Long time [ Zacharie x Reader ] [ Part 1 ]

Long time

(this fanfiction is gender neutral, which means that it isn’t mentioned whether you are a male, female, ect. so anyone can read and go along with it! also this is a bit of an au where none of the plot line of the game really follows too much )

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  You slept.

  You slept as the sun was sleeping, and the moon’s darkness licked the world with its sickening tongue. An oily, ebony shadow that engulfed your world with no mercy. No consideration for the children that were terrified of the creeping obsidian monsters under their beds or in their closets. Nor for the sleeping prey, as they awaited death as the nocturnal predators came out to tear their throats. None for the young people walking home late. But it provided beauty also. A blissful sleep, where no light was to enter and ruin such a peaceful slumber. The blackness was almost as pure as the nothingness, the vast land where you’d never been, and was quite happy not to honestly.

  But for some reason, right before you were about to fall into your subconscious, your body jolted, almost like you were falling. It was a normal thing, it happened to everyone, but it was terrible to get right before you went to sleep. Turning over in your bed, you tried to close your eyes and get back to the state you had been at. But, thoughts started to occur to you. Perhaps a little walk wouldn’t hurt, would it? Get some fresh air. You felt more active than you ever did, even in the day time. So no need to try and fall asleep now.

  Swinging your legs out from your white covers, you stretched in a massive yawn. Pulling off your pajamas, you then gently put on your black pants and a tank top, with a long white jacket that went down to your knees was then pulled over your arms, then tied a necktie around your neck. Putting on your white converses, you then opened the door and exited to the world.

   You resided in Zone 2, where the Elsen’s residential area was placed. Though you were no Elsen, you were easily able to pass with just the necktie. The people here were…quite boring. Elsen, fearing to live, weren’t…well you guessed it; lively. They held a neutral life of terror of the world, and therefore, were quite boring to chat with. Nothing new each day, except for something extremely little.

  As you continued walking through the different paths between the buildings, you finally were able to reach a point in which you stopped. It was the entrance to the rest of Zone 2. Something that you’ve only passed once, and that time a bunch of spectres had ransacked the zone. You were extremely hesitant as you stood where you were. Should you go? Everyone should be asleep…and as long as you stayed near public areas, you should be safe, right? Your heart raced at the thrilling idea. You needed something new in your life anyways, or else you’ll end up as boring as the residents here.

  So, slowly, you stepped forward, out of the residential area for the Elsen and into the world. The waves of plastic lapped at the land, as the rest of the world just appeared to be engulfed by blackness beyond, which was usually white, but since it was night time, it showed as the opposite color. Walking along a certain little path, you gazed up at the tall and unfamiliar buildings. All were dark, where the sleeping Elsen that didn’t wish to stay in the residential area stayed. The library was a ways off, but you guessed that was probably closed. Nothing really out here to do at night, huh?

  But then something caught you eye. It was a little building, only one story high, but the lights were on, blazing onto the dark pink canvas that was the Zone. Who the hell would be up at this time? Well, you, but that’s beside the point. What store would be up at this time? Drawing closer towards the building as your curiosity built, you tried to look into the glass, but the light was so bright that you couldn’t see anything but a blankness. Should you go in? It seemed odd, not that this entire world was odd. Well, being you already walked this far, may as well check it out, right?

  You headed over towards the door, and pulled the handle open. A little bell rung above you. Looking around, the place was pink like everything else in this city. It was bright but…empty. No one was around. Not a soul. But why had the lights been on? Had an Elsen left it like this? No…you doubted it. They wouldn’t do that. You walked deeper into the little empty shop, bending over and checking for different things, for signs of life. Then as you peeked behind a door that was in the back, you heard a voice.

  “Buena noches, amigo.”

   “Holy shi-"

   The sound had terrified you as you hit your head on the doorframe, whipping your head to see where the voice had come from. Behind the counter that you encountered while entering, there was a man standing there. He wasn’t like the Elsen you had met plenty of times, and he definitely didn’t sound like one. He was a larger, chubbier man. His hair was a short and fluffed up ebony black, and he seemed to be wearing a white sweater with a black heart on it. He also was wearing black pants and a mask that almost looked like a toad.

  Your eyes flickered for a second as your narrowed your gaze at this strange man. Where had he come from? And who was he?

  “Do wish to buy anything?” he then asked out of the blue, tilting his obscured face.

   Oh right, this was a store, wasn’t it. You had forgotten about it for a moment.

   Cautiously walking closer to the man, you bit the inside of your cheek for a moment before asking, “Who…Who are you?”

   For a moment, the man didn’t say a word. His arms were placed on the counter, resting his face on his fist as he looked at you. Then as if he just had gotten the question through his mind, he lifted himself up and placed both hands on the counter.

   “Ah, excuse me for not introducing myself, amigo! My name is Zacharie, and I’m a merchant. I sell everything your heart desires, so just pick what you’d like, as long as you have the credits,” he answered with a small laugh, as he pulled up a large black bag and dumped a bunch of stuff out. There were a lot of things, many things that you couldn’t name.

   For all this time you had lived here, never had you heard of a merchant living out here. But his name did sound a bit familiar…was he perhaps the one who owned the amusement park? You’d never been there, but you have heard it from the Elsen around.

