Acustic_Cat

❤️Deltarune today❤️

Stay determined everyone!

JAX×READER

CHAPER 9/9

It was over; Caine was gone, the circus was destroyed, and everyone was now fighting with each other, Jax blaming Kinger for deleting Caine and ruining everything we had left, while Pomni was actively trying to defend Kinger, trying to make Jax understand that it was no one's fault since it couldn't have been seen as an probability.

《I was there too; does it mean it's also my fault?》I asked at the purple rabbit, and that was enough to make him walk away without turning back; everyone was now isolated once again. I wanted to follow after Jax, but I felt like he needed a moment for himself; he needed to get it out of his system.

I decided to follow after Zooble, who was just sitting by themselves in a corner. 《I'm sorry I caused your dreams to be destroyed》 I apologized, looking down at them; they just shook their head. 《There must be a universe where I will manage to live the life I wanted》 they said with a tired tone. 《What life did you want?》 asked them, keeping them company for the many hours of talking of each other's dreams.

After what felt like days Gangle came to convince us to join the rest of them to build and fix what's left of the circus. I give a light giggle to Zooble. 《Come on, I can help you build the bar you always wanted to open!》I told them to try to cheer them up.

Until the worst happened.

He abstracted.

I cannot believe it.

After everything, after everything we've gone through, he abstracted. I was just sitting on the floor, crying with Kinger next to me trying to comfort me. 《Why would he do such a thing?》I murmured under my breath, Kinger was giving me a side hug to comfort me. 《I can't believe it; he decided to abstract now that there is nothing we can do to stop it!》I heard Zooble lament in the background, but I couldn't really focus.

My vision was blurry because of the tears streaming down my cheeks; I lost all of them now.

Ribbit.

Kaufmo.

Jax.

Why, why did everyone have to leave me like that? Why, is it my fault? Is that why everyone is gone and I'm the only one left standing of the original group? Gangle was trying to reassure me, saying that it was not my fault and that I'm not to blame for what happened with Jax. 《I should have seen that coming...why didn't I?》I murmured to myself, but there was too much silence, and everyone heard what I said. 《Hey, no, look, we all assumed Jax was way too gone in the first place; you should not blame yourself. You know firsthand how bad it has to get to be abstract in the first place》Ragatha said, kneeling in front of me, taking my cheek in her hand, my tear-covered face looking in hers.

《Exactly! I knew from the first place how bad it had to get—and despite everything-》

《Despite everything, it's still you》Ragatha said, putting both of her hands on my shoulders. 《Not as an abstraction, but as my friend, one of the few real ones I ever had. Jax did not abstract because of you but because of everything that happened before. Before he came to the circus, it may be because of anything he abstracted》 Ragatha said, taking her hands off me. 《But horrible stuff happened to you too before the circus, Ragatha, so why did he abstract and you didn't?》 I asked, hoping she would not take it as an offense, but she just gave a warm smile.

《Because even if I tried my best to stay positive and help others, I always knew I could let myself go with the people I knew that would not judge me, the people that were with me practically my whole journey in the circus》 she said, looking at both me and Kinger. I give her a weak smile, but the guilt of what happened to Jax was eating me alive. 《And unlike Jax, I always knew that no matter what happened to me, I always had someone to help me out. He decided to refuge himself in his own grief. I do not know what happened to Jax back in the real world; I'm not even sure you know either, but the cause of his abstraction is nothing but his own fault for the self-isolation》 she said, giving me a deep hug, crossing her arms up my shoulder.

Her words made me think.

What did I actually know about Jax in the first place? I knew his hobbies and interests; I knew he used to play the piano. I know that when he found the headset, he was searching for a place to sleep in because he was homeless, but he never told me why or when he lost his house. He never really shared anything personal about himself from when he was out at the circus, nor about his parents or his friends.

I always told him everything about me, and now that I think about it, he never shared the same information as I did.

I think it should hurt more, but it doesn't; after all, I never really shared about my inside the circus in the first place.

Second Pov:

DAY: XX MONTH: XX YEAR: 20XX

You felt the world spinning around.

No matter how hard you tried, you could hold focus on anything.

It was not scary.

Quite the opposite.

A warm, comforting feeling.

Like a hug from someone close to you.

You were smiling, and the more you were smiling, the more sanity you were losing.

You thought you could do it.

It was clearly a mistake.

The headset.

Getting inside the building in the first place.

You cannot even remember why you were there.

Was there someone with you?

Were you alone?

Well, does it matter now?

You were about to die.

Heh...hehe...

Is not as comforting as it originally felt.

It's not warm anymore; it's boiling hot, like your body is changing into something it was never meant to be.

You felt two hands forcefully grabbing your shoulders, shaking you violently; you take a minute to gain consciousness.

The door of your room is completely destroyed; the wood is broken, and at the door Kinger and Caine were standing. Caine was holding his hat at his torso in sorrow, while Kinger was watching worriedly at the scene.

Ragatha was crying while shaking your conscious body. You looked at her, really looked at her, the defeat reflecting on her ragdoll face. 《Rags?》 You asked about positioning your hands on top of her cotton ones. 《Oh my- I thought- you're well! You- why would you do that?!》She asked, raising her voice but not screaming.

《I- Ragatha, I'm sorry, I don't know what happe-》The ragdoll hugged your body, crying over what could have happened if they hadn't noticed you being gone or if they hadn't knocked your door down. 《I will soon fix the door of your room and try to take a moment to...get better》Caine said, putting back the hat on top of his head.

DAY: XX MONTH: XX YEAR: 20XX

(A few weeks later)

《I overheard Ragatha and Kinger talking about a semi-abstraction》 Ribbit said at the picnic. You stared at her. Do they know it was you who almost abstracted? 《Wow, that's pathetic. Who do you guys think it was, huh? Maybe the crazy Kinger over there》 Jax said laughing arrogantly, and you turn your head to watch the others. Kaufmo was smiling at Jax while Ribbit was looking at you with a worried expression on their face.

Ribbit knew.

You took a deep sigh and started to speak 《It was me; I almost abstracted... I think a few weeks ago》you confessed and looked at the group.

Then nothing.

You could not remember what happened later.

You think they laughed.

At least that's what Jax told you after Ribbit abstracted.

Your POV:

(Back in the present)

I guess Jax brings his own secrets to his grave. Was that why I loved him in the first place? You shook your head lightly.

It was not for that; it was...everything, even the small gestures coming from him meant love in his own way.

Like the fact that he never picked on me like the other.

Or the fact that no matter how angry he was, he always let me stay close to him.

The fact that after traumatic adventures he would offer me his room so we could stay together, even if he despised that room with his whole soul.

We are more than friends but less than official lovers trope.

So annoying, why did he not at least make that clear if he had to die?

《We will find a way to solve this, don't worry; give me a minute to think on what we can do》I heard Pomni say to the ragdoll sitting in front of me, or she was talking to me; I'm not sure anymore. 《He really liked you》Gangle reassured me; even if she did not care for Jax's abstraction, it did not mean she didn't prove sympathy towards me. 《I know he did》 I told the ribbon girl. 《Don't cheer me up; I'm just like him》I said to no one precisely.

《What, what makes you think that? In my eyes, you two were like cat and dog, two completely different people》 Zooble said, rolling their eyes. 《Zooble is right, you always tried your best to stop him-》Gangle tried to cheer up, but I interrogated her. 《Yeah, but it never worked, so did I actually ever try to stop him? Did he ever listen to me?》I put my head in my hands. 《What's wrong with you?! Why would you even think that?!》 Zooble asked angrily. 《I wish I could ask him that》 I told them, looking at their funky eye.

《Maybe we can》 Pomni said, looking at us. 《What?》 Ragatha asked, perplexed, looking between me and Pomni. 《Kinger, you said your wife when she was in the dark; do you think it would work with any abstraction?》Pomni asked Kinger; the king piece looked perplexed but started to think out loud.《We never coded in the abstraction, so they could probably use the same code, meaning they should have the same dynamics》

I don't understand. What is Pomni planning? 《I will need your help》 the jester said, giving me her hand and helping me stand up. 《If you want answers, I may know how to get them, but I need you to trust me》she said, holding me up. I look over at Ragatha. 《Don't abstract with him, I beg you》 the ragdoll said, her eyes filling with tears. 《No, no, no, I won't leave you, Ragatha; I will stay with you...like how it was back at the start. I do not have to go with Pomni and fix Jax; I can just stay here with you, with all my friends...

...I don't want to die...》

At this point I just want to say the first thing my mind made up, but I was sure; I do not want to leave them.

At this point I didn't know myself what I wanted; I did want to help Jax, I really do, but if I abstract, everything we have done so far will be destroyed; two abstract people never happen at the same time. I was squashing Ragatha's hands, refusing to let go; I could see myself in the reflection of her glassy bottom eye. I was crying. Again. Ragatha gave me a light push on the shoulder to slightly move me away.

Did I accidentally hurt her?

Am I just like him?

Hurting people even when I don't want to?

I pull my hands away from the ragdoll as if I've been burned. 《I'm sorry- I'm so sorry, I'm not like him. I'm sorry》 Pomni took my hand and started to take me away, picking up one of the guns left on the floor from the gun adventure. 《Ragatha, please start organizing a dark place where we can contain Jax, alright?》Ragatha nodded and walked off. 《Please, I need your help to calm down Jax. If there is anyone who can do it, it is you》the jester said, following after the mess that the abstraction did.

《It looks like when Kaufmo and Ribbit abstracted》 I told Pomni, following after her. 《How did they abstract?》She asked, looking at me. 《I'm not sure. Jax told me about Ribbit during the mountain adventure. I know they had a fight or something. He told me Ribbit went crazy and abstracted out of nothing, and Kaufmo, the last time I saw him, he was trying to tell Jax some...secret, I think. Why can I not remember?》I murmured the last phrase under my breath, but it did not matter since Pomni heard me anyway. 《When did you stop remembering things?》Pomni asked me, turning her head to follow Jax in the rooms hallway rooms, 《I'm not becoming the new Kinger, don't worry; it's just that when I thought I remembered something, Jax always corrected me, and I'm not sure anymore if what I remember is correct or not》 I explained to the jester.

And here he was, an abstracted Jax running towards us at full speed. 《What if he lied to you?》I heard Pomni mourning as she raised her gun and shot out all the lights, leaving us in the dark.

I was face-to-face with him, his eyes looking down at me. 《I'm going to beat the shit out of you if I find you in there》I said to the abstraction right before hugging it.

It was like I was floating, Pomni right next to me; she must have hugged Jax while I was not watching.

Doors, there were so many and yet almost none.

Pomni starts opening one door after the other, watching a few bits of Jax personally, but I was fixated on the locked door. I tried to open it, to break it down, but nothing. I was disappointed, not with myself, but with Jax for being able to put so many locks on a door not even he knew existed.

I see Pomni watching a cartoonish Jax fighting with an exaggerated Zooble. I open one of the doors that Pomni opened prior.

On the other side Jax was there, his eyes wide, his pupils huge, and his smile too big even for his face, staring at me, in my eyes, on my face, as if he were examining me. 《You're just like me》 he said, his smile becoming bigger by the second. Pomni runs up to me and closes the door right at his face before he could say anything or walk out of that room he made for himself.

Pomni gives me a worried look on her face, but I nod, comforting her, telling her that I'm ok and we should go in the last door.

She opens it, and there are four Jaxs, three of them playing poker, while the last one is sitting at the piano tied up. Pomni walks up to the three playing poker, while I sit next to the piano. 《Do you perchance remember the first song you even played for me? It was one of the first days you were at the circus, emh, it was like a band thing; Ragatha had the trumpet-》He interrupted me. He knew what I was talking about: Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2.

I remember it so well; it was one of the first adventures when he first joined. I asked him to start playing something so he could remember how the piano worked. It was just the two of us, and he started playing it for me. I was smiling at him and was listening to him explaining how he knew the song. I did not ask him anything, and yet, he told me about it, about his piano passion in the past.

When he stopped playing, he reached out of his pocket to give me something, a key, the key that opens the door in the room. I take it shyly from his hands, giving him a light smile, before he became dust like the others.

I stand up from the piano chair and walk towards the door, and open it with the key.

It was painful, like someone was hitting my head with a hammer. Everything was through Jax's eyes, every conversation he had with Ribbit and Kaufmo and...me.

DAY: XX MONTH: XX YEAR: 20XX

《It was me; I almost abstracted... I think a few weeks ago》you confessed and looked at the group, but no one was laughing; it was the opposite of what Jax told you. 《What, why? Did something happen? 》Kaufmo immediately started questioning getting closer to comfort you while Ribbit put her hand on top of yours. 《Ye, you don't have to keep things for yourself; we can help you.》

Static.

My eyes continued to watch. At this point I didn't care that Pomni was observing too; everything I thought I knew, I was going to throw up. The reason Ribbit abstracted was because he refused to see reality about his mother and because his father refused to see him as weak. The same goes for Kaufmo, who saw him at his worst after Ribbit's abstraction and the separation between him and Ragatha.

Every time he said something personal to him, that someone would abstract. Is that why he never told me anything? Because of his stupid sentimental theories? What does he think this is, some game theory?!

After all the chaos here he was, standing under a street light. I ran up to him and punched him as strong as I could. He grabbed my hands to stop me from landing another punch. 《What's wrong with you! What made you think you could just lie to me about our friends? And you never told me anything about you, about your family, or the fact you were homeless and why. Do you hate me that much, to the point of me not knowing who I am mourning?!》I was screaming at him with everything my lungs had of air; he was just holding me, but not from hurting him but to not hurt myself by punching him. 《I had to lie》 he said, looking down at me. I was about to beat him up again, but he stopped me, starting explaining.

《If I didn't lie, it would be you in my place; you would have been abstracted just because of me. If you remember and murmured Ribbit and Kaufmo at their best, it would have just hurt you more, and it would have been my fault to cause the death of the three closest people I ever had》 he said, hugging me, closing his body with mine. 《Why, why would you do that? I cannot believe you. You abstracted because of what you did to them. I wanted to be there for you, to help you, but you just-》 He interrupted my rambling, giving me a soft smile as his eyes started to fill with tears. 《I would have loved to be still alive with you next to me, to kiss you and to treat you as a proper partner, but I do not regret being like this, because it would have been me or you, and I take my death over yours any day of the week》

I think this is the conversation I needed. 《You have to go; neither your body nor Pomni's can handle the abstraction for so long》 he said, slightly pushing me off the hug. 《I will find a way to bring you back》 I told him. He gave me a weak smile as he was crying. 《I hope I chose you in any universe there is.》 That's something I told him once in a duo adventure Caine organized, and he still remembers it. Give him a kiss before both me and Pomni were forcefully pulled back from the abstraction.

The next few days were interesting. We managed to close Jax in a dark tend so he could be comfortable as i sometimes go there to spend time with what was once the man i loved then Caine managed to fix himself and come back to the circus to properly apologize to us and said he would try to find a way to fix the abstractions and gave us freedom to decide what we wanted.

But first he said he had something important to show us.

It was us.

The real us.

The VR set that we put on just created digital copies of our minds, while the real us were living, unknowing of everything that was going on.

We watched our lives, the photos, and the accomplishments that they or we have reached in our lives.

It was weird, knowing that no matter what, the real us was safe and happy. Everyone having what they most wished to have.

We watched Pomni's life, or better, Abigail Brooks'.

Then Ragatha, or better yet, Susie Jay.

Gangle, or better, Zoe Ragavan.

Then Zooble, or better yet, Riley.

Then Kinger, or better yet, Grant Best.

Then Jax, or better yet, Leroy Mateo.

And then mine, the last post, was with Jax's real-life persona sitting one next to the other on a date; the caption said, '+2 years of handling your lovely mess.'

I guess I did choose him in every universe there is.

JAX×READER

CHAPER 8/9

This was a horrible day, why?! Why, if Jax, of all the people, is right, would I even believe Able in the first place, I'm an idiot, a stupid idiot; my tears are falling in the digital lake. I wish I could drown myself right now. Someone sits next to me; it is Caine. 《Looks like you didn't enjoy my adventure》the AI said, not really looking upset but just confused. 《Oh, really? I didn't notice. Thank you, Caine, for making this stupid adventure and ruining all our hopes》 The AI looked at me in full confusion and disgust. 《What? I did that adventure for you guys and your stupid wish to leave the circus! You wanted a somewhat go, and I gave it to y'all》he said angrily. 《You're no God Caine; stop acting like one when you don't even know how to comfort us! If you do this kind of adventure, at least admit that you don't know what you're doing and that you can help us. Quite the opposite, you made us die, abstracted my friends... And almost me!》

I was now more than angry; he clearly didn't understand and did not care about what happened to us and my friends. Even if this is a digital world, I can feel myself about to throw up.《Yeah, but you didn't, so why worry about the past when there are so many new adventures we could do all together》said Caine, staring right in my eyes. The feeling was horrible; I felt something chilled in me the moment we made eye contact. 《Get back in the circus; you've been sitting here for hours. Go with the others while I organize a new adventure》said Caine, clapping his hands together and teleporting us inside the circus.

I look around, but I am alone; neither Caine nor anyone else is in sight. I sit on one of the couches in the main room, and I just wait there for hours.

One hour...

Two hours...

Three hours...

I feel someone standing over me. I open my eyes, and I see Jax, no smile, no weird personality, just Jax. He's looking down at me.《So...》 he started, looking away. I roll my eyes and turn my back at him.《I'm sorry》he said, sitting next to me.《Since when do you apologize?》I said, not looking at him.《Look, I'm not sorry about pressing the red button, but I'm sorry that you're upset because of me》he said, moving slightly closer to me.《You're the only one I have left now, the only...friend that is still here》he quickly added, looking away.

《Just friends?》I ask him, 《No, not just friends》 he corrected himself, looking back at me. It wasn't a confession; it wasn't something big, but it was something, something that felt comforting in a moment like this. 《You're not just saying this just because, right?》I asked for confirmation; he shook his head. 《When did I even do that?》he said, standing practically on top of me.

I wrap my hands around his torso, and he starts hugging me back, lying on top of me, his head in my shoulder; it felt warm for some reason. In the circus there are no temperatures, so it was nice to feel something different once in a while.

《How much I wish you were real; it would have been a great help outside》 I heard Jax's muffled voice say on my shoulder. Before I could question him, I felt someone's eyes on me. I sit up and see a sad Gangle walking towards us.

I push Jax off me, gaining a groan from the bunny as he moves off me. Gangle luckily didn't see anything as she sat down on the couch on the opposite side of ours. None of us started a conversation until all the circus members joined in the common area. Ragatha started talking, clearly trying to not glance at the bunny sitting next to me.《I guess we all needed a minute to process everything that happened between us》she said, looking towards Pomni and Kinger, who were sitting next to her.《Are you feeling better? You looked like you were the most disappointed one》 Zooble asked me worriedly. I nodded. 《Yeah, I feel better now; it was a lot to take in the moment》I admitted, looking down at the floor.

《Well, are you guys all feeling better now?》Gangle asked us. I could hear the worry in her voice while she was talking. Ragatha nods slightly, not looking too sure about it. 《Well, it doesn't matter anymore. Jax was right, and I think we should give up on the idea of leaving the circus》said Pomni, looking upset, staring at all of us. 《Wha- No! We cannot give up! I had hopes out there; I wanted to be a person that mattered, someone that could make a change》Zooble started rambling, in panic of having to give up on their hopes and dreams; they did not look willing to give up.《You are a person that matters, to me. Thank you for that, Zooble》Gangle said, standing up from her seat to put a hand on their shoulder. Zooble looked like they were about to cry thinking about everything they had lost.

《I know it's complicated, but-》Before Pomni could continue, the world around us started glitching; the cubes were mixing with each other, and the floor under us was shaking with force. I stood up on the couch, refusing to place my feet on the floor. Jax immediately understood what I was doing and followed right after me; the others did the same thing, trying to stay as stable as possible while Pomni was holding Kinger by his robe to not make him fall on the ground.

Then suddenly everything stopped, no more glitching, no more shaking; everything looks relatively normal, too normal《I was sensing a feeling of deja-vu or something like that. Ragatha, didn't it feel...familiar, in a way?》 I asked the Ragdoll, who was watching me in confusion, Kinger next to her nodded at my words, as if he got the feeling of similarity.《I'm not sure, but I think we should go and check Caine-》Kinger got interrupted by Caine's loud and cheerful voice.

Speaking of the devil.

《Caine, what happened? Are you doing ok?》I asked Caine; I was expecting some response along the lines of, 'Ye sure, just a glitch' or 'Not really, but I will fix it' like the usual. I did not expect the answer Caine actually gave me:《Oh, why?' You now care? Whatever, I got so much stuff to do, so many adventures I organized, so chop chop, let's go》the AI said arrogantly, as if he didn't care about what happened just a few hours prior.《Caine, you really don't expect us to go in and adventure now? After what just happened-》Ragatha tried to explain gently, but Caine shushes her.《Shut it, we got other stuff to do. Do you have any idea how much time I waste by letting you guys rest after each adventure? 86,400 seconds; we cannot waste time. Let's go》Caine continued to insist.

Pomni stood up; she wasn't exactly happy about what the AI pulled earlier, but she was originally willing to let it slide since Caine cannot think like a human and tries to do his best to help them, but this time Caine's arrogance was really showing. 《Caine, can't you see we are tired? Why do you even need us to go on an adventure now?!》Pomni said angrily at the AI, which couldn't look less bored. Caine rolled his eyes to stare at all of us. 《And when were you in charge?》The AI asked mockingly at us, snapping his fingers, making all the lights explode one by one.

