Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun shone bright, seeping inside through the windows and lighting up the whole place. Footsteps occasionally livened up the place; brooms sweeping accompanied the silence; and the sound of squeaking—quiet, but existing—helped the manor to sound... alive.

V wafted through the hallways, her eyes glued to her front—unblinking, focused. Her steps were quick and fast, as if she was hurrying somewhere.

She didn't know where she was going—she only knew that she had to move—and to...

Do what exactly?

Other drones walked past her, never batting an eye to anything as they focused on their task. They were too quiet, too afraid of something.

Past the empty rooms that riddled the hallway, she stumbled into the bar unexpectedly. It felt like she was drawn to it—the place.

The sound of wiping interrupted her thoughts—coming from behind the bar table itself. Ceramics squeaked under the cloth that was used to wipe them.

Cyn stood behind the table, barely standing over it. She was kneeling on a stool, absentmindedly wiping away the imaginary dirt that was on the porcelain cup.

V strode towards the bar table, her eyes glued onto the ground, unblinking—no thoughts behind them whatsoever.

“Boring, isn't it?” Cyn had suddenly spoken, her voice monotone and yet filled with a tinge of... boredom.

She looked up—towards the smaller drone—accidentally making eye contact. “Yeah,” she said, in a soft, quiet voice, then glanced away—now looking at the walls and their texture. It's been a thousand times since she's seen it.

“The walls you've seen here—it feels like they have been there for an eternity, haven't they? And yet, they never degrade; they never stain; they never peel off. You were born to look and stare at the walls—walking back and forth without a sense of purpose. They never gave you any—you were only expected to figure it out yourself.”

“Purpose?” V muttered under her breath. She paused for a long, quiet moment. “I don't... what does that have to do with anything?”

“It has to do something with you, and me, and everyone else. We are all here, right? The fact that we're all here means we have a purpose, and yet, that 'purpose' is never to be found here.”

Cyn climbed on the table, her head swaying—dangling from her loose neck as she moved and crawled over to the maid.

“It seems like you are confused. But don't worry, aren't we all?” 

“You're not making sense either.”

“You're just not getting it... a hopeless, senseless fool like you could never understand it.”

Cyn's legs crossed over, and her face leveled to V's. “We have purpose, as I said before, but the longer we live, the more we understand that it doesn't exist. The illusion of purpose is given from the feeling 'work,' even as the act itself is rather... exhausting. You work to be given a sense of purpose; without it you would wither away into the feeling of uselessness. Ask yourself, have you indulged in the feeling of something you loved?”

V was only silent, her lips turning into a line. Cyn reached out to brush a lock of hair from her face.

“As we all haven't done,” she says as a matter of fact. “We don't have something to 'love' and 'cherish'; therefore, we feel nothing even as we don't 'work.'”

“W-well actually...” V interrupted, her voice confused, but she sounded like she had something to say. Something important that she held dearly. “I... actually loved being with Tessa, you, N, and J— It feels like I... actually belong here even as I'm forced. It feels like my only purpose is to be there—to be present in our family.”

Cyn blinked. She wasn't expecting that response—an honest confession. “Stop lying to yourself,” she said. “A purpose like that doesn't exist in this world—this manor. It's just another... grand delusion made by yourself to 'feel' something meaningful. In the end, it was all just a dream—a wonderful nightmare that you made to have 'purpose.' Though beings such as we are never self-sufficient—the concept of love and feelings and belonging never was given to us.”

Her fingers glided over the maid's cheek, feeling her tremble under her touch. V gulped quietly—a shudder leaving under her breath.

“Let it go—let yourself submit to the encompassing feeling of nothingness. And maybe—maybe then you'll understand me. There is no purpose, there is no meaning, there is no love, and there is no placement.”

A long, tense silence filled the air around them. V's trembling has lessened, yet her eyes showed a moment of something akin to realization. She could feel it gnawing at her, eating at her feelings without stopping. And she stopped to think that maybe it was all a lie.

Her own life.

She nodded quickly—frantically—and then slowly stepped back from Cyn's touch. A conflicted thought visibly passed by her eyes—then she turned and walked away without a word.

Back to the hallways, she found herself wandering once more, her feet stumbling every few steps. Her eyes were vacant—nearly glossy and exhausted. She moved and moved, almost knocking over the others and the furniture.

There was some sort of ringing in her ears—of Cyn's voice, talking and talking—incomprehensible yet touching her own soul, corrupting it and dismissing it away like some sort of garbage.

She wondered—as the sound of her own footsteps filled her audio receptors—if life for her had truly meant something and if she truly has no purpose. Purpose... purpose. It echoed endlessly in her mind. She held her breath for a while—swaying, swaying in the middle of the halls in front of everybody else. Though, however busy it may seem, she felt a sense of loneliness. A sense of emptiness, gnawing more and more—eating the insides of her heart—her soul.

