Chapter Text
First he felt the cold breeze on his skin, then heard the sea’s lullaby, waves going back and forth, whispering. Sam opened his eyes. It can’t be…
He’s there again – the beach. Something was different this time, though.
He looked around.
It looked the same: dark sand, tall mountains surrounding it, with their cliffs covered in moss. Panic began to rise up in his chest: he can’t be here again, not now. Amelie is gone. Something is wrong. He cannot be here.
It was until he saw him.
-It’s actually you, wow, – Higgs chuckled nervously, getting closer, – I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for a while, didn’t think it would be actually possible for me to physically get you here-
-Stop.
The breeze, the sea, the sand, the cliffs. No rainbow, no entities, no whales, no death. It felt empty.
-How did you get me here? – the panic continued to rise.
-I am not sure, honestly. I guess we’re just, – Higgs squinted, – connected, somehow.
Sam couldn’t believe it. It must be a bad dream. He saw plenty of those before, it’s not his first time. He would often see Higgs in them: Higgs hurting him, Higgs hurting his friends, even Lou. It’s not like Sam was that scared of the man, he knew he could fight back, he knew he could overpower him if he tried. And yet, Higgs’ figure kept haunting him, like the past he couldn’t let go of, unsure why.
A dream or not, he didn’t want to stay here any longer. He could care less about Higgs, and he really wanted to have a good night’s sleep.
-What do you want?
-...To talk, I guess? – Higgs scoffed, – I tried to look for Fragile, too, but she’s impossible to catch, you know, always on the move, – he glanced at Sam, expecting a reaction.
-Sure, – he mumbled, not even looking.
Sam was still observing the scenery. The breeze, the sea, the sand, the cliffs. It felt so lonely here.
Higgs smiled.
-Anyway, I didn't even think I could do that. Bring you here, I mean. And now I’m not even sure why I did it. To get revenge, I guess, – he made an exaggerated expression with his hands.
Sam began to notice how tired Higgs looked. The writings on his face began to fade away and smudge, the eyeliner was streaming down his face, now dried, his eye bags were prominent even behind the makeup.
Sam remembered their last encounter. Sure, he looked pretty tired back then too, after their fight. His face was covered in a mixture of tar and blood, just like Sam’s, both catching their breaths desperately. It was different, however. He was tired from the fighting, they both were. Now Higgs looked exhausted from existing, in general. How long has he been here?
-But now… I don’t think I have it in me, Sam. You’ve won, after all. Congrats! – Higgs chuckled again.
The breeze, the sea, the sand, the-
-I’m sorry.
It felt so cold here.
-For everything. I mean it.
But who was Sam to care?
-Can i go now?
Higgs didn’t say anything. He took one last look at Sam, frowning.
-You can.
Sam felt his body ease up, his limbs getting weak. He began to feel sleepy, unable to keep his eyes open. Last thing Sam saw was Higgs turning around, his back in front of the calm, dark sea.
First he felt the warmth of his blanket, then heard Lou’s quiet sighs, sleeping peacefully. Sam opened his eyes.