Caine got in the maniacal showman persona he is, singing a whole song about how we are nothing and he's the best.

He has eaten Ragatha, ripping her to pieces.

He made Kinger explode.

He electroshocked Jax.

He made Zooble fall in a hole.

He turned Gangle into a balloon dog.

And then He threw me in a ball pit without a way to surface.

What happened to Caine-

Before I could even ask myself that question, Caine gathered all of us to do some weird showgirl dance, with outfits that were from the 20th; it was pretty funny seeing even Jax dance in that outfit. I was smiling at him as he flipped me off, annoyed, but before I could answer him, Caine decided to end his temporary show by breaking our bodies apart.

We were all exhausted from Caine's act right now, and my body hurts like it never did before; it feels horrible and extremely painful. I was destroyed, and all of our body parts were mixing with each other. "Come on, reform; we got an adventure to start" said Caine, smugly looking down on us, like he couldn't care less that we are all torn apart in pieces. We slowly started to put ourselves together. I accidentally took Zooble's arm and put it instead of my own. We looked at each other, and without saying anything, we switched our arms back.

When we were all fixed, Caine opened a portal to the next adventure. We all looked at each other, tired looks on our faces, and we walked into the portal.

-A few weeks later-

We finally got back in the circus after one of those exhausting adventures. The moment I stepped in the circus, I just took a moment to lie down on the floor next to Jax. 《I wish I could still be mad at you for the button stunt you pulled a few weeks ago, but, yeah, no, I can't. I'm too tired for that》 I tell him. Without looking at me, I heard him let out a soft giggle.《You could never be mad at me》Jax said smugly at me. I wanted to hit his shoulder to shush him up, but I'm happy that despite all that Caine is pushing us through, he can still somehow keep up his 'friend-but more than friends' persona around me.

Pomni helps Ragatha be free after she was squashed by a truck. I take a few seconds to breathe. Caine was mocking us, telling us that the answer was obvious. God only knows how much time he will let us rest. Caine walks off to create a new adventure, and we all took a minute to recover from the adventure we just finished. 《I think we need a break》 Pomni said, looking at us. 《I mean, we could go to the café》Ragatha suggested. Everyone was ok with it, I mean, everyone except me and Jax. I see his eyes shrink at the idea, not happy about going in that place again, after all, that's where we last took our photo together, before...

《If you don't want to, we can just, you know, skip it, like we did with Kaufmo's funeral》I suggested to him. He shook his head.《No, I guess it's ok, let's go》the bunny said, standing up and giving me a hand.《You sure?》 I asked one last time for confirmation; he gave me a nod, and we started walking, his hand still in mine.

We were all sitting at the bar drinking our hot chocolate. Pomni got teleported away, but no one seemed worried; after all, Caine has been pulling these stunts for a few weeks now. We all continued to drink our hot chocolate like nothing happened till Pomni didn't come back with knives all over herself. She sat down, continuing to eat her sandwich. Jax looked angry, wanting to be annoying and let out his frustration to someone. 《You know, if Pomni and Zooble never showed up, everything was gonna be perfect》 he said; clearly, the tiredness was talking for him, so no one cared about what he just said.

《Can you not?》I asked him; he rolled his eyes 《I thought you said you were ok with coming here.》 I told him, giving him a glance. 《I did, but it reminds me of that day. Do you think Caine will stop this torturing thing soon, or will we become like them?》 I knew what Jax was asking, becoming like Kaufmo and Ribbit and abstract; I remember the feeling, the cold, the silence, the peace. 《No matter what, I will never let that happen to you. Are we clear?》I told him, grabbing his hand and holding it harder so he could not pull away; his eyes stared deep into mine, and his face was close; it was like I could hear his heartbeat with mine. He opened his mouth to say something, but we heard a loud crash that interrupted the two of us.

I turn around and see Kinger with a bucket on top of his head, with Pomni standing right in front of him.《What are you doing?》I ask her, standing up and walking toward Kinger with the intention of removing the bucket from his head. 《No, please, give it a minute; trust me》 Pomni begged, looking between me and Kinger. I let out a sigh and step away from him, sitting back in my seat next to Jax. 《I mean, I don't really know what she's up to, but Ragatha seems convinced》 I explained to them, the purple bunny that just gave a bored nod and started dozening off.

And we waited for a while till Kinger didn't finally react. 《Kinger?》Pomni asked, looking hopeful; the chess piece gave a light chuckle. 《Hi, Pomni, I guess you have a few questions to ask me》he supposed. Pomni asked him what he knew about Caine, which he explained that when he was a worker for C&A they were working on the generative AI Caine, which resulted in a semi-success, and working with a certain Scratch. Jax looked very perplexed by everything Kinger was explaining. He decided it was better to leave to "distract Caine" or, as I call it, "run away." I grabbed his hand trying to keep him with us, but he didn't look happy about my action since he quickly yanked his hand out of mine.《I will tell you everything as soon as you come back, because you will come back》I told him, sounding kind of like a threat. He nodded and walked off, leaving us to listen to what Kinger was trying to explain.

Pomni decided to ask her final question 《Is there a way to stop Caine?》She said, getting everyone present's attention. Kinger explained that he could actually modify Caine's code to temporarily put him to sleep and that he only needed a computer to do so. Pomni's eyes lit up in hope. 《I know how to get one; everyone needs to go distract Caine while I get the computer》 she said, looking at us. 《I don't think leaving Kinger by himself right now is the best idea; maybe someone should stay with him?》Gangle suggested, looking at the king piece《I can bring Kinger into the fort; don't worry, I will protect him》 I said, looking down at him with a smile. Everyone nodded, leaving to do what they were assigned to.

I help Kinger stand up, while he is carefully holding me by my shoulder to keep himself up.《It's difficult to move if you cannot see》Kinger says with a giggle. I smile at him; it feels so weird knowing that he cannot see me, but the few times I saw the real Kinger were a pleasant experience despite everything.《Come on, I will help you reach your fort》I say to him, starting to walk where I last saw his pillow fort. He is holding my shoulder tightly, trying to not fall.《Don't worry, it should be close》I try to reassure him, but in reality I am trying to get my heartbeat to stop being so loud. Everything happening is unheard of and semi-impossible, but I trust their plan; I will do my best.

After a few minutes of walking we finally made it. I open the tiny pillow door and push Kinger in. 《It should be dark in there; I will be right outside if you need anything》I tell him before he could answer me. Pomni appears with an old computer with a keyboard, giving it to Kinger.《Need help with anything?》She asked,《No, I can use my imagination for that》He said, turning the PC on, and Pomni thanked Kinger, leaving the fort and closing the door after her. I asked her if they needed some help, and she refused, saying I should just make sure Caine doesn't show up to stop Kinger and distract him in case. I nodded as I watched her run off to find the others.

I never thought so much could happen in so little time. After what seemed like an eternity, the circus slowly started losing its color and creating enormous holes all around the place. I could see the cracks forming under Kinger's pillow fort and understood that it would soon crack open and absorb Kinger's fort. I quickly opened the door and grabbed Kinger by his robe, yanking him away as the hole started opening up, dragging him away from the situation, and tried to find the others.

Everyone looked terrified about everything that was currently happening, looking at the ruined place with the absence of both Bubble and Caine. I run up to Jax and hug his shocked self as he slowly embraces me back. "Kinger, what happened?" 》I asked, looking back at him.

《I think I accidentally killed Caine》

JAX×READER

CHAPER 7/9

I was walking towards Pomni's room; I wonder what she wants to talk about. Yesterday looked serious. If it is anything regarding Jax, I got no idea on how to help her out; I currently have my own issues with the purple bunny.

I stand there for a few minutes, just watching her face frame on the door; it's adorable, with big wide eyes. I don't think I ever saw Pomni like that. I was about to knock on the door, but I hear footsteps coming from my side. I look towards the sound, and it was just Jax going back in his room. We make eye contact for a minute; he raises his hand to greet me but quickly changes his mind, lowering his hand and walking inside his room, locking it from the inside.

I roll my eyes and knock on Pomni's door. She opens the door, letting me in. I look around her room for a bit; it fits her character, that's for sure, but not her personality. It is childish with red and blue coloring. 《I know, very childish, but at least it has my favorite color》she says, looking around the room. 《Really?》I ask her, looking at her. 《Yeah, red; it was my favorite color back outside the circus.》I nod at her words. She sits on the bed, and I sit next to her.

《Yesterday's adventure was...meh》she started, looking away. 《Really? It looked like you had fun while we were all fighting; what happened?》I asked her, knowing already the answer, Jax, the same way he disappointed me, he for sure disappointed Pomni.《I beated Jax up》she said. Well, I for sure didn't expect that. I wonder what happened after I died. Pomni saw my curiosity and decided to tell me everything.

She took a deep sigh and started telling me the whole story.

External person POV (flashback ep. 6):

《Why didn't you fight back!?》Pomni screamed at Jax in full anger; he was being so much weirder since he shot you.《 Why do you care?! Leave me alone!》said Jax, pushing Pomni away. 《It's about them, isn't it? You regret what you did, and now you're leaving your frustration to me! Just go there and apologize to them!》Pomni insisted, doing big hand gestures, trying to get him to the point.

《I got nothing to apologize fo-》《Is that why you decided to skip Kaufmo's funeral? Because from what I've seen, that was not their idea; it was yours. They follow you around because they consider you a friend, or more. Doesn't it disgust you how you're acting towards them? What did they do to deserve such a treatment?! 》 Pomni declared, pointing her finger at Jax, who was just glancing at her.

《Oh, you really won't say anything now, huh? You know why? Because you're not the funny one; you never were, because if you were, you would at least care about anyone that isn't you, in a positive or negative way, not kiss them and then be an %$!# to them all the time!》 Pomni decided to call him out about his choices, and that left him stunned; he didn't think you would say Pomni about the kiss the two of you shared or anyone in general.

《How do you know about that?! Why did they tell you?! 》interrogated Jax, upset at the call-out, 《Why would they talk to you about anything? With the way you treat them, you %$! #》Pomni last said it before attacking him once again.

(Back to your POV) Back in the present time:

Pomni and I were now watching the floor. I didn't know what to say about what she just told me. It's appreciated that she stood up for me, but I don't know how to feel about her telling Jax what I personally shared with them.

I let out a sigh. Well, what is done is done; there isn't much I can do now. It's obvious that he's genuinely thinking about what Pomni said to him since the way he reacted back outside 《When I fell off the slide on top of Jax, you asked him what archetype I was; did he end up telling you?》I ask her; she looks up at me and shakes her head.

I'm disappointed, after all; after Ribbit abstraction he got more obsessed with the archetypes he created. Kaufmo wasn't happy about that after Jax selected him as 'the unfunny one.' I was never happy about those titles he selected for our friends; I never got one, and I think it's better like that. I don't think I want to know what he really thinks about me.

《Do you want to talk about it?》Pomni asked, seeing my upset state. 《No, don't worry, Pomni; this is something I will need to talk about with Jax himself.》

Deep down I trust Jax, but after everything, I'm not sure it's a good idea to continue this one-sided friendship; this needs an ultimatum. Maybe after what Pomni told him I can get him to think for once.

《Do you want to go search for the others?》Pomni asked, standing up from her bed. I nod and follow after her. We walk towards the main room. 《Caine is quiet; that's weird.》 Usually Caine would have already summoned everyone to start a new adventure. 《You're one of the few that has been here for the longest; how was it? 》Pomni asked, looking around.

《Well, it wasn't much different from now; there were only Kinger and Ragatha; it was lonely. Back in the day, I almost abstracted; it wasn't that bad. Luckily, Ragatha managed to interrupt what was happening》I tell her honestly. I wasn't scared to talk to people about my almost abstraction; in a situation like this, that was one of the most common things to happed, when I first told Jax, Ribbit and Kaufmo what happed they didn't react that badly, mostly making fun of me for almost ending up like that.

Well, guess who's alive now.

《You almost abstracted?》she said perplexed. 《Yeah, don't worry, I'm doing better now》I reassured her, walking to where Gangle was standing. She was looking around, checking for Caine or Zooble. Ragatha was standing next to a red toy box. 《Hi, guys, what's going on?》Pomni asked the two. Ragatha gets closer to us and whispers something to us. 《We are hiding Zooble from Caine, but it doesn't seem like he's here》 she said, knocking on the red toy box.

Pomni opens the box, and Zooble's separated parts were there to greet us. 《Hai, Zooble》Gangle said, pulling out each part of Zooble out of the box. 《What? Is the adventure already over? 》They asked, putting themselves together. 《No, it didn't even start; we haven't seen Caine all day》 Ragatha said, taking a note off the wall. But Caine starts reading it out loud, indicating he's here. Zooble rolls their eyes, 《It was fun while it lasted.》

《So, what's today's adventure?》Ragatha asks as Zooble shakes their head. 《Well, I don't have any adventure organized for today, so feel free to do whatever you like; you guys should ask me what to do,》 Caine said. Before Zooble could decline, Gangle asked what Caine recommended, but the AI had no idea, so he decided to ask to

THE CHINESE DOOR

Gosh, the last time I saw that thing was so far back, Caine wasn't even programmed to know Chinese, so why would he create such a thing? And like, the last time, Caine did not understand anything of what was written on the paper and decided to suggest going in the digital lake, which we decided to call the beach, since it was too big to be considered a lake either way.

We nod, ready to go on the beach. We gather all together except for one person, Jax. Someone had to go and convince him to go to the beach. Normally I would go and get him, but the others understood that it was better if someone else went and took Jax out of his room.

Weird enough, Zooble was the one that volunteered to go fetch Jax for us while we waited.

External person POV (with Zooble):

Zooble was walking down the hallway, the crossed-out pictures haunting the aisle; for a newbie that would be terrifying. At first it was, but after all the people that got abstracted, it was like the big red X on their cartoonish face never existed in the first place; it was more like a vivid dream, it was just there.

Zooble sighs looking at everyone faces, and even if some were unknown to them, the pity was there anyway, people that slowly started losing their mind to the point of self destruction, people that probably before showing up in the circus had hopes and dreams like Zooble themselves, the idea of something like that happening to them filled them with terror and worry.

What would happen to their friend? Would Gangle get hurt because of them? Now that after so much time they started to accept themselves after being so long in the circus, they look down at their mismatched arm; a few weeks ago they would be mad about it, probably ripping it off and throwing it somewhere far away, but now they don't feel like it is necessary anymore.

With the same mismatched arm they knock on Jax door, the purple rabbit opens the door with a moking look in his face seeing who was knocking on his door 《we are going to the beach, lets go》said directly Zooble, not wanting to chitchat with the bunny 《oh, that's why you're here Zoobie, never knew you would be the one knocking on my door, I expected-》Jax stopped talking, looking around, hoping to see you somewhere, but got dissapointed that there was only Zooble 《they are with the others》Zooble said, seeing Jax upset face《Wha- why?! Oh, it's for the gun adventure. Gosh, you guys take things too seriously》Jax said, with a wide grin on his face.

Zooble rolled their eyes but didn't say anything, not wanting to start a fight yet...you know what? they wanted to start a fight. 《Do you really enjoy being alone With no one that supports you, cares about you, and worries》Zooble remarked, and that was enough to get the bunny silent.

Jax was now thinking about everything, everything you two have done together, the nights spent talking to each other about the life that doesn't exist anymore, feelings, traumas, abstractions, and the loss of his dearer friends, and now it was just you and him. He knew that no one really liked him in the circus, only you, maybe Kinger too, but he wasn't so sure about that, and after what happened with Pomni, he wasn't so sure about her anymore.

Zooble and Jax walk in front of Kaufmo's door; that was enough to shake Jax out of his thoughts. He puts a hand on his chest for a second, hoping to hear anything, a heartbeat, but nothing. He was just a stuffed plushie. Jax groans, annoyed. He thought that if Zooble didn't volunteer to get him, probably you would have; he would have gotten the chance to talk to you, maybe the others would have gone to the beach, and you and him could have stayed in his room and talked...and maybe kiss again.

Jax violently shook his head, trying to get the thought out of his mind. Gosh, he hates it; he hates the way he acts towards you. He cares, he really does, but no matter what, he always messes things up, but after what happened with Kaufmo and Ribbit, he can't let feelings get the best of him, or it will end up exactly like last time.

He and an abstraction.

He never worried to tell you archetype he created for you because he wasn't sure himself, he only knew he was the funny one, the one that job is make the audience laugh, then why isn't anyone laughing? Gosh, that really gets him, he's like Arlecchino or something? A stupid thieving servant, does that mean you would be his Colombina or something like that《Stop messing things up, and then maybe one day they will forgive you》Zooble said, looking back at him. He started to roll his eyes. 《Yeah, why? What do you even know about this stuff anyway?》Jax questioned. Zooble decided to not answer him since they just got in the main room; he stared at you, mesmerized, wanting to be there and greet you and make a joke or something.

But he decided it was better if he just didn't do anything; he didn't want to ruin everything yet.

He wanted you to have fun with the others without him for once.

He wanted you to have fun.

He wanted you.

Without him.

Back to your POV:

I saw Zooble and Jax making their entrance in the main room. I pulled my eyes off the purple bunny, putting my attention on Ragatha, who was giving me one of her pity looks. I really don't need her pity right now; I just want to go and enjoy one beautiful day at the beach. I walk outside of the circus tent; the sun and the moon greeted me. Well, the moon did; the sun was just smiling.

Really reassuring, yeah sure, that thing the moment I step on the beach will try to fry me alive. I roll my eyes as I walk on the path, Ragatha next to me talking about her horses, laughing awkwardly about old memories. 《Well, it doesn't matter; maybe we can find the submarine you explored》 said Ragatha, rambling about one of those old adventures. I laugh at her words.

《So what's going on? 》The ragdoll asks, I look back at her and shake my head. 《Tell you later.》 Ragatha nods understanding as we step on the beach.

The water was clean and the sand was a perfect yellowish color; the sun was bright, and everything feels like it could be one beautiful digital day. 《What's that?》Pomni asks, looking at the changing boot. 《Oh, ye be careful with that thing; it can get violent》I warned her as she stepped in, for immediately being spit out in a beach outfit, face planting her on the sand. I laugh, but not at her, just at the situation. 《Reminds me of you, Ragatha,》 I say mid-laugh at the ragdoll that was jokingly rolling her eyes.

We all change up in our beach outfits and sit on the sand. Me and Gangle start working on a sand castle, while the others were just sitting and chatting. Jax was on the other side of the beach, far away from the others. I roll my eyes at his emo wannabe figure. I continue to build the sand castle, and it was majestic, probably thanks to Caine's digital world set up built, so anything we created cannot look horrible on a set basis.

《Wow, it looks horrible; I hope a fish jumps on it and destroys it!》the sun screamed from above, and I rolled my eyes. 《What's wrong with the sun?》Pomni asked, looking at me. 《Ignore it; they are the worst》 I tell her honestly, looking up at the two upper beings. 《Well, the castle looks good; we should go for a swim. Why won't we?》Ragatha asks, clapping her hands together. We nod, but Gangle shakes her head.

《I can't get the ribbons wet, they will tangle and Caine isn't around to fix them》 she explained. 《 Then I'm staying with you, Gangle; don't worry.》《Yeah, me too》both Zooble and Kinger said, offering to stay on land with the ribbon girl. 《Should we ask Jax?》Ragatha asks me, but I shake my head, walking in the cold water.

Pomni followed right after me, and so did Ragatha. We started playing with a ball Zooble threw at us, laughing and joking around till the ball didn't hit Ragatha's button eye, sending it underwater.《I'll get it!》Pomni said, throwing herself in the water to grab the button. I started laughing at Ragatha, and she did too, giving me a light push on my shoulder.

《What happened?》Gangle asks us, getting closer to the end of the beach, 《We just lost Ragatha's eye; no big deal, Pomni is searching for it!》I tell her, 《Let's hope she finds the submarine too!》Gangle said jokingly 《Hey! Let's drop the submarine thing, shall we?!》I tell them laughing, yeah, today is a wonderful day indeed.

《Nah》Zooble said.

《I think it is impossible》Ragatha remarked.

《I think it's funny Gangle joined in.

《Funny? What's funny?》And Kinger was confused about what we were talking about.

We all start laughing, including the confused Kinger. Yeah, this day could not go better, but I feel something is missing, more like someone. I look at Jax, who was just sitting in the distance. I wanted to get close, to hug him, to try to convince him to join us and have fun.

But no, I can't always go there. Why do I have to be a good friend (or more) when he doesn't even try? Zooble sees that the more I look at Jax, the madder I look. They let out a sigh. 《Look, I'm all about hating Jax, but he's nowhere near. I can't just tell him to %$!# off for no reason》They said, shaking their head. 《I know, I know, I haven't said anything》 I told them. 《It's just for what happened between him and Pomni.》 Ragatha gasps loudly, and the others are in shock. 《They kissed?!》 Ragatha asked loudly.

《What? No! No no no! Oh my- they just had a fight about me for the way Jax treats me and all, and I just don't want to have that relationship with him anymore, not until he apologizes.》I explained, and the others let out a sigh of relief and desperation hearing what happened.

