Chereads / ₩₳₭Ɇ Ʉ₱ / Chapter 3 - chapter three: eat you whole

Chapter 3 - chapter three: eat you whole

"This is going to be a long fall. I'm May by the way. And you are?"

"Com..."he mumbles barely above a whisper.

Com stares at the short purple eyes boy dressed in pink. His throat hurts but certainly not from screaming. A lump of guilt stops his voice, and he lets out a small squeak. May cracks a smile, his green eyes crinkling up and for a split-second he awfully reminds him of Mellow.

"Snap out of it, comrade~ It wasn't real anyways," he waves his pink magical wand around.

Com tilts his head then quickly looks away. 'Comrade...?I don't know this person but why do I feel safe with him...?' He doesn't know what to do, he can trust May but is he even real?

"Right, you don't know," he says to himself and twists his golden locks.

"We're sort of stuck in a dream—Or dreams to be exact. I haven't really figured it out since literally everyone is out to kill me all the time I get a little close to the answers. But it's not real and you're not injured. You have limbs now, yay!" May says flapping his arms in a celebratory gesture.

His heart pounds but dims out slowly as he sees himself, fully dressed in white blouse and black trousers with all limbs attached. He traces his hand on the belt, pressing his thumb against the sharp buckle and winces in pain.

A drop of blood appears on his thumb and disappears just as fast. 'Regeneration...?Or an illusion?'

May dances around humming to himself, "I guess you will be mute for a while, Com Com. It's okay with me though. I can talk enough for two people. At least now I have someone to babble to, the zombie I abducted died because I wouldn't shut up. "

Com smiles at him. 'This feels nice, is it okay to feel nice?'' he shakes his head and looks around him. They are mid-air falling and everything is simply a blur. It's as if they are falling through different timelines.

He sees a castle or something that looks much like a castle. Another blur that looks like an aircraft his world only ever hopes to build and so many things he doesn't recognize but just as a flash of colors.

"Wh..." Com clears his throat, "What do we?"

May eagerly waits for him, wagging his imaginary tail in excitement but he doesn't say anything. "What do we...?" May repeats.

"Do."

"Honestly, no idea, we try to live through another stupid dream, my comrade. I really don't want to wait and find out what happens if we die. Fingers crossed to hoping the next dream has a fashion sense."

May grabs Com and pulls him closer. "We're about to land, I'm sure." Com feels himself get heavier as if being pulled downward even though the sense of direction made no sense. The air hit them from everywhere all the time. He closes his eyes and hopes to not land on his face. Time passes and he doesn't feel his feet on the floor. Com peeks at May nervously sweating.

"UH, so this is awkward. I think I timed it wro--" May is half cut as he lands face flat on the blue royal bed. "Mhm. Floofy," he mumbles.

"I hate blue," Com says, gracefully landing on the side of the bed.

"But it's a pretty color?" May frowns in confusion. "Are we still in your dream?" he asks.

"I hope not."

"Guess, we will have to find out. For now, it's time for an OUTFIT CHANGE! Oh, you got your voice back, congratulations," May again flaps his arms around in a celebratory gesture.

"Thank you??" Com says. May jumps off the bed and rushes to the huge wardrobe and flings it open. "We need to blend in. Last thing we need is to stand out and get killed," he shouts, drowning in hundreds of royal clothes.

"You just need an excuse to dress up, don't you?"

"Shh, it's definitely for survival purposes."

"Sure." May gets off the bed and walks around the paper white crinkling floor. He rubs his arm, it's cold. The dark blue walls are decorated with golden quotes, extending all the way up to what seems like the sky. He narrows his grey eyes to try and read the sparkling golden writings. But they make no sense, the only word he can read is ₮ⱧɆ ⱧɄ₦₮ɆⱤ.

Everything in the room from the dark blue walls to the peachy wardrobes and the golden chandelier seems to drown in bright colors making his grey eyes stand out even more.

'I haven't heard the voice at all. Is this not my dream?' he bites his lip.

May shouts in victory and runs toward him at the speed of light. "I found the perfect ones for the ball!"

"The what now?"

"The ball you rat brain. The music is literally blaring, and we need to find out where we are," he whines, swinging two royal suits. Com quickly snatches the red one and May smiles to himself in pride.

"You just want to dance, don't you?"

"Shh, it's purely for survival purposes."

Both of them go to opposite corners of the huge room to change into their suits. "When we first met. You asked me if I can see you. If this is not my dream, will the person be able to see us as odd people?!" Com shouts across the room.

"I fucking hope so! It will save half the effort! These dreams don't make sense sometimes!" May shouts back except louder. Too loud maybe, for the guards to hear them. Footsteps rush up the stairs. Com panics and hurriedly puts on his suit as May rushes to him with a corset in hand.

