Episode 18: The Last Time...
(Four months ago: Playcare dimension)
He couldnāt shake this feeling that something was wrong. Heād been staring at the same sheet of paper for the past hour, unable to focus on any of the words that are important for his signature at the bottom. He needed to get up, he needed to go check. Check on what? He didnāt know but he needed to go.
Cyrus pushed back his swivel chair, wheels squeaking as they moved across the wooden floors, and stood. Opening the office door, he was immediately blinded by the bright lights in the hallway, realizing just how dark he kept the office.Ā
He liked working in the dim lighting. It felt more private and comfortable.Ā
He blinked his eyes a few times, rubbing the space between them with an irritated groan as he began making his way down the hall. He found himself squinting until his eyes started to adjust to the light.
The way Playcare was set up was like a maze of color and noise. The main area was about three stories tall with bright lights and lots of colors, allowing room for the large statue in the middle, the stage, cafeteria, and the many interactive areas for the kids. Then it branched off into different sections. The theater, gym, and āmuseumā were the largest, followed by other smaller rooms.
The biggest area was Paulaās, the āmuseumā. This large maze is full of interactive exhibits and educational activities. It was their most popular area where most of the staff was.Ā
Cyrus could see Paula standing by the entrance from the glass elevator as he went down. She was helping one of her younger students gather up their things as others started to leave with their parents.
Cyrus hadnāt realized that it was the end of the day already. He had spent most of the day in the office bent over paperwork.
The elevator reached the first floor, metallic red doors opening with a ding, and Cyrus stepped out. He looked back towards Paulaās area, seeing her wave her student goodbye as they ran off to join their waiting parents. She seemed fine, tired from the dayās events, but fine.Ā
Cyrus turned his head to the other side, looking towards the large glamorous entrance of the Theater. He caught sight of Celesteās teal hair disappearing behind a curtain. He was about to make his way over when he heard the loud, familiar yell of their DJ.Ā
āYo, Cyrus, where you been?ā Metronome asked loudly as he walked over, āYou havenāt been cooped up in your office again, have you? You know Darlinā doesnāt like it when you do that.ā
Metronome hooked his arm around Cyrusās neck, pulling him down to his eye level. Cyrus stumbled a bit at the sudden movement, leaning down with Metronomeās arm.
āI got distracted,ā He excused.
āAs usual. I worry about you sometimes, man. Youāve been spending more time in your office than anywhere else since Delilah and Arthur disappeared.āĀ
ā...Would you rather do it? All that paperworks and maintenance and the meetings.ā
āYeah, no,ā Metronome replied with a laugh, āBut seriously, itās been like a year and a half and we still havenāt found new managers or heard about those two.ā
āThe Murrays have their own things to worry about and David hasnāt graduated yet,ā Cyrus said, āI decided itād be best that I take over those responsibilities until David says heās ready.ā
āDamn, youāre no fun anymore. Maybe you should come hang out with me and Paula tonight. Weāre going to a new club near the beach.ā
Cyrus shook his head, āI donāt know.ā
āOh come on. You can bring Crescent too. You know how much she likes the beach,āMetronome whined, āYou could do all that sappy romantic walking on the beach shit.ā
āLanguage, please. Thereās still children around,ā Cyrus said, watching the last of the kids from Paulaās area leave with their parents, āIs Celeste joining?ā
Metronome groaned, āNo, sheās been even more snarky lately. Nearly bit my head off when I asked her earlier.ā
āIāll talk to her later.ā
āIād let her cool off a bit first. She just had a parent yell at her for something.ā
ā... Alright. Is Crescent still in the Arts and Crafts room?ā
āI havenāt seen her come out yet so sheās probably still cleaning up,ā Metronome replied, turning to leave, āIāll let you go talk with your babe and deal with the tigress. I have to go handle the last of my group.ā
āSee you later then.ā
Cyrus took one last glance at the Theater before turning to leave as well.Ā
Celeste had been acting odd for about a week now, much more snappy and irritated. Whenever he or the others tried talking to her about it, sheād snap at them and barricade herself in her room. She wouldnāt join them for meals or to hang out. It became very rare that they even saw her. Cyrus doesnāt know what caused her to start acting like this or why he didnāt talk to her sooner. Celeste had always had an explosive temper and wild mood swings. It was manageable most of the time, especially while the kids were there.Ā
He wasnāt sure what he was going to do about her. She was one of his closest friends and they were all created based on their cartoon counterparts. They did have a rough patch in the beginning with inventing themselves but that was so long ago. Cyrus doubted that that was the issue.
It was likely that she had a bad encounter with a parent or a bad date that she refused to talk about and was just stewing in the aftermath like she usually did. Heāll talk to her.
The Arts and Crafts room was one of their smaller rooms. It had pastel walls, small colorful tables with little chairs, cubbies full of art supplies, and tiled floors that were covered in paint splatters. One of the kids almost bumped into him as they ran out, yelling an apology over their shoulder as they darted around him to catch up with their friends.
āCrescent?ā Cyrus called, poking his head into the room.Ā
Crescent placed the handful of clean paint brushes into the mason jar on top of the cubby, nearly whipping her head around when she heard his voice.
<Where have you been?> She signed as she crossed the room, coming to stand in front of him, <No one has seen you all day.>
She reached up, cupping his face in her soft, gentle hands, fingers brushing over his plush rays. Cyrus melted into the touch. That urgent feeling from before had dissolved but it wasnāt gone. He could still feel it somewhere in his gut.Ā
āSorry, I got distracted again.ā
Crescent squished his face, not enough to hurt him, but enough to express her displeasure.
āI know, Iām sorry.ā
Cyrus took one of her hands in his and pressed a kiss to her palm. His other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.Ā
āLet me make it up to you, ok?" he said, āMetronome said that thereās this new club near the beach. We can go check it out, have a nice dinner, maybe go for a walk or just lay down in the sand and stargaze for a while or dance until morning.ā
Crescentās cheeks began to glow a bright pink. She tried hiding her face with her free hand, but she ended up hiding her face into his chest.
āIām being sappy again, arenāt I?ā He laughed, āIām sorry for worrying you and that Iāve been so caught up in work.ā
Crescent raised her hand, tapping his chest.
<I donāt like when you disappear.>
Cyrus sighed, āI knowā¦ David graduates next year and you know how excited he is about running this place. Iāll go back to my performances full time and itāll be just like before.ā
Crescent tilted her head, looking up at him before nodding. They separated and Cyrus took Crescent's hands, holding them in between them.
āBesides all that, our anniversary is coming up soon and we still have to plan what weāre going to do. I have plenty of ideas.ā
Crescent smiled, laughing silently.
āI wonāt go overboard like I did last time but you do know that Iāll make it as romantic and memorable as I can.ā
Crescent shook her head, still smiling. Cyrus let go of her hands to let her respond.
<You said that last year> She signed, <And the year before that.>
āWell, can you blame me, Beloved?ā He asked, āWeāve been together for almost three years now. Three and a half if you count my fumbling pursuit after we met. I donāt fall down a flight of stairs for anyone, you know?ā
Crescent laughed silently again, looking up at him with loving eyes.
āIn all seriousness, weāll discuss it later over dinner. Weāve already decided to do secret presents for each other but we've yet to decide anything else,ā Cyrus said, āI have some final business to handle but Iāll see you later.ā
<Our room. 7 sharp> Crescent signed with a pointed look.
āOh, My Beloved, like Iād miss an opportunity to be by your side,ā He pressed a kiss to her cheek, āI shanāt be a minute late.ā
He went to leave when Crescent grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back for a firm, passionate kiss on the lips, surely leaving a mark of black lipstick on his face when they pulled away.
āYou know, maybe Iāll get there early if you kiss me like that again.ā
Crescent swatted his shoulder with a teasing smile, ushering him out of the room.Ā
āOh what sorrow, must we part.ā
<Go finish your business. I still have to clean up here.>
Cyrus groaned playfully, āFine. The faster I get done, the faster I'll be by your side once again.ā
<Love you too, you goofball>
Cyrus finally turned to leave, exiting through the door, shouting āI love you!ā as loud as he could as he left, ignoring the giggles from the people he passed at the sight of the dark lipstick mark on his face.
Now heās wishing that he stayed.Ā
He shouldāve stayed with her.Ā
To hell with the paperwork. He shouldāve stayed by her side the rest of the night and never let her leave his sight.
He had finished what was left of the paperwork early and beelined for their room expecting to find Crescent already there getting ready. But she was nowhere in sight. He wouldāve written it off as her not getting there yet but that feelingā¦ that gut-clutching feeling of dread returned stronger than ever.
He looked all over their room, even went back to the arts and Crafts room. She wasnāt there either. He began asking anyone he found if they saw her and they all replied with the same answer.
Paula and Metronome found him panicking in the lobby as yet another employee gave him their answer.
āShe has to be here somewhere,ā Paula said in a comforting tone, āMaybe check the cameras? Someone could have asked her for help and she went with them?ā
The cameras were working. He could see Crescent walking through the corridors and in the main lobby. She was there. He could see her. But the relief was short lived. She stopped, looking across the lobby like something had caught her attention, and she followed whatever it was. There was a glitch in the camera and the next time they saw her, the door to the tunnels had been swung openā¦ violently. They could see the aftermath of it hitting the wall and leaving a dent there. But the camera didn't catch who had opened it. They did see Crescent following after, a look of concern on her face. More camera glitches, never seeing who she was following. They could see her walking through the tunnels and thenā¦
āNo. No, no, no, no.āĀ
Cyrus grabbed the monitor as it glitched out, every camera in the tunnels cut out. Crescent completely disappeared from the screen, replaced with static.Ā
Metronome had to pull him back as he pleaded so that he wouldnāt break the monitor.
When the cameras cut back on, there was no sign of Crescent anywhere.
Cyrus bolted for the door before Metronome and Paula could catch up, running through corridors, through the employees only areas, down through the tunnels. He got to the spot where the cameras last caught her and-
āNo. No- Crescent!ā He screamed, āCrescent!ā
There was a small puddle of ichor on the floor, some of it streaked across the concrete like she had been dragged away. He followed the trail as far as it went but it led him to a crossroad in the tunnels and no clue which direction to go.
He screamed her name until his voice box scratched and popped. He collapsed on the cold concrete floor, sobbing so hard that he threw up what little food he had in his stomach.
By the time Metronome and Paula found him, he was barely muttering Crescentās name through a broken voice box and curled up on the floor next to the pile of his own vomit.Ā