《So he didn't explain anything to Pomni?》Ragatha asked, and I shake my head. 《He did not, apparently》I tell them in disappointment. 《Ok, that sounds like a good reason to tell him to %$!# off》Zooble said walking towards Jax's direction. Pomni re-emerged holding no button. 《Did you get it?》Ragatha asked, 《Nah, someone snatched it before I could》she said, looking at Ragatha. 《What?》She asked, puzzled, 《Oh, the eye, give me a second.》Pomni exclaimed, going underwater once again, 《Was she talking about the treasure I stole?》I ask Ragatha, but she looks as confused as me.

《Here it is!》Pomni said, exiting the water with Ragatha's button. 《Thank you, Pomni.》She said, putting it on, I could see Pomni observing carefully somewhere behind me. I turned around, but there was nothing interesting. 《Pom, are you ok-》 Before I could finish my question, I saw Pomni getting out of the water, walking on the beach. I struggled and continued playing with Ragatha.

I see Pomni walking away and Jax walking in an opposite direction towards the circus. What the hell is going on? I follow after Pomni; she probably saw something. Where are you going? 》Ragatha asked, seeing I was leaving the water. 《I need to check things out,》 I told her, leaving before she could ask more questions.

《Pomni! Pomni, where the %$!# did you go?!》I was screaming at nothing expecting an answer. 《Come on, I lost you for like half a minute; how fast can you be?》 I wondered, starting to walk around the more forest-y zone of the beach. I turned back trying to get to the others, but it was useless; I was completely lost. I didn't even think it was possible in a digital world. I let out a sigh and went back walking to where I thought the circus was, but the more I walked, the more lost I felt.

Until I crashed against a blank mannequin; behind it, Pomni looked shocked, her pupils small, in fear, but she was smiling in a newfound hope. 《We can get out of the circus》she said, looking between her and the mannequin. 《Yeah, I'm- it's a long story, but I'm one of you guys; being stuck in a black mannequin body is really confusing.》started explaining the mannequin, no, he can't be one of us; I would have known.《Yeah, no way, I was one of the first; I got here right after Ragatha, and Kinger was the first; I would have known if you existed》I accused the mannequin, who shook his head.《I was here way before any of you joined; I will explain everything, but first we need to gather everyone in the Chinese room》

《Why the Chinese room?》I ask, looking right where the eyes should be. 《Well, Caine is programmed to follow a script, and if he believes something is in his script, he will do it, like in this case, not knowing what is inside the Chinese room is part of said script.》 I look at him, but really look at him. 《And how do you know how Caine is scripted? 》I interrogated the man that gave a shaky laugh. 《Well, after you program him, it is difficult to forget how he works》 the mannequin said, starting to walk in the direction I came from. 《Pomni, what is happening? 》I ask the girl, who was still in a state of shock, 《I think there's hope》she said, clapping her hands together.

We follow after the figure that took us back to the beach; he didn't come out of his hiding spot and, when interrogated, said that he didn't want Caine to see him and that we would just all meet in the circus, but first we needed to find a way to open the Chinese room door since there was a chance it was locked. I and Pomni stare at each other; there is only one person that could possibly have the key for the Chinese door.《Oh, emh, don't worry about it; I and Ragatha can go and ask him for the keys; you can just call everyone back in the circus》Pomni suggested.

《I will call everyone back in the circus, but I'm going with you and Ragatha to grab those keys from him》I said, walking on the beach towards everyone.《We are going back in the circus》I declared, as the others looked at me in confusion.《Why would we do that? 》Zooble asked.

《Zooble, no, everyone, please, it's important, really important. I'm not sure about the details either, but you need to trust me, please.》 I begged at them; they all let out a sigh, standing up. 《Where's Kinger?》Ragatha wondered, looking around. 《He saw Jax leaving, so he decided to go back too to make sure the eggs of his insect collection were doing fine》 Gangle said, standing to walk off with Zooble.

Ragatha was ready to walk off too, but I managed to stop her.《Not you, Rags, follow me》I told her, walking towards the mannequin and Pomni's hiding spot. 《Who is this?》Ragatha asked, seeing the mannequin. 《Apparently he programmed Caine, and he said that there's a way out of here.》 I tell her, looking at the ground.

《Oh, well, that's wonderful, I guess. I've been hoping for this day since I first showed up. Won't it be wonderful to just go out and finally live the life we always wanted?》Said Ragatha with an awkward giggle, looking at her left.

《If we get out of here, you could, you know, come live with me so your mom doesn't try anything anymore》I suggest, grabbing her hand and holding it in my own.《Yeah, I would like that》she says, giving me a soft smile.《Well, even if this moment is very cute, we have other worries right now. Does your friend have the keys?》The mannequin asks me, lowering his stare. 《Not really 'friend', but yeah, he 100% does have all the keys, so if it exists, he's got it》I said, looking at the two girls that were staring at me.

《We are going to get those keys, and you creep better be waiting for us in front of the Chinese door and have already introduced yourself to Zooble, Gangle, and Kinger, deal?》I demand from the mannequin that decided to shake my hand. 《Deal, now go before Caine starts suspecting something.》 I nod, and the others and I walk towards the circus.

The circus feels quiet. I look around; if what that programmer said was true, it means this will be the last time I ever get to see the circus. The idea worried me. It's been so long since I stopped searching for an exit; I have lost all hope, but I'm willing to try, because it doesn't matter how life is inside the circus; my life, my body, and my dreams are still out there, left with my body. I can finally meet them and have the life I always wanted. The more I think about it, the closer it feels, like it's really happening. We finally reached Jax's room, and of course, it's locked.

I knock once; nothing.

I knock twice; nothing.

Then I started banging on the door almost to the point of breaking it down. Of all the moments he had to ignore me, it had to be this one. Jax slowly opened the door. The moment he saw me, his pupils became bigger, not expecting me to be there. 《Came here to apologize?》 he said arrogantly. 《Do you have the key for the Chinese door, yes or no?》 I asked him directly. He apparently did not like that since his pupils shrunk. 《Maybe, I'm not sure, why?》He asked me, raising an eyebrow. I look over at my friends and then at the massive painting of Caine's eyes on the walls. I nod at them and decide to push him inside his room and lock the door.

《You know, I don't think Caine actually made Zooble wish to happen》Jax said, getting closer to me, lowering himself to make eye contact with me《what are you even talking about? That's not why we are here, Jax; maybe we can finally leave the circus》I told him with a smile, but he didn't seem to reciprocate my happiness. 《What you're talking about》he said, looking flabbergasted at the newfound information.《One of Caine's programmers is inside the circus; he said he knows a way out》I summarized for him, keeping my smile.《And you believe it?》He asked in disgust, like he couldn't believe I could fall for such a trick. I nod as he sighs, giving me a bucket full of keys.

《Good luck then》he said, sitting on his bed, waiting for me to leave.《What, no, you're coming with me》I demanded, walking right in front of him. Now he was just sitting on his bed, looking up at me, and I was standing, looking down at him. 《Nah, I don't wanna mess up with another of Caine's adventures since this is my day off》he said jokingly. 《But what if it's real? What if we can finally escape?》I insisted《But what if it isn't real and is just a test?》Jax debated; he made a point, he really did. There was no sure thing; none of us knew about mannequin guy before, and everything feels off, but deep down I hope it's just paranoia about leaving the place I practically lived in for so many years.

《And do what, lose our only chance because you want to be a coward just to risk an adventure? Are you insane?!》 I said, grabbing him by his suspender and pulling him towards my face.《Fine, but if I'm right, I'm never going to let you forget that》he said with a smirk. I nodded.《Fine, but if I'm right, you're offering me something to drink when we get out》He gives me a smile, his face getting closer to mine.《So no kiss when we get out?》He said mockingly.

I let his suspender go, making him fall back on the bed《Don't you dare》I tell him, making him laugh.《Sure, sure》he says, standing up from his bed and taking me out of his room.

Ragatha and Pomni were watching between the two of us as we all walked towards the Chinese door, holding the bucket of keys. Gangle and Zooble were already there waiting for us with the mannequin. The man was standing there, but there was no Kinger.《Where is Kinger?》I ask the mannequin《I think it is better if we first have this conversation in private, and maybe tell him later on》he said, scraping the back of his neck. 《Why?》I insisted he could just give me a straight answer. 《I'm not ready to face him once again》he said before walking to the bucket of keys to find the right one.

《Are you sure that's the guy that should be able to take us out? Sounds like I was right after all》Jax said with a wide smile. I hit his shoulder to shush him up.《So we find the key, and then you tell us how to get out?》 I asked the mannequin; he nodded, trying the first key, but it was too big and didn't fit. We tried for hours to find the right key, but none worked. I was about to give up until Jax didn't open the door; it was open all along, no key needed. A mannequin ran out of the room speaking Chinese. I saw Pomni trying to walk towards Kinger's fort, but the mannequin stopped her, pointing her at the door. We all walked in, closing the door.

The mannequin takes a deep sigh and starts explaining everything, the original plans of the C&A, how our bodies were connected to the main machine when we put on the headset, like they did with the ex-workers.《Well, sorry to disappoint, but it makes no sense. None of us are C&A workers, so why would we even be connected to this whole thing?》Jax said, demended the answers, the mannequin supposed it was because of the headset, but nothing was sure, but to get out, we had to get the key to Caine's office to access the main console to shut the circus off.

And clearly someone had to distract Caine, kind of; the key was in his mouth, so someone had to be sneaky enough to make Caine's system crash and get the key 《Well, Jax, since you're such a key fanatic, why don't you do it?》I tell him, giving a nudge on the shoulder; he gives me a stare that could kill.《Yeah, I think so too》said the mannequin, looking at the both of us. I give him a smirk, hitting his shoulder. 《Well, why don't we include Kinger too? Why are you trying so hard to keep him out of the equation? Oh! I know why, because when we do all of this, Caine will pop out and be like, 'Congratulations on beating the escaping the circus adventure,' and everything will go back as it was, so Kinger doesn't even need to participate for this mess to happen.》

Jax was harsh with his words, but he had every right to suspect the (not so) new guy. It let out a sigh.《Unfortunately, Jax is right; we need to know who you are. We can't just trust you out of faith》I said. The mannequin man nods, picking up a marker off the desk.《My name is Able. I was one of the original programmers of Caine AI. I used to work with Kinger on this project, but worry not, as long as we follow my plan, everything will go alright》Able said, making a silly face on his mannequin head.《And I will draw myself a face in a way to recognize me from other blank NPCs you may meet.》

His story is somewhat convincing; we all stared at each other and then nodded (except for Jax, of course).《Fine, but it better work》Pomni said as we all walked out of the room. Jax went to an isolated spot, while Able, Pomni, and Ragatha went to get the access passes. Zooble and Gangle stayed next to me chatting until they decided to inform Kinger of what was going on, and I was there alone, waiting for someone to get back. I hear someone groan behind me, and I see that Jax finally got back holding the key.《How? What is?》I asked, smiling.《Don't you dare ask me that》he responded angrily.

Slowly we all get together as Pomni gives each of us our passes. Able started explaining some things about Caine AI, which always had problems with collusion, and helped us reach Caine's office. Pomni looked confused.《I don't think Able is saying the whole truth》she whispered in my ear. I give her a confused look. 《Why?》I ask her, if Pomni isn't trusting Able anymore, it may be a bad sign.《He said something weird before he threw me- maybe I'm just imagining things》she said, trying to correct herself. I nod, walking with the others. Pomni takes the key from Jax and opens the Caine office door.

The sight was majestic, tons of crystal globes with sights of our old adventures. I found one that had me, the first adventure I did when I first joined the circus. The sight of it made me sick, my desperation, my sadness, everything now feels like how it was back then. Jax walks up from behind looking at my crystal globe. 《Looks boring》 he says《You don't know what you're talking about》 I tell him, picking up my globe.

I feel like I'm about to start crying; everything feels so much now. I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up and see Jax trying to comfort me. I let out a sigh and put back on the shelf the globe. Jax lets go of my shoulder and starts walking around while I sit on the armchair.

《Are you feeling alright?》Ragatha asks me, and I shake my head. 《I feel like throwing up; everything is starting to feel too much》I tell her, putting a hand on my cheek. She grabs my other hand to calm me down.《Don't worry; when we get out, we will seek therapy together.》 I giggle at her comment, making me feel a bit better.

《Where do we go?》Kinger asks, looking around the room; the only door that was visible was the one we came from. We all started to look around. I didn't see Jax, though. I turn around and I see him watching a globe with a tired look on his face. I get close to him and watch it. Oh, it's us, Jax, me, Ribbit, and Kaufmo, when...

I do the same thing he did for me.《It's ok》I tell him. He gives me a tired look and nods, walking away from the globe. Pomni manages to find the secret door in Caine's office and opens it. There was a long hallway in front of us; they all take each other's hands and start walking, except me and Jax, who stayed far back.

《I guess you will offer me that drink after all》I tell him with a smile.《And a kiss too while we're at it》I add giggling.《Ye ye, don't get your hopes up》he says, looking down, thinking about something.《Sorry for shooting you; I don't know what came over me》he apologizes, making no eye contact.《We'll see; you're under test to see if you deserve forgiveness》I tell him jokingly, giving him a light punch on the shoulder. He laughs, really laughs, finally looking happy after all this time, but something feels off, like it's all a facade, like it isn't really there.《I missed you》I tell him.《Ye, sure, me too》he says quickly.

We finally reached the final room. In front of us there were two buttons, a red one and a blue one. The red one was to get us stuck here; the blue one would get us out of here. Pomni walked up to the console but stopped. A whole debate started since Pomni wasn't sure on what button to press and wanted Kinger to make the choice, but then stopped him before he could.《Why are you taking this long?! Why would you even consider the red one as an option?》Zooble said angrily. Pomni tried to defend herself, saying that it could actually be a test like Jax originally suggested.

I was about to walk up to her and reassure her, but it got violently pushed on the side by no other than Jax, who ran up to the console and pressed the red button. You know, I actually felt sick; the background opens, showing Caine explaining that it was all an adventure he created for us and actually put a lot of time and effort into creating (which Bubble wanted to add that the blue button would have brought us to Ship Town). After Caine deleted his NPC Able, Jax started screaming at him, accusing him of being able to control us and mess with our minds...and all that conversation brought that Caine is the actual reason for the abstractions since he messed up too much with people's heads.

Caine, after all the accusations, decided to gift us a gift basket and then left, leaving us there stunned.

JAX×READER

CHAPER 6/9

I sit on the ground, next to her bed, as she pours me something to drink, she hands it over and we drink in peace, she got herself a tea, while I got my favorite drink.

《I bet Kinger would have enjoyed this tea party thing we're doing》 I tell her. I would love to invite Kinger, but I feel he must still be overwhelmed by all the different adventures and locked himself in his pillow fort to watch insects.

《Yes, he would》Ragatha said, looking at me. 《Are you ok?》I ask the ragdoll as she watches the ground, 《I don't know; I feel like I'm doing everything wrong. I feel like no matter what, I can't keep anyone in this circus happy! I tried to take Pomni on my side like I did with you, but no matter what, Jax seem to be there to ruin everything i do, I'm tired, I really am, but I cant give up on both you and Kinger》

I let out a sigh. Poor Ragatha, I wish I had noticed before. Everyone here seems to think that I would leave them for Jax. Did Ragatha feel the same way when I befriended Jax? Like Pomni abandoning her when Kaufmo attacked her?

I don't know what to think. I don't even know if I want to think of anything. The guilt of making one of the two people who first greeted me feel exhausted and worried to be left makes me feel sick... I care for Jax, I really do, but I can't live with this guilt in my guts.

I put my head on her shoulder and take a deep breath. 《I'm sorry, I'm sorry to make you feel like that just for Jax》I tell her. She shakes her head, looking down at me. 《No, no, I never- I didn't want you to feel guilty for your feelings! I understand having new friends can lead to separation with others, but I know you've my back, and I've yours. I don't want you to reject your feelings for Jax, because it will end up hurting more》I look up at her, leaving her shoulder.

I feel my eyes start watering, not crying, but almost, Ragatha ambraces me in a thight hug, barely letting me breath, I really needed this, this talk with Ragatha really helped me understand better what I need to do and then confront Jax himself, he won't talk, he never does, he only knows how to joke around, but I cant let him do whatever he wants.

《So, more drink?》Ragatha asks me as I nod, giving her my empty cup, but before she could pour me more to drink, we heard a knock at the door. Who could it be?

Ragatha opens the door, revealing Zooble and Gangle waiting on the other side. 《Jax said you two would be here. Caine unfortunately needs all of us for the in-house adventure》said Zooble, annoyed. 《Didn't we just finish an adventure like a few hours ago?》Ragatha asks as the two, Gangle happy mask shrugs, not knowing what to say. I let out a sigh. 《Fine, in a few minutes we will be at the main stage》I tell them as they nod and walk away.

《So an in-house adventure, I wonder what Caine is organizing now》wondered Ragatha, looking at me. 《I hope it's an individual mission》I tell her as she giggles. 《Come on, don't be like that. If it's a team adventure, we can stick together!》she said, hugging me from my side. I smile at her and nod, ready to leave the ragdoll room.

We walk in the main stage area, ready to listen to whatever Caine decide to create now, I was standing next to Ragatha and Kinger, Zooble and Gangle were chatting while waiting for Caine, I can see Pomni trying to push Jax to walk towards me, was he was just standing there, looking anywhere but me, I roll my eyes and I can hear Ragatha giggle next to me.

《Looks like Pomni is trying to convince a child to walk to school, why dont you go there?》the ragdoll asks me, I shakes my head 《if he wants to talk to me, he can do it himself, no need for Pomni to push him or me to walk there》Ragatha nods, going back talking to Kinger, Zooble sees the scene between Pomni and Jax and wispers something to Gangle that started giggling.

《Today adventure is...a short one because of 'the favorite character award!' A perfect opportunity to showcase your guys' strengths to the press!》Caine said as Bubble spawned beside him with a video camera, clearly too big for his body, causing to almost crush the bubble 《this is so heavy...help me Caine》Caine starts rambling about some sports he created after the game we played, Ragatha suggested to just play softball again I nodded at her words, but Pomni wasn't pleased with that option.

We all individually started fighting, who wanted the suggestion box back, Caine that didn't want it and wasn't happy about Zooble not liking his suggestions, Zooble that refuses to work in team with Jax (makes sense after everything he has done to them) until Zooble finally says an...important information 《you know what I really want? The ability to have %$!#》we all gasp to what Zooble said, while Jax was grinning like an idiot.

《Wow, are we finally having this conversation?》Jax asks, looking at me 《not with you, thats for sure》I tell him rolling my eyes, he continues to smile at me, never taking his eyes of me, atleast till Zooble didnt knock some sense in him by punching his shoulder, Caine starts lagging to the point of self reset himself.

Jax and Zooble went back to fighting with each other, telling Jax how he always ruins everything. 《Well, you know what they say about assuming...it makes an ASS out of U and MING》said Caine as a grey mannequin with googly eyes and a hat walked behind Zooble, saying how offended he got from Zooble's words. 《You made a whole new character for that?》Caine ignored Zooble's question, talking about some trust exercises.

So, Caine's plan is to give out a gun and make a person A trusts person B to not shoot them, and vice versa. Sounds overcomplicated, and I don't trust Jax not to shoot me. Well, I would shoot him, that's for sure.

Ribbit and Kaufmo would had fun this advent- no, no, I need to stop thinking about them...it wasn't our fault, it wasn't my fault, it wasn't Jax fault, it-

A gunshot.

I look back, and I see Jax holding a gun at the 'dead' body of Ragatha. Did he just shoot her? I look back at Caine, that looks completely exasperated 《or just do this is guess》the AI said, spawning tons of weponds 《make teams, or whatever》Caine said going away.

So now is a team shooting battle royal? With whom should I team up? After all, we are odd-numbered. Maybe Ja- no, if he doesn't ask me to join his team, why should I? 《Hi, do you want to team up with me and Jax? He sent me here to ask you》Pomni said. I looked up at Jax, but he was too busy bullying Gangle to notice me. Zooble looked at me and then Pomni and then Jax. I know what they are thinking.

《No, I think I will join Ragatha, thank you, Pomni》I tell the girl as they nod and walk back to the bunny to communicate what I have told her. He doesn't seem upset, just confused, probably not understanding what he did to make me act like this. I walk towards Ragatha and Kinger, hoping the others are ok with us being a team of three. I look at Zooble, and they look back at me and my team, then they nod, giving the ok as if they're ok with us being a team of three.

I quickly grab a handful of guns and fleed with both Kinger and Ragata, which has only two hearts instead of the three after Jax shoot 《I can't believe that Caine really considered that as a hit; I should have been more careful》Ragatha said, looking at the gun I just gave her. 《You know how Jax is》Kinger said, looking at the defeated girl, putting the bullets in his shotgun 《You guys don't think I'm like him...right?》I ask the two. The way they talk about him, if I didn't know him and only heard about him, I would think he's the worst person ever. If they thought the same thing about me, I could never live it down. 《What? Oh, no no, of course not. You are so different from each other; it's a surprise you two even became friends in the first place...》Ragatha whispered that last part to herself, but I heard it perfectly.

《After all, you too always have been close since he showed up, but that dosnt mean that if you are his friend it means you're as bad as he is》Kinger added looking at me, his words make me feel a little better than before, Ragatha nods, trying to cover up what she said before 《youre still missing a heart》I tell her, she looks up at her missing head, sighing 《I know how to fix this!》Kinger said, as both me and Ragatha look at him.

