
“Humans really are dumb!” Ross hissed, root sprouting thorns that started to dig into Kevin’s skin. He whimpered, fresh crimson blood starting to drip down his ankle. “What’d ya think I’d do for you? It’s kill or be killed down here!” He shouted, starting to laugh as the vines slid up the other’s leg.
Out of the darkness a small ball of fire struck the vines, making the flower yelp and pull itself back into the dirt. “What a horrible creature.” A deeper voice spoke up from the shadows. Standing over the small boy seemed to be a tall figure, slight beard on his face. “Hello.” His voice was voice and hinted at worry for the other. “You’re hurt.” He whispered, not waiting a moment before ushering Kevin to follow.
He stumbled alongside the tall monster, ankle dripping as they walked. Luckily it was short bit before the two made it into an entrance. “These are the ruins.” The monster explained, standing beside Kevin. “Let me help you.”
Kevin didn’t object to the other’s help, although skeptical, he let him wrap his ankle and pop his arm into place. The raven haired male had felt his quickened heartbeat relax the more he was around the monster. “My name is Barry, what about you?” Barry spoke up, catching the other from his daydreams.
“K-Kevin.” He sputtered, looking up to meet eye to eye with this creature. “Thank you for the help.” Kevin snuck a peek at the other with weary eyes. He didn’t want to overstay his welcome and the more he stood here, the more going back home seemed appealing.
Not that Barry wasn’t nice, maybe it was just the bad first monster impression that he’d gotten from Ross. He exhaled and followed the other further into the caverns, looking around every moment that he could. He hadn’t even minded Barry holding his hand as they walked through puzzles. “Now, Kevin, I was thinking that I just teach you how to survive in this world.” Barry spoke up, leading the two to a beat up dummy. “Rather than fighting, I suggest taking a defensive side.” He whispered.
Kevin nodded slowly, glancing at the monster and towards the dummy. He waved at it, unsure what to do. “I almost forgot, I have business that I must attend to. Please stay here.” He turned to exit the room, stopping. “Here,” He handed the raven haired boy a new phone. “Call me if you need me before I am back.” With that, Kevin was alone once more.
“They get cell service down here?” He mumbled, looking over the phone. It only had one contact at the moment, said contact being Barry. Not like he had anyone to actually call besides this monster.
It’d been about a few minutes of him fiddling on the phone before he looked around to gather the situation. He fell down a mountain, was attacked by a flower, was saved by a goat man, and he’s now standing around in brick ruins. A long sigh escaped his lips, gathering his thoughts before he paced forward. Should he leave? Yes, it’d be defying what Barry said but he couldn’t just wait. He needed to get back home! He couldn’t wait down here! He’d be killed!
“What was I thinking in the first place?” Kevin asked aloud, pacing through the pink bricked halls. He’d made his way through a few puzzles with simple answers until he was met with a sign. The boy leaned forward to read, raising a brow. “Spider bake sale! Food made by spiders to support spiders!” The sign read, leaving him lost.
With a few coins jingling in his pocket, he walked into the other room and was met with two large webs. In one web a small sign read, “Spider donuts: 7 Gold” and the larger web read, “Spider cresounts: 18 Gold.”
He was more than curious what’d happen if he bought one, leaving him to pull out seven gold pieces and placing gem next to the smaller web. Kevin watched in awe as a small spider crawled out pushing a small purple donut. “Th-anks.” He whispered, picking up the dessert and walking out of the room.
The donut tasted awful but was better than nothing. He scarfed the sugary treat down within a few minutes as he walked further ahead. Soon the raven haired male was met with a large pile of auburn leaves. Laying in the leaves was a male in all white, mask with two large eyes covering his face. The boy was mumbling “Z” over and over, clearly not sleeping. “Are they gone yet?” The masked male asked.
“Are, are you talking to me?” Kevin asked, pointing to his chest. The ghost didn’t respond to him, mumbling more Z’s. After a few more moments he attempted to walk past, making the ghost get up.
“Oh……… Hi.” He mumbled, blocking Kevin from walking past to the next room. “I didn’t think anyone uh… Comes around here.” He looked down to his feet, leaving Kevin at a loss.
“I-I just fell down here. I’m Kevin, what’s your name?” He asked in hopes to get the spirit to move.
The ghost didn’t move, taking a few moments before muttering a name for him. “Cry.” He mumbled. Cry sighed and messed with his fingers, lips curled into a frown under his mask.
Kevin paused, thinking of some response. How was he going to get this guy to move? His eyes widened once he remembered what Barry said. The defensive side is sometimes better! Besides, he didn’t want to hurt this guy. The raven haired male flashed a smile, nodding. “That’s a cool name, what do you do around here?” He asked.
Cry looked up, raising a brow behind the mask. “I was just laying here and thinking about how worthless I am…. Sometimes I sit here with Barry too.” He replied, relaxing.
“Yeah, I just met Barry. He’s pretty cool.” Kevin continued smiling and gently prodding the other to open up. “Maybe we can sit around sometime… And do what you were doing.”
The other had to fight a smile behind his mask, stepping aside. “Oh, I should get back to that… For practice. It’s a family tradition. Sorry, I’ve been talking too long.” Cry went back to laying in the leaves, letting Kevin pass.
