Mystictober 2024: Favorite Character/Hourglass
Hello, it's been a while (įµāį“ā) I really missed the mysme universe and, though life is still busy, I'm trying to make time to do things I love; one of which is writing, even if I only write one fanfic per year lol XD
Sooo without further ado, here's a short fic based on this list by @sensetenou :)
P.S. I think tumblr broke my post, I can't add the "Keep reading" link after editing a typo ;A;
He steps out of the cabin and takes a long, deep breath
It feels suffocating inside
With that damn 707, the girl, and their blue-haired friend...
Vanderwood ties his hair into a low ponytail and reaches for the pack of cigarettes in his pocket
Taking a stick, he lifts it to his lips
He pats his pockets for his lighter and mutters a curse under his breath when he realizes he left it inside
With a frustrated groan, he turns aroundā
Standing before him, a nervous smile on her face, was the girl
"You left this inside, I thought you could use it," she says, holding out the lighter to him
His throat feels tight and Vanderwood can hear the loud drumming of his heart against his ribcage
It takes every bit of his strength not to reach out and pull her into his arms
MC tucks her hair behind her ear, outstretched hand wavering as Vanderwood stood there staring at her
He clenches one hand into a fist
Then slowly relaxes his hand, his shoulders drooping as he resigns himself to the fact that she'll never recognize him
"Thanks," he mutters, cigarette still between his lips
He holds out his hand, expecting her to drop the lighter onto his palm
But the girl looks up at him and then lights the device, holding it close to his lips
Instinctively, he leans closer before he could even stop himself
As MC focuses on lighting the end of his cigarette, he can't help but stare into her eyes
At the reflection of the flames in them
"Maybe it's the fire in your eyes that I love, baby."
"Because it matches yours?"
"Hahaha MC, baby, I don't think my fire even comes close to yours."
"It's because got this fire from you, baby. You're the one who inspires me to be bold and brave."
MC takes a step back, smiling at him
Vanderwood takes a step back too, looking away from her
Blinking away the memories he so desperately wants to cling to
"Thanks," he mumbles, taking a long drag
Allowing the poison to fill his lungs before blowing a puff of white smoke away from where MC stands
She has her hands clasped together in front of her
Then she bows to him, which startles Vanderwood
"Thank you so much for helping us save him."
"Hey, don't worry about it," he replies, rubbing the back of his neck
He doesn't want to hear this
He doesn't want to listen to her talk about how much she loves that man
Because she once felt that way about him, too
MC straightens and grins at him
"I mean it. You saved his life and I hope I can repay your kindness one day."
Vanderwood waves a gloved hand dismissively, pulling the cigarette from his lips
"If I didn't do it," he forces himself to say. "707 would be distracted and he'd stop doing his damn job and we'd both be fucked."
She gives him a look that says she doesn't buy a single word out of his mouth
"Even so, without you that elixir might've brought more harm to him...Whatever your reasons, I'm really grateful to have you here, Vanderwood."
A mixture of feelings erupt from his chest, despite all his efforts to smother them
The bloom of hope, the scathing pang of hurt
Despair in the knowledge that she'll never recognize him ever again
Vanderwood looks to the door that leads back into the cabin, unable to meet her eyes
"You really care for him, huh?" he asks, careful to keep his feelings hidden
"Yes," she answers, her voice full of emotion
Vanderwood's brows furrow as he puts the cigarette back to his lips, turning his back to MC and choosing to gaze up at the stars instead
Here, out in the middle of fucking nowhere
Away from the city lights
They can actually see the starry night sky
Out here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, everything is quiet
He can hear the grass and leaves rustling from the gentle night breeze
Hear the crickets and owls
Hear his own heart breaking all over again
MC moves to stand beside him but Vanderwood doesn't dare look at her
He keeps his gaze up at the stars, remembering his promise to her
"It's beautiful out here, right?"
"It's only beautiful because you're here, baby."
I don't have the right to call her that anymore
He lost that right when he gave her up
But it wasn't because he didn't love her anymore
He doesn't think it's possible to love anyone else but her
But when MC only chose his route, over and over again
When he and MC found a way to be together ābreaking through the codes and the walls
...the system found a way to keep them apart
"NO!" Vanderwood yells, holding MC in his arms
She's not moving, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow
His big hand envelops her smaller one as he cradles her to his chest, tears rolling down his cheek as the red stain on her clothes start spreading
"Baby, stay with me, baby. Please. I'll get you to a hospital, MC. Please, I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Don't leave me, MC. Please. Please!"
