Chapter Text
Two Time’s head hurt. It hurt a lot.
It was all too sudden when the bright purple was overpowered by dim red.
Before Two Time could breathe, a dark limb tore through their lungs. The dagger, which they held so dear, was embedded in the carved muscles that showed through the thin layer of purple; no amount of strength they could exert would release it.
The pain seeped in slowly at first, before condemning Two Time with excruciation so unforgettable that every nerve screamed and gasped for it to stop.
His eyes were quite cold - perhaps that was why he wanted to steal Two Time’s warmth. Ears beginning to ring, they could make out words evidently coming from the hat.
“Oh…OH! Look who it is! THE MURDERER! The one that BETRAYED me. Do you remember? How you DESTROYED EVERYTHING?” The voice dripped with a different kind of rage - one that only resulted from being stabbed in the back.
“Still killing in the afterlife, huh? It seems like you don’t remember me at all, do you?” Giggles and maniacal laughter drowned out the howls of the night.
“We could’ve been SO much more. But YOU decided to end it YOURSELF.” Two Time’s body was dangling mid-air, lifted by the tentacle that stabbed through their chest. Their eyes were getting bleary, and the scene in front of them became a blur of black, purple, and red.
Their head hurt. It hurt so much.
Body flung away, Two Time closed their eyes before their back found familiar wood. They had died. Against a new killer, losing was practically inevitable. Though loops were incredibly effective against anyone, they were bound to fail due to not knowing the killer’s abilities. Plus, Two Time was unable to pull out their dagger after stunning him. Was it because of their own weakness, or was it intentional design?
Two Time would have to wait until the post-round discussion. Once again, they clasped their hands together in a fervent prayer. Though they had momentarily forgotten while fighting, it was true that the Spawn had descended in a form Two Time was allowed to comprehend. Their heart beat faster - it was a dream come true. They barely noticed that the two survivors who died before them were already talking.
Dusekkar spoke calmly to a frustrated Shedletsky on the main couch.
“Venturing must be done with care, for we had fallen into the killer’s lair.”
“It was a new map, Matt! I can’t be right all the time, y’know.” From their conversation, it was easy to discern that Shedletsky likely led both of them to their death while trying to find generators. Strangely, Two Time hadn’t processed that they were on a new map until now.
Shedletsky caught Two Time out of the corner of his eye.
“And how did you die? You got your second life and all that.”
“Divine Pumpkin, Admin! You must listen - the Spawn had just descended upon us! It has come to reward my worship! The Spawn’s love truly does last forever! You must’ve seen it for yourself. After all, such an ethereal carving is sure to garner attention!” Two Time gushed with a newfound sparkle in their eyes. There were millions of stars swimming in their irises, and their jubilance shone like a sun the realm had been missing.
The distaste on Dusekkar’s face made the air turn sour, though Two Time had taken no notice. He chose to say nothing, perhaps as a way of swallowing his disgust. Shedletsky laughed awkwardly and tried to shift the conversation away from the topic.
“So…new killer, huh? Got all those tentalces and stuff. Anything you guys notice about his abilities? I know there were poison traps, ‘cause I stepped on a patch of purple flowers and my health started dropping. Then I kinda just died.” Shedletsky had a slightly disappointed smile, not having been able to eat any chicken that round.
“Our newest foe moves with great haste; the dark tentacles do aid in chase.” Dusekkar forced his mind temporarily off the cultist to focus on the matter at hand.
“Riight. I did kind of see him fling himself towards me with tentacles before I died. And what did you see, Two Time?... Two Time?” The pair quickly realized the cultist had already left the conversation, much to Dusekkar’s ease.
Two Time rushed out of the cabin with renewed joy.
Once again, they found themself by the dock.
In deep devotion, they knelt and prayed with more passion than they had ever before. It is not often that the Spawn itself descends to reward its followers. But Two Time supposed that their worship had finally been noticed. Finally.
—-
What felt like hours had passed by the time Two Time was called to the cabin by Builderman. Their legs and knees were sore, but no physical pain would keep them apart from their god. Builderman, having witnessed the sight of Two Time discovering the statue of the Spawn, kept mostly silent.
Together, they entered the main cabin, where everyone had a plate in front of them and seemed to be deep in discussion.
“He doesn’t seem to be able to talk with his mouth. I saw that he had a zipper.” Elliot explained from one corner of the table.
“Doesn’t 1x have a zipper mouth too? They talk just fine!” Shedletsky added, stuffing his mouth with pizza.
“Okay, at least we can conclude that this killer is some kind of poison trap in the shape of flowers, a moving ability that flings him forward, and a special attack that lets him stretch one of his tentacles farther than usual. Anyone notice passives?” Guest listed off the things they had discussed so far. Silence fell at Guest’s question.
To everyone’s surprise, Two Time took the initiative to speak.
“I believe the Spawn had blessed him with a reduced stun duration passive!” They exclaimed happily. A few survivors were confused at their beaming happiness that contrasted with their unfortunate news.
“The moment my dagger sank into his back, I was unable to pull it out! And then I got stabbed by a tentacle while trying to get it out. It seems he has the Spawn’s protection.” Everyone remembered how the new killer had the same Spawn symbol printed on his chest.
“Furthermore, the stun duration was greatly reduced!”
“Really? My stun worked just fine.” Guest wondered. “Chance, did you notice anything different about your shot?”
Chance grabbed his coin mid-air.
“Nope, worked fine. And I made sure it wasn’t the gun’s fault ‘cause I actually got three charges this time.” He grinned as he continued to take bites out of his pizza. Builderman piped up, “Sentry worked just fine.”
It went unsaid, but it seemed that the reduced stun duration passive affected only Two Time; it was obvious even without confirming with Shedletsky.
“I assume that means I am only able to stun once per round, and for a reduced duration. It seems the Spawn wills for me to overcome this new challenge!” The other survivors were disturbed by Two Time’s warped face, while they were overcome with a fit of giggles at their new realization.
“Seems like Azure has something against ya after all, kid,” Chance teased.