Twinkle: Hey, did you guys hear about Duke?
Dawn: *looks a little shocked* No, what do you mean by that?
Brock: *looks confused* Wait, I thought this group chat was the college students one.
Twinkle: Uh, no it's not.
Brock: Oh.
Dawn: Is anyone going to tell me?
Sparkle: Yeah, what were you going to say?
Twinkle: Huh, you don't know?
Sparkle: *shakes head* Uh, of course I don't.
Finny: Oh, I think I know what Twinkle means. Duke told me that Ryen drove to his dorm to pack his clothes, and they drove back to the house together.
Sparkle: Wait, why did Ryen go there and left with Duke's clothes?
Finny: They went back to the house together.
Dawn: *gasps* Wait, are you saying Duke left school?
Twinkle: *sighs* Yeah, that's basically what I was going to say. Duke suddenly left his college one day.
[Three people added to the chat.]
Ardere: He just.. left?
Finny: Duke said Ryen helped him drop out.
Sparkle: That sounds like a lie.
Fauna: Hey, why do only Finny and Twinkle know the details?
Twinkle: Oh, I barely have any details except for what I just said.
Brock: Who's the third added person?
Ardere: Someone else joined at the same time that Fauna and I did?
Brock: That's what my screen says.
Dawn: Same here.
Finny: Same on mine.
Twinkle: Same.
Sparkle: *looks at screen suspiciously* Same.
Ryen: *lets his face appear in the chat, sighs* It's me.
Brock: *feels suddenly relieved* Oh yay, Ry Ry joined the party!
Sparkle: *rolls eyes*
Twinkle: *looks down at her desk*
Fauna: *shakes head*
Brock: Hi, Ry.
Ryen: *smiles for a moment* Hi, Brock. Hi to the rest of you as well.
Dawn: Well, I wasn't expecting it to be you.
Ryen: The reason I didn't show my face earlier is because I had to leave the room when I joined.
Brock: Why?
Ryen: Why what?
Brock: Did you leave your room?
Ryen: *laughs* I had to go to the bathroom. Why are you all looking at me like that?
Brock: Your hair looks different.
Ryen: I just took a shower, so my hair is wet.
Sparkle: Ugh, ignore him. Why did you help Duke drop out?
Ryen: *stops smiling* Drop out?
Sparkle: Don't try to pretend you misheard me.
Ryen: I didn't. I just.. what do you mean when you say I helped Duke drop out?
Finny: Duke told me. Did he..?
Ryen: Lie? Yes.
Dawn: Can someone please explain what's going on?
Ryen: The night that Ardere, Dawn, and Fauna were out, Duke arrived at the front steps to the house without anything else. A day or two later, I drove Duke back to fetch his clothes. And then we drove back home.
Twinkle: But did he drop out?
Ryen: Not exactly. He's just taking a break from college, that's all. Duke will decide whether or not he wants to go back in his own time.
Finny: Something like a gap year?
Ryen: If that's what he wants to do. It's his decision.
[One person added to the chat.]
Fierdan: *sighs loudly, slams his hands at the edge of his desk*
Brock: Oh, it's Danny!
Fierdan: *glares at his screen* Quit the crap, all of you.
Ryen: I was just telling them what happen--
Fierdan: I know that, Ryen. You have to be aware of their reactions.
Dawn: What about our reactions? Duke's taking a break from school, right?
Ryen: I didn't give them many details.
Ardere: There are more details? What are you hiding from us?
Fierdan: *clenches teeth* How about I'll tell you when I know you're not insensitive and rude pieces of shi--
Ardere: *is taken aback* Oh, I'm sorry.
Fauna: *is annoyed* And what was that for? We just want to know what's going on!
Dawn: Fierdan dear, you seem distressed.
Fierdan: Thanks for pointing out the obvious!
Twinkle: Okay, so why did you join the group chat if you're only going to snap at us?
Fierdan: *takes his hands off the edge of his desk* I suggested to Ryen to drive Duke back to grab the things he left in his dorm, and then I told him to tell those college admissions people that Duke was leaving for the semester.
Brock: So basically you told Duke to quit college because you never went?
Fierdan: It's better that Duke left. It has nothing to do with me.
Finny: *stutters* W-Why?
Ryen: Duke believes he doesn't deserve good things. The night he came home, he refused to sleep anywhere except the floor.
Twinkle: Duke sleeps weirdly, so what?
Ryen: The following morning, he took out the razors from two of my shavers.
Finny: Wait, did he..?
Fierdan: I was able to throw them out before he had the chance to do anything stupid. He wouldn't let go of them for a little while though.
Sparkle: But is Duke okay?
Fierdan: Not at all. His mental health is deteriorating.
Ryen: Well, you're being blunt.
Fierdan: *sighs* I'm tired, Ryen.
Ardere: *is getting worried* What's wrong with Duke?
Fierdan: Everything. *pauses, looks like he's shivering, stops that and continues* A lot of things are wrong with him, to tell you the truth.
