To Find: Season 1 (A Sweet Fruit Tape)

Story Tape #23

The tape starts with Just slowly getting up from falling on a cluster of garbage bags, holding in his breath as he gets off of the bags and lands on a sidewalk. I turned around to look at the streetlight that spitted me out, confused as I raised my hand at it.

"Thanks for uh... Spitting me out... You streetlight, you..."

The streetlight looked down at me, not doing or saying anything as it became an inanimate object. Rubbing the back of my neck out of embarrassment, I looked around at my surroundings to get a feel of the new environment that I'm in. I look to see the large Entity hovering over the city from miles away. At least I'm at a familiar existence, I looked to my left to see a small town which seems friendly. I walk down the sidewalk, multiple people looking at me as all I can see were their teeth's and eyes. But I don't think they intentionally wanted to look creepy, they're just people. Soren... You created so many civilizations down here... I looked down to see that I was still holding the sticker, putting it away in my inventory as Whisper appeared beside to walk with me.

"So... Find a woman that can help us locate Soren's whereabouts, hm?"

I nodded my head as I took the sticker out from my pocket, looking to see if there was a clue on it.

"Ugh... Where the hell am I supposed to go? There's nothing on this sticker. Maybe there's a star symbol in this damn town."

Me and Whisper continue to walk down the sidewalk, looking to see if there are any buildings or any objects that have a star symbol. Whisper found something as he patted my shoulder multiple times, pointing at a building.

"Just, I found a building with a star. The building is called 'Enlightened Pearls'."

I followed Whisper to the building as I looked at the sleek, futuristic design of the building; a door was locked with a symbol of a Star, looking down at the sticker as they both matched.

"Yeah, this is the place. Thanks, Whisper."

Whisper nodded his head as he fades away, breathing out softly as I knock on the door. Not even a split second of me knocking, the door immediately opens as a dark figure with a rainbow colored pupil stares at me. I felt uneasy, showing it the sticker as it looks at the sticker then at me. Silence. Unnerving, eerie silence that I wanted to end. Moments later it steps away from the door, inviting me in as it speaks in a raspy deep voice.

"Enjoy your time."

I walked inside the dark building, chuckling nervously as I responded.

"T-Thanks..."

The figure closed the door, inside was complete darkness as I ready myself getting into a fighting stance; hearing mechanical and electrical sounds within the building as it started to shake. The building felt like it was going down, afterwards I was blinded by a bright light and loud noises. The song plays (AM I DREAMING?, By Alexis Munroe) out loudly, it wasn't a normal club. It was a strip club as I saw dark-figured women dancing on poles as they had an audience of men and women alike, my heart beating as I felt already uncomfortable. The woman is in this club? The interior of the club was mixed with purple and pink, the typical bar most clubs would have. I began to walk around the building, searching for clues on where I might find this woman at. Some of them would stare at me, are they after me? I need to be cautious, just in case. The intercom makes a cheerful tune as an excited male voice makes an announcement.

"Attention!! May I have your attention please? I hope all of you dumb motherfuckers are getting fucked up! We have a very special dancer with us today, the manager of Club Enlightened Pearls herself, C-H-E-R-R-Y, CHERRYYYY"

People were celebrating as they cheered out for the dancer, the name, it sounds familiar. I-... Is it the Cherry that I think it is..? The sounds of people cheering grow louder as I walk behind a group of people, the headlights pointing at the curtain as a woman walks onto the stage. Oh God, it's her... What is she doing here? A gorgeous caramel skin woman with plump lips, her hair length almost reaching her shoulders and her eyes... Glowing like pearls. Her outfit wasn't too explicit, but it didn't matter what she wore she always looked fitted with her waist being curvy and her cleav-... Just, stop... You're blushing and cheesing behind your duck mask, I placed my hand on my chest as my heart was beating. It really is her, Cherry... She... She was part of the friend group, Soren met her through Ara. Me, Are, Cherry, we all worked at the same club in VR. I was the DJ, both of them were the dancers and they danced very well. Cherry, she was very dear to us, to me. Memories of my time with Cherry manifested into my mind, good, funny memories but nothing in a romantic sense; but I did like her. Cherry waved at the guests as she held onto a microphone, her voice was so satisfying to listen to, I just wanted to keep hearing her.

"Hello everybody! It's so good to see you all, welcome to Enlightened Pearls. I hope that you are all having a great time here, I'll be performing a few lap dances on randomly selected individuals. Make sure you have your sticker, it'll vibrate and beep if you're chosen."

