Chapter Text
Day…
He wasn't even sure what day it was anymore. Time didn't seem to pass here. Caine knew if he thought too hard about it he knew he would spiral even more, so he shut the thought down.
He flew about the circus grounds, watching as Kinger and Queenie discussed things with their family friend and coworker, Scratch. Caine liked him. He'd known the man practically his whole life, even.. before all of this. He even considered him his uncle.
If only he could get rid of whatever was making him die. He remembered his father had mentioned him having a tumor. Caine would have grimaced if he still had his face, but he could only settle for his upper teeth scrunching. He hated knowing how useless he really was here. Even with his admin powers that Kinger had so generously given him, he still had no idea why they couldn't leave.
That…thing wouldn't let them.
He could feel eyes on him. Unnerved, he turned, looking back at the stage. The curtains were drawn, and no one was there. He floated there, confused, feeling the prickling sensation of unease as it washed over him. He turned, intent on going over to the others-
–and gasped so hard as two beady eyes stared into his.
That rogue AI, Bubble he called himself, floated there before him, snickering at his reaction. He always seemed to appear out of nowhere, intent on causing trouble for them all. He had only appeared before them days(?) ago, and yet he still would not let them leave no matter how many times they asked.
“Oh boy,” Bubble chortled, wiping a stray tear from his eye. “I got a real good scare out of you that time! Ha!”
Caine huffed, glaring at him as he looked over his shoulder. His parents were unaware of Bubble being there, still talking with Scratch.
“What do you want?” He asked, looking back at the AI, crossing his arms.
“Can't I see how one of my little humans are doing?” Bubble floated around him, slithering around his body like a snake. Caine visibly tensed up, not liking how close he was. The AI stopped at his side, resting his elbow upon his denture head, leaning on him as he studied the others from across the circus.
Caine didn't say a word, instead following his gaze as he looked at the others. He didn't like how uncomfortable this stupid AI made him feel. If he could find a way to get rid of him, then maybe they'd all have a chance-
“It's pointless, you know that, right?”
He froze. “Wh..what?” There was no way he could read his thoughts. This was VR, there was no possible way.
Bubble let one of his fingers roam over Caine's head. “You know, leaving. I've seen you talk about it. You're not going anywhere anytime soon, so you should just give up on trying to think of a way out. Just saying.”
Caine grew even more nervous at his words, feeling dread settle in his stomach like a rock. “You…you're just an AI, you don't know anything-”
“Oh, then why are you still here?” Bubble sneered, leaning down to get right in his face. “Go on, leave. You have those little admin powers your daddy gave you, don't you? Do something with them, I'm just dyyyying to see.” A wicked grin stretched across his circle shaped head, forcing Caine to look away.
Bubble watched him intently for a moment, sharp teeth widening more as the silence stretched. “That's what I thought.” He pet Caine's head, making the human jolt. He continued, “You really are pathetic. Can't even stand up to one defenseless AI. How reliable are you really here? Did you really think you were doing something when you joined them?”
Caine stared at the floor, the words hitting so abruptly and deep that he didn't even have the strength to float anymore. He slowly sank to the ground on his knees. His jaw opened, shaking. He felt nauseous, riddled with guilt that only opened the wound more with Bubble's words. “I..I was just trying to help them..”
“By doing what? You're all the way over here. You aren't doing a thing.” The AI's cheshire grin was nearly splitting his face now. Impossibly so. He was enjoying this. “Face it, kid, you're stuck here. For however long I want you to. And the best part is-”
He suddenly grabbed ahold of the back of his head, wrenching Caine's wobbly unfocused eyes to his. Tears had begun to well in them. Bubble felt a sense of satisfaction. How fast he could rile this human up so easily.
“You'll get to watch as every single one of them leave you. They won't want to stay here with me. Who knows,” he shrugged nonchalantly, “your own parents won't even stick around either.”
Caine stared at him in horror, trembling all over. He quickly shut his dentures tight, not wanting to look into those eyes any longer. “No- n-no, that..that w-won't happen, I won't let them die.” He protested weakly.
Bubble released his grip on his head so he could grab his upper denture and bottom, pulling them apart to open his jaws forcefully, making him look at him. Caine flinched, tears still flowing into his jaw.
“You're such an awful liar. Can't even do it to yourself.” Bubble snarled, still gripping his dentures tightly to keep them from shutting again. “As long as you're here, you're under my rules now. You understand?”
Caine was quivering. He hesitated for a long moment before nodding slowly, not uttering a word. He choked out a soft sob.
Satisfied, Bubble let go of him, making Caine slump over, his hands clawing the floor. He looked down at him with those menacing eyes, studying him as if he was a bug he needed to be squashed. He grinned.
“This is only the beginning. From now on, think of this moment whenever you step out of line.” He gave Caine's head a couple pats, faking sympathy he did not have. Caine whimpered. “I'll see you around.”
He was gone the second he said that, vanished in a puff of white smoke. Caine just sat there, overwhelmed by how much had just happened. His young mind couldn't process everything.
He was so, so afraid.
What if they never got out of here? What if he'd have to watch as every single one of his father's coworkers, even his own mother, died here? Because of…him?
He cradled himself, gloved hands tightening around his arms. He missed the feeling of his own skin. He loved his avatar, but he didn't want to be like this forever.
He hoped it wouldn't be like this.
“Caine? You alright?”
He glanced up, watery eyes meeting those of Kinger. He had wandered over when he saw him sitting all alone. He looked concerned, his blue eyes looking over his slumped form.
“I..” Caine stuttered, slowly rising to stand. His legs felt weak- so he opted to float again. He didn't want his dad to worry about him. About anything. Who knows what this place could do to him.
“Yeah, I-I'm fine. Just needed a moment.” He said, telling half the truth. He really had. Bubble had sapped him of all the confidence he was barely keeping together.
His father frowned with his eyes, moving closer to rest a hand on his shoulder. He knew a lie when he heard one, but he could tell how distraught Caine seemed, so he brushed it off. For now. “Come on over to us. I don't want you being left by yourself here.” He said, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Scratch thinks he might know how to get us out.”
Caine nodded, brushing some arrant tears off his jaw. He really did not want to be alone anymore.
Never again.