Chapter Text
The baby did not cry. Neither did the mother.
She lay without breath in the nest of blankets she was placed in.
Bloodied hands held a bloodied body.
Pale.
Fragile.
Different.
"Oh look. Look at it. Look at it's tail, it's skin, it's eyes. It's perfect."
"Gracious Spawn has blessed us with Their vessel. After so many years of wait."
"We can finally reach our ascension."
Two Time lay in mental agony on their bed.
The piece of furniture skinned of all cloth, cool and bare, the cultist vulnerable on it's face.
The winds of a desolate, simulated hell blew in through the open window of the similarly bare cabin, the cold breeze piercing through Two Time's skin.
It had been so many rounds since their beloved had been cursed to the same dimension, forced to play the same games, except on the very opposite point of view.
Two Time could not place their thoughts, for once in their bodily existence.
It pleased them greatly to see their beloved once more. But it scared them.
Azure was mad. Hateful. And he had all the reasons for it, Two Time could see it.
They hadn't seen it for a long time. Couldn't understand it.
But pieces of Azure's anger flooded every round, leaving Two Time to question yet again what their existence truly meant.
Glorious, gracious Spawn. Oh, how They tormented them so.
Two Time truly could not ascertain why their second life ended them up here. Ended their beloved up here.
But Two Time knew better than to question the will of Spawn. Their intentions were not to be interpreted by mortals such as themself.
The rounds could take every bit of sanity Two Time had left. But they would not take their faith.
Even if it hurt their beloved.
They didn't understand why their body shook every time they reminded themself that Spawn was above all. It should be something they were content with.
Accursed physical bodies. They never made sense.
Two Time cracked their eyelids open, met only with the rotting ceiling of their cabin.
So far away from the others, just how they liked it.
The only possessions kept in their cabin were the materials of their shoddily-built shrine to Spawn. It was the best they could do, given their lack of resources.
They hoped Spawn would understand.
Especially after the candles were confiscated by their fellow teammates after Two Time had nearly burnt down their own residence.
They always had to get involved. So what if the cabin had been burnt down? Spawn would bless them with the strength to build a new one. Or that wretched Spectre may take pity on them.
They didn't need that kind of pity from their teammates. They were here for many reasons, but most seemed to deserve this cruel punishment.
Two Time was not sure if they deserved it as well.
They mustn't question Spawn.
But they murdered their beloved in cold blood.
Even though it was to grant them a second life. They would be able to be together wherever the Spawn saw them fit.
But Azure did not express his desire for that, did he?
Azure was a heretic. That much was certain. And now he was claiming not only the commune a lie, but gracious Spawn Themself.
Azure reached out for proof. He did not receive any in his first life.
Two Time had. But no one, not even Azure, would ever believe that.
Great Spawn, what were they to do?
What would it take to bring Azure back to him? Heretic or not.
At this point, Two Time found it hard to care.
They just wanted their soulmate back.
Two Time shut their eyes again, tightly. Willing the water from their face away.
They never cried. It was a weakness Spawn forbade. There was no reason to be sad when second chances were possible.
They could feel a headache forming. Much like the ones they had been getting more recently, at the same time as their decrease in food intake.
Their body always felt sick after the first few bites. It was Spawn's indicator that their bodily vessel had already reached its fill.
Dear Elliot had asked how they knew that. Two Time had told him that Spawn's will was never to be expressed through words.
It was simply how it had always been. If Spawn felt their body needed less, they would take less.
The headaches, stomachaches, and full-body aches were unprecedented. Were they truly caused by the lack of food? Or was it a coincidence?
Perhaps Spawn was bringing a change to Two Time once again.
If that were the case, they would accept it with open arms. Their trust was in gracious Spawn.
The headache reached a fever pitch.
Two Time startled, sitting up from where they lay on the ground.
When had they been on the ground?
The grass was long, little insects hopping from blade to blade.
There was nothing else in sight. No trees. No buildings.
Just the never ending sky.
They stood up, body no longer fatigued by ache and pain.
They felt… floaty. Like their body was submerged in water, yet the gravity of this odd place was no different than normal.
The air smelt clean, fresh. So much better than the simulation Two Time had been breathing in.
Where could they possibly be?
They had been walking for what felt like hours.
They did not feel tired, nor did their legs hurt. They could walk forever.