He tries to lift her into his arms, but he hears the cock of guns and he protectively holds her close, glaring at the men in suits surrounding them
Each one with guns trained at the couple
A lone woman in a suit approaches them, her face expressionless as she gazes at Vanderwood and MC
"This could have been avoided, had she not foolishly jumped in front of you."
Still, the woman remains impassive
She steps forward, closer to where Vanderwood and MC are
"You can save her, you know."
Vanderwood glares at the woman, but she continues
"I offer you the choice, āāāāāā āāā," she says, lifting her hand and opening her palm
Over it, a hologram of an hourglass appears and becomes solid
"Return to the game and reset the clock. Go back to the beginning and undo what has been done. Or..."
The woman's eyes go to MC's pale form
"...live with your reality."
Return to the game...rewind time?
"If I do that...reset the game," he begins through gritted teeth. "She'll live? She'll be okay? She'll...be happy?"
"Yes. But she'll forget about you. And, to prevent a repeat of your insolence, we're removing your route from the game. We'll take your name, āāāāāā āāā, your identity, your story...she will be happier this way, believe me."
Vanderwood's head snaps up, his eyes widening
"What the fuck?! If I fucking agree to this, thenā"
Then I'll lose her forever
"You're losing her now, āāāāāā."
He tenses and looks back at his girl, whose eyes flutter open slightly
She shakes her head, those beautiful eyes filled with tears
"Shhh, it's okay, MC. It's gonna be okay," he whispers, his heart twisting painfully in his chest
The answer is obvious...so fucking obvious
He's the one who broke the game, who defied all the rules and brought this shit onto her life
He's the one who put her in danger in the first place...
"Miāāān...please," she pleads in a soft voice, panicking at what she sees in his eyes
"I'd rather die, having lived my life with you than live the rest of my life without you."
Vanderwood chuckles sadly, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers
He presses his forehead to hers, holding her close to him
"I love you so damn much."
"There's not a single day of my life where I won't be loving you, MC."
"You're my North Star...you'll always be my home, you'll always be the light in my life."
"That's why I have to say goodbye."
"I can't...I can't live in a world without you, baby."
"I'm sorry...this is so fucking selfish of me, but I'm just a character in a game."
She sobs and winces, reaching out and cupping his cheek despite the pain
"You're real to me, āānjān."
He smiles and kisses her again
"Even if your mind doesn't remember me," he whispers between kisses
"I hope your heart won't forget me."
The woman, watching the two lovers, turns the hourglass
Around them, everything slowly fades into dust
Vanderwood smiles at MC, tears streaming down his cheeks as he memorizes all the details about her
MC holds onto him with the last of her strength, panic coursing through her body
She doesn't want this, she doesn't want to leave him
"Hey, lady," Vanderwood tells the woman without looking at her
"I have one favor to ask. Please."
"Yeah," Vanderwood replies to MC, keeping his gaze trained at the brightest star in the sky
He turns to look at her and sees a confused expression on her face
The door suddenly bursts open and Seven comes out, a smile on his face
"He's awake!" he informs MC
A smile spreads across her face and she bows again to Vanderwood
She runs inside and he watches her go, swallowing the lump in his throat
Guess he'll have to get used to this
Watching her from afar as she runs into the arms of another man
A man that will never be him, ever again
Vanderwood rolls his eyes, blinking away the hurt and pain and arranging his expression into one of annoyance
He turns his back on Seven, putting his cigarette back between his lips
"Aww c'mon. This is the perfect time to re-enact that scene from Garry Potted!"
"Go back to fucking work, Seven."
Seven stares at Vanderwood's wide back, a sad smile on his face
Even though Vanderwood isn't aware of it, Seven actually knows who he is
After all...Vanderwood isn't the only one working on breaking the game's code
Working on ending the reset system, once and for all
Seven wishes he could do more to comfort his friend
But instead, he goes back inside and sits on the couch
Cracking his fingers, Seven focuses his gaze on his laptop screen
"Hang in there, Minjun. We'll get out of this one."
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If you're reading this, thank you so much for reading my fic ;w; I hope you enjoyed it <3
P.S. Minjun is a name I made for Vanderwood, but it's not official or anything! Still hoping and praying Cheritz makes a route for him ;w;
Check out my other Mysme writingsĀ here!
Mango Shake/Ko-fiĀ is always very much appreciated (įµį“„įµ)
