Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I trusted you more than I’ve ever trusted in my life”

Forgetting was a natural part of life, but trying to do so only made it ache more, fester more. Two Time wanted to forget, forget everything that they had done. It was for the Spawn, was it not? He would be proud of all they had accomplished for him. But if that was true, why did it hurt so much? Why, every time they saw Azure in his new form, with tentacles and all, did it feel like they were dying? Forget, forget, forget it all.

The clock next to the bed read 5:55 am. Elliot would be awake soon to construct new pizzas to be used in the coming rounds. Such a hard worker would be revered by the Spawn if he would only use that devotion for a nobler cause than pizza. Of course, Two Time was still awake. Sleep was a difficult thing for everyone to come by, and that, of course, included Two Time. But that was not the problem tonight, no, tonight the problem was the dark corner of the room. They swore they could see.. Azure’s face.. his old face.. They could almost fool themself into thinking everything was okay. Two Time slowly sat up, staring at the wall as they swung their legs off the cold bed, avoiding the corner. Try to forget them. They had almost made it out of the room before the voice made them stop.

“You should get some sleep or eat something.. The Spawn would not approve of this destructive behavior..” Azure’s distorted voice echoed through the room as his glowing purple eyes stared at Two Time from the darkness of the corner. The gentleness, the smile, the care. It was all they wanted; it was too good to possibly be true. They felt their heart twist, mouth opening and closing like a fish before the words came out.

“S-Shut up…” Two Time muttered, their voice cracking with a vulnerability only Azure could bring out. They felt stupid, gullible, talking to what was very obviously just a hallucination, but.. It just hurt. This felt real, this felt disgusting. Azure would never show this level of care for them again, and that hurt.. It hurt more than any wound ever would.

“Y-You’re not- You’re dead, you’re just an illusion, a mere trick of the tired mind.” They mumbled, trying to convince themself that they actually believed it, that they weren’t ready to run into Azure’s arms.

“There must be something to eat in the kitchen, maybe some bread, soup? Something light for your stomach… I know you don’t like being alone, so I can go with you.” Azure’s distorted reply echoed a smile on his face that was too gentle, too loving. It was too familiar. Two Time’s eyes started to water. Azure would never treat them like this again, but that almost made them want to believe it more. This was cruel. They were so tired.

“F-Fine..” Two Time said, looking away from those eyes that seemed to judge their every move. They felt too exhausted to deny themself this, even if it was a hallucination, even if it wasn’t real. They just wanted to believe that this was real, just for tonight.

Two Time walked to the kitchen as Azure followed from the darkness, passing by the window, looking at the flowers that grew next to the cabin, begonias and rhododendrons. The flowers seemed to change daily, but they had never paid much attention to it; flowers always reminded them of him. The kitchen was empty; thankfully, they did not need any of the other survivors to witness them talking to a hallucination. Opening the fridge, there were the obvious ingredients for pizza and the usual bloxy cola, but the rest of the fridge had random things that changed at seemingly nonsensical intervals. They kept sneaking glances at Azure from the corner of their eyes as if expecting him to suddenly disappear. Their hand was beginning to grow cold already from the fridge. The plan was to grab something simple, but they were already beginning to grow nauseous at the thought of eating any of the things in the fridge. Such food should be saved for those more deserving; the Spawn always praised generosity after all.

“There may be some rice in the cabinets.. It is more nutritious than that pizza and not heavy on the stomach…” Azure supplied helpfully from his new perch on the kitchen island.

Two Time listened with a nod. Pulling their freezing hands out of the fridge, they ached. Thankfully, the first cabinet they opened had a bag of microwave rice with a butterfly on it. They pulled out the bag, tearing the top before placing it into the microwave.

“S-Sounds.. Sounds good..” Two Time murmured softly. They could hear this hallucination perfectly well; it was so vivid.. Almost like he was still here. God, they were pathetic, weren’t they?

“You could even add things. Maybe some eggs and vegetables.. I wonder what the kitchen has for food.” Azure sighed wistfully. His speech was careful, almost as if coaxing Two Time with gentle suggestions like Azure used to do.

Two Time swallowed back another wave of tears as they stared at the rice in the microwave. They were actually considering making a decent meal. But why? Because some hallucination had told them to? Because they missed Azure so much that they were going along with this? It was stupid, but they couldn’t bring themself to care. Just for tonight.
That was when they heard a gun cock. Two Time’s eyes snapped to the doorway where Chance was still in his pajamas with Elliot behind him, standing with that flintlock drawn at.. Azure..? They stared with shock, their mind struggling to process what was happening. Chance.. Chance couldn’t see Azure. He couldn’t, right? They were just hallucinating again.
“I was just tryna’ get my beauty sleep until my pal over here woke me up. Wasn’t expecting to see a lil disturbance in here this early on.” Chance grinned like he usually did, cocky as ever, but there was tension there, fear. Fear that a killer had managed to get into the house, fear that the Spectre hadn’t stopped him from getting in.

Two Time was still frozen in shock. They looked from Chance to Elliot, then back towards Azure. They were- They were just so confused- Azure was just a hallucination, right? But then why would Chance and Elliot have burst in with guns pointed? Now, Azure looked pissed, and Two Time could see his violet eyes darken, and his tentacles began to inch out from under his cloak. That confusion grew foggy like their head as they felt the exhaustion closing in. The last thing they saw was Azure's eyes darkening and Chance’s head turning in alarm before their legs gave out and their vision went black.

Two Time jolted awake with a start as pain exploded across their head from standing up too quickly. They reached their hand up, feeling the bandages on their head. Injuries often occurred in a place such as this, but it was strange that it had not healed. The memories of last night were fuzzy, but they remembered Azure.. Their eyes darted around looking for him, only to be met with that familiar disappointment. They felt stupid for even believing for a second that the hallucination could possibly still be here. That feeling only increased once they remembered that they had only cooked for themself after the encouragement of the hallucination. How pathetic. The Spawn would not approve of such things. They breathed in deeply as they rose to their feet. The pain had yet to dull, but the need to get away, to move, was stronger. It was obvious that what was left of their exhausted brain had decided to use Azure to get them to take care of themself. Good Spawn, they needed coffee, anything to get this out of their head.

Dragging themself back into the kitchen, Two Time managed to start the process of making coffee and thank Spawn that there was instant coffee today. While mixing the coffee, they rested their head against the fridge, the cool metal doing nothing to keep their exhaustion at bay, even though they had just woken up. Their emotions were all over the place, they felt confused, irritated, disappointed in themself, guilty, and so, so exhausted. The Spawn would be disappointed in such pathetic behavior.
God, they could barely even remember what had happened. Blurry details messily pieced together. They could remember- Azure in the kitchen, giving them food suggestions. They also remember that.. Chance and Elliot had come in and- oh. Chance pointed his gun at.. Azure.. The hallucination of Azure..? Two Time put their hand up to massage the bridge of their nose. They just needed coffee. Then they would feel more awake, and maybe their thoughts wouldn’t be such a mess.

Two Time’s eyes narrowed as they went to pick up the mug and noticed a flower on their hand. A small purple flower, its color and leaves contrasting against their pale, sickly skin. A nightshade blossom.

Chapter Text

“You gave me all sorts of accessories & trinkets to remember you by.”

