(1K READS SPECIAL!)

*Mention of Depression*

*TIME SKIP: 1 week later*

*No P.O.V*

*Small glance of what happened in Hotel OJ*

* It's been about a week since Balloon has left the hotel. Everyone is doing their best to find his whereabouts.... But nobody has had any luck so far.

OJ was getting stressed out. Paper was doing his best to keep OJ from having a mental breakdown, with some success. Suitcase was loosing sleep from the nightmares at night and episodes she would have in the day. Baseball was getting worried for not only Suitcase, but Nickel as well.

Nickel himself wouldn't set foot inside his own room, the guilt was sufficating to him. He also kept his window open, in hopes Balloon came back. However, the worst one of all these people.... was Trophy.

Trophy has barely ate that whole week, and it was very worrying. Trophy was never one to cry in front of people, but he would do so at times. It made people concerned for him; mainly OJ and Cheesy. Trophy was far too worried about Balloon, that he himself might have fallen into a small depression. *

Everyone is worried about Balloon.... but. How is Balloon himself doing?

Let's find out~

*Balloon's P.O.V*

A week. It's been a week since I ran away.

A week since I left them all.....

A week since Suitcase.......

A week since I left....... Trophy.

............... And I couldn't feel more free and full of guilt. I was finally free from the hurt and pain! But at the same time.... I feel so... guilty! But. I wanted this. I wanted the suffering to end, even if I abandoned my only two friends....

The night I left, I sprained my ankle. It did hurt and being my dad was a doctor, I knew that I couldn't be on the leg for too long without proper treatment. So I had to find shelter nearby for the first few nights. How fun.....

However. I couldn't stay in the same spot for long periods. After 2 nights, I went to find a new location for shelter. Even if my ankle still hurt. But....

...... They're looking for me. The others at Hotel OJ. They're searching for me.... I'm sure of it.

I'm pretty sure I saw a few shilloutes of people like Marshmallow and Apple. And I've most DEFINITELY heard people like Ying-Yang and Paintbrush...... 

I REALLY can't stay in a spot for long, otherwise I'll be caught. So, I'm moving tonight.... Again. It's about 5:30 pm. I'll move in an hour.

Right now. I'm next to a nice tree. It's a nice evening right now..... I might just lay here and take a small nap.... And that's exactly what I did.....

I wake up a little later and the first thing I notice is that...... it's super dark. SHIT! How long did I nap for!? I look at my standard watch on my left arm.....

8:45 pm!? HOLY SHIT! I SLEPT TOO LONG!!!

I quickly get up, ignoring the slight sting in my right leg, and gathered all of my belongings. I make sure that nothing was left behind. Once I'm sure I have ALL my things, I leave the tree in search of a new place to sleep.

After a few minutes.... I find a nice opening. It had trees surrounding it. In the middle, was a tree stump and a log... Weird. I've never seen this place before....

I think this place should be good for a few days. I put my things down and sit down. I sit next to a tree that's close to a bush. I could feel my eyes getting heavy.

Soon enough. I'm closing my eyes and falling into slumber.....

Not knowing that I'm about to meet a VERY familiar face soon....

*????'s P.O.V*

So. Balloon ran away? Huh. Never thought I would feel bad for the chunky boy, but I am....

Who would've thought that the 2nd most hated player in Inanimate Insanity would get so much backlash trying to change. (First place for being most hated went to me of course.) I could see he was trying to change, but nobody believed him.

Microphone made it seem life threatning when she told me that Balloon went 'missing' a week ago....

*FLASHBACK TIME!*

*I was in my usual spot in the forest. An open area with a tree stump close to a tree log on it's side. I was waiting for Microphone for our meeting. It was currently 12 am. She's going to be late.....

'Where is she?', I thought to myself.... As soon as I thought that.... She came running into the open area.

"I-I *gasp* I'm here! *gasp* Holy..... Sorry I was almost late....*, Mic said, completely out of breath.

"Not to worry Mic. But... Why in such a rush?", I asked.

"*Cough* I completely forgot about our meeting! I legit remembered like 10 minutes ago.", she confessed to me.

"Completely forgot!? We do this every Friday! How did you forget!?", I exclaimed.

"AH! Calm down! Today was very eventful! We had to go to the hotel for an emergency meeting at 12 pm!", she said.

'Emergency meeting???', I thought. 

Something went down at the hotel? Weird..... I need to know more.

"What exactly happened?", I asked.

"Weeelll..... I'm not sure of the details. All I know is.... We all fucked up.", she said cryptly.

"Ok? What happened?", I quesitoned, getting too curious.