He takes out a butterfly out of his pocket and makes it glow, making it fly towards Ragatha face, but then it vanishes giving at Ragatha a whole new heart 《oh I don't think I've heard Caine mentioning something like that》she said as Kinger nods 《I know, its a butterfly, it can restore your health, i just made it up》he said smiling with his eyes 《well, for now our biggest concern are Jax and Zooble since you decided to join our team》he added looking at me.

《Jax will probably target us, and Zooble probably will target Jax, so the better we stay hidden, the least chance of losing we have》he added, continuing to walk more silently than before. 《I'm worried》I tell them. 《About Jax? Dont worry i dubt he will take it personally if you shoot him》said Ragatha giggling, but it isn't about that; it isn't about Jax anymore. It's everything: the continued feeling of being watched and heard, this body that is slowly starting to feel like it is ripping off my body, and the continued sound of heartbeats in my ears.

This isn't just about Jax anymore.

Of course I'm worried about him too, but for once I need him to reach out to me and not the other way around. I need him to act like he actually cares about me, like he did back at Spudsy's when he kissed me. Why would he do that if he didn't care? Just for the fun? Just because he wants his character to act like that? I feel a hand on my shoulder.

Is Kinger's, he's starting right at me 《me and Queenie were the same way, young and stupid, you two will grow to love and respect eachother, im willing to bet five bucks that I do not own》I look at him, we are in a more remote zone of the circus with not as much light, probably that's why he remembers about his wife 《thank you, Kinger》I tell him smiling.

《Well we better go back walking, standing still at one place isnt the best idea》Ragatha said, we go back walking, hiding behind the gigantic cubes that are all around the circus 《We need to come up with strategies if there is a mass attack》Kinger suggested 《Ye, if something like that happens and we only got one life, we run off, no fighting, no nothing, understood?》Ragatha nods, looking at me, i nod, so flee it is.

Kinger gets shot, loosing a life, quickly recovering hiding behind one of the cubes 《I think there's a sniper》he said, loading his gun, ready to shoot, I point my gun too at Zooble and Gangle, that were hiding on the upper floor, we shoot at them a few times but we didn't hit them, Ragatha was trying to understand how to shoot but she gets hit in the head by both Jax and Pomni, causing her lo lose a life, and she fleed.

Jax followed after her, but I managed to shoot him from a distance, making him lose a life. He turns back at me, aiming his gun at me. I was ready to shoot him again, but Kinger runs up to me and grabs my clothes, dragging me away from the scene that was unfolding. I look at Kinger; he has only one life left. 《We left Ragatha!》I tell him as we hide. 《We can only hope she survives》he says, looking up at his hearts and then at mine. 《I could give you one of my lives》I tell him, but he shakes his head. 《No, don't worry about me, try to stay till the end. Don't worry about me》he says.

We walk in a dark room, and Kinger starts getting the bullets ready for the shotgun he found beforehand. I can hear the voices of Pomni and Jax getting closer to us. I load my gun, ready to shoot them, but Kinger gently pushes me in a corner. 《When they get in, you run out, understood?》I don't understand why Kinger is doing all this.《Why? I want to help you!》I tell him, showing him my fully loaded gun.《I know, I will try to take out Pomni and Jax, but I need you to try to take out Zooble or Gangle, all right? 》I looked at him and then nodded, hiding in the corner.

Kinger manages to bring Pomni and Jax into the room, which is fully dark, but because of the continuous shoots of light, I manage to find the exit of the room unnoticed, but unfortunately, one of Pomni's bullets manages to hit me, leaving me with only two hearts now. Luckily, they were too busy concentrating on Kinger to notice the loss of my heart, and now, the only thing left for me to do is to find Gangle and Zooble.

I climb up to the second floor, where I last saw them, but there was nothing that gave me a tip on where they could have gone. Maybe...just maybe if I can climb higher where I can see them. There is a yellow slide in the middle of the room; if I manage to jump on it, oh well, I'm not going to throw away my shot.

I take a few steps back and then run and jump on the slide, holding on for dear life, trying to not fall on the ground.

I finally manage to climb on top of the slide, but I can't seem to spot anyone, except for the fact they managed to spot me since they were apparently hiding inside the yellow slide.

Gangle shoots me, making me lose a life and fall off the top of the slide. But instead of dying squashed on the ground, someone seems to have saved me. I open my eyes, and I'm sitting on top of the squashed body of Jax, who weirdly enough didn't lose a life because of this.

Pomni was pointing a gun at me. I can't believe I got this unlucky, losing this quickly, but Jax makes Pomni lower her gun as he stands up. 《Well, looks like angels really fall from the sky》Jax says, getting his face close to mine.

Pomni looks away, uncomfortable, like a kid forced to watch their parents flirt with each other. 《Just shoot me already; no need to flirt》I tell him. 《So, what type of character should they be?》Pomni asks, looking past my shoulder right at Jax.

《What is she talking about? 》I ask the bunny, 《Why? Worried about me?》he asks, his pupils fully dilated, as he's in full character mood. I am worried; he isn't acting like himself, not like the Jax I first met when he first showed up in the circus.

《What's going on with you? 》I ask him, baffled. He looks at me, looking kind of angry about the question.《Pomni, why don't you go find Gangle and Zooble?》he suggested to Pomni, trying to get her to leave 《how, I dont know where they are》

《In the yellow slide》I tell her as she nods gratefully, walking away, leaving me and Jax alone. 《So, what's going on?》I ask him once again, and he rolls his eyes. 《You've been around Ragatha for too long; you even start sounding like her. If Ribbit and Kaufmo were here, they wou- 》

《But they aren't here anymore! 》I tell him, pushing him away, not hard, not painful, but hard enough to make him understand, understand that after everything that happened, after all the people we have lost, he can't be stuck in the idea of Ribbit and Kaufmo, because despite everything that happened, we still had each other, but all the signals he was giving me were just so confusing, like he wanted me to be close, but at the same time, he was only pushing me further away.

He points his gun at my forehead. Is he really going to kill me for this? If he does it, I doubt I will ever talk to him again. He lowers his gun and grabs the back of my head, pushing my face on his, kissing me. It wasn't harsh, it wasn't mean, and I was just desperate, like he refuses to accept the reality around him.

I pull away, but he tries to get me closer to him again, but I pull away once again. 《You need to make up your mind, for once. Can you take things seriously?》He starts laughing.《But why should I do that? Look at us, we are cartoons; nothing here is serious!》he said, his eyes going back to being a larger size than the smaller shape of before.《Not even us?》I ask him, 《Nothing makes sense here, neither of us.》He said, pulling out his gun and shooting me in my forehead.

Stage four: Depression

I apeared in a dark place, with a big aquarium in the middle of the room, there were Ragatha and Kinger chatting on the benches, I sit next to them 《hey you did great, atleast you didnt die first!》Ragatha said, trying to confort me, but all I could do what think about what Jax said, does it really means nothing? I start tearing up, putting my face in my hands, I start full sobbing, and nor Ragatha nor Kinger knew how to cheer me up.

《I- I really thought that after everything we've been through...after all I did for him, he would care. Then why does it always end up like this?》I said to them, sobbing.《Don't worry, we will find a way to fix it, just the three of us》Kinger said as Ragatha uses a cloth to dry up my tears.《Do you think it will get better? 》I ask them, but they don't answer; it isn't a no, but it isn't even a yes.

My head hurts, and my heartbeat is too loud.

I look over at Kinger, who was now wearing cat ears. I want to laugh, but I can't; I'm too tired. 《Where did you get those?》Ragatha asked Kinger. 《Bubble》he said, looking back at Bubble, who on top of the camera was holding a few more cat ears. 《Why do you have that?》I ask it.《Fanservice》Bubble said, showing its tongue to us. Weird, but ok. I grab two of the cat ear sets just to get Bubble to leave, but it doesn't until we put them on.

Now all three of us are wearing cat ears; now I feel even worse.

《We look funny》Ragatha said, and Kinger nods.《Does it make you feel better? 》Kinger asks me, and I shake my head. I'm not crying anymore, but I still feel so upset and disappointed. The two of them hug me.

Two grown-ass adults are hugging me while wearing cat ears.

This is so weird; I look on my left, and I see Zooble and Gangle watching the scene. Zooble was horrified, and Gangle was watching with enthusiasm. 《Maybe Bubble got more cat-ear headbands?》I tell Gangle, as she smiles happily.

Bubble appears once again with two more headbands, and Gangle and Zooble take them. 《In a few minutes you can leave》 Bubble said. 《Thank you》Gangle said. 《Kcurt a rednu flesruoy wort》Bubble said, vanishing. Only God knows what it just said. 《So, Pomni and Jax won? 》Ragatha asks, looking at Zooble. They groan, displeased. 《Unfortunately, Jax will never let me live after this one》they say, rolling their eyes.

《Did you cry?》Gangle asked me, looking at my face. I nod. I really don't feel like lying to them. 《Because of Jax?》she continued, putting the pieces together. I nod again. Gangle puts her cat ears on and then comes to hug me. Zooble doesn't, but stays next to me, giving me comfort. 《I shot him with a Tommy gun if it makes you feel better》 Gangle said, pulling away from the hug. I giggle at her words. 《Yeah, it does make me feel better》

One of the walls opens, leading into a theater-themed room. It's filled with mannequins, except for a few seats. I, of course, sit with the rest of the gang, next to Kinger and Ragata, and in the seats behind us are sitting Zooble and Gangle. Next to me was an empty seat, and the other empty one was a few rows back.

JAX×READER

CHAPER 5/9

We finally made it to the circus; we were all soaking wet. I felt something slimy on my head, and I pulled off an alga. Oh, this is disgusting. Why does Caine make so many aquatic-themed missions? To be honest, the last aquatic submarine mission was epic; I just crushed it, but driving a submarine for the first time was indeed a great try.

But not this one. Ew, ew, I felt drowning. Luckily we can't die here; probably those low-quality fishes would have killed me since I managed to steal their treasure.

Ragatha walks towards me, putting a hand over my shoulder. 《You have to tell us what happened back at the restaurant,》 whispered Ragatha in my ear, to not let Jax know, but he was already walking away from all of us.

I nod at her words and give a sign to the rest of the group, taking everyone in my room, with Gangle and Kinger sitting on my bed, while I, Ragatha, Pomni, and Zooble were sitting on the ground.

《Well, when we were working, I saw Jax was tired, and I followed him, to, you know, comfort him, but he asked to kiss, and we did, and- and now he's ignoring me》 I explained to them in great detail. Ragatha lets out a tired sigh.

《Maybe he's still moving on from...you know, them》she said, looking at the ground. We all watch each other, knowing, except for Kinger, who forgot, and Pomni, who didn't know them...

Kaufmo and Ribbit, we four were untouchable, the best in all the adventure Caine gave us, but then Ribbit abstracted...then Kaufmo, and now only me and Jax were left standing of our original group.

Jax didn't want to participate in the funerals; after a while you start losing hope. If I abstracted, he would miss my funeral too.

Zooble gets closer to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. 《I doubt Jax would kiss you just because he misses them; he's an idiot, but not like that》they said, trying to comfort me. I nod. I know he wouldn't do that. Maybe he has something going on, or maybe he's just regretting the choice of kissing me. I let out a sigh.

《Ye, he means with all of us, but with you his feelings look genuine; he wouldn't hurt you like he does to me》 said Gangle, her happy mask giving a wide smile. Wait, didn't her mask break during the the treasure hunting mission? Probably Caine fixed it as soon as we got back. I smile at the ribbon girl.

《Won't Jax get suspicious if he doesn't see anyone in the public areas?》asked Pomni, looking at all of us. Kinger nods.

《Yeah, we don't want him to think we went on an adventure without him》 Zooble rolls their eyes and stands up, helping me in the process. We all stand up and walk towards the couch area.

Jax was nowhere to be seen; we all sit on the couches and start talking about the mission, laughing and joking. Caine floats next to us and joins the conversation, adding fun facts about the creation of the adventure, saying that the underwater map is the same but with different zones each time, and that probably the exploded submarine was still there.

But probably my favorite mission was the D&D-inspired one. I don't remember whose idea it was, but it was probably the best thing that ever came out of the suggestion box, but then we stopped using it. Maybe we can convince Caine to use it again for the next adventure.

Jax walks in the couch area and sits next to Kinger without even saying hi to me. Caine clears his throat and starts speaking. 《Well, since you all look relatively rested, I suggest you guys get ready for the new adventure that-》 《Emh, Caine, can we reuse the suggestions box again? I had fun on yesterday's adventure, so maybe we can try the other suggestion. What do you guys think?》interrupted Pomni, apparently having the same idea as me.

Caine looks upset since we were all agreeing, so he accepted taking out the suggestion box.《If I see any red bunnies, I will crush them out》Jax said, looking away.

《Since this thing is full, we are going to do a lightning round! If you don't like what the other suggested, you can vote to skip and/or add modifiers!》the AI said, taking us on the first adventure.

POACHER'S PARADISE

《Oh! I recognize this one!》Jax voice said, while Zooble started protesting that we had to start with a Jax choice.

The lights turn back on, almost blinding me. I was wearing a safari outfit with a gun on my back. I look around and see a red and blue chameleon with big round eyes. I put my hand closer, and it climbs on it.

《Why do you get the cute safari outfit, and I get a chameleon? Is it maybe that this is what Jax asked?》Pomni asks, giving me a weird reptile smile.

I roll my eyes and put her on my shoulder. 《I wonder where the others are; this place looks huge》 I look around the savanna-themed map for a while before actually finding anyone, I hear a scream from under my feet. I look down, and I almost crushed a centipede with Ragatha's color palette. I pick her up. 《Ew, why would Jax ask me to become this? Ew, ew, I want to skip this adventure》 she says, as Ragatha's vote appears on a tiny screen. Both I and Pomni nod, and our votes show too.

I go back looking for the rest of the group. Now I'm only missing Kinger, Zooble, Gangle, and Jax. The more I walk, the bigger the map seems. I really wonder where the others went. I'm not really worried about Jax, Gangle, and Zooble, but more about Kinger. He's probably so confused right now. I ask Ragatha and Pomni to keep an eye open for Kinger.

《Is that him?》Charmelion Pomni said, looking out of my shoulder. I look towards where she was looking, and I see a lion with a chess piece as a head. It looks cursed, to be honest. I walk towards him.

《Oh, hi, you three》Kinger said, looking at us. 《Hi, Kinger, want to join us looking for the others?》I ask him, and he shakes his head. 《Not really, but I don't really have a choice; let's go》he says, walking with us.

《It reminds me of The Wizard of Oz》Ragatha said, walking up my arm to reach my other shoulder, Kinger walking next to me. 《I don't think I've ever seen that movie, or maybe I just don't remember,》Kinger said, making Ragatha gasp. 《I can't believe it, Kinger! We should suggest a movie adventure to Caine so we can watch it all together!》

《Won't it be like streaming illegally?》 asked Pomni. 《Who cares? The police can't get us here, so why not enjoy it? 》I tell her, smiling at her, as she smiles back at me. 《Oh! Look, I see them! 》Ragatha said, I walked towards them, and Jax was eating...Gangle! I run towards him and grab his shoulders, pulling him away from the ribbon girl.

《Hey, what are you doing!?》asked Jax, sounding mad at me for pulling him away like that.《Let's skip this...and make Jax a vegan》Flamingo Zooble said. The skip screen reappears, with the new votes in. We all voted to skip except for Jax, obviously.

And a second screen appears, probably to make Jax a vegan. Maybe this will teach him a lesson. I vote yes. Jax looks at me with flabbergasted betrayal. 《You have to be kidding me!》He said, stomping his feet like a rabbit, and Caine takes us to the new location.

PRESIDENT POMNI

《Why is this another Jax suggestion!? Mine was so good; when will it be my turn?》I lamented as the White House showed up. 《What was your suggestion?》wondered Zooble《 I don't remember》 I told them honestly.

The room becomes clearer. I was wearing a bodyguard outfit, with an earpiece and glasses. I could hear Caine's voice coming from the earpiece saying random stuff about mountain climbing and making a statue fall down the peak. I roll my eyes at the AI's random topic, and I decide to turn off the earpiece.

I look around the room. Pomni is looking terrified, looking around confused, not expecting to be the president of the mission. Ragatha and Zooble were also chosen as bodyguards. Jax, Kinger, and Gangle were nowhere to be seen. 《Maybe this one will be calmer, but since Jax suggested it, I highly doubt it》Zooble said, looking at us, both me and Ragatha nodding. 《Like, really, what do you see in that guy?》Zooble asked.

That question hit hard. Do I even have feelings for him? I always saw him as a friend, so why did I accept to kiss him when he asked? I look down at the ground, and Ragatha sees my upset self and covers for Zooble. 《They didn't mean it like that! You know, Jax can be...a lot, but don't worry, we respect your choices!》

I nod and go back to watching Pomni, who was watching, confused, the papers that Kinger brought her.

《Oh, gosh, why would Jax do this? 》the jester said, putting her hands on her face. 《Don't worry, Pomni, you can't be worse than... the real president》I tell her, smiling at her. She nods and goes back to looking at the papers.

She started looking at our description papers. 《Why didn't I get one of these?》she asked, we shrugged our shoulders. 《Probably Jax thought it would have been fun not giving you one》Zooble said. I nod.

Now that I think about it, where is Jax?

I open the door to see the rest of the White House. I walk around letting my thoughts free, wondering about almost everything. Does Jax even like me? What if they were right and he only kissed me to process the abstraction of Ribbit and Kafmo? I let out a sigh and turn back my earpiece.

Caine's voice filling my head: would he have kissed me if the others were alive? What if I could have stopped it from happening... Ribbit would have been ok, and if Ribbit was ok, probably Kaufmo wouldn't have abstracted, and tears start filling my eyes.

Stage three: Bargaining

I look at the drawings on the walls; it was all Caine, looking down at me. Seeing his images with his voice filling my ears fills me with terror. I don't like it at all; I feel my chest closing off, so I decide to walk back with the others.

Pomni was trying to deactivate a bomb, and Jax was dressed in Australian clothes. He sees me coming back, and as I stand next to him, I can see the contemplation in his eyes. He wasn't sure whether to say or do something, so he just gave me a wide smile. 《Oh, look who shows up! You look like you've seen a ghost! Why don't you go help Pomni? Since you looked so happy to make me a vegan!》he said, pushing me next to Pomni, who was desperate.

Kinger was suggesting what wire to cut; Kinger was suggesting the blue one since it was his favorite color since it was closer to black and all. Pomni then asked him if black was his favorite color, but he shook his head, saying that there was no black wire.

Gangle comes in, holding a bomb. 《I'm a New Zealand terrorist...and I don't know what New Zealand terrorists threaten people with.》

Gangle bomb exploded, making us jump in the air.

驚異のデジタルサーカス高校

I look around. I was wearing one of those classical Japanese school uniforms. I was sitting in the second row next to Pomni, with Jax in the seat in front of her. 《Oh no, slice-of-life anime are the worst》 the bunny said, rolling his eyes. 《If it was a romance anime, it would have been way better, don't you think?》 he asks me, giving me a wink. I look at him, but I don't answer him.

Why does he ignore me for a whole adventure and now act like nothing happened? Why won't he acknowledge the kiss we had? He looks at me, disappointed that I won't answer him. 《What's going on with you?》He asks me, 《I wonder》I tell him. He rolls his eyes at me, looking a bit pissed, but says nothing.

Kinger walks in the room, wearing glasses, probably meaning to look like a teacher. I look back at Gangle, who was drawing on a piece of paper, showing her drawings to Zooble, who was smiling with their eyes. Jax was making fun of Gangle, but Pomni shushed him up, telling him that if Gangle was weird, he was weirder since he threw her off a moving truck.

《I suggest we skip it》Jax said, all annoyed. 《I think we should not; I like the colors. It's a really pretty suggestion, thank you, Gangle》I tell her. Jax glances at me. 《What do you think you're doing?》he asks me, 《Shut it, vegan. Why are you ruining everyone's mood?》I ask him; he doesn't say anything, just turns his back at me, and the skip screen shows up, with Jax's vote on it. Gangle votes too, and I turn to watch her.《Gangle...》

《I didn't want my adventure to upset anyone. I'm sorry. I think it's better if we just go to the next one.》Zooble looks disappointed but votes to skip anyway just for Gangle's wish, then Ragatha, then Kinger, then Pomni. I let out a sigh, voting to skip the adventure that Gangle probably waited a ton of time to have.

STARGAZING

I was lying on the ground, right next to Ragatha. The stars were really wonderful; Kaufmo would have liked it. Maybe it was his suggestion. I doubt Caine deletes the abstracted suggestions. I already feel the tears coming back. Ragatha takes my hand. 《You two really need to talk things out. You know what, I'm going to call him over right now! Wait here》

The ragdoll lets go of my hand, standing up, and walks towards Pomni and Jax. I can see them talk. I stand up, walking towards Zooble, Gangle, and Kinger, who were just watching the fireflies. Zooble offers me a sandwich, and I take it, listening to them chatting about the different adventures they had till now, choosing the pros and cons of each of them.

I can see Caine watching from the sky, talking to Bubble about something, but they are too far away to hear them.