There was nothing in sight. Nothing but the sun and the grass and the bugs and the clouds.
Had they escaped Spectre's games?
Why was this what was waiting for them on the other side?
Had they simply finalized their stay in purgatory?
Was this truly their second life?
This wasn't what was promised to them.
But perhaps great Spawn had changed Their mind.
Their faith could not be broken.
"If you keep thinking like that, you'll never escape."
Two Time whipped around at the sound of a voice, so unfamiliar and yet familiar at the same time.
"… What do you mean?" They asked.
They wanted to ask who this person was, but it felt wrong. Like they had met before.
Said person looked much like a fellow follower. But they were dressed in all white, their hair white, the symbol of Spawn on their shirt a pitch-black.
They glowed. Literally.
"You wouldn't listen to me if I explained it to you. You've never listened. You won't now. You haven't changed, Two Time."
"I have changed. For the better. I have been blessed with a second life by-"
"Stop. You have not been blessed. Not by anyone. But you won't accept that. You won't accept the truth."
The person stepped closer. Two Time backed away.
"Come back when you're willing to see it."
And suddenly, they were awake again.
Were they a heretic now?
They couldn't control their dreams, surely.
But was that a dream?
It felt so real. The grass, the air.
They knew that person. They couldn't put their finger on it.
But they had never met a non-believer before this hell, other than their own beloved.
So who could that possibly be?
They said they hadn't been blessed. That was a lie, they had, they had been blessed life, and life again, even if their whereabouts were under unfortunate rule.
They said that they couldn't accept the truth. Surely there was no truth left to accept, their faith was already with great Spawn, that was all the truth they needed.
And yet, something screamed inside Two Time, clawed at their bones, trying to make it's way out.
It wanted to go back. It wanted to know more.
They didn't know how to get back. They could only trust in Spawn's will to take them back.
For now, the monotonous loop of hell would continue.
Azure had pierced their heart once more. His rage did not dissipate.
Two Time had begged for forgiveness that time. They hadn't done that in a long time.
Azure did not spare them a second glance.
They could still feel their heart ache from the wound.
After various of these rounds, the residents of Spectre's hell had received another lull in their schedule.
Enough for Two Time to return to their cabin.
To figure this out.
They lay back down on their bed, eyes shut.
Their head ached, but not like it did before.
Maybe they would not receive the answers they wanted like this.
They should pray to Spawn. Perhaps They would have a solution.
Two Time slid off their bed weakly, landing on their knees right in front of their altar.
Offerings of food and flowers sat rotting on the ground. Two Time did not dare remove them.
The symbol of Spawn was carved into the floor, the tool of which created it sat next to a pile of old wildflowers, their dagger, ever glinting in the dim moonlight.
Two Time pressed a finger to it's cold, sharp steel. Merely touching it brought them ease, the knowledge that they were safe, that Spawn had blessed them with the tool to carry out Their will.
Two Time sat back on their heels, hands clasped together.
"O Gracious Spawn-"
As they closed their eyes, the world shifted.
They were back. Spawn had brought them back.
The sky, the grass, the air, it was all the same as they had left it.
They stood up.
"You are not ready for the truth." The familiar voice spoke from in front of them.
"Who are you to question Spawn's act of bringing me here? You are a heretic," they replied. The person sighed.
"The Spawn did not bring you here. Not in the way you believe. I told you you are not ready for the truth. Leave."
"I don't want to leave. I… I am confused by this truth you speak of. I have accepted truth, because I have accepted great Spawn as my saviour. You are insistent that is not the truth," Two Time pressed.
"How do you know that the Spawn is truth? How do you know that the Spawn is real?"
"I-I know because I have seen Their acts! Their miracles! They have channeled through me, They have shown me Their will!"
"How do you know that was the Spawn? How do you know those miracles weren't coincidence? How do you know the Spawn is real?"
"How dare you! I was blessed with a second life, is that not proof enough!? You sound like-"
Azure.
"You have never met the Spawn. They have not spoken to you. There is no proof of their acts. There is no proof of their will. There is no proof of their existence. You will do well to believe this."
"You cannot tell me what to believe."
"I can. Because I hold the truth. Because I have brought you here and spoken to you. It is your choice to accept the truth, or forever live blind. Now leave."
