when i’m gone

Course it is. I would never lie about my title.. it's not very American to be dishonest.

Oh no… what if they really do have records on Max’s body…

I… nothing sir. Just uh — wondering about lunch! Haha…

Okay — it’s true I was there when Max Jägerman FELL but I didn’t PUSH him or — or ANYTHING, but his ghost wants revenge on me now and — you — you believe me, don’t you, General?!

.. Sorry- Who is Max Jägerman?

You… you’ll help me, won’t you?

If you take a moment to sit down and work through your fear.. You can tell me your situation, and I will do my best to assist.

Richie’s face is pale, and his fingers clench.

Well son, don't worry about being handcuffed or.. Anything like that. I know an innocent person when I see one, and I can assure you you have nothing to worry about.. At least on my end. A death at the Waylon House can't lead to anything good, after all. But you have me to help with that.

It’s whiplash really, between the general saying Richie won’t be arrested to the same general asking for the teen’s help. Some of his fear dissipates, but his wariness remains.

I'm worried I'll walk into the locker room and he'll be there."

“What… what would your unit even do? Sir?”

Have you seen Ghostbusters, son? We'll do Ghostbusters. But better.

“I have seen Ghostbusters. Of course I’ve seen Ghostbusters, it’s a classic. So you think I should still go to school?”

But uh-max yagerman kinda sorta killed me. Heh... 👉👈

Richie comes into view, completely unaware he’s revealing everything that Max did to him, too.

Ruth admitted, looking up at Richie. She felt weirdly nervous, for no reason. She subconsciously messed with her fingers

“I’ve missed you so much!!”

“Th — thanks…”

“It’s not my fault, you know that…”

“You… you really saw the other times?”

“Ruth probably embellished a little bit, I wouldn’t worry…”

“I… I can’t. I’m sorry, but I just can’t. Max would — he’d KILL me! Well, maybe not literally but you know how he is!”

He stares stupidly, not even thinking that someone else could care whether or not he gets hurt.

"Y-Yeah, well... it doesn't feel that good either!"

“You!!”

“Hello”

“Go ‘way please. I… I’m not in the mood.”

[He whines, pouting like a child. He clearly took after Max]

“If you’re here to kill me like in my dream just get it over with.”

“Really? Then — then why are you even here?!”

Richie just says sourly, glaring at the dead him.

Richie starts to sulk. He throws his blankets back over his head so he won’t have to look at this other him.

[He was jealous and that was easy to see. He didn’t have parents anymore, they’d thrown him out when he was 12. He had his uncle Paul, who he adored, but he missed his parents like hell too, even if they wanted nothing to do with him.]

Richie glares back at his ghost counterpart.

“So… so not all of us have the same families, either?”

“Please… don’t kill me. Don’t bully me! Please don’t follow Max!!”

[He taps his leg, looking at the other]

“I — I’m glad you don’t have my mom! She… she’d see how mean you’ve become!”

[He shrugs. He misses his parents but they didn’t even care he was gone. He wonders if his brothers knew he was…]

If Max is just gonna kill me anyways!!”

Do you have brothers too? Trevor and Daniel?

Suddenly he’s crying, wiping tears away from his eyes.

Richie asks desperately, drying his eyes.

[He shrugs. He’d fight. But he knows this other Richie might not be able to]

“What are you really here for?”

Richie keeps glaring.

Lately I’ve been feeling the same way about octopi. And squid.

Tentacles have been all over my dreams lately… that and … and…

[ TJ had curiosity in her voice. ]

You probably think it’s stupid.

[ She shrugged ]

I can never escape.

You haven’t met any men recently.. ones that looked untrustworthy and talked about gods?

“I — I mean… maybe a… couple? Actually?”

“At least they told me some things about my dreams…”

[ They whispered under their breath. ]

“Dangerous? How so? They’ve just given me information, that’s all!”

I can’t control you Richie. I’m just worried that they might harm you.. because I care about you.

“I — I’m sorry TJ, but… we practically just met. You can’t care about me that quickly. In fact, it is scientifically impossible.”