Ragatha walks towards me and Kinger, leaving Pomni and Jax by themselves 《I'm sorry...》said Ragatha, looking at me. 《For what?》I ask her; she looks upset and guilty.《about Jax, I said something I shouldn't have. Can you please go check on him...?》 I nod at her, grabbing another two sandwiches and walking towards the two.

《Jax?》His eyes look not ok; they were dilated, looking upset, angry, and with other emotions I can't understand. He doesn't answer me, and I just sit next to his silent form. 《What happened? 》 I said, taking his hand, but he quickly pulls away and lies on the floor, looking away from

《I think it's better if I leave you two alone》 said Pomni, standing and walking towards Kinger and Ragata.

I lie next to him, putting my head on his shoulder as he puts his hands on his face, murmuring something under his breath. I ask him to repeat that. 《Promise me you won't end up like Ribbit and Kaufmo》 he tells me. 《What do you mean? I would never》I tell him. 《Promise?》he asks me《promise》I confirm.

His face gets closer to mine, as if he were about to kiss me. I lean towards him, ready to kiss him, but Caine interrupts us. 《Intermission time!》

JAZZ

I found myself standing under the rain, near a bus stop. Luckily I had an umbrella. I was wearing something elegant. On the other side of the street there was a bar. I could see Zooble pouring down glasses, so I decided to walk inside.

At the counter Pomni, Gangle, and Jax were already sitting, drinking something that I doubt was real alcohol. Jax looks at me and orders my drink from Zooble, who starts making it. 《You know, we have to talk》I tell Jax. It was practically a whisper, but he managed to catch it, nodding and looking back at his drink.

The disappearing man shows up, trying to order something, but...yeah, he's gone. Pomni looks at me. 《That's disappearing man, from another adventure. Don't worry, he's ok.》

Ragatha and Kinger get inside the bar, sitting next to each other and starting to order their drinks as Zooble gives me mine. 《So, whose suggestion is this? 》asked Ragatha, looking at each of us. 《It was me, I used a barista before I got here》Zooble said. I smiled at them. 《Really? What did you guys used to do before you got here? 》I ask the group.

Kinger doesn't remember.

Pomni was a cashier and a part-time abandoned places blogger.

Ragatha had worked in real estate.

Gangle worked at a fast food

Zooble was a barista and a tattoo artist.

We are all so different; how did we even get here?

What would have happened if this never existed? Would everyone have been ok? Would I have been ok?

I am ok.

《What about you? 》 Pomni asked me, 《Who were you before you got here?》she continued. I look at her. They told me it's right; I tell them too.《 Well, before I showed up in the circus, I used to-》《Who cares what you used to do! Like, after my lung cancer diagnosis, I and my junkie associate from a chemistry class used to teach-》is that a Breaking Bad reference?

《You know, Jax, you could try not interrupting people for no reason to reference something》 complained Zooble, looking at Jax.

《I forgot you hate fun》 said Jax.

《Fun isn't the thing that I hate》 responded Zooble.

Jax rolls his eyes, and they fall on Pomni. 《Oh, by the way, Pomni, sorry for the president thing》 he says. I don't understand; he looks genuine, but I know the guy. I know he isn't sorry; he has never apologized to anyone. Is he joking? Is he serious? Is this how he behaves toward me, and I never noticed?

《Ignore him》 Zooble said, looking at the jester. Pomni looks back at Jax, who is smiling drunkly (even if alcohol doesn't work here). 《Apologies accepted》 she said. I smile at her; she's clearly way more mature than Jax. I'm so proud of her. She kind of reminds me of... I shake the thought out of my head. Pomni isn't them; I need to remember that. If she abstracts, it will be much harder than I thought.

《Oh wow! The first step of a growing friendship》said Jax, skipping over me to grab Pomni's shoulders.

I look at Ragatha, who was watching the two of them as if they just committed a murder in front of her. Ragatha tries to distract Pomni, but the jester just looks so...confused.

《You guys take this place seriously》Jax said. Zooble picks up a piece of corn. I'm about to start laughing; his weird corn fear has always been hilarious. I start giggling, and Jax just stares at me with displeasure. Zooble puts the corn closer to Jax, making him jump away.

《Ok! Next adventure!》 said Caine, pushing all of us inside a new portal before I could actually finish drinking my fake alcohol.

GOOD OL' FASHIONED SOFTBALL

I open my eyes to see we were all wearing a softball player uniform, except for Kinger, who was wearing the captain's hat. All these changes are making me feel sick; this is just too much. I sit down on a bench as Jax sits next to me 《You're ok?》 He asks, and I shake my head. I'm starting to feel dizzy.

He puts a hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort me. I close my eyes, but Ragatha walks up to me as Jax stands up and walks up towards Kinger 《You look tired...I think you should skip this one. You and I already played softball before. Don't worry, I don't mind if you skip my suggestion》

I look up to her《Thank you, Ragatha》She nods, giving me a slight hug, and I hug her back. When I first got here, she was the one that I first met. She's the reason I didn't abstract the first week I got here. I was deeply depressed and missed the real world, but she helped me learn how things worked, and after a while, Jax joined.

We pull away from the hug as she nods and walks towards Kinger and Jax.

Everyone except me starts going on the field, and Caine's voice starts ringing through the microphones 《Today is...big tops vs evil big tops!》said Caine as he introduces the opposite team; literally, the opposite of each member of the circus has a weird-colored clone with opposite character traits.

From here I can see Jax clenching his fist, looking ready to punch someone, maybe his opponent that I can't really see from here, maybe a more girly version of him, that would be funny.

I stand up just to see them better, so we have

-Pomni and Evil Pomni;

-Ragatha and Evil Ragatha;

-Kinger and Coach Dictatorer;

-Jax and Evil Jax...that is a lighter shade of red bunny; I bet that's the guy Jax wants to beat up.

-Gangle and Evil Orbsman, did Caine forget to make an evil version of Gangle...or me?! Why is there no evil me?!

-Zooble and Bazoble.

Well guys, this for sure will be an interesting match. I wonder why I'm not there, but as long as I don't play, it's ok for me. I sit back down, ready to rest.

But Evil Jax walks towards me. 《H-Hi...Oh gosh, I'm—I'm so sorry you can't play. Probably Caine was too scared to put you in for how wonderful you are》 said Evil Jax, blushing and hiding his face in his hands.

Is he flirting with me?

《Emh, thank you, good luck out there》he nods, flustered《If it comes from you, it means eve- everything》He's so nice. How much I wish Jax talked like this to me, but he would never; he can't even decide his feelings. I let out a sigh. 《You know...if you get tired of him, I—I really like you. BYE》added Evil Jax before walking away quickly.

He was really flirting with me.

《What the %$! # What was he doing here?》Jax said, his pupils dilated. He looked really mad, so we have nothing decided, and that makes him have the right to be jealous, like he was a boyfriend of mine, this guy.

《Chatting, he's nice, you know? Be nice to him》 he rolls his eyes. 《I told Caine I told him if I saw another red bunny I would kill it, but nooo, I'm a vegan now.》

Disappearing Guy goes to sing the American national anthem, but he disappears. So sad. At least a centipede was clapping. The first player is Ragatha, but she unfortunately gets eliminated.

Next to me, Zooble and Gangle were talking about something, and the vote screen appeared. I looked at the two and they gave me a nod. When did Gangle break her mask? I didn't even notice...I give them a nod too and vote yes.

We all voted yes except Pomni and Jax.

He got a maid costume, with a perfect eyeliner included. I start laughing, pointing at him like he was some circus attraction. He storms towards me; I try to run off, but he catches me. 《Was this your idea?!》 he asks. 《No, but I wish it was. Look at you, stunning》His cheeks become a slightly darker color as he pushes me off.

I go back laughing as Kinger calls Jax on the field; he angrily grabs the bat and goes to bat. Evil Jax tried to tell him something but quickly gets shut off. He makes himself eliminate as quickly as possible. Now I, Ragatha, Pomni, and Jax were sitting as Gangle was about to bat, but of course Jax had to comment again.

Ragatha called him out, and Jax, as usual, acted like he did nothing. Ragatha stands up, ready to leave. 《I'm sorry for bringing that up earlier》she said, leaving. I look between an upset Jax and a distressed Ragatha. I need to make my choice. Jax tried to take my hand, but I pulled away. I don't understand anything anymore. I always took Jax's side, but not this time, not when he's so unclear.

I follow after Ragatha, leaving Jax and Pomni behind. She was sitting on the ground, her forehead on her knees and her hands making like a shell for her. I sit next to her. 《Thank you, Ragatha》I tell her. She looks up at me. She looks so tired and ready to cry. 《I'm acting just like her》she says《Your mother? 》I asked her, and she nods. I wrap an arm on top of her shoulders.

《I'm happy you managed to resist this long》she confessed to me. 《I am too》I tell her back. 《I'm surprised you didn't stay with Jax.》Is it that surprising? Does everyone think I'm just going to abandon them just for Jax? Am I that terrible?

《Really?》 She nods slowly, putting her head on my shoulder. 《Do you mind if I sleep in your room tonight?》I ask her, and she looks at me.

《I haven't had a sleepover since I was, like, fourteen. Sure, I sure miss those times》 she said.

《Me too》 I tell her back.

CIRCUS

And we are back, at the place I know too well. I walk towards Ragatha, smiling at her, completely ignoring Jax, but he probably didn't even notice; he never does.

JAX×READER

CHAPER 4/9

I was chatting with Zooble in the main area 《Ye, and i really need to clean up the parts box, if i find anything interesting i can give it to you》they said, i let out a giggle 《oh dont worry Zooble, plus, if you give me anything Jax will find out and steal it》they roll their eyes as they stand up, a few meters away from us i can see Ragatha trying to teach Gangle how to trow, Jax ready to hit, he looks exited, like a little kid, he must really like playing baseball.

《Well, I'm going to my room, if you or the others (exept Jax) need anything just come to my room》Zooble said walking away, i stand up walking towarts Jax, that was starting to get bored of waiting, 《come on, you try!》said Ragatha, giving the ball at Gangle, 《look how good i am》said Jax, holding harder the bat as Gangle trow, but Jax hited to hard, cousing the ball to colide with Gangle's mask, breaking it in half.

《Jax?! Why did you do this, why are you always doing this?》asked Ragatha in anger, Jax lets go of the baseball bat, letting it fall on the ground 《i didnt do it on purpose, defend me, come on, tell her I didnt mean to!》said Jax, but Ragatha shushed him off 《can you stop hiding behind them? They are not responsible for your actions!》as Jax and Ragatha continued to fight Zooble probably heard the commotion and came to check, calling Gangle to them.

Jax and Ragatha continued to fight, so I decided to grab the poor Pomni that was trying to calm the two. Just to follow them, I walked into Zooble's room as they were giving a plastic mask with some drawing on it, she tried it on, and it fitted perfectly 《so, how does it feel?》I ask her, as she started smiling at us, 《it feels...normal, I like it》Gangle said, as I heard footsteps coming from behind me, I looked, and I saw both Jax and Ragatha. They probably stopped fighting, or Ragatha had decided to walk away to avoid Jax, but he, being childish as he is, probably followed her.

《Wow, giving away parts now Zooble?》asked Jax, giggleling, Zooble shoke their head 《even if I was, i would never give you anything》Jax rolled his eyes, grabbing my hand, ready to leave, but Caine jumps in, screaming 《did i hear adventure?》we all look at eachother, but before we could say anything, Caine teleports us in the main stage room, staring to explain so horror adventure, but Pomni interups him 《can we chill with the horror? After the last adventure I dont think im ready for something that extreme again》oh ye, i forgot that both Pomni and Kinger got divided from us.

《Wasn't that the adventure for me? How was it?》Pomni looks at the ground and starts describing a horror experience that took them in hell, Zooble looks so flabbergasted 《why did you think I was gonna like that?!》Zooble asks Caine, who looks kinda mad at that. 《Well, why don't you suggest your own adventures then?》Caine asks us, Zooble points at the suggestion box on the wall 《we do! All the time, do you even read our suggestions?》

Caine floats next to the box, looking at it confused 《to be honest, I forgot we have it》he rips it out the wall, breaking a tube letting water almost hit Jax, but he managed to move away and Bubble covers the broken tube with his tought, Caine starts reading some of the suggestions, but they all looked too extreme, and Gangle suggest something more normal...Caine nods and takes out a suggestion 《what about this one? 'Let's all work as minimum wage employees in a fast food company'》

Gangle nods, but Jax looks kinda mad about it 《Who did even write that?》asked Jax looking at me, i shrug, Caine floats up in the air and started explaining the adventure to us 《Today guys will work at spudsy's and serve the clients under the surveillance of the shift manager, that will be Gangle, since she gave the idea, i will try something new with new NPCs since many of you seem to have so many ideas in mind》Zooble shakes their head 《ye, no im skipping this》they said, ready to walk away, but Kinger stops them, suggesting that he should skip this adventure so Zooble can join, Caine nods and creates a creating a trapdoor ander their feet, making them fall who knows where, Caine makes a portal appear 《well, looks like we will work in fast food, I wasn't a big fan back in the real world, all that sesame seeds on the bun, ew》said Jax walking next to me.

I give him a light punch on the shoulder, but he puts his foot on the water causing him to slip and fall on the ground, I laugh at him as he rolls his eyes, grabbing my arm making me fall too, Caine helps us get up 《Come on you two, I don't want any of you to miss the surprises I made, after all you were my inspiration for one of those》 the AI said pushing us in the portal.

And yey I'm in a car and I'm driving aparently, I look next to me and Jax is on the passenger seat, behind us Pomni is there, great, so I'm driving them to work, I look at both of their outfits and at mine, a simple black shirt with the spudsy's logo and black pants, Jax was wearing a black sun visor to match with the outfit 《do you guys mind if I take over the cash register? I kinda only know to do that》Pomni asked, and I gave her a nod. 《 course, Pomni, I will probably just fry the potatoes and the nuggets. What about you, Jax?》

《The thing that requires me to do nothing, and can you go faster I don't like staying inside this thing》said Jax, giving a kick infront of him, I roll my eyes and speed up a little till we don't see the glowing sign, it looks like we are working for the morning shift for now, i park the car and step out, Pomni and Jax following after me, i look at the parking slots and apart of our car there is a red one in the distance, so it probably means Ragatha, Gangle and Zooble are already here.

We walk in the resturant, as Gangle finished to turn on everything 《well, everything is ready, let's starts the shift》she said as she turned the sign on the door, well look like we have to work now 《this the breakfast menu, remember, just breakfast》said Gangle walking in her office to order stuff, Pomni gets at the cash register, Ragatha and Zooble get in the cooking area, trying to understand how everything works and were each ingredient is.

I go towarts the drive trough, but it looks like is closed, maybe Gangle will open it for the afternoon, Jax is walking around the place, trying to understand what the less work thing he can do, I start bring out the salses and everything out as our first costumer enters to order their breakfast, Pomni puts the order in and on the screen the blank npc order appears, and egg mayonnaise sandwich that's is a number 8, I turn my head and I see Zooble cooking the egg and Ragatha that is preparing the bread.

Me and Jax were just watching the situation, since clearly they didn't need our help, Gangle walks behind us, giving us a judgment stare 《Can you two go take the things out of the truck, I dont pay you to do nothing》she said, pointing at the door in the back, Jax rolls his eyes but I nod and walk towars the outside back door, a big white truck waiting open with all sorts of things, I step on the truck and start picking the things off the truck and taking them inside.

A line of customers formed and is clear Pomni is having difficultys, I walk towarts the second cash register and open it, I take Jax hand and I drag him towarts the cash register to make him work, he looks at me in shock, his pupils being just dots as he takes the too many customers breakfast orders, I go back at taking the things out of the truck and putting it in place till it wasn't empty.

I go back inside and watch the clock, it's only 11 am, this will be a long shift, 《Hey, can you help me with the burger? You do the chocolate burgers and I do the others》pleaded Ragatha, Zooble was already helping her but there were too many customers, I walk towarts them and start making the burgers, Gangle, Pomni and annoying angry Jax were taking the orders of the last costumers.

I finish making the chocolate burgers, and Jax comes to pick them up and bring them to the customer. 《Look at you, working, that's a good thing to see》i tell him, laughing, but he doesn't even smile back at me, just stares, looking annoyed, letting out a sigh and picking up the last chocolate burger.

Is he mad at me? Or he's just mad at the situation?

I ringing sound can be heard in all rooms, the screens where the orders were now just said 'Lunch time', Gangle walks towards us. 《Guys, now is lunch rush, so you all better do a good job. I'm opening the drive thro》Jax lets go of the cash register and walks next to me, his eyes giving their usual look.

《Well, we can't really work if Ragatha is in the fryer》Jax said picking Ragatha up and trowing her in the fryer, I try to help her get out but Jax grabs my shoulders and gets be away from there, towarts the drive through as the others help Ragatha 《being stuck behind the register was a torture, I barely saw you at all》I smile at him 《Oh, that's so nice, I missed you t-》《so i could trow burgers at you》interupted me Jax, laughing akwardly looking in another direction, I look at him, why is he acting this way, is not like him, he more akward and tired.

《Are you ok?》I ask Jax, and he sighs and shakes his head. He was about to say something, but Gangle showed up behind me. 《What are you two doing? Go to work, Jax, you're being almost useless, and you, go help Pomni》I nod and walk away from the two of them and walk toward Pomni to take people's orders, 《Jester, i want a stupid burger, and don't forget the stupid sauce, last time I got it they forgot it》Pomni looks confused but rings the order anyway as I take the other npc orders.

《Emh, I need help, Ragatha is drunk》Zooble said, and Pomni, walking in the kitchen, saw Ragatha slumped on the food counter, with Gangle next to her, telling her that it was not acceptable to drink during work hours. I looked around, and everyone was here except for Jax. 《Oh shut up, Gangle...you're kinda annoying with your happy mask on》said Ragatha, giggling drunkenly. I see Gangle snap for a second and walk away.

Pomni walk back to the cash register to take the orders of the line of NPCs that formed while I take Ragatha place in making the burgers as she lays on the ground, I manage to do a few burgers before I see Ragatha stand up and start doing a few burgers the only thing i see is she putting raw meat in them so when she turns around I trow it in the trash can.

I see Jax coming out of Gangle's office looking traumatized. I walk towards him, leaving Ragatha unsupervised. 《Jax, what happened to you?》I ask him walking towarts him, he looks at me up and down before letting out a sigh relief, his face looking a bit more calm 《oh you have no idea, I hate this adventure so much, about this close to abstr- to walk away and take you with me》said Jax, putting his head on my shoulder 《hey hey, i dont pay you guys to be all cute and stuff, go back working, or if make sure upper management will take action》said Gangle walking past us.

We walk towards the cooking zone, but Ragatha walks drunkenly towards us, pointing at something《Look what I made, 》said Ragatha, showing off the monstrosity of a burger she made, with something like 10 patties and tons of lettuce, a terrifying sight for my poor eyes, but it is funny, so...

《How do you even plan to serve this?》 I ask her still observing her drunk moviments while grabbing the burger, pressing it to pack it, trying to make is fit is the regular paper made for regular burgers, and surprising, she manage to make if fit, I nod impressed, i would have given up, im happy she did it, she giggles drunkly and lays on the floor while I bring the "normalooking burger" to Jax so he can give it to the customer 《are you sure this is right? If feels heavy》he started looking at me knowingly, i smile at him and walk off to the cash register where Pomni was standing.

《Soo, who are you staring at so much?》I ask Pomni, following her gaze, falling on a familiar gummy alligator.

Oh.

Him, i understand, Pomni wants to talk to him, i have no idea what bonding espireance they had, but i can see she cares about him《Go to him, i will cover the register》she looks at me with her big blue and red eyes, i nod at her letting her go to Gummigoo, she walks towarts the gummy trio as i stare at her talking.

《Is this something like a bus?》asked Jax loudly, looking worried outside the drive-through. Ragatha crushes on the register next to mine. She stares as the gloink queen gets inside with her many gIoinks. Wander around as Ragatha starts talking with the queen, Jax pulls me away from the register toward the drive-thru.

《Hey! I have to cover the register for Pomni》《it can wait, want a fry?》he asks, giving a pack of fries. Till Manager Gangle didn't show up behind me, smiling. 《Jax, I'm hoping that you aren't stealing from the company. 》 Jax rolls his eyes, looking at Gangle《What, nah, I found it on the floor》《that That is not sanitary! Go wash your hands before a customer sees or hears you》

She said walking away, Jax takes a fry and eats it offering one to me, i take it, I know that Jax wouldn't offer me from the ground, I smile at him he looks at me for a minute, his cheeks becoming a slight darker color looking away I walk towarts the register, Pomni was waving goodbye at Gummigoo that was walking away out of the door, the gloinks were beating an NPC on the ground, Ragatha and Zooble made four burgers out of four hundred.

I take over the register and take over the last two orders from the two surviving NPCs, with one of them being OrbsMan. I hear Jax groan in the background, murmuring something, but Gangle hears him and starts correcting him. I ring in his order. Ragatha slops next to me, giving a light wave to OrbsMan.

After a lot of help from everyone, except for Ragatha that was trying to pack her contaminated in the food bags, but Gangle was keeping an eye on Ragatha, Jax was in trying to pack the food Ragatha made, without success, and after what felt like hours we managed to do all the gloinks orders giving all of them to the queen that thanked us and gathered all her gloinks to walk off.

The screens now showed 'Dinner' on them, finaly, we are almost near the end of the shift, Jax still looks tired and a bit angry too but at this affection really seems to confort him in a way, I walk over the register waiting for the next client as I chat with Pomni, the door opens i look up and see it...

