sudden separation

And since then, 2 whole weeks have passed!

How do I know?

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN COUNTING THE TIME EVERY SINGLE SECOND!!

Though, well... to be completely honest, in this place where time flows in such a distorted way, I could be totally wrong.

However, during all this time, I learned quite a bit about how things work around here thanks to Tanya.

IT TURNS OUT THIS ENTIRE WORLD WAS CREATED BY SOME KIND OF CURSED CLOWN!

Furthermore, that entity controls everyone who ends up here, forcing them to act as depraved puppets until they completely lose their sanity.

So, why didn't it work on me?

Well, maybe Echidna was doing something in the shadows... I mean, she hasn't shown any signs of life all this time, even though I can still feel her presence inside me.

BY THE WAY, ACCORDING TO MY ACTUAL WRISTWATCH, IT'S BARELY 5:55 IN THE MORNING!

"I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!"

Originally, Tanya and I came up with a master plan: it consisted of waiting for the clown to call her for the famous "common sense test," and at that moment, I would attack him by surprise with my trusty frying pan.

Isn't that dangerous?

To some extent, yes, but after looking into it, we discovered this guy only seemed invincible because he maintained mental control over everyone in this domain.

And that's where I come in!

With my immunity, I would deliver a crushing strike from behind and save the day.

But... no matter how long we waited... the show never started.

"What on earth is that guy planning?"

On the other hand Tanya sat on the edge of the sofa, hugging her knees as her hesitant eyes followed my every step around the dressing room.

"Haa... Well..."

So in response I could only let out a long sigh and lean against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I guess we have no choice but to keep waiting."

And in response to my words Tanya replied in a faint voice, suddenly slithering across the floor like a reptile until she grabbed one of my ankles with both hands while giving a couple of licks.

"That's right... Slurp, slurp"

Of course when I realized it delivered a quick slap to her shoulder to shove her away as I stumbled backward.

"STOP LICKING MY FEET!!"

However, in response to my retort and acting as if I had done nothing wrong Tanya exclaimed without an ounce of shame, dropping onto all fours and wiggling her hips as if she had a tail.

"Forgive this bad girl, woof!"

And as you might have noticed, I've been staying in Tanya's dressing room all this time... but this is basically like dealing with a slightly saner version of Sara.

"... Oh forget it, I give up."

Apparently, before I arrived, she used to bathe in other people's urine, consume "a certain" male fluid, and masturbate furiously every day.

Isn't it terrible?

So the first thing I did was force her to take a proper shower, feed her normal meals in the kitchen, and give her a massage to calm her impulses.

But ever since then, she's been acting like some kind of dog...

"Haa... Well... I guess I can handle it."

To be honest, daily life with her became absurdly surreal.

Being trapped inside a dressing room for days with no TV or internet forces you to come up with weird ways to kill time.

One day I pulled out a deck of cards I found in a drawer, spreading them across the low coffee table while Tanya watched me, her cheeks resting on her fists.

"Look, Tanya, this is an 'Ace.' If you play it now, you win the round."

Before my explanation I still remember how Tanya nodded vehemently, leaning over the table until she was just inches from my face.

"Got it! If I win, you have to let me use your right thigh as a pillow for three hours!"

Of course at that time naturally jerked my torso back with an incredulous grimace, slapping the deck firmly against the wood.

"Why do you always tack on a weird condition at the end?!"

And of course I replied...

But despite his crazy habits and his sudden bouts of dog-like devotion, there were moments when we would simply sit on the floor sharing whatever makeshift meals we managed to find.

Honestly when she lowered her guard and wasn't trying to pounce on me, Tanya proved to be surprisingly attentive, adjusting the cutlery or brushing crumbs off my clothes, as if having someone sane by her side was gradually restoring scraps of her former humanity.

And believe it or not, despite everything I've said, Tanya is still one of the luckiest people in this place.

I mean, there are people here who don't even get to keep their own names!

An example of this is a mother and her young son (both completely naked) that I ran into in the hallway.

Apparently, the mother was called "old cow" while the boy was dubbed "dick shot."

But in spite of that, none of them of them thought their names were weird, but according to Tanya, the clown found it so hilarious to see a large-breasted mother having relations with her son that he rewrote their identities, and that's what they've been called ever since.

And just like them, there are dozens of grotesque cases...

"I wonder when it's all going to end?"

So with that said I got out of my thoughts and headed toward the small shelf to grab the teapot, hoping to soothe the migraine pounding at my temples, when suddenly—

(RUMBLE!!!!)

The ground jolted violently, sending inkwells and vanity mirrors flying off the tables.

"Is that an earthquake?!"

As a result I fell to my knees while trying to hold onto a table, while Tanya let out a shriek and pounced onto my back, locking her terrified arms around my neck as the ceiling began to fracture like shattered glass.

"This has never happened before, woof!"

AND OUT OF NOWHERE, THE ENTIRE SPACE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SHATTER INTO PIECES!

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!

«There you are. It's time to leave.»

But suddenly a familiar voice echoed right in my head, chilling my blood.

"Echidna!"

UNTIL YOU SHOW UP DAMN IT!!

«Oh... While I wasn't watching, it seems you acquired another concubine. Not bad.»

But Those words made me come back to me, ruining the touching reunion as I clenched my fists in frustration, staring up at the cracked ceiling where reality was fading into a white void.

"DON'T START WITH THAT!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN AND WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

Although as a result of my snatch Tanya pulled back slightly, staring wide-eyed into empty space as she shook my shoulders.

"Hey! Who are you talking to?! Do you know what's happening?!"

So naturally to reassure her get up a hand to calm her down, trying to stay upright on the crumbling floor.

"Give me a second, please!"

But despite my professionalism and ignoring personal space...

"How can you be so calm master!?"

Tanya was demanding an explanation while clinging desperately to my arm, but unfortunately... I needed one too!

«Didn't I tell you that if you were in danger, I would take care of it?»

Come to think of it, she did indeed say something along those lines.

"Don't you think you're arriving a bit too late?!"

So where the were you?!

«Complications arose during the process, and this unbearable delay only postponed execution.»

By delay do you mean the time difference in this place?

"So... what's going to happen now?"

No, wait! Concentrate Mireya and ask what matters...

«Well, everyone will return to the exact spot where they were abducted from.»

Wow... Just that...?

"Ohh... Is that all?"

I won't lie to you, it was a bit anticlimactic.

«If you're going to say goodbye, do it now, because this illusory world is about to crumble entirely.»

So after hearing those words I immediately turned my head towards Tanya.

"Did that clown start acting?!"

She was gripping my sleeve with both hands, visibly trembling at the fractures of light devouring the dressing room walls.

"..."

After sharing this strange confinement, helping put her life back together, and getting used to her daily antics, the sudden separation left a lump in my throat.

"Sorry..."

Although I was hoping for a slightly calmer farewell, I guess there's no other choice... I feel a little sad, to be honest... But I had already mentally prepared myself to say goodbye.

"I'm so sorry, Tanya, but this is where we part ways!"

I placed my hand over hers, gently prying myself free from her grip as the light enveloped us.

"Huh...?! What are you talking about?!"

Tanya spoke in panic, reaching out her arms toward me as the floor beneath her feet vanished.

"Thank you so much for everything during this time!"

In these cases you have to say goodbye with a smile... Yes, you just have to "smile"... Right...?

"Wait... don't leave me alone again...!!"

Tanya screamed through tears, attempting to catch my hand one last time before the distance tore us apart.

"See you soon!!"

And with those final words, as the show's structure shattered into a thousand glass shards, everything around me faded into absolute darkness.