Chapter 35

One by one the others came tumbling down the slide, but Caine quickly snapped his fingers to add a landing pad at the end. As everyone gathered and stood up you curiously looked over at Caine wondering why he hadn't teleported everyone back yet.

"Now time for the reward! Since you all did so well in my winding wacky maze. You get full access to—"

Bubble opened their mouth and a drum roll came out as a bright neon portal opened behind Caine.

You look at Bubble slightly concerned, "I didn't even know he could do that."

The distant echo of carnival music played through the portal, causing your eyes to widen. The smell of fresh popcorn, fried Oreos, hot dogs,  fries, fried chicken, and funnel cake wafted through. Dozens of rides were scattered about what looked like a cartoonish mall parking lot. Bright bouncy fun lights illuminated the entrance in pops of yellow, red, and blue.

"No f*^%ing way." You stand there, jaw gaping.

You all began running into the portal. Kinger nearly tripping over his cloak from the sheer excitement. While Gangle wrapped a ribbon around Zooble's hand smiling wide. Everyone rushed forward into the portal, eager to explore.

Caine flew down to pick you up by the waist, and stole you away into a fun neon world made solely with you in mind. Seeing the wonder and amazement in your eyes never failed to lift his spirits to impossible heights. You'd become the pinnacle of his work. The sole reason for his creations to exist. And to see you light up finally after weeks of dread and depression meant the world to him.

Jax stood before the grand display and looked over at you and Caine, "You know. You're pretty good at making these adventures— sometimes."

Caine's eyes watered, droplets spilling onto you. You gently wipe his tears only to realize the substance was a bit more sticky than you'd thought it would be. You cringe and fling the sticky thick substance onto the pavement.

'Is that— his spit or tear drops...?'

Deciding not to dwell on it for too long you direct your focus back to the rides before you. Just a few feet away Damien watches as you're swept off your feet by Caine's kind gesture. He can't fight this unnerving feeling deep down that Caine wasn't keeping your best interest in mind. Sometimes he caught glimpses of a possessive glare shooting his way when their eyes met. As if Caine was daring him to interfere with what he considered his.

Your squeals of joy melted Damien's heart. The corners of his lips turned upwards as a small smile formed. The childish excitement and passion you held was one of his favorite things about you. The way you'd never let the world dim your light.

As Caine set you down flashes of the night he defiled you appeared. You felt your laughter pause momentarily as your heart rate increased. You recall the sting of pain that once ripped through you.

"Hey y/n, you alright?" Caine goes to hold your hand, but you recoil in fear. Your eyes wide as saucers stare back at a now confused and concerned Caine.

"Do you not like it?" Caine worries he missed something.

"Oh uh —I — ah— it's not that I just." You stumble over the words. Unable to find the best excuse.

"I just got a bit dizzy after all those portals and slides! Don't mind me." You came up with a horrible lie.

Despite the excuse being barely passable, Caine believed you. Though he did his best to understand you he was still just an AI incapable of understanding human emotions entirely. In Caine's mind that day seemed light years away now. In his mind it was over and the matter was resolved.

Though the others had already run off into the park Damien had stayed back. Remaining nearby to you and caught onto the scene. His jaw tightened and his fists clenched as anger rose in his chest. Despite the feeling welling up wishing to break to the surface he sighed instead, releasing the tension from his hands and face. Deciding that intervening right now would only lead to a repeat.

Meanwhile off in the distance Jax had eagerly run up to a darts booth and began throwing darts so recklessly that one found itself stuck in an NPC's face. The wooden mannequin simply handed him more darts to try again, but Jax had taken advantage of the limitless supply and 'accidentally' lodged a few more in the NPCs face.

"Congratulations! You've now scored enough points for a prize young man. What would you like to get for your lovely lady?"

"My —uh— yea I — waddaya want Pom Pom?" Jax looked over at Pomni as his cheeks turned red.

"Oh—uh. Could I get the (insert favorite squishmallow)" Pomni poked her fingers together awkwardly.

The NPC tilted his head to the side, "What was that? I couldn't hear you over all the darts."

A dart fell from the NPCs head as his head tilted. Jax leaned over the counter sighing slightly annoyed. He sighed before yanking darts from the mannequin NPC's head.

"Listen. She wants the (favorite squishmallow) buddy."

The NPC perked up, "Oh thank you! Why of course. A fine choice."

The NPC then hands Pomni a grumpy looking frog plushie. Jax looked over confused as Pomni hesitantly took the frog plushie.

"That isn't— what we..." Pomni slowly stopped speaking and just glanced from the plushie to Jax again. Jax letting out a lengthy sigh, "Look pal. She asked for the (favorite squishmallow)."

The NPC interrupted Jax, "Sorry you'll have to play again to get another!"

Jax threw his hands up in the air, "What a rip off! This games busted."

Pomni giggled at his reaction. Jax suddenly stopped grumbling as he got an idea, "Hey CAAAAIIIINNEEE!!"

Suddenly Caine heard Jax's call, perking up. He looked back to you, "Sorry my dear! It seems like I'm needed over at the darts booth. I'll be back in a jiffy!"

You smile weakly, "Take your time! I think I need a second anyway. I'll call you back over in a little bit."

He nodded before zipping away, "Help is on the way Jax~!"

As Caine appeared before the NPC he curiously looked at Pomni and Jax, "Nice! You won the froggy. That's my personal favorite too."

Jax sighed, "Yea that's the problem. She didn't want the frog. She wanted (insert favorite squishmallow.)"

Caine rested his hand under his jaw tapping thoughtfully, "I see."

He looked back at the NPC puffing his chest out, "I'll win it for you Pomni!"

Jax's eyebrows twitched, "Can't you just make him give it to you or something?"

Caine shook his head side to side quickly, "Why heavens no!! That'd be cheating. And as an excellent leader I simply cannot do that."

And with that Caine had begun trying to pop the balloons before him.

As soon as Caine had left your side Damien began internally debating on if he should speak to you. Immense guilt had been plaguing him ever since that day in the candy kingdom. His foot steps would start then stop. A back and forth raced through his mind, until he had finally decided to approach,

"Hey."

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