Chapter Text
"You guys sure you don’t want us to come with?" Astro asked, arms crossed as he leaned against the counter.
"It’s just a quick supply run," Sprout replied, zipping up his jacket. "We’ll be back before you know it."
Dandy didn’t look convinced. "Famous last words."
Cosmo rolled his eyes. "Relax, it’s not like we’re raiding some high-security vault. Just grabbing a few things and heading back."
Astro sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, but don’t do anything stupid."
Sprout forced a smirk, but there was an uneasy feeling in his gut. "No promises."
Dandy still looked skeptical, but he didn’t argue further. Instead, he gestured toward the hallway. "Just don’t take too long."
Sprout and Cosmo turned away, making their way through the familiar corridors of Garden View. The building was still well kept from Tisha’s constant cleaning. The walls hummed with the low thrum of generators keeping the place running, the occasional flicker of the overhead lights a reminder of how fragile their setup was.
The faint scent of old wood and machine oil clung to the air, mingling with the warmth of home.
"You think the twisteds will be more tame this time?" Cosmo asked as they walked, his tone only half-joking.
"They better," Sprout replied. "Otherwise, we’re not making a second trip, and I don’t feel like dealing with Dandy’s ‘I told you so.’"
Cosmo huffed a laugh, adjusting the strap of his bag. "You’d think we’d catch a break for once."
They reached the elevator at the end of the hall, its giant metal frame worn from years of use. Sprout pressed the call button, tapping his foot impatiently. "This thing always takes forever."
Cosmo leaned against the wall, unimpressed. "Pretty sure your excessive button mashing isn't making it any faster."
Sprout scoffed, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "You never know. Maybe it'll scare it into moving."
With a groan of machinery, the elevator finally arrived, the door lifting open like a tired sigh. The two of them stepped in, the dim overhead light flickering slightly as Sprout hit the button for the first floor.
The doors slid shut with a dull thud, and the car lurched slightly as it began its descent.
"If we’re lucky, we’ll be back in time to bake some cookies for everyone," Cosmo mused, stretching his arms behind his head. "I’d kill for Dandy to let us use more supplies for baking."
Sprout smirked, but a weird feeling crept up his spine. "Good luck with that. Unless Dandy suddenly learns how to save supplies for something that isn’t charred beyond recognition, we won’t have a chance at getting a good amount of baking done."
Cosmo snorted. "Fair point."
Then, without warning, a violent jolt rocked the car. The overhead light flickered wildly before plunging them into dim emergency red. Sprout barely had time to grab the railing before gravity seemed to drop out from under them.
The elevator plummeted.
Metal screamed. The emergency lights flared brighter. Sprout’s stomach shot into his throat as he slammed into Cosmo, the two of them crashing against the side of the car.
His pulse thundered in his ears, drowning out everything but the chaotic rush of air and the horrific realization that they weren’t stopping.
Cosmo’s hand found his wrist in the freefall, gripping tight. "SPROUT!"
The impact was instant and absolute.
Sprout barely had the sense to throw an arm over his head before the world collapsed around him. The floor beneath them buckled, metal groaning in agony as the elevator crushed down into its final resting place. Dust and debris filled his lungs, choking any sound he might’ve made. The emergency lights flickered once—twice—then died, plunging them into suffocating darkness.
For a long moment, there was only silence, save for the distant echo of settling wreckage and the ringing in Sprout’s ears. His entire body ached, his ribs screaming in protest as he sucked in a shallow breath.
"Cos?" His voice was hoarse, weak, desperate.
A groan. Shuffling fabric. Then a rough, breathless laugh. "Still here."
Relief slammed into Sprout like a freight train, but fear smothered it almost instantly. "Are you hurt?" he asked quickly, his hands fumbling in the darkness. "Cosmo, talk to me."
A pained hiss. "I—I think my leg’s pinned."
Sprout’s chest tightened, panic clawing at his throat. "Okay. Okay, that’s fine. We’ll fix it. Just—just hold on." His hands searched, trembling as they brushed over metal and debris. "You’re gonna be okay."
Cosmo exhaled sharply, trying to shift but wincing immediately. "Sprout, it’s bad. I—"
"Don’t say it." Sprout cut him off, his voice firmer than he felt. "We’re getting out of here. I promise."
The darkness pressed in, the weight of the collapsed elevator above them settling ominously. Dust clung to the air, making every breath feel heavy. Somewhere in the distance, metal groaned—unstable, shifting.
"We need to get out of here," Sprout muttered, his grip tightening. "Before this whole thing gives out."
Cosmo let out a strained breath. "I don’t think I can move it."
Sprout swallowed hard, forcing his own fear down. "Then I’ll move it for you."