Two Time woke up.
How dare that- that insolent heretic try to tell them what to believe!?
This must be a test. The Spawn must be testing their loyalty. That had to be it.
These were just dreams. Nothing more.
They would never question the will of Spawn. Their loyalty was to Spawn.
They would not go back there, they had no desire or intention. They were faithful.
Azure killed them again.
It was brutal, he must have been very angry that round.
He had decapitated Two Time, only after ripping their limbs off one by one.
It hurt.
It didn't hurt as much as it did to kill their beloved.
But they had to. It was part of Spawn's plan.
Azure would never understand. He didn't need to.
"Come here, child. There is something I need you to do."
The tall, robe-clad figure picked them up from the ground with ease due to their light, frail body.
"Another child has grown sick within the commune. They do not have long to live. However, glorious Spawn came to me in a dream.
"They said the sickness was a test of this child's strength, not a sentence to their death. They said that you will have to save her. Can you do that for me, child?"
The child nodded earnestly, as they always were when glorious Spawn tasked them with channeling Their power.
The girl was nearly as pale as they were, eyes sunken and bones prominent. She shivered, despite being wrapped tight in the commune's warmest blankets.
The blankets were pulled off the girl, her weak protest ignored, as her bare body was left exposed to the elements, and the child placed by her side. They did not want to look at her so indecent, but it was Spawn's will that they were to ignore that thought and continue on.
"Close your eyes, child, reach inside yourself. Spawn will grant you power there," the voice behind them spoke, and they diligently abided.
Their focus went to their chest, heavy as they asked for this blessing with their mental voice.
Their blessing was granted when their chest grew tight, their limbs suddenly buzzing with the power of Spawn.
They opened their eyes, reaching down to press a hand to the sickly girl's chest, willing the power to course from their body into hers.
And it became visible the longer they did so, pure white light on her skin, humming so quiet it could barely be heard.
She breathed in deep, taking the power into her aching body eagerly. The sickness began to subside.
The child sucked in a breath, feeling their limbs begin to fall slack, their energy draining out of them too quick.
"Keep on, child. You are doing good," the voice spoke.
"I-can't-" the child blurted out, before a hand squeezed their shoulder. Too hard. It hurt.
"Keep on. She is not healed yet. Trust in the Spawn," the voice spoke again, not letting go of the child's shoulder, now bruised and red.
The girl gasped in a breath, eyes blown wide. She grabbed the child's arm.
"… stop-" she breathed out. But the child could not stop. The hand on their shoulder would not let them.
The girl's eyes rolled back in her head. Her limbs began to shake. The child cried, but did not stop. The hand did not leave their shoulder.
Then it finally did.
"You killed her."
"Wh-what?"
"You killed her. You insolent brat!"
"I-I didn't mean to-"
"Your are not to misuse the powers of Spawn! How dare you warp your blessing into something so evil!"
The hand returned to their shoulder, pulling the child up from the floor. The child shrieked in pain.
They were pushed forward, forced to walk. All the way to the basement.
The basement was for criminals and heretics. The basement was for those who misbehaved.
The child was stopped at the top of the stairs.
The hands pushed them forward.
They landed, crying as pain bloomed in their leg.
It had bent. Unnaturally.
They looked up to the top of the steps.
"When Spawn deems you fit to rejoin the commune, I will come back for you. You must serve your punishment until then. Don't disappoint me."
Tears streamed down their face as the door slammed shut.
"Poor child. What crime could you have possibly committed?"
A voice spoke from the darkness. Low, quiet.
The child didn't respond. It hurt too much to respond.
"I have been down here a long time. It is nice to have company," the voice spoke again, crawling out from the shadows slowly.
Their leg was missing. It was gone. The child cried harder.
"Do not worry, dear. You will not end up like me. A child as beautiful as you will not stay here for long. I, however, will be lonely forever," the person said. Two Time's jaw clenched, their leg screamed at them.
"Everything will be alright, dear," the person assured, their tone softer.
Two Time shot up from the ground, the grass tickling their skin, as they realized immediately that they were back in that odd place again.
They stood up. The white-clad person was in front of them once more.
They held a beautiful rose in their hand, fingers avoiding the thorns.
"Who gave this flower meaning? Was it Spawn?" They asked. Two Time paused.
"I am unsure."
