Chapter Text
The path outside Elder Kettle’s house was usually brimming with life. Flowers humming, birds whistling along.
But today…something was off.
Cuphead noticed it first.
He stepped off the porch, stretching his arms over his head, waiting for the usual chorus to kick in.
But there was only silence.
He frowned. “…Huh.”
The daisies lining the path were still smiling up at the sun.
They just weren’t moving.
Cuphead crouched down, squinting at them.
“Hey,” he said, snapping his fingers once. “You guys broken or somethin’?”
He waved his hand in front of one.
Still nothing.
“Okay, that’s weird.”
The screen door creaked behind him and Mugman stepped outside. He paused when he saw Cuphead kneeling in the grass.
“…Please tell me you’re not starting something with the flowers.”
“I’m not!” Cuphead said, pointing. “Look at ’em!”
Mugman sighed, but crouched anyway.
His expression changed almost immediately.
The flowers didn’t react to him either.
“That’s…” Mugman trailed off.
Cuphead crossed his arms. “Told ya.”
Mugman gently touched one of the petals. It didn’t respond.
A breeze passed through the yard. The grass moved. The trees rustled.
But the flowers stayed perfectly still.
Mugman's voice shook slightly.
“…Cuphead.”
“Yeah?”
“This isn’t—”
Something hit the ground between them with a wet splat.
They both looked down.
A dark drop spread slowly in the dirt.
Ink.
Cuphead blinked. “…You spill that?”
“No,” Mugman said.
Another drop fell, landing near Cuphead’s shoe.
They both looked up.
The sky was clear. Bright. Blue. Empty.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then a thick drop of black fell from nowhere and splattered against the ground.
Cuphead swallowed.
“…Okay,” he said, a little quieter now. “Now that’s weird.”
Mugman didn’t look away from the sky. “…We should go see if anyone else is seeing this.”
Cuphead hesitated. Then he nodded.
“Yeah.”
He glanced once more at the motionless flowers.
Their smiles hadn’t changed.