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Rekrap entered the End Portal excitedly, he was glad to be back here! Sure, there was a possibility he could die.. but what's the fun of worrying about that??
He landed on the platform, immediately heading to the island with all of his friends. He was particularly thrilled to see his great friend, SB.
He knew there was someone who never made it to base– and that someone had to be SB. He just knew it. He was always that type of man. He almost admired it.
"Where's SB??" He said, turning his body in order to spot his friend.
"He doesn't exist!" Ashwagg directed his gaze to 4Cvits. Motioning his arm towards him. "It's 4C!"
Other voices can be heard covering his. "SB is dead."
No– but it couldn't be! This was SB we were talking about. The SB! He couldn't give died on him. Right?
"What!? SBs dead??" He couldn't process it. No way.
He tried to be enthusiastic about it. They were all a team now! But for what? They couldn't have just glossed over it. But they did. Rek was still thinking about it.
About him.
He started shooting at the crystals. He was focusing on defeating the Dragon. That's what they were there for after all.
Until the cannon sound could be heard.
He knew someone had died, and that someone was Taneesha.
"No!" She wasn't wearing her pumpkin. Wasn't she?
Despite this he persevered. He was going to kill this dragon. No matter what it takes.
It reminded him of the first time they did this. The memory was so vague, but it all came back. His friends dying– it was happening all over again. But why. Who made them this way?
No matter. He had a dragon to kill. And he did with the help of his team. They could work through this. They could live through this.
They all celebrated as the Dragon fell, signifying the defeat.
"Where's Wunba?" They were right. Where was Wunba? And Jaron, might he add.
"Wait, where's Loony??" He shouted. "No. No no no NO NO!" His friends can't be dead. They all can't possibly be dead.
He clutched his jacket, breathing in and out. He would've heard more cannons right??? Surely. Surely they weren't dead.
He briefly heard Mid explain about a flying machine. That was it. They had to have flown off! Maybe SB was still alive, and Loony, and Wunba, and Jaron! Even if the number didn't line up with the sounds of the cannons.
"SB is still alive!?" He exclaims. It all went back to him. He wanted to believe it. Believe that SB could win with him this time. That they could celebrate together. That no one died.
He knew that would never be possible. He knew this from a last time.
It was a foggy memory. Him, Loony, Wunba, Brock? No– He died. He died before he could fight.
That happened again with him. Dying before the end fight. But it wasn't his own this time, it was theirs. Maybe a little less meaningful– but the death still had impact.
Loony. There was always something about that guy. Something he couldn't put his finger on.
He always felt like Loony was calm. Maybe even too calm for his own liking.
Speaking of Loony..
Ashswag mentioned an invisible player. Could that be SB? He was desperate. Desperate to see him one last time. Desperate to hold him in his arms before he passed.
But it was just Loony.
It was always Loony.
"Loony!" He was still excited. Don't get me wrong! He may have been just a little disappointed. But a friend of his was still alive. That was good enough for him.
"You're alive!! Thank the heavens.."
Everyone crowded him. Yet, Rekrap still thought of SB.
"Wait– is SB alive!?" He knew deep down he wasn't. He was gone for good.
"When you heard that bell sound, that bell sound means that people didn't make it to the end in time!"
That was interesting to Rek.
On one hand, that means that maybe– just maybe– SB was alive. He just was too late.
On the other hand, how did Loony know this? He was a smart man. But in no way could he have said that with such confidence.
It perplexed him.
"No way, what?" He tried to not sound confused, worried.
"Who didn't make it?"
"It had to have been SB right?? I don't know what happened then do!!"
He hasn't seen SB his whole trip. Right. This was a trip.. Why were they here again? Loony orchestrated the whole thing. Just like last time. Why would he risk his life, their lives.. again? Did he know this was going to happen?
4Cvit admitted living under red teams base.. could SB have done that too? Maybe he went to far into a different portal and didn't make it in time.
Loony mentioned how he was the first to open the portal.
No shame to Loony. But him? Him out of all people? Him instead of SB?
He nodded along with everyone. He wanted to get this over with.
They all ran back to the lectern. Rek listening with the others as Legundo read it to them.
It worried him. He didn't want to have another near death experience like with the Ravenger.. The Wither. Not again.
"This game master character has some real issues."
Loony. Of course Loony mentioned it. Of course.
He felt. Upset almost. He wondered why. Maybe it was because SB was still in the back of his mind. Maybe because he had to be put through this game again.
He laughed along. He was one of them after all. Nothing he could do.
It was just paranoia. It had to be.
"You gave up on us Loony, what the hell!?"
Ash was upset too. He understood why. Having your teammate abandon you because he was worried about dying would've done numbers him.
"Lookout!" Was the last thing said before he died.
Loony died?
No.
But it was real. His dead body was on the ground. There was nothing he could've done to stop this.
Why.
Why did it have to be this way?
Why couldn't it had turned out any differently?
Why.
He knew there was no way to stop it, but the question lingered in his mind.
He shook his head, letting go of the thought. He had to focusing on the present, not the past. It wouldn't have mattered anyway.
None of this matters in the long run.