It had only been a day, and Two Time was even more exhausted than they had been from the sleep deprivation of the days prior. All of the other survivors had been in a flurry of anxious activity, constantly watching as if they were afraid of something. Two Time was worried, of course, but that worry was quickly exhausted by another round with Azure, another tentacle through their heart, another ache in their chest to go along with the rest of them. That was when it happened, another hallucination. Two Time sat on the bed, avoiding eye contact with the hallucination of Azure, who was standing back in the corner watching them. They rubbed their eyes furiously to try and get rid of what they were seeing, but it was no use- Azure was still there, still watching, still smiling. Two Time rolled over in bed, covering their head with a pillow, willing that illusion to go away, for this torture to finally leave them be.

“You’re not real..” Two Time mumbled against the pillow, pulling the covers up around them to fully hide from the world and their own mind, which seemed only to want to remind them of everything they yearned to forget.

“You can’t rot in bed all day. It’s not healthy.” Azure said gently as he stood up and moved to the bed, ghosting a hand over Two Time’s face, stopping as they flinched away.

“You could take a walk to clear your head, maybe take a shower. You have always loved to crochet. Maybe we could find some yarn around here.” Azure mused as he smiled at Two Time, gently coaxing them out from under the blankets and pillow, his hands always far away, never touching. Two Time groaned, their joints popping as they sat up, running through their hair with a grimace. They definitely needed a shower, but a walk sounded much nicer, a way to clear their mind.

“You’re not coming with me, hallucination.” Two Time grumbled, getting up from the bed slowly. They felt so heavy.. Like they had weights tied to each limb while wading through a pond.

“Why not? You always loved taking walks with me?” Azure asked softly as his face seemed almost confused, taking another step forward. His hand raised as if moving to touch Two Time again before he pulled back. Two Time’s heart ached at the sight. It was just so real.. They pushed aside that feeling and scoffed.

“You’re not the real Azure.. You’re a hallucination, you’re in my head. You’re just.. You’re just my own head messing with me because I feel guilty. So no, I don’t want you to go on a walk with me.”

“But.. I-” Azure started to say before Two Time walked out and closed the door in his face.

They felt so guilty. Even if it wasn’t the real Azure, the pain they felt was all too real, like a vine digging deep into their chest, ready to burst out and drown them in ichor. Two Time leaned against the door, eyes shut, and they breathed carefully. They knew it wasn’t real, that it was all in their head.. So why did they feel so horrible? Two Time took a few deep breaths, trying to steady themself. Why was this affecting them so much? All it was was just a hallucination of the mind, a test from the Spawn to make sure they were loyal. Of course, that’s what it was, the Spawn was just testing to make sure their beliefs were firm and their conscience sound. Two Time pushed themself off the door with a newfound determination. They would prove that they were still worthy of the Spawn’s blessing; they would not fall to this temptation. Which all would start with a nice long walk. Of course, Two Time had not seen the way Azure’s eyes darkened after the door closed, nor how his fists had tightened with rage before he disappeared back into the darkness.

Two Time inhaled deeply, the fresh air filling their lungs. It was nice, peaceful, a far cry from the usual chaos that had been filling the survivor camp for the last few days. They started into the woods in a random direction, not caring where they ended up, just wanting to clear their head. Of course, it mattered not where they went in the end because they would always end up right back at the cabins eventually. Just an endless labyrinth of endless games.

The dense trees provided a canopy of protection from the sun, a welcome thing for someone as prone to sunburns as Two Time. They walked aimlessly with no set destination in mind. It was peaceful.. Or at least, it should be peaceful. No matter how hard Two Time tried, they couldn’t get Azure out of their thoughts. They kept looking over their shoulder, expecting to see his face or those violet eyes staring at them from the shadows of the forest.. They shook their head. This was ridiculous, getting upset over something that was not real. They leaned against a tree trunk, rubbing their face with their hands. They just need to clear their head.. To think of the spawn.. To think of what they were living for. The mumbled prayers came easily to them like old friends that tumbled out of their mouth like a rushing waterfall. The Spawn would be proud of all they had done, of all they had accomplished in their life; they had achieved a second life after all, so that must mean they were at least in the Spawn’s sight. Though the nightshades on their hands told a different story, one of the rot they could feel festering in their chest. Seven delicate little flowers littering their hands, vines delicately wrapping around their fingers. Each bloom ached with pain that Two Time couldn’t quite name but felt deep in their heart. Maybe it wasn’t quite that they couldn’t put a name to it, but it was that they did not want to, they did not want to admit that it hurt more than they could ever express. They continued walking before suddenly catching sight of another person. It was Noob, picking flowers in the forest. Noob suddenly turned their head, almost dropping the red blooms in surprise as they saw Two Time.

“T-Two Time! I didn’t know you would be out here so late..” Noob stuttered as their hands twitched anxiously. Noob had always been the most fearful of the survivors. The fear of death was embedded in nature, but most could mask it well; some could even laugh in the face of it. But there was a sort of appreciation Two Time had for Noob for being able to admit they were scared. They watched as a butterfly landed on the flowers, staying for a moment before flying away as if scared itself.

“Are you picking flowers for someone..?” Two Time inquired as they leaned down next to them to run a hand over the blood red petals.

“These flowers w-were my friend’s favorite..” Noob sniffled sadly as their tears slowly fell onto the poppies they were holding. The animalistic killer was one who could not be reasoned with, and even in moments of clarity, her size often meant that she would kill Noob anyway.

Two Time was silent as they slowly took Noob’s hand in a silent gesture of comfort. The poppies and nightshades slowly intertwined together as a tear slipped down Two Time’s face.

Chapter Text

“You trusted me in the same way that I did with you, so…”

The cabins in which the killers were put were never in the greatest of states. Peeling walls, rotting wood, and the occasional dead mouse that defied the lack of wildlife anywhere else. The garden behind the house was the exception to this death and rot. Verdant vines crawled up the fences, born from deep purple and blue blooms planted in neat rows along with fresh vegetables. The creator of such a garden stood gently watering each plant with care and attention, using the extra tentacled limbs to trim any dying or wilting leaves from the plants. It was not as if they did not dislike the situation; each of the killers did in their own ways, but the most they could do was make use of what was given. Azure found use in the extra limbs, especially when doing such an arduous task as taking care of an entire garden by himself. The others had less useful abilities so for that he was grateful.

“Mr. Plantguy! Did you see my dad in the round you did? Did you?! Was he super cool like always?!” C00lkidd bounded over, almost tripping over the hose before righting himself and grabbing onto Azure’s leg like a tiny bug. The child was an unfortunate case, someone who should have never been exposed to such horrors at his age. That thought made Azure seethe with rage, but there was nothing he could do; there was never anything he could do.

“Your dad was quite a hero this round, little one. Using those clones of his, he kept the whole team from dying.” Azure soothed as he leaned down to pat the red child on the head, making sure to be careful of the horns. It was hard to lie when he himself remembered impaling the man in the chest with a tentacle. How the flesh had given so easily to bone when met with the weapons of Azure’s fury. It was even harder not to blame himself for letting his anger be used against those who did not deserve such pain. But there was nothing to be done except to preserve what innocence the child had left.
“Really!!? My dad is so cool!! The coolest ever!!” C00lkidd eagerly squealed as he ran back in to likely go pester Noli or John Doe. None of them could ever truly be mean to such an innocent creature, even if Noli seemed to have a dislike for the youngling.

“I have a question for you, too, Azure. Where have you been running off to every night?” 1x1x1x1’s cold sneer reached Azure as he quickly turned around to lay eyes on the glowing skeletal killer. Arms crossed like a disappointed parent, almost tapping their foot in annoyance. In a sense, they were disappointed. Disappointed at Azure's secretiveness.

