(( 😇 - I will write something morally challenging. consider... a situation in which he has to choose between his brothers :) ))
The thing before him, he didn’t know what to call. It disguised itself, somehow, he couldn’t explain it. Grim Reaper, Fate, the very human that’s caused the damn resets, or perhaps Time itself. It stood before him, cloaked in mystery, either hiding itself or he was unwilling to see it for what it was.
Perhaps it was none of these things, and he was giving it too much credit.
Still, something about it held him in place, it held his attention. Though he could detect no face, he could tell it was smiling. It held out a thin hand, as if in invitation.
Choose... The voice was raspy, though he didn’t really hear it. It came as if from his head. He knew it was talking.
“choose what..” He humored it, even though he didn’t want to know the answers. He was shaking, and he couldn’t explain why.
The thing, the entity, held out another hand, this one bigger. He couldn’t really see them, he just knew they were. The hands spread to either side, still inviting him to pick. They might as well have held items being offered, but he knew the hands were empty.
But in this new hand, he did see something. Or more like... an apparition. A vision. He saw something familiar, and pulled at a deep longing that had been buried. Tears struck at his eyes, and he stepped forward, reaching out his hand...
But the entity closed its hand to him, pulling it back. Sharky stopped and looked at it with puzzlement. It was smiling at him again, and wiggling a finger like a parent gently scolding a child.
It unraveled its other hand once more, and Sharky saw something else.
It was Felly, the one he had hated and grown to love. He saw the span of time as if it was happening again, yet in reality, it passed within a blink of an eye. He saw Jellie, another he held misgivings toward. He tried so hard to push away, yet somehow, somehow, the little gremlin wormed his way into his heart.
That feeling of dread grew, like a stone. He felt it sinking as Sharky stared up at the entity once more, wary and suspicious. He was composed now.
It seemed pleased by this. It can tell Sharky was catching on, and once again, it held out both its hands.
Pick your old life, keep the mistakes you’ve made. Live in misery and uncertainty, and know you all may die.
Or... It held up the first hand just a bit higher. Take back what you are owed. Start again, with the promise of joy. Choose an ending to the tale, where you are together with your brother. Your family will be happy, and safe.
“...and what of the others?” Sharky challenged.
The entity’s smile, now seeming to appear, grew wider.
No need to fret over them. It’s voice reassured. They will not remember you. Nor you, them. It is a reset. Perfect and pure. They’ll go back to where they belong, and so will you.
The dread seeped upward and into his bones. He felt it like a chill on his back. He recalled where Jellie and Felly came from, what they would have to go through. How they’ve made it this far by not being alone.
As if sensing this, his thoughts were pushed by memories. The vision in the first hand broadened and glowed. Temptingly. It beckoned him, almost begging to choose. The brother he had failed. The brother he had lost.
Sharky hadn’t realized how much closer he had stepped. He didn’t realize his hand was stretching until it was almost hovering just above it. His soul was heavy with guilt. It was heavy with regret. He had never been there like he should have, and it pushed him away.
And he wanted to. Oh how he wanted to. Long ago, at one point in his life, he probably would have, too.
But his hand lowered, and he pushed that hand away.
“nice try...” He smirked, empty and pained. “but i’ve lost that chance long ago.”
The entity seemed to pause at this, and the smile was no more.
But the opportunity is right here, within reach. It tempted him further. Why turn it aside? You could have everything you want.
For awhile, Sharky was silent. As if debating himself.
“...if there’s one thing i learned... resets... are cheats. even as many repeats you can get... it doesn’t always erase what you did.”
“no...” he shook his head again, and stepped away. “if i can choose... i choose nothing. i choose the life i have now. with the family i have. a family you’re a little short on.”
His smirk will broaden, and he shoves his hands into his pockets. There were more people involved than just Felly and Jellie. More people who’d be affected.
“this isn’t about me. it never was.”
He turned away then, on his heel, without another look at either hand. This wasn’t a game he was going to play.
He was tired of doing that.
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