《I thought Thomas was made up》said Pomni looking at the red rabbit that just got in 《I did too》I tell her, looking to an exact copy of what I had in mind while describing a behing that never existed to Jax, and this too are so similar, Ragatha walk towarts the register sees Thomas and walks back in the kitchen, same with Gangle and Zooble that was giggling seeing my face, Thomas walks to the counter and being to order the food I like the most, smiling and keeping eye contact with me all the time.

Jax walk in, sees Thomas and walks out, I ring Thomas order faster and follow Jax outside that was sitting on the ground extremely angry looking at the ground i sit next to him 《you said you made him up》Jax said, looking away 《I did, I swear I would never lie like this to you, Caine said that he would try new NPCs because we had ideas! Look, I know you're not happy as usual because of this adventure. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?》

Jax sighs and looks at me 《it feels so cringe to ask this》said looking away once again 《Jax, is ok, really, maybe I can ask Caine for one of your adventures on the suggestion bo-》《Kiss me》Jax interrupts me, Oh, OH! I feel my face go red as I see Jax cringing at his own actions. I put a hand on his cheek, putting his lips on mine.

They feel surprisingly soft, leaving a fuzzy feeling in me, he puts his gloved hand on top of mine, deepening the kiss, I put away feeling too flustered to continue anything, his eyes dilated putting a hand on his mouth, I giggle and stand up and go back inside 《so...you two finaly kisses, you two were infuriating me with your lovely dovely stuff without actual doing anything》said Ragatha, seeing me come back in, i smile at her and walk to the counter.

Jax got back to work as Pomni got out to throw away the trash, and Gangle got out too. I finally turned the open sign off, closing the restaurant. 《Gangle, the clock is broken》I heard Jax 《is it broken...or are we the broken ones?》Said Gangle with a depressed voice, but then her watch started ringing 《oh, ye, the clock is broken》she said, looking at it. Jax rolled his eyes and clocked out, and walked towards the counter that I was cleaning. 《So, when do you clock out?》asked Jax

I think for it for a moment 《I think in about an hour》I tell him, and he nods 《ok, I will wait for you in the car》he said taking out the keys of the car that he stole from me, i roll his eyes as i watch him go out in the parking lot 《so, whats the deal with you two?》Asked Zooble, who was watching from the tables that they were cleaning, and I smiled at them. 《I will tell you and the others, later》they nodded and went back to cleaning.

《Pomni, when do you clock out? So we can take the car and all》Pomni looks back at Gangle, that seems to have even a worst day than Jax 《I think I will close tonight instead of Gangle, don't worry about me, I will steal a car from an NPC or something》she said giggling, I smile at her and clock out, waving goodbye to the others as I walk out in the parking lot, I see our car and sit in the passenger sit.

Jax looks at me and asks 《Pomni?》《she's closing, she said we can go anyway》he nods and turns on the car, driving towarts the place we first spawned, hoping it would take us back to the circus, and it did, we got back but without the car, Caine was there to great us 《Oh you two are so adorab-》《if I see another red bunny in the next adventure I will kill Ragatha so dont》interupted Jax at Caine walking away towarts the upper floor, I shrug and go back in my room to get a bit of rest after this horrible experience.

I mean, it wasn't horrible quite the opposite, I just felt dramatic, after all, Jax and I kissed.

...

JAX×READER

CHAPER 3/9

《Hey, wake up!》i head, then a slam, i open my eyes and i see Jax looking down at the door he broke 《I didnt mean to, you know, break it》said Jax, pointing at the door that was lying on the floor, i sigh and stand up 《go out, put the door back, i need to change》Jax rolled his eyes and picked the door up and putted it back in its place before leaving the room, i start changing up with the outfit of the day, they are all similar, but they only change some details here and there 《why are you the only one that can change clothes?》asks Jax troug the door 《One day Caine wanted to test a new dress up adventure kind of deal, so Ragatha, me and Kinger can change our clothes up, the only thing is that Caine made the same pair of clothes for us, so i changed them up a bit with his help, of course there where others with this "ability" but...they arent here anymore》

I finish changing and open the door, Jax waiting for me 《so it happened in an adventure, before I showed up?》he asked, pointing at himself. I nodded and started walking towards the stage room 《soo, how were the others like? The other guys must have been super boring, unlike me》asked Jax, sounding a bit jealous. I smiled at him and shook my head. 《Nah, no one was better than you, exept Thomas》i said, continuing to walk ahead 《excuse me? Who?!》said Jax, running after me.

《Hi guys, has any of you seen Pomni? I can't find her anywhere》Said Ragatha, standing in front of Kinger, who was looking around, looking for the jester girl. I shake my head, and Jax starts talking. 《Why Ragatha? You think she abstracted alread?, im not surprised》said Jax grinning at the ragdoll, but before she could start screaming at him Kinger puts a hand on her mounth, causing her head to stick up, she closes her eyes and Kinger takes off his hand off her mounth, she takes a deep breath and lets go, her hair taking their usual form 《we are going to check her room, if you feel tired of him, just join us》said Ragatha, looking at me, before walking away with the king piece.

Jax pupil constrict, looking at the direction the two just left, i shake his shoulder a bit and he stares at me, is pupils dilating becoming their normal size 《you should go with them》said Jax stare at him and he smiles at me 《you know, take the clown and take them here, lets she what her funky body can do when she cant breath》i roll my eyes and hit his shoulder making him laught 《they will take care of it, so what do you think Caine will organize for us today?》i ask him walking in the circus 《hope something exiting, last mission was boring》i giggle at his comment and roll my eyes.

《Soo, who's Thomas?》asked the smiling rabbit 《just a guy》《what type of character? Funny? Cool? Awesome?》 Said Jax, sounding a bit jealous, I laugh and pinch his cheek. 《 don't worry about it》and yet, he doesn't know i made up this Thomas character, let's see how much he will torment me about him.

Caine runs up to us incredibly fast 《hello there, sorry to ruin your...romantic moment, but, how do I convince the Zooble to join you guys in an adventure?》asked the AI, clearly bothered that Zooble refuses to join us.

《Do a theme they like?》 I suggest

《I don't know, therapy?》suggested Jax

Caine nods and floats away, Jax turn to watch me and i strugh looking away and walk towarts the couch zone and sit on my usual one with Jax laying on it, putting his legs on top of mine 《you promised me that we would have a crazy fun adventure!》i smirk at him 《well, ye, we are going to have a fun adventure, but not a crazy one》Jax start booing me like a child, i roll my eyes and hit his legs with my fist 《shut it, or next time im asking Caine to work at Burger King》Jax punches my shoulder, and i laught at him, after all, i know the kind of life he had back then.

And he knows mine.

《You know I hate those fast food workers! Give me a break, I'm only 22!》said Jax, kicking me. I push his legs off me 《ye, and yet you're still single! Hah!》 I say to him, he puts a hand over my shoulder 《 Well, then, why don't you help a fellow friend, and I don't know...go on a date with me?》 Saud Jax wiggling his eyebrows up and down. I stop at that phrase, and a blush appears on my cheeks. I roll my eyes and push him off.

He starts laughing maniacally, wrapping his arms around my neck. After Ribbit, he wasn't that much of a hugger. I'm happy he's getting better...

Or its him acting like hes getting better to not make me worry, after all, Kaufmo just abstracted, he clearly isn't doing fine, 《Jax-》 I heard footsteps coming toward us, Jax let go of the hug, seeing Gangle and Zooble walking toward us, he clears his throat and acts like nothing happened. 《 Hi guys, where is Ragatha? I want to show her the drawing I made for her》said Gangle, smiling, holding up her notebook.

《She went with Kinger to wake up Pomni. Can I see the drawing?》 Gangle turns her gaze at Zooble as they nod. She passes me the notebook, I take it and start looking at the wonderful anime drawing of us, the most recent one being of Ragatha colored with some pencils Kinger first gave Gangle. As I watch the pages, many drawings are on it, a few of me, Ribbit, Kaufmo, Kinger, and many of Ragatha and Zooble, and almost none of Jax.

《Wow Crybaby, im offended that i got drawn only five times, you must really hate me》 said Jax ripping away from me Gangle notebook 《how could she not, after all, they are the only person left to tolarate you》 said Zooble looking at me and then Jax, taking back the notebook 《hey guys, oh, did something happen?》asked Ragatha walking towarts us next to Kinger and Pomni 《Jax happed》said Zooble glacing Jax, that couldent care less about Zooble stare, Ragatha sighing in defeat 《can you tell him something?》 Ragatha asks me, looking a bit angry at Jax's beheivor 《hes not a child, i expect him to act his age, not like an idiot》Jax rolls his eyes and trows Gangle notebook back at her 《youre so annoying, no surprise youre single》 said Jax 《well, Thomas didnt think that》 i tell him, as Ragatha raises her eyebrow at me in confusion, i flash her a smile and she quickly understands.

《Oh, ye, Thomas, what a charmer he was, always on your side, what a sweetie, right Kinger?》said Ragatha, hitting Kinger on the shoulder, looks down at her and nods 《Wha-oh yeee, Thomas, wonderful guy》Jax stares at all of them 《who is Thomas?! Why did you never mention him?》asked the Rabbit in utter confusion. 《Weird, we talk about him all the time! You must not be a good listener or something, 》 said Ragatha, giggling under her breath. Pomni looks confused as she looks around the room.

Jax rolls his eyes and stands up, walking toward Pomni 《well, since I'm a good listener, let's listen about Pomni's powers when he doesn't breathe. " Zoobleble turns around and stares at her while Gangle sits down next to me, showing me a few drawings of myself 《?》asks Pomni

《Ye, something different happened for each of us when we hold breath, my hair starts sticking up as an example》explained Ragatha, grabbing a handful of her hair while Pomni was watching her tired 《do I have to do that?》asks Pomni, looking at the ground.

《No, of course you don't have to-》

《Shut it, Rag, yes, you have to》interupted Jax, putting a hand on Ragatha's mouth, shutting her up and walking in front of Pomni, grabbing one of her arms and stretching it. 《 Let's see what your new funky body can do》letting her arm go, she rolled her eyes and kept her breath...

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue

Purple

And back to red

And then she had to breathe. Does she know that she can't really die here? Except for the abstraction of course, Jax rolls his eyes in disappointment 《so your power is to become gay? That sounds the opposite of Zooble power》Zooble lets out an annoyed sigh 《my limbs straight up, not me, moron. 》

Jax lets out an annoying giggle, staring at them. Pomni interrupts the scene by asking what our powers were. We told her about Kingers, Gangles, and mine. I was about to tell her about Jax's power, but he put a hand over my mouth to shut me up.

《 You're such a coward, Jax. First, you don't want anyone to know about your power, and then you shut up the only person left who knows, 》 said Zooble, staring at us.

《Hello, my dear grinning weirdos!》 Said Caine, floating towards us, grabbing us and taking us towards the main stage room 《Todays adventure will be... The Mystery Of Mildenhall Manor, that's right guys, a manor full of ghosts, and you all have to take care of it, i made it super scary just to please a specific someone that dosnt seem to enjoy my adventures》said Caine, giving a side eye to Zooble, that was clearly minding their own busnees, as the AI opens the portal i walk towards Zooble 《Will you join us today?》they shake their head 《nah, but torture the rabbit with this Thomas thing, ok? At least he will suffer a bit》they said, letting out a giggle. I nod and wave them goodbye as I walk into the portal.

The place is falling apart, the wallpaper rotting off the wall. In front of us, two doors, with two messages on each of two.

The first inscription said "door AAAAHHH, for a mature audience only."

The second door said "door adapted to any age! Yey!"

Fog started to fill the room, and the air started to feel heavy. A green ghost appeared in front of us. Jax put a hand in front of me to protect me, but then the scary ghost became a cute ghost that started introducing itself. I smile at the cute creature, Jax, side-eyeing me, seeing me smile at the kind ghost.

He grabs a random vacuum cleaner that was lying on the floor, he picks it up and absorbs the happy ghost, leaving us in shock 《what, didn't Caine say to capture them all?》 I shake my head 《He didn't say anything》 i turn around, and I see Kinger trying to put Pomni's eyes back in her eye socket, without success. I grab one of her eyes and try to help the poor girl, still without success 《so, what door do we choose?》asked Gangle, walking towards Jax, he puts a hand on his chin 《 I don't know, let me just》 Jax grabs Gangle's happy mask and rips it off her sad one, throwing it in the first door.

The door broke and absorbed the mask, revealing a bunch of teeth. 《 Don't worry, Gangle, I will take it!》 Said Kinger, still holding Pomni's eyeball 《No, no no!》me Ragatha and I screamed before Kinger jumped through the door, dragging Pomni with him.

The mouth closed after.m, Ragatha started banging on the teeth, begging to get them out. 《Thomas would have been more helpfull》said Gangle. I started grinning at her. Jax rolled his eyes and grabbed me, Gangle and Ragatha's arms, dragging us toward the second door, taking us into a new room.

Everything is very calm, no sigh of ghosts yet 《Oh my, I hope Kinger and Pomni are ok...》 said the rag doll, Jax still annoyed, continued to grag us 《they will be fine, it's not like Caine is planning to kill any of us. 》 said Jax 《you know, Thomas would have worried more!》said Ragatha, looking offended, but deep down both me and Gangle knew she was just joking 《I don't even know this guy! How does Gangle, who showed up after me, know about him, and I don't!》Me, Gangle and Ragatha share a stare, as in saying 'This guy is crazy,' and Jax didn't take it well.

Grabbing my hand, Jax and I walk away from the others, with him tormenting me with questions 《how was he like?》

Does he mean in behavior? In looks? What do I need to make out right now?! 《Red?》 He looks at me, confused, and puts a hand on my forehead. 《I know Caine said that we can't get sick, but you're acting stupid. Is it because of me? Do I confuse your words or feelings?》 Said Jax with a smug smile 《 No! It's- emh, Thomas》i tell him 《excuse me?》

《Ye, I was like...super in love with the guy》 the guy that dosnt exist! If he asks me to describe him i will probably end up descrive him, but red, and with hair, he looks at me, his pupils dilated with that information 《you were in love with him?》he ask me, staring right in my eyes, his expression worries me, i almost want to tell him that Thomas isnt real and that i just made him up, ALMOST, I let out a sigh and nod at his words, he grabs my shoulders and start shaking my body 《what!? Why, what did he do? How?》

Is he in shock? I mean, if i found out my friend was in love with someone and i never knew i would react like this too to be honest, the lightbulbs turn off, leaving all of us in the dark, i can feel Jax hands ripping of my body and taking out the vactum cleaner to defend, everything seems calm, but then a dozen of little ghost comes out the walls and started trowing all sort of stuff at us, plates, tables, everything that they slimy little hands can grab.

Jax turns on the vactum cleaner, absorbing all the little ghost before they could hurt any of us, Ragatha trying to save all the breakable objebts, Gangle using her ribbons to void all the flying objebts, Jax was using his body to protect me with the vactum cleaner, but one of the tiny ghosts trow a plate straight in Jax head, i kick him making the plate miss him by only a few centimeters. I grab the Vactum cleaner from Jax's hand and absorb the annoying ghost.

I let out a sigh, it seems like we managed to capture them all, Jax grabs back the vactum cleaner, he looks all around the room, under the table, behind the doors, just to make sure they all gone, i see him checking at Ragatha and Gangle to make sure they are doing allright, and he starts walking ahead, holding up the vacum 《do you think it will happen ofter?》asked Gangle at Ragatha 《I for sure hope not, those things are annoying》 answered Jax instead of Ragatha, not letting her a chance to speak, Gangle nods at Jax's words, starting to watch out all the room we walk in.

We were attacked in many rooms, not serious damages to us, the items tho were pretty much destroyed, shards of glass lying on the floor unbothered, each step calibrated so we don't hurt our selfs 《would Thomas help you like this?》asked Jax, staring right at me, ok, I'm getting tired of this story 《there is no Thomas》 i tell him, his eyes wider at the news, but before he could say anything, something hit him on the head, knocking him out.

On the floor next to Jax head was laying a now broken vase, and on the other side there was one of those annoying ghost, i grab Jax vaccum ready to absorbe the little creature, but a greenish ghost lady stands up infront of it, blocking me 《im deeply sorry about my little helpers, they can be quite childish sometimes》said the woman, taking one of the little ghosts in her hands 《about your friend just put him in the red cart, since my ghost did this they will drag him to the dinning hall》said the lady, she talks elegantly i nod and bring the cart towarts Jax, then me, Gangle and Ragatha managed to put him in the cart, and as primised, the little ghost were dragging Jax for us, the lady started telling us all about the history of the place and how she died, poor woman.

《I told Jax that Thomas isn't real》Gangle and Raghata groan at the news 《great, when he wakes up, he's gonna torment us. I hope I don't find another centipede in my room, 》 said Ragatha, shivering 《miss, do you perchance have some duct tape?》asked Gangle, the woman nods and points at a drawer, Gangle walks toward it and takes out the duct tape, and she shuts up Jax by putting the tape over his mouth 《at least we won't have to hear him complain》both me Ragatha and I nod. The lady brings us tea and makes us sit at the table.

She pours tea at each of us and starts apolizizing and telling us about what happed to the place, i look back at Jax, that was still knocked out in the cart 《youre really luck you didnt see the little duck, they are adorable but highly explosive》 said the lady putting a hand infront of her hand and giggles 《did you just say explosive?》asked Gangle 《yes, indeed》that not that reassuring. Why would Caine create something like that? 《Miss, do you know where our friends are? They went through the other door》asked Ragatha with pleading eyes 《oh, they are probably with my husband, the worst thing that can happen is them dying of boredom. 》

Ragatha lets out a reasured sigh, i look over at Jax and hes staring right at me, i smile at him and he rolls his eyes at me 《I really think we should go find them, thank you for the tea》i tell the lady standing up, Ragatha and Gangle following after me, with me dragging Jax with us, Ragatha tries to open the door, but its locked shut, a text appearing over our heads.

"You have to wait till the whole party is ready to leave." Does that mean that Kinger and Pomni haven't reached the exit door then? 《Well, now we just wait》said Ragatha, leaning on the wall. I sit on the ground next to Jax 《we haven't even tied your arms or legs, why won't you walk?》i ask him, he shrugs looking away 《Sorry for lying about Thomas, i didnt think you would react like that, i tought it would have been funny》i apologize to Jax, him noding and ripping the tape off his mounth 《its ok, you really got me worried there》said Jax, giggleling, i smile at him, pushing his cart, making him faceplant the floor.

The door dings, indicating that it is finally open. We open it, and we find ourselves back at the circus. Pomni and Kinger were talking; they probably had a nice experience overall. Jax walks up to them, but gets shut down by a smiling Pomni. He rolls his eyes and walks up to me, 《 Let's go do something》said Jax, taking me to walk around the circus.

JAX×READER

CHAPER 2/9

Knok Knok

Knok Knok

《Hey! Wake up, Caine is waiting for us, he needs to introduce the new game》I open the door to Jax's room, him lying on the bed with his eyes closed. I look around the pink, childlike room. I go up to him and shake him. He jolts awake, grabbing my arms.

《What do you want, let me sleep》said Jax turning to the side, i roll my eyes, we dont really need to sleep, but he does it anyway, weirdo, i look up watching to his wall, the wall full of polaroid pictures turned the other way, i go to turn them the right side but Jax hand stops me and stands up giving me a spin and then grabs my waist.

《Well, Caine is waiting for us, let's go 》 said Jax before dragging me out of his room, guiding me towards the stage. Caine, Kinger, Gangle and Zooble were already there waiting. Only Ragatha and Pomni were missing, 《We should start organizing Kaufmo's funeral》said Gangle, looking at the ground.

We all nod, except for Jax, who was watching the ground in silence. I look up to him, and he looks back at me. Ragatha and Pomni appear in the room, and so does Caine.

《Today adventure is CANDY CARRIER CHAOS, that's right, the Candy Canyon Kingdom's been robbed of their most valuable resource...maple syrup! It's up to you to bring the rotten bandits who stole it to sweet, buttery justice!》 introduced Caine, as Bubble appeared on the stage, I hope he doesn't say anything weird.

《An entire kingdom of candy? Sounds sticky.》

《Very sticky, indeed.》

《Sounds [BEEEEEEEEEEP!]》

A very worried Caine started floating away from bubble, even tho we don't understand what he's saying that doesn't mean Caine doesn't understand him too, but considering his reaction, he unfortunately understood the bubble.

《Bubble, you can't say that.》

Zooble rolls their eyes and walks off. Caine manages to float next to them, trying to convince them to play this game, since he was testing out a new AI that supposedly should be 58% more immersive. Jax hits my shoulder 《58% more immersive, it would be unfortunate if Zooble missed that》said Jax, grinning. I roll my eyes at him as we watch Zooble walk off.

We walked into the portal that the dispersed Caine made for us, and the place we found our selfs is a really diabetic kind of place, bushes made of cotton candy, trees made out of licorice and gingerbread houses. This place has all sorts of soft pink vibes going on, and it was really relaxing.

Pomni was walking next to Ragatha, holding her arm. She looks very tired; she must not have slept well, I mean, after what happened to Kaufmo I couldn't either. I was pretty surprised when I found Jax deep asleep. I think he probably tried to move on from Kaufmo's death, unlike Ribbit, we were all friends after all...

