Chapter Text
“Whatever you do at the crossroads, keep going forward.”
Those last few lines were like a burning hot knife poking into every part of Avery’s body, all he could do was hopelessly cry and shake like he was a stupid little child. His mascara ran down his face as he sobbed before quickly forcing his mouth shut since he realized how loud he was being. He couldn’t even begin to process what had just happened, the only person that had ever cared about him was now dead, dead because of him.
the loud banging against his door was the only sound he heard besides his own crying “Quit being so loud in there! Me and your mother are trying to watch the count down!” His step dad Randy’s voice rang out before it quickly disappeared. Avery looked at the time and date, oh right it was almost midnight, almost the New Year. And once again no calls and no texts wishing him a happy New Year, Avery continued to cry but just quieter now. He couldn’t give two shits about being alone on New Years anymore all he cared about was D3rlord3 Derek, he was dead by The King in Yellow’s hands because of him, if he hadn’t been the vessel then Derek would have never sacrificed himself. Avery kind of wishes Derek wasn’t able to push him off the platform in time, then they could’ve died to together at least.
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The 5 months that followed were absolute hell, Avery thought he was a bit depressed before but now he could barely get out of bed without using half of the energy he had for that day. And his mother constantly reminding him that he was pathetic for being 22 and still living at home wasn’t helping in the slightest, Avery didn’t even have the energy to dye his hair green again so now his dirty blonde roots were showing and his hair looked disgusting.
Avery felt incredibly guilty for living when Derek didn’t, while he had only known him for a few hours he could tell he was smart, kind, and a capable person that should’ve lived. He probably could’ve accomplished more in life then Avery ever could have, he was still living at home, kicked out of art school, and constantly hit and verbally abused by his step father and mother. Derek probably had someone or something to live for, Avery didn’t.
One night Avery’s mom was out at the bar and his step father was nowhere to be found, Avery had been bed rotting like usual and had no energy to move when suddenly he heard his phone buzz. The sound made him flinch slightly since he hadn’t heard a text message notification in a long while, Avery almost didn’t want to look at the message but the curiosity got the better of him and he hesitantly reached out to grab his phone on the bedside table. Avery stared blankly at the message as he trued to process what the hell he was looking at, the text was from an unknown number “AVERY IM AVILE! T HE KNIG IN YLLEOW TOOK OVER PATR OF MY MNID IM CONIMG FOR YOU AREVY JUST HNAG IN TREHE A BIT LNOGER” Avery continued to stare at the message in confusion before he silently put his phone back on the nightstand, he didn’t have the energy to even attempt too solve what the hell that message was.
Avery eventually dozed off somehow and he had a nightmare about that night.
”Avery what’s in your inventory.”
The words rang through Avery’s mind like bullets, and against his own will of screaming at himself to stop his body move on its own and opened his inventory.
SHOVE
Avery felt himself plummeting off the platform and falling deeper into the life claiming void below “DEREK! NOO!” Avery screeched in pure terror, he then jolted awake in a cold sweat while desperately gasping for air. He checked the time [2:00 A.M.] Avery’s eyes widened in surprise, when he dozed off it was like 11 A.M. how the hell did he sleep for 15 straight hours on good days he usually gets 3 hours of sleep.
Avery slowly and shakily got out of bed and stood up, his legs were literally quivering after not standing for a solid week. He then started making his way over to the closet of the bathroom across the hallway, Avery fished around in there before he finally grabbed some sleeping pills. He wasn’t really thinking straight, he just wanted to make the pain stop even for a little while, besides the worst case scenario he dies.
Avery unscrewed the cap and poured out like a handful of pills before going off to go find some water, the house was eerily quiet and it almost made Avery second guess leaving the upstairs of the house. “Mom…? Randy…?” Avery called out only to hear no response, whatever at least he could be alone while he took the pills.
Avery made his way down the worn stairs of his house before turning on the kitchen light and filling up a glass of water at the sink. He downed the pills with the water before he decided he was kind of hungry so he went to the fridge to check for snacks before he would eventually pass out later. As Avery rummaged through the fridge and spotted some cookies that looked tasty but suddenly the lights in the house started violently flickering, he stared up in confusion “well that can’t be good.” Avery nonchalantly stated since he was more focused on getting a snack before the pills kicked in.
The lights then all went down, after a few moments banging could heard at the front door. Avery flinched in surprise before he sleepily started making his way over to answer the door, he could feel the sleeping pills starting to kick in but he pushed down the drowsiness. Avery figured it was probably his mom coming home after being drunk at the bar so he didn’t even hesitate to open the door, standing there was a slightly wet from the rain D3rlord3. He had a poker face on but Avery could feel a sense of anxiousness coming off of D3rlord3, sadly for him however since Avery had never seen what D3rlord3 looked like in real life he had no idea why this supposedly random guy was standing on his door staring into his soul.
”Can I help you?” Avery’s tone was flat and annoyed but it was slurred from how tired he was getting from the pills he took earlier.
“Let me in.”
”What?”
”damn it Avery let me in…!”
”how the heck do you know my name?”
”oh my god- it’s me! D3rlord3! Derek!”
Avery froze at the sound of D3rlord3 Derek’s name, “you're not him.” Avery backed away shakily “Avery are you ok? You look like you just crawled out of a ditch.” Derek started approaching Avery but he kept a distance since Avery seemed distressed right now. “You’re not him! Derek is dead!” Avery cried out before grabbing a knife off the kitchen counter. “Hey! Avery! Avery listen to me! I know this situation is insane and you’re not in a good headspace right now but you cannot stab me over it!” Avery shook from the sleeping pills he took as his body fought the need to sleep with adrenaline, “You’re not Derek! I saw him die with my own two eyes! Who are you?!” Avery started approaching Derek while holding the knife
“Avery, drop the knife or I will use force!” Avery however did not cease, once he was in grabbing distance Derek suddenly shot out his hand and grabbed onto the knife to wrestle it out of Avery’s hand. The sound of the metal hitting hard against the floor was the indication that Derek succeeded, Avery struggled against Derek’s grip sluggishly, he was annoyed at himself for taking all those sleeping pills earlier since now he definitely did not have a fighting chance against Derek.
Derek then thrusted Avery up before sliding him over his shoulder so now Avery was stuck in an awkward upside down position. He squirmed and tried to punch Derek in the ribs but the angle he was at didn’t allow him to do so, “quit it, I’ll explain everything in the morning I swear!” He then made his way up the stairs and into the room he assumed was Avery’s.
Avery struggled in his grip “the morning?! Why can’t you tell me now!” Derek then dumped Avery on the bed “because you look like you’re about to pass out, you need sleep then maybe you can comprehend the fucked up situation I’m in.” Derek paused, realizing his words were coming out sort of harsh. He rubbed his temples in hopes of soothing the agonizing headache he had “sorry… I uh… I’m just frustrated I’ve been in a lot of pain lately.”
Derek got into bed with Avery before covering them both with the blankets, Avery sank into the bed tiredly, he slowly turned his eyes to Derek as he moved closer to Avery and started cuddling him awkwardly as a form of comfort.
“I-I hate you so much… you made me think you were dead for 5 months how could you…”
“I know, I know. And I’m sorry, I’ll explain everything in the morning.”
Avery then finally fell asleep while Derek held him gently, maybe he wasn’t so alone in this world after all.