The question was if she truly had one.

Her eyes glanced everywhere—not at the walls, as it inflicted a feeling of... loss. Though, as more and more time has passed, she found herself staring at them—the patterns. She felt herself sink more and more. Unconsciously, she leaned forward, gasping and trying to hold back sobs as her forehead pressed against the cold, unchanging patterns. Her knees trembled, then her 'ears' picked up the faint sound of rain tapping against the glass. Tap. Tap. Tap.

She wondered what it would feel like to feel them against her skin.

But she pushed the feeling away—the feeling of want as the girl's words came back to haunt her, whispering, screaming, and ringing in her mind at all times. It was terrifying, even as she felt 'nothing.'

‘Why?’ She thought, screaming in her mind for it to stop. It only screamed back louder than she ever could.

Her mind was encompassed with the thought of a thing such as nothing.

“I want to love!” She screamed into the ground in front of the windows, her hands holding her head as her knees buckled. She fell, sobbing and weeping. The world around her dissipated into void. “I want to feel loved—I want to feel...” Her lips quivered, never flinching as the thunder crackled in front of her face. The words suddenly vanished like mist—her mind becoming a labyrinth of its own. “No... I'm—”

“You're confused... you're breaking, aren't you?” A voice suddenly rode behind her—the same one that whispered everything to her.

V jolted upwards, and slowly, she turned around—eyes wide in surprise and a whole bunch of emotions that she couldn't name.

The light flickered, and Cyn's glowing eyes stood still in the darkness, observing her. Until the lightbulb finally gave a single flicker before running out—plunging them into the darkness.

“You've understood it... until your mind has gone insane.” Cyn took a step, her voice getting closer. “You are me, and yet we are nothing—just like the darkness that surrounds us. The screams of our own voice cry out—only for it to be muffled by the sound of rain and thunder. And we cry and scream until we can speak of nothing.”

V stood up slowly—even as her knees buckled—clutching the collar of her maid dress. She was frozen, her breath suddenly reduced into a mere gasp.

“The only way for our escape is indulgence—the joy of feeling nothing—doing nothing. There was never a purpose for you, and the answer is nothing.”

She took another step until her face was visible. She wasn't smiling; she wasn't frowning; she wasn't laughing; she wasn't... here.

“Be nothing,” she says in a monotone voice. “Don't speak. Don't move. Don't think... just be nothing, as you always are. Just. Let. Me. In.”

The little maid revealed herself from the darkness, though it was too late to run away.

Fangs sunk inside of the metal skin—a crunching sound faintly emerging amidst the pouring rain. A whimper left V's lips, though she said nothing, thought of nothing, and felt nothing. Her eyes only stared blankly at one spot as the little maid began to feast on her.

Cyn's teeth sunk in deeper, and she ripped out a metallic chunk—oil leaking out from where she bit harshly. She chewed and chewed and swallowed. Then she went in for seconds, now gnawing away at the base of the taller maid's neck. It tasted sweet and warm—like melted chocolate without the chocolatey flavor.

Her dainty hands came up to rip away V's dress—revealing the smooth surface that was hidden beneath the dress. Oiled-stained fingers came up to scratch the torso before her head dipped in—her teeth forcing themselves to push and overwhelm the metal before it gave in under the pressure. Wires and gears—small, complex structures—were revealed underneath that metallic skin, and without warning, she pushed her hand inside, uncaring if anything was damaged.

She ripped out large chunks of V's parts—as if she was ripping a dangling tooth out—and picked out the smaller ones before popping them inside of her mouth.

The sounds of squelching filled the hallways, oil staining the wooden floorboards below. Cyn's face forced itself to dig deeper into the maid's stomach—even as a large cavity stretched from her chest to her pelvis.

Squelch. Squelch... CRUNCH.

The round glasses lay cracked beside them—no longer of any use.

The next morning, Cyn dragged V's corpse around the manor, leaving a thick trail of oil everywhere she went.

She was smiling happily like a little child—with eyes innocent as puppies. Her cheeks were stained with what was left of yesterday's 'feast.'

In the corner of her eyes, she could see the others glance away in her direction—horrified, but never speaking up. Big brother, J, or Tessa never showed up as she made her way to the basement. Nobody saw her. Nobody spoke to her. Nobody called her out.

She removed the carpet and opened the latch that hid beneath it. Her body slowly descended, dragging V's body inside with her.

The latch was shut back with a slam.

Chapter Text

“Did you find her yet?”

“No, Boss.”

J looked up at Tessa, an expression of uncertainty painting her face. She had looked everywhere—the hallways, the corners, the extra guest bedrooms, closets, cabinets, trash cans... and yet there were no signs of V.

The basement, however, was left unchecked, but even if V hid there, wouldn't the little broken maid have reported on it?

“It's been days since I last saw her... do you think she's...”

