✩°｡⋆ 𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝟛𝟟𝟚𝟘𝟙𝟙 ⋆｡°✩

Everything was perfect, nothing could interrupt this moment.

The sun was just beginning its set, another beautiful day on the farm. The gentle sway of the grass, the rare chirping of the bluebirds, and him in the middle of it. Not a snak in sight to disturb him, continued plowing the low ground with his rake, hard at work. The amount of sweat trickling down his fluffy blue head, he was doing his best. The sweat didn't help, the stank from his armpits, neither. And yet nightfall was the last thing he wanted.

Ever since their return from the expedition to Snaktooth Island and funding the truths of the Bugsnax, the 13 strong, accompanied by their journalist friend, who also happened to be his own child, have safely made it back home to the mainland. He felt an ache in his chest, but it felt like a good one. He had raised a great child, one who'd grown to be a journalist, one to share the truth with the world too. And that was that. Everything was perfect for him, it was all over. All the mistakes he made, even with the hard work left behind, freedom at last. Maybe he wasn't such a failure after all. And sticking together through thick and thin through it all were Wambus Troubleham and his dear wife Triffany Lottablog. Some call them the perfect couple nowadays. Some couldn't imagine what it was like. But they stuck together… and now they were the opposite once more. Why couldn't everything just be perfect? This wasn't right. Setting his garden rake down once the moon began to glow, it slowly slid down as it clanked against the wall. Followed only after by a giant

THUNK!

It seemed to have begun to startle Wambus once more, his aching body shook from the sudden noise. Once the shaking stopped, He shook his head, a bit embarrassed that he had been startled by something so small. Still, it seemed as if there was someone there, right behind him… "…Triffy?" The grumpus stumbled to say his wife's nickname, it coming out as a soft mutter. He didn't dare to turn around, he was too scared to do so.

He still didn't turn around, but he could feel himself being glared at. Finally turning around and seeing no one, he looked up to the moonlight. His paw on the brim of his hat, shifting it down to block the glare. He simply scoffed, once more the patter of his walk into his dim lit home.

"Heh….uhm…" Wambus chuckled nervously, hanging his hat on the coat hanger. He looked around as he closed the door behind him. "Triffy…!" He called gently, only to no response. He felt his stomach drop.

Trying not to panic, he stepped into the kitchen. Looking around, only to see Triffany's hat on the ground, followed by a tipped over chair and a trail of fluorescent, thick red liquid. But there was no ketchup. Wambus quickly ran over, bending down to get a closer look as panic flushed through his veins.

Creeeeek….

Wambus felt the fur on his neck stand up as he sharply turned around. His eyes were wide open, and the sweat had once returned. No voice. No sound. No one but him. Wambus opened his mouth to speak but was quickly hit with a trickle of blood on the ground. "Oh grump…" It was the only thing he could muster up. With no hesitation, he followed the blood up the stairs and onto the next floor. Nobody. No sound. No one but him.

Wambus took a step back, but stepped into someone. Two people? They sounded as if they walked in union…it wasn't Triffany and anyone else. No, He knew it wasn't them. He should've known by now, at least. The moment he looked to turn around, no one. He quickly ran into the bathroom, locking the door. He panted, his heart racing in his chest. It felt like it was screaming. Like he was screaming. But he wasn't. His throat was dry and he sat against the wall, then covered his head with his arms, the world spinning around him. He wanted to calm himself down, but he was so shaken he couldn’t move. He couldn’t think, He only listened.

BANG! BANG!

The harsh knocking on the door echoed in his mind as he looked into the mirror. Suddenly, no one, no sound, nothing. Everything stopped. Everything except his racing heart, that was. He felt like he was going to vomit, to bleed out right there. Everything hurt. His arms, his legs, felt like they were being pulled apart bit by bit. He leaned against the wall, sliding down even further, slowly but surely and clenching his stomach tightly. Why was this happening again? It keeps happening, day after-

THUD!

"WAMBUS!" A female voice yelled, Wambus' vision quickly coming back. His eyes once more bloodshot red and circles of bags underneath them. "Wh…wha…??" Wambus blinked a few times.

Triffany…it was okay. Wasn't she? She was fine, and yet Wambus didn't want to smile. He just wrapped his arms around the green grumpus, sweating, panting, no tears. His breath was cold against her shoulder and she only seemed more and more confused.

"Are you… okay?" Triffany worryingly asked, her tone clearly shook. "Ye…Ye, I swear I just.." Wambus continued to pant, now moving to rest his forehead on Triffany's chest. "I just need a moment, I…"

Wambus tried to comprehend what happened. It was just a dream, It was just a dream, he kept telling himself. The two were sweating. Wrapped in one another's arms, sitting up in bed.