"To the wardrobe, comrade!" He commands running with his short legs.

'Faster,' it says, and he runs faster than May reaching the wardrobe first.

'Save yourself,' it says. The voice never feels too high or too low just like it is without a gender. The voice he fears might be his own sometimes.

He tries to move his legs, but they don't as if the paper floors turn into cement. The loud footsteps of soldiers, the quick thumping of May's heeled boots, drown out slowly into a white noise. 'It's happening...all over again.'

₵Ø₩₳ⱤĐ

₵Ø₩₳ⱤĐ

₵Ø₩₳ⱤĐ

May jumps inside, wheezing and panting as he slams the wardrobe shut.

"It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my..."

May puts his hand on Com's shoulder gently bringing him back to the world and gives him a thumbs up. "Fashion before impending doom," he whispers with a smug look to calm him down.

A gentle knock. Com furrows his eyebrows; he did not expect a gentle knock but bangs and destruction. A sweet sultry voice calls out; "Princess~ Open up please~."

May looks at Com. Com looks away.

"Are you the princess, rat brain..."

"I swear, no."

"Because if you are and you are hiding inside here instead of living your life and hanging a few people for no reason. We are going to have problems."

"A minute!" A soft voice shouts and rushes to the door, flinging it open.

'Was she in the room with us...?' Com questions.

"Princess, we heard odd noises. A quick inspection if you won't mind?" Bernard, a middle-aged hairy man, asks the princess politely.

"Of course, how could I ever mind if it's you, Bernard?" Princess smiles at him. "Oh...but them too...?" she gestures at the rest of the guards with a frown.

"I'm afraid so, it's the protocol. It shouldn't be anything nerve-wrecking unless, of course, you are hiding something." His blue eyes twist into a darker shade, he stares at her with a hand on his sword.

"Oh my! I could never do such a thing! I do trust you quite a lot, you see," she gets close to Bernard and whispers in his ear, "More so than the young ones." She pats his shoulder lightly, as the man clears his throat.

"Very well. Clear out boys! I'll do the inspection myself."

"Splendid! Would you like me to pour you some tea, Bern-Bern?"

"Ah, very kind of you, Princess. I'd have to decline, sadly. Places to be."

He glances at the wardrobe. A pile of clothes lay outside of it. "Aren't these items supposed to be inside the wardrobe, Princess? Or perhaps the maids aren't doing a good job?"

"Oh no, nothing of sorts. I suppose the ball has my stomach in knots. Worry not, Amelia does a fine job cleaning up."

"I would presume so." He inches closer to the pile, staring at the wardrobe. Com holds his breath. A strong breeze breaks inside the room. Bernard turns to see the Princess standing in front of a window with a pearl teacup. Her long silk skirt floats gracefully with the wind, she tucks a strand of her amber hair behind her ear.

"Wouldn't you keep a lonely girl some company, Bern? For a while, perhaps."

"Ah, I suppose so. The ball is a lot of pressure, fret not, they will be very fond of you," he reassures her. Bernard takes the teacup from her, his fingers pausing briefly on hers and he smiles rubbing his thumb on her palm.

Com finally lets out a breath and calms himself down. May frowns with a huge knife in his hand. "What a bummer..." he whispers.

"When did you even..."

THUD. Bernard falls on the floor. The temperature in the room shifts, the blue gets colder. The breeze doesn't seem to carry freshness with it anymore but a sense of vague threat. The girl stands in the middle of the room with a teapot in hand. Her white dress glows in the sudden darkness, she bends down to search the man and quickly gets up.

'What is she doing...' Com dismisses it soon, dreams don't have to make sense.

"The ball," she mutters and rushes outside.

They step out of the wardrobe and spirals of holes pop out everywhere, on the walls and the paper-thin floor. Com grabs May's shoulder, "Don't look at the holes."

"Why not? I like to have stare downs~!" May whines swinging the ridiculously huge knife.

"Please."

"Okie, fine. Let's go to the ball and outshine those bishes."

ωσℓνєѕ αѕℓєєρ αмι∂ѕт тнє тяєєѕ

They walk into the spacious ballroom adorned with odd scripts and blue paintings of the forest. Blue everywhere, on the walls, on the roses and in each dress, taunting Com. He can never escape them, he knows. They wore blue too, except to make people bow down in fear of the sky itself. No matter where they went, the blue sky would look down upon them. Just like they did, he could never forget them. They killed them, all those that were dear and now even the dreams laugh at his tragedy.

Extravagant vases at each step. He feels the stares even of the statues as if the entire ballroom stops to look at them, the impostors, the fake. They know.