The drone glanced towards the windows—just outside of the bar. An unpleasant expression passes by her face, and she kisses her lips.

“Don't think like that,” she said, trying to calm her boss down. “Maybe she's just unconscious in an empty room, somewhere...”

Tessa's eyes flickered up to stare at J's glowing ones, with a raised eyebrow. “But you said that you have checked everywhere!” Her voice was hurt—almost like she betrayed her.

No, she wouldn't do anything like it.

“No...” J started. “It was a hyperbole, you see. I—uhm, I'm sorry for saying this, but I haven't fully explored this place.”

Tessa's brows furrowed. “But why would she hide from us?” She whispered to herself in a mix of anger and confusion.

The sound of ceramic sliding against wood interrupted them.

“Tea? Everyone?” Cyn had spoken, her tone innocent—oblivious. Yet, her eyes were contrasting, as if she knew something she kept from us.

J glared at her with annoyance. “No—”

“Apple juice, please,” Tessa intercepted. She slid a wine glass to the bartender. Or bartendress...

A sigh left her lips—eyes glancing down at the floor in worry. Her legs dangled off from the chair, swinging up and down impatiently.

“And what about N?” She suddenly asked.

“He's probably reading books again in the library.”

“And did you ask him?”

“I did... but he says he didn't know.”

“And when was that?”

“Yesterday.”

“Maybe he knows by now.”

“Then he would've come back with her this morning.”

“Just ask him again—go see him!”

J's eyes turned reluctant. “Right now?”

“Of course right now!” Tessa raised her voice in a desperate fit. “It's been days since we've seen her!”

A sigh left J's lips now, and she hopped off from the stool, walking away—still, turning back a few times before she disappeared from the corner.

Tessa turned to sit properly, her hand on her cheek—holding it dearly—while her other gripped the stem of the wine glass she had requested. She stirred the apple juice inside, with eyes still full of worry. “Do you think she's... there?”

Cyn tilted her head. “Humming in thought,” she says bluntly, in her monotone voice. “Probably.”

Another sigh. Tessa sank into the wood, sipping occasionally.

J walked towards the library, her arms behind her back the whole time she moved through the hallways. Sometimes, guests appeared, and she made sure to bow—even as she was ignored. It didn't matter; it was her job anyways.

She stepped into the library; no one seemed to be there—not a single breath. Dust flew in the air—highlighted by the sunlight—and she wondered, where had everyone gone? Nothing spoke; nothing moved; nothing was there.

And she moved through the bookshelves, going through each row—expecting a sign of life, even N's sign that he was here, and yet she found nothing.

'Strange,' she thought to herself, though she ignored it and made the decision to leave without looking back.

Back in the hallways she sighed; she's tired of seeing the same view a thousand times, but... she couldn't do anything about it.

‘If he's not in the library, then where would that idiot be wandering around?’

She turned and walked through the hallways, ignoring the other drones who walked past without a word—they all were stuck focused on their purpose as she was. 

And as she walked back to the bar, she encountered someone that she'd never thought would ever appear—Cyn. It looked like she had something to say under those big, yellowed eyes. Her arms were stuck out, but her hands were limp—as if she were a zombie—and she had a crooked posture.

“Move,” J says, yet making no move in walking past by her.

“Hurting expression.” Cyn held her hand to her cheek, seemingly hurt, but not quite. She was still smiling about something. “What is the concept of moving? That is, when you're always walking and walking, trying to reach a specific destination. But then again, that destination remains the same, no matter how much you have walked—how many kilometers your foot has tried to take over.”

J took a step forward, her eyes exhausted—and part of her listened even if she didn't want to.

“The walls you've seen here—no matter how much you move, no matter how much you try to escape it—it'll always be there waiting, undecaying, unlike us.”

“Move,” J repeated, her voice forced and almost on the edge of anger.

Cyn only continued. “You're scared, aren't you? Of seeing the inevitable—even as things remain the same to you... it hurts. Like an ice cube kept out in the sun, watching as it eventually dies while the others—the plants—become stronger. You and—”

A slap. The thud echoed around them, and yet, no one heard it.

“I said move. Either move or I slap you again.”

“—Tessa will wither away while the world watches, proud of its own actions.”

She stepped away, still watching—observing closely.

“My words, remember them as if they were a... prophecy of some sort.”

J continued walking by then, ignoring Cyn's words... even as they affected a small part of her. ‘Prophecy?’ She repeated in her mind, clenching her teeth and holding back her anger. People's words were not meant to be taken seriously—except for Tessa—but... why did it feel like it was going to happen...?

She shook her head, telling and reassuring herself that nothing was going to happen. 'Who would believe an idiot child's words?' She thought.

Back then, she could feel something akin to satisfaction when she had hit her—but it all dissolved into a feeling of regret.

“I should've hit her more,” she says, rubbing the palms of her hands.