“It is none of your concern. Regardless, why were you awake at such a time? Is your beauty sleep not important?” He glared as he continued to water his plants, hand tightening on the watering can slightly. If they were to know why he was sneaking out, would they not ostracize him, or worse, would they attempt to follow. Azure could only imagine the agony that would be inflicted if he were to accidentally show 1x1x1x1 the way to the survivor's cabin. The agony would not simply be limited to the survivors, as he knew punishment would be severe if the Spectre were to find out that he had found a loophole in the labyrinth system of the forest and that he had figured out how to change his appearance. It was stupid to think that the thing had not yet figured it out, though.

“It is my concern when you wake me up every time you leave. Be quieter and make sure you don’t wake up the kid. It’s already hard enough to get him to sleep in the first place; I'd rather not have complaints of monsters to deal with too.” 1x1x1x1 scoffed as they pushed past Azure, giving him a pointed look of warning. Before continuing.
“You are going to get found out. Either by one of us or by the Spectre. I suggest you come clean before then. Or you can face the consequences all by yourself.” It was surprising to see the being made of hatred be so accepting, but what was Azure to say when his attempts to see his flower flourish once again were not thwarted. 1x1x1x1 stalked away with a growl making it obvious that if he were to slip up that they would fully take advantage of it. Their hatred of the winged admin was never something to be taken lightly.

Black, shadowy skin slowly faded to tanned scarred skin. Azure slowly pulled his hat over his head as he walked into the woods, leaving the second hat behind sitting on the railing. He cared not that the hat was glaring into the back of his head; he only cared that it would not interfere with his plans. It was selfish to keep this from the others, namely those who had loved ones on the other side. But there was a part of Azure, selfish and sickeningly human, that made him keep it all to himself. In a place of exploiters and admins, it almost felt like more of a victory to have been the one to figure such an important thing out.

As he walked through the woods, he caught sight of a hulking figure stalking nearby. Guest 666 was never hard to spot despite how stealthy she tried to be. He would always see the monstrous killer lurking around the main cabin, but never this far out in the woods. As he moved forward, he caught sight of the large clawed paws picking up a bouquet of red flowers that almost looked dainty in comparison. Azure could pinpoint the flower immediately, poppies red and black, seemingly right at home with the colors that Guest sported. A smile slowly softened the monstrous face of Guest, making them look more human than ever as they cradled the flowers to their chest. Maybe there was one person Azure would tell about his loophole.

Two Time was awoken again, this time to the moon peaking in from the window, red like blood. They stared as the bandages on their arm fell aside. Scars wrapped around their arms like vines, bigger ones almost like blossoms. Noob had been complaining of noises lately, scratching at the walls, footsteps walking down the halls. It was stressful. It was all stress. Pain and strife make people see things that are not there. Hallucinations were made to make them falter.

Two Time re-wrapped the bandages, ignoring the clawing at their ribcage, the feeling that something was deeply wrong. Gently padding along the dark hallway, they stepped on something. Something soft and wet. Their heart lurched as they stared down at the puddle of blood with soft purple petals floating in it. A scream tore from their chest, rabid and terrified. Slamming against the wall, they shook and sobbed as they stared at their hands, bloodied and sinful. Bile rose in their throat. Their throat felt clogged with nightshade, slowly poisoning them and every prayer they had ever uttered. The Spawn deserved no prayers from a heathen with words laced with poison.

“H..Hey hey, calm down. I got you, it's just a dream. A pretty shitty one, it sounds like.” Chance began gently as Two Time shot up, almost hitting Chance in the face as they vomited into the bucket already prepared at the side of the bed.

“Whoa there bud! Let's not give your ol’ friend a concussion now.” Chance grinned, trying to lighten the mood, but the strain in his smile was obvious. Nightmares were common here, but there was a point made to never ask, to never pry. Two Time almost wished someone would ask. So someone would be angry, so they could rip off the mask and let everyone see the ugliness beneath.

“It.. it is of no concern, gambler. Merely a common night terror.” Two Time mumbled a tremor running through their voice. There was still blood on their hands, so much blood. It was obvious Chance did not believe that, but he would never ask, just as Two Time never asked why Chance flinched at the sight of Noob. They were all broken, with pieces put back into place to hide the agony they felt. Two Time stared at the blue petunias bursting from his chest. Yet still said nothing.

“I won't pry, but just know you aren't alone.” Chance moved a hand to gently place a hand on Two Time’s shoulder, but stopped as they flinched back as if burnt. As Chance left, Two Time saw him. Azure. Hiding in the shadows of the room, just like he had been for the past few days. It was not the real Azure; it could not be the real Azure. The real Azure was a corpse puppeted around like a broken doll. A memory shattered and rearranged to scar as deeply as possible.

“Why is this happening..? Why am I being tortured? I deserve it.. I- I deserve this. The Spawn must be punishing me for being-” Two Time began to shake as they uttered to themselves, quickly moving their arms up in a sort of hug.

“Stop.” Azure suddenly interrupted. He moved closer as Two Time flinched back. Reaching up, he gently tucked a strand of messy hair behind Two Time’s ear. Their eyes were trained on his form. He looked wrong. It was as if his form before the.. incident.. had been combined with the one which hunted them down. His long black hair was tied in a braid accented by the purple nightshade blossoms. His eyes were a bright purple that glowed in the dark, illuminating the dark tentacles writing behind him. The outfit was exactly as it had been that day.

Two Time slowly leaned into the touch as another sob broke free from their lungs. They wanted so badly for this to be real, for Azure to be back in their arms. Azure’s cold hand traced over their face comfortingly, wiping away the tears before gently pressing them into his chest. And they almost stayed there, in the embrace of sinful indulgence, before suddenly pulling away. Guilt filled every part of their body. What would Azure think? To know that Two Time was doing this to an illusion of him, as if they had not been the one to twist the knife in his gut. It was sinful.. But they were already a heathen.. Would the Spawn be so cruel not to grant this one indulgence? Two Time stood there staring at the floor until Azure moved forward.

“Where did your worshipful cleanliness go, flower? Dirt and grime have no place on you..” Azure crooned softly as if speaking to an injured animal. The cult had always placed great importance on cleanliness. To be spotless was to be pure, to be one with Spawn. Two Time had not been following that guideline as of late, not because they did not have the resources to do so, but because it felt wrong to be pure, wrong to wipe away the last remnants of Azure on them. His blood was sacred, and the skin that had touched his was purer than it could ever be again. Maybe it was pathetic to chase that purity. They were the purest a Spawn worshipper could be; the second life was evident of that. So why did they scream louder whenever that skin was torn or that blood was spilled? Because every time it regenerated, they lost a part of him all over again.

“I..I can't..-I.. I can't lose him..” Two Time admitted weakly, yet they didn't fight as Azure ushered them into the bathroom. Their tail flicked softly, watching as the tub filled up from their perch on the sink. Apprehensively, they got in. Feeling the warmth sinking into their skin, his skin. They buried their face into their knees as Azure got in across from them.

“You could never lose me Timey, I’ll always be there, whether you can lay eyes on me or not.” Azure promised softly, reaching out to grab Two Time’s hands in his cold embrace.

Two Time’s eyes widened as Azure brought their shaking hands to his face, then down to his neck. That purple eye stared at them as they felt their throat close as if the flowers wrapping around their ribs had escaped to their throat. They could see them wrapping around their arms and hands, each knuckle boasting a purple bloom as their fingers tightened.

