Chapter Text
Pain.
Mob groaned as he came to, everything hurt. What the hell had happened? He sat up slowly, pulling his knees to his chest and burying his head in the pocket it made, eyes firmly shut, arms wrapped tightly around his bent legs. He racked his brain, everything was covered by a deep throb in the back of his head.
It came to him then. Verity. Of course. It was always Verity. Mob remembered then. Verity had gone crazy again. Mob didn't know what triggered him this time, but he ran, got the hell out of there. Verity had followed, of course he had, it might've been foggy but Mob could remember his screams. Verity had caught him, then everything went black.
Mob lifted his head finally, cracking his eyes open to see where he was. He blinked, then shot to his feet, a move he instantly regretted as his head swam and his body tilted. He held a hand to his mouth, leaning hard against the wall for a moment, swallowing back the urge to vomit.
He shook his body, looking around as his pulse pounded in his ears, a cold sweat trickling down his back, dread creeping chilly claws up his spine. He was surrounded by obsidian, a ten by ten room of just deep purple black.
There was faint light coming from somewhere, barely enough to see by. The room was completely bare, no bed, no items, not even a carpet. He stumbled along the perimeter, leaning heavily against the walls, hands roaming every inch of them, looking for something, anything, a door, a seam, but there was nothing. Just cold glassy walls surrounding him entirely.
He stopped back where he originally woke up, or at least where he thought the spot was. He opened up his inventory, only to do a double take and grab the floating screen in a panic, breath hitching in his throat. Empty. No, no it must be a glitch. With trembling hands he closed then opened his inventory again, still empty. Fuck. How had that happened? He knew he had his tools on him, unless, had Verity gotten into his inventory? Mob didn't know he could do that. He felt sick again, legs almost buckling, a gross, icky pit swirling in his stomach.
Before he could work himself into a full panic attack he heard the whirl of pistons coming to life. The wall in front of him opened up in a two by two door, and a familiar face stepped into the light. Verity. But he was different, he had a body, his regular ball form floating above it. Verity was wearing a bright, almost garish, yellow suit with a white button down, matching yellow slacks, and white dress shoes. His signature smile was plastered on his face, although it seemed to have a smug edge to it this time. Something about Verity's new body felt familiar in a way. Something tickled in the back of Mob's mind, muffled under the pain
“Mob! You're awake!” Verity practically chirped, clapping his hands.
“Verity what the fuck? What is this?” Mob swept his hand out, gesturing to the room.
“You ran away again Mob, you said you wouldn't” Verity's tone was flat, his expression was cold now, lips peeled back in more of a sneer than a smile. Mob froze, goosebumps prickling the back of his neck. He racked his brain, trying to come up with a lie, an excuse, a reason, an appeasement. Verity cut him off before he could open his mouth. “I had to take… drastic measures Mob, you'll understand” Verity folded his arms behind his back.
“What do you mean drastic measures? Verity this is insane let me out!” Mob stepped up to Verity, only to step right back when he registered how much taller Verity was to him, the AI towering a full head and shoulders over Mob.
“This is exactly what I mean Mob” Verity grabbed Mob's head, turning it between his hands “You still don't understand. You're still trying to run away. You are mine. You need to learn that Mob, this'll help. I know everything Mob, I know this will work.” With that chilling message Verity released him and turned on his heel to march out, dress shoes clicking on the obsidian floor.
It took Mob a moment to register everything, by the time he did Verity was almost at the door. “Wait, wait Verity! Verity you can't leave me here man!” Mob scrambled forward, reaching out for the door. Verity watched, smile far too big, as the door closed just as Mob reached it. “Verity! Verity I'M SORRY! WAIT PLEASE! PLEASE LET ME OUT! VERITY, I'M SORRY!” Mob pounded on the obsidian, clawed at it hoping it'd open. It didn't. He slid back, pressed against the obsidian as the lights dimmed even more, casting him in darkness.