The twins were so quiet as they went to wash the dishes, left alone by their parents. Too mature for their own good. They had no childhood.
River’s eyes were glued to them. He felt a bit numb.
Right now, this wasn’t about finishing the game or solving a puzzle. Right now this was purely about two children who had no one but each other to lean on. Children that had no true home and no one that helped them in their suffering.
It was the last round already. Was there still any chance to help them?
Would they have to use the rough method after all?
He just…
He just didn’t want to see this game end like this, to know that they were still stuck here.
All he wanted for them was to-
…And suddenly, it seemed so easy.
River blinked himself out of a daze. His eyes slid over to Aspen, who immediately felt and returned the gaze with a bit of worry.
“Right.” River muttered the word under his breath. “Right. No one can help you.”
There was a truth that came to River quietly, almost stupidly. This was a case of abuse, and no matter who tried to help you, no matter whose support you got, the one who had to make the first step…
…Was always the victim.
River turned on his heel.
He walked down the short hallway and stood in front of the door to outside. He opened it and it swung open, a gust of fresh air hitting his face.
He tapped his finger against the keyring at the wall. The key fell with a quiet clink, but in the silence of the first floor, it was audible enough.
One of the twins moved away from the kitchen sink and went to check where the sound had come from.
The child stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of the open door. They stood there, shoulders slacked but head beginning to lift a bit.
From behind them, the other twin came. They too stopped.
The wind tickled their faces and made their hair move. It was a bright day outside, and even if River couldn’t see it, he knew that beyond the space of the setting there would be a quiet, open street and rows of cute little houses with large gardens.
No one said anything into the silence, neither players nor shadows. It was like everyone was holding their breaths.
Then the children’s hands clasped together and they walked towards the open door. As they passed by River, he could hear their uneven breath. Soon it was going to break out into full sobbing. Enough to alert someone who cared. Enough to stand out, enough for someone to ask.
What is wrong?
Where are you hurt?
Can you tell me what’s making you cry?
…In a weird moment of serenity, River thought that the twins would talk. They’d cling to whoever offered their help. All they needed was a nudge – a moment to realize that they weren’t imprisoned by their pain, that there was a way out.
That there was an open door they could step through, and that they had voices they could use to cry for help.
He didn’t care if this was a game or a copy of reality or whatever.
It was good to know that they’d get their chance.
He watched the world shatter, and for once it looked so exceptionally peaceful. He lowered his eyes, waiting for the world to fall into nothingness.
Unsurprisingly, it was only him and Aspen here.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
…Or rather, it was surprising for Aspen to be here too. In theory, only River had done the one action needed to solve the puzzle. Aspen was likely considered his teammate.
【Zs, atja kjr delaf wfrrs.】
Crqfc’r Xjwyifg pera tjv j abcf atja kjr vlralcmais vloofgfca ogbw Elnfg’r, rb atfs mbeiv afii la kjr atja bcf yfobgf aegclcu jgbecv ab rff atf qjqfg-wjc yftlcv atfw.
Ujqfg-Crqfc rmgjamtfv lar ojmf – ibbxlcu mgffqlis jycbgwji ktlif vblcu rb vef ab yflcu oija qjqfg – jcv aliafv lar tfjv.
【Who’d have thought! Oh, but we won anyway, so it was still fun! Haha!】
“What do you mean by that?” River stepped closer, for the first time taking a moment to observe the thing for a bit. His fear towards it had lessened considerably. There was still a certain discomfort inside him, acknowledging how out of the world the Gambler was, but he didn’t feel threatened.
The paper-man moved exaggeratedly like a kid. Some movements would show on the flat paper surface, while some would actually be bending and twisting the paper. None of it appeared to follow any rule at all.
“This game was different from any of the others, wasn’t it? I just had to open the door. That’s not what the games are usually like.”
【Yes! After all, every game needs a tutorial.】 The Gambler nodded, putting its hands into its sides. 【Although you’re all being oddly complicated when dealing with such an easy tutorial. Confusing…】
“Tutorial? This game was a tutorial?!” Aspen’s eyes opened wide, mimicking the empty eyes of the Gambler.