"This is the third time this week," Triffany said as Wambus let go, quickly getting up from bed and throwing his slippers on. "What's wrong, Wamby?" Triffany took off the covers as well as she sat at the edge of her bed.

"I-it's nothin', probably not enough melatonin…" Wambus brushed it off, despite his eyes being red. "You wrapped your arms around me while sleeping, my love," Triffany got up, grabbing her housecoat. "You never do that." Wambus looked away, embarrassed, but something else on his mind. "Just… don't worry about me, please. I'll be fine. Just get some shut eye." Wambus frowned but tried to turn it into a smile, at least as he headed for the bedroom door.

"Where are you going?" Triffany sadly asked. "Work," Wambus hesitated "It's 4:37AM." Triffany added back. "… Oh. Well, I uhh..I should get started early today, I guess." Wambus said, shutting the door. Triffany sighed as she walked over to the window, opening the curtains, staring out into the moonlight. Wambus walked down the stairs, taking a glance at the mirror that was in the hallway from the laundry room to the kitchen and the main living space. He stared for a moment, it was still him. He noticed his mouth twitch but didn't think anything of it as he made his way to the door.

———⧪———

Six days after another incident. And the car ride to the bar had been silent unless you were to count the rusty engine.

"I uh… I ain't really one for drinkin', so…" Wambus looked sad as he kept his hands on the steering wheel, looking forward. "Well, it's good to get away from the farm every now and then, especially to go see friends, hun.” Triffany said back. She wasn't angry but did not bother to look over.

Silence once more.

"Look, Triffy I-" Wambus stopped. He seemed to be afraid suddenly. He quickly reached up to the rear view mirror, tilting it to look in the back of the suburban truck. He sighed, smiling.

"Good…" He muttered to himself. "Hm…? What's 'good'?" "I uhh…" Wambus felt the nerve once more, as if someone had a hold of his body. "I keep hearin' things. Seein' things, and it's nothing, I swear but-" "Wambus."

Wambus sighed as they came to the red light. He didn't speak. "I'm tellin' you, don't worry, I got it under control."

Triffany huffed. "Wamby, you keep denying that you've been off since we returned from the island. Maybe it'll be good If we consult another doctor about this. " "Yeh…ye, I know it's… well, we figured out everything, and I-I just farmed sauce, I didn't do anything…! I just need to know why it's affecting me and why everyone else is so calm…" Wambus felt his breath becoming thicker.

"…It’s affecting the others, right?"

As the truck came to stop in the parking lot, Wambus weakly turned the keys, taking them out and angrily shoving them in his pocket. He didn't know why he felt So embarrassed, as he looked back into the mirror, his hands tightly on the steering wheel once more. "Wamby, wait…" Triffany grabbed his hand with care. "I'm sure it's, not just you. We can ask about it, one way or another. We'll figure this out, I promise."

Triffany smiled, and Wambus blushed.

"Gee I…" Wambus hesitated, then kissed her hand, letting go. "C'mon." He said, opening the car door for her. Triffany stepped out, and her hand intertwined with his, but Wambus quickly let go, and Triffany noticed.

“What’s wrong?” She asked with a bit of a sour tone, but a confused expression which made him shiver.

Wambus took a deep breath, clenching his jacket tightly as he quickly diverted eye contact with her. “I… I’ll come pick you later, just tell ‘em I said hi.”

He knew he shouldn't've said it that way, but what else was he supposed to tell her? He suddenly didn’t feel like going? It wouldn’t be lying, since he didn’t want to go, especially after what just happened.. “…Uh, you sure? I’m sure they’ll all be happy to see ya, hun…” She hesitantly reached to grab his hand, but he had pushed hers away instead. A hurt look washed over his face and Wambus turned his head to the truck, fiddling with the keys in his pocket and avoiding her suddenly stern gaze. “Wambus, what’s wrong?” Her voice was a bit harsher and her eyes narrowed, her hand didn’t stop as she placed it on his arm. He glanced back but… pulled away.

“I…I just… I got work to do, y’know?” “But, we’re supposed to go together.”

The couple made eye contact for a few moments before Wambus broke it, turning away to avoid her stare and climbing back into the vehicle.

“… You'll pick me up, right?” Her voice started to weaver. Something was off about her husband and it knew it.

Seeing him nod, it reluctantly walked away, hearing the engine start up once more, but it was now only a faint echo. She reluctantly opened the door and saw her friends, saw their smiling faces, and it gave a smile of her own.

———⧪———