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Am I just a ghost in my own machine?
In a sandbox in the entropy?
Right as Emu cleared Mighty Novel X, he suddenly felt off. His chest began aching and his vision was suddenly blurring. Everything was spinning, his vision beginning to darken as he staggered to the side. It felt as though he had an overload of the virus. Parado had jumped out of him, barely catching him as he suddenly collapsed.
Some reality
Got a hold of me now
Emu became slumped in his arms, his head tilting downwards briefly as Parado knelt on the ground with him. The rain that was dotting the ground didn't help any. "Emu?"
And I don't think I'll escape
Am I too attached to a memory?
He couldn't respond, his limbs went numb and his voice wasn't working at the moment. His heart was hurting. His heart was aching so badly. Is his life truly ending just for clearing the game? After that whole spiel about how his patients needed him, about how he'd never die as long as people needed him? Parado just continued to hold onto him, pulling Emu's upper body towards his chest as he began to lightly rock him back and forth slowly.
Stuck in my head for eternity
His whole body became slack as Parado held him, his breathing was a chore on its own. He was scared but he also wasn't at the same time. "Parado..." he finally managed to get his bugster's name out, but he wasn't sure if he could say anything else. His vision was narrowing further and darkening quickly. Why did he feel so cold? Why did it feel like his heart was slowing down?
Am I in a dream?
"What is it?" Parado was so calm. His voice only wavered just a bit.
". . . I'm sorry"
Or the in-between?
"For what?" Parado just continued to rock him gently while his own body refused to move.
And I don't think
"For everything."
His bugster became silent, his hold on Emu only briefly tightening. Emu could vaguely feel Parado shaking from trying to keep himself from crying.
'cause I'm not waking up up up
His heartbeat was still slowing, his breathing following suit. He was dying, wasn't he? Even though he cleared Mighty Novel X, even though he finally was able to confront his own heart, even though he was finally able to confront his past, even though he was able to confront his father... he was dying.
Waking up up up
After everything, this is how he dies? After getting a Game Clear?
Waking up up up
Maybe it was the stress from the whole situation or maybe it was his immune system shutting down after two viruses having infected him. Maybe it was because he remembered things he had long since suppressed. Either way, he felt like he wasn't going to live.
Waking up up
Just moments later, he could briefly hear splashing footsteps approaching, several of them. His vision had gone, his eyes had closed involuntarily. He felt someone's hand holding his while Parado still held onto him. There were no words, his hearing was turning into ringing.
I'm not waking up up up
Yet, he felt calm. He felt at peace with Parado holding him. He felt... safe.
Waking up up up
The next thing he knew, his senses were gone except for hearing and his consciousness nearly faded.
Waking up up up
Thank you, everyone. For everything you've done for me. For the memories. For accepting me.
Waking up up
He heard Parado scream out in agony. Why are you sad, Parado?
I'm not waking
He could briefly feel someone lifting him up from the ground and begin running with him. He felt his heart stop. Such an odd sensation that he felt once before.
I'm not waking
His consciousness was gone.
I'm not waking