Chapter Text
The loops are starting to run together, so much so that it's become hard to track what you still need to do and what you've already done. It would be handy to have a list... Maybe the next time you visit Loop, you should bring up the idea. Then again, wouldn't they just make fun of you for it? That's why you have them, after all... even if they don't come into the House with you.
You're in the main entry area of the House anyways, or what you've started calling the main entryway. It's not the first floor - that's past the Death Corridor and you need the key first. Luckily it's always laying in plain sight, but having to go collect it every time is getting to be such a pain. It's nice walking with the others though, so maybe you didn't mind too much.
The key hangs from your hand as you exit the side room as quietly as you can, leaving behind the chatter of your party. Normally they'd trail after you, following you deeper and deeper into the King's deathtrap that was once the House of Change, but you'd figured out a loop or two ago that Mirabelle would go into depth about explaining the Change belief's multiple symbols and such. Bonnie would ask some innocent if not teasing questions. Isabeau would correct them or offer his own insight on what he understood on the practices. Odile would take notes, just enough to buy you a few minutes to do what you need to do. Normally you'd stand there quietly, basking in the sound of their words and their presence, but not this time.
There's something you're forgetting here, and it's eating away at the back of your brain. You're just not sure what it is. You've checked the side room for all the tonics to give Bonnie, and you made sure not to lunge at the Sadnesses at the entrance even though you really didn't want to waste time. Sure, Loop could probably tell you whatever it was that slipped your mind, but you'd feel pretty foolish for calling them so soon after getting into the place. You should have this down pat, after all. How many times have you gone though this place? Ten times? Twenty? Thirty? Enough times to know how this part goes.
Plus, if you mess up, you could always loop back. But you really didn't want to just yet. It was so early, after all. You wanted a bit more time with everyone before you had to wake up and do it all over again.
The door unlocked without much fanfare, letting you into the hallway that lead to the rest of the first floor. It was bare, just containing the far door and the six pillars, one of which was already crumbling. That feeling at the back of your mind gets worse. It's something about this room you forgot, and you're no closer to figuring it out. A memory sort of comes forth, of Mirabelle panicking about this hall for some reason, but her words escape you and blend into the same static that fills every corner of your brain. You step further into the room, looking over everything as best you can. It's a bit harder now that you're missing one of your eyes, but you manage. It just takes you a little longer to find things.
There has to be something to this room, something important. Maybe if you investigate the walls?
"Sif?" Isa's voice calls out to you, and you find yourself pausing to look back at him. He's followed you into the hall, standing just past the first set of pillars as he looks at you. There's a hint of relief in his eyes, like he's glad you didn't wander off into trouble. Was that something you did a lot before this? "Where're you going? We should probably stick together rather than wandering off in this place. This has to be the way forward, right?"
"Isa?" You're puzzled, because he shouldn't be here just yet. "I thought you were with the others." Under your cloak, you wring your hands together. This is... new. Well, going off by yourself into the depths of the House is certainly new, but you were only doing so to figure out what you forgot. Isabeau following you wasn't something you factored in. He shrugged at your question, a grin on his face as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I mean, I was. Then I was gonna ask you something and realized you weren't there. I saw the open door and figured you had to be in here, since I'm pretty sure Sadnesses can't open locked doors and all that. I told the others I'd be right back, though I'm fairly sure Bonbon's not gonna be that patient-"
"And I have the key." You interrupt him even though you know that's rude. Isabeau startles just a bit, straightening before he realizes that yeah, you do have the key. Or you did - the door kind of took it when it opened.
"Oh. Okay, that too." He smiles sheepishly at you, laughing at himself a little as he puts his hands on his waist. You can't help but chuckle at him. For once, you don't sound tired or weak. It's just a normal laugh, like the ones you used to do so early on in this endless cycle you find yourself trapped in. All it took was getting something new.
It's nice. It makes things feel like they're gonna be okay for once.
There's a click above you, the sound of something scraping. Your hair stands up on the back of your neck as your mind screams at you. Isabeau takes one glance up, then looks back at you. His eyes are wide and scared as he reaches for you.
"SIF, MOVE!" But you don't move. You look up instead, frozen in place and eyes wide as you spot the boulder plummetting down at you.
The trap, the trap, how could you forget about the-
Your thoughts are derailed, but not by the boulder. Somehow, by some insane feat, Isabeau crosses the distance between you two and shoves you so hard your head spins. You skid backwards, tumbling until you come to rest on your side, facing the far end of the hall and its closed door.