I took the sticker for my pocket as I looked at it, breathing heavily as a Random Number Generator picked a guest. Hearing the sound of beeping as someone raised their sticker up in the air, shouting it.

"It's me!! I got it!"

The sound of disappointment and people clapping filled up the room. I looked down a bit as Whisper appeared beside me, crossing his arms as he looked at Cherry. A man walked up on the stage as he sat down on the chair, he tried to position himself to make himself look cool as I rolled my eyes. A familiar song ( the hills - slowed + reverb, By slō, twilight, Tazzy) begins to play as she starts to give the man a lap dance. Her dancing never fails to amaze me, bobbing my head to the music as I quietly lip sync to myself. Whisper looked at Just, chuckling to himself even though he's in a dangerously unfamiliar world, the fact that Just is smiling even after what happened to him gives Whisper hope. As the beat kicked in the interior of the building began to change, matching the fiery blue tone of the music; looking at the man placing his hands on her hips as she threw her head back while sitting on his lap. I felt a sense of discomfort. Why should I even care? She's not mine. Even though I-...

"Just."

I looked to my left to see Whisper speaking to me.

"Who is that woman?"

I looked down a bit, sighing to myself, then looked up at Cherry.

"Her name is Cherry, someone very dear to me but... Hardly speak with each other at all."

Whisper makes a "hmm" sound, looking at Cherry as the music comes to an end. People clapped and cheered as she got up from the man's lap, his hand smoothly gliding against her ass before moving away from him. All I could see was that wide smile on his face, getting off the stage with excitement written all over him. I clenched my fist as I looked at the man, he seems like the type of guy to be such a disheartening dickhead. I closed my eyes, calming myself down as I unclench my fist. Cherry went behind the curtain to get some water, looking down at my sticker. I waited and waited for the stickers to be picked. My eyes widened as my sticker started to blink and making a beeping sound, Cherry called out.

"We have ourselves another winner, come on up whoever you are. I won't bite."

The groups of people were blocking her way from seeing me, slowly walking towards the stage as they made space for me as I walked. I saw her facial expression changing as she got a good look at me, covering her mouth as she spoke softly.

"J-Just...? M-Mm.."

Her eyes began to become watery as she jumped off the stage, running up to me as she gave me a tight hug; my face became red as I wrap my arms around your back. She felt warm and soft, it's been awhile since we've last spoken to each other but... I didn't expect to see her in Soren's mind... How is this possible? I embraced Cherry as I hugged her back tightly, trying not to sound emotional.

"Yeah, it's me. The one and only. Who else wears a duck mask while wearing a tuxedo? Don't answer that question."

Cherry chuckled as we both pulled away from the hug, her hands on my shoulders.

"Hehe, of course I can't forget that stupid duck mask. Bro, I've missed you so much. It's been so boring without you."

I smiled underneath the mask, gently rubbing and patting her right shoulder.

"We can catch up on some things, I need your help with something. But first I want my damn dance, I see you got those moves still. You have something new to show me?"

She nodded her head as she reached down to grab my hand, taking me up on the stage as she sat me down; leaning her face towards mine.

"Sure, I can show you some new moves. Just don't make me laugh like you used to when I danced on you."

She gently smacks my beak playfully, petting my head afterward as I let out a laugh, sitting back against the chair as I keep myself straight. The song (MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, By Elley Duhe) begins to play as it gives me a nostalgic moment, having memories of me and Cherry at the club on VRChat. We both smile at each other as she gives a lap dance to the music, feeling her warm breath on my neck as I keep my hands to myself. I wasn't a very touchy person before venturing here, I was shy and nervous. We started having a soft spoken conversation.

"Cherry... I need your help looking for Soren, a friend of mine told me that you know where he might be."

Cherry got off of me as she spun around, the beat dropping as the atmosphere switched to green-blueish color to fit the mood of the song. Looking at her always made me feel a type of away. I remember coming to her with my problems, she would tell me about hers and then we would end up either on VRChat hanging out or getting on Roblox. God, I've missed her company... She's a busy woman, I understand. Got her own life going, but she doesn't know what I'm going through. Maybe she wouldn't understand, perhaps find it odd. I haven't actually had an actual conversation with her in months. Cherry seductively crawled towards me on the floor, pulling herself up by holding onto my knees; the side of her cheek rubbing against my thigh. I looked down at her, flustered as my breathing was becoming heavy; I still kept my hands to myself as she spoke to me in a soft gentle voice.

"Mhm... I know where he's at... I can help you. You sure have made yourself a big target, I'm surprised you're not caught or even dead yet Goosie.."