Ryen: Fierdan?
Fierdan: What is it, Ryen? Am I hiding something from you too? Am I scared? Yes, I'm scared. Do you know I hold a lifetime supply of guilt and shame in my body? I can feel it leaking into my bloodstream. I don't know what I'll do if he's gone. I really don't know!
Dawn: Why are you scared?
Fierdan: Do you know what Ryen told me? He told me that Duke wanted alcohol when he entered the house.
Ryen: Well, after I gave him some water.
Fierdan: Okay, to be honest, Duke didn't really tell us. But I just knew.
Brock: Knew what?
Fierdan: *rolls eyes upon hearing Brock interrupting him* Duke was spending the majority of his time at college so far trying to find and get alcohol and other drugs. He couldn't stand staying sober.
Brock: *gasps* Drunkie!
Twinkle: You didn't have to say that, Brock.
Brock: Yeah, uh, I'm sorry. I'm just.. surprised? How did Duke find alcohol so fast?
Twinkle: That wasn't any better.
Fierdan: *sighs* Are you two done yet?
Twinkle: What did I do?
Fierdan: *stares at screen*
Twinkle: Sorry.
Ryen: There's no reason to be so strict.
Fierdan: I'm not being strict. I'm just telling them that Duke is a lot worse than I thought.
Ryen: Oh okay.
Fierdan: Do any of you even know where Duke is? No?
Ryen: Even I don't know where he is.
Fierdan: Exactly my point. He thinks he doesn't deserve good things, and that he isn't a good person. He's not home. I don't know where he is either.
[Then there are footsteps heard going up the stairs. A door opens. A laptop is taken out and turned on. A minute later, and the group chat shows up on the screen.]
Duke: *grins, has red eyes* Did you guys miss me?
Fierdan: *frowns, looks concerned* Your eyes are very red.
Duke: *laughs* That's right. They are red.
Ryen: Where were you?
Duke: *is still laughing* Getting high.
Fierdan: You scared me.
Duke: Again? Oh Fierdan, you're getting old. Stop trying to be my guardian.
Fierdan: Stop with your crap, Duke.
Duke: *is standing up, takes a few steps back* You should be thankful that I changed my mind.
Fierdan: *screams with desperation* I gave you the Help card! You told me you were going to use it!
Duke: I don't need your Help.
Fierdan: You told Ryen and me how traumatized you are. Help is there to help you!
Duke: I was thinking of going out to try to dance and get fuc--
Twinkle: *blinks* You what?
Brock: He was going out dancing.
Sparkle: I don't think he said that.
Duke: No, no. I meant to say having a dance with death.
Finny: A dance with death?
Duke: Yeah, that was my first plan. But I changed my mind to get high instead.
Dawn: Is anyone going to say anything about what he's wearing?
Duke: I was planning on trying to kill myself again since Fierdan is too much of a coward to kill me himself. That's what I meant by saying I first thought of going out trying to dance and get fucked by death.
Fauna: I didn't know we could swear uncensored.
Dawn: We're not supposed to. You're being too inappropriate, Duke.
Duke: What? I nearly met death.
Sparkle: You didn't meet death. And stop saying it like death is a person.
Duke: Death is a person, silly!
Dawn: You know what? I'm just going to ask you.
Duke: What's the matter?
Dawn: Why are you dressed in lingerie?
Duke: What's wrong with it?
Dawn: You barely have any clothes on, and we can all see you.
Duke: Yeah and?
Finny: Aren't you freezing?
Duke: Oh, I don't feel anymore.
Twinkle: I am genuinely worried about you, Duke.
Duke: Thanks. *turns his back to the computer screen*
Brock: Oh, there's his butt.
Duke: *takes off the lingerie*
Brock: Oh, there's his everything.
Fierdan: *gulps, looks nervously around him*
Duke: *turns back around, walks closer to the computer* I'm going to leave you all forever. *snaps his right and left index and middle fingers at the same time, his left eye has a ring of purple around the pupil as tears fall out of that eye* My time with all of you has come to an end.
Ryen: Can you explain yourself?
Duke: *suddenly gets engulfed in black flames until they form the shape of pants and a jacket* I'm leaving.
[Suddenly, Fierdan is on the same screen as Duke. He is on his knees and is hugging the lower half of Duke's legs.]
Duke: *turns to look at Fierdan, he looks at him with pity* What are you doing?
Fierdan: You're not taking him. He's mine. He's all mine.
Duke: Let go! *breaks free from Fierdan*
Fierdan: *is on the floor, gets covered by the black flames on the floor* Duke is not leaving me!
Duke: Yes, he is. Stop being so attached, Fierdan. These people will think you are in love with me.
Fierdan: I knew it was all you this whole time, Soulless! *pats his pants and stands up, has the black flames around him* And do you know what else?