Walking through the hallways once more, she spotted N from afar, walking with his back turned against her. He held nothing in his hands, not even as a tray or a broom.

Anger sprouted in her chest, abandoning all the memories of her earlier encounter with Cyn. She stormed through the hallways with a newfound rage, stomping her feet angrily as he still walked obliviously, without knowing what he did.

She shoved him from behind, crashing her shoulder against his back, making him stumble and fall onto his front.

“Ow—!” He nearly shouted as his face planted onto the soft carpet.

Then he sat up and looked back—a surprised look upon his face as he saw J towering over him with an angry look on her faceplate and her arms crossed.

“You weren't in the library,” she stated bluntly, somehow finding wrong in his actions. He couldn't respond—not with her demeanor. “I was trying to FIND you, and now here you are walking around the hallways.”

“S-so?!” He raised his voice in confusion, his hand even emphasizing it. Though, it only made her more mad.

“WHAT were you doing all this time, huh? Walking around the hallways—” She repeated it, not even realizing it. Cyn's words echoed in her mind. “Like some... some... idiot!”

“I—I was trying to find V!”

Then her eyes softened, just a little, yet still keeping the anger part.

“Where is she?” She asked.

“That's what I'm trying to find out!” He stood up, dusting the imaginary dirt on his uniform.

She rolled her eyes and left before he could ever say anything else. There was no use in hearing a useless employee's words.

‘But what would Boss think when I come back with nothing?’ She thought, with worry beginning to sprout more and more.

She came to a halt in the middle of the hall, a thought gnawing at her insides. ‘I'm not useless, like the rest of them,’ she echoed. ‘I'll find her myself eventually...’

But as she walked through the hallways, she found herself suddenly in front of the bar, empty-handed, too late to notice before she had entered inside—floorboards creaking under her feet.

Tessa sat alone, still gripping the wine glass full of apple juice as her head lay on the table. She never made a move, even as J approached her, deliberately making herself known.

“I'm sorry, Boss... that moron—N—says he didn't know.”

Tessa didn't speak, only humming as she started to swirl the golden liquid.

“Should I... again?”

Then she sat up straight, blinking. She finished her drink and slid it forward, then she glanced back at the entrance as if Cyn was about to appear any second—though, she didn't.

“Want me to refill that? Or clean it, maybe?”

Tessa's eyes glanced upon her once more, and worry painted her face just like before. She stood up, looking as if she was about to do something unforgivable.

“I'm going to go... there,” she says, her vague words making J realize immediately.

Her eyes widened with worry but softened briefly. “Be careful.” Her words were soft and gentle. Despite that, there was a gnawing feeling that screamed at her—telling her that something was about to go wrong. Though, she pushed those thoughts down and continued smiling faintly.

Then dropped as Tessa finally left the room.

Her eyes glanced down towards the floor—the never-changing textures filling in her mind. A single chuckle. “Ridiculous...”

She left the room after then, on a search for V, even if it seemed like she disappeared into thin air. ‘An idiot wouldn't be like that,’ the thought passed her mind every time she came across the basement. ‘She couldn't hide anything without it being known.’ A pause. ‘Tomorrow I'll find her—Tessa will. Not them.’

And she stepped across the hatch.

The same way she did stepping on the matter.

Tomorrow, the sunlight will bask on her metallic skin once more—a new day rising despite it not feeling like it. She walked through the hallways, scoured through places she had entered, and was left with nothing. She was really considering the word 'nothing,' as she had felt it so long it no longer held the same weight it did. 'Empty' became 'normal'; 'nothing' became 'something,' as it all spiraled deep inside her. It made no sense. It all did. It was all the little idiot's fault, messing with her like this...

“Psst!” A voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts, coming from her left. She turned her head.

Cyn stood from afar, smiling, yet her eyes were blank, like a doll. And she was still in that same crooked pose.

J couldn't help but clench her fists.

“Nothing,” the little maid answered, even as there were no questions asked. It only seemed like that. “You're thinking of something, are you? A feeling that you're trying to reach? No matter. It will always bind you—drag you down before you realize that... you were always nothing, even as you try to 'believe' so much. Isn't that called... 'a placebo effect?'”

A grunt left J's lips; her foot slammed into the floor, making a thud. “You...” Her words began to dissolve as Cyn turned back, running to the opposite side.

She began to run too, upon realizing this.

They ran through the hallways, rounding corners, until eventually, Cyn had disappeared. Gone. Not a trace... Nothing.

Until a door creaked.

A grin slowly crept up to her face as she turned to the nearest room—a mix of desperation and anger. She chuckled under her breath. “I've got you now—”

The sound of yelling froze her in the spot—it sounded familiar and bitter to her audio receptors. She turned towards the rest of the hallway, where it suddenly began to stretch as it went on. There was only one way—one open hallway that led to the right just a couple of steps ahead.