She stuck her tongue out as saliva dripped from the tip of it, gliding her tongue against my thigh as she slowly reached towards my inner thighs. Before her tongue reached any further the music stopped, I quickly stood up as the people cheered and gave their applause. Me and Cherry both looked at each other as she whispers loud enough for me to hear her.

"Meet me upstairs, enter the code '8827' on the keypad. It'll take you to my room."

I nodded my head as my body was hot, getting off of the stage as I felt mainly the men patting my back as they cheered for me. I'm not like you, don't cheer for me. I looked back to see Cherry waving at me, I turned back around as I went up the stairs. The music changes to (Body Party, By Ciara) after my departure. People were kissing each other of both sexes, opposite and the same. After making a few turns around the building I found a room, blocked by a bodyguard it seems. He stopped me and asked a question.

"Hey, you can't be here little duck. Turn around and go back to where you came from."

I sighed a bit as I looked back, shaking my head as I looked back at him; reassuring him.

"Cherry said that she'll meet me in her room. She even gave me her passcode."

The bodyguard smirked at me, stepping to the side to reveal the keypad that was behind him.

"Go ahead, put the code in. If you get it wrong I will fuck you up."

I tried to contain my laughter as I walked up to the door, entering the code '8827' as the door slowly opened up, looking at the bodyguard as he chuckled.

"Mm, lucky, lucky."

He stood beside the door as I went inside, the door closing as I looked around to see Cherry's room filled with a pink, reddish color as I was amazed. It even had an outside balcony, opening the door as I walked out; seeing the large Entity hovering over the city from all the way over here. A dark, empty existence. The cold wind blows as I close my eyes, placing my hands on the railing. Whisper stood behind Just, tapping his foot on the ground.

"Cherry, isn't it? That woman is something."

I turned around to see Whisper standing behind me, thank God I had my mask on to hide my smile. I nodded my head, standing beside Whisper with my back leaned against the wall.

"Yeah, she sure is. But I need to focus on getting more information from Soren about his past. The quicker I can get to Soren and have him confess himself, the sooner I can get him out of here. Maybe then he'll pass on, let go of the regret, the pain, and die peacefully."

Whisper nodded his head, but cautioned me.

"Don't forget to humble yourself, your life rests on your Lord's hand, does it not? You need to be smart about your emotions, to be strategic, and how to handle pressure. I've seen the way you kill, how to take that emotion. It's dangerous and it'll get you killed. You better watch out, Wanderer."

My breathing becomes heavy as Whisper walks away, fading into the darkness as I hear the sound of footsteps approaching; the sound of Cherry voice calling out to me.

"Hey Just, who are you talking to?"

I looked at Cherry, smiling as I stretched a bit; walking up to the railing as I placed my forearm on it.

"Erm... No one. I tend to talk to myself sometimes, it gets lonely at times."

She stood beside me as we both looked at the distance, chuckling as she sighed quietly to herself.

"Mhm, sure Goosie. So, you need help looking for Soren? I know where he's at. You see that construction site over there near that cave?"

She pointed towards a forest area, getting a bit spooked as it reminded me of my first time coming here being stalked. I looked at the cave to see it being blocked off, nodding my head as Cherry placed her hand on my left shoulder.

"They have Soren over there. I'm not sure what they are doing in that cave, but I know that it's nothing good. Your best option is to sneak over there, so... Don't get caught, yeah?"

I felt her patting my back, chuckling a bit as I nodded my head; turning around to give her a hug.

"I'll try not to. It was good seeing you again Cherry."

She smiles at me, playfully smacking my beak.

"It was good seeing you too, Just. When you come back maybe we can talk about what we've been up to, yeah?"

I nodded my head, looking at her confused.

"Oh, definitely. I wanna know how the hell you're even here. Mm, see you later Cherry."

She giggled to herself, giving me one last hug.

"Mhm, take care Goosie."

I moved away from Cherry, looking at the construction site located in the forest as I let out a deep sigh; jumping over the railing as I felt my heart dropping. I quickly said "Umbilicus", sliding my fingertips from my forehead to my chin; my feet becoming light as I landed on the floor quietly and with ease. Chuckling to myself as that felt good to do, I'm going to enjoy experimenting with these powers. I look up to see Cherry waving at me while shaking her head out of disbelief, waving back at her as I head towards the Forest as the music fades away when distancing myself from the building. The tape ends with the camera panning at Just entering the dark, eerie forest, the large Entity hovering over the city.~

-End of Story Tape #23-