cable purgatory

Cable rubbed his head. The place was just crawling with kids (some of them young enough that the crawling was literal). He asked, to nobody in particular, “Where the Hell are we?”

“Welcome to Dunkin’ Donuts,” said Gloria.

“It’s Krispy Kreme!” Foo Contended.

Gloria tilted her head and squinted at the ceiling. “Is it?”

Cable identified the exit on the far side of the Krispy Dunk and moved towards it. Whatever chain donut restaurant it was, Cable knew that they didn’t belong there. But as he moved, something strange happened. With each footfall, the Earth shook, the tremors growing more and more intense the closer he got to the door. He peered through the glass.

An enormous metal machine, a robotic cyclops, stood far away. And with every step Cable took towards the exit, the robot drew closer. Cable stopped, and lifted an arm. And the robot moved its arm in accord.

With the pace the robot was making, Cable figured that by the time he reached the door, the robot would be there too. And Cable under his boot.

He stood frozen in his tracks and regarded the robot with confused curiosity. And the robot reflected this sentiment. But more tremors followed, and Cable took notice of yet another colossal figure approaching from behind. An amphibian monster. Instinctively Cable turned around.

“Gah!” Gloria flinched at Cable’s sudden movement. “Calm down, man, I just wanted to see what you were looking… oh.”

Cable turned back around. The amphibian monster seemed to reflect Gloria’s disappointment.

“Can you tell me what the Hell’s happening?” said Cable.

“Well,” said Gloria. “The monster is me and the robot is you.”

“But… why?”

Gloria laughed nervously and shook her head. “Fuuuuuuuuck if I know.”

“Perhaps I can explain.” Cable looked at the electronic menu. Goro’s waveform streaked across the screen. “This is the work of Jet Jaguar’s STAND, 『VERIDIS QUO』. A purgatory meant specifically for you to cleanse your sins, Cable. In the past, you have shown disregard for life, even for children. Well, now you see where your cruelty leads. In the distance is a robot who is synchronized to your every move. Every step you take towards the exit of the Krispy Kreme is a step the robot takes towards the entrance. You may leave… but if you simply leave, you will crush these children, and fail your penitentiary rite.”

“Then how the fuck do I get out of here?”

“That is up for you to decide,” said