His fingers curled around the debris trapping Cosmo’s leg, and with a deep breath, he started to pull. Pain flared through his own body, his arms burning, but he didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. Not when Cosmo was hurting. Not when Cosmo needed him.
"Just hold on," Sprout muttered again, mostly to himself. "I’m not letting this be the end."
Cosmo let out a weak chuckle. "Stubborn idiot."
Sprout took a deep breath, forcing his hands to stop shaking as he braced himself again. "Yeah. And I’m getting you out of here."
His heart pounded as he shoved aside another piece of debris, ignoring the sting in his palms. Cosmo’s breathing was uneven, each exhale strained, and Sprout felt dread curl in his gut.
"You still with me?" Sprout whispered, pressing his palm against Cosmo’s shoulder.
"Not going anywhere," Cosmo murmured, though his voice was fainter now.
"Damn right you’re not," Sprout muttered, determination sharpening his tone. "I need you to stay awake. You hear me? Just—just keep talking."
Cosmo let out a tired breath. "Talk about what?"
"Anything. Stupid baking ideas. What kind of cookies you wanted to make. Just—just keep talking."
There was a pause before Cosmo managed, "I was thinking... chocolate chip. But, like... the really soft kind."
Sprout’s throat tightened. "Yeah? That sounds good. But you gotta stay awake so we can actually make them, okay?"
Cosmo hummed weakly in response, and Sprout felt his panic spike. He doubled his efforts, pushing against the debris with renewed desperation. "Come on, come on," he gritted out, muscles screaming in protest.
Finally, with one last shove, the weight shifted. Cosmo sucked in a sharp breath as his leg was freed, but Sprout barely had time to register the relief before he was pulling Cosmo toward him, gripping him tightly.
"I got you," Sprout whispered, voice shaking. "I got you. We’re getting out of here."
Cosmo let out a pained breath, his body trembling against Sprout’s. “Guess you really are that stubborn.”
Sprout swallowed, tightening his grip around Cosmo’s shoulders. “Yeah, well. You better not die on me after all that effort.”
Cosmo gave a weak, breathless chuckle, but it dissolved into a cough. Sprout felt a fresh wave of panic as Cosmo’s body sagged slightly against him.
No. No, no, no.
Sprout shifted, steadying them both. The elevator was a wreck—walls crumpled inward, ceiling barely holding up. Dust still hung thick in the air, making each breath feel heavier than the last. He needed to get Cosmo out.
Now.
“Okay, I’m gonna lift you, alright?” Sprout whispered. “Might hurt, but we can’t stay here.”
Cosmo exhaled sharply but nodded faintly.
Sprout carefully hooked an arm under Cosmo’s knees, bracing himself before hauling him up. Cosmo sucked in a sharp breath, his grip tightening on Sprout’s jacket.
“Shit—shit, okay, yeah, that hurts,” Cosmo hissed.
“Yeah, well. You’ll live,” Sprout muttered, adjusting his hold.
Cosmo gave him a look, but his usual sharp retorts were dulled by exhaustion. Sprout ignored the way that made his stomach twist.
With careful, deliberate steps, he moved toward what remained of the elevator doors. They were bent and jammed half-open, just wide enough to squeeze through if he could climb over the debris.
Sprout gritted his teeth. It wasn’t going to be easy. But they didn’t have a choice.
“Hang on,” he murmured, shifting Cosmo’s weight against him.
Cosmo let out a soft noise of acknowledgement, his head pressing lightly against Sprout’s shoulder. Too still. Too quiet.
Panic surged again, but Sprout forced himself to focus.
One step at a time.
He climbed over the wreckage, every movement careful but desperate. The metal creaked under their weight, but he didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. The second he squeezed through the mangled opening, fresh air hit his face—cold, sharp, and real.
They were out.
But they weren’t safe yet.
The hallway beyond the shaft was dimly lit, flickering emergency lights casting eerie shadows. It was empty. No signs of help. No signs of anyone.
Sprout’s heart pounded.
Cosmo barely managed to push himself up enough to see him. “Hey. Stay with me.” Sprout nudged him lightly. “We’re out, but we still gotta move.”
Cosmo’s eyes fluttered open, unfocused. “You—still owe me cookies,” he mumbled.
Sprout huffed a laugh, relief breaking through the fear for just a second. “Yeah, yeah. But only if you don’t pass out on me before we get back.”
Then, his legs buckled.
Pain—blinding, searing pain—ripped through his body like a lightning strike. His knees hit the ground hard, jarring his entire frame, and for the first time, he realized just how wrong everything felt.
His breath hitched. His limbs were shaking, not just from exhaustion but from something deeper, something worse. The world tilted, his vision swimming.
Cosmo barely managed to push himself up enough to see him. “Sprout?” His voice was hoarse, thick with concern.
Sprout’s hands pressed against his stomach, and that’s when he felt it. The warmth. The wetness. The unmistakable stickiness of blood.