   As you stood there, dumbfounded by the thought, you were finally able to think straight, and come to the conclution that you may as well buy something while you were here. It was hard to think that you had actually met someone other than an Elsen. Honestly those anxious little things were the only living creature you’ve met. Zacharie was the first actual individual your eyes had ever set sights on. Though you were neither confused, nor frightened. Because you have heard about others living here from the Elsen. Some talk about a cat, or two, others a man with a bat, there were multiple stories that had interested you at first, until the Elsen started repeating them.

   “I…guess I could buy something..”  you said quietly as you stuffed your hands into your pocket. You had some credits that you had gotten for helping the Elsen out. Mainly checking their houses for monsters, making sure there was nothing dangerous lying around, different things like that.

   Zacharie seemed happy that someone was buying his stuff. Hitting fingers against one another as he put his hands together. “So, what would you like?”

   You looked through the things of the merchant as you put your finger to your lip. He did have a lot of things. Different colors, meat, tickets, jokers, and more. It was amazing how much this guy carried, it was almost unbelievable. But then…something caught your eye. At the very back of the pile of stuff, there was a bat. It was metal, with a black grip on the end. Picking it up, you studied it carefully. With this, you could help the Elsen with fending off some minor phantoms.

  “How much is this?” you asked, looking back up at Zacharie, who continued to stare at you.

   As you handed the bat over to the merchant, he looked at the bat carefully, letting out a soft ‘hmmm’.

  “Well, you seem to have your eyes on a Michael's bat. Now usually this item is for the Batter’s use only… But for you I believe I could make an…acception. That would be 500 credits, amigo,” he replied, putting the bat back onto the desk.

  Who the hell was the Batter? And 500 credits? That was a lot but…you thought you could manage. As you started to pull out your hand from your pockets, something went horribly wrong. The moment your hand reached the air out of your pocket, your hand suddenly lost grip of the credits and they spilled out onto the hard flooring, clinking as they landed as you cursed under your breath.

  “Shoot…I-I’m sorry…” you apologized as you bent  down to pick them up. Wow, what a fool you were making of yourself.

  You heard a sigh come from over the counter, and it struck you horribly. Anxiety rising in you, you tried to pick the credits up faster. But, something unexpected happened. Zacharie had moved from his station behind the counter and moved around it. The man crouched down in front of you without a word and began helping you help up the credits that you had clumsily dropped. You were quite surprised by his kind actions, but you didn’t say anything. Both of you were now on your knees, picking up the scattered credits that covered the floor. Finally, you both picked up all of them, half of them in your hands and half in his.

   When you both stood back up, Zacharie had to pull his sweater back over the small space of his belly that had shown from the small chore he had just completed with you. As you both sat down in a line of chairs, Zacharie started counting. You heard his mumbling behind his toad mask as he divided the credits in his hand. Once he reached a certain number, he said aloud, “489, just eleven more,” after he had put the rest of the credits in his pocket.

   Looking down at the credits you held in your hand, you counted out eleven of them. Placing the rest in your pockets, you saw that his large hand was already awaiting the rest of the payment. You didn’t refuse as you then placed the rest of the credits in his hand. An electric shock went through you as you felt his skin. You never really made physical contact with…anyone. Living alone was a sad thing, and the Elsen didn’t really offer a hug or contact either. You didn’t even know him, so feeling the skin of a stranger was a bit sickening. So instantly, your hand shot back. You had hopped you didn’t offend this man.

  You didn’t, for he obviously didn’t notice the sudden reaction. And recounting the credits swiftly, he then placed it back within his pockets.

  “Gracias, amigo! Ah, and here it is,” he then said, standing up from his seat next to you as he grabbed the Michael’s Bat, and placed it in your hands, you avoiding any more contact with him. At least you had a weapon now.

  “You're welcome... and thanks…” you replied, taking the thing in your hands as you then nodded to Zacharie. Thinking it over a few times, you then said, “Well, good night.”

  Did the guy even sleep anyways?

  “Ah no problem!  Buenas noches, amigo, and sweet dreams. Great doing business with you, and come back anytime,” he said with a wave of his hand, any expression he held at this time was obscured by his mask.

  You turned back around one last time with a small smile. “Uh, sweet dreams to you…too, Zacharie. Good-bye.”

  And with that, you left the shop with the bell ringing behind you.

  Now it wasn’t that you were shy, that was definitely not the cause. It was more like you were awkward, especially with social interaction. Zacharie was a lot different from the Elsen. Though he didn’t really carry out any real conversation. Maybe because you were just another paying customer, no need to dwell in talking. But he didn’t stutter, or become extremely timid. Surprisingly, he was quite calming, when you got past his mask and larger build.

  Making your way back into the residential area for the night, you set the bat by your bed and took your clothing off, pulling back on your pj’s. Once you lie in bed, you stare up at the ceiling. It was so hard going to sleep now. After a thrilling day, your heart was racing and you couldn't wipe that stupid grin off your face. For the second time in your life you left this boring resident area. You saw new things, something you had been dying for. And now the fresh imagery and emotions felt addicting, like you had to go back out there again. Perhaps tomorrow. Explore the zone that you lived in. Might as well, right? And you met your first real individual. A merchant, a strange to say the least, but hey, at least they weren't an Elsen. They were someone with their own unique personality. You wondered who else was out there like that besides you and Zacharie. Maybe you would meet them heading out. That would be wonderful.

  After perhaps about ten minutes of calming down from all the excitement this night had given you, your eyes finally started to get heavy as you turned on your side. Tonight had been wonderful, and you could only hope it continued.