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It's been about two weeks since Deivy had agreed to finally join the safehouse.
Although most the other people in it were... Very annoying and a little incompetent, he'd found it bearable. At the very least, he didn't have to get everything done all by himself like he used to. It wasn't exactly easy surviving out there on your own, after all.
He sighs. Fighting off the urge to mentally kick himself for not accepting their offer to join them sooner when one of their expedition groups found him.
He had his reasons. One of which being, that he needed to find his friend somehow. On the incredibly slim chance they were here.
... Unfortunately, it seemed the only person who Is in this god forsaken place was...
Deivy grunted as he trudged along the Remains- Or well, a portion of it that seemed to have gotten dragged into the Vast- in search for his friend Geometry.
Maybe he was being too hopeful, trying to believe that Geo was in one of these cut off portions of the Remains and that they could Finally reunite. But- Sue him, it was the only thing keeping him going these days, at this point.
His thought process was then interrupted when he'd heard footsteps.
His heartbeat races as he cautiously tries to follow the source of the steps. If this was one of those entities that want to kill him? Then shame on him for being stupid. But he can't pass up the chance that whoever this is could be Geo.
He followed them for a while. Somehow never managing to catch a peek of them as they, for some reason, keep turning corners and going Deeper into the Remains.
'Damnit, slow down-!'
Just as he thinks that, he stops hearing anymore footsteps.
'Did they... stop?'
He peeks the corner, immediately freezing as he realizes where this was.
The monolith.
This was where he'd killed that fake James.
...
And where that said fake James is standing,
Right.
Now.
His mouth opens to say something, to ask "What the hell are you doing here?" only for his throat to close up.
Why does he feel so nervous? So... Scared?
"DE I VY"
James had suddenly called out without turning to face him, causing him to flinch. The doppelganger didn't wait for a response before it continued to speak.
"WH Y?"
...That was the million dollar question now, wasn't it? Yes, Deivy. Why? Why was he sticking around, waiting for the other to finish speaking?
Why wasn't he Running aready?
The doppelganger turned to face him. Looking just as monstrous since he last saw him. His Its expression was... blank, but he couldn't help but get the feeling that it wasn't very happy with him despite that.
It stares at him for a long time, not saying anything. It only Just occurs to him that it was waiting for him to give an answer. But unfortunately, he didn't exactly have any.
The doppelganger seemed to have realized that, as it actually began to Laugh.
"OF C OU RS E."
"WHA T D IDD I EXP E CTT FR O M Y OU ?"
"Y OU R EA L Y AR E"
It abruptly stops laughing.
"J US T LI K E TH EM."
That was the last thing the doppelganger said to him, before it Lunged. Just barely missing him as he'd somehow managed to react in time to dodge.
The chase still felt like a massive blur to him, even now.
But he could still feel his heart practically beating out of his chest as James the doppelganger had maniacally chased him. Using the strange, shifting environment to its advantage.
He felt as if it was trying to torture him in some way, by hunting him along the tunnels as its minions (that it had summoned through its Betrayed accessory) cornered him and it drew closer.
He might've- No, WOULD'VE died there if it weren't for the fact that one of the safehouse's expedition teams just so happened to be exploring the area. And had quickly went to assist him after seeing his state, and the entity after him.
They'd managed to escape with all their lives (albeit Brandon was a Bit more damaged than the others, but it wasn't anything a little repairs couldn't fix apparently), and that was the moment he'd Actually agreed to their offer to join them in the safehouse.
He shakily exhales as he beings his knees up to his chest at the recollection.
Every time he remembers, he starts feeling so Scared. And, for whatever reason... Guilty.
When he calms down, it always pisses him off to no end that he feels that. What does he have to be guilty for?! James The doppelganger had tried to KILL him! And it was greatly Enjoying its attempt to do so!
But, a traitorous part of his mind supplied, he wouldn't have done so if Deivy just hadn't,
Hadn't...
...Killed, him.
...
He squashes that train of thought quickly.
No.
It still would've done so, even if the lanterns hadn't killed it.
It wasn't a real person, it was just a doppelganger. And like his doppelganger, it was Gonna kill him eventually. That's just how they were. And that's what they'll always be.
...But can he really say that, now that he was in this situation? A situation where what should've been a game, was now his Reality?
James experienced the same thing. Remembered it like Deivy did too, despite how artificial those memories were.
If he had been in James' shoes now, and met someone who just saw all of this as a game, like he did, would the same thing happen?
Would they disregard him for not being as real as them too? Would they attack and kill him without a second thought, despite the fact he just wanted Answers?
Would they?
...
He doesn't. Care.
The doppelganger had dropped its facade. It wanted nothing more than to kill him now.
It didn't matter.
Or maybe he just doesn't want to come to terms with the fact that he was a murderer now.
Or that maybe, just maybe, this was why Geo had been avoiding him for so long.
. . .
He was getting hungry.
He should go eat dinner. God knows Noli would have his head if he skipped a meal. Despite how the shopkeep acts, she was quite strict with everyone in the safehouse taking proper care of themselves by making sure they don't stay up too late and making them eat 3 times a day despite their limited resources.