Chapter Text
Did you know....the multiverse does exist outside the collective imagination of the human species?
What's more is there exist other beings aside from humans in your own reality? Beings vastly different from me of course.
I'm nothing more than a dismissive
speck in the grand scheme
of power.
You look shocked. Not expecting to see me again, Derek?
Y-you should be dead....
...I know.
I watched you die!
....I know.
So what the hell is all this? Why are you here? How do you know everything that happened?
....why didn't you help?
I would've helped if I could, but Avery wouldn't let me.
No matter what I tried, your dear king made sure I could never get to him.
And so came the end of everything. At least for me.
... huh?
I don't wanna say more than I can, Derek. It hurts me too. There was so much he couldn't handle. He lost his mind and broke everything.
I heard you the first time, which is why I said 'huh?'
Derek....I'm not sure if I'll even be able to do anything past what I'm trying. You won't remember much of this. I'll be surprised if you remember anything.
Our reality doesn't exist anymore. But I'll have to try. Your friend isn't exactly happy to see me still kinda alive.
Find me, then find Avery. The me you'll find is not me, it's confusing but I hope you'll get it. You were the smart one.
Avery will lose it, and destroy everything -
That's bullshit!
Avery is one of the kindest souls out there, he wouldn't simply give up to-t-to that th-THING!
He's a good person. I know that. But having a good soul doesn't exactly mean you're safe from everything.
It doesn't guarantee you living.
I'll send you back as far as I can. Don't know how far I can take you, but hopefully where it isn't too dire.
Looks like it's all coming to a close.
Find the July who exists there. She can't explain everything, but she'll know enough to help you.
I just wish I had more time.
After this I doubt I'll be able to see you again. Hell if I exist after this I'll take it.
Wait, wait wait Wait WAIT, JULY!
Erasing everything huh Avery? Isn't that a bit overkill?
This is the last time I'll ever see you, Derek. And I'm sorry I didn't come any sooner.
It was nice seeing you again, dude.
Goodbye. I hope I never see you again.
Derek opened his eyes to his sight blurry and his face cold. Was he crying? He didn't remember his dream in any way. How bad could it have been to have him in a pool of tears. And more importantly....
Derek's body woke up all at once, scanning the room for Avery.
He wasn't there.
He bolted out the door and rushed downstairs, bursting open all the doors in the house. From the bathrooms, to the kitchen, to the gaming room. Still no sign of him.
He held his dreads tight in his hand, trying to calm himself down. Even if Avery did walk away he couldn't have gone far.
But then again he could, he almost jumped off the neighbor's roof a few days ago when he wasn't conscious.
Just then the doorbell rang, pulling Derek out of his thoughts. It's 3 in the morning. Who would be calling at this hour?
"Um...hello?" A female voice asked when Derek refused to open the door. "I have a guy who looks really sick and says he lives here? Blonde hair, black Radiohead T-shirt. He looks really bad."
Derek sprinted to the door and opened it in a rush. The visitor ran in immediately into the living room, Derek couldn't get a good look at who this person was in the flurry of colors in her rush.
She dropped Avery on the couch and laid him down properly. Closing his eyes when they tried to open again. "I think that's enough for the night."
The mystery lady turned to look at Derek who stared at her in shock. She had a large afro decorated in accessories of all colors, a teal blue crop top and pink shorts, and an army of beads hugged her wrists, waist and left ankle. It surprisingly went well with her smooth caramel skin and the many freckles that kissed her face.
"Sorry for barging in. I'm your neighbor a few blocks down, July Absil." She greeted with a smile that was hiding a lot of worry. Derek staggered a bit before finally being able to talk.
"July?" The dark man sputtered. "I-its me Derek! Derek Hutchins? You were my neighbor in New Mexico before you moved away when we were 15?"
July froze a bit as her face went through a rush of emotions before settling on confused.
"Derek D3rlord3 Hutchins? I haven't seen you in so long. How the hell did we end up neighbors again?"
Just as she was about to rush to hug him. She stopped herself. "No no that's not why I'm here. Derek as much as I miss you and really really REALLY wanna hug you right now....what the fuck did you get yourself into?"
She asked in a firm tone as she reached her hand into her afro bringing out a small crystal and putting it on Avery's chest.
Derek sighed and walked over to the couch opposite Avery, signaling July to sit with him. "It's a long story. Do you still like those?" He tried joking with her but then realized she wasn't laughing.
"Derek I'm being serious. That little crystal is not gonna hold up for too long and I don't need an unwanted guest waking up." She said as she shot a glance at Avery, who was breathing normally now.
Derek took a deep breath as he shifted properly on the couch. "Funny enough....it all started in July."
"How wonderful. "