“You can feel me, can you not.. My heart beating in time with yours..” Azure’s hands continued to hold Two Time’s wrists, not even attempting to move the hands constricting his throat. The water was cold now.
“You are not real.” They rasped as their fingers tightened more and more until black blood began to well under their fingers and dripped into the tub. The bathtub was dyed black as blood ran down Azure’s neck in rivulets. Nightshades grew to cover Azure’s face, or maybe it was Two Time’s face. They could almost believe it was real without that purple eye staring at him. Maybe they did believe it was real. With a choked sob, they smiled, the tears joining the blood swirling below them.

Chapter Text

“I’m sorry.”

The flames gently licked at the logs and the surrounding stones. Around the bonfire sat four larger logs, each with a person sitting on it. Shedletsky and Builderman, Dusekkar and Taph, Noob and Veeronica, Chance and Elliot. Yet on the edge of one of the logs sat Two Time alone. They were not ostracized like 007n7, but the apprehension was obvious as if they were a kid who was picked last for teams. A part of them felt sad, certainly; it was impossible not to be a bit upset when realizing you did not have a friend to sit and talk with. But to worship the Spawn was to be in isolation, as many did not approve of their ways and the religion in general. Still, when the Spawn finally revealed himself to those devoted, then they would never be alone again. Ever again. They smiled to themselves as they noticed all the flowers slithering and winding between the logs. Different colors and shapes that reminded Two Time of the wildflowers that grew around the church.

Suddenly, there was movement next to them, and Two Time’s head snapped to the side as 007n7 sat down next to them. They had expected the hacker to continue standing alone like usual and continue the same routine of isolation done every day. Purple hyacinths intruded on the hacker, delicately blooming around his hair and neck.

“Why have you decided to sit next to me, hacker? Have you decided to learn the ways of the Spawn?” Two Times’ voice almost turned giddy at the last sentence, a big contrast to the unfamiliar silence they had been a victim of these past few days. They refused to consider the obvious reason that 007n7 had sat next to them, the same reason people had been talking to them more often, the same reason nobody had tried to insult their religion lately. They were falling apart at the seams and everyone could see it.

“Well.. you were sitting alone and well- it's better to be outcasts together than.. alone..” 007n7 rubbed the back of his neck anxiously as he stared into the fire watching as the smoke rolled into the sky. Two Times’ eyes were trained on watching as the older man picked lint off his sweater vest.

“I suppose you are correct, hacker.” Two Time spat coldly. Their mood had soured once they realized that this supposed kind gesture was motivated by pity. They hated being pitied. Nobody should pity them; if anything, they deserve each and every slight in their direction, every sin committed should be paid back in isolation.

“I'm worried for you.. I guess it's not up to me to pry into your life, but... we're stuck here, whether we like it or not, and I think it's better not to hold it in until it explodes.” His voice sounded almost pleading and truly worried which only made Two Time more anxious. Worry would sour to hate and hate would become malice. That was what Amarah always said after all.

They could feel all of the conversations stop and the other survivors look upon them expectantly. Like vultures waiting for a meal. Their hands shook as they fisted into the thin material of their pants. 007n7, as if he could feel the panic mounting in the cultist, slowly placed his hand on their shoulder. Two Time felt the dam break as soft tears began to fall down their face. They were reminded of why they were here and why they deserved everything that came their way. On their face, they felt a nightshade blooming on their cheek, watered by their tears.

“O-Oh.. Don't cry, buddy. I'm here for you, I've got you..” 007n7 reached over to pull Two Time into a hug gently rubbing circles into their back. It was like he was holding his son again.

“I..I can’t.. You would never look at me the same.. I deserve neither your pity nor the Spawn’s.. The Spawn does not deserve worship from someone like me.. Covered head to toe in sin..” Two Time sniffled as the tears and sobs continued freely flowing like an unstoppable torrent. They could barely breathe as they continued shaking in 007n7’s arms. 007n7 slowly stood up guiding Two Time back to the cabins. He knew how it felt to have all eyes on you, judging you.

It was not like Two Time was a hacker like him but it was a similar thing, and the latter one of them definitely deserved it more than the other. Sometimes it had made 007n7 angry, angry enough that he was scolded by Shedletsky for accidentally breaking the mirror in their bathroom. Why did Two Time deserve similar treatment to him when all of them knew exactly why they acted the way they did? How could Dusekkar and his fellow admins scorn Two Time’s reverence when they themselves had the power to stop such a cult from forming and spreading the infectious sermons? Maybe it was seeing Noli fall to such a thing as well that ignited his resentment, but as he held Two Time’s shaking form, he had already promised to himself that he would destroy that cult, even if it got him a one-way ticket to the banlands.

“I..I have been seeing things recently. Illusions of my past lover. He has never harmed me, not in the slightest.. If anything, I am the one who has done all the harm.” The crying had stopped after a few minutes leaving Two Time shaky and bundled up on the couch with a mug of tea. Their tail flicked softly against the sheets while they stared at the floor. 007n7 stood across from them watching them cautiously but not angrily.

“Time, that’s not good.. I mean, of course it isn’t, but.. Why do you think this is happening?” 007n7 reached down to slide over a plate with a slice of pizza on it that he had grabbed from the main cabin. The gesture was evident as he looked at Two Time expectantly. They were about to refuse but 007n7’s saddened look made them too guilty to do so. Greasy cheese flooded their taste buds as they bit into the pizza, dough and tomato that would usually fill them with vitality weighed on their senses instead. Anyone else deserved this more. Anyone else.

Two Time dropped the pizza as the sudden fog began to sink into their mind and the sound of a clock ticking began to fill their ears. The undeniable announcement of a new round beginning. The last thing Two Time saw before the world faded into a red fog was 007n7’s alarmed face and their dagger left on the table.

Two Time opened their eyes in the graveyard of Yorrick’s resting place. They moved as if possessed, grabbing a bloxy cola and moving towards the generator beginning to repair it. Wires connected with soft buzzes each put into place almost robotically. Red to red, green to green, purple to purple. They knew they should be helping more. Stunning the killer more. But every time they looked upon their dagger they felt the urge to puke or to cut off their own hands. Two Time jumped as a tentacle whipped out from the wall and slashed at their leg. Staring at the purple and black bulb on the wall their hands began to shake. It was him. They laughed, cold and devoid of any sense of joy. Truly this was a joke, a joke that the one running the game seemed to play every time Two Time was in play. Like an opening move in a board game designed to take out one person in particular and that person was always Two Time. The others could at least function when faced with their adversary but they could do nothing but run and keep running until a tentacle ripped them apart or the timer ran out.

A black tentacle tore through the air just inches from Two Time’s face. The cultist immediately rolled to the side before a tentacle collided with their chest sending them back into a wall. They coughed as the air was forced out of their lungs but still moved regardless. Making sure to stay away from the bulbs in the area they took off in a sprint just as the owner of the tentacles landed right where Two Time had just been.

“Get back here traitor!” The hat on top of Azure’s head growled as his glowing eyes trained on Two Time and he lunged forward after them. Tentacles lashed out as each one attempted to reach the cultist yet falling short as they dodged to the side. Both of them ran across the bridge and up the hill towards the house. A bulb lashed out at Two Time, nicking them in the side, but it only stopped them momentarily as they ran into the house, watching as Azure was stunned by Chance and subsequently went after him instead.