"One can only hope to outshine diamonds, huh. Those bastards. May I take this dance, rat—lovely??" May asks and breaks the tension.

"When did I lose rights to 'comrade'?"

"Take the hand, rat."

"Alright, love."

Hand in hand, they dance in the ballroom swinging between everyone else in blue and gold. "We're practically invisible," Com says.

"It's definitely my fabulous fashion sense."

"You delude yourself."

"I will step on your feet."

"Please don't."

Sparkling women in masks play harp on the small stage and a woman in all black and silver sings to the melody. Her silvery voice is just like a foreboding enchantment.

'The lullaby of woe'

ωσℓνєѕ αѕℓєєρ αмι∂ѕт тнє тяєєѕ

'Don't listen to it,' the voice says but he can't help himself, the way the angelic voice bounces off the huge cold room lulling him to peace.

вαтѕ αℓℓ α ѕωαуιηg ιη тнє вяєєzє

The princess enters through the gold ornate door and all eyes are on her immediately. The ceramic statues of wolves' flicker at her entrance.

вυт σηє ѕσυℓ ℓιєѕ αηχισυѕ ωι∂є αωαкє

Her green floral ball gown flows gracefully as she takes steps down the royal staircase getting closer to the swarm of gleaming people with masks. Their eyes on her like a predator observing the prey.

ƒєαяιηg αℓℓ мαηηєя σƒ gнσυℓѕ, нαgѕ αη∂ ωяαιтнѕ

Com finds himself staring even when others go back to dancing. She sits on the dark throne that looks too much like an altar.

Her coppery eyes drift to him. A strand of her red hair falls as she tilts her head and smiles.

Ððñ'† Ðårê lê† hêr †rêmßlê ålðñê

The floor seems to tremble; she looks ethereal at that moment, but no one notices her or pretends not to. Make the prey feel safe so it doesn't run away.

A harp string snaps but the music continues louder than before.

вιя∂ѕ αяє ѕιℓєηт ƒσя тнє ηιgнт

His legs move against his will. His grey eyes follow her and just like a siren who doesn't sing, she pulls him towards herself.

¢σωѕ тυяηє∂ ιη αѕ ∂αуℓιgнт ∂ιєѕ

"Care for a dance, darling?" she asks softly. Her voice fragile just like herself lowers his defense.

"Y...Yes?" he says nervously.

вυт σηє ѕσυℓ ℓιєѕ αηχισυѕ ωι∂є αωαкє

"You're very adorable," she chuckles.

"Happy Easter."

"What?"

His ears turn red as she smiles at him.

The princess steps down, "Happy Easter to you as well," and offers him her hand.

Another string snaps.

He holds her hand carefully to not hurt her. She looks so delicate with her thin arms and porcelain skin; he can't help but want to protect her.

𝔉𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔫𝔢𝔯 𝔬𝔣 𝔤𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔰, 𝔥𝔞𝔤𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔴𝔯𝔞𝔦𝔱𝔥𝔰

In the middle of the ball room, she puts his hand on her waist and leads him to dance. Com blushes furiously as she strings him along to the music.

"You're a splendid dancer, I must say."

"O...oh. I'm glad," Com averts his gaze. He looks at May dancing with another partner too comfortably. He stares at the statues that gleam more and more with each second.

𝔏𝔦𝔢 𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔩𝔩, 𝔩𝔦𝔢 𝔰𝔦𝔩𝔢𝔫𝔱, 𝔲𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔫𝔬 𝔠𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰

SNAP.

He loosens his grip on her waist, she pulls him closer, and he catches her smell. Fresh lilies on a rainy day.

"The dance has only just begun, darling," she whispers in his ear.

𝔄𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔯, 𝔟𝔯𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔩𝔡, 𝔭𝔞𝔦𝔡 𝔦𝔫 𝔠𝔬𝔦𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔤𝔬𝔩𝔡

The lights fade out. Soon the swarm of radiant dresses and majestic walls drown out in the flash of wolf statues, they crack slowly like ice.

SNAP.

Hê'll ¢hðþ åñÐ §lï¢ê ¥ðµ

SNAP. SNAP. SNAP.

The strings snap one after another as the statues move and growl in freedom. Her fingers dig into his flesh slowly and slowly but he can't move. He cant free himself from her.

ǵ† åñÐ Ðï¢ê ¥ðµ

The silver fur and fangs glow in the darkness. The princess pulls him closer, dancing carelessly to the last tunes.

Èå† ¥ðµ µþ whðlê

The last string snaps and the room falls deadly silent with only echoes of the wolves and the clicks of heels swaying in the air.

Ɇ₳₮ ɎØɄ ₩ⱧØⱠɆ