Light seemed to shine more brightly there, as the world that surrounded her began to darken. She was drawn to the noise—the awful sound of yelling brought her memories she never wished to return. But alas, she peeked over the corner—a mix of guilt and regret bubbling in her mind.

'Tessa...' She wanted to say—to even mutter. But all she could do was watch helplessly as Tessa's mother scolded her, even laying a hand on her. The line between right and wrong was never there from the start.

“Why are you like this? Such an... unruly girl!?” Her voice was like thunder.

“I—I...” Tessa's words died down—like a scream amidst the thunderstorm. “I was trying to—”

A slap echoed through the house, followed by a thud. She held back her screams, her palm covering her cheek where it began to turn red.

J's eyes widened.

“Talking back to me... Do you want to be like those garbage good-for-nothings? The ones that were thrown out? And yet you still insist that they are a person, even going so far as to play dress-up with them. They are not people—only servants who are capable of serving—and beings who are solely nothing.”

She couldn't watch anymore—she couldn't... couldn't stand it. Quietly, she turned around and walked, no matter where she goes. The returning quietness screamed at her, and yet she still continued, moving far, far away.

For the rest of the day, she hid away from Tessa, suffocating on the guilt that would shroud around her heart if she were to see her again. The back of her mind whispered—imagining the voice of Tessa calling out to her. Though she pushed it down and curled up against a corner. Alone. Cold.

And she stayed there in the old, unused room, hugging herself as she lost herself in a trance. Time didn't seem to pass before her vision fluttered open once more, blinking. She stood up slowly—absentmindedly—and opened the door, letting the light fill in once more. It seemed like time had passed, yet the sun was still where it was before—maybe even lower. Another day has passed, and yet she didn't feel any change—in fact, she felt even more guilty than before.

She stepped into the familiar hallways once more—and looking around—she made sure that no one saw her leaving. Once the quietness started to fill in, she finally turned and left—filling in the absence of her mind with the sound of her footsteps.

For now, she felt guilt—a deep feeling of helplessness over Tessa.

They never found her, did they?

'Useless,' she thought to herself. 'Garbage.'

“J?” A voice called out behind her, warm and familiar. “Oh God, where have you been—”

She turned around—in front of her, Tessa ran with open arms and hugged her close. “You disappeared... I—I thought I'd lose... more of...” Words died down in her throat, and she pulled back to see J's face. “You guys.”

J's expression was mixed with a sense of wrongness—like she accepted it but... didn't deserve it. She looked up at Tessa's face—with eyes drawn out, hollow, and worried. “Did you find her yet?” She asked.

“Oh... J...” Tessa's eyes glanced down; she suddenly became silent.

“That's fine! Boss...” J replied. “I—I'll just go look for her.” She stepped away, slowly, away from Tessa's arms. And she turned her back against her, even when it felt wrong... It also felt right.

Confusion was the last thing she saw from Tessa's face before the walls obscured her view.

She continued searching elsewhere—moving around the manor absentmindedly—and yet nothing was found. The night came through—moonlight shining into the manor. J looked through the windows and froze for a while before she continued. The clouds 

At the end of the day, she sat alone in the dark room—leaning against the cabinet and letting out a sigh. Her hand came up to cover her face, and she faintly sighed. It felt miserable to her. Only helplessness seemed to shine in her world.

Her eyes closed shut. The only sound in her head—the room—was that of her own whirring. Tessa's face flashed inside of her mind—that same confused, hurt expression painting her whole identity. “Am I a bad manager?” She asked herself, and yet, never thought upon that thought.

The bitter smell of guilt clouded her senses, but it was all slowly replaced by a certain calmness. Forgiveness. She wanted forgiveness. And she was spiraling—a bad trait for an employee to have. 'Not now,' she thought to herself, staring blankly down towards the floor.

And she was there—Tessa—with open arms flashing like a contrast among the cold, dark room.

J slept alone, her mouth opening a little as if in awe. In her dreams, there was no such thing as happiness—only the constant fear of being disposed of looming over her existence.

An old grandfather's clock, ticking away, its pendulum swinging and swinging... until the arms were pointed towards twelve. The glass broke down, the pendulum briefly stopping. A loud crash can be heard, surrounding her everywhere.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she jolted awake from her dream. The little moment of shock was brief, however, as she realized she was back in the room she had slept in. ‘Apologize to Boss,’ she shouted in her mind.

Quickly, she stood up and left the room with a newfound task brewing in her mind. Navigating throughout the hallways—the walls—she had made her way to Tessa's room. It only looked more threatening as she stood there in silence, as if waiting for Tessa to come out at any moment.

But gathering the courage, she finally raised her fist and knocked on the door. Then she waited and waited until minutes had passed. Anxiety grew beneath her chest. She knocked again. No response came from inside—nothing. Her eyes glanced towards the rising sun just outside of the windows—Tessa should've woken up a little, right?