The boulder crashes to the ground, sending rubble everywhere and shaking dust down from the ceiling and pillars. A few pieces bounce harmlessly off your shoulder and back. It sounds... different than it had on other loops, but maybe that's just the ringing in your ears.
Your head spins as you push yourself to your knees. Your hat is just a stretch away from you, and you reach for it on instinct. Stupid Stupid Siffrin, you forgot about the trap again! You were always so careful about it before, only dying to it that first time before you knew what you were doing, and you forgot about it! Oh how embarassing that would have been, to wake up back in the meadow and have to face Loop. No doubt they would have taunted you about your misstep and wasting a perfectly good cycle. Thank goodness Isa spotted the rock first and got you both out of the way.
He... How did he see the rock, anyways? When you're all traversing the hall, no one ever sees it before it's too late.
You shake your head. Maybe it's just a quirk of a new loop. If Isa comes into the room with you, he'll see the rock and make sure you're out of the way. That's a good thing to know - maybe in the future it can hurry things along if you need to search the House again. Still, you should check if Isa's okay. He should have called out to you by now. Did he make himself dizzy when he dove out of the way of the boulder?
You finally manage to pull yourself together, shaking your head once more as you go to turn. You place your hand down to anchor yourself, only to put it in something wet. The ground makes a quiet splattering sound, like you just knelt in a puddle. Your stomach churns for reasons you can't name.
"... Isa?" You finally tear your eyes away from the ground and turn as you search for him.
You find him and...
And...
Isabeau's sprawled out on the ground, mostly face down with one arm extended towards you. His eyes stare blankly off to the side, blank like he's zoned out. The back of his head is coated in the same stuff you're currently kneeling in. It coats the back of his outfit too, along with the front of the rock that hides the... the...
The rock, it's...
Where's the other half of his body...?
"Isa...?" Your voice trembles, wavers. Anyone's would, when face to face with the sight in front of them. Your hands shake as you slowly reach out. This can't be real. It can't, it just can't. You were just in the hall and sure, you misstepped but Isabeau shouldn't have been in the path of the rock, it always hits you. It only ever hits you.
"Siffrin!? Isabeau!?" The high-pitched call from Mirabrelle barely snaps you out of it. The others. The others are coming and you can't do anything to stop them. You can't change it. You hear Mirabelle round the corner and skid to a halt as she screams. Your ears fill with static.
You're only vaguely aware of Odile rounding the corner too. She skids to a halt too, her book falling from her hands and landing in the spreading liquid. Her research is going to be ruined- There is no research, you correct yourself on instinct, because you can't think about anything other than the still form of your... your... your...
You can't look any of them in the eyes. Your eyes are too focused on the floor, on what decorates the floor now.
Just past Isabeau's outstretched hand rests his earring, shattered from its impact against the floor. You're not even sure how it was knocked this far - with the way the rock falls, it shouldn't be possible- The thought escapes you as you hesitantly reach out and take it in your hands. It's fragile, clinking together as the two halves roll into each other in your palm. It's so very unlike Isabeau that your brain short circuits again.
A memory pops to the front of your mind, unbidden and unwanted. The second floor classroom and the book about Bonding Earrings, how you read it and Isabeau so patiently explained what those earrings meant. The earrings he wears - wore - wears isn't Bonding Earrings, but a painful part of you wonders if he ever planned on making some for the two of you. You don't even know how to make earrings, but you wanted to learn at some point, once you were all free from this blinding loop and now you never will because-
Because-
B E C A U S E -
You hear screaming. You don't know if it's you, Bonnie, Mirabelle, or a combination of all of you. You don't care. All you can do is hunch over, earring clutched tightly in your hands as you try to breathe. It digs through your gloves, cutting through the fabric and slicing your skin.
Good. You deserve it.
