INDEX

1. Missing
2. Falling down
3. Let it all out
4. A plan to make
5. Catching up
6. Reunion
7. Going uphill
8. Acceptance
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(CW: Description of body horror, night terror and panic attack)

The adventure has ended. All grumpuses from Snaxburg managed to escape this horrid island. Everything was going alright, or was on the way at least. The same should be for Averie, now that they gathered all the information necessary for the article about Bugsnax. They also have Filbo as their temporary roommate, who would help the journalist sorting the entries and to write the article. So all will be good at the end...right?

It was probably the sixth night since they returned into their appartement and sleep in their room. The orange grumpus tossed and turned as they winced in their sleep. Screams echoed in an empty void. The same scream they heard right before that car hit their twin sister. All in front of their eyes.

"Morri died because of you!"

In a matter of seconds more voices joined in the concert of guilty words. The guilt of the past caught up with the journalist and all the memories and feelings they repressed through all those months broke through. Gruesome sights of grumpuses turning into bugsnax. Body parts after body parts were turned, until nothing of a grumpus was left.

"Everyone will be assimilated!"

Will this happen to everyone who would read the article? Would their curiosity be too strong to resist the critters? What if the next ones traveling to Snaktooth Island won't be lucky than their group before?

"It's your fault!"

All the voices became louder and more abrasive. As much as Averie tried to block the echoes out, nothing didn't seem to work, as those only became ear-piercing.

"Your fault!"

"Your fault!"

"YOUR FAULT!"

The orange grumpus curled up as they placed both paws near their ear holes. "Stop...please stop..." they whimpered in hopes the voices would stop, but to no avail. They got reminded every single time of their actions in the past, two years ago. It was their fault their sister has died and it will be their fault if future grumpuses travel to Snaktooth Island after reading the article.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." they repeatedly snivelled as tears ran down their face. Now the sound of the echoes were shattering. "Please stop...I'm sorry..."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHH!"

The next moment Averie woke up in their room, screaming loudly as their brain has yet to realize they were not dreaming anymore. Their heart pounded still and their breathing was fast. The orange grumpus couldn't think clearly as their body began to shiver from the cold.

"Buddy?"

Averie still managed to hear a familiar voice, but they couldn't speak. Their breath went faster, nausea overcame them.

"Buddy? Are you okay in there?"

No. No they were not okay. They clearly were not okay. Their mind couldn't comprehend still they are awake, all they got reminded were the voices. Averie did not notice that they haven't closed the door to their bedroom, like they usually do. They also didn't notice that someone lit up the room.

"It's my fault. All my fault...I...I"

Only after feeling something fuzzy on their shoulder and hearing a blurry, soft voice helped the distressed journalist to slowly grasp back to reality. It was then the moment they noticed the presence of a familiar grumpus.