A lot of blood.
His fingers trembled as he pulled them back, and even in the dim light, he could see it. Dark red, slicking his hands, seeping through his shirt. His head spun.
“Shit,” he breathed.
Cosmo’s expression shifted from pain to sheer panic. “No. No, no, no, you’re okay, you’re fine.”
But Sprout knew better. Now that the adrenaline was fading, the pain was unbearable, radiating from his stomach, his ribs—hell, maybe everywhere. His whole body ached, like something inside had broken in a way that couldn’t be put back together.
“I—I didn’t even feel it,” Sprout murmured, almost in disbelief. His chest tightened, a cold weight settling in his gut that had nothing to do with his injuries.
Cosmo’s breathing turned shaky. “You’re gonna be okay. Just—just hold on, alright?” His voice cracked at the end, hands fumbling as he tried to push himself closer.
Sprout swallowed, pushing down the wave of nausea that threatened to pull him under. His body screamed at him to just stop, to lie down and let the darkness take over, but he refused.
“We move,” he gritted out. “We get upstairs. We find help.”
“You can’t even stand,” Cosmo argued.
“I will.” He had to.
Cosmo hesitated, but the fear in his eyes was raw. He knew as well as Sprout did—if they stayed here too long, neither of them was getting out.
With a deep, shuddering breath, Sprout braced himself. Every movement sent white-hot pain tearing through him, but he gritted his teeth, forced his body to obey. He got one foot under him, then the other, dragging himself upright with sheer willpower alone.
His vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges.
Cosmo tried to push himself up too, but his leg buckled the moment he put weight on it. He let out a sharp gasp, falling back against the wall.
Sprout caught his breath, forcing himself to focus.
“Lean on me,” he said.
Cosmo looked at him like he was insane. “Dude. You’re bleeding out.”
“So?” Sprout forced a smirk, even as his entire body screamed in protest. “You think I’m just gonna leave you here?”
Cosmo’s face twisted with emotion, but he didn’t argue. He shifted his weight, looping an arm around Sprout’s shoulders, and together, they took their first agonizing step forward.
It was slow. Painful. Every breath was fire in Sprout’s lungs, but he didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.
One step.
Then another.
The hallway stretched endlessly ahead of them, the emergency lights flickering like dying stars.
Each step was agony.
Sprout’s breath came in short, shallow gasps, his vision wavering as he pushed forward. Cosmo leaned heavily against him, his own steps uneven from the pain in his leg, but they didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.
The hallway stretched before them, dim emergency lights flickering in the distance. The air was thick with dust and something metallic—blood, maybe.
“We’re really doing this, huh?” Cosmo muttered, voice rough with exhaustion.
Sprout huffed a weak laugh, swallowing against the bile rising in his throat.
“What, walking? Yeah. Real impressive.”
“More like—dragging our half-dead bodies across a collapsing building.” Cosmo winced as they took another step. “Would’ve been easier if the universe cut us a break for once.”
Sprout smirked, though it barely held. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Cosmo exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “You’re insane.”
“Yeah, well.” Sprout’s grip tightened around Cosmo’s shoulder, his own legs trembling under the weight of both their injuries. “Takes one to know one.”
They made it past the shattered remains of an old doorway, the floor creaking ominously beneath them. The hallway was eerily silent aside from their labored breathing, the distant hum of the failing generators the only other sound.
Sprout’s mind was foggy, his body sluggish. He could feel the warmth of his own blood seeping deeper into his clothes, the wet stickiness clinging to his skin. Every step sent another bolt of pain through his core, but he gritted his teeth, forcing himself forward.
“You still awake?” he murmured.
Cosmo grunted. “Barely.”
“Good.” Sprout let out a shaky breath. “If I gotta suffer, you’re suffering with me.”
Cosmo snorted, but the sound was weak. “What a hero.”
They trudged forward, each step slower than the last, but the hallway was finally starting to open up. If they could just get to the stairwell—if they could just find something, someone—
Then the sound hit them.
A heavy, deliberate thud.
Then another.
And another.
Loud. Slow. Too steady to be settling debris.
Sprout froze, every muscle in his battered body going rigid. His breath caught in his throat, heart pounding as his mind struggled to process the sound.
Cosmo tensed beside him. “Tell me that’s just the building.”
Sprout didn’t answer.
Because deep down, he already knew.
That wasn’t the building.
It was something else.
And it was getting closer.
The heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor, methodical and unhurried—like something that knew it didn’t need to rush. Like something that already knew they were trapped.
Sprout’s blood turned ice cold.
Cosmo swallowed hard, gripping Sprout’s sleeve. “Okay,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “Okay. What do we do?”