[ She can’t tell him. She can’t say that she’s met him in other timelines. She can’t tell him that she was friends with him in another timeline. Timeline, timelines… that’s all that filled her brain. She was sick and tired of it. ]

“And… um.”

Was he goat like? Holding a box?

“But the dreams about the green tentacles and — and THOSE horrors are somehow scarier? I… sometimes I’ve dreamed that I’m stuck with all these green toys… or that Wiggly has taken control of me…”

This is not good.. Richie, let me tell you something. That goat-guy you met? He’s been targeting me.

“He… he showed me his Box.”

[ She said, thinking. She plays with her hair out of habit. ]

I asked to see them.”

[ She said, a little impressed. ]

“You probably don’t really believe me, do you? Are you just humoring me?”

So that.. Wiggly. He must be trying to get you I assume…

“Get me? GET me?! Why and how?? Wait… he can’t like, take me in my dreams, right?”

[ She suggested. ]

"I thought you said you didn't want me talking to those guys..."

[ TJ clarifies. ]

His voice turns forlorn, eyes shifting away in worry.

I have a friend.. her name is Ms Holloway, sure she can help you.. she helped me after all.

“If you’re sure.”

Unfortunately, yes.

Stop… making fun of me. I know I’m smart but there HAS to be more logic to it than that!!

Who are you?

It's nice to meet you Richie Lipschitz.

Why do you call yourself a bastard?

Sure, alright. Like you’re not going to fool me.

Can I see him? Can I see Mr. Spankoffski?

If you wanna look in the Box, then by all means, I'm not gonna stop you!

Okay, so, where is it?

Right here!

And opens it. ]

Mr… Spankoffski…

What's wrong, Richie? Don't like what you see?

[he can’t even manage a full sentence.]

I — I can still hear them. I can see them! Why — how — PLEASE MAKE IT STOP! Please…

[Tinky grins deviously, tapping his fingers over the top of the Box.]

You… you’re a monster.

Your point?

Pl — Please don’t hurt me…

[It caresses the side of Richie's face with a clammy six-fingered hand, its fingernails gently raking across his skin. Tinky's just messing with him, but that doesn't make it any less uncomfortable or terrifying.]

"Please... please don't do what you do to Ted to me..."

Don't you worry your silly little head, Richie. Your fate doesn't end in the Box. At least, not as of now. Things can always change, though!

“What do you know? About my fate… ending?”

No. No no you — you’re lying. You just want me inside that box of yours!!”

Maybe I should snatch you up and put you in the Box! Usually I'm more drawn towards the Spankoffskis, but I'm sure the Petey-Pie I snagged a few days ago would appreciate some company his age.

His voice breaks, and his lip trembles. Even after all he’d seen… he wants to see Pete.

[Its eyes light up with a hungry sort of excitement.]

It’s as he continues further with his desperate pleas that he starts to realize just how big of a mistake he might be making.

[It extends one of its nasty hands to Richie.]

“Deal.”

[Richie Lipschitz stands in the maze of the Bastard's Box with no way out and no one around him. The only sounds are the screams and cries of its other inhabitants echoing off the walls and the maniacal laughter of its demonic owner who's just gained a new toy.]

It’s… it’s Richie….”

[Tinky's words are too loud as they bounce off the seemingly endless walls of the Box. He cackles, clearly entertained by the predicament which Richie has gotten himself into.]

“P - Peter… Peter, it’s Richie! I’m here!”

T’noy Karaxis…? Are… are you there?”

“Where is he? Where’s Peter?”

[Its echoing laughter seemingly shakes the ground beneath you.]

"But I -- I asked you to see him! Why didn't you just -- just teleport me there?!"

Richie ends on nearly a scream, the horrors he’d seen earlier already permeating his mind.

If you want out of here, you better offer me something good! You're just so much fun to play with!

“Just for a chance to see Peter… who… who might not even be the Peter I know… oh my god…!”

Tears begin to flow down his cheeks as the utter horror sets in.

He’s trying so hard to regain control of the situation, to make Tinky think he’s a lost cause.

Sounds like an impossible existence to me! Besides, I never said that I wouldn't shake things up a bit from time to time!

“So do it then! Shake things up? B - Because this is already getting boring!”