You clutch at it tighter, as if inflicting this small amount of pain will somehow make up for the crime you've committed, the pure life you've taken from the world. Why did he push you? Why couldn't he just let you get crushed? You'd have just looped, you would have been fine, you would have-
The blood soaks the tiles, seeping into your trousers and your cloak, turning the light fabric a dark dark shade. No amount of craft could remove the feeling, the touch, the texture of-
The earring pieces tumble to the ground as you cover your mouth. Your stomach drops, threatens to empty at the sticky feeling of your clothes and the metalic disgusting smell drifting through your nose. You can't help but scream, gag, choke. You wish wish wish with everything that you have that what you're seeing isn't real, that it didn't happen, that Isabeau is still alive and smiling and happy and not a smear on the ground because you couldn't watch where you were going-
You feel a tug, no, like someone tears your stomach out-
The door creaks as you push it open, stepping into the all too familiar hallway. Behind you in the side room, Mirabelle is still explaining the meaning of the keychain to Odile and Bonnie. You're sure Isabeau's listening too, since he's always so considerate to anything anyone else is explaining. But you can't hear it. Your ears are ringing too much as your mind races and shows you the hall.
The hall. The hall, the hall, the blood coating the tiles and the rock plummetting down, down, down-
You have to stop it. You do, you have no choice, you can't see that again-
You stumble as you rush over to the switch, finally remembering that it's in the broken pillar because of course it is. Your fingers scramble over stone and rubble as you look for the hidden button. You barely register the sound of footsteps entering the room, heavy and hurried.
"Sif?! Sif!" A cold chill runs down the back of your neck and tears prick at your eye. That's Isa. Isa, Isabeau, why is he here!? Shouldn't he be with Mira and the other two in the other room? That's why you ran ahead, so you could clear the trap before any of them got too close-
Your hand hits the button. You hear the click of the mechanism, start hearing the scraping of the rock. As soon as he sees you, he pauses, a relieved expression on his face but he's too close, he's in too perfect of a spot and it's going to happen again, you have to stop it, stop it before you're coated in his blood again-
You know you open your mouth, try to tell him to stop, move, don't stand there, but you move faster than your words can. Your body moves before your mind can. You don't think you've ever moved that fast before. Your heart pounds as you rush, your legs already aching from the sudden exertion. You also don't recall your voice being so strained and sharp, echoing off the walls as you scream.
"ISA, MOVE!"
The two of you collide as you slam into him as hard as you can, and the two of you tumble head over heels down the hall. Isabeau reacts on instinct, his arms coming around you to shield you from the ground, but all you can focus on is the sound of the boulder slamming into the ground again, shaking the walls and freeing dust to fall from the pillars and ceiling. Debris go scattering across the entire room Somewhere in the back of your mind, you know the noise would bring the other three running. But at least this time they wouldn't be walking in on the sight of a massacre with the hall painted-
Isabeau's arms tighten around you, snapping you out of your spiralling thoughts. You can't get out of his grip, but you don't need to in order to do a quick once-over on him. Two arms, two legs, a face pale but not deathly so. He's breathing against you, chest heaving like he's ran a marathon. Your heart flutters and calms.
Alive. He's alive. You did it. You're both okay.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Isabeau loosens his grip on you. Taking the chance, you push yourself up just enough to look him in the eyes. He looks you over, eyes darting as he does his own once-over on you. You can't bring yourself to rush him.
"... You okay, Sif?" His voice is strained, hands resting on your upper arms. When you nod in response, he gives a heavy sigh, letting his head rest back against the pavement. "Thank Change... You could have-"
"Are you okay?" He blinks and stares at you, obviously caught off guard. But the look you give him must tell him how important it is that he answer, because he glances over himself before nodding.
"Yeah... Yeah, I think I'm alright. Nothin' feels broken, at least." At the confirmation, you sigh and just rest your head against his shoulder, your hat slipping off your head and coming to rest upside down on the ground beside his head. You feel his hand drift up, hovering over the back of your head like he's not sure if he's allowed to touch you. Your skin tingles at the thought of it, but it's not enough to get you to raise your head.
Eventually, his hand settles gently in your hair, and you let out a breath you weren't aware you were holding. Neither of you say anything else.
Eventually, though you're sure it only took a few minutes, you hear footsteps rushing your way. It occurs to you the kind of position the two of you are in, and your face goes hot. It's instinct that makes you shove yourself away, sitting roughly on the stone floor as Isabeau pushes himself to a sitting position. There's still a hint of terror in his eyes, buried under the sheer relief he still feels at the sight of you, but his face is about as flushed as yours must be. You both glance away as you hear the rest of the party come running.
