Some Great Escape
13:00 AM
Blackthorne Plateau
Zeke and Tizona stand across from each other just outside the cavern entrance.
TIZONA?
Hey, Zeke...what’d I miss?
ZEKE
Tizona! I missed you!
Zeke gives her a hug, tears welling up in his eyes.
ZEKE
I just missed you. I don’t even know why it hurt so much, but...you’re okay. That’s all that matters to me.
TIZONA?
Zeke, I’m so sorry. I should have said something, or left a note. Even if it was only going to be a few days...I don’t want you to worry.
ZEKE
Just promise me next time, you’ll give me a sign. Anything, as long as I know you’re alive.
TIZONA?
...I promise. But I’ll be here no matter what, okay? I won’t disappear again.
ZEKE
Thank you, Tizona.
TIZONA?
It's the least I can do for a friend, Zeke.
ZEKE
Do you want to wait until next time to explore the cave? You’re shaking already...
TIZONA?
I’m okay. We’ve been preparing for so long already...if there’s really a flamingo there, I want to see myself. Maybe even pluck a feather for the birdwatching scrapbook...
ZEKE
Me too.
Zeke draws his sword, pointing it into the darkness of the cavern.
ZEKE
I’ve got your back, Tizona...now shall we dance?
Parallel to Zeke, Tizona draws her cutlass and points to the darkness all the same.
TIZONA?
Let’s.
13:00 AM
Blackthorne Caverns?
Now traversing the caverns, the glowing blue crystals that illuminate the cave now cycle through the entire color spectrum. The cavern walls themselves are monochrome.
ZEKE
...Tizona, this is beautiful.
TIZONA?
...
ZEKE
Tizona?
TIZONA?
It’s really pretty. I wish I could bring one back home, these would make pretty neat reading lamps.
ZEKE
Then I won’t leave until we’ve got one.
TIZONA?
Oh, that’s sweet. Thank you, Zeke.
Now let’s go! We might miss out on flamingo.
ZEKE
Right.
The player reaches the second area. While the crystals retain their glow, the cavern walls are darker.
ZEKE
It’s getting darker?
TIZONA?
That’s how caves work, dummy.
ZEKE
Hey! I know, but...
TIZONA?
What’s wrong?
ZEKE
...I don’t know.
TIZONA?
Do you want to turn back?
ZEKE
After we’ve come this far? Not a chance.
TIZONA?
Well then what are you waiting for?
ZEKE
I don’t know!!
The player reaches the end of the final area. Leading up to this, the cavern walls are pitch black. Only the glowing crystals provide any kind of light. Yet, in front of them, a spiral staircase clearly made of glass leads somewhere so below, it’s out of sight. The music fades once interacted with.
ZEKE
Tizona? I don’t know if this is a good idea anymore. I don’t want to get lost.
TIZONA?
It’ll be okay, Zeke. You’ve gotten a lot stronger since we met.
ZEKE
Really?
TIZONA?
I can see it in your eyes. You’ve grown a lot.
ZEKE
...I...did it for you.
TIZONA?
what
ZEKE
Because I wanted to protect you.
Zeke takes Tizona’s hands into his own. They look into each other's eyes, Zeke beaming with sincerity, and Tizona? Uncertainty. This is the first and only time her eyes underneath the mask are shown.
ZEKE
It didn’t make sense to me. How I could climb the coldest corner of the universe without getting tired...
How I could feel so warm every time I saw you there...
How I could breathe so much easier hearing your voice, knowing you were real.
...
I think...
I think I’m in love with you, Tizona.
TIZONA?
...why?
ZEKE
I’ve just never met anybody like you.
TIZONA?
This...this is a lot, Zeke. I’m really not all that special. Maybe you haven't met anyone like me, but maybe it's good that more people aren't like me.
ZEKE
I'm sorry. Maybe that was a bit much...I just wanted to tell you while I had the chance. You’re...you’re special to me, Tizona.
TIZONA?
...
ZEKE
I think we’ve kept the flamingo waiting long enough now...I’m ready when you are, okay?
TIZONA?
Okay...I’m ready.
ZEKE
Let’s do this. I’ve got your back, Tizona.
The player interacts with the staircase again, and a downward spiral animation acts as an intermission to save before the third act begins.
53:30 AM
Blackthorne Caverns?
Everything looks normal again. The crystals all glow in harmonious shades of blue, and water is flowing in rivers all over the cave. Mirrors line some walls of the cavern as well.
TIZONA?
We’re close, I can feel it.
ZEKE
Me too...I kinda want to take a feather home too.
TIZONA?
Wouldn’t it hurt them though?
ZEKE
I’m sure we could ask nicely…
EVENT: The player reaches the entrance to the final area.
ZEKE
...give me a second? I just...want to take it all in. I don’t want to ever forget about this.
TIZONA?
Of course Zeke, no rush c:
The player enters the final room. The music cuts out, and unveils the room’s main and only thing of interest: an enormous, cracked heart made of ectosnow. Its beating echoes throughout the room.
ZEKE
TIZONA?!
The player opens their party menu to ominous music. Tizona’s portrait has changed, now only a blue and purple outline containing a mess of chaotic fractal patterns. Where the name TIZONA once was, it now displays the in-engine ID used for Blane (likely Actor_Blane). The player closes the menu.
ZEKE
Oh, no.
INTRO
BLANE
It’s time to say goodbye, Zeke.
ZEKE
Wait!
His theme is slightly slower and heavily filtered, making his attack almost impossible to parry. The sound of Zeke’s heartrate being monitored complicates the rhythm. Blane doesn’t kill the player, though.
BLANE
It’s time to say goodbye, Zeke.
ZEKE
Wait!
Blane’s second attack uses an alarm sound and an absurd amount of notes. The screen cuts to black before any notes reach the player.
ZEKE
...what if I came with you?
TIZONA?
But what about your home?
ZEKE
...don’t worry. I’ve got nothing left for me in that place.
END
Tags
Chapter: #ch1
Type: #exposition
Plots: