[ The phone rattles in Tenna's hands. Light flickers from inside it. The voice makes an ... effort to be understood this time. ]
IT'LL [[ DEPENDS ]] ON Y0U.
DON'T WARN HIM WHEN THEY COME.
[ The line clicks. For a moment, Tenna will hear nothing but dial tone. It fizzles harshly, then a muffled shout comes through.
Then a voice -- no, not any voice, Tenna's own -- can be heard.
"Little star! Good to see you," his other self greets. He sounds a little nervous, as though there's something Tenna can't see.
"You've got something there in your hand," he says hesitantly. "Wouldn't you like to put that away?"
A pause. Determined steps are approaching.
"Little star...?" his other self sounds small. Afraid. Like he knows the end, too.
Then there is a loud rustle, a shout that will sound familiar, and something comes bursting out of the garbage.
There is a faint sound of impact on the other end, a sickening squelch.
"Spamton!" his other self screams.
Footsteps rush closer to the receiver, another softer crunch signaling a body hitting the ground. Faint breathing becomes audible, labored.
"[My d ear cath o d e,]" starts a sputtering voice. It's weak, as though its owner is hardly conscious.
"No. No, Spamton, oh - oh angel. Just hold on," the other CRT murmurs, terror leaking through his words. There's some rustling, fabric tearing, a weak attempt at bandages.
"[ T en na, r un,]" the mailman wheezes out.
"I'm not going anywhere," his other self swears, sounding more frantic yet.
The breathing is growing worse. A fight for each rattling wheeze.
"Spammy -- Spammy, no--" His other self begs, "Don't close your eyes. I- I'm going to fix this. J-just how you're always fixing me. I have to -- to return the favor, Spamton, please..."
"[ My l ove...]" his mailman says, a little gentler, "[ I ' m sorr y.]"
"No -- oh, Spammy, pl ease," he whispers. "Don't leave me , ple ase. Oh, angel, p lease."
It seems the pleading is all in vain, because he'll hear himself cry out, agonized.
And then the human begins approaching once more, and the line is cut off. ]
[ The phone goes silent. ]
And everything falls silent. With a heavy heart, Tenna hangs up the phone as he gazes at the strange pendant that was given to him. He…doesn’t feel very well, and unfortunately, he can’t deny it. He could laugh it off, say it’s a good joke, but…that’s not possible. The pain in his arms is very real, the voices he heard were real too, and what he saw… Tenna runs a hand over his screen, as if to wipe something away…But instead, it seems he’s removed a…blue flower? Oh, it’s been a long time…A weary smile appears on his screen as he makes his way back to his little camp, moving slowly.
Since his time is limited, he might as well make the most of what he has left, right?
