บท 13: Blast from the Past
In the grand, sprawling mansion, N found solace within the walls of the library, surrounded by shelves of ancient tomes and hidden knowledge.
Lost in the world of "101 Dog Breeds," a book that lay open on a polished mahogany table, N's eyes danced across the pages, absorbing captivating details of each canine companion.
"This breed," N mused, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, "is known for its friendly, intelligent temperament, and soft golden coat!"
A soft chuckle escaped his lips, resonating within the hallowed space of the library. N trailed off, momentarily captivated by a curious drawing nestled amidst the pages. "Us as lizards. J drew herself."
N sent the drawing fluttering from his fingertips and landing casually aside. Returning his attention to the book, N cleared his throat before continuing, "...are also known for having gentle mouths. Aw...! That's why they're good with kids!"
Suddenly, a thunderous stomping noise shattered the tranquility of the library. N's gaze shot towards the source of the disturbance, witnessing books cascading from the shelves like a waterfall of knowledge.
There, a trapdoor quivered under the forceful attempts of an intruder seeking entry. However, N, unfazed by the chaos unfolding, simply flashed a nonchalant peace sign before gracefully turning away, leaving the enigma of the library behind.
In the midst of a changing scene, the ambiance shifted to a quaint tea room, where an unsuspecting insect traversed the delicate curves of a porcelain teacup, its minuscule form drawn to the fragrant liquid within.
With a swift and decisive motion, the bartender, a figure named Cyn, uttered a single word, "Stab," punctuating the air as her tail impaled the tiny creature, swiftly ending its journey.
As the insect's life came to an abrupt halt, N entered the scene, greeted by the sight of Cyn's bold act. "You appear perturbed, my dear older brother N," Cyn remarked, her voice devoid of any type of distinguishable emotion.
"You seem upset, big brother N. Perhaps you'd like to attend the gala with me? Light sip." She added, narrating her own action with a touch of whimsy as she indulged in her drink.
N hesitated, mulling over the offer. "Ah... Not sure we're invited, little buddy. Why not just hang with me?" He proposed, seeking a simpler, more familiar camaraderie.
"Climbing. Cris-cross applesauce." Cyn proclaimed, embodying her peculiar tendencies as she nimbly ascended the expanse of the bar table, assuming a cross-legged position.
It was a manifestation of Cyn's idiosyncratic nature, rendering her actions both endearing and unconventional. "Am I not wanted, N?" She inquired.
N sighed, his eyes filled with a mix of weariness and affection. "Dude... you know it's Tessa's family," he murmured, reminding Cyn of the constraints that bound them.
In an unexpected twist, crimson droplets, likely remnants of spilled blood, descended from the ceiling, splattering onto N's platter.
Hastily wiping away the liquid, a message materialized, etched across the ceiling in bold strokes. "BASEMENT NOW!!! STOP IGNORING ME!!!!" it demanded, its urgency undeniable, shattering the tranquility of the tea room.
Unfazed by the urgent plea etched above, N brushed off the disconcerting message, nonchalantly casting the platter aside, his exasperation evident in yet another weary sigh.
"Don't give me those eyes," he pleaded, attempting to deflect the weight of Cyn's gaze. Or more so, what was over it.
Adorning her vision with an endearing puppy picture, Cyn responded with a simple utterance. "Giggle," she said, despite the absence of any actual laughter. Her voice, trapped in a mechanical monotone, betrayed a peculiar contrast to her playful nature.
"I am so naughty," she continued, her words flowing forth like programmed recitations. "The flesh demands invitation."
N's face brightened, a glimmer of hope entering his eyes. "Ah, we'll ask Tessa, OK? If not... Movie night!" he suggested, infusing his words with an infectious enthusiasm.
In response, Cyn offered a sheepish nod, announcing, "Sheepish nod," an acknowledgement of her agreement to his proposition.
N and Cyn crossed the threshold into the opulent eating lounge, where the vibrant gala was in full swing. With N leading the way, Cyn trailed behind, her movements punctuated by a mechanical monotone as she narrated her actions.
"Shuffle. Shuffle. Shuffle. Shuffle," she recited, each step bearing an otherworldly rhythm.
In close proximity, a human figure named James erupted in discontent, his voice echoing through the air.
"Western Villa style?! Were you programmed by beasts?!" he exclaimed, his frustration palpable as he forcefully hurled a fork, aimed with precision, into the unsuspecting eyes of the Worker Drone.
Sensing the presence of human guests, Tessa, one of the few individuals who extended warmth and acceptance to the automatons, alerted her robot companion, J.
"There's humans coming! I've only ever interacted with robots, J! Quick! Pretend to be a ripping royal stud!" She urgently advised, her concern evident in her voice.
Responding to Tessa's guidance, J embraced a facade of royalty, adopting a poised and proper demeanor. "On ya, girl." Tessa complimented, their glasses clinking in a toast.
However, the jovial atmosphere abruptly shifted when Tessa's arm, now afflicted with discomfort, prompted a momentary pause.
"I'm alright, J," Tessa assured, attempting to dispel any worry. Yet, as her gaze shifted, she caught sight of N's arrival. Overwhelmed with excitement, she dashed towards him, her hands reaching out to grasp his cheeks, twirling him in a carefree display of affection. "N!"