【Oh, yes! Actually, we had this one for the first three games, fixed. Everyone gets out of this one alive for sure. It wasn’t supposed to be in the roster anymore, but it was snuck in! My, none of us noticed!]】The Gambler was absolutely delighted. For some reason, it seemed happy that another Gambler had messed with their games, causing the tutorial to reappear. 【But the game tonight ended up being surprisingly enjoyable for something so easy.】
Well, that wasn’t too odd. After all, the Gamblers had three rounds of watching ten humans run around like headless chickens, completely missing the point of the tutorial. And that was putting aside the stuff that happened in between the players.
“That’s not what a tutorial is supposed to be like”, Aspen complained under his breath. He glanced at River and exhaled in resignation. The Gamblers had had fun and River was in a better mood too, so it was fine…
The paper-man clapped its hands together. It made an awkward sound. 【Is there anything you want today?】
The humans in front of it flinched. Aspen’s head jerked up and he opened his mouth, but a large hand covered it.
River pulled Aspen close to himself, keeping the other’s mouth covered. He spoke slowly and calmly. “Would it be possible for us to save this wish?”
【Sure. You can simply call for us if you want to use it.】
“You-” Aspen tugged River’s hand down.
River shook his head at Aspen. He wore a tired smile that made him look older. Dimly, Aspen wondered what River would be like if he wasn’t living like this – he’d be charming, for sure. He hoped to see it one day.
“It’s not worth it right now. I know what you want to say, but in my situation, it’s too dangerous to do anything. Wait for now and gather them.”
Whether it was wishing for River’s addiction to vanish or for ShuShu to return, this was not the time. His brother was watching him too closely and he wasn’t going to waste a wish when his brother could make it undone too easily.
“Alright…”, Aspen mumbled, leaning closer against River’s chest. If they gathered wishes like this, they could use them all at once. That would work well, too.
In front of them, the Gambler simply observed them with curiosity. There was no impatience or judgement, it was just watching.
“We will keep the wish for later. Thank you.” River nodded at the thing and it smiled again.
【Until next time!】
It waved and ignited, vanishing.
Normally, they’d leave through the door now, but Aspen didn’t move away from River. The easterner waited, looking down at the conflicted young man.
“Going back… Will you be okay?”
River leaned down, coming close enough for the tips of their noses to touch. He looked into Aspen’s eyes, easily reading the unhidden thoughts inside.
“I am alive to play”, he said in a breezy murmur. “And you are alive through me. I will respond when you write, and I will answer when you call. Even if you’re alone, you don’t have to be lonely.”
It sounded like such a gentle moment. The way the two of them stood close to each other, breath mingling warmly, gazes locked.
But Aspen’s eyes were clouded over with an obsessive insanity. He wanted to live, he wanted to live, but he couldn’t live on his own anymore. He needed River, and despair had always been something that could drive a human to the most violent things.
Were they outside and free, he thought that Aspen would have probably locked River up somewhere, keeping him carefully encaged and safe so that they could never be apart.
But the joke about that was… River wouldn’t have minded at all. Being locked up, he wouldn’t have resisted it, because Aspen would have ensured that River had all he needed to be happy – and freedom wasn’t something among that list, as long as peace was there in its stead.
“I am okay”, River repeated the same words as at the start of the game. His lowering eyelashes fluttered as he brushed his lips against the side of Aspen’s, accepting all of that insanity he was seeing in the other’s eyes. There was no need for him to think any further about his actions. All he needed to know was that in this moment, it was right to do. “I am here.”
Aspen deflated. The ruffled beast’s fur finally flattened again, and a cheeky smirk reappeared.
Compared to any words or actions of affection, River’s simple acceptance was the most beautiful gift to him. Aspen snuggled himself into River’s arm, almost purring.
How lovely this dead man was. How gentle and sweet he could be, but only to Aspen.