Sprout’s mind raced, every instinct screaming at him to move—to hide—but his body was wrecked, Cosmo was barely standing, and the exit still felt impossibly far away.
The footsteps stopped.
Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
Then, a sharp inhale.
Not theirs.
Something else.
Something big.
Something that had just found them.
Sprout’s grip tightened around Cosmo.
“Run,” he breathed.
The twisted Pebble spotted them instantly.
A guttural, rabid snarl tore from its throat before it lunged, its limbs jerking unnaturally as it sprinted toward them at full speed. Its claws scraped against the floor, its mouth frothing as it let out a series of barking shrieks, like some rabid, starved predator.
Sprout’s stomach dropped.
No time.
“Move!” he rasped, grabbing Cosmo and dragging him forward.
They ran—stumbling, barely keeping their footing, but running. Sprout’s body screamed in protest, every injury flaring white-hot, but the terror pumping through his veins kept him upright.
The hallway stretched endlessly before them, their ragged breaths and pounding footsteps swallowed by the echo of the Pebble gaining ground.
Too fast. It was too damn fast.
Sprout chanced a glance back—
The creature was nearly on them.
A blur of gnarled limbs and soulless, gleaming eyes.
It lunged.
Sprout shoved Cosmo ahead, twisting just in time to avoid the full force of the attack—but the Pebble’s claws still caught him.
Searing pain tore through his side as he was thrown against the wall, a strangled cry escaping him as the impact rattled his skull.
No. No, no, no—
His vision swam, but the sight of the Pebble whipping around, already preparing to strike again, snapped his mind into focus.
It reared back, its growl morphing into a shriek as it lunged for the kill—
And Sprout grabbed the closest thing he could—a broken metal pipe jutting from the wreckage—and swung.
The impact sent a sickening crack through the air as the pipe collided with the creature’s skull.
The Pebble screeched, staggering back in a jerking, spasming motion. It wasn’t dead, but it was dazed.
That was their only chance.
“Sprout, come on!” Cosmo’s voice was raw with panic.
Sprout forced himself upright, pain splitting through his ribs as he pushed off the wall and bolted after Cosmo.
A supply closet—just ahead.
He could hear the Pebble behind them, shaking off the blow, its snarls turning rabid with fury.
Too close.
They lunged for the door just as the creature recovered.
Sprout grabbed the handle, wrenching it open as they stumbled inside, slamming it shut behind them.
A split second later, the Pebble slammed into the other side.
The impact nearly knocked Sprout off his feet. The metal door groaned, its hinges screaming as the monster clawed and bashed against it with unhinged aggression.
Cosmo collapsed against the far wall, clutching his leg with a strangled breath. “That’s not gonna hold—”
Sprout braced against the door, arms shaking violently. His wounds were catching up with him, pain suffocating, blood dripping from his side in thick, hot rivulets. His breathing hitched—short, shallow, dizzy—
Not now. Not yet.
Cosmo was already scrambling, hands running along the darkened room, searching—searching—
Then, a sharp inhale.
A vent.
“Sprout!” Cosmo wheezed, fingers fumbling to pry it open.
Sprout couldn’t respond. His limbs were numb, his vision flickering. The world swayed.
The door buckled behind him.
The Pebble shrieked.
Cosmo turned, eyes flashing with alarm.
“Sprout—move!”
He didn’t have time to hesitate.
Cosmo yanked him forward, practically shoving him into the vent before scrambling in after him.
Just as the door finally gave.
The Pebble’s inhuman shriek pierced the air as it crashed inside, claws slashing wildly—but it was too big. The vent was too narrow.
They were just out of reach.
Sprout collapsed against the freezing metal, his entire body trembling violently. He could feel Cosmo shifting beside him, his breathing labored, but alive.
Alive.
“Holy shit,” Cosmo rasped.
Sprout let out a breathless, shaking laugh—more disbelief than relief. His fingers twitched, his entire body numb.
Then, all at once, his adrenaline gave out.
The pain hit like a freight train.
His vision swam, the pounding in his skull unbearable. His side—his ribs—his leg—everything was burning, white-hot agony flooding every nerve. His breaths turned ragged, uneven, his body barely listening to him anymore.
Cosmo shifted, brow furrowing as he caught sight of the growing pool of blood beneath Sprout. His face went pale.
“Shit,” he whispered, voice unsteady. “Sprout—”
Sprout swallowed hard, gritting his teeth. “’M fine.”
“You’re literally bleeding out.”
Sprout gave a weak, lopsided smirk. “Yeah. But we lived.”
Cosmo stared at him, expression torn between frustration and something dangerously close to fear.
“…You better not pass out,” he muttered.
Sprout huffed. “No promises.”
They lay there for a moment, the Pebble still shrieking and thrashing just beyond the vent.
They weren’t safe yet.
But they weren’t dead.
And for now, that had to be enough.