Hey guess who's making her first appearance next chapter! 

...no prize for guessing the song makes it obvious

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Bud's little sanctuary was getting a tad crowded. With the spare prophet and swollen one that you had picked up, it felt like a small home.

  While Sammy, Henry, and Buddy played card games, you taught Jack how to play the DS game, having since defeated it yourself.

  "Henry? How long have you been able to stay here?" You asked, glancing up as Jack died again, tugging on your sleeve for help.

  "Record was about two weeks Mothy," he replied without looking up from his game.
 
    Bud laughed silently, and the prophet grumbled.

  "So...I'm a mothy goat?" You asked.

  Bud lost it, laughing silently and almost falling out of his seat.

  Henry finally chuckled, too. "I guess so. Sorry, guess it just slipped out."

  "Is that how you started calling Boris here Bud?" You asked. Though the other mediums had this fully explained-something about a boy named Daniel, who was called Buddy by everyone in the studio-things could be different here.

     "More or less," he said. "You know...with all the Boris clones I had to call him something else. He didn't seem to mind the first time, so I just decided on Bud."

   Bud nodded, his ears flopping with each movement.

    "Huh," you said, as Jack yet again dragged you into another game. "When do you want to head out?"

    The people playing cards shared a look, and Jack shrunk away.

    Bud came over and shooed you into the other room so that the others could talk. You had no idea why they needed to discuss anything at all, but Bud didn't let you leave the bathroom (which was the only area with a closable door, yay you).

   While Henry and Sammy started to get more heated in their discussion, you did your best to distract the two inky beings to the best of your ability. Jack was busy playing his game, so you taught Bud the basics of rock, paper, and scissors and played several rounds with him.
   "Are you out of your mind? Do you know who lurks beyond this point?"

   "We have no choice. If we stay too long we'll get kicked out!"

   To help drown out the noise, you turned the volume of Jack's game up slightly. Buddy cowered away, fearful of the loud noises, and Jack shrunk away as well.

    "Hey...hey, you two," you said softly. "It's alright. They're just being stupid stubborn idiots." 

    After a long and winded argument, Henry finally opened the bathroom door. "We're heading out. Sammy doesn't like this, but we're about to reach the two-week limit so it's best to go now."

   "Alright," you said, standing up and brushing off your legs (more out of habit than anything, the ink wouldn't brush off).

   As you walked out with Jack, Henry stayed behind to talk to Buddy.

   "Can you at least stay where you're safe?" Sammy grumbled, barely looking up from his seat.

    "Aw, are you worried about me?" You teased.
  
   "You'd just slow us down. Besides, Henry would blame himself if anything happened to you," he complained.

   "Well, I want to go. Fun fact, I can take care of myself."

   Sammy huffed but relented. "Fine. How do we proceed, Seer?"

  "Seer?" You asked. "That's a new one."

  "Don't think too much about it. What happens from here?"

    Henry looked around and shrugged with you. "It's hard to see how our current alliances have messed things up. But...we should probably head to Heavenly Toys and do Angel's tasks."

    You shuddered at the thought. "Oh...I am not looking forward to her."

    Boris, Jack, and Sammy appeared to have a similar agreement, however, there wasn't an alternative route suggested so, after getting Buddy his soup and getting the door unlocked, your small group left the small sanctuary for good.

   Ah, this sequence of the game. Already you'd gotten attached to Boris and didn't want to see any harm befall him.

   Boris wasn't going to stay behind. Even as Henry started to try to ask that question, he shook his head.

   "Well, Y/N, do you want some hot soup?" He asked. For this round, you'd just have to try to save Boris.

    "Sure. Is it better hot?" You asked, helping Jack defeat yet another boss.

   Sammy nodded, but he watched Henry the whole time he prepped the soup, insisting that he taste it before you did.

   "I do not wish for the Seer to be poisoned before setting off on a dangerous task," was his only explanation.

     When your band of misfits got the lever right, you left one by one. Sammy went first, then you and Jack, then Boris, and finally Henry. You found a miracle station after rounding a corner, but after that...the dark hallways. You thought that Sammy would plunge ahead regardless, so you raised your voice.

   "Funny thing about wolves...it's not the alpha who sets the pace, but the elderly and sick members of a pack. That way the weaker ones aren't left behind."

