Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
Jon smiled leaning against the fence, his back wet from the damp fence post. It had been raining earlier, but now it was nothing but clear skies and sunshine.
                          
He took a deep breath and looked behind himself. Nick peaked his head out his door and smiled at the sight of good friend.
                          
"Hey there Jon! You're out early today!" Nick yelled cheerily walking over to the fence. 
                          
"Yeah," Jon replied looking back at the sky. "I've just been thinking. About life's greatest mysteries; about why are we here."
                          
 He felt something drip onto his shoe. He ignored it.
                          
"I don't know," Jon continued chuckling. "Maybe Don is rubbing off on me, with his whole daily 'existential crisis' he has about life." 
                          
Another drip.
                          
"Naw, I'm joking. I will say he has come a long way since he first came here. Same with everyone really."
                          
Drip.
                          
"Locket's been less crazy... or more crazy. Kinda hard to tell with him."
                          
Drip.
                          
"Beasty is somewhat concerning, but a fun guy to play cards with."
                          
Drip.
                          
"And Jonathan is alright once you get to know him, despite his insanity he has at the moment. All I know is... it's good to have you back."
                          
Multiple drips. Jon finally looked down at his shoe and was confused. Jon had thought it was just rain dripping off of the fence but no-
                          
On his shoe was glob of fleshy goop. 
                          
He felt a hand on his shoulder, sending a shiver down his spine. Slowly Jon turned to face Nick.
                          
"Is it really now?"
                          
Jon jumped back, his hands pulled up to his mouth. This thing was no longer his Nick. In fact, it didn't resemble a Nick anymore.
                          
This 'Nick'- it dripped as if it was made of wet paint or some sort of goop- almost as if it was melting. Flesh colored goop fell over it's eyes, almost engulfing the glasses it was wearing. And then there was it's mouth, which in the moment reminded Jon of an enderman; something Locket and Beasty had told him about. It's vest and shirt had melted into one form, and connecting to the torso were long arms, with 3 large claws on the end of them.
                          
"....N-Nick?" whispered Jon, his voice trembling.
                          
The creature opened it's mouth, revealing several sharp teeth. "Why would anyone want to be friends with a Nick? You certainly seemed to have forgotten me... Have you replaced me with nothing but yourself?"
                          
"No! It's-It's not like that!" Looking up at the sky Jon saw that the once clear sky had become a deep magenta color, a large red sun in the middle of it. From the sun came several tears in the sky and all around Jon. The tears contained nothing but emptiness; a void.
                          
The creature moved towards the shaking Jon. "Why did you do this Jon?" It said, almost in distress. "Why haven't you come looking for me?"
                          
Jon covered his head and his ears. "No.... this has to be another dream! It has to be! Come on Jon wake up!"
                          
"Indeed this is a dream."
                          
Jon opened his eyes reluctantly. The creature had disappeared. In it's place however was a man- a squirrel? He wore a white uniform with yellow and red accents; large white gloves and boots covered it's paws. Over his heart was an enamel pin, depicting the red sun in the sky.