First, Ribbit, and now Kaufmo, I should start checking out all the people in the circus. After this accident, I don't want it to happen again. What would have happened if Kaufmo attacked Jax? If he didn't run away? Ragatha seemed in a lot of pain 《you seem stressed. What happened to your face?》said Jax, who was walking next to me 《Emh, I was thinking》, I anwear him, looking at the ground, as he stopped talking.

The castle gates opened, revealing a new zone, black manikins cheering for us as we walked on the lollipop pathway. The candy elephant continued to follow us, then stopped near the gate just to fall asleep.

In front of us was standing a royal figure, her skin made of gingerbread and her clothes and hair made of peppermint candy, but in pink, she blinked a few times, seeing us coming, she waved her hand, indicating to us to get closer to her.

《Oh, you brave heroes, send by god himself self, we are forever gratefull to try to give us a hand》 said the queen, giving us a little bow and lifting her skirt with two fingets in a regal way, i smile a bit embarased from her gesture, Jax on the other side wasnt even looking a her, but all around the place, probably searching a way to cause violence. Gangle was standing next to Kinger, her happy mask still intact.

Ragatha and Pomni were standing one next to the other, Ragatha trying her best to cheer up the tired jester. It doesn't seem like anyone is going to abstract, at least I hope so. I look back at where Jax was standing, but he was nowhere to be found. The queen goes back to talk.

《Since it will be a long trip, heros, i want you guys to have a truck, you should be able to fit in here, and here, take the keys of the gates from were you will be back》said the Pepermint queen, giving me the keys, it looks like they are made out of cinnamon hard candy, i look at the trunk, it looks like it killed two faceless npcs on the sidewalk, Jax started running at it, pushing Gangle on the floor, breaking the poor girl happy face, Jax trys the clacson, but was imediately disapointed in the sound, grabbing Gangle and putting her on the drivers sit.

I jump back with Pomni, Ragatha and Kinger as Jax stayed in front next to Gangle. 《Why is Gangle driving and not me?!》 I ask Jax with annoyience 《the day i let you drive after that stupid dragging cart were you couldent even put my body in and steal things, will be the day i abstrat》he said jokingly at me looking back at me from the front seat 《Please, dont say that》i say, i really dont want to hear that, not after Kaufmo, not with the risk of losing someone else.

He looks at me, and then goes back screaming at Gangle of whom she's supposed to be the pathetic and the submissive one. When Gangle tried to tell him something, he threatened her by telling us about a "figure incident"; I have no idea what that means, I'm just. Gonna ask Jax later.

The veicole starts, and we all sit down, Jax takes out a shotgun that was laying around and then started talking《Ok everybody, my plan is simple, me and you are going to shoot them in the face so many times even their mothers will reconize them》said Jax, pointing at me, trowing at me the wepond i use most on adventures, i nod, then we both climb up on the roof, trying to see anything, but unfortunately, nothing yet.

What's wrong with those two?》 Asked Pomni still in the moving truck, feeling her nausea rise, Ragatha smiles at her 《we don't really know, Jax is often in trouble, but with them he's way more calm, The first week he got here, he set my hair on fire my hair》sighed sighed Ragatha. Pomni nodded, putting her blue-gloved hand in her locks of black hair.

《Do you think I will manage to steal some stuff without anyone noticing?》asked Jax, looking back at me《 I don't know, but let's not do that》i say, but then we see it, a vehicle, going full speed on the crushed candy road. Jax, with his hand, knocks on Gangle's window. She opens it, and Jax screams at her 《Give me a badzuka! They are there!》Gangle head turned at the other side, seeing the vehicle coming at full speed towards us, she let out a scream, everyone turned to watch the vehicle hit us.

I almost flew away from the roof of the trunk, but Jax managed to grab me and hold on something, i hold his hand with both of mine while he was holding me the shot gun he was holding started to slide towarts the end of the roof top, Jax tried to get it with his left hand, but the moment he let to of the truck we almost both fell off.

His right hand grabbed back the roof, letting the shotgun fall off, Gangle was trying everything to take them off us, causing a costant zig zag movements, the people inside the trunk were getting trown one side to the other, causing one of Ragatha stiching to get stuck, but then they got thrown from the other side, the stitching getting loose, making Ragatha lose an arm and with it a bunch of cotton.

Pomni was trying her hardest to hold on to something, but failing, while Kinger lost an eyeball somewhere in the truck.

Gangle found Kinger eye on attached at the attached retro viewing mirror, letting out a scream and turning the wheel left, escaping from the attack.

Jax seeing that everything was now calm grabed my hand with both of his, then i laid on top of the roof, putting my hand on my chest, trying to calm down 《well, the shotgun is gone, but you atleast managed to hold on your wepond》said Jax, looking at the wepond i manage to secure with rope before getting on the roof top.

I let out a shaky laugh 《well, we have to retrieve your shotgun, don't we? What's the plan?》i ask Jax as he was helping me get up 《first we go back inside so the others can listen too》i give him a nod, following him inside.

As we went inside, the whole thing was chaotic. Kinger was trying to put Ragatha's arm back in place, with no stitching and nothing, just will, letting it go. As a result, the arm fell on the ground, he picked it up and tried again, and again, and again...

Pomni was in a corner throwing up the black liquid, ew, while Gangle was keeping her eyes on the road 《ok, everyone, listen, we are going back at them, and we're gonna use...Pomni, yes Pomni as a bridge between our truck and their tanker, understood?》asked Jax, knowing that it wasn't really a question if he was gonna do anything he wanted anyway.

《Why me?》asked Pomni 《 You're made of rubber, what's why, who else should I use, huh?》said Jax, the girl tried to respond, but Jax put a finger on her mouth to shut her up. She rolled her eyes as Jax was climbing up. I apologize to Pomni, then I ran up to him.

And Pomni followed us, leaving Gangle stitching Ragatha's arm back on, letting Kinger drive the truck after he turned all the lights off, leaving them in a dim place, on the rooftop top the tanker was back running at us at full speed, and another collision happened, but this time I managed not to be thrown out. Jax grabs Pomni, throwing her between the two vehicles. She grabs at both of them, and her body begins to stretch, creating a good enough bridge.

《Ah, that's perfect! Just hold that pose, Pomni, you just stay like that, and I'll cross over you》said Jax, trying to get on the poor girl 《Jax, you [BOINK]》Said Pomni, but moments later, she let go, falling on the tanker 《oh wow, thanks Pomni, now how am I supposed to get on the other side?!》

Stage two: Anger

A gummy alligator appears and tries to grab Pomni, but his hands are too small. I throw at him the first thing I see, making him fall off, but he manages to grab onto a rope, dragging him with the tanker. They take another road, trying to get away from us. I jump in the vehicle 《Kinger, follow them! Wait, Kinger wasn't Gangle driving?》 I ask the chess piece, he nods and looks at me 《Well, yes, but Gangle was fixing up Ragatha, so》i I look back, and Ragatha's arm was perfectly stitched, and she was smiling gratefully at Gangle

Jax jumps down, sees the situation, grabs Gangle and puts her back in the driving seat 《run them over!》said Jax to Gangle, making the poor girl follow them on the dangerous road full of candy spikes.

I climb up, trying to see how is Pomni doing, and she was holding for dear life on the top of the tanker, while the other aligator was holding for dear life on the rope, Jax and Kinger climb up where i was, 《Pomni, take this!》siad Kinger trowing an anchor at Pomni, but missing ending ups in a canyon 《Kinger, is that rope atached to anything?》asked Jax, looking at the king piece, he puts a hand on his non existing chin and says 《i dont know, let me check》said Kinger climing down.

《I hope it wa-AAAAAAH》we were falling in the canyon, Jax was holding me so just our heads were out, Gangle's head also pops out 《 it's all your fault》said Jax, making the sad mask cry even more, as our truck fell in chocolate pudding?

Our truck emerges out of the pudding, Gangle looks at the mess, the truck is now non usable, Ragatha is worried for Pomni, who is still stuck on top of the tanker, Kinger is floating somewhere in the pudding, and I was trying to drag Jax out of the dessert, taking him on the truck, or atleast was is remaining of it.

We were now just following the pudding, going in a random direction, as two eyes appeared out of the pudding. 《do my eyes deceive me, or is this a gift outside of the candy kingdom gates? Don't mind if i do》said the Fudge monster, picking up the truck and taking us toward his corn candy teeth. 《Wait, wait! We are not candy!》said Ragatha 《Y-Ye you cant eat us!》i add

《What, you're not candy? How am I supposed to eat you if you're not made of candy?》asked the now sad monster, putting us down 《Pomni always seems to miss the big, gloopy monsters》observerd Kinger. I nod, lucky her atleast she doesn't have to see this...thing. 《Who are you, anyway?》asked Jax, looking at the moster infront of us 《im the Fudge, i used to live within the kingdom walls, but was banished by that rotten princess after i ate too many of the delicious townfolk》said the monster jumping from one side to the other《Oh my god》 said Ragatha 《that sounds like murder》added the Ragdoll 《is it murder if they are delisious?》ask the monster.

《You make a great point》said Jax. I hit his shoulder, and his face gets closer to mine, smiling. I giggle at his behavior, grabbing his face and pushing him back. He rolls his eyes, smiling, and he whispers in my ear 《leave it to me. 》

《Well, Mr. Fudge, you seem like an upstanding guy with real noble goals》said Jax at the fudge monster, the monster shakes his head 《no, im not》Jax then clears his troath and continues to talk 《as i was saying, I happen to know a way into the kingdom walls, if you'd be willing to help us out in return》said Jax, taking out the purple striped key that i was suposedly holding on, when did he manage to steal it?

《You know you could have just ask me for the key before stealing it, right?》i ask Jax, looking at him, smiles a pinc my cheek 《of course i know, but it wouldent have been funny》 he said as i rolls my eyes before the fudge moster started talking 《Oh, you must be some kind of master of unlocking things, come to free me from my outdoor prison》the monster praised 《Thats me, all we need you to do is help us bring some dirty bandits to justice!》said Jax.

But then, the tanker flew at us, hitting the pudding, two aligators came out, and the taller one started talking, 《 I saw the reaper wink at me...》wait, where is Pomni? Why is she not with them? 《What happened?》 I ask the gummy people. 《we aren't really sure. When you fell, we were thrown to the other side, and we got stuck in a rock, and then we were thrown in the air, but our boss wasn't with us!》 I look at Jax, and he looks back at me. Does this mean Pomni glitched under the map? It isn't the first time it has happened. When it happened to me, it was a zombie map kind of deal, but Ragatha managed to free me. Wait, does it mean an NPC is stuck under the map, too?

Jax snapes his fingers at the monster, that was trying to eat the gummy alligators 《put them down, they are made of glass their are fake candy》the sad monster puts back the real gummy alligators on their tanker, 《are you ok?》i ask at the two, the nod and take off their hats to bow elegantly 《we are, thank you rabbit man for saving us》Jax rolls his eyes.

《What should we do with them?》asks Jax at me, staring at them, i give him a smile pointing at my chest 《leave it to me》he nods and lets me 《so, whats your names?》i ask at the two 《Our names are Chad and Max, thank you for not letting us die like that》said the taller one 《well, we really need that tanker to finish our mission, so, what if we take the fudge monster and leave you near your place and we keep the tanker as a thanks?》i asked them, the two alligators look at each other and then shake their heads 《we are sorry, but we really need this, our village need it》

《What if we split it is a 50-50 kind of thing, so your people can be helped, and we can finish this mission?》i sugest at both of them 《60-40》says the smaller one《deal》 i say to him, 《hey Fudge, start taking us towarts the candy kingom, i want to go back in my room》said Jax the fudge monster nods and starts carry us towarts the kingdom, i sit on top of the truck as both veicoles were being taken by the fudge, Jax sits next to me 《lets do something when we come back, ok?》 He asks me, and I nod 《sure, what do you want to do?》i wonder, maybe we could talk, or maybe he has something else in mind 《maybe play a board game, I don't care, anything is fine with me》he tells me.

I nod and then remain silent.

Nothing more.

Jax groans 《this is boring, I expected a cool final battle, where I got to shoot people with the gunshot that fell, a bit of screams and blood, but it's so calm and boring, and now we are helping the bandits that we were supposed to capture!》says Jax, annoyed. 《 I know, but don't worry, back at the circus I'm gonna beat you up so good you're going to see the blood and screams you were waiting for!》i tell him, giggling, he smiles at me and punches my shoulder.

《After we get to the circus we should ask Caine to find Pomni》said Kinger with a bucket on his head 《im worried she isnt having fun, she looks really upset after what happed yesterday, i dont think she likes me that much》Jax tenses up, hearing about yesterday, about Kaufmo, 《Ragatha, i bet she likes you, in her own way, she just isnt used to all of this, i wasnt too, but then you helped me out, a lot, to get used to this place, i dont think i would have done it without you》I tell Ragatha moving near her and grabing her doll hand, she smiles gratefully, letting her eyebags show.

《 It's a lot for anybody to go through, don't take it too personally, I remember how long you took to get used to all this, Ragatha》said Kinger. I smile at him 《Oh, I'm surprised you even remember that》said Ragatha. Kinger lifted the bucket off his face 《remember what?》

An explosion can be heard in the distance. Gangle takes out a pair of binoculars, and Jax steals one, watching the explosion 《do you have another tanker that flies?》asked Jax, looking at the other vehicle 《Ye, no wait, we dont》said Max, the tanker proceeds to hit the fudge monster on the head, making him melt. A third gummy alligator comes out of the tanker with Pomni as soon as they are both down the tree.

Ragatha jumps off and runs up to Pomni to check how she is doing, while Gangle and Kinger helped Max and Chad get off the tanker and take them to their boss, i also jump off the trunk, to go check the second tanker, and it was full, just like the one standing next to our broken trunk, i look back at Max and Chad, who we already made a deal of 60-40, but, we got two, we could take one, and they could take the second one for their village.

I sigh and tap the boss on the shoulder, he turns back to watch me and so is Pomni 《you guys can take one of tankers, and we take the other, ok?》i ask the boss and he shakes my hand gratefuly 《thank you, my mates will make sure to take it to our village》Pomni smiles at me, and i smile back at her 《do you mind if i ask the others for Gummigoo to join us in the circus?》asked Pomni, looking at me 《 I mean, I don't mind, sure go ask》i tell her.

《Im so unbelievably dissapointed right now》said Jax, to no one precisly, i put a hand on his shoulder making his head turn back at me 《you look annoyed》i tell him, his miosis pupils rolled 《you could have punched the guy, it would have been interesting》he said 《im not gonna punch someone just because youre bored》i give him a hand to get off the truck 《we are going to have ton of violence the next adventure, i promise》

We jump on the veicole, this time Jax was driving and i was sitting next to him talking to him and his smile started to show again, and then the gates were starting to show, and we got inside the kingdom, the queen greeted us, smiling and waving 《thank you our heros, i hope this vandal gets the punishment you think is most apropriate》said the queen 《oh, ye, sure》 said Pomni taking Gummigo in the portal, some noises could be heard, and Jax smile went wider 《what did you do?》 I ask him, he looks back at me 《I may or may not have forgotten to close the gates》

《What?》asked the queen in fear 《 Yes, it was boring, so I thought, since you already promised me to have chaos in the next adventure, why not now?》said Jax, pushing me in the portal, leaving the candy people for dead. When we got back in the circus, I was stepping on some colorful confetti, and Caine was standing in front of Pomni, while Ragatha was reassuring her.

I looked around, and Gummigoo was nowhere to be seen. Did Caine remove him? Before I could ask any questions, Jax started dragging me toward his room. He went in, and he closed it. We sit on the floor in front of the little princess table in the corner of his room, as he takes out from under the table a board game.

《So, what's wrong about Gangle and figurines?》

《Oh, you don't want to know》

《What about Kaufmo funeral?》

JAX×READER

CHAPER 1/9

And here we are, playing that silly introduction song. Kaufmo must have thought the same as me for the intro, since today he decided not to show up I wish I could have escaped this musical torture, but -unlike him- Caine managed to catch me before I could lock the door of my room.

During our weird intro, a jester appears on the stage, dressed in a blue and red striped outfit with details of yellow here and there, looking terrified about everything that was happening right now. I was starting her from the backstage, is that an NPC or a new member of the circus?

I watch her wandering around trying to go to somewhere, till one of the chaotic flying blue flower vases glitches through the floor in front of her, she stumbles back, hitting Jax, making him fall on Kinger, making Kinger accidentally hit Gangle, making her comedy mask fall, breaking it in two.

I come out from the back stage, positioning myself next to Zooble. I look at Jax, who was staring down at the confused girl

《Caine, is this one of your NPCs, or is this a new sucker? 'Cause of it's a new character, we're gonna have to redo this whole theme song》 lamented Jax at the floating set of teeth floating from above 《can we not, if i hear that silly music again i will go insane》I begged hoping that it could be enought for today 《ye, im not doing that again neither》agreed Zooble staring at the purple rabbit standing infront of us.

《My, My, My, it appears a new human has entered this realm!》said cheerfully, Caine looking back at us and the back at the new no-name Jester girl, who was pulling her eyes as if trying to take something off her head, without success, leaving the poor girl without breath.

Jax side-eyed me, clearly unimpressed, after all, we all tried that when we first came here, and for sure, she won't be the last one. I look at Ragatha, but she was too busy watching the poor girl torture herself.

《 What's going on?! I put on a weird headset and now... I'm here, what is this place! Who are you people!》Said the Jester, looking at us in fear, her bicolored eyes shrinking while taking a few steps back to make sure we won't attack her.

I smile and start walking towarts her 《hey, its ok, i first reacted like this too!》i try to calm her down, she observes me head to toe accidentaly slaming in a wall behind her, she puts a hand on her head, but notices that even tho she just hitted her head it didnt hurt, she takes a moment to breath in and out.

Caine floats next to me, probably deciding to get the new girl and show her the circus, but maybe she still needed a few minutes to adapt since she looks on the verge of throwing up.

《Lets just try to calm down, after all, she just got here, its isnt like you and Jax were any better than her when you first show up in the circus》Said Ragatha, lifting her hands to show to the new girl that we ment no harm towarts her, i nod, but Jax rolls his eyes, probably because he just got called out for his reaction when he first showed up, i still remember it, how could i not.

《What the %$!# is going on!?》Said the Jester, grabbing her hair in distress, blinking slowly, realizing that she couldn't curse, looking at us in despair, but Caine appeared in front of me 《No, no no, my dear, we cannot have any of that foul language! This place is open to everything, except swearing, we can't do that here》the girl tried so much to swear, but she got censored every time.

I sat on the ground next to Jax, who was enjoying the show, laughing at the desperate tries of the girl, who soon gave up, looked up to all of us and asked the question.

《So, how do I leave?》

Oh, poor her, if only she knew that there was no hope left for us here, that we were stuck in this place for god knows how long, after a while every day starts looking the same, losing your sense of time, it could have been months since i first got here, or even years, day after day searching for an exit i knew existed, or just hoped, then reality hit me, that there was no exit, and no hope to leave this place.

《You don't》 answers Jax at the girl's question. She looks at him in terror, not believing his words. Well, when Kinger first told me I didn't believe it neither thinking that he had gone insane, but then Ragatha confirmed his words, and it destroyed me. It looks like the Jester took it the same way I did back then.

《Shut up, Jax, but ye, he's right, welcome to your new home...and your new body》said Zooble. 《Guys, stop being mean, they are trying to adapt》said Ragatha, looking at us, but clearly Jax had other plans. 《 We've been stuck here for years, Kinger over there has been here the longest! This is why he's crazy》said Jax, pointing at Kinger's pillow fort where Kinger was hiding.

The girl's pupils become distorted, trying her hardest to breathe, poor girl, hope she will adapt soon or else she will end up like the others. 《Ohh, I get it, this is a dream! And all I have to do is play along, and then I will wake up!》said the girl cheerfully.

Stage one: Denial

We all look at each other, not really knowing what to say to the girl. I look at Jax, and he looks back at me, sighing and walking toward Caine, but not without stepping on Gangle's comedy mask, breaking it even more. 《Hey, so Caine, do we have an adventure for the newbie or what?》asks Jax 《I will first give the new member a tour of the circus grounds!》said Caine, floating next to the Jester, grabbing her shoulders and flying off.

《Thanks》I say, looking at Jax, he sits next to me on the floor 《Meh, it was starting to get boring anyway, so it isn't like I did it for you》said Jax, smiling at me. I punch him lightly on the shoulder, laughing.

《She looks nice》 I say looking at Jax, he looks back at me and snorts unimpressed 《She just another character, wonder how much she will last》said Jax, i look back at him before standing up and walk towarts Ragatha 《How much time you think they take?》I ask at the ragdoll, she shrugs, and looks at all of us in the room 《Guys, since shes new, please try to be kind, she really dosnt need more pressure》Said Ragatha to all of us, all of us nod, exept for Jax that didnt say anything.

Caine teleports the Jester back in the room, but she throws up a black liquid, ew, so Bubble shows up to clean the mess by...licking the floor, ew, it doesn't matter how long I have been here, I will never get used to Bubble.

Jax looks at me with disgust, which makes sense; I probably have a disgusted face on.《Why are you like that?》asked Caine, looking at the ground licking bubble. The girl got back her consciousness, looking around the room 《Was that an exit door I saw out there? Is that the way to leave?》asked the girl.

