#unknown dbd

It is no secret that killers have their favorites in the foggy realm. When you first joined your fellow survivors warned you that a killer could pick you, and that could either be favorable or a down right nightmare. You've witnessed first hand in the trials such treatment: from the Doctor almost always letting Feng Min go; the Huntress going easier on the women; how Michael Myers will seek out Laurie to kill her; all the killers seem to despise Ashe for some reason; or how Wesker will focus on getting Chris, either out of bloodlust or something else.

And outside the trials too, in the dilapidated village and meadow near the campfire, killers and survivors can mingle if they so choose. For some reason the Entity–who you've been told is the spider-like legs that brought everyone here–doesn't seem to care what happens outside the trials as long as no one hurts the other too gravely. So, you've gotten a chance to somewhat interact with killers outside of being chased and hooked, and get to see some of the tenuous friendships, or understandings, forged. You can’t quite wrap your head around befriending the killers, but Sally, Philip, and Anna (whose names you learned outside the trials) seem nice enough to where you’re comfortable interacting with them in that meadow.

No killer has seemingly decided to favor you inside the trials and you weren’t sure if you were grateful for that or not…until they joined the realm.

Well, you aren't really sure what they are, per se. They may have a human man's form, but it's clear by how twisted they look or the tentacles emerge from their back that they are something else. They're probably something the human mind can't comprehend. Their voice is layered and stuttery, and honestly, the give everyone the creeps.

And yet, when you both came in contact with each other in their first trial in the rainy Red Forest, they stopped and their form twitched violently. You remember them uttering one single word: you.

Ever since then, they haven't harmed you. The Unknown actively avoids hitting you, opting to just follow you around unless someone gets close to you…then they chase them. You suppose you can be grateful for the fact they never hook or kill you, giving you somewhat of a break. Although, you can’t help but also feel guilty that your teammates get the brunt of their damage if they so much as look your way.

You're not sure what to do or to say, and you've never really seen them outside the trials either. It's clear whatever the Unknown is understands human speech and attempts to replicate it. They've tried speaking to you but nothing much comes out of it other than them asking for you to stay near them in the trials you both are in. But what do they want then? 

You groan as you wake up near the crackling fire, feeling like you always did when you're sacrificed: sore and in pain. You were the first–and hopefully the only–one killed by the Clown and despite the pain you feel from the hooks, the Entity's claws, and those pink gas clouds of his, you're just glad he didn't straight up kill you and take your finger like he has before.

“I got you, I got you.” You hear a soft voice whisper as large hands help you up. You give Jeff a strained, but grateful smile as he assists you to your feet.

“Does it ever get better?” You ask with a weak chuckle, knowing the answer he'll give.

Jeff laughs back as he guides you to the logs around the fire. He lets you slump against his form as you both sit down and lay against the wood. “I wish I could say yes, but…”

“I know.” You huff and see movement in your peripheral. Both Quentin and Zarina have returned from the same trial as you. “You guys make it?”

“Yeah, sorry we couldn't get you in time.” The younger male gives you a guilty look which you wave off. 

“Don’t worry about it…where's Ashe?” 

“He wants to find hatch and rub it in.” Zarina says with a roll of her eyes before she sits across from you on the other side of the fire. Before anyone could say anything else, Ashe's boisterous laugh fills the clearing.

“I got the hatch!” He grins and takes a seat next to you. He bumps your shoulder gently as you stay leaning against Jeff. “Sorry I couldn't save you, sugar, but your sacrifice did not go in vain.”

“It's okay. Glad you three got out.” You sigh, feeling a little better as the time passes. You suppose you could be thankful the lingering pain doesn't last for too long. The remnants of pain grew tolerable as you relaxed, staring at the fire. You miss your home and family dearly, but you're glad you've created something of a family here with your fellow survivors. 

A few more bodies join the campfire, some looking in pain from being sacrificed while others appear fine. You've gotten to the point where the aches are barely present and you no longer feel the need to rest against Jeff's shoulder. Some people chatted about trials and others talked about their lives before the Entity claimed them. You pick on a few of them wanting to head to the meadow and you decide to join them.

“Are you sure you're good to go? Need any help?” Jeff asks softly while you move to stand.

“Nah, I'm feeling better. Some walking will do me good.” You smile at his kindness and stand with a stretch and low groan. It's true you wanted to walk around; it gets boring after a while just staring at the never-ending campfire. But also, you did want to speak with a few of the killers you liked. You were bridging the language barriers with Rin and Anna, and Sally grew on you outside the trials. 

You linger towards the back of the small group of survivors. It's only a five minute walk to the desolate village and meadow, and your group arrived in no time. You didn't see Rin despite the Oni–who apparently is her ancestor–sitting at his usual spot, nor did you see Anna. 

They must be in trials. 

You did spot Sally, so you break away from the splitting survivor group and approach her. Her head perks up a little when she spots you. Despite her rather gaunt appearance without her usual hood, she is a beautiful woman. Her eyes meet yours before she smiles your way.

“Hello again.” She rasps, her head tilting slightly as her unblinking eyes watch you approach. 

“Hey, Sally.” You instinctively go to ask how she is doing, but you've learned not to ask that of killers and they don't ask you. It leads to an awkward conversation about killing and being killed. “Philip is busy?”

