Chapter Text
Denial.
Azure was everything to Two Time. Their best friend, their lover, Azure was always there for Two Time. Even at their lowest. But they betrayed him. All for a false god that they worship.
And yet, Azure gave them a reassuring smile. One last time before they died.
----
Two Time looked at themself in the mirror, still has that usual smile on their face even if it was just forced now.
"Azure never died..! it's just the spawn testing if im loyal." They would repeat over and over again, staring at their face in the mirror, their hand gripping their dagger tightly
go to sleep now, Nightshade.
Two Time calms down and sets the dagger down. The Spawn wouldn't like it if they keep thinking about Azure. They're still there somewhere right? they're still alive.
Two Time made their way inside their bedroom. They glanced at the nightshade flowers that Azure had gifted to them, it was still nice and fresh like how it was before.
Two Time lied down on their bed, closing their eyes shut, hoping for a good slumber.
Minutes pass. They can't seem to fall asleep.
---
minutes became hours. Two Time was still wide awake. They can't stop thinking about Azure, his smile, his tear stained face before he died, no. That's not right. Azure isn't dead. Yeah. This is just the spawn testing Two Time.
After what feels like eternity, Two Time finally falls asleep, their arms wrapped around a pillow for comfort.
---
the sun started to shine brightly outside, making its way inside of Two Time's room, painting their bed in golden stripes. Two Time starts to wake up, their grip loosening on the pillow they were holding all night.
they sat up and kneeled down infront of the shrine they had built for the spawn. praising it and saying its name over and over again for a few minutes
"Spawn, is it really true? this is all just a test right? Azure is still alive, somewhere." they whispered, bowing their head and their hands clasped together.
They stood up and hurriedly went to the church, they've forgotten their meal again. If only Azure was there to remind them.
"my apologies for being a minute late.." they said quietly, just enough for almost everyone in the church to hear. they kneeled down and started praising The Spawn.
---
Anger.
they sat at the edge of their bed, fidgeting with their fingers. Why does The Spawn had to treat them like this? Why does The Spawn make them feel like this?
Two Time couldn't help but feel anger towards the spawn and especially for themself, How can they do this to Azure? How can they act like nothing happened after this? Azure's body is probably rotting somewhere in the nightshade field, and they're just here, surely they deserve punishment for this. They needed to feel what Azure felt, something close to that,
they deserve pain for punishment.
that's not it. Put the dagger down, Nightshade.
Two Time couldn't help but be mad at themself for letting The Spawn take over their mind and actually succeed to kill Azure, they lied down on their bed, calming themself in attempt to fall asleep
---
It's the nightmares again.
Really? Two Time can't sleep properly these nights after losing Azure.
in their dreams, they're standing alone in the nightshade fields. They look down at their feet standing upon the blood of their lover, Azure. They know what they did is wrong and they cannot escape it.
why, Nightshade? i thought you loved me.
Azure's voice echoes inside their head, as if to drown them in their guilt, a reminder of what they had done.
Why, Two Time? it should've been you that died. It should've been you that gave up their second life. Why would you do this? you obeyed the spawn but at what cost.
—
Two Time quickly sits up, sweat pouring down their forehead and cheeks, panting heavily, Two Time reaches for the glass of water they had placed on their nightstand, downing it in one go. They glanced at the time.
It was still late at night. They need to get enough sleep to attend the church tomorrow.
The cultist closed their eyes, tossing and turning. Attempting to find comfortable positions they could sleep in. but of course, their mind still refused to let them sleep.
They stare blankly at the ceiling, the dim light making it hard to see. It was quiet. The only things the cultist could hear was the slow ticking of the clock and their steady breathing. It was boring. There was nothing they could do except to stare at the ceiling until morning. They didn't want to do that. They'll be too tired to go to church.
Two Time closed their eyes, clinging onto a pillow as their thoughts start to fade and they slowly lose consciousness, drifting onto sleep.