"...... You remember Balloon right? The one you NEARLY MADE ME PARAZLYZE!?", she said in an upset voice.

'Is she still upset about that?', I thought.

"Of course I remember him. I competed with him in season 1 dummy.", I pointed out.

"Oh yea. Well. Anyways. He.... He was getting so much backlash at the hotel.... That he up and left...", Mic said, looking kinda guilty.

"He.... left? Like. Ran away left?", I questioned.

"Well. Yea. HE ran away from the hotel.", she said, comfirming my theory.

'Did he really feel like that?', I thought to myself. 

I.... Didn't really know what to think about that. Running away from a place called 'home'? Away from people who liked- .... Balloon was hated. He was like me. Hated. But yet, he still tried to make amends with them.

He tried so hard.... Only to be exiled by EVERYONE there. I then realized why he left. I put the pieces together.... He was tired of it. Tired of the hate and backlash he recieved both in the hotel and within season 2.

'Holy shit......', was the only thing I could think of.

"You okay?", Mic asked.

"Huh? Oh. Yea. I'm good. Just.... putting the pieces together on why Balloon left.", I answered.

"Oh. Well.... good to know. I guess.", She muttered.

"What's the hotel going to do?", I asked, wanting to know more.

"Huh?", Mic looked confused.

"I asked-", I started, only to get cut off.

"No. I heard. But.... You... You're concerned?", She argued.

".... I- A little. Shut up.", I confessed, a hint of blush forming on my face.

'THANK GOD it's dark out...', I silently prayed.

"Really? Didn't take you for the concerned type.... even after the fact that..... YOU NEARLY MADE ME PARALYZE HIM!", Mic whispered yelled.

'Damn. She really is still upset about that...', I thought, chuckling a bit internally.

"Look. That's the past. Besides. He was a former teammate.... And I feel a little bad for the guy.", I say.

"Aww. Well. The hotel is doing a search party. These next two weeks, we're all looking. However, if we can't find him.... OJ claims he's going to call the police to help as well.", Mic explains.

"Is that so? Hmm. Seems like OJ and the others at the hotel feel a little guilty for the way they treated Balloon.", I say, a hint of misheviousness in my tone.

"Yea...", Mic trails... 

Mic must feel guilty as well..... Damn.

"You wanna help?", she considered.

"Me? Um..... Sure I guess?", I said with uncertainy.

"Cool! Just. Make sure YOU don't get caught while on the look out for Balloon.", she stated.

"Mic. I've been living here for like 6 years without being caught. I think I'll be fine.", I reminded her.

"Alright. That's true.", she said.

"I gotta go. I'm tired and we're supposed to start looking for Balloon tomorrow.", Mic said getting up.

"Ah. Okay. Goodnight Microphone.", I said.

"Goodnight.....", Mic saids as she leaves the open area.*

*FLASHBACK END*

So that's where we are now. I was somehow wrapped up in this search party for Balloon.

 This past week, I've been searching for Balloon. And I've been reporting to Mic; via our headset; to update her of my discoveries. And vise versa, she updated me on her and the other resident's findings.

(Mic even gave me a note that Balloon wrote for me. Which I thought was weird. I did end up opening it and reading the note..... and safe to say... Balloon must have been super depressed. Like damn. The note itself was depressing! Anyways......)

As you might have guessed.... Nobody, not even ME, had ANY luck finding Balloon. This was starting to get both frustrating and concerning.

..... Weird, isn't? Me. Being concerned about a person I didn't consider a friend? A person I nearly paralized out of selfishness. I was concerned about him. Was... Was I going soft?

'Maybe... Just maybe... There's still a good side to me....', I thought. 

Pft-.... Yea right. I'm not going soft! I still don't like him. But.... I guess.... I understand him just a little more.

You see. I came on the show not just to win a million dollars. But to get away as well. My family.... Let's just say... wasn't the 'perfect family' everyone expected it to be. I was gifted and that's ALL they saw. They wanted the fame and glory of their intellegent daughter just so they could run off without her.

I hated them. I hated how they NEVER loved me for who I was. I hated my gift of intellegence. After years of neglect.... I ran away myself. But, I suppose being sly and cunning ran in my blood.

I did want the money for my own benifit. I didn't care about anybody in the show.... Not even.... Not even Pickel..... He considered me a....... a friend.

'NO! Now is not the time to regret the past! I'm over it!', I exlaimed in my mind. 

I didn't have time to recollect the past. I didn't want to be reminded on how I betrayed him. I only used him! I didn't care about the fun we had, even if I miss those times....

