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It was supposed to be a simple archeology recording that’s it, so when Zelder got teleported into the backrooms it wasn’t exactly expected
He was teleported with Animated luckily so he stuck by the man every sound or shadow making his jump he was to be frank terrified
He gasped as his body stiffened he couldn’t see anything but a demonic face as his vision returned this time he wasn’t in his body he couldn’t do anything to get back he couldn’t even ask anyone for help
He tried to force a HotSwap to the hub only to feel his body get dragged back pain ripping through his chest he saw his body move around and Talk to Animated with his voice
It was terrifying he tried screaming calling for help telling Wylan he didn’t like the prank anymore and to stop and he was done with the recording
But nothing changed Animated spent 5 minutes with his body before it cracked Zelder’s neck he cried out in pain sobbing but nothing went through to show that this wasn’t him
Animated ran away as Zelder’s body grew three long spider like limbs ripping through his back his favorite hoodie ruined as the thing chased after Animated on its new limbs
He felt his soul getting dragged along with his body as it sank its teeth into Animated’s windpipe he watched as He killed his best friend
He cried at his friend’s death he felt the limbs retracting his body now limp on the ground
-
He gasped tears running down his face as he respawned Kat and Wylan were there they had no clue what had happened or why he was freaking out
Zelder sobbed curling up into a tight ball burrowing a hand into his hair. His body shaking violently as he forced his voice to work “I’m genuinely having a panic attack right now- i”
He flinched as Wylan grabbed his hands pulling them away from his hair “Woah woah woah, Buddy what happened are you okay?”
He sobbed “i- it wasn’t me,” he clung to the man shaking like a leaf “I’m sor- sorry,” Wylan’s eyebrows furrowed as Kat spoke up “Zelder, what are you sorry for?” Carefully crouching down beside him
Zelder just shook his head “I’m done with th-the recording today, i just want out of he- here.. pl- please” he sobbed into Wylan’s jacket he’ll feel guilty later but he couldn’t think straight right now
Wylan’s face shifted as he went into the admin panel “okay, it’s going to be okay, you’re going to be safe it’s okay bud, do you want me to grab someone else to accompany you in the overworld as we finish up the recording?”
“Animat’d?” Zelder mumbled into Wylan’s jacket the man nodded teleporting him to world spawn in the mesa he was only alone there for a solid second before Animated was also teleported
Said man looked confused to be back before he saw Zelder it wasn’t often that someone had to call out of a recording if it gets to much especially if it’s Horror related it’s just not every time that they have to have someone with them
Usually it’s only for if they are paranoid hurt a danger to themselves or if in this instance they just need someone to be there
After the pale garden recording Zelder had come to Animated for help cleaning up some pretty bad gashes and wounds as well as just needing someone to talk with after it
Animated crouched down by Zelder’s side “Hey Zelder, you wanna talk about it or do you just want a hug while we wait for them bud?”
Zelder hummed in thought “both? May- Maybe, i don’t know..” he looked down at a deadbush we was next to Animated nodded sitting down next to the avian humming at the man
Zelder curled up into his side “I- i just want you to know that, that thing wasn’t me okay? I don’t know what it was, it wasn't me it really wasn’t” he looked up at Animated
“Zelder, I know it’s okay I know it wasn’t you I know you wouldn’t hurt me” The man smiled wrapping Zelder into a hug as the Avian started to cry
“It hurt so bad I-“ Zelder kept repeating that he was sorry and it wasn’t him and he didn’t want to hurt Animated, The Netherborn kept reassuring him that everything was okay
By the time the recording was done and everyone came back Zelder was asleep in Animated’s Arms
and If Wylan started to make it mandatory to have a communicator he all made them with a panic button that TP’s the holder to the friendgroups building/home server then that was kept between them and only them