"Siffrin?! Isabeau!?" Mirabelle calls out, stumbling around the rock in search of you. Odile isn't far behind, sweat already beading on her brow as she turns the corner. Both slide to a halt at seeing you both unharmed. You can practically see both of them double over with a relieved sigh, the focused and fearful expressions fading to relief. "Oh, thank Change you're both okay! We heard the thud and then I remembered that this is the Death Corridor and I -"
"Mirabelle said that one of these hallways was trapped." Odile interjected, straightening where she stood. Bonnie raced up next to her, frying pan in hand as if they could fight off whatever was threatening them. They could try, at least, but they didn't need to right now. "I'm glad to see you both weren't caught in it... if only barely."
"Why did you two rush off?!" Mirabelle asked, coming closer and kneeling beside you both as her eyes look you over. She clutches her hands tightly in front of her, an effort to keep herself from nervously picking at her nails. "With the King and his Sadnesses around, we should... we should really stick together!"
"I..." You try to come up with something, anything, to excuse why you rushed off without them. You come up with nothing, at least nothing that wouldn't be suspicious, and maybe that'll make things even more suspicious. Isa gives a weak smile as he sits up. You shift to let him, moving so you're sitting on the ground instead of on him.
"We thought we saw another Sadness." He says, lies, rubbing the back of his neck. You can't help the look you give him, confused and surprised all at the same time. "Thought we might have missed one and, well, didn't want it to ambush us in that small room so we... we thought we could take care of it on our own."
He's lying for you? Why? Sure, he wouldn't know what happened before - a blessing, honestly - but... wait. Why did he chase you in here? It's not like you were in danger.
"If you truly saw one, you should have called for us." Odile huffs, adjusting her glasses and fixing you both with a stare. You're familiar with the glare. It's the kind that precedes a lecture when you've done something stupid. Isabeau and you sit there, accepting your fate. "It's dangerous for just one of us to engage with those things. We don't know what the King's done to this place.. He could have set any number of traps for us."
"Y-Yeah!" Mirabelle pipes up, eyes squeezed shut as she joined the lecture. "Plus, the other Housemaidents told me this was a trapped hallway! You could have been really hurt!" When you glance up, you realize that there's tears in her eyes. Great, you've made Odile disappointed and Mirabelle cry. Great going, Siffrin, you're a real scumbag. All you can do is drop your gaze to the floor in shame as Isabeau sighs.
"... Yeah, our bad." He apologizes for the both of you. You find yourself mumbling an apology as well, glancing up and looking as guilty as possible. You've had some practice in that. "We'll stick together from now on."
"Za, Frin, don't worry us like that again! We thought something really bad had happened." Bonnie huffs, looking away with their arms crossed. You can see how their shoulders shake slightly, like they're trying their best not to tremble. It makes you want to apologize, but you know how they bristle at the idea, so you don't. A beat passes before they look back to the both of you. "... Wait, where is the Sadness now?"
"It got its world rocked." The pun escape you before you can really think about it. The effect is immediate and does exactly what you want it to.
"Siffrin!!!" Mirabelle shouts, reaching out and shoving you over with a light shove. Bonnie groans as Odile pinches the bridge of her nose. Isabeau chuckles, the tension finally fading from his body. You let yourself tip over with a triumphant smile. Everyone's relaxed a little more now. You've broken the tension, if only for a few minutes.
"Puns aside, perhaps we should stick to the walls for now, just until we're out of this hallway." Odile suggested, helping Isabeau up. Mirabelle helps you stand as Bonnie pouts and crosses their arms. You're sure you're going to hear about this later from them. "It'd be illogical for the King to trap the walls along with the center of the hall. But do be careful, Siffrin. We don't need more boulders falling on our heads."
Everyone seems to agree on this, so you take the lead as always, and Isa slips into his space in line. Your heart still thuds in your ears from the near miss, but you force yourself to take a calming breath. The loop wasn't broken this time, you can still get to the King. Everyone's alright, if only a bit shaken.
You can continue.
You take a step forward, falling back into the familiar cadance as you all head forth and exit the hall.
There's a familiar sound in the back of your mind, like the chime of a bell. You half expect Loop to pipe up with some sarcastic note about how clumsy you were. Maybe they'd point out how slow you were to loop back - like being traumatized by watching your crush get crushed by a boulder meant for you isn't grounds enough to be a bit slow on the uptake. Instead, it's like a whisper, a ghost of a voice you don't recognize. You aren't sure you want to recognize it.
... A fragment of a Memory... Three to go.
It's almost enough to make you stumble over your next step. You keep your feet steady.
You don't want to know what 'Three to go' could possibly mean. You have the sickening feeling you're going to find out one way or another.