Her hands found the doorknob, and she turned and entered. It was dark inside—quiet. She flicked the switch on—turning on the lights—and yet, Tessa was nowhere to be found.

“Boss?” She called out nervously—the quietness deafening.

Curtains were moved; closets were opened; under the bed—she found nothing but containers. She stood up once more to search the bed—it was messier than ever, as if something had dragged her. Someone. Her eyes hollowed, and panic rose from her chest.

J rushed over to leave the room and ran through the hallways with a frantic look in her eyes. She was afraid. So, so afraid. Everywhere she looked—nothing was there. Libraries, kitchens, unused old rooms... and yet there were no signs of her presence. The sun shines at its highest as she presses her forehead against the walls. Then she hid away above the clouds as she fell silently onto the ground.

A thunderstorm quickly came before she knew it, and she found herself wandering endlessly—tired and exhausted—a mix of conflicting thoughts screaming inside of her head.

The worst thoughts plagued her mind, revolving around her boss. She had wondered—and refused to think that she would go through such punishment. The dark purple spots—present against Tessa's skin—flashed through her mind like a whirlwind, drowning out the heavy rain that occurred in her background.

Her palms pressed against the glass, she looked down towards the pile of broken bodies—searching for someone that didn't fit in there.

“It's a terrifying thought, isn't it?” Another voice—small, infuriating—spoke up behind her. She froze. “Trying to find something that had always made you safe... comfortable, until you realize that it was always never there—the feeling. It kept reassuring you, encouraging you that everything was always fine—but in the end, it will falter, just like everything else. Then you will realize how deep you really are.”

Footsteps approached from behind, and yet, J never moved, only staring at the top of the piles absentmindedly.

“Think of it. Her cold, cold body—lying outside, limp and hollow amidst the sea of our dead kin. Her eyes open—but no real warmth—only pupils staring back at you like you had done something wrong. The wind blows against her hair—something that she had loved to feel against—now present once more as if mourning.” Thunder struck in the background. “She lies on top of them with her arms and legs sprawled, silently waiting as the rain washes her identity away. Just like how you would. Just like how all of us would. It was only inevitable.”

J's eyes widened—trembling, her fingers retreated back to her hand. She couldn't move. Only observing, and observing until the faint image of Tessa lay above the piles—visible from afar. She held back sobs and yet failed. The image was too terrifying... yet she couldn't look away.

“They have disposed of her, just like they have disposed of us. You felt like you had failed, and yet, can't you see? We were all destined to be like this.”

The footsteps became louder—until she could feel Cyn's presence behind her back.

“Become a failure... just like us... just like... Tessa.”

Warm breath hit the back of her neck. A sharp pain emerged from J's shoulders, though she never moved from her spot—only frozen in time as her mind spiraled into nothing.

Cyn dragged her down onto the floor, biting her shoulders until the metal had torn off—leaving wires exposed to the air. Fabric tore off with a stretch. Fingers came up to J's exposed chest, digging and scratching away—metal sparking against each other—until a cavity was left open, and she dug her face inside like a feral animal—biting, crunching...

Warm oil dripped from her jaw as Cyn lifted her face up—a momentary reprieve before a gasp left her lips, and she dug in once more.

Squelch. Squelch... sob.

A smile was on her lips as she dragged J's body through the halls, leaving black trails of oil across the carpet.

The guests never showed up in her way. Others only stared with horror as they saw her once more. Though, they never stopped her like they did before.

As she approached the latch of the basement, her smile faltered for a little. She had realized that she was the one guiding J into the basement, unlike before, when it was the opposite.

Though, she forced herself to smile, telling herself that it was all going to be okay in the end.

Tessa's voice rang out inside, angry and exhausted as the latch was opened.

“Ugh! Cyn! I swear if you don't—”

Then her words died down—reduced to a small gasp as Cyn descended with J's broken body. Her dress was stained—her jaw tainted with oil. She was calm despite all of this.

J's head crashed against the concrete floor as Cyn let go of her hand and stepped back.

Tessa's eyes flickered away and back, now nervous.

“What do you want?” She asked softly, even as her voice trembled, even as she was tied up against a chair.

Cyn looked up suddenly, as if she snapped from a trance.

“Us.”
 
Then she spun around and left.

“Big brother is left alone.... I don't want to be separated,” she whispered under her breath, just loud enough for Tessa to hear.

Her feet disappeared from the view. And then the latch closed shut once more.

Chapter Text

The walls were there for her—following her footsteps, watching as she passed and round against each corner.

A thoughtful expression painted Cyn's face as she strode through the hallway—not even with a grin or a smile. Her lips curved down into a small frown, accompanied by blank, hollow eyes. She was nervous. 

It was all a labyrinth that she'd cross over a thousand times, only to find herself lost—stuck in a familiar yet strange place.