“Oh yes, he is away.” She sounds woeful as she looks out at the other killers. “I do hope I see him soon. We've been pulled in so many times lately.” 

“I was hoping to see him and get to know him more. He's so shy.” You chuckle and so does Sally. 

“That is my Philip, always so shy yet so lovely too.” If she could blush, you assume she would be by the way she cups her own cheek with her palm and how she looks away from you. “The other day he…”

Her voice trails off, making you furrow your brows.

“That is strange.” She murmurs.

“What’s wrong, Sally?”

“Oh, it's just…” She stares before looking at you again. “They've never come here before.” 

You slowly follow where  she was once looking and freeze. In the tree line, nearly obscured by the darkness and thick fog, stands the Unknown. Despite them not appearing to have eyes, you can just feel that their stare is on you. You swallow thickly. They're not moving save the occasional twitching of their form. You feel Sally place a hand on your shoulder, tearing your gaze away from them.

“Are you alright? Do I need to get Kazan or Tarhos?” She offers. “Or perhaps Portia and Snug?”

“No, they won't hurt me…At least, I don't think they will.” 

Unknown raises their twisted hand as their head tilts to the side. Their mouth doesn't quite open like a human's would but you still hear their distorted voice all the same, “Come-Come…here.” 

“I was not expecting that, to be honest.” You mumble and you can see their arm twitching a little, like they're trying to beckon you over. You're half-inclined to go over to them and half-tempted to go back to the campfire. You slowly inhale, hold it, then exhale. “I'm going to see what they want.”

“Be careful. Even they give a lot of us the creeps.” Sally whispers before you walk towards the Unknown. You swear their head perks up a little when you get closer and you feel like your stomach is doing barrel rolls inside you. You cross the threshold of the meadow and forest, and before you know it, you're right before them. You have to slightly tilt your head back to look at their face, their height practically towering over you.

“Hell…Hello.” You barely see their teeth move when their voice comes out; their face is stuck in that forever grin. 

“Um, hey.” You cringe a little at your awkwardness but how else does one greet and talk to an otherworldly being poorly disguised as a human? You take another deep breath in before speaking again, “I don’t mean to sound rude, but what…what do you want? Why do you follow me in trials?”

“Tr…Trials…” You swear you hear your own voice mixed with their voice and it is a little unsettling.

“Yes, the trials. You follow me and you don’t harm me despite it being what the Entity wants.”

“Entity.” You feel like this conversation won’t go anywhere, but then they surprise you. “Yo-You…Me. Pet. You’re my…my pet.” 

“...What?”

“My pet!” They sounded genuinely happy as their head tilts to the side. Their arm moves in a jerky motion towards you, their fist nearly hitting you. You stumble backwards and nearly fall onto your ass. In their clutched hand are crudely picked flowers likely from the meadow behind you. Most look withered and decayed but they hold them out proudly for you. “These are…are for you!” 

“Oh.” You blink and stare at the makeshift bouquet and then back to their face. You tentatively reach out and hold your hand out for him, facing your palm towards the obscured sky. A trill escapes the Unknown as they drop the flowers into your hand before pulling away. 

“Do…you like them?”

“They’re nice.” You smile as you look at the bouquet. It truly isn’t that nice, but it is the Entity’s realm and it’s really the thought that counts. “I like them. Thank you.”

“Happy. You’re smile…it’s nice.” 

Your smile widens at the compliment and you try to be polite back, “And I think yours is nice too.”

Another happy trill leaves them and their body unsettingly twitches. Their hand jerks out again and you attempt to not flinch back again. Their hand plops onto the top of your head before they start patting you. “Pet…Tha-Thank you. Good, pet. Good, little pet.”

“I’m almost wondering if you mean friend.” You chuckle. You see them tilt their head to the side and the patting stops for a moment. It was like they were confused. “You know, like someone you like and trust. Someone you want to be around.”

“Someone…you want to-to be around.” They repeat your words and once again you swear you hear your voice in the mix of voices.“Yes.”

“Then you want to be my friend?”

“Yes.” This conversation is not going where you assumed it would. You find yourself appreciating the efforts they have taken and it makes you a little more curious about them. 

“Still pet to me-me. Though…”

You chuckle again. “We will work on that.”

“What…What did you just do…? That noise.” 

“It’s called laughter. It means a lot of different things, but I am mostly just amused and a little bit happy.”

“Did I make you…you happy?” 

You suppose they have made you happy with the little gift and letting you know they simply wanted to be your friend. “Yeah, you did.”

“Good. I want to make…you happy, little pet.”

“That isn’t my name, you know.” You shake your head and tell them your name, to which they repeated. “But I hope I make you happy too then.”

“You…will.” The way their voice sounded and how they almost leaned towards you sounded a little cryptic. They resume petting your head for a few moments before slinking their hand away from you. You’re about to ask what they meant but you hear a familiar, low rumble above you.

Glancing up, you can see darkening clouds before the tips of the Entity’s claws emerge: another trial is starting and it looks like you’re going back into the fog. You grimace and you can hear the Unknown make an upset noise at your expression.

“I’ll see you again soon, okay?”

“Okay.” The reply as the claws get closer and closer to you. “Bye bye… little pet.”