Everyone looks at each other, unsure of what she saw, but im sure that wasn't an exit door, maybe a glitched flower that Caine forgot to fix, 《What exit? If there was one, we would all be left by now》said Jax, ripping Zooble's hand out before getting strangled by it, but he isn't wrong. If there were an exit, we would have already found it by now.

We all turn to watch at Caine, but he was distracted by bubble finishing to lick the floor, he looks away from that thing and looks back at us, 《I can assure you there is no such thing as a "magical exit door" the new member must be sufering from the Digital Allucinations!》《but-》《DIGITAL ALLUCINATIONS!》Caine dosnt seem wanting to talk about the door the newbie saw.

《So, are we ready to give her a name?》I ask Caine. The Jester looks at me, confused 《give me a name? I have a name, it's...why can't I remember my name!?》the Jester grabs her hair in shock and worry 《Hey, its ok, none of us can remember their names once we got in the circus, only some memories, the only thing that Caine cant control is our minds so he cant restore those memories, this is why Kinger is the one that decided my name when i first got here, you will get used to it pretty quickly》i said, trying to bring confort to the girl, it looks like it worked since she took a deep breath and let go of her hair 《lets see!》 Said Caine letting a slot machine falling from the sky, almost crushing me in the process.

《What do you think of XDDCC?》《emh》《Youre right, it's horrible, why don't you try to spin it?》said Caine, taking my shoulders and dragging me toward the slot machine. I take the lever and pull it.

Pomni.

《Do you like it?》She looks at the letters and then back at me, nodding. I smile at her and walk toward the rest of the group next to Ragatha, 《Youre right, Jax, we should make a new adventure for Pomni!》said Caine, looking back at us, didn't Jax ask that like five minutes ago? I look at him, and he shrugs; he probably stopped paying attention a few minutes ago.

Caine floats to Pomni. 《Since you're new here, we are going to make it a simple in-house adventure, and no, you can't skip this one out》said Caine, looking at Zooble and me for the last part. They roll their eyes, not happy about not being able to skip. Maybe it won't be that bad, since it supposedly should be an easy adventure.

《 Today's adventure is: GATHER THE GLOINKS! The gloinks are small, mischievous creatures that steal everything they touch, good luck superstars!》said Caine before vanishing.

Pomni, confused, asks what any of that meant, and Ragatha explained that it was his way to keep our sanity intact, or else horrible things would happen to us. Zooble tried to walk away, but as Caine said, we could not skip this one out, so multiple Gloinks jumped out of nowhere, ripping Zooble to pieces and taking them away. While Gangle was trying to save a piece of arm to be taken away, but failing, the remaining gloinks stole the pillows of the Kinger pillow fortress, letting him wander outside.

《Oh no, they killed Zooble, anyway, do you want to get something to eat?》i shake my head, hitting his shoulder 《We should go see Kaufmo, he would love to meet Pomni, do you want to join us, Kinger?》said Ragatha, pointing with her finger toward the rooms. 《No, not really, I think he went insane, last time I saw him, he was talking about some exit, like you Pomni》

《Wait, doesn't it mean there could actually be an exit?》i sigh 《or it just means you are starting to lose your mind》said Jax 《I think i would like to ask about it, if any of this was real, but it isnt, because its a dream》said Pomni, clearly growing unsure of her own words 《Heh, she still thinks this is a dream》said Jax looking at me 《Hey, she still adapting, she will soon understand》i say to him as he rolled his eyes.

《Im cool with whatever, as long i get funny thing happen to people》as soon Jax finished that sentence a gloink hits him in the face, i laught at him and he grabs my arm to drag me away 《i already got enought of this things》as we got closer with the girls he started talking again《Ok so, Me, Ragatha, Pomni and annoying thing here》said Jax pushing me lightly on the shoulder 《will go see Kaufmo, and cry baby and Hooha will worry about the Zooble situati-》《i think i will go with Kinger and Gangle》I interupt Jax, smiling at him 《wha-why?!》asked annoyied Jax 《I hate the fact that we are six and you sugest that we should do a four team and duo, why not three and three?》

《Whatever, Ragatha, you go with Kinger and Gangle》said Jax. It didn't really sound like he was giving Ragatha a choice 《Nah, don't worry about it, Ragatha, I will go, we will see each other later when you guys manage to get Kaufmo》I waved at the trio walking toward Kinger and Gangle.

《So, what should we-》《AAH! Oh, hi, I didn't notice you there》said Kinger after screaming, causing me a heart attack. Maybe I should have gone with Jax after all.

《We should just follow the Gloinks and hope they bring us to Zooble》said Gangle, so we do what she suggested.

We walk and follow the Gloinks, and it's...complicated to say the least, they are jumping in all directions, stealing everything they touch. As we walk, we spot a part of Zooble, their arm to be specific, the one that Gangle didn't manage to save.

And we start running after that blue star-shaped Gloink, and they are fast, or am Im just slow? I hope that the first is correct, I haven't done this much training since that silly climbing mission on the mountain; I fell so many times...

As we manage to catch up with the Gloink, we see it jump into a pitch-black hole, bringing Zooble's arm with it.

《So, who will jump first?》

Kinger and Gangle take a step back, leaving me closer to the hole. I try to get a better view of what could be inside, but it's pitch black, I give them a hand gesture telling them to get closer.

As we try to see the end of the hole, Jax runs to us holding a bowling ball with him 《Jax?!》 Screams Kinger, clearly shocked to see him alone. Wait, why is he alone? Where are the others?

《Oh, hi there, I got a gift for you, Hoo-ha》said Jax, throwing the bowling at Kinger, pushing him in the hole while grabbing one of Gangle's ends, causing her to be pulled right after him.

《Why did you have to do that?》I stare at him, kinda perplexed by his behavior, as he was about to answer, we hear a growling sound, he looks around and then-

《Kaufmo abstracted, I will explain later!》he grabs my hand and pulls me into the hole with him.

We find our selfs in a wonderland kind of thing, full of slides, me and Jax holding each other's hands 《you know, it's nice, if only there wasn't an abstracted trying to kill us!》i scream at him, worried that he wouldn't hear it because of all the sound effects, and then-

I faceplanted with the floor, but Jax managed to land on his feet. I thought he was a rabbit, not a cat. I stood up just to see this creature eating Zooble. What is that? It kinda reminds me of a muraena, but no, she tells me she's the queen and mother of all gloinks. Kinger tried to save Zooble's head, but it just managed to steal his hands.

《So what happened?》I ask Jax, hoping he would tell me what happened with Kaufmo 《Zooble just got eat》《not that, with Kaufmo》he blinks for a few seconds 《well, I unlocked his door, and he was abstracted, so I ran up to you guys. 》

Wait, so left Ragatha and Pomni alone against an abstracted? They could have gotten hurt. I need to go check on them, but can this growling stop-

Kaufmo broke the floor, falling on top of the queen, squishing her. The gloink queen spits out Zooble's head with Kinger's hands, 《Did you play a game show in there?》《What?》

《How do we get out of here?》I ask, still looking at Kaufmo beating the queen up 《i mean, we could take the escalators》said Jax pointing at the escalators, oh well, lucky us, we all walk towarts the escalators 《Ladys first》 said Jax letting Gangle go first just to push her to the ground 《no, why would i say that?》said Jax before stepping on the escalators, with me, Kinger, Zooble head and Gangle following after him.

《Wait, Pomni isn't even here? Why did we-》

《Shut it, I can't hear the escalators. 》

We manage to get outside, and find Caine《Well, it looks like the queen was defeated, congratulations!》said Caine to all of us, next to me is standing Pomni, but where is Ragatha?

《He-Hel-Help me, I-It Hu-Hurts》An almost abstracted Ragatha says from behind us. I try to give her hand, but Jax is quick to take it and drag it away from the suffering girl on the ground. Caine sees her and heals her. Pomni stares at her hand in disbelief, then he summons Kaufmo and locks him up in the cellar.

《Well, let's go eat.》

《You didn't even do anything!》

《So what, I can still be hungry》

And here we are, eating and enjoying the conversation we are having, 《I can't believe Kaufmo abstracted》said Ragatha 《 Yes, me too, we have to start organizing the funeral》added Zooble. We all nod, except Jax and Pomni.

A Tenna×Reader story

Chapter twenty: ONE LAST KISS

FINALE

I walk around the lively town, with Lanino and Elnina giving me a kinda tour, since they just got here, ecc...

I'm so happy to have them alive, so see them so happy, unlike the last time I saw Tenna, that was just white noise. I let out a breath. I need to apologize to him.

I want to apologize to him.

There is no need, after all, it wasn't my fault, but in my chest, I feel bad about something, even if I don't know what, and maybe apologizing is better than feeling what I'm feeling right now.

I walk in a cookie shop with the meteo couple, and i see Spamton taking a cookie from a serpent with harmer looking shape head, he started eating it till he didnt say me 《0H! L0ok wh0's h3re, you 0k¿ [WORRY FOR ONLY 7$!]》he asked, looking right at me, i nod at the tiny creature, and he looks relaxed, as he walks away, he's such a weird guy.

I buy from Lancer a overpriced cookie of the shape of his head, atleast it tastes good, i still glance at the castle in the distance, I hope he is doing ok, I wanted to walk there but both Lanino and Elnina grabed my shoulder, shaking their head, meaning 'not yet', I let out a exasperated sigh, i guess I will talk to him when he feels ready.

We wander around the town, looking at all the shops and houses of everyone that Kris spared; it's really a nice view. I see Elnina's clock start ringing. I see the two of them looking at it and start writing something on it. They stare at each other and then nod at me. Does it mean what I think?

I walk towards the castle, it looks bigger from the inside, intimidating, dark, with walks and stairs, it doesn't look like somewhere that Ralsei would leave, but maybe I just don't know him well enough to say that.

Ralsei comes running from the upper floor, sprinting towarts the exit 《I need to go save Kris and Susie, they are stuck in a dark fountain, Tenna want to talk to you, there is cake in the pot, see you later bye》said before closing the door after him, wow, those were...tons of informations, cake, maybe I can bring him a cake, i walk towarts the pot and take out a wonderfull decorated cake with Tenna color palette, Ralsei probably made it just so I could apoligize, he's so nice

I walk towarts the upper floor since that is where Ralsei come out running from, I see different doors, probably for all that live here, a blue door (probably Kris), a pink door (probably Susie), a ♤ door (Lancer), another blue one but lighter, and the red one, Tenna's i want to knock on the door, but the cake is too big with the need to be held with both of my hands.

I knock with my foot on the door and wait for a minute, and then Tenna opens the door, with his new arms, he looks at me and then looks down at the cake I'm carrying, taking it from my hands to help me with the weight, letting me come inside.

His room is like i imaginated, but looks lived in even if it's somewhat small, the messy blankets, the desk full of junk and way too many cups of coffee, he puts the cake on the only side of the desk that has nothing on it and then sits on the bed, petting the spot next to him, and I follow after him, and sit where he said, no one says anything for a while, but then.

《 I'm sorry》

《 I'm sorry》

We both said it at the same time, like I was ment to be, i look at him and he looks at me 《can i start?》he asked, I nodded ready to listen him talking 《i wasn't good at you, I know that, so I don't expect your forgiveness, I was worried, i lost my best friend, I was worried about losing my whole career too, and I tought if I kept Kris maybe I could have convinced them to...not trow me away, and you, heh, i didn't see you coming, I tought that if you were there maybe Kris would have been more troubled to leave, and, I dont know, but you were being...nice, I didn't see that coming, so I reacted like you were my old pal, and you didn't deserve that, I understood later, when I saw the sword covered in your blood I realized, I'm sorry about everything》

I nod at his words, and take his hand, that was gripping the sheets of the bed and make him look at me 《look, its ok, I mean not really, but we can find a way to solve this, we really can, no one will replace you, you're here now》I tell him, getting closer to him, almost pressing with his body with mine, he looks at me, and then gets closer to me.

《Well, is there anything I can do to deserve your forgiveness》he asks, half jokingly and half seriously. I grab his tie to pull him closer to me. 《Well, you could kiss me as a starter》I tell him, giggling, but he takes it seriously, putting his gloved hand on my cheek, putting his screen in my face.

The kiss feels...electric, a soft zap on my lips. It feels nice, not hard, not forced, just a soft feeling, his hand going on my waist, holding me closer to him.

The kiss doesn't last long, but it feels just right. We pull away from the kiss and just stare at each other. I smile at him, and he smiles back at me, still holding my waist. I looked over at the cake I brought him, and Spamton was eating a piece of it.

《I love you》said Tenna, getting me closer to him. 《I'm sorry for everything》he quickly added, 《 it's ok, I love you too》I tell him, putting a hand on the side of his screen 《 Wow, you y0u'r3 p4thet1c. I'm gonna [throw up for only 3.99$]》Spamton said, still holding the half-eaten piece of cake.

《You...come here, I'm gonna kill you myself! Stop ruining my romantic life!》said Tenna, standing up and walking toward the tiny creature, who rolled his eyes, starting to run away, with the whole cake, dropping the piece of cake on the floor just to grab the whole thing.

《Come back here!》said Tenna, sprinting toward the little creature. Everything feels so normal...

I really love him

________

An Tenna×Reader story

Chapter nineteen: CASTLE TOWN

I wake up on Kris's couch, coughing violently, my throat is sore, and in much pain. There is no one near me. Where are Kris and Susie?-

The coughing continues, making my body shiver violently, the amount of pain I'm feeling right now is unbelievable, I try standing up, but my body feels too weak, so I just lie down, taking all the couch...

Is Toriel ok? Are Kris and Susie ok?

Is Tenna ok?

I ask myself, looking at the turned off TV, I try to turn it on, but remote control wasn't working, I check the battery, and yep, they are dead, like I was, and like how Tenna probably still is.

I close my eyes; the front door is wide open, so this chill breeze is coming in, giving a cold, unpleasant feeling.

In the TV world looked like it was weeks, but here? Three hours max, the old clock showed the time, and it is 3 am, I feel like my body is melting, is too tired and in too much pain to do anything else, I feel the sleep coming inside me, i check my hands, normal, my back, there wasnt anything anymore, my clothes, the pj i stole from Kris.

And my throat, no hole, no blood, like it never happened, but I know it happened, I saw the Knight stab me.

I fell asleep, too tired to think about anything or feel anything.

I can feel the front door close, and a voice that I recognized as Susie's talking to Kris, I can't feel anything; I can't even move.

[The next morning]

I slowly open my eyes, and Susie is standing right in front of me. 《Are you feeling better?》 Susie asks me, I shake my head, thinking back at everything, my death, Tenna's death, and I don't even know what happened to the others, or if Toriel is even doing ok-

Toriel walks in the living room, holding a plate of pancakes 《breakfast is ready!》she said cheerfully, walking back in the kitchen, I look at Susie as she watches the ground 《it took Undyne》she said, the Knight took Undyne?, sit up on the couch, covering my eyes for the light coming through the windows, Susie help me stand up and going in the kitchen.

We sit down at the table, hot pancakes standing infront of us, each decored with our likes, miss Toriel sits down infront of me, and Susie is next to me, and Kris sits down between Susie and Toriel, we all start eating in silence 《you know, i had such a silly dream this night, I was a queen that left my kingdom to protect a child, heh, is was so interesting》she started describing her dream as we eat, good thing that she dosnt remember what happed.

I look back, at the now dead tv, Susie takes my hand from under the table, I feel me eyes filling up with water, but I refuse to let them fall, Toriel stands up and picks up the empty plates, continuing to talk about her dream 《Kris, get ready we are going to church, do you two want to join us?》I shake my head. Susie was about to decline, but I add 《I can't, I wish I could go and support Noelle》Susie looks at me; she clearly didn't know that Noelle sang at the church. Her cheeks became a slightly darker color 《i guess I can come. 》

Toriel gives us a warm smile and then continues talking 《in about an hour we have to be there, Kris, can you trow away the tv or give it to your father, the cables broke and i cant seem to fix it, it's an old tv anyway, after Dess we haven't watched it in so long》Kris nods and picks up the tv, Susie and me following after them, Kris grabs some keys from the counter and walks out, towarts the school 《Hey we're are we going?》I ask them, both Susie and Kris smile at me 《you'll see》 Susie said walking a bit faster.

As we stand infront of the school Kris opens the door with something I reconize as his mother keys, they open the door and walk in the school, I follow after them, closing the door behind me, Susie and Kris walk towarts the broom closet, opening the door, the room becomes cold and Kris trows the tv in the closet and jumps in Susie grabbing my arm and dragging me inside.

I fall face-first on the ground, I look up, and I see Ralsei waving at us, 《welcome back》he said, helping me stand up. 《What is this place?》I ask, looking at Kris and Susie 《we found it a bit ago, cool huh?》she said proudly, I nod, walking towarts the light, many houses, many shops, a castle, people waving at us, the little Lancer boy jumping up and down seeing Susie 《this is Castle town, hope you like it》Ralsei said, smiling, I smile at him back, I see Elnina and Lanino waving at me, so I walk towarts them.

《Hi! How are you doing?》Elnina asks as I go and hug her 《 I'm ok...》Elnina shakes her head 《no, we know you are not. Look, we are going to fix up Tenna, but you two need to talk. After all, you died. Don't worry, everything will go fine》I look back at Kris, who was already watching me, giving me a sympathetic look.

《Kris said that we have to go to the church, see you later》Said Susie. Kris is behind her, nodding, waving. I waved at them back, watching them walk off.

An Tenna×Reader story

Chapter eighteen: BLOOD

Tw: Violence, Death, Blood

《Tenna, you have to let us go!》

《I love TV time!》

《I love TV time!》

《I love TV time!》

Gliches, the number of his screen rising, throwing one attack after the other, Kris kept clenching their chest, where their soul was supposed to be; they are having problems breathing, their face covered in sweat, caused by all those movements.

Tenna stops attacking, seeing Kris condission, he takes a step closer, but Susie defends Kris, sheltering them with her axe. Tenna sensing aggression steps back, standing next to Toriel. I bang on the plastic ball, but he is totally ignoring me.

《I love TV time!》

《I love TV time!》

This time, just Susie and Ralsei spit out the words. Kris looks like they are about to throw up, 《Kris?!》 I scream, banging on the plastic. Tenna stares at me in shock, not moving, not attacking, just observing. Susie is shielding Kris, Ralsei is casting a spell to heal them, and Tenna is watching Toriel and me

《If I let you go, will I die? Will my world close and kill anyone inside it?》asked Tenna, staring back at Kris, Susie and Ralsei 《of course you won't die! I would never let you die》i scream at him. His screen flashes a pink color, and for just a second, it becomes yellow, but the moment I blink, it goes back to pink. He lets out a sigh and breaks my plastic prison, setting me free.

Tenna let me free...

I smile at him, and run up to me hugging the tall man, him hugging me back, i let go of the hug and run up to my friends giving them all a big warm hug in this cold place, i start crying seeing Kris condicion, it looks like its getting worst, i grab their shoulder and they hug me tight, i let out a soffocated giggle, and i turn back to look at Tenna, he was smiling at m-

CRASH

His arms were cut off.

The black oil covering the snow.

His screen is showing no reaction.

First falling on his knees and then face-first.

《Tenna!》i run up to him, falling in the proces scraping my knees on the snow, i put my hand on the side of his screen, that was only playing white noises, the static sound was terrifing me, i tried to shake him awake, but nothing, he dosnt react, i shake him harder, but still nothing, i cry, i just told him.

I just told him i would never let him die, but yet i failed, i put my head on his chest and let out a scream, Kris and the others run up towarts us, but sudently stop on their tracks, i look behind me, and i see it, a knight...the knight, their presence is terrifing me, my body feels colder than what it was.

I stare at it, and it stares back at me.

And then...

STAB

I blade goes thro my throat, passing one side to the other, i cough out blood, the blade going deeper in the insides of my throat and then pulling the blade out, leaving a hole in my trachea, i trow up blood, with the now the impossibility of breathing, i hear sounds all around me, but all i can now worry about is the abount of blood and oil lying on the snow, i try standing up, failing and falling back again.

Pain in all my body, my lungs filling up with blood, I can't feel anything anymore, just a numb feeling, I close my eyes for a second, then two, then three, till I stop counting.

I open my eyes, in front of me is lying the unconscious Tenna. I drag my weak body toward him, feeling a rush of pain with every movement I make, I don't even feel the cold on my skin. I just need to reach him...

The others, the others are fighting so much, and I can't even protect him. I cry harder, getting closer and closer to him, maybe I still can, but my body gives up, too beaten up and hurt to continue moving. I just have to wait...

No, I can't wait, I need to tell him, I need to know, I open my mouth but words don't come out, just blood. My hands are shaking, my eyelids feel heavier, and yet, I can't give up, I need to stay determined, to live for him.

I can do it, I can...

I feel sounds, i try looking up, but what i see leaves a sense of fear in me, all of them, Ralsei, Susie and even Kris are knocked out by the Knight, that was holding Kris face showing me a new wound on their face, i want to drag my body, but i cant, everything, im in so much pain, i should have already died, i look up and the Knight is standing over me, swords in hand, one of them stabbing me in my shoulder, not leaving a chamce for moviment.

The other one was millimeters from stabbing me in the throat again, even if I wanted to move now, the pain was unbearable, my shoulder was completely stuck with the blade and the ground. And my neck was spilling an abnormal amount of blood. I shut my eyes for what I knew was coming.