Chapter Text
As Shadow sits up, the ringing in his ears only seems to get louder, rubbing his eyes he mumbles, "Where.. am I?" Looking around, he is greeted with the sight of hundreds upon hundreds of other people, and mobian, all dressed in the same plain green jumpers.
"No one really knows where we are" The ringing is beginning to subsides as he turns to see, "Maria!" Shadow leaps up and hugs her. Maria is like a sister to him. Through giggles Maria says, "Hi Shadow, how long has it been since we last spoke? Feels like ages." Still holding onto her Shadow says, "About 3 years, where have you been?" Shadow let's go of Maria to look at her as she contemplates the Answer. She looks better, stronger even. "I've missed you Shadow, really, but I guess I just needed to make my own way in life for once. Without anyone watching me, worrying over what might happen constantly. Of course look where that got me." She gestures down her clothes and the room around her.
Shadow doesn't know where to begin, it's been so long since hes seen Maria. Then the seal of a door cracks open and 3 men walk in, 2 in bright red suits with masks that show no traits other then white outlined shapes one man, a soldier, Shadow reasons based on the gun across their shoulders, has a square, the other has a Triangle. And the man in the middle is dressed in all black, with an animal face as their mask. "You have all been brought here to play a series of games, and the winner of these games will get the cash prize!" The crowd slowly gathers around the speaker, wondering what cash as the man in black points up. Turning their heads, Shadow sees a glass piggy bank. Shocked rings out among the crowd as the piggy bank is filled with cash "That has to be like a million dollars!" Someone in the crowd cries out. "Correct! And it will only fill up more as the games progress. Good Luck." And with that the man leaves. The 2 soldiers that stay begin giving out directions and ordering people to line up. Shadow stays by Maria's side throughout this. As they begin to traverse through this maze of a building Shadow can't help himself, staring at Maria as she walks infront of him. "Are you ok? Are you sure you should be walking this much? With your illness-" "I'm fine Shadow. I can't keep being afraid of what will happen. I've lived a happy life, and I'm content where I am." Maria says, with such a proud tone that Shadow can't help but feel truly happy for her.
Finally at there destination, waiting with the mass of people for the multiple sets of doors to open. Despite what Maria said Shadow can tell that fatigue is prominent in her features. He stands close enough that if she truly needed a break she could lean on him for support, but he won't force her to take a break. Suddenly, all of the doors open and people file out onto a wide open room. A creepy doll sits in the center of the other side, besides the doll is a timer that has yet to start. A robotic voice projected through a speaker says "You are playing Red Light Green Light, the Game will begin in 3, 2, 1." And with that the timer begins. "Oooh! I love red light green light! Do you remember when we'd play it at the lab? I could never get you out. Maria says while smiling. But Shadow doesn't respond, he just can't get past this feeling of dread, how could such a simple game really be worth a million dollars?
"Green Light" and with that, Maria skips forward. Shadow stays back, unable to shake this feeling of dread bubbling inside him. "Red Light" the doll turns its head, only a few people have moved, Maria being one of them. But someone didn't stop in time BANG a crack rings out and the person who lost falls. A few people scream as more shots ring out, and more bodies fall to the ground. "Maria!" Shadow cries out unable to see her in this mess, shakily she says "I'm ok!" Shadow has to get to her. "Don't move, I'm coming over there." "Green Light" Shadow begins jogging over to Maria as she continues to move forward in the game. "Red Light" Shadow stops. Standing deathly still, he's only about 6 steps away from her "Maria, Please what if you get tired? They'll kill you! This isn't just a game anymore." Shadow is pleading with her to let him catch up, to help her through this. "Shadow. I ment what I said, my illness is not something I can keep fearing, I am content in life, and if losing in a game of Red Light Green Light is how I go out, then I want you to know that I'll miss you." Maria says, smiling brighter then the sun. "Maria-" "Green Light" and Maria runs. Stunned, Shadow doesn't know what to do, she's so happy right now. "Maria your going to fast! Please." He's begging as he runs after her, reaching out to grab her dress, to put some sense into her. "Red Light" And with that Maria stops, she stops too quickly and wobbles. That's all it was, a wobble, a senseless movement from her speed. Cracks ring out, shooting people for moving. Maria falls to the ground.
"No.. Maria? Maria!? Please." Shadow doesn't know what else to say. "Green Light" He stumbles forward towards Maria as people run past him, crouching down he begs, "please Maria" it's a whisper, it's a plea. But nothing can change what has happened. "Dammit Maria." He says as he wipes his nose, "I'm on my way" Shadow steadies himself, standing up. "Red Light" And Shadow Falls.
"Gotcha" A Tug on his jumper, he is now suspended, being held up by whoever grabbed him. "Let me fall. There's nothing left for me here." Shadows shaking, but he hasn't made a move. His arms feel like there being held in place. He chose to fall because gravity would do the work, actually moving knowing what would happen, he just can't. "Don't. Move." The man, Shadow can't see him, tells him. "Green Light " Shadow is placed onto his feet as an arm is swung around his waist, and his own arm is placed over this person's shoulders. Shadow is only looking at Maria. She isn't moving. The person that grabbed Shadow is now dragging them both, away from Maria. "Red Light" A chuckle comes from the man holding Shadow, turning to see who pulled him away from his death, from Maria, its a mobian. Much like himself other then his blue quills, but what caught his attention was that grin. That proud and feral grin, as if he needed to win, as if this is the funnest game he's ever played. "Green Light" And the man runs. Past the red line, past the doll. He sets Shadow down against the back wall, and walks away. Nothing, Shadow can't think of anything to say. One at a time he brings his legs up to his chest, hugging his legs tightly as if the tension from that will justify his life. Maria's gone.
As the game finishes, the timer strikes zero, some people cross the line, others are shot and left where they lost. The rest of the survivors are escorted back into the room they woke up in. Shadow hardly remembers getting up, but now he's sitting in one of the beds instead of the dirt ground from the game. "She's.. gone? Just like that? No scream? No one to protect her? I should've been by her side. Why did I stay back?" Shadow doesn't move or speak after that, doesn't get up to get food. He doesn't care. A plate of food and a drink is placed in front of him. "Eat." Shadow turns his head so quickly, only to see the same person that saved him- "I- Maria, I heard her, she was-" but the person is walking away now. It was Maria's voice, it had to of been. And for the first time in hours, shadow moves.