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Chapter 1: A new character
Looking down at the cars on the road, Zooble finally felt free. This bridge would be the moment they had been waiting for.
"I can't fucking take this anymore," they screamed silently. All the rage and depression they had kept inside, it could all be gone. Just one small step up.
Zooble lifted one leg up onto the metal fence. Then the other. Stood up on this little fence, they knew this was the way out they had been waiting for for so long. One step. Just one step to freedom . To never have to feel like this again. To leave everything behind and never have to look back.
They looked around for the last time. The air felt fresher and the darkness more welcoming than ever before. They had always felt safest in the dark but this was different, enlightening almost.
And then, then they felt ready. Time to leave it all behind.
One foot left the bridge. The other followed quickly behind. The freedom so close now. Their feet left the bridge and they were escaping. Nothing left in their thoughts but freedom and at last, they had it.
As they closed their eyes, ready to leave, they lurched backwards and back onto the bridge. They lay on the bridge, confused and angry.
"What the fuck?!"
A shadowy figure, presumably a man, leant over them ,breathing heavily in their ear. The figure moved his hands to reach for something in his pocket. Quickly , he snapped a headset around Zooble's head and tightened it as far as it would go, and a grin spread across his face
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Zooble opened their eyes. Bright colours blasted their eyes from every direction. "Where the hell am I?" Zooble muttered. They wandered around aimlessly for a while taking in all the abstract shapes and beaming lights. Looking round a corner, they saw a stage and few sofas. Looking closer, they saw that there were other people? A ragdoll-like character with red hair, a purple rabbit, a king chess piece in a purple robe and a masked character made of red ribbons. "Oh!" The ragdoll looked directly at Zooble. "I think a new person has joined." Zooble walked towards where the characters were gathered. The ragdoll spoke again, "Yeah you are new here, aren't you?". She paused. "Hang on, I'm getting ahead myself, my name is Ragatha." She turned to the other characters
The chess piece turned to face Zooble ."huh?"
Ragatha spoke up again. "Oh right, that's Kinger.He's, um a little ...."
"He's cRaZy," the rabbit butted in. "I'm Jax by the way."
But Zooble didnt seem to notice; they were too busy glancing over at the ribbon girl curled up on a sofa, scribbling away at a sketchbook.
"What's so interesting about cry baby over there huh?" Jax appeared at Zooble's side.
Zooble jumped. "What?! Nothing! Is that actually her name?"
"Nah, her names gangle but hey, what's wrong with nicknames?. Anyway, what's your name newbie?"
"...wait what! What's my name? Why don't I know my name and and where am I, what is this place, how do I leave?"
Jax smiled "ah, finally sinking in, huh? I'll just cut to the chase. You put on the headset. Now you're here and you cant leave. Also we get sent on "adventures" every day so we don't go insane. Oh! I almost forgot. This whole thing is run by Caine, he's... a lot"
Zooble panicked but hid it well. While they took it all in, it seemed a name had been picked for them. "Zooble"
"I guess this isn't too bad," they thought.
They took another look at Gangle. She blushed and hid her face behind her sketchbook. Zooble smiled.
"Is it nearly dinner yet? I'm hungry," Jax complained.
Before anyone could react, Caine appeared, floating a few feet away from them.
"Well hello my bubbling bathtubs, I have just come to tell you that we will be having dinner in about 5.7 minutes," Caine laughed. "Oh! I almost forgot. Hello, new human, Zooble is it? Oh well anyway, I'm sure Ragatha or someone could show to your room later."
Zooble looked surprised, "Wait. We have rooms?"
"Yeah, we dont need to eat or sleep or anything but it's kind of nice to have some sort of reality I guess " Jax said, "Now lets go eat. I'm starving."
Zooble followed the group to a table and slid into the seat next to Gangle. Gangle smiled nervously.
"Now my dears, here is your dinner, made by our head Bubble chef."
Gangle whispered to Zooble, "Bubble is Caine's assistant."
Bubble clacked together a pair of tongs. "Made with all the love I'm legally allowed to give."
Jax immediately started putting food onto his plate but seemed to recoil every time he got near the corn.
"So I'm stuck here, forever and I cant leave. What do i do now. What have I done. There has to be a way to leave this place." Zooble thought .
"Um, Zooble, are you going to eat?" Gangle looked at them concerned.
"Yeah, right sorry."
As soon as they had all finished dinner. Jax stood up and went to his room. Kinger retreated to his pillow for. Ragatha stood. "So, Zooble, do you want me to show you to your room."
Gangle looked up, " Uh, Ragatha, do you think maybe I could show them to their room instead."
Ragatha looked hurt but hid it quickly. "Oh, um, of course, you go ahead, Gangle. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Ragatha," Gangle replied as she walked with Zooble to their rooms.
After showing Zooble their room ,Gangle started to walk towards hers. As she passed Jax's door, it swung open. Jax grinned at her " Soooo, someone's taking a liking to the newbie awfully quick. Say, what so you see in them anyway."
"What are you talking about?" Gangle continued to her room flustered.
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Zooble took one look at their room and nearly broke down in tears.
They slammed the door and threw themself onto the bed. The room was full of mirrors. They'd never be able to leave without seeing themself in those stupid mirrors.
"I guess I just have to try and follow along with the others until I can leave," Zooble mumbled into the pillow.
Their mind was spiralling
"I'm supposed to be dead "
"How did this even happen"
"How the fuck did I find a way out then get stuck forever "
The rest of the night was restless and quite possibly the worst sleep of their life
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Zooble opened their eyes to be greeted by yet another mirror.
"Fuucck," they groaned, heaving themselves groggily out of the bed.
Opening the door, Zooble was greeted by Ragatha stood about to knock and Gangle stood shyly behind her.
"Good Morning!" Ragatha said cheerily. "I was just about to come see if you were awake". She paused, noticing Zoobles tired expression, "Oh, rough first night? It'll get better, don't worry "