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Heading towards the secret keeper Joel walks past a line of graves with flowers, meticulously chosen for each person, he stops and lingers for a moment at one specific sign.
‘Here lies Lizzie’
With a couple of small pumpkins taken from her base that season under the sign.
However, Joel doesn't just stop at this grave, no, he takes a moment to apprentice everyone.
‘Here lies Jimmy’
A single dandelion placed beneath the sign.
‘Here lies Big B'
Lily of the valley’s surprisingly out of their element in this flat plains.
‘Here lies Mumbo’
The tall rose bush was purposefully planted behind the sign so as to not cover it.
‘Here lies Bdubs’
The pink tulips are distinctly shorter than the other tulips growing in the graves.
‘Here lies Martyn’
Azure bluets laying low to the ground in front of the sign.
‘Here lies Tango’
A few red tulips contrasting the green grass they are planted in.
‘Here lies Scott'
Where the blue orchid growing in front of the grave came from, we will never know.
‘Here lies Skizz’
The sign can barely be read, consumed by the peonies growing from behind it.
‘Here lies Etho’
Simple grey tulips planted in front of the sign.
‘Here lies Pearl’
The dark blue cornflower lay distinct in its colour palette compared to the others.
‘Here lies Impulse’
A single oxeye daisy lay against the signpost.
‘Here lies Cleo’
The orange tulips resemble the colours of fire.
‘Here lies Grian’
The only grave to have two types of flowers growing, lilacs and poppies.
‘Here lies Scar’
Four sunflowers stand tall behind the sign. The fifth is dead.
‘Here lies Gem’
Joel makes sure to take an extra-long second at this grave and admire the alliums planted in front of it.
and finally
‘Here lies Joel’
A bucket of lily pads sat dormant in front of the sign.
There is one more noticeable grave, a blank sign at the end of the row, no flower, no text, but Joel knows who it's for, even if the person who made it does not.
***
Sitting up against the rough surface of the success button head resting on his knees, Scar hadn’t eaten in weeks, he hadn’t bothered finding a point to, he was numb to the pain, the only thing he could feel was exhaustion. Who knows how long Scar has been sitting there.
“Oh my gosh, I can't believe I’ve actually found you!” Scar immediately lifted his head toward the voice. He hasn't heard another person talk in pretty much a year.
“Joel! Wha- what are yo- How are you here? You’re dead. Scott killed you.” Scar has to use all of his energy to stand up trying to lean on the podium for support; however, he ends up crouched beside the podium leaning into it. He notices Joel looks different and his clothes have changed since he last saw him. He’s wearing a white, evening length dress with gold and diamond accents. The sleeveless dress drapes over his body effortlessly.
“He did yes, congratulations on winning by the way. But I'm guessing you wanna leave now?” He says as if he wasn't just dead two seconds ago.
“YES PLEASE I WOULD LITERALLY DO ANYTHING TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW!” And as Scar scrambles off the ground Joel reaches his hand out toward Scar.
As Scar grabs his hand and suddenly everything that happens throughout the game hits him like a truck. All of the emotions, all of the lonely nights. He sees the months of himself jumping off cliffs and hitting the success button collapsed down into only seconds. Until he can only feel himself falling, falling through an infinite void of darkness, it feels somewhat familiar to him like he's been there before somehow. A still vague feeling of Joel somewhere around him.
The memories have stopped as he is now just left with the crushing feelings of five death games.
The desert, monopoly mountain, pizza, lilacs and poppies, a clock and a ring of cactus.
Magical mountain, the boogie man, strippin’, magical crystals, the exiled shack, “kill the witch!”.
Red Velvet Keep, Jellie pandas, a water bucket clutch, a warden and a secret soulmate.
The clockers, mom, an absent father, skynet, falling tnt, bread bridge, a birthday party and a mom swap.
The bamboozlers, a roller coaster, riding people, the spider web, so many snails and a car.
When he finally opens his eyes he’s still in a void. There's a sun almost directly below him and the moon almost directly above him. He can see stars everywhere and even some brighter stars that stick out to him although one keeps appearing and disappearing. But he can feel the ground beneath him, even if eyes cannot see it. Suddenly earth and grass appear beneath him as he is now standing in a field of sunflowers. When he looks up he can see them all, Joel, Martyn, Pearl, Scott and Grian.
‘Except they’re all wearing dresses? Wait. I’m wearing a dress, when did my clothes change? And- and what's in my hair?’ Scar reaches up his hand to find a crown of sunflowers intricately weaved into his long hair with braids and plaits holding it in place.
But before he can think anymore, he is hit with the feeling of a body crashing into him, as he feels Grian hugging him as if he was going to die if he didn't. It took a couple of seconds for Scar to realise what was happening but before long Scar is hugging Grian back just as tight.
“See, I told yous I could find him.” Joel’s voice rang loud through the silence.
“Yes Joel, very good, now go play with your cars while the adults talk.” The Scottish accent and snarky comment clearly proved to Scar who had said that.
“Yeah, no, we should leave them be for a little bit though.” Pearl said, quickly trying to speak before Joel could reply.
When they walk away Scar finally notices Grain’s crying and in turn his own tears rolling down his cheeks.
“I- I’m- s- so- so- sorry- Scar.” Grian attempts to say through repeated sobs.
“It's ok. I forgive you; for everything.” And Grian’s only response is crying louder. “I'm also sorry, I hadn't really been the best teammate to you either, considering all things…”
“Apology- accepted.”
“I do have some questions though.”
“I have some questions for you too.” So, Scar and Grian wander over to the edge of a small hill and sit down together, hands still joined. There is a moment of silence before Scar speaks up.
“Why did you walk off the cliff after killing me?”
“I mean I didn't really have anything else. I had just beat the person I loved most to death with my bare fists… It’s pretty hard to want to live after you’ve done that… so.” There's a pause as Grian let's out a shuddery breath. “Now my turn to ask you a question. Why didn't you fight back?”
“Because I wasn't strong enough…” And tears start rolling down Scars face. “I couldn't do it; I knew no matter how much I tried I wouldn't be able to kill you. I couldn't make myself kill you. I couldn't-” He is cut off by Grian pulling him into a hug and slowly rubbing his back. “I'm so sorry I made you so it-”
“Shh, it's okay.” Once Scar had mostly stopped crying, he let go of Grian and faces him once more.
“Are you happy that I remember now?” It takes a moment of Grian thinking for him to respond.
“I was devastated at first… that you didn't remember, that no one remembered, I think that's one of the reasons that helped justify my actions toward you in double life, that you wouldn't remember. I was eventually happy that you didn't have to remember, that you weren't stuck with the horrible memories I was. But now… I am happy you remember… but… I'm also mad at myself for liking the fact you remember.”
“Well, I'm glad I remember. Even if that means a whole heap of trauma I was not expecting.” Scar pauses talking so Grian can actually think about what he said.” Follow up question, are you happy you remember?”
“Maybe. I’m happier that I remember since now you remember but… I don’t know, still.”
“Why didn't you leave me… in double life? I cheated on you and went behind your back and just… generally treated you kinda badly but you still stayed. Why?” The curiosity in Grian’s voice was thick.
“I honestly don't know. I did think about going to Ren, forming an alliance but… I never actually felt like I would do it. I felt like I couldn't leave you for some reason, as if I owed you something.” At this point the sun was rising just above the horizon.
“I do have one more question.” Grian hummed for Scar to continue. “In wildlife… If I were in the bunker, would you have still pushed the button?”