But uh-max yagerman kinda sorta killed me. Heh... 👉👈

Richie comes into view, completely unaware he’s revealing everything that Max did to him, too.

"Do... do you have a favorite anime?"

I - uh, yeah, I love anime!

Oh, okay! So, what’s your favorite one then?

Sailor Moon

[ Richie scoffs, a little judgmental today.]

[It's not a lie]

…wait, is this one of those times where Peter said I come across as mean?

Did you know I have over 400 body pillows? Sorry wait. You probably don’t want to know.

Richie blushes hard.

Richie buries his head in his hands.

“Quick, please say something embarrassing about yourself!”

“Are… you sure?”

Why do you ask?

Because of football! Yeah! You know… the big game…

Well, I could look into it more if you’d like. That way Nighthawks could win.

No um…. Don’t, actually!!! It’s… it’s fine… uh… please forget I said anything haha… yeah…

I mean, I probably will anyway, since it’s a missing person case. Even though I’m ninety nine percent sure he’s dead. May as well find the culprit, yeah?

Well, at least someone cares!! I mean, me and Max weren’t close, but he wasn’t ever really a dick to me. Still, even if he was, it’s crazy to me how people praise when other’s die! Especially when it’s cops. Harsh world.

“I think you’d think differently if he’d been beating you up or bullying you like every single day of your life.”

How'd you get in there?

“You… you’re…”

[She lends him a hand for him to get out of the locker]

“Wow… your… your name is Harper right?”

“It’s LIPSCHITZ. Richard Lipschitz. And yes, he does make those jokes. He’s made them since sixth grade and thinks they’re sooooo funny.”

“Um… seriously, thanks. I… I thought I might be stuck in there all night.”

[ Richie swings gently on the swingset in a park in Hatchetfield. He stares around at the dreary surroundings without a care in the world.]

Hey! I, uh, I don't believe we've met.

If you want to sit here, I don’t mind.

You go to Hatchetfield High, right?

[He glances down in fear.]

[She scoffs.]

[ He backs up slightly.]

Why do you act like I'm gonna kill you just because I go to the other school?

He doesn't know the kind of opponent he'd be facing if he met me.

That’s, uh. Thats good for you. I… I’m Richie.

Nice to meet you, Richie.

Richie slowly gives a weak smile and puts his hands in his armpits.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

Well, maybe we can get to know each other better sometime.

[ He gives her a watery smile. It looks unconvincing, but it’s there.]

[ He blinks, eyes wide like an owl.]

[She shrugs.]

Richie swallows hesitantly, still not sure if he should believe her or not. He slowly sits back down on the swing.

"Kinda like an anime character, so.... I like it?"

“Is it?”

How ya doing, Richie?

“You.”

“I… I called yesterday.”

“It’s cold and dark and I saw a bear.”

“You’re the one who put me here!”

“What? But… but you… you said you wouldn’t hurt me….”

“What kind of a cop-out is that? If you were a villain in an anime, you’d have no qualms with hurting me for real. I think you’re a Class D.”

[Green tentacles sprout from the ground up, wrapping themselves around Richie's wrist and legs to prevent him from running away. Omen takes off one of its fingerless gloves, reaching out to the boy's head]

“No…”

“I — I don’t want to die!”

“Please, no more. I — I don’t want to die! I don’t want Max to kill me!”

“You left me in the woods to die! Why do you want me to stand up for myself?!”

“This isn’t REAL?!”

I told you, I'm here to test something. You should be grateful I didn't do something worse.

Richie stares in horror. He gives it just one more second… and then he snaps. He screams and goes charging at Omen in a complete and utter rage.

“M - Max…?”

"I'm fake, huh? You still think I'm fake? Well fuck you, bitch!"

“M-Max, please… can’t you just stop for — for one day?”

“No, you — you’re dead. You’re GONE. You’re not really here — you CANT BE.”

[ Richie looks up and immediately SCREAMS at the sight.]

I - I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!

Richie screams back.,

I...I got trapped

I'd feel better if I wasn't currently trapped in the Waylon place

“…good. It’s what you deserve.”

“No thanks to you! You killed me for no reason!”