(*Mentions of depression and self harm!*)

*Taco's P.O.V*

I was heading home for the evening. Today was.... shall we say, interesting.

First off, I was meeting up with Microphone via headset when there was a meeting for a new challenge. I didn't even know they were going back to recording!

I was still connected to Microphone's headset when I heard about the challenge. But, imagine my surprise to hear that Mephone's co-hosts were the one who came up with this challenge.

Mephone was absant that entire episode, up until the end. He was there to eliminate Fan, who lost the challenge.

Speaking of the challege, it was weird to me. The contestants had to go cave mining; much to Lightbulb's disappointment. They had to find these glowing gems and upon touch, you gained immunity.

That was only part of the weirdness. Besides Mephone not being there at all, which is always a red flag, something about this challenge felt... off.

The gems had a weird design, like it wasn't naturally made from rocks but nothing a person would make either. Something about them felt weird.

I was with Microphone, using the invisa-bows that we 'borrowed' from TestTube to stay hidden. Unfortunally, Knife found us because SOMEBODY had to sneeze. 

We tried to get him to join us, so we could grow our numbers, and have a higher chance at the million. However, he, let's just say, didn't seem interested. So, we needed to try and nab another one.

Me and Mic were still going when I found one of those gems on the celing of the cave. I got on top of Mic so I could get it for her.  Unforunately, the gem fell on me and I touched it. The gem hit my head really hard, leaving a scar on my face.

But.... that wasn't it. That gem did something. When it hit me, I saw something. Something I don't think I was suppose to see.

It was like a flashback. Those things you see on tv or in movies to show the past. It was like that but in reality. However, it wasn't like that at all.

The gem showed me ,what I interpreted to be anyways, to be a memory. Not my memory, but MEPHONE'S memory.  The 'memory' played out in a third person point of view, which was weird. 

Everything about that experience was weird. But that's what happened today. Mephone looked a little off when he came back, but it's not my business.

Back to what I was doing in the present time. I was heading back to the cabin because it's late. I have a bandage around my face, thanks to Mic. I was bleeding earlier but I don't think I was now. 

I'll check the damage when I get back. I felt so exhausted from today, it was super eventful and it wore me out. Who knew that getting back into this was going to take a toll on me.

Whatever, we still have a few episodes to go. A few more episodes before somebody new was crowned the winner of Inanimate Insanity.

'Just a little longer before I get my share of the million', I think to myself. 

The million. Something that I was just out of reach from back in season 1. Losing to that Uncultured Breakfast Beverage... Coming in second place because of that stupid Bow.

That's the past now. I have a new oppertunity to get what I want, thanks to Microphone. I'll finally have that gain that I alway wanted.

'But. Is it what I truely want?', I second guess myself.

Was it? Did I want the money in the grand scheme of things? Was getting the money worth it? 

I'm. I'm not entirely sure. I want the money, to prove my self worth. But, do I really need it? Do I really want the money? Or do I want something else?

My mind runs with questions as I finally make it to the cabin. Thank god. I walk in expecting some sort of dinner to be made. The first thing I notice, there was no god amazing aroma filling the air. 

That was a bit odd, and disappointing. I was looking forward to an amazing meal! The second thing I notice, was Balloon. He was on the couch, asleep. Weird. It's only 8 pm, why is she asleep so early?

Wait, they looks different? I didn't place xem like that.... He was laying on his back earlier when I came for a quick lunch break. 

I had came back and heard a bump noise. I went to invesigate and saw Balloon in the washroom on the floor passed out, with blood on the walls and floor. 

I quickly bandaged her up and tookt hem to the couch and cleaned the blood. I have no idea what xe fucking did, but it concerned me a lot. I left the cabin after grabbing a snack so I could call Mic.

Did Balloon wake up when I wasn't here? He must have, she looks like they did. Ash was asleep close to his stomach area, cruled into a ball. Balloon herself was laying on their side, with an arm around Ash. Overall, a very cute scene.

Back to my thoughts now. I see some asprin on the table, Balloon defitenly woke up sometime after I left. Damnit, I should've been here to make sure he was okay.

I notice something was wrong with Balloon. I walk closer to her, so I can get a better look. My gaze goes to their arm and I see bandages on xem. Did he cut again? *sigh*

'Balloon... What's wrong with you buddy?', I pondered in my mind.

I don't want to have to do this... But I'm going to confront him about this. She's been hurting themselves and not telling me. It's about time I ask xem about it.

I hear a noise come from him. I snap my gaze to her face. They has tears in his eyes, she's crying. Shit. I gotta wake them up, xe's probably having a nightmare!

"Balloon!", I call out.

Nothing. I'll try again.

"WAKE UP!", I shout.

Still nothing! Ash wakes up from my shout. oops.

"Sorry bud...", I whisper to Ash.

He scratches his ear and nudges me. I quickly pet him as I call out to Balloon again.

"PLEASE!", I plead to him.

He cries a little more. I can hear her muttering things, but I'm not sure what their saying. I need another way to wake xem.... I got it!