She moved slowly, carefully, her feet lightly tapping against the carpet until it was all that she could hear.

It was until she found herself in front of the library entrance that she snapped from her trance. 

There was nobody there—only the soft rain tapping against the windows, a sound that helped her mask the creeping dread that snuck behind her back.

She hopped and skipped along the rows of bookshelves—her eyes skimming out the empty space until she had found him, with his back turned as he walked the opposite side. It was then that she stopped briefly, deciding not to make herself present just now. She only watched, hiding behind the bookshelf like some little kid. It felt like the first time when she had met him fully. Warm, soft, gentle. She didn't want to let him go; she didn't want to let him leave her alone—just like everyone else will.

Saving him was the only thing she had wanted.

Only a step, her mind cowered. She couldn't seem to talk—it was as if she was deteriorating further and further. She could do nothing but stand there—now out in the open and staring softly at his back.

He seemed like he was already leaving, his shoulders down as if something was bothering him. She didn't want to make him worry. Not anymore. 

“Psst,” she called out, quietly. “Big Brother.” Her voice was hushed as her head peeked.

He seemed to freeze suddenly before turning around. Confusion and surprise colored his face, and he fully turned to her, stepping closer with a smile.

“Cyn?” He says with glee, then he sighed. “You're here...”

She stepped from the bookshelves, revealing herself to him—even as her dress was stained black, her hair was disheveled, and the corner of her lips tainted. She looked up at him, her eyes almost innocent as always—though there was a slight crazed look alongside it.

“Where is everyone?” He asked as he strode towards her until he could touch her nonexistent nose and wipe away the stain. “Dude, you've got a mess for yourself... what will Tessa think?” His eyes sparkled with a warm gaze as he crouched down, his hands working to try and tidy up her.

“Big Brother,” she repeated, her voice monotone. Though he could notice the faint rise in her breath, unlike before. “I've got a surprise for you.”

“What is it, buddy?” His eyes glanced up at her, meeting hers.

She glanced away for a moment—a worried glimmer in her eyes—before turning back at him. “Can we leave the library now?” Her words were accompanied by a tug on the edge of his sleeve.

His eyes widened a little. “Yeah, sure,” he says, standing up and patting her shoulders.

She only took his hand in hers, softly, her thumb rubbing the back of his hand affectionately as she started to guide him.

It was quiet—save for the faint sound of the rain that had settled down a little—and he could feel a sense of unease coming from her.

And he could feel her hand squeezing his, as if she was afraid to let go.

For her it felt like walking through a squeeze—suffocating and repetitive. It only seemed like she was making no progress—as every turn was the same. Still, she kept moving without pause.

They stopped near a wooden door—its texture dusty and scratched. The doorknob squeaked under her palm, and she stepped inside, gone under the darkness. As fast as she left him, she returned with a large coil of rope.

“Can we play a game?” She said.

A spark of confusion rose up in his chest, but the way she had smiled... it only made him comply.

He kissed his teeth. “Oh, alright...”

The rope felt hard in his hands. His sudden confusion now turned into curiosity; he had figured that it would've made sense.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” He asked, clenching and stretching the rope as he waited for her response.

“It's called guess the room,” she said with excitement. Though it felt off... like she was hiding something. “You have to tie yourself up and wear this blindfold”—she produced a black cloth from the pockets of her maid dress. “And you have to guess where you are. Isn't it fun?”

A smile curved at his lips—patient, curious. “It is, but... what if the guests see us playing it?”

She tilted her head. “Don't worry, we'll only play one time.”

Before he could respond, she took his hand and rushed him inside of the room—plunging the both of them in darkness. It was until the light flickered that he could finally see—an empty room for them to be in.

“Sit down,” she said, already crouched, the top of her hand tapping the dusty wooden floorboards.

He did as she said, and the rope was taken from his hands. It stretched as she took it apart, then her hands fell into hesitation as she tried to wrap him around.

“Do you know how to do it?” He suddenly intercepted.

She shook her head.

His hands came up to the rope. “Here,” he brought her attention before pulling the short end behind his back—holding it with his thumb. “Hold it there,” he says.

She moved behind him and held the end of the rope with her fingers.

“Now grab the longer one.” He nodded towards the other side. “And wrap it around me over and over.”

Her hands grabbed the longer side and then started to wrap it around him, pulling and twirling until it became shorter and shorter, until he couldn't seem to move his arms around.

Then she blinked, her smile faltering. “How do I tie it?” 

A pause. The silence loomed over them for a moment before he chuckled nervously.

“Just tuck it between the ropes and hope for the best!” He suggested it, though, still unsure.

The two short ends of the rope were tucked beneath bundles of itself. A smile curved, and she stood up—admiring her work—even as a grim feeling screamed in the back of her mind.

A feeling that she always felt—covered by the joy of being around... people she loved.