Panting Two Time slid down against the wall, willing the flowers blocking their vision to go away. They were everywhere by now, each bulb making it worse and worse until Two Time could barely see or move their arms at all. Panic began to take over as they realized they couldn’t move their arms, too tightly bound with vines and blooms of purple to listen. Their breathing began faster as their vision blurred at the edges before a sudden movement made them stop. 007n7’s body was thrown through the doorway and into the table with a sickening crack. Two Time’s eyes widened as 007n7’s body went fully limp. Before they could speak they were already running over regardless of the danger it posed. As they stared upon the hacker they noticed him mouth something. Something in them seemed to snap as they saw the words ‘It is not the Spawn.’

Something in them seemed to speak, the part of them that had refused to believe what was standing right in front of them. Maybe that part of them had been growing more and more as they watched the gentle Azure they knew slaughter innocents. Maybe they had always known since the death of Azure that it was too good to be true. It was ingrained in their head and yet.. They believed the hacker’s words. It was betrayal but every part of them knew he was right. They had foolishly believed faith had brought Azure back, and yet was this thing attacking them, even Azure? The gentle Azure who would braid children’s hair, the Azure who would cry when a plant died, the Azure who pulled harmless pranks to lift people’s spirits. A second life was something they were promised, yet why would they not gain it after the sacrifice? Why were they here instead of back at the cult? Why had the dagger they had stabbed into their chest been the end? Why would they only gain it now? All of it added up, and it all seemed perfectly clear in that moment. It was never the Spawn helping them.

Their hands shook as they fell to their knees, and every bloom retreated as if realizing their control was becoming obsolete. No tears slid out as they stared at the body in front of them. It had been a fake all along, the second life, Azure’s resurrection. They truly were not worth the Spawn’s grace. But this was just a test. A test from the Spawn to prove that they deserved a second life. That they deserved Azure back in their arms.

Two Time’s chest felt heavy as they brought the dagger that seemed to weigh more than ever out of their pocket. The Spawn would want Two Time to protect people, and Azure would want them to protect everyone. He would not have wanted them to wallow in this guilt forever. Never would they be truly able to repent but just maybe one day they could look upon Azure’s with a smile and tell him that they had done all they could to protect those with this sinfully given second chance. They could prove through this trial that they were worthy. After it was all over maybe the Spawn would bless them with a true second life. Or at least bring the real Azure back.

“Two Time! Here to gaze upon the result of your actions? To see exactly what your selfishness has caused!” The hat spat as Azure stalked through the doorway, tentacles lashing around like twin serpents ready to strike at a moment's notice. What Azure had not anticipated was the determination in Two Time’s eyes as they lunged and planted their knife right into his back with a crunch. Azure’s eyes widened with something akin to awe. The hat’s eyes glowed with rage. Two Time was supposed to run away like a wounded animal, they were supposed to be an easy final kill.

“You are not my Azure.” Two Time snapped as they wrenched the knife out of his back barely even flinching at the pained screech from the killer. Running out of the house they passed by the bodies of their fallen allies, each light snuffed out by something pretending to be the lightest of all. From behind them, they heard the screams of that damned hat ordering Azure to move, yet he refused, seeming almost locked in place as he stared at Two Time’s retreating figure. Suddenly snapping back to action as crimson leaked into his purple eyes, he ran forward, enraged.

All of the bulbs in the area became alive, and tentacles whipped out from them, each attempting to snare Two Time. The cultist leaped over one tendril and slashed another as the chime of the clock rang out marking only ten seconds left. Azure had managed to catch up; this time, they did not back down, facing him directly.

"I won’t run from you. Not anymore.” With a grimace Two Time dodged a tendril and let one graze their cheek so they could lunge forward and implant their dagger once more directly into Azure’s chest. A mockery of what Two Time had done merely months before yet this time it hurt less. This time the flowers stayed at bay. Catching sight of Noob hiding mere feet away, too injured to run away, Two Time smiled. This time they knew what they were protecting.

With a grin, Two Time let Azure stab them. The pain was only momentary as a false white light enveloped them. Bones shifted in their back and burst forth into skeletal wings, a very mockery of the fake god who gave them. Yet it did not hurt as much as usual; on the contrary, it made them feel almost giddy. They could hear Azure's enraged roar as he realized that he couldn't find either Noob or Two Time. As the clock finally struck zero and everything faded to smoke around them they felt alive. More alive than ever.

Chapter Text

“It’s not that I can’t remember, it’s that I don’t want to remember.”

The prayers of the others filtered through the room as Azure looked over at Two Time. The other was deep in prayer, their hands clasped in reverence, their lips moving to mumble each word gently, with a desperation that he himself had never been able to muster. He looked back at the priest, closed his eyes, and clasped his hands, hoping that nobody had seen him. Devotion in the Cult was of utmost importance yet.. Azure’s devotion lay elsewhere. He would have left already if it were not for the one sitting next to him.

As they stood up, Azure gently wrapped his hand around Two Time’s, watching as they laughed softly and blushed. The moment was ruined as Teacher Amarah walked over, whispering in Two Time’s ear, and they looked back at him apprehensively before following. Azure knew he should not follow, should not intervene yet.. The curiosity was eating away at him. Once the two were out of sight, Azure quietly followed behind, pulling his hat over his face in an attempt to mask his intentions. As he reached the door to the office, he slowly pressed his ear to it.

“It is an amazing opportunity, Two Time. To gain your second life is one step closer to the Spawn. Azure would understand that this is what you must do.” Amarah’s cold voice floated through the door, venomous like a snake. Azure’s eyes widened as his face went pale. A “second life” that.. ritual was one of the most sacred in the cult, but it was also one that required the sacrifice of a person. He put a shaking hand over his mouth as he realized what the implication was. It was an honor to be chosen as a sacrifice, and he should be happy, should be ecstatic even, but such a feeling never came; only dread filled his mind. A sinking, cloying dread that stuck to him even as he quickly ran away to his garden.

Slowly stepping through the leaves and vines, Azure walked through the carefully planted rows of flowers and vegetables. Each plant was thoroughly taken care of, but that was not a cure for everything. Sometimes plants died, and there was nothing you could do about it. Other times, plants would kill each other, one burying the other in an attempt to gain more sunlight. Reaching down with an almost tentative hand to brush away the bindweed from a wilted snapdragon already dead. Maybe if he had noticed sooner, he could have done something, could have moved the vines to a different plot, or eradicated it altogether. Nothing could be done now. Azure bit back an angry sob as he began to tear out the vines from the plot. One by one, each vine was torn away from the dirt, yet with each vine torn out, other plants were uprooted until he was left with a destroyed plot filled with wilted flowers and torn roots. With a broken wail, Azure slammed his fist against the wood of the flower bed, letting the tears spill onto the overturned soil.

It had been a week since that horrible realization and a week of constant anxiety. Two Time’s happiness was sacred to him, more sacred than anything. And.. they would be granted such happiness if they were to complete the ritual, and if it was a success, he would return as well, but it was never that simple, couldn’t be that simple. Part of him wanted to believe that it was true, that maybe if he just let it happen, it would all work out fine in the end. He stared at himself in the mirror, slowly raising the ritual dagger, moving it towards his heart experimentally, then his stomach, then his neck.

“I wonder.. Where they will stab..” Azure mused softly, his eyes almost blank as he held the knife over his heart, letting the sharp point draw a rivulet of blood that dripped down his chest and onto the small nightshade plant he had moved inside for winter. A tear slipped out as he threw the knife onto the ground. He knew they were watching him, the other cultists, the priests, maybe even the Spawn. Two Time said it was to test his loyalty, but Azure knew otherwise; it was to make sure he couldn’t escape, couldn’t run. A part of him wondered why it was he who was chosen for this. Then he remembered each and every time he had thought of escaping with Two Time, of starting a life outside of strict restrictions where they could own a flower shop, maybe a bakery, and get married. But non-believers never got happy endings. They never got the white picket fences and suburban homes like Azure distantly remembered from a time before the cult. But at least he could die at the hands of the one he loved. That was good enough for him.