   "What is that you say about wolves, goat?" Oh boy, you could feel the glare Sammy was giving you.

    "You wish to protect us? Well, it might be better to do so from the back where you can see all of us at once."

   "You're saying I'm an old man?" Henry asked, trying not to laugh.

   "Guess so," you shrugged. It was done, and you made a note to limit the number of wolfish comments you made around Sammy.
 
   Now the group properly approached the dark hallway. On cue, Henry turned to a desk and spoke.

   "Looks like it's really dark up ahead. Let's get some light."

   The light was appreciated, but Boris was further from the light than you were. Unless...

  "Hey, Jack," you said, crouching down. "I know you love the game, but we need a little extra light. Mind if I borrow it for a while?"

   The little ink man shook his head at first but reluctantly agreed. You used the DS's game screen as a flashlight, a trick you'd learned way back in the days of yore when you wanted to get up in the middle of the night but had no flashlight nor wish to turn on your bedroom light.

  Lights acquired, you followed Henry into the darkened passageways. Ink dripping from the ceiling left puddles on the floor and you could hear creaks from somewhere in the studio.

  "Man..." you didn't call yourself scared of the dark, but this was different. At least Jack was next to you.

   "Afraid of the dark, Seer?" Sammy asked from behind you.

  "Why do you ask?"

    "Only because you seem to be jumpier than usual."
   
   You glared at Sammy but moved forward only to bump into Henry as he stood in front of some blocked doors.

  "Another dead end," he was saying. "Must be another way around."

  Boris gently tapped on your shoulder, and you moved out of his way. Jack watched Boris go and decided to follow him, only pausing to ask for the device back.

    You watched as the two of them crawled into a vent and out of sight until the vent came down behind them. "Oh, no, watch out," you laughed to yourself. "They're venting," you said in a sing-song voice."

   Henry raised an eyebrow. "Venting?"

..Right. That wouldn't make sense for another...several years.

  "Means a suspicious person is lurking in a vent. But we'll be fine," you shrugged it off.

  A moment later, the doors opened up into a new hallway, which you knew led to the Heavenly Toys department.

  And...

  Henry's face was grim and he wore a tight-lipped smile.

  "What is it sheep? Your shepherd cannot read minds."

   You shared a look with Henry. "This is..well, we meet with the Angel soon. And then...the crash."

   There wasn't much more to add. Sammy took a step back. "Wait...a crash?"

   Henry took over explaining the impending sense of dread that swallowed you both. "She...promises freedom. But she makes the elevator crash and takes Boris away from me."

   You took a deep breath. "Well, you were alone then. But we can think of something."

     "I am not so inclined to abandon my flock," Sammy said. "I may not know what is to come, but I will keep you safe."

    Henry began to walk forward, and you followed after him, looking back to make sure Sammy was still behind you. Even if he knew what was to come, well, he could try.

    After all, as long as the loops continued to replay, there was still a chance to get things right.

     Also, the giant stuffed animals just begged for someone to hug them.
 
     "Seer, why do you insist on running off?" Sammy exclaimed, tailing behind you.

  You laughed as you moved along, jumping into the stuffed Boris's lap. "Even if everything has been done and will be done over again, as long as you're still alive, there's a chance to change something!"
   
   "You're a strange one, Seer," Sammy said, watching you relax. "But strange is the norm in this abysmal place. Perhaps that is why you have come here."

   Henry paused on the stairs. "Well, stranger things have occurred."

    A shame they would not understand that.

   "For now..." you sighed. "We've got to find the Angel, and get some chores done."
  
   You got up and stretched, taking the stairs two at a time.

  "I know I'm jumping ahead and snatching one of her lines but.." you snickered. "By going up, we'll be able to say hello to...well, I won't, but you might say hello to...an old friend."

  Henry chuckled. "Guess you're right. C'mon, Sammy. Let's go."

Off you went until you came to the room that's been blocked off.

  "Well...we can do all that after unblocking this door," you laughed.

  Indeed, you did just that. The doors opened before you, and a twisted world waited for you on the other side. But, oh were you ready for it.

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Whoa guys!! I'm doing the thing! I'm updating stories!!!