“Cyn?” A voice echoed in her mind. She couldn't seem to recognize who it was. Her heart felt heavy; the air felt suffocating—a certain doom falling upon her as she realized it was the voice of all of them—the people who she loved.

“Cyn!” It repeated, louder, panicked. She snapped from her trance and finally realized that only N sat in the room—calling out to her.

“A little help here?” He struggled, wriggling his feet as he failed to stand up on his own.

Moving closer behind his back, she hugged him from behind and held him until he could plant his feet on the ground carefully. Then he stood up. It looked ridiculous; she almost laughed.

“I never thought being tied up would feel this strange,” he remarked.

At last, she held the black cloth over his visors... but it fell.

“Close your eyes and get ready, Big Brother.”

Waiting until his eyes were closed, her hands came up to the doorknob, turning and opening it slowly with a long creak. Then she grabbed his hands—strained under the thick ropes—and guided him through the hallways.

Each end of the halls stretched as far as she could see—and she could only cling to him as they navigated together.

“Big Brother...” She muttered. “Aren't you tired of this place?”

His eyebrows raised in surprise, yet his smile never faltered.

“I guess... but the thing that makes it feel not boring is you and Tessa and J and V!”

She went silent, her eyes almost turning horrified and guilty—and she wondered if everything she had done was right. It has to be.

They descended down the stairs, turning each corner with fear. And occasionally, she stole glances from him.

There they arrived on the first floor just in front of the entrance—a sense of relief growing in her chest as she loomed over where the latch stood.

She crouched down—still not letting go of his hand—and moved over the carpet, revealing the latch. It was opened with a faint creak—groans and screams briefly escaping from inside.

Though, she kept going, leading N down inside. “Don't open yet,” she ordered, even as he could hear it—the sound of a familiar voice begging.

“Cyn! Stop it! Just let me go!” It shouted in a frantic tone—breaking, almost screeching. “Why?”

It was all too late. The only escape was shut—plunging them into the darkness. Then the lights suddenly flickered.

“N! Do something!” Tessa screamed.

Cyn only watched as he opened his eyes and then realized—as his eyes glossed over the room—the husks of their family lying among the floor in a puddle of oil, broken. Tessa sat amongst J and V—her body tied up to a chair, tears already streaming down her cheeks.

His eyes hollowed—shocked—and only a gasp left his lips. Suddenly, he could feel his throat drying up, and he found himself unable to speak.

“Don't worry, Big Brother,” Cyn intercepted. “It will be quick.”

“Why?” He muttered.

The small maid's head tilted, her eyes becoming empty. A smile came up to her lips.

Silence passed, save for the sound of Tessa's grumbles. Cyn was quiet, however—she looked confused herself.

“Because... I don't want to see anymore... I'm scared...” Her words suddenly turned into a whisper—a whisper full of fear.

She kept smiling, now moving towards Tessa, ignoring the way her shoes squelched with the oil underneath her feet.

“Quickly,” she muttered under her breath. It only seemed like she was talking to herself. “I don't want to hurt anymore.”

“No!” Tessa screamed, squirming and struggling even harder in her seat. Her head tried to lean away as Cyn came closer. “Stop—please...” She gulped, her voice trembling. “Let's talk, okay? W-what do you want us to play?”

Cyn's smile faltered. She became silent.

“I don't want to see you suffer—” 

“You're making me suffer!”

Tessa's words echoed in her mind.

“You're making us suffer... why...?”

It was all too late, wasn't it? She had already done the damage. It felt wrong. Everything felt wrong.

She didn't speak, only leaning closer and closer—as if possessed by something. Deep in her mind she knew that... it would only continue, and that she had to end it all.

Her eyes closed shut as she felt her fangs sink into the warm flesh—warm liquid dripping into her mouth. Screams rang into her audio receptors, though it all became background noise as her mind tried to wander away. Her jaw kept clamping—the liquid never ceasing. Soon, the warmth became cold, and as she opened her eyes, only red existed.

She looked away, her usual smile gone. The weight of it all stuck to her hands—her dress... and the words... it only stuck to her mind as seconds passed. Why?

She didn't want to see them go... not without her.

“Cyn...” A voice—familiar—rose in front of her. The sound of others calling out to her clouded her sense to identify. Then she remembered—the one who had always spoken to herself softly.

N sat on his knees in front of her, his eyes hollow, his body frozen. “Just do it...” He said.

A gasp... the same warmth filled her senses only for a moment before the cold settled in once more.

Before she realized it, she was left alone. The warmth that she had promised herself never came. Only the silence. Only the cold and the absence. Only nothing.

The floor felt cold, and the air felt warm as she breathed in.

Quietness pressed her on all sides until it was too much. Until all she could do was sob uncontrollably.

The world seemed to stay still.

A single sob left her lips—

Then nothing.

A broken grandfather's clock stood tall—the glass broken; the pendulum still; its arms stuck on twelve.