The human let out a sigh of relief, turning to Cry and waving before walking ahead. He was soon met with a crossroad. He took the right side first, met with a small room. It overlooked some sorts of destroyed buildings. Chills ran down his spine, spotting an old plastic knife discarded on the floor. Having some defense couldn’t be bad, right? Just in case he needed it. Afterall, he wasn’t sure how things with Cry even turned out so good… Didn’t monsters want to kill humans?
Kevin turned back and walked towards the other path, stumbling back once he was met face to face with Barry. “Oh, hello.” Barry spoke up, eye widened. “Was I really gone that long? Sorry.” The brunette’s lips curled upwards into a smile, pacing back towards the doorway. “Come in, I was just working on a few things for your arrival.”
The two walked into a nice home, smell of cinnamon and the warm feeling of comfort hit Kevin the moment that he stepped in. They walked down the hall, opening the door to a room. “This is where I plan for you to stay.” Barry whispered, slowly placing a hand on the human’s shoulder.
Kevin didn’t move, lips curling upwards. For a moment, going home slipped out of his mind. Once it rolled back around, a tinge of guilt hit his heart. This monster was clearly planning on him staying here… In the ruins. “I’ll let you look around.” With that Barry left.
He sighed, stepping in the room and getting his bearings. In his pocket he still held onto a handful of gold pieces, cell phone carefully tucked in the other, and the plastic knife rested in one of the loops on his belt. Kevin kept his headphones slipped around his neck and luckily he hadn’t lost his hat in the fall. He sat back down on the bed, noticing a closet. He stood and opened it, meeting eyes with a flimsy bookbag. “That could be handy…” He whispered, pulling it out.
The human took it and slipped it on with nothing to put in it at the moment. He searched the room, finding a few old medical supplies to stash in the bag before he walked back into the hall. He opened the door to the next room, finding himself with what must be Barry’s room.
It had a few bookshelves, a bed, desk, all the simple things that he needed. “Take the coins on the desk.” A voice in the back of his head whispered, leaving the idea fresh in his mind. For a second he reached towards the gold before stopping. It wouldn’t be right to take from Barry, after he’s given so much.
Once back in the hall, Kevin walked toward another room. In it was Barry, sitting in a large chair and reading a book. He looked up once Kevin’s feet squeaked on the creaky floor boards. “Hey Kev.” He watched the other. “Ah, you like that bag?” He asked.
Kevin nodded and felt his lips curl upwards into a smile. “Yes, it is nice… But I was thinking, when…” He paused, sighing. “When can I go home?” He asked quietly, watching the other grow tense.
“W-well, I was thinking that we could perhaps go out to explore at some point…” He tried to direct the conversation away from Kevin’s question.
“Oh, that does sound fun.” The human replied, guilt eating at him. “But… How do I exit the ruins?” He questioned him once more, straightening his back to show some confidence.
Barry was silent for a few moments before standing up and setting his book on the table. “I-I have to tend to something.” The monster paced away quickly, taking off down the set of stairs.
The raven haired male didn’t wait another moment until he chased after the monster. “Barry!” He called with no response. Worry built up, causing him to walk faster down the purple hall that he was met with.
Standing at a large door was the brunette monster. “See this? This is the exit to the ruins…” He paused, letting out a large sigh. “I’m going to destroy it so that no more humans can run out there and be killed.” He turned to Kevin, stern look on his face. “Please, go back to your room.”
“N-no.” His voice felt raw, almost gone. “Barry, I can’t stay here. I need to leave.” Kevin raised his voice.
“Kevin.” Barry’s words came out grim, angered even. “Go, back, to, your, room.” He swung back around, arms raised. “Go or fight me… Prove that they won’t kill you out there!”
He felt his heart drop, clenching his fists and holding stone still. “I don’t want to fight you Barry.” The raven haired male watched the monster start to summon the magic they used on Ross. “I don’t want to fight.” He repeated.
Barry’s shoulders shook, attempting to force himself to hurt the boy in front of him. “You must prove that you can survive on your own.” He responded, trying to hide the sadness in his voice.
Kevin held his ground, fighting past fear and plastering on a smile. “Barry, I don’t want to fight you.” He said one final time. The human took a step closer, watching the monster’s face saden.
“You… You’re right.” Barry sighed, turning to the door. “I can’t ask you to stay here. The place is real cramped once you get used to it..” He turned to Kevin, face serious. “Kevin please understand, I can’t protect you when you leave. I need you to understand, once you leave, Jon, he will kill you.” The brunette warned, pacing to leave quickly. He took a moment, looking back at Kevin with sorrow before exiting the room post haste.
The human let out a long sigh, swallowing back the guilt. “Thanks Barry.” He mumbled under his breath, pushing the large door open. It In front of him was the same patch of grass-same demonic flower awaiting Kevin with a smug grin. “You think you’re some big shot huh?” The flower asked.
Kevin raised a brow, holding stone still. “No, I-”
“Well you aren’t.” Ross interrupted. “Just because you didn’t want to hurt them doesn’t mean you won’t have to.” The flower cackled, slipping into the dirt like it wasn’t there.
The human stepped forward to where the plant was, looking up towards the only ray of sunshine he’ll be seeing for a long time. He looked down at his phone, calling for help. But nobody came.