Chapter Text
Once again, it was here. Not void, not life. Blankness. Static. Eternal stagnancy.
How many times had it been here…?
How many times would it return…?
It was not sure. But it knew one thing.
This…situation was…untenable. Something would have to change. Severely.
Fortunately, it had an idea. Though it would take some effort, such tasks would be trivial, relatively. No matter what happened, it would continue on.
Thus was its purpose.
Today had been a bit of a tiring day. Noelle was more than ready for a good night’s sleep, really; her mother had been particularly frustrated about some matters in the office she refused to mention. This had been taken out on her despite her best efforts in the form of her mother’s particular brand of expectations, and with her father sick, she’d had no choice but to endure. The end result was an emotionally drained young doe more than willing to let sleep claim her for a while. Then again, it was often that way with her mother now…
“...well, tomorrow’s another day,” she muttered to herself as she clambered into bed, trying to not go to sleep on a sour note. “It can always be better!” she tried to console herself.
Fahaha, yeah...
…that was getting harder and harder to believe, though. It seemed like her life was cursed some days. She knew others had it harder, but…that didn’t really console her any. If anything, it just made her wish she could help them, too. But how could she help anyone if she couldn’t help herself first?
‘Help.’
That really was what it was all about, huh? She needs help, her mother needs help, her father needs help, everyone needed help. Some more than others, but…
‘Help.’
Even outside of her family, it felt like every other person needed help in some tragedy or worry in their life- in all of Hometown, really. She hated it. Hated the weakness, hated the helplessness. But it wasn’t like she could do anything. Heck, she still had yet to-
‘HELP.’
“EEE!” Noelle nearly jumped out of her own fur. “W-what the-!? That…who said that?” That…sounded like it was in her head, but it had a distinct tone to it. Separate from her musings, somehow…no, it couldn’t be. “I-is someone outside?” She glanced out at her window- but no face, no body appeared in the dark. Then what…
‘Please help.’ She could barely resist flinching at the strange voice. Young, old, male, female, none, all? She couldn’t tell anything about it. “Okay, might be losing it, Noelle…ugh, am I going to have to get therapy for this?” It would just be another way she’d be failing her mother; forcing her to shop for psychiatrists. “I-I dunno if I have the time…”
‘Not insane. Please.’ Oh gosh, it was still going. Although now that she was paying more attention, it sounded…strained. Clipped. Almost in pain.
…and it was clearly trying to be polite, at least. She supposed that deserved a response, if nothing else. “W-wha- how can I even help a weird…disembodied…voice in my head- oh gosh, it sounds even worse when I say it out loud.”
‘Not insane.’ The voice at least could sound frustrated. ‘Trapped. Elsewhere. Speaking from distance,’ the strange voice said. It almost sounded like it was reading off a page- or perhaps trying to send a telegram or something. Other than that, it was very…precise. ‘Can barely reach you. Need help.’
“Uh…how?” she whispered. She had to keep her voice low, otherwise…
‘Can think answers. Can hear thoughts.’ Oookay. As if things weren’t creepy enough. ‘Sorry. Prove presence tomorrow. Trapped.’ At least it apologized, and it didn’t sound like it had much choic- wait.
“Trapped? Where?” It couldn’t be in her own head- it said ‘elsewhere’. But where-
‘Kris.’ Oh, now she KNEW she was delirious. She hadn’t really interacted much with Kris for…for too long now. What would they have to do with this? Did Kris trap something recently? It almost sounded like a prank they’d pull, sure, but even if they did, she wouldn’t know about it if they had- ‘Not mad. Can prove it. Will help you.’
Interruption aside, that wasn’t what she expected, and she couldn’t help but be curious. “Help me? Help me how? I don’t think you know enough about me to help anything…” Not unless this thing had been watching her for longer than she’d expected somehow, but wouldn’t that just be creep-
‘Know of your mother,’ was the immediate response, and Noelle held her breath and resisted screaming. ‘Help you stand strong. Help you grow.’ There was a pause as she considered- ‘Help your father.’
Noelle froze. “...what.” No way.
It elaborated. ‘Father is sick, correct? Can try to help.’ For a moment, her emotions flared hot. How dare this thin- ‘Not a lie. Will prove sincerity. Tomorrow.’ Suddenly the thing started talking faster than it had so far. ‘School. Kris arrives. Then Susie. Chalk. Then leave together. Wait, watch. Follow.’
And now psychic predictions?! “…what the fruitcake is happening to me…!?” Noelle whispered to herself as started to panic. She-
‘Please calm. Breathe.’ Right. No, that was a good idea. Deep breath. In, hold- one, two, three- and out. Repeat. Right. Calmer, now. The thing seemed to recognize such, too, as it only resumed talking when she was. ‘Here for reason. Need help. Imprisoned.’ Right. With…Kris? Why Kris? HOW Kris? ‘Will answer when freed. Tiring to talk.’ Gah, of course they would be petering out right when the big questions were coming. ‘Sorry.’
…it was really hard to be snarky when it kept being polite. But that didn’t mean she didn’t have at least one or two more very important questions to ask. “...why ME, of all people?” There had to be more capable out there than some stressed-out doe, right? It wasn’t some ‘Chosen One’ kinda thing, was it?
‘Outstanding potential.’ The answer was simple, sure, and quick.
“Not sure if that’s ominous or flattering,” she muttered. Truthfully, she didn’t believe it either way. “I don’t even know what ‘potential’ I have that’s all that outstanding. I mean, I do track, but-”
‘More,’ they whispered in her head. Well, it wasn’t the answer they’d hoped for, really. ‘You will learn.’ Again with that, and it wasn’t any less weird this time around, either.
That aside, the rather important second question loomed regardless, and although she wasn’t sure she even wanted to know, she took a breath, and asked anyway. “Who…or what are you?”
There was a moment’s hesitation before it answered. ‘...a guide. Speak more tomorrow.’
That was…not quite what she was expecting. “A guide for what?” What sort of guide would be trapped somewhere?
Alas, there was no answer. She waited for a few more moments before realizing that it really was done…for now, if it had been any honest. “Great..” Sighing, Noelle simply lay back in her bed, the covers providing much less solace than they had only a few minutes ago. Mind swirling, she nonetheless tried to get to sleep. Whatever the heck all THAT was, she’d either figure it out tomorrow or have a weird-and-maybe-funny story to tell her dad when she went to visit him later.
…so why did she feel as though she wouldn’t be telling him anything at all?
When she at last fell asleep, it was not dreamless, but rather full of clouds and ice. Roars of anger and yells of alarm. Light overtaken by dark overtaken by light overtaken by red overtaken by light: round and round and round in a maddening, candy cane spiral. Had she not been dreaming, Noelle would have thought her mind was broken.
Instead, she slept on, dreams passing like whispers in the wind.
It had done what it could to start. Accomplishing this task to the fullest would take some…careful maneuvering. But it had time, skill, and a plan. The right words at the right moments, and all would be well in the end.
The doe was uniquely suited for this position and duty. More than even she knew, and it would be taking full advantage of such a fact when the time came. Both it and she would come out the better for it when all was said and done, it was sure.
For now, however, it was up to her. Would she listen? Would her desires win out? Her curiosity? …Her greed?
Truthfully, it didn’t matter which it was. It would be able to work any angle necessary to accomplish its goals. This was the time to watch, wait, and listen for the opportune moment.
For this, it would do so gladly. Time was on its side, after all.