Chapter Text
One of the potted plants suddenly shoots a vine towards the open air between Chip and the puzzle, snapping like the hiss of a cat before returning to its spot.
Chip blinks a couple of times, the surprise flailing him on his ass and palms, staring at the plant that so rudely interrupted his admiration before sitting upright and looking back down at the finished puzzle of a majestic tree.
"!!!"
'The tree is dead!-'
Phantom words dance across the surface.
They're dying. He's here. Its dying Its dying Its dying. You can't save them all. Save one, save Life. Save Life. The tree! The tree! It's dark down here. Dark dark dark. It's dark. Swim into the shadow. Fall into the black hole. Oh poor Sakura. You'll regret it. You've made a terrible mistake. You should've turned back. W hy di dn't y o u pi ck up t he b l a d e. All the demons are here. Catastrophe. Unleashed. Beware the creatures. be careful. Fall. FALL. F A L L.
In horror, Chip kicks the puzzle down the stairs, watching it fall into pieces.
Tired brown eyes widening, he shakes as he reads the scrambled letters. "Y O U M A D E A M I S T A K E". He staggers backward in fear, then blinks, and the words are gone.