Chapter Text
Guppy applied some alcohol and clean bandages to the laceration on his neck. He'd gotten used to the stinging by now. What hurt him more was knowing that Eddie's condition was only getting worse. He was getting weaker everyday and he kept forgetting recent events. In fact, he'd completely forgotten about Ernest and his death. Eddie had also become more… rebellious. He kept causing trouble, making messes, stealing stuff, drinking too many sodas… This only prompted Eyes to punish him more. Guppy kept trying to stop Eyes, but the man was relentless.
Guppy had been worn down by Eyes. Everyday, his cheerful attitude faltered more and more. Still, he tried to be happy for Eddie.
Really, he was living only for Eddie.
Guppy had found a piano in a nearby building and brought it over in the van. He thought it might be a nice distraction from the ongoing apocalypse and the absolute atrocities taking place around him.
“What’s thaat?” Eddie walked up to him as he put it down in front of some crates, specifically the crate where Eyes kept all his jewelry to perhaps piss him off.
“It’s a piano, Eddie.” Guppy dragged a stool over and sat down.
“Oooh…” Eddie watched as Guppy started playing a simple tune, Yankee Doodle.
“Oh blow me down, oh blow me down,” Eddie started singing.
Guppy laughed. “Wrong song bud. Do you wanna try?”
“Yeah.”
Guppy brought another stool for Eddie. Eddie mostly just played random keys with no co-ordination whatsoever. It was sort of charming.
“Attaboy!” Guppy grinned, patting Eddie on the back—gently of course.
Even in this simple, nice moment, a melancholy plagued Guppy deep down. He knew the only one who made him feel happy or fulfilled would die soon. Then it would be just him and Eyes, and what would he do then?
*
Meanwhile, Eyes was walking in the woods behind their base. He knew there were still houses they hadn't looted. He pushed through the pine trees, staying alert for any signs of life—or the undead.
He entered a brick house. The ceiling was falling apart. He stepped lightly and carefully, holding his knife in front of him. He made his way through to the kitchen.
And then he saw a familiar face.
“Oh, crap.”
It was Ernest. Zomboid Ernest obviously. He hadn't rotted yet, which was strange, but Eyes shrugged it off. He was standing, staring at Eyes. Eyes stood still as well, ready for Ernest’s corpse to come closer. But it didn't.
“Eyes,” Ernest spoke in that thick German accent.
Eyes was baffled. He gripped the knife tighter.
“Eyes, you are very bad at killing. You make me so angry that you did not kill me that I am going to squirt some shit.”
“Oh my God,” Eyes mumbled, backing away.
“What? Are you ashamed?” Ernest walked towards him.
“No, I am not. How are you alive?” Eyes stopped moving and stood his ground instead, though he was most definitely quite scared right now.
“I just said. Are you deaf? You are so bad at killing, Eyes, and hearing too.”
“I shot you in the head…” Eyes muttered, questioning his entire reality.
“That bullet went into my forehead and right through my head.”
“Yes, and you would be dead from that…”
“Nein, your gun is so weak. That tiny .12 calibre bullet did nothing.”
“How? You- you're a ghost, you must be.”
“Nein. Eyes, I do not like you, you are so dumb.”
“You…” Eyes sighed. “If you want me to kill you again, I will.”
“Nein, you are so weak. I want my fellow millennial to kill me.”
Eyes nodded slowly. He walked backwards out the house, facing Ernest, and then sprinted back to the base.
“Oh my God,” Eyes mumbled again, panting against the wall. Of course, he was being haunted for killing Ernest, instead of letting Eddie kill him. It was clearly a punishment from the Holy Eye. He crawled in through the window and went into the main room where he found Guppy playing the piano and Eddie sitting on the couch, drinking soda.
“Youre blocking my jewelry,” Eyes said quietly but sharply.
“Alrighty…” Guppy sighed passive aggressively and moved the piano over a few inches. While he did so, Eyes leaned towards him. Guppy glanced behind him, feeling Eyes’ menacing presence.
“Guppy,” Eyes muttered. He almost seemed disturbed, even behind his calm façade.
“What is it?” Guppy turned to face him.
“Ernest is back.”
“What?” Guppy glared at him, not believing him at all.
“I- I saw him. When I was out looting,” Eyes tried to explain, but Guppy already held the notion that Eyes was a liar. He did not even consider the possibility of this outlandish claim.
“Sure buddy.”
“It's true, I really did.”
“You shot him. You killed him,” Guppy responded sharply. “Don’t try to lie to Eddie about this too.”
Eyes sighed. “I won’t. But at least come to where I found him. I swear, on the Holy Eye, I am not lying.”
Guppy felt slightly more persuaded as Eyes bet on his god. “... fine.” Guppy looked back at Eddie, who was drinking probably his fourth soda. “Eddie, we’re going to go look for loot. You need to stay here, okay?”
“Okayyy.”
“Good. Just stay there and play with Spiffo and Pancake.” Guppy smiled at him before he and Eyes left through the kitchen window. Both Guppy and Eyes were upset by Eddie’s mental decline, but they were at least relieved that he didn't remember Furbert so that they wouldn't have to go back to the hellhole called Raven Creek.
The two walked through the pines, a silent tension between them, as there always had been since they met. But the tension seemed to be building by the day as Guppy became more and more fed up.
There were a couple zombies that they had no trouble killing. Eyes brought Guppy into the same house he had seen Ernest in. They snuck to the kitchen where…
There was nothing. Ernest was not there.
Eyes led Guppy throughout the house. Guppy became impatient. He was to back 100% doubting Eyes. “So you are lying.” Guppy crossed his arms.
“No, I did see him, I really did,” Eyes defended himself.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you even try to lie about this…?” Guppy glared at Eyes and then left without looking back.
Eyes seethed silently, watching Guppy leave. He stayed back for a moment before following Guppy back to the house.
When they got back, there were eight empty soda cans in front of Eddie.
“I don't feel so hot,” Eddie complained.
Guppy sighed. “What's wrong Eddie?”
“I drank too many sodas…”
Eyes walked up besides Guppy. “You need to be punished now, Eddie.”
“Yes, Eyes…”
Guppy scowled. “Let it go, Eyes. He's already suffered enough, don't ya think?”
“One can never suffer enough.”
“I think so. Don't hurt him.” He stood in between Eddie and Eyes. Eyes scoffed.
“Guppyy, I need to be punished.”
“No you don't. Now stop trying to hurt Eddie, Eyes!” Guppy protested.
Eyes walked closer. “Move.”
“Nuh-uh.”
Eyes stared at Guppy for a moment, breathing heavily before stepping back. “Alright, Guppy.”
“Good. Now if I catch you trying to hurt Eddie one more time, you'll have it coming, dangit!” Guppy pointed a finger at Eyes. Eyes just stared back then walked away.