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Boxten didn’t expect to make it this far. Floor fourteen, the farthest he’s ever gotten. And with a medkit, bandage, and full hearts? He was set.
“Just hope I don’t screw it up… again…” he mumbled to himself.
“Arf!” exclaimed Pebble, the only other toon in the elevator.
Boxten flinched. “Huh? Oh, n-nothing. Ignore me.” He paused, fumbling with his hands. “Thanks for protecting me these last few floors. I-I really appreciate it.”
Pebble ran in a circle. “Bark! Bark!”
“Good rock,” Boxten said with a chuckle.
The elevator came to a sudden stop, the door lifting to reveal yet another room in Gardenview. Pebble took off in a sprint, dashing down the halls to find the twisteds. Boxten, on the other hand, took a slower approach.
“Calm down, Boxten. You.. you’ve got this.” He took a deep breath, brushed himself off, and began to take the first step.
“Please- is anyone there?”
Boxten froze. That voice. Was it really him?
He cautiously stepped out of the elevator, concealing himself behind crates and shelves in the fear of getting caught. Sprinting to the next hiding spot every chance he got. Dodging the sight of a twisted. Ignoring the ichor machines.
But then he turned a corner, eyes flashed with a familiar gleam.
“...Glisten?”
The mirror looked up, redshot eyes dripping ichor. “Boxy? Boxy, is that you?” Glisten smiled, his reflective surface twinkling in the dim light. “It is! Oh, will you stay with me? …please? I’m scared.”
Everything Boxten knew was telling him to run away. Ichor was pouring from Glisten’s body, black goop seeping into the colorful carpet. His mirror was full of cracks. Far from the picture-perfect Glisten he knew. This was some kind of trap, wasn’t it?
“Wha… what happened to you?” Boxten finally squeaked.
“I…” Glisten looked down at his appearance, and let out a little laugh. “What’s wrong? Is my makeup smudged?”
“N-no…! No, not that! Definitely not that!” Boxten peeped, laughing along. No, this was Glisten. “N-Nevermind. Forget I said anything.”
But Glisten’s laughter turned into rasping, as he collapsed to the ground, coughing up ichor. Bubbling slop oozing from his face.
Boxten gasped, kneeling to his aid. “A-are you okay?” he asked, whipping ichor from his cheek.
Tears leaked from Glisten’s eyes. “Look at me, Boxy! I’m supposed to be perfect! Flawless! People are supposed to fawn over my appearance alone! But now I’m this… this monster! I-” He unexpectedly wretched up more ichor. “...everything hurts,” he whined.
Boxten rubbed his back, unsure of what to do. He’s never met a conscious twisted before. Is there even a way to help an infected toon?
Wait. What is he even thinking? This was his best friend. There has to be some way he can help.
And then it hit him.
Boxten pulled out the medkit and bandage, holding them out for Glisten to see. “Uh… maybe this could work?”
Glisten gasped. “Do you really think? Oh, Boxy! My hero!” The mirror exclaimed.
He blushed, preparing the medkit. “Haha… It’s really nothing, I swear. The least I could do.” Boxten carefully wrapped Glisten’s hollow face in bandages until the ichor was nowhere to be seen. “There. Feel better?”
He nodded, the room spinning in his reflection. “Yes! I can’t thank you enough! It’s not perfect—far from it, infact. A few of the bandages are loose and I can still feel the ichor, but nevertheless an improvement!”
“Heh, glad you feel better,” Boxten said, ignoring the comments.
Glisten suddenly grabbed him by the arm, pulling the box close to him. “I’m so happy you found me, Boxy! Ugh, I could just… I could just…” Glisten leaned in and kissed Boxten.
Boxten’s eyes widened and he froze up. Did Glisten actually kiss him? His best friend and long-time crush? Boxten shut his eyes, leaning in. His mouth was sour with ichor, but he didn’t care. For the longest time he thought Glitsen was dead, and now here he is, kissing him.
But the kiss was interrupted with an alarm. Pebble must have completed all of the ichor machines. Boxten had to leave.
“You’re… leaving? Boxy, no! Don’t leave, don’t leave, I’m begging you!” Glisten exclaimed.
Boxten pushed away, no idea how to react. “Glisten, I-”
“NO! No, you can’t leave! I won’t let you!” The mirror lunged forward, grabbing onto Boxten. His nails dug into Boxten’s skin, ichor leaking into his blood stream followed by searing pain.
Boxten yelped, reeling back. He just lost a heart.
“YOU CAN’T LEAVE ME, YOU CAN’T LEAVE ME, PLEASE!” Glisten shrieked, chasing after him.
Boxten ran as fast as he could, lungs overworked and legs sore. He looked back at Glisten, only to see himself in the mirror’s reflection. Tears poured from his eyes as Glisten got closer and closer.
3…
2…
1…
Boxten made it just in time, Pebble waiting for him inside.
“BOXY! BOXY, PLEASE,” Glisten wailed, just before the elevator door slammed behind him.