Duke: *rolls eyes*
Fierdan: *bends his neck a certain way that seems like it would hurt, snaps his fingers the same way Duke did, grins* Black fire belongs to me, first of all. They're mine, it's all mine.. *the black flames surrounding him take the shape of a cloak* .. the Duke is mine. And for your information, I'm just as much of a monster as Duke was in the project world. It's not all about you, fucker! *causes Duke to fall, puts one of his feet on his back*
Brock: Is anyone going to say anything? No?
Ryen: Brock, just don't.
Fierdan: *has the black fire cloak drag behind him kinda like a black wedding dress, stands on top of Duke*
Twinkle: Oh, oh okay.
Duke: *somehow gets up, is crying again* Why are you still obsessed with Soulless? They are gone, Fierdan!
Fierdan: Huh?
Duke: Soulless isn't here. It's me. It's only me. *voice cracks* Why would you attack me when I'm at my most vulnerable? I was sent to the hospital. Please let me die! I'm begging you to kill me.
Fierdan: Stop it!
Duke: I'm not living! I stopped being alive a long time ago. I need you to take me out of this misery. Please, exterminate me. Get rid of me! If you won't, I really will leave. I'll stay far away from any other person. I need to go!
Fierdan: You don't have to. It's going to be okay.
Duke: No, it's not! You didn't have the same experiences I had in that world! I really did die. Killing me was a good thing. Just do it again.
Fierdan: *starts crying* I'm not going to kill you. Stop thinking that I will.
Duke: Can Ryen kill me? Ryen is connected to Soulless. Right, right?
Ryen: I'm not going to kill you either.
Duke: Anyone? Anyone!
Ryen: No one is going to kill you.
Duke: Why the hell not? Tell me why!
Fierdan: How did you escape from a hospital?
Duke: It's easy. They wouldn't take me to the ER, so I left.
Fierdan: Why were you there?
Duke: I really am high. And you're all going to die if you don't kill me now or let me leave forever.
Finny: No. Stop it, Duke.
Duke: I'm so fucked up.
Twinkle: Oh, we know.
Duke: *falls on his back this time* I'm tired. *the purple leaves his eye*
Fierdan: I know you are. *grabs Duke's hand closest to him* I'm tired too. But whatever happens, whatever you do, exist.
Duke: *blankly stares at the ceiling* Exist?
Fierdan: You're not necessarily living, right?
Duke: *lets out a sigh, smiles* That's right.
Brock: Wait, hold on. Why does Duke have lingerie?
Fauna: Yeah, I'm confused about that too.
Duke: I'm not telling you my secrets.
Twinkle: You have more?
Duke: Yeah. Watch this. *suddenly disappears*
[...]
Fierdan: Duke? Duke?
Brock: Whoa, that boy got us trippin'!
Fierdan: Duke? Duke!
Ryen: Danny? What is going on?
Fierdan: Where is Duke?
Brock: Are you okay, Danny? What are you doing?
Fierdan: *panics* Duke just disappeared in front of me! Where is he?
Ryen: *looks confused* Are you talking about that Duke thing again?
Fierdan: Duke isn't a thing; he's a person!
Dawn: Danny? Duke is dead.
Fierdan: He was just here! He didn't kill himself.
Dawn: He didn't. You did.
Fierdan: *breathes heavily* What?
Twinkle: You killed Duke.
Fierdan: I didn't kill him!
Twinkle: Yes you did.
Ryen: Duke became a part of you. You are the same person. How's that?
Fierdan: What?
Ryen: Your name is Danny. You're 20 years old.
Fierdan: But.. but Duke. Is he really gone?
Ryen: Danny, get some rest. We'll continue our work tomorrow.
Fierdan: What about Brock?
Ryen: Who is Brock? Isn't that a Pokémon character?
Fierdan: What? No! He's our friend! We were all in a group chat.
Dawn: I never heard of such a person.
Fierdan: *screeches* Stop it! Stop it! Stop with your shit!
Dawn: Danny, you're out of reality. You're in a white room. White floor, white walls, white bed, white ceiling.
Fierdan: Nothing is white!
Twinkle: Danny? Danny?
Fierdan: Don't call me that. My child self died a long, long time ago. None of you have the right to call me that!
Twinkle: Then what should we call you?
Fierdan: Fierdan.
Dawn: But you hate that name. You wanted us to call you Danny. Remember our childhood?
Fierdan: Oh yes, I remember the abuse and neglect.
Ryen: Would you rather have us call you Daniel?
Fierdan: No! My name is Fierdan!
Ryen: I'm not calling you that.
Fierdan: It's my fucking name, asshole!
Twinkle: He is definitely having flashbacks. Take him to therapy, give him his meds, someone do something!
Fierdan: What? You guys are all the ones messed up. Am I the only sane one here?
Dawn: It's PTSD. You're not alone. I swear you aren't.
Fierdan: I'm.. what?
Dawn: Oh dear, has he forgotten?
Fierdan: *yells* No!
[...]
Duke: *hugs a panicked and frozen Fierdan tightly*
Fierdan: *takes a while to, but finally wraps his arms around Duke's upper back*
--------------
The End!
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