Chapter Text
“The water’s….nice, isn't it Kris?”
Kris bit their lip as their body was pulled deeper into the chilling lake water. Their eyes barely meeting with the girl in front of her, the girl she once considered a friend.
Proceed
A few more steps.
“Kris, don't hesitate,” Noelle muttered, her tone sounding more insistent than before. Kris’ body wasn't even moving on its own any more, Noelle was the one pulling them further out.
Proceed
Another few steps, the water now hitting their ankles. Kris felt Noelle’s glare, and that sickening smile pierced their Soul like a knife.
“Kris….don’t hesitate.”
Her hand gripped tighter.
Proceed
They sank even deeper into the lake, the gentle waves of the water splashed wistfully beneath their feet.
“Haha….it’s….colder than I thought.”
Procee-
“YO GUYS I GOT THE ICE CREAM!”
Kris and Noelle turned towards the voice coming from shore as Susie, ice cream in both hands, came running towards the lake. Kris turned back towards Noelle, her face went from one of unnerving anticipation to one of visible annoyance. They couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, which Noelle caught and shot back a venomous glare.
We’re not done with this.
“Oh, Susie! What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you that,” Susie responded as she took a sizable chunk off the nice cream- flavored ice cream. “Why the hell are you guys standing in the water?”
“Oh, um! Me and Kris were….looking for rocks! They always loved finding weirdly shaped rocks and throwing them at me faha!”
Kris shot back with a befuddled look, one that showed more concern about her remembering that childhood detail than whatever was about to happen to them just a minute ago.
Susie tilted her head, unsure if Noelle was pulling her leg or was giving a genuine answer. “You uh, should probably get out of that soon, the water gets pretty cold, you know.”
……
“Wh-what, you think I've swam in the lake?! I don't even know how to swim!”
Noelle and Kris turned to face each other, a mix of emotions on both their faces as they awkwardly walked back to shore, clothes drenched and the atmosphere uneasy. Kris cautiously caught a glance at Noelle, her soaked hair couldn't hide the twisting of her face, and then….
A smile.
Kris quickly turned away.
Nothing changed.
“Faha! Susie, you got some ice cream all over your nose!”
Nothing changed.
“You good there, Noelle?”
“Yeah….I'm just feeling….”
Nothing changed.
“H-huh.? Dad…fell down….?
Because a Noelle, is just a….
Kris, it's a Dark World!
Noelle stopped dead in her tracks.
Is that…Susie’s voice?
“Your dad’s in there, hurry!”
Kris’ dad? Doesn't that mean….
Noelle quickly turned back from whatever destination she had been destined to go, and ran straight back towards Flower King. Sure enough, she caught sight of Kris, standing silently in front of the flower shop, deep black smoke pouring out from its entrance. An unfamiliar sight, emitting a hint of familiarity.
Before Noelle could call out to Kris, she watched as they plunged something deep into their chest, before falling backwards into Flower King.
What in the….
Noelle hurried to the door. As she was about to enter, she stopped just short when she realized she couldn't see anything inside. There was no room inside.
There was no floor inside.
Noelle peered down into the endless void below, her mind raced with dozens of questions: What is this smoke? Should she call for help?
….
Should she go in?
Her legs inched closer to the edge of the door, a looming curiosity started creeping up the back of her mind.
Jump.
Why shouldn’t she? Isn’t this what she wanted? To do something crazy? Her life had always been railroaded by the invisible hand of fate; it was suffocating. After what just happened with Kris, despite Susie’s intervention, it felt like for the first time in her life…..
She had truly gotten a taste of Freedom.
Arms outstretched, Noelle Holiday took one last look at the setting sun, before “fate” pushed her into the abyss….
….and her world was covered in darkness.