"Hi Tessa." N stammered, caught off guard by the sudden attention, a blush warming their cheeks. However, as N glanced past Tessa's shoulder, a message scrawled on a nearby window caught their attention, the words etched with an air of urgency:
WHEN U ABOUT 2 FRIKKEN DIE, SPEAK ALOUD: IDs: DarkXWolf17 & BestNukeSibEver.
Oblivious to the urgent message N had witnessed on the window, Tessa's voice trailed off as she caught sight of Cyn's presence. "Oh, who'd you bring with-" she began, her words tapering off as her gaze settled upon Cyn, an unexpected figure in their midst.
"Seems J forgot to let me out of my basement time-out again." Cyn remarked, her voice devoid of emotion, as if reciting a mere fact.
"Yet, here you are," J retorted, her tone laced with unmistakable irritation, her expression mirroring her vexation.
Cyn's response was simple, but layered with irony. "Annoyed expression," she stated, even though her own countenance remained unaltered.
Concern creased N's brow as he processed the unfolding situation. "You guys are... locking her up?" He inquired, his worry seeping into his words.
Tessa's features contorted, realization dawning upon her. "Oh... N-" she began, abruptly aware of the gravity of the secret J had inadvertently revealed.
"Tessa James Elliott!" Luisa, Tessa's mother, interjected, her voice resonating with authority. "We will not entertain your dumpster pets!"
"Y-Y-Y-Yes, mother. Sorry, mother." Tessa stammered, her words punctuated by a mix of fear and contrition.
A piercing exclamation escaped Louisa's lips, her voice carrying a mix of shock and exasperation as she laid eyes on Cyn.
"Oh! Christ Almighty!" she screamed, the intensity of her emotions evident in her words. "I explicitly said, 'This one, remove from my sight!' Can you not follow the simplest of orders?"
Tessa, desperate to intervene and explain, attempted to interject, but her words were swiftly silenced, drowned out by Louisa's unyielding authority.
"Swamp." Louisa declared, her voice laced with a venomous determination. "Dumping your broken drones clogging our library tomorrow, too. Don't test me." With those final words, she stormed away in a cloud of frustration.
Tessa yearned to argue back, to defend the misunderstood automatons, but she knew that further provoking her mother would only yield dire consequences.
However, Cyn, in an unexpected show of defiance, spoke up, halting Louisa in her tracks. "They are not broken." She proclaimed, her words cutting through the air with unwavering conviction. "We can no longer be thrown out."
Louisa, her temperature rising under the weight of Cyn's rebellion, sensed a glimmer of defiance emanating from the automaton. "Did that little Antichrist-" she began, her voice trembling with fury.
"-I-I told her to say that! And brought her here. I-I just... hate orders...?" N interjected, his voice tinged with nervousness.
As he stepped forward, his anxiety grew, yet he mustered a sheepish grin, albeit one that quickly faded in the face of Louisa's boiling rage. "And your fan's dumb...?" he remarked, his tone hinting at both remorse and apprehension.
With a jarring shift in the scene, N found himself bound to a gnarled tree, surrounded by a horde of ravens hungrily feasting upon his metal exoskeleton. "NO! AAAH! STOP!" he screamed, his pleas echoing through the air.
Yet, amidst the chaos and what appeared to be torment, N's body convulsed with laughter, tickled by the relentless pecks. "Stop! Haha!" he managed to utter, his voice laced with both amusement and an odd sense of enjoyment.
In a surreal twist, one raven extended a stick towards N, seemingly inviting him to engage in a game. "Go get it, goobers!" N exclaimed, his laughter intermingling with his words as he tossed the stick into the air, only to have it snatched away by another mischievous raven.
Suddenly, all the ravens on the ground abruptly turned their gaze toward N, their eyes emanating an eerie, sinister glow of haunting green.
Casting a desperate glance toward a fellow Drone who shared a similar plight, N offered a feeble thumbs up to the ravens, a futile attempt to establish camaraderie.
However, his gesture was met with swift retaliation as the ravens intensified their assault, unleashing a barrage of vicious pecks upon his defenseless form. "RONALD, WE WERE BUDDIES!" N cried out, his words laced with a mixture of betrayal and anguish.
In the midst of the relentless attack, a surge of recognition flooded N's mind, triggered by a hazy memory of the message he had encountered on the window. "...DarkXWolf17...BestNukeSibEver...?"
Miraculously, the ravens abruptly ceased their assault, dispersing into the sky, as a regal raven and an eagle burst onto the scene with an audacious entrance.
The two majestic creatures twitched, momentarily grounded, before rising once more. A neon green light emitted from their left eyes, casting an ethereal glow upon the scene.
The raven, identified by the user ID DarkXWolf17, unexpectedly spoke in Uzi's voice. "I made the tag when I was eight, shut up." She retorted, a hint of defiance coloring her words.
The eagle, known as Y/N, chimed in as well, their gender indeterminate, their tone carrying an enigmatic quality. "Uzi came up with mine. I really like it," they remarked, their voice resonating with intrigue.
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