Chapter Text
It was just a normal day.
Leafy was relaxing alone in her room. Well actually, it was Pin’s room. She had been staying there ever since she got to the elimination area. She thought about that moment a lot, all One wanted was her yoylite and she would be sent to the people she loved. She was still unsure how exactly to feel about One, but all she knew was that One helped her, greatly.
While she was lying on Pin’s bed, she felt her phone buzz. She opened it to find a text from Nickel.
“Hey, do you want to try the door again? It’s been a little bit since last time.”
Right, the door.
The contestants here had been trying to open the exit door for months, but to no avail. The day after Leafy arrived, Nickel had started an entire campaign to get her to slide under the door, since she was thin enough. Eventually she gave in, and slid under with a rope tied to her leg.
On the other side of the door was a long staircase, with a blue light emanating from the top. The rope attached to her wasn’t long enough, so she was forced to go back. Now, Nickel wanted her to try again.
She texted back.
“Sure, why not. Is the plan any different this time?”
“Alright so, this might seem a little out of pocket but do you have a yoyleberry on you?”
Why would that be important?
Becoming metal again was not something Leafy wanted to do. She did recently to fight the lack of sunlight in this place, and that was hard enough.
“Not on me no, but I can probably find one in the kitchen. Why though?”
“We don’t have a longer rope and I think we need a little more resistance to compensate. I’m kinda scared of what’s behind that door.”
“We don’t have a longer rope?” Is she suggesting I go in there untethered?
“You’re sending me in without a rope this time…?”
“We don’t have a longer one, this is really the only choice we do have.”
Leafy knew Nickel was right. Up until her arrival, they all had no way to access what was beyond that door. And if the only way to progress forward was to go in without a rope then…
“Alright. I’ll go get a berry and meet you by the door.”
She got out of bed and started making her way to the kitchen. She knew there were yoyleberries there, she just didn't know where specifically.
When she arrived she expected to see Pin there, since she loved to bake, but she wasn’t there.
Maybe she’s with Coiny then. She thought to herself.
Her, Coiny, and Pin had been together for a few weeks now, and it had been the happiest time of her life. It was the entire reason she wanted to get to the elimination area so badly, so badly she’d make a deal with One to do it.
She began to search the cabinets for yoyleberries.
“Nope.”
“Nope.”
“Nope.”
“Oh here we go.”
She grabbed a berry from the bowl they were stored in. She stared at it for a moment, her mind reminding her of what it meant to her. She shook off those thoughts and headed off towards the door.
Nickel was already there. Actually she was already there when she first texted Leafy. She sat up when she noticed the leaf approaching her.
“Ah there you are. Did you find a yoyleberry?”
She pulled out the berry and showed it to her.
“Alright great! Um, sorry again for making you do this.”
“It’s fine, if it helps you all get out of here then it’s worth it. Besides, you’re not really making me. I agreed to do it again.”
In reality, she really didn’t want to do this again. She was also scared of what was atop that staircase, but helping her friends was something she could never turn down.
“Alright well, when you’re ready, just slide back under like last time. I’ll call you on your phone so we can keep communicating.”
She nodded. She took the yoyleberry and reluctantly put it in her mouth. She had grown to despise the taste of them, it was all she ate for years after all. But she fought through it and swallowed.
The metal washed over her body, it was a feeling she hated.
“Alright, here we go.”
She lied down on her back and slowly began to inch her way under the door.
“Remember to keep calm and don’t let the stress of being… like this, get to you, kay?” Nickel reassured when she was about halfway through.
“I’ll do my best…”
Soon enough, she was fully on the other side. She felt her phone vibrate from the call from Nickel, she picked up.
“Alright I can hear you, good luck out there. If you see anything new let me know.”
“Okay…” She looked up the staircase, took a deep breath, and began ascending.