A person existing solely for him.
Aspen’s fingers dug into River’s clothes painfully and possessively, but River only raised a hand to gingerly rub Aspen’s soft hair.
If you asked them whether they knew that their situation was odd, then the answer would have been a sound yes.
They didn’t know at first, of course.
That their mother didn’t look at them and never talked to them was kind of normal. They had tried to get her attention, but she grew angry and loud and scary whenever they did. They’d be locked in their rooms.
So, Mama didn’t talk to you. Mama didn’t look at you. You were not to bother Mama, only Papa could do that.
It taught them well.
Mama was scary when she was angry, and she got often angry at the start.
Crying didn’t help. Talking didn’t help. What helped was being quiet and lowering your head.
So they lowered their heads and stood in silence.
Mama was happy when they did that and Papa was happy when Mama was happy. When Papa was happy, he’d rub their hands, and so they were happy, too.
They understood how weird it was after their first days of school.
Everyone was so loud. Everyone ran and screamed and their Mamas didn’t get angry at them.
But then those same adults patted their heads – such obedient children. So quiet and gentle. Not unruly at all! How sweet and lovely they were!
…The questions choked in their throats.
They were good children. They did well.
They played quietly. They didn’t make a fuss. They took care of themselves.
So mature. So well taught.
The praises from other parents were endless. Were they doing good? It seemed that way.
But then, why was it that it hurt so much when they saw other Mamas hug their children?
Why was it that other children could cry and be comforted?
What had they done wrong?
In their childish minds, it was hard to evaluate the situation.
They loved Papa. They loved Mama too, even though she never looked at them.
A happy Mama and a happy Papa… meant that they were happy too, right?
Day in.
Day out.
It felt hollow. They didn’t know to name it, but the feeling was one of hollowness.
Heavy and dark.
The world…
…was gray.
But then the door was open.
There was warm sunshine on their skin. The sky was a bright blue. Somewhere down the street, laughter echoed. Gentle wind tickled their cheeks.
They were supposed to tell Papa, for sure. Or just close the door. It must not have closed correctly – they knew Papa had been complaining about that these days.
But for some reason, they didn’t.
They didn’t even put on shoes.
They held each other’s hand and stepped outside barefoot, the ground cold to the soles of their feet. Warm tears started to trickle down their cheeks, and with it came the odd feeling of breathlessness.
They walked, blinded by tears, towards the direction of the laughter they heard. The louder the laughter grew, the tighter their throats felt. They cried. They sobbed.
And at some point, they were screaming.
The sound attracted an adult. A woman, as old as their Mama, but with a soft face and even softer voice.
“Now, now”, she said with a tone of worry. Her hands were warm. Her eyes were bright and soothing. “What’s wrong you two? Where are your parents? Why are you all on your own? Did something bad happen?”
They clung to her like a lifeline.
Solved: Poison to quench thirst
Trivia: Emotional abuse
Emotional (or psychological) abuse is incredibly hard to prove, as mentioned. However, researches suggest that between 50 to 80% of adults have gone through emotional abuse before, with children occupying around 11% of those.
There are many hotlines open to support those who are being abused in any way, open 24/7.
Meanwhile, postpartum psychosis (a severe form of the postpartum depression) is a rare condition that requires immediate treatment as it can become chronic and very dangerous! The symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, agitation and attempts of harming yourself or your child. Postpartum psychosis was the basis (not an accurate case, just a basis!) for the mother in this part. She doesn’t acknowledge the existence of her children and grows agitated when they interact with her.
Author’s Note
The Gamblers tried really hard, but no one understood their tutorial.
Maybe it’s because they forgot the floating pop-up messages telling you which keys to press to move forward.
Thanks for the chapter ! I’m so happy it was a happy ending for this game! It makes me have hopes for River !
It was soft and fluffy ♡ I really like this ending. It’s like River has realized and made a decision, for both their future.
Thanks for this chapter!
Thank you so much for this chapter, it made my day better 😄
I hope you have a nice day 🐑💛