Two Time slowly walked across the nightshade field, dagger in hand. “For the Spawn..” They thought to themselves before laying eyes on Azure. His long black hair braided with nightshades, his warm brown eyes, his cloak gently billowing in the gentle breeze laden with the freshness of spring. He was holding a bouquet of nightshades, yet compared to him, it paled in comparison. The dagger in their hands shook as they slowly raised it.

The soft purple petals splattered with blood as Two Time drove the dagger down into Azure’s chest over and over as they sobbed. There was blood everywhere as Two Time’s wild eyes clouded by tears took in the bloodied form of their lover. A loud wail tore from their throat as they dropped the dagger and collapsed onto Azure’s chest. They felt his arms slowly wrap around them as they felt his heartbeat slow to a stop.

“You will wake up.. R-Right Azure..? T..The ritual will work just like Amarah said..?” Two Time uttered shakily as their hands clasped together and they muttered in feverish prayer, cradled against Azure’s chest.

Two Time was in the field for hours muttering prayers until their voice grew hoarse and their lips chapped. It was not until dark that Amarah and the other cultists showed up with shovels in hand. Amarah’s cold gaze fell on the shivering and muttering form of his student as he motioned for the cultists to move forward. Hands wrapped around Two Time’s arms and dragged them away from Azure as they screamed and fought back.

“NO! T-The ritual will work! Right Amarah!? Tell them they can’t take him away! DON’T TAKE HIM FROM ME!!” Two Time screamed as they grabbed for Azure’s cold, limp body desperately. Their hoarse wails echoed across the valley as the cultists held them back while Azure was buried. They never stopped struggling until they were returned home and back to their room.

Two Time stared at the wall and the blood on their hands. Were they the reason the ritual did not work? Were they not devoted enough? Did they not pray enough? The dining hall food tasted of dirt, water of blood. Every time they slept, they would be awoken by dreams of bloody nightshade flowers and shovels. If they prayed more, would Azure be back in their arms, humming lullabies when they could not sleep, and making them their favorite pancakes? Were they not good enough?

Their hands clasped in prayer as Two Time sat alone on the pew. There was no one next to them to crack jokes about the stories of Spawn’s greatness, nor anyone to lean their head on when they felt too tired to even sit up straight. Every day, they felt further and further from Spawn. As they got up at the end of the service, they felt themselves walking towards the gardens. Azure’s pride and joy.
As they walked into the glass-walled room, they noticed that the plants were a sickly, wilted yellow. Others had been ripped from the ground haphazardly with little care taken to preserve the ones left. Once, they had been a verdant green with all shades of colors, each bloom meticulously cared for until it was as beautiful as possible. Now there was nobody to do that. There was nobody to keep the flowers from dying. Two Time slowly turned away.

It was a calm day, one of those days before a large storm when all seemed quiet, and the world stood still as if it itself was holding its breath. That quiet was broken by a soft sniffle that turned into a tiny wail. Amarah stopped short of passing the alleyway, groceries tucked in his arms as his fellow cultists continued walking, ignorant of the tiny sounds. He put the bags down as he moved into the alleyway following the sound. It only took a few seconds before he caught sight of the tiny squirming bundle nestled between a sewer drain and a garbage can. Kneeling down, Amarah slowly picked up the bundle, moving the fabric to stare at the tiny face that was revealed. Big, round eyes filled with tears stared up at him, one black, one white, with tiny curls of unruly black hair. Part of him considered placing the child back down and letting life take its course. That part was quickly silenced by tiny hands grabbing onto his finger and a tiny coo. Amarah’s normally cold face softened slightly as he held the baby closer, wrapping the blanket further around their tiny form. With a huff, he picked up the groceries, making sure to hold the little one properly as he began to make the walk back to the Church.

Amarah grimaced as he was woken up for the third, or was it the fourth time, by soft crying coming from next to him. With a groan, he slid out of bed and walked over to the crib next to the bed. Tucked under soft grey blankets was a small face staring up at him with tiny tears welling up in their eyes. He reached down, picking up the baby and gently rocking them in his arms.

"Is sleeping escaping you yet again, little one?" Amarah looked down at the baby as their tiny hands grabbed at his sleep shirt. The child stared back up at him silently, having not even begun to babble yet. Some were concerned for the child, yet Amarah was not. They would talk in due time, and if not, they would simply be taught sign language or any such other way of communication.

"You need not be afraid, one day you will do great things. You will be the first among us to receive a second life." Amarah mumbled softly, wiping a stray curl off their tiny cheek. He had named them Two Time, thusly for their greater purpose. The little one already had a tail that seemed to be a blessing from Spawn, tiny with little spikes just like the very symbol they worshipped. And one day, they would do what none of them had ever been virtuous enough to achieve.

“Papa, look! Look! I found a bird!” Two Time chirped happily as they ran over to Amarah’s desk, bare feet barely making a sound against the wooden floor. Cradled between their hands was a small crow, one that seemed much too content to be a random crow found just anywhere.

“Two Time, what have I told you about abducting woodland creatures. You are covered in mud as well.” Amarah sighed as he stood up to kneel down in front of his child, reaching a pale hand up to wipe the spots of mud off their cheek. The smaller one giggled as they held up the bird higher. Amarah begrudgingly took the small crow, opening a window much to the protest of Two Time and letting it fly away.

“No! That was my friend!” They cried, grabbing onto Amarah’s pant leg and tugging, letting the crocodile tears slip from their eyes. With a sob, they reached out, trying to grab for the bird who had already flown far away.

“You have no need for frivolous things such as pets. Now go memorize your passages for today. I want you to repeat them for me at dinner.” Amarah tugged Two Time off of him as he began to gently push the crying child out of the room. Maybe he should not have been the one to find that child in the alleyway; he was much too cold to be a father. What was either of them to do, though? Two Time was just a child, and Amarah was just a man. Though he did wish that Two Time had stayed as quiet as they were as a baby. It was easier to deal with.

“You must come to the sermon today. I have been too lenient with you thus far.” Amarah insisted as he stood in the doorway to Two Time's room. He had caught them digging around the area where that damn gardener had died again. With an annoyed sigh, he walked into the room, taking note of the broken mirror and the glass shards littering the floor. It was a mistake even letting Two Time get attached in the first place; he should have known from the second they stopped sitting up front with him during sermons. Now he was left with a pathetic shell of what was supposed to be his replacement, his star pupil, his greatest achievement. Ruined by a gardener in a wizard hat. Said wizard hat, which now constantly adorned Two Time’s head along with a torn cloak, both relics of the dead.

“I do not feel well.” Two Time spoke, looking up with those black and white eyes once so full of life, now dull. Their hair was much longer than it had ever been before due to their adamant refusal to cut it, even months after the sacrifice. Nightshades had been growing over the walls, bursting through the bricks and under the floorboards. Amarah had plucked them out when he saw them, but they came back each time like the bindweed infecting the gardens without anyone to tend to it. No one wanted to anyway.

“You will come whether I have to force you or not. Wallowing in grief over something so minuscule.” Amarah growled as they reached over, grabbed them by the arm, and yanked them out of the room, not caring for their gasp of pain nor how they struggled.