Ugh. Enough. I need to get back on track! I'm looking for Balloon.... But it is getting rather dark....

And dangerous animals come out at night. I decided that maybe it was best to call it a night. So. I head back to the open area. From there, I have a small hut just north of where the open area is that I live in.

I soon make it to the open area. Ah. This scenery is always so pretty. Especially at night. The moonlight beams into this small circle of trees illuminating the area around just enough.

I shake the thought. I grab a tea pack from inside the sideways log and start my trek back..... back 'home'.

Not noticing the familar boy sleeping close by....

*The next day*

*Balloon's P.O.V*

I start opening my eyes. Harsh sunlight blinds me for a moment.

"ah!", I whispered.

After blinking a few times to get ajusted to the blinding sun, I get up and do a little stretch. Man. That was a good nights sleep. Even if I was on the floor, which can be uncomfortable....

I grab my backpack and reach in to get a granola bar. I put my bag down and open my bar. I finish the bar aboit 10 minutes later. Now that I had food in me.... now what?

Huh. I forgot how bored I was here..... I forgot my diary and poetry notebook back at the hotel! I couldn't go back for it.... and I REALLY want to write poetry!

Ugh.... Maybe I'll just go on a walk! Yea. I'll go on a walk! It was a nice day today. I decide to leave my backpack and hide it in a nearby bush. Once I did that and grabbing a snack, I went on my walk.

It's been a good few hours and man. It was peaceful. I was walking still when I heard a voice.....

It was Cheesy, I think. I quickly hid inside a bush that was close by. I peek a little and sure enough.... it was Cheesey.... along with.......

Trophy...... Oh shit. In order not to be spotted, I stayed completely still. It was hard when you're crouching! I can already feel my legs going numb.....

"Come on Troph! We need to keep going! I know Balloon being misisng is a downer.... But you need to keep on FLOATING!", Cheesy said, slapping his knee in the process.

That was kinda funny.... Balloon, and how they float.... heh.

"Ugh. That was bad....", Trophy muttered.

"Awe. Don't be like that! You just need to LET GO of that worry and let it FLOAT away!", he joked again as he did another knee slap.

Pft-.... Funny. Wait.... Is Cheesy trying to make Balloon puns to make Trophy feel better? That's cute. (and a little gay if you ask me...)

"Cheesy.... That was lame...", Trophy said.... with a small smile on his face.

"Oh really? Then why are you smiling? Huh?", Cheesy inspected.

"What?! I'm not smiling... You must be seeing things!", Trophy challenged.

"Hmmm... If you say so~ What ever FLOATS your boat!", Cheesy said.

"Ugh! That-", Trophy started before being cut off by a noise.

That noise.... happened to be me, unfortantally. My legs were beginning to give out..... I fell and made the bush rustle. Crud!

I quickly backed out of the bush and hid behind a tree. I was super nervous... What if they saw me!? What if they find me!? Oh god!

"You heard that? Right?", I heard Trophy ask.

"Yea.... Sounded like it came from a bush!", I hear Cheesy exlaim.

"Yea. No shit Cheesy. But which one?", Trophy questioned.

"No clue! But. I'm sure it was nothing. Probably a small little bunny or squirrel!", Cheesy protested.

"..... I guess so.... *sigh* let's keep going.....", I hear Trophy say in defeat.

..... I just want to go and give Trophy a hug..... Go back to the hotel and see everyone..... But I can't. I can't ever go back..... Not with all the suffereing they put me through..... 

I can feel tears in my eyes.... I wipe them away as I begin to walk back to the open area. 

'I'm sorry Trophy.....', I thought to myself. 

After a few long minutes, I make it back to the open area. I sit down and grab my chips from my pocket and munch on them.

After another few minutes, I finish the whole bag. I put the trash in my bag since, obviously there's no trash bin around me. I was feeling a little tired, but not enough to make me fall asleep.....

Hmm... What do I do now? ...... Maybe...... No. To risky. How about..... Nah, that's dumb.

Ugh! I don't know what to do! That's when I hear a noise....

It was the sound of a bush rustling. SHIT!? Did someone find me already!? Nonononono!

This isn't happening! I can't be found now!? I DON'T WANNA GO BACK TO THE HOTEL!?

As I was having a mini panic attack, the bushes kept rustling. It kept going until something-

No. SOMEONE came out.  Someone I knew. Someone I competed with back in season 1.

Someone I NEVER thought I would see again........

..... Holy shit.... It was Taco....

*End of Chapter 10*

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*Pops a party popper*

WOO!

1K READS!

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See you Friday!