daisy

You've known about Guiding Light for awhile now, ever since you've been trapped in this godforsaken hotel, in fact. She never fails to greet you after every time you fall, a calm blue emanating off of her— radiant on the endless static and deep waters. Her voice seeming to come from everywhere yet nowhere at once, offering you a (metaphorical) helping hand for you to overcome what may harm you in your escape. You were grateful for her, even if you couldn't find nor muster up words to express it.

This try was no different, walking through the same hallways, seeing the same entities, as usual either hiding or running. And even though with Guiding Lights help you have learned what they do, what makes them tick, there are times where you slip up and inevitably get caught. Case and point; you were cautious enough to make it to the greenhouse. With your flashlight in hand you continue your trek, an unexpected flick alerts you of its progressively depleting battery, your palm harshly meets your flashlight as if that would magically charge it to full, if only.

It didn't take long for your flashlight to die, and for the room you are in to be coated nearly entirely in darkness, with it only being occasionally illuminated by the lighting through the windows. With the light giving you somewhat of an opportunity to memorize the room, and by extension where the Snares are, you successfully avoided getting your foot stabbed by tens of spikes and made it to the next room without getting duped. Without any idea of the room's layout you sneak your way to the nearest closet, your hands on the ready to open the doors while you try to concentrate past the loud rain tapping on the windows, and instead for Rush's signature.. screaming? Could it be called that? Whatever, not the point.

Not hearing anything, you walk away from the closet and progress to the next room, rinse repeat until you make it to the electrical room then you're home free! Should be easy enough right..?

The pain permeating through your right foot startles you from your focused state, sharp and trapping, looking down you see what you expect; a Snare with its spikes stabbing through your foot, totally just what you wanted. You struggle to pull your foot out of the Snare to little to no avail, then a familiar sound enters from afar, one you didn't want to hear right now, or at all, really. Your attempts get much more rushed, just wanting to run into a closet, just wanting to survive. Then at last, you're set free, and with your limping foot you dash to the closet and I— Darkness fills your vision, then that face, that mocking face of the entity who's taken your life countless times. It takes one last lunge at you with its smile in full view before the darkness fades into water filled with static, a comforting blue light shining from up above and highlighting through the calm waves. You didn't make it, you've got so far yet.. you didn't make it.

You've gotten used to the way the water doesn't suffocate you long ago, you figured it makes sense considering you're already dead, waiting to be revived to continue this seemingly endless, tormenting cycle. You ascend to the surface and meet who you expected to see waiting for you: Guiding Light.

"It is nice to see you again as much as it is unfortunate." She started. "You died to Rush because you got stuck in Snare..." You must admit, it's pleasant being around her. Even if you don't speak often, if at all, she still makes small talk, encouraging you to go on, and helping you to go further next time.

"Without a light source it can be tricky to find them, preserve your light as much as possible."

You simply nod, you don't expect much from her conversation-wise right now, maybe she would tell you what has observed from your run. Or maybe even some little facts about the hotel you didn't know prior but are meaningless in the end of the night, whenever that is. (That doesn't mean you were against being told, quite the opposite actually.) Though what you didn't expect was a question.

"Excuse me for asking so suddenly, but I can't help but wonder. What is your name?"

There was hesitation for a moment with the only sound surrounding you two being the humming ambience. Then came your name, your voice, though small and a bit rough from days of not being used at all still brought her joy nonetheless. The moon symbol above you—that you've recognized as her replacement for her presumable lack of physical form— shines brighter in a sort of satisfaction, you could hear the smile in her tone as she spoke.

Folly once only knew malice, it's what makes her being, after all, schadenfreude from how she made the elevator passengers tremor from her mere presence alone. Her eye piercing through to their core and tearing out what they desired to keep burrowed deep into the back of their mind, what they desired to hide from.

From the first time you met her, she did the same to you, you were not spared from her prying gaze and her mocking laugh that reverberates through your skull, but with time and conversations (mostly filled with vague answers and disdain from Folly's end) , you noticed change. Nightmares slowly faded to dreams, her laughs, while still condescending held a small yet certain warmth within, Folly now barely being able to concealing how her eye softened when it locked onto you before it turns as sharp as a blade, a look she would use with anyone else, but her thoughts on you are.. somewhat clear.

And to imagine, she once viewed you as a mere flesh bag, one of those many weaklings that would get stomped out not even minutes after crossing paths with her. Some of their fates sealed by other means, or by her own hands.