As they reached the chapel, Two Time’s gaze caught on the seat at the back of the corner, nestled in the corner away from prying eyes. Two children sat there now, giggling and laughing together like the world did not matter. The one with mismatched eyes looked over at them. Two Time looked away quickly, following Amarah to the front of the church and the pew he sat at. They waited, staring ahead, letting the words pass through their ears. All of them had taken their nightshade, pulled him from his roots, and buried him deep in the earth where no one could gaze upon his beauty.

As the sermon ended, one person stayed back watching as the rest of the cultists filed out around them. Amarah had left to go talk to the priest, leaving Two Time alone on the pew. The nightshades were everywhere, and all Two Time wanted was to get rid of them, to forget what they had done and go back to a time when the world seemed brighter. Slowly standing up, they went over to the altar and grabbed a candle, the hot wax dripping onto their hand, yet they felt no pain. Before Amarah had stopped them, they had already thrown the burning candle into a pile of ritual cloth. It had been a dry season, causing the fire to spread rapidly through the chapel from the rafters to the beams holding up the building.

Screams filled the air as acrid smoke burst into the air. Worshipers ran, some to find water, some to just escape the roaring flames. In the middle of it stood one worshipper, flames licking at their legs. Their burnt hands slowly lifted to be clasped in prayer. With a groan, the beams holding up the church began to collapse as the embers spread to the adjacent buildings. The garden burst into flames, burning both the bindweed and snapdragons alike. The inferno swallowed everything from people escaping to the animals kept in the barns. Amarah coughed as he stumbled away from the flames and to the river, where the blaze couldn't reach, along with the few closest to the exit. They all watched with bated breath as the cult was engulfed by the hellfire. Amarah caught sight of that dammned cloak and wizard hat as Two Time began to laugh as the flames spread further. Part of him wanted to reach out and grab them, but the screams from the other cultists stopped him. The screams of 'witch' and 'heretic' filled the air, each one directed at the cultist surrounded by flames who quickly disappeared into the forest. It was a mercy not to stop them, for Amarah knew very well what happened to heretics, and part of him refused to curse his child to that fate. Maybe it was simply to save face, yet the way his hand shoved in his pocket trembled told a different story.

Wearing Azure’s cloak, Two Time slowly ascended the hill, walking up to the field of Nightshades still stained red from the incident that had occurred only months prior. The burns over their arms and legs ached, yet they continued on up the hill where children played year-round. They pulled the brim of Azure’s hat down and moved to the patch of dirt in the middle of the field, dagger still stuck into it. Pulling out the dagger from the dirt, they stared at the cold metal stained by Azure’s blood. They pointed it at their chest with shaking hands; maybe the ritual would work this time. Regardless, it was too late for second chances for them and the others. They smiled as crimson spilled out onto the flowers again. Hands shaking, they lay on the grave surrounded by nightshades. Blood leaked out of their mouth as they hummed softly, closing their eyes for the last time.

Amarah kneeled slowly as he looked upon the rotting body of his child. Nightshades had begun growing over the corpse, almost hiding the signs of rot. It was a pity, really, to have such a promising student die from something so preventable. Even more of a pity that the cult had to be the collateral in the twisted deal of fate. He would never have been able to save his little sprout, but the least that could have been done was a proper funeral; now it was too late for even that, as their body would crumble before it could be transferred anywhere. What was left of the religion would not approve of such a thing anyway. They had already branded his child as a witch, a sinful heretic sent to destroy them. It was a tragedy, really. A preventable and cruel fate for someone with so much potential, only to burn it all down for the sake of a gardener. Amarah could not help but brush a small piece of hair away from their face like he had done back when they were tiny.

"Sleep now, my child, may you rest with the Spawn eternally."

Chapter Text

“Shadows die twice.”

Night had fallen on the survivor cabins as every one of them gathered in the main room of the biggest cabin. Two Time sat on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket they had taken from their room, as they listened to their fellow survivors discussing. Ever since the day they had realized the truth of their situation, they had been quieter, more withdrawn. They knew it worried the others, yet it was all they could do; they were still processing everything, still willing their mind to understand that their god had abandoned them to rot. They looked to their left at Noob, who was eagerly tying a friendship bracelet onto their wrist. It was small with the few black and white beads Noob had been able to gather from scrapping the old accessories they had been wearing. Two Time felt guilty about their new friend having sacrificed their creations just to make stuff for them. But Noob had insisted, and Two Time, like always, would feel even guiltier refusing.

It was almost nice. To be sitting around like this, comfortably. They felt almost like they were home as Elliot passed around hot chocolate before sitting down next to them. Two Time looked over at Elliot, curiously wondering why he had chosen to sit next to them instead of Chance. They looked away in favor of drinking the hot chocolate and staring at the bracelet on their wrist. Their first friend since.. Azure.

“I was wondering, Two Time, what exactly happened that round a while ago. I feel like you’ve been different since then.” Elliot spoke as he looked at them curiously, his hand moving to fumble a bit with the nametag on his shirt. The pizza guy looked more anxious than usual, which was strange considering his usually outgoing persona.

“007n7 gifted me with a new perspective, you could say.” Two Time mumbled as they fiddled with the bead of Noob’s bracelet, trying to properly tie it onto the other’s wrist. It was strange to have such a homely environment among such a tense group of people, but it was likely due to the lack of rounds today.

Some part of them had changed since that round, where they had realized exactly who was manipulating them. The flowers had receded to gentle curls of vines and blooms that no longer tethered them to the ground. But it had also led to some new, strange occurrences, namely that they were never put into rounds with Azure anymore. Maybe it was because going against him did not elicit the same emotional response that it once had. As they finished tying off the bracelet, they slowly looked into the flames of the fireplace, feeling a sense of almost deja vu from the fire curling around the wood. Two Time had a feeling, maybe it was instinct, that something was wrong. Something just felt wrong. They should be grateful for the calmness, but a part of them felt it was too good to be true. Much too good to be true.

“007n7? I doubt that any advice from him is any good at all.” Elliot scoffed, rolling his eyes as he took a slice of pizza to eat. 007n7’s face fell from where he was sitting in a corner, but the older man said nothing in response.

Two Time’s eyes sharpened as they analyzed Elliot. The pizza guy disliked 007n7, yes, but he was never this mean. Of course, stress made them all a little snappy, but Elliot would never say things like this. Continuing to stare at Elliot, they suddenly noticed something. The visor was wrong. Where there once was ‘Roblox’ printed on it was replaced with ‘Pizza’. It was a tiny mistake one the others seemed to have overlooked, yet Two Time’s fingers immediately wrapped around the handle of their dagger. With a lunge, they brought the dagger out and pinned ‘Elliot’ to the ground, putting the sharp edge to the other’s neck. The others were stunned by the sudden violence out of nowhere. Once the knife punctured ‘Elliot’s’ shoulder, instead of blood, black glitchy liquid spurted out as ‘Elliot’s’ form melted into a puddle of red 0s and 1s.

With a hiss Two Time stabbed down again and again into what they assumed was the Spectre or at least a part of it. There was a glitchy murmur as the cabin seemed to shift and morph with red and black errors. From outside the window, the sky shifted to a mix of red and black, mixing together and warping awkwardly into each other. With a snap, their vision was consumed by an all-encompassing red and black as static filled their ears.

Two Time’s eyes snapped open, greeted by a burning chapel. Flames licked at the steeple but never seemed to spread. The land around it was fractured, bleeding into various other landmasses that Two Time couldn’t recognize, including what looked to be a neighborhood and even a casino. As they looked around at the strange area they were in, like a twisted version of what had once been the compound that the Spawn cult called home. Standing up, they realized Azure was here too. Not the fake piloted by the Spectre, but the hallucination or.. the real Azure. Azure looked back at them with bright purple eyes as he walked away from the plot of snapdragons he was watering.