I get up and rush to the kitchen. I grab a cup from a cabinet and fill it up with cold water. Balloon is gonna hold a grudge for what I'm about to do.

I quickly head back to the living room; careful not to spill the water. I stand above him, with the cup at hand. I pick up Ash and move him, so he doen't get hurt. I place him on the floor and look at Balloon.

'I'm sorry for what I'm about to do...', I apologize in my mind.

I pour the water on his face. He jolts up in a panic and screams.

"AH!", she shrieks.

Thank god! Thier awake! Xe starts to shake, I need to calm him down.

"Hey.... it's okay. You're okay Balloon..", I soothe.

She starts to calm down a bit, probably regonigizing my voice. They looks up and stares at me with some depressing eyes.

"T-Taco?", xe musters.

"Yea. I'm here bud. You're safe.", I say in a comforting tone.

He seems hesitant, but she eventually leans on me. I hug them back as xe lets out a few more tears. Ash comes up and squeezes his way between me and Balloon, so he can get in on the hug. 

After a good 30 minutes, we let go from the hug. Balloon rubs his eyes, clearing the last of the tears. 

"Feeling better?", I ask her.

"Hmmm... y-yea", they mutters.

Xe yawns as he rubs his eyes. She must've just fallen asleep....

"Are you tired?", I questioned.

They doesn't say anything and just nods his head. I thought so.

"W-what time is it?", xe asks.

"It's 8 pm.", I answered.

"Oh.... *yawn* did you just get back", he asked.

"Yea. Sorry I was gone all day.", I apologized.

"It's okay. Huh? Taco are you okay!?", she asked in a worried tone.

Oh. They must've saw my bandages. Shit.

"Yea. I'm okay! Haha... Just fell and hit my head.", I semi lied to xem.

"You sure?", he pryed.

"Yep. I'm okay.", I answered.

"Okay... Oh. Are you hungry? I didn't make dinner. Sorry about that.", she says looking upset.

"I am pretty hungy, but you don't need to do that. I'll make a sandwhich or something.", I say.

Before they could respond, I get up and head to the kitchen. I'm gonna ask xem about what happened. And I'm going to get some answers from him.

I just hope she cooperates with me.

.

.

.

*Balloon's P.O.V*

Taco went into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich. Damnit. I should've just made something for dinner even if I didn't eat it.

This is why I'm alone. This is why everyone hates me. I only care for myself. I only prioritize myself. 

I curl into a ball and just silently cried. I can't believe myself. I'm playing victim when I shouldn't be. I hurt everyone, I'm the villain in this story. Why was I feeling this much guilt for something I did?

'It's because I deserve it. I deserve this karma.', I confess to myself.

Taco comes back after a few minutes and sits down next to me. Why was she sitting next to me? I thought she was upset at me?

"Hey, are you okay?", she suddenly asked.

"Um.... yea. I'm okay.", I lie.

She obviously saw through that as her face goes into a frown. And she's upset at me. Great.

"We both know that you're not okay Balloon. So, please. Tell me what's wrong.", she asks again, sounding upset.

"...... *sigh* ... Do. Do you care about me?", I asked her.

I wanted to know. She avoided me for 3 days, and now she acts like she cares? I want to know if she truely cares about me, or if it was just pity.

'Maybe she does care and I was just overthinking this.', I try to convince myself.

"Of course I do Balloon. I truely care about you. I know it seems like I don't at times, but I do.", Taco confesses.

"If you do... why did you avoid me these past few days?", I pryed.

"... I didn't mean to. I didn't want to. But I have my reasons.", she says.

"Then what is it?", I asked, sounding a little upset.

"... *sigh* Look. The show is going back to recording. I need to get back to the swing of things. Get my mindset back to the game. Help Microphone win the million.", she confessed with a powerful tone.

"The show? It's already back to recording? Oh boy.", I say.

"Yea. I'm sorry I was avoiding you. But I don't us to get caught. If we get caught, we'll both be in trouble. So, I'm going to distance myself from you just a little.", she continues.

"W-what?", I stutter.

"Don't take this as a bad thing! Sorry! I should've told you this before hand, but the show started back up a little earlier than expected.", she explained.

"I'll still be here. There will be times where I'm gone all day, like today. If that happens, then the show is recording and I'm helping Mic.", she explains further.

"Now. When the show isn't recording and is on a break like now, then I'll be here and hangout! We can be together for as long as we want. I don't want our friendship to weaken because of me and trying to help Mic.", she confessed, looking away.

"... I-I understand. I get that you w-want that part of the million.", I say.

".. Yea. Heh.", she laughed.

'She sounded off. Did she not want the money? I thought she did?', I questioned myself.

We sat in blissful silence. Taco was eating her sandwich while I was messing around with Ash. He was in such a playful mood.

Taco got up eventually and went to the kitchen. I guess she was done with her dinner. She came back after a few minutes.

I have no idea why, but I suddenly became super nervous. I felt like something bad was going to happen right now. 

