Chapter Text
It all started a week ago.
Waterboy was bouncing his leg trying to keep calm, trying to remember what happened that night. Blonde Blazer wanted him to explain what he saw, trying to tie together why Robert hasn’t been showing up to work. He had no way to explain it thoroughly. It was all so vivid, yet the fog kept him from expressing.
Mandy let out a sigh, staring down Herman like he was Pandora's box, in a way he was, but the way the water flooded the ground, his eyes wide and the way he kept fidgeting with his body, the last thing he wanted was to open up.
“Listen, I really don’t want to force this out of you but..”
She pauses, obviously frustrated, she tries to find a nice way to put it.
“Since Robert works for me, I have to keep a catalog on him. Missing for a week without any message on why, he’s on the edge of losing his job.”
Herman sprung up quickly, blood rushing way too fast to his head.
“N-no!! You- you can’t do that. With his current.. his condition it’d be unfair.. wouldn’t be.. right.”
“Then you have to tell me what happened, Waterboy. This is a serious matter, I can’t have you keeping secrets from me.”
He flinched. He doesn’t want to lose his job, but more importantly he doesn’t want Robert to either, he had no idea what to do. Could he even do anything? He was a faucet, able to fill a half gallon bottle. Taking a deep breath, mustering up all the courage he has to tell the story.
“Okay.. alright this is what uh.. this is what happened.”
…
A quiet midnight, as if everyone vanished from existence. Herman desperately texted Robert in slight paranoia.
8:30pm
> Sir? Is everything okay?
8:45pm
> You haven’t talked to anyone in awhile, we’re worried about you :(
9:07pm
> Robert please answer me!!!!
11:55pm
> I’m coming over
12:00am
> I’m here at your apartment building, please answer. I don’t want to seem like I’m breaking in
Not a single one seen. As if he was blowing up the phone of a dead man. He prayed to god that wasn’t it. Just the thought makes him want to evaporate, so he shakes the thought as quickly as possible.
Trudging his way to the staircase, his legs tremble. An unnatural shaking, making it hard to stand, let alone walk up stairs, but he marched on. Herman, if it’s the last thing he does, has to see what’s going on with Robert.
Finally reaching his door, his legs calmed. As if all anxiety disappeared. It only lasted for a tad bit when he fiddled with the door, realising it was unlocked. Strange.
Herman slipped in quietly, doesn’t want to alarm his higher up and possibly get hit being mistaken as an “intruder.” He heard light shuffling, a strange stench filling his nose, all positive feelings escaping while the negative rushed in like a mob.
“Boss- Robert? Are.. are you i-in here?”
His voice cracks like glass. Something is wrong. Terribly wrong. The room was almost pitch black, the only thing was the sliver of light coming from the hallway.
The smell only got worse. Poignant and harsh, as if it was a rotting carcass.
Herman's mind rushes to the worst thoughts imaginable. Only one circling like a ring of fire at a witch burning.
‘Is he dead? Is he dead? Is he dead? Is he dead? Please god don’t be dead? Robert don’t die on me, please god Robert don’t be dead, I love yo-’
Thoughts vanished when he saw a shadow rise up in the violent darkness.
“Robert?”
Watching the shadow, he notices the painfully slow headturn.
“Herm?” Robert's soft voice responded, but instead of it bringing his anxiety to rest, it rose beyond limits.Herman gulped, lightly pushing the door closed. He guided his hand to the light, flicking it on.
Flashed with pure horror. His mind went completely blank. Eyes bugged out. He couldn’t even scream. It was horrible, scarring, horrid, disturbing, every word that can describe this treachery.
…
Waterboy gasped for air, cutting himself off from the story.
“I- I can't! no no no. Don’t bring me back. P-please I.. I’m sorry, no no no!”
He rocked back and forth, having everything rush back was a true whiplash.
“Water- Herman, it’s okay it’s okay! Calm down, calm down,” Mandy put her arms around him trying to keep him calm, shushing him lightly while tears fell down his face.
“Please, you have to continue. You can do this, I know you can Herman let it out.”
…
Robert smiled. Not one of his soft gentle smiles, not even a sarcastic one. It was hungry, poisonous, down right menacing. Walking slowly closer to Herman, who is pressed up against the door in complete shock.
He couldn’t tell if he was even breathing. None of it felt real, it all seemed like a hallucination.
Herman wishes it was. If it was only that easy.
“Sir-”
Herman squeaks before cutting himself off. He couldn’t talk, no matter how hard he tried. Nothing will come out.
“Herrrmaaan…”
Robert said in a sing songy tune, stepping closer and closer, dripping. His silver eyes couldn’t get any wider while he pushed his body against the door, as if trying to fuse with it. He chanted softly ‘please’ watching Robert creep slowly towards him. Eyes half lidded, pupils blown up, smile slowly fading.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Hermy.”
Herman peaked over to see what the hell was going on.
A body, laying there. Beyond lifeless.
Robert reaches out his hands.
“There’s enough for both of us. Come on, be a good boy and join me.”
Watching the crimson substance drip from his spread fingers. A strange force pulled him closer.
“N-no. No I’m not.. I- NO!”
He swings the door open, making a grand escape. Quickly dashing outside, looking behind him making sure Robert wasn’t running at him. The night remained dead, he shivered in pure fear.
That wasn’t Robert. That couldn’t be, that was the Mecha Man he knew and loved. The only one who he truly loved in general. He would never do something so horrible.
His phone vibrated.
Robert 💙
Message(1)
> im so sorry u to see me like that maybe next time we can have dinner together
He could only look. He couldn’t respond.
> dont be afraid to join me. i told you, i wont hurt you
…
> unless you want me to :)
What?