"Was Spawn the one to create everything?"
"Only the things that matter to Their will and the fate of Their followers."
"There are other gods out there. Other beings that created other things. Beings that speak to their followers. Beings that exist on the same plane as us, that are visible to us."
"Those are gods I do not know, ones I do not wish to know."
"Fair enough."
Two Time raised an eyebrow in mild shock. This person seemed so eager to conflict with their every word. This was new.
"However, the followers of these gods are much different than the followers of Spawn. They do not isolate from the rest of the world. They do not do harm, no matter what. There are… some exceptions, not to mention the godless people, who are guided through life only by their own morals and strength."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Well, it is only fair for I to have the freedom of speaking on the actions of the followers within your commune, yes?"
"I did not ask you to tell me about my own people."
"I know. I am asking you to listen to me."
The white-clad figure spun the rose between their fingers.
They caressed the petals gently.
Then they ripped the bloom off of the stem, and crushed it in their fingers.
"Your commune forced your hand to kill a girl. That wasn't your fault. The commune starved you of food and light, left you down there."
"Why must you speak about this?" Two Time murmured out, their jaw clenched as they willed back the familiar feeling of tears.
"Because you need to realize something, Two Time. Those people were not good. They exploited your gift. Their punishments would earn them life in prison in the rest of Robloxia, or even death! You cannot make an excuse for that!
"If the Spawn truly had your best interest in mind, why would you have to go through that?"
The figure shoved the crushed rose bloom into Two Time's shaking hands.
"I-I must've done something wrong- was her death really not my fault?"
"It wasn't! You had only intentions of helping her! It wasn't your fault! The Spawn had no reason to punish you! Not for that, not for anything! How could you believe that!?"
Two Time couldn't help the tears falling down their cheeks, grasping the rose bloom close to their chest.
"I don't- I don't know! I-"
They woke up.
So many memories. They all came back all of a sudden.
It was as if they were viewing it through two points of view, first and third. They could remember how everything felt, but they could see it happen as if they were simply a bystander.
The punishments.
The times they almost drowned, the hand around their neck that would suffocate them, the bruises and bleeding and broken bones.
And through it all, they remembered Azure.
They finally, truly saw the worry Azure had for them.
They should've left when Azure asked them. That one time, so long ago.
They put Azure through that worry.
They hurt Azure more than they thought.
And- and what about the figure's words about Spawn!? What were they to think!?
The Spawn had always been gracious to them, always! They just couldn't see what they had done wrong!
In all these memories. They couldn't see what they had done wrong.
Was their mere existence a sin? Was that why?
Did… Did the Spawn despise them?
They shouldn't think like that.
The Spawn was just testing their integrity.
The Spawn… was good. Their will could not be interpreted.
Azure didn't kill them this time. They didn't have the chance.
Two Time had hidden the entire time.
They were scared. So scared.
Of Azure. Of death! They'd never been afraid of death before!
These thoughts in their head, these memories, they were all there to hurt them, to tempt them away from Spawn!
They were scared… of Spawn.
Why?
They just needed to… to find their faith again. They just needed to trust the Spawn.
"What is Spawn testing you for?"
Two Time paused.
"My… integrity. To ensure that I am a true follower."
"What kind of leader tortures their followers?"
"… I am not being tortured."
"You haven't slept in days."
"How would you know that?"
The figure paused.
"You are easy to read here."
"Where is here?"
"… A place. A place that bares your vulnerable soul, exposes you in every form."
"Who are you?" They finally asked.
"… Think of me as… A guide. Not brought to you by the Spawn, or any deity, simply… a guide. I have been here forever, Two Time, you just haven't noticed until now."
"What is your name?"
"I… Don't have one. I don't need one. I'm… you, in a sense."
"And yet, you are saying all of these things to… to try to guide me away from… Spawn?"
"I am trying to guide you to the truth. You are blinded by your beliefs. I am your eyes."
Two Time sighed, bringing their knees up to their chest. The figure copied their movement next to them, the two sitting peacefully in the grass.
"Why am I only here now?"
"You could always come here. You unintentionally did so. You… created this place. You created me. You just did not know that you did."
"How… could I have created… this? And you? I am not a deity. I am a soul in a mortal body. I do not have that kind of power."