Taco sat back down and looked at me. Did she want to ask me something? She looks serious, and it's scary...

"So. I want to ask you something. And. Please, just try and cooerate with me... okay?", Taco asks in a serious tone.

Oh god. Was I in trouble or something? Was it the bandages on my head and arm? Oh god....

"U-um... o-okay.... W-what i-is it?", I stammer.

"..... Have you been cutting when I'm not here? Answer my truthfully Balloon.", she asked.

.... Fuck.

".... U-um.... Y-yea.... I have... but n-not all the time!", I confess.

"You have? For why? Is it becuase of me?", she asked, sounding upset.

"What? Of course not! It's not you.... it's me...", I say frowning.

"What do you mean?", she pryed.

"*sigh* I just have soo many negative thoughts in my mind, and sometimes I just get that urge to hurt myself. It's like a punishment for all the shit I've done in the past...", I confessed.

"A punishment? For trying to win a reality TV show?", she asked, shocked.

"No.... punishment for manipulating my team. For hurting everyone. ... For not being a good enough friend to Suitcase, Trophy and you...", I say.

I can feel myself tearing up. I wipe the tears away, but more flow down. 

"Me? You think your not good enough for me? Really?", she asked baffled.

".... Yea..... at times... I thought the reason you were avoiding me was because you were still upset by the prank I did on you.... the spicy chicken...", I say a little flustered.

"Really? Mate. I forgave you for that. I'm not upset about that anymore.", she said.

"Oh.... Hehe...", I laughed.

"Balloon. Look. I want to be better. If anyone isn't good enough, it's me. I have no idea how to be a friend, and you do.", she said, trying to cheer me up.

"I took you in not because of pity. But because somebody was willing to give me that chance at being a friend.", she continued.

"I've tried having friends, but they all left me because they didn't give me that chance to actually try and make friends. But you? You're giving me that chance!". she finished.

I was speechless. I didn't think I would have such an impact on Taco like that. She's told me about her past friendships, but this was new information.

Taco scooted closer to me and gave me a hug. I hugged back and let my tears flow down my face. I cried while Taco comforted me for the hundreth time.

Ash snuggles onto my chest area, signing that 'everything was going to be okay'. I pet him on his head and he just loves it. He does a cute little bunny hop and let's me keep petting him.

"Hehehehe. Ash. Your such in a playful mood.", I whisper.

Taco breaks from the hug and looks over to Ash. She chuckles as she sees him being all chiflado.

"Hehe. Such a cute little boy! Yes you are Ash.", she cooes.

We play with him for a good hour when I yawn. Damn. I forgot how sleepy I was.

"You tired?", she asked.

"Mmmmm.... Yea....", I mutter.

"We should get some rest then.", she states.

"Wait.... what about your head? What even happened?", I asked.

She seemed hesitant to answer. She answered finally after a few minutes.

"Well.... The show had aired and the challenge was cave mining. I was with Mic trying to get Knife to join us, which failed. The challenge consited on finding these gems and when you touched them, you gained immunity.", she started.

"Wait. You were trying to get Knife?", I asked.

"Yea. I'll explain another day. Anyways. There was a gem up on the celing, so I climbed on Mic to get it for her. It didn't work as planned aanndd.... it fell on my head. That's why there's a bandage on my head.", she finished.

"Oh god! That sounded rough.... Who got eliminated?", I asked.

"Oh. Fan did. Unfortunate, but things happen.", she shrugged.

"Awe. Poor Fan.", I say.

"Anyways. Wanted to ask what happened with your head? I... came back in the afternoon and heard a bump. Went to the washroom and....", she asked, looking worried.

... Oh. She was the one who helped me earlier? Didn't know that.

"You saw the blood?", I asked.

"Yea. What did you do?", she pondered.

".... I banged my head against the wall... I felt unwanted and I didn't feel like cutting.... So... I banged my head..", I confess.

"Oh....", was all Taco could say.

We sit akwardly until she spoke once more.

"Well... I'm gonna go check on my wound. You go ahead and go back to bed... I'll see you in the morning!", she said.

She got up and left to the bathroom. I was alone with Ash. He jumps on the bed and nudges my arm.

"Heh. Okay. I'll head to bed. *yawn* I am pretty sleepy..", I whisper.

I lay down on the couch fixing the pillows behind me. I grabbed the blanket and put it over me. Ash hops over and gets under the covers with me. Awwe~!

"Heh... night Ash.", I whisper.

I feel my eyes get heavy once more. I let out one more yawn. I let my eyes close.

After what felt like forever.... I'm finally washed away in a dreamless slumber.

.

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.

*End of Chapter 22*

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Yay! 

Another chapter done!

So. 

Chapter is gonna to maybe timeskip...

Maybe. It depends on what I do.

(I don't plan shit okay?)

And!

It might be delayed until midnight tomorrow.

Gonna be a busy day tomorrrow!

(My baby cousin is staying over and oh my god! it's gonna be so fun!)

Anyways. 

See ya tomorrow!!!