“So this is what became of you, my darling,” Azure spoke softly, tilting his head to the side. Smiling softly as Two Time ran into his arms. He sighed gently, burying his face into the top of their hair, being careful of any open wounds.

“I-It’s you..” Two Time choked back a sob as they buried their face into Azure’s cloak. They grabbed onto him as if afraid to let go, as if afraid he would be torn away from them like he had been time and time again. He smelled like flower petals and dirt, comforting in its fragrance and the way it was something so undeniably Azure. His warmth, his gentle touch, everything sent Two Time’s heart soaring and made the tears flow more. They had missed this more than anything.

“You look beautiful, my flower.” Azure breathed softly as he looked down at Two Time. The blood on them did nothing to distract him from how ethereal they looked to him; if anything, the burns accented their beauty. After a long moment of basking in Two Time’s presence after so long of hiding and being forced to murder them over and over, he slowly pulled away to look at where exactly they were. 

Slowly, Two Time lifted up their watch that would usually display the other survivors and the time left. It displayed him and Azure both as survivors and a timer ticking down slowly, yet there seemed to be no killer in sight. It was not too far-fetched to assume that this was some sort of punishment by the Spectre for stabbing it. Their hand slowly wrapped around Azure’s as they began walking through the burning remains of the cult. Nightshades littered the ground, both petals and plants, each one burnt and wilted by the stagnant flames. There was a soft clinking sound like bone hitting bone as Two Time suddenly pushed Azure away and was knocked over by a heavyweight. As Two Time looked up, they were met with mismatched eyes just like theirs, except crazed and with the same red dot that marked the Spectre’s influence. The other had nightshades all over their body, with the largest one bursting from their chest, along with burns all over their body. The witch grinned as black liquid dripped from their mouth and onto the other’s face. Large skeletal wings and a long tail shifted likely the cause of the clinking sounds from earlier.

Two Time did not hesitate as they brought their dagger up into the clone’s face, knocking them off and allowing them to slip out from under the larger version.

Azure grabbed Two Time, helping them up as they began to run away, followed closely behind by the killer who chased behind them. He looked behind them, noticing that the killer was nowhere to be seen, but he knew better than to think that, and if this killer was anything like the real Two Time, then they would be somewhere just out of sight waiting to strike. Running through the mess of burning buildings, they eventually stopped behind an abandoned market stall. Two Time’s hands were shaking. Maybe it was the shock of seeing a version of themselves so twisted, or maybe it was because they knew exactly who it really was.

“Azure, we need to keep moving. I do doubt the validity of this timer.” Two Time sighed, looking at their watch, two minutes left. Too long for comfort. If it was not just them, maybe it would be possible, but they were dealing with an entirely new killer, and neither of them were even sure if Azure even had any abilities as a survivor. As they moved to stand up, they felt something drip onto their head and roll down their face slowly. A bony tail wrapped around their neck, lifting them up into the air, beginning to choke them. Two Time’s eyes widened in panic as they were brought up face to face with their other version. The grotesque version brought up a clawed hand to their face, slowly raking it over the other’s cheek.

“You.. are.. Not me…” The witch wheezed as their face twisted in rage, slamming Two Time onto the ground. A tentacle lashed out, wrapped around one of the assailant’s arms, pulling them back, keeping them from finishing off the injured Two Time. The tentacle was swiftly broken free from, but it had given Two Time enough time to get enough and start running again.

Two Time ran, faster than they ever had before during these games, weaving through market stalls and around buildings, attempting to evade each strike and lunge from their own copy. They ran through the forest, leaves and sticks scraping at their exposed flesh as they ran through the woods until they arrived in a familiar field. 

Nightshades littered the ground, ending in a mound of overturned dirt in the center. Turning around, they saw the clone stalking out of the forest, black blood dripping out of the stab wound deep in their cheek. The witch laughed as it stalked forward, moving like almost a puppet on strings. As the thing lunged, Two Time moved to the side, letting it fall onto the very spot Azure had once been. With a cold rage, Two Time brought the dagger down. Over and over again, each wet stab echoing in the empty valley.

Azure panted as he exited the forest before stopping short as he caught sight of the gory scene before him. Running over, he gently grabbed the now despondent Two Time into his arms. He pulled them closer, desperately taking note of their shell-shocked expression and the black blood they were drenched in.

“Shhh shh.. I-It will all be okay now.. It’ll be okay..” Azure mumbled, pulling Two Time even closer, gently rocking them both side to side. He was not sure who those words were for. Maybe it was for the Two Time in his arms, or maybe it was for the one dead lying before them in a pool of nightshades and blood.

The sky began to turn a glitchy red and black before shifting to white as a clock chimed in their ears, and everything faded to black.

A soft beeping filled their ears as Two Time slowly opened their eyes, only to be met by the white walls of a hospital. As they sat up, their eyes wandered to the window, expecting the same dark red sky and constant nightfall, yet they were met with a sunny, cloudless sky. It was over..? Lifting up their hands and arms, there was no sign of flowers or burns apart from the IV needle in their arm. The door to their room opened slowly. The scent of flowers filled the room as Azure stood at the door with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. Purple hyacinths and blue hydrangeas. The bouquet was immediately forgotten as Azure’s eyes widened.

“Y..You’re awake..” Azure mumbled, almost sounding as if he barely believed the words he was saying as he ran over to pull them into a hug. He slowly reached up to cup their cheek as tears fell from his eyes. “It’s finally over, my flower.” He gently bumped their foreheads together.

It took Two Time a second to fully register those words before they pulled Azure into a gentle kiss, both of their tears mixing together onto the white sheets of the hospital bed. They laughed softly as they parted, reaching up to put one of the dropped flowers into Azure’s hair. It was everything they had ever wanted.

It had been a week since Two Time had awoken them, being the final one out of all the survivors to wake up. They learned from Azure that after that altercation, all of the survivors and killers had appeared back in Robloxia, and each one had taken varying times to wake up. Two Time was trying to get used to life outside the cult, but it was better out here; they could worship the Spawn on their own terms, and they had been sleeping better every night, but that may have just been because of Azure. It was exactly what they had dreamed of, maybe even more. An apartment over a flower shop that Azure had started to run while Two Time was asleep. They had even adopted a cat, which Azure had insisted on naming Honeysuckle.

Two Time sat on the couch next to Noob, who was eagerly talking about the date they were going on with Sixer tomorrow, before Builderman drew their attention with a cough.

“I believe we have somethin’ important to discuss.” Builderman began as he stood up from his seat. “We all fought ourselves in that last battle, didn’t we, twisted versions of us.” The head admin looked around the room, recognizing the few head nods and the anxious looks from some of them.

“Do any of us know what this strangeness may symbolize?” Dussekar spoke as the pumpkin-headed admin looked around searching for any sort of answer. The magical admin had been looking through all of the volumes in the library in the HQ, but there was nothing on the Spectre or evil duplicates in general.

Two Time stayed silent. They had told nobody of what they had seen. The second Elliot hidden in the code like a prisoner. Versions of them all hidden in the code. The “real” versions.

Only one of them could have a happy ending. 

Chapter Text

Hello I have made a sequel to this fic honestly I suggest checking it out unless you enjoyed the suspense of the ending. On another note I made a few designs for the characters on catalog avatar creator (so you don't have to suffer my horrible drawing skills).