"You do. Your power… it does not come from Spawn. Might I dare say the Spawn is not real, but you would not listen. It comes from you."
"I don't understand."
"You will eventually."
Two Time couldn't take it.
They had to pray, they had to let gracious Spawn know they were not a heretic! They did not mean to ask those questions, did not mean to pry into lies, into absurdity!
They kneeled down, hands shaking slightly as they were clasped together.
Then they paused.
They didn't know why.
They reached out.
They didn't know why either.
Touching the floor. In the middle of the symbol. The wood splintering away. The lines etched into it.
The lines began to glow.
White, blinding light. Two Time sucked in a breath.
The wave of emotions that came next rattled them to their core.
They- they remembered this.
They were in the gardens. The other kids had kicked them out of their games because Two Time was still unsteady on their feet, still recovering from the leg that had broken months earlier.
They had wanted to cry. So they went somewhere no one would see them.
They sat in the flowerbed, uncaring of any pests, hiding the best they could in the tall bushes.
They brought their knees up to their chest.
Then they heard something.
It was small, high-pitched, a squeaking sound.
An animal, a rat maybe?
Sure enough, as Two Time pushed back some of the foliage, there it was on the ground.
It was bleeding from it's side. It lay, breath frantic, limbs twitching.
Despite being taught that rats were nothing but varmin created by evil to inconvenience the followers of Spawn, Two Time couldn't help but feel sorry for it.
They reached their hand out, gently caressing the creature, uncaring of the grime it may be covered in.
Then they paused, their fingers hovering over the wound.
Then, they placed their fingers on it.
The rat squeaked out miserably, and Two Time grimaced, whispering an apology despite the animal not being able to understand.
They took a deep, shuddering breath, before reaching inward.
With ease came the tightness in their chest, then the buzzing in their limbs.
They willed the power forward, spreading out from their fingers and encasing the wound with white light.
The rat's breathing calmed. Two Time pulled their hand away just as they knew the wound was healed.
The rat sat up, licking the spot for a moment, before setting it's eyes on Two Time.
"The Spawn has granted you life once more, little one."
I have granted you life once more.
"Uh, hello?"
Two Time startled, whipping around to face the voice.
A boy, just about their age, peeked through the brush at the hiding Two Time. His smile was kind, soft, sparking an unexpected warmth inside their heart.
"Oh! I'm-uh-"
Two Time glanced back at the rat, however it was gone with no trace. They turned to face the boy again.
"Sorry. I was… hiding."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I hide out here too sometimes. What's your name?"
"——"
They did that. Without a prayer, or even asking.
There were no consequences. No punishment from Spawn.
The others on the commune did not see it. They did not know. And Two Time did not get punished.
If anything, they got blessed. They met Azure. They met their soulmate.
That was not a punishment.
Was the Spawn just… confused?
Or was that figure, that person that was supposedly a part of them, their guide, right?
They pulled their hand off of the symbol. It stopped glowing.
They looked at their hand. They reached into their chest.
They closed their eyes, and when they opened them, they were met with that white glow once more.
It hummed softly, gently encasing their hand, so warm and kind.
They missed it.
They missed using it.
The ritual never counted. It was a last-ditch effort to keep them alive during rounds.
It wasn't this.
What was this?
"Are you ready to hear the truth?"
"I need to know."
The guide leaned back against the trunk of the tree. The two had found it after walking for a few minutes. Two Time had created it, apparently, just like everything else here.
"The Spawn isn't real. You can argue all you want, but the Spawn is not real. Not in the way you think," they began,
"They are not their own entity. They do not have power over anyone, including you. They are fake. They are a made up deity from long ago, when the commune, or more appropriately, the cult, began.
"But they believed so strongly in the Spawn. They built their entire lives around it, for generations. Their belief was so strong, in fact, that they accidentally willed the Spawn into existence."
Two Time cocked his head, "You just told me that Spawn… wasn't real."
"I know. Not real in the way you understand. The Spawn did show up, but not as a divine being.
"As a child."
Two Time paused, blinking. The guide continued.
"They did not know the child was the Spawn. But they knew the child was special. They could perform miracles of healing, bringing people back from the brink of death.
"But they were mistreated. Exploited. Forced to simply be the vessel in which those of the cult would finally gain their ascension, their second chance at life.
"Two Time… you are the Spawn."