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Mailbox licked her face and Pearl woke with a start. She looked around, expecting to be surrounded by snow, finding she was surrounded by warmth. Mumbo’s arm was wrapped around her waist and BDubs was already making breakfast and Joel was playing with the puppy in the corner. She weaseled her off the bed and threw on her armor.
“I’m going to take Mailbox for a walk.”
Joel perked up, just as much as Mailbox. “Do you want company?”
“Nah,” She grabbed the leash and her sweatshirt. “I just need some fresh air. Some girl and dog time.”
He slumped back down. “Oh, alright.”
“Be back in like twenty. The food will get cold otherwise.”
She nodded and headed out toward any uninhabited land. She was glad there was no snow in this realm. She could feel herself fighting the urge to stick her arm in some until she started getting hypothermia. That wouldn’t be helpful here. She wouldn’t get that energy back… not easily at least.
Mailbox bumped his head into her leg, licking her hand. She smiled down at her pup, sweetly, a tear falling from her eye. “Do you want to hear a story about your sister, Tilly?”
Mailbox barked happily and Pearl continued to tell stories of the few days of happiness she had with Tilly before everything fell apart. Pearl leaned against the nearest tree, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Pearl?” Grian’s voice cut through the whistling wind. “What are you doing out here?”
She looked around, noticing she had wandered all the way to his second of the map. Quickly, she wiped away her tears.
“Just walking Ti- Mailbox.” Her voice cracked.
He cocked his head, taking in the microexpressions on his sister’s face. “Pearl?”
She rushed into his arms, before sobbing. “They care so much. I don’t know what to do… With BigB, it was easier because he knew what was going on…”
“What? He remembers?”
She let out a small laugh. “That man thinks he’s a good liar but I could read him like a book.”
“Okay. Um, so you’re worried about Mumbo and Bdubs and Joel getting hurt?”
“Yeah. I want to help the win but then-”
“Winning isn’t all that great either,” He sighed, looking at the burn in his hand.
“Exactly,” She knelt down and pet Mailbox. “I won and eyes were on me again. They pull their little puppet strings with everyone including us, Grian. They punished me for falling into the void while I was the Boogey by isolating me while soulbound. I win and suddenly I am their favorite again!”
“You just need to start ignoring them, like I do.”
She turned away from him, frustrated. “I have to go home.”
“Hey, you have a home.”
She shot him a glare, purple flashing in her eyes. “And how long will that last?”
He couldn’t answer her because she was already running off. She and Mailbox ran for miles, losing her breath and a few pieces of her energy along the way. She made it to the opposite end of the land before falling to her knees, crying out in pain.
Mailbox barked around her in circles, licking her face, trying to get anyone’s attention as his owner lay there nearly motionless. Pearl shifted to her back, looking up at the sky as night began to fall. She found herself shifting into the void. A black, starless view filled her eyes. The barking and the rustling leaves faded away until she was in static silence. She floated around, tossing and turning, hating the feeling of her wings and featureless body.
She didn’t see anyone. She did not hear anyone. She was alone in the void. She let out a scream in defiance. She could feel herself suffocating on the air in the void… or the lack thereof. She was not meant to be home. She was scattered.
“PearloPop!” An angelic voice cut through the darkness. “Get up, kid!”
She pulled herself on her forearms and saw Skizz haloed in the torchlight. He swung a sword at the zombies swarming around her. Quickly, she stood up, feeling rather lightheaded. He reached his hand out to her and her vision blurred. The man in front of her was now a few years younger, gray in the face, hands and face covered in blood. She had never seen Skizz look that way before. She flinched and immediately regretted it.
“What’s wrong?” He called out, now looking like his protective self again. “Pop?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
“Do you want me to drop you off at your home?”
She shook her head, unsheathing her sword and holding Mailbox’s leash tighter. “I’ll be fine. Stay safe.”
“Oh, okay.” He called out after her as he stared off in the direction of the Heart Foundation.
Pearl landed back at the entrance of her mound. She rested her fingers on the handle, then let out a deep breath. She couldn’t go in. She didn’t have a choice though. There were creepers coming toward her.
Before she could even open it herself, BDubs opened it and smiled. “Oh, thank God you’re back!”
“She’s back!” Joel asked from next to the furnace.
Mumbo stood up from his chair, and ran to the door, scooping Pearl up in a hug, spinning them around, and tangling them in Mailbox’s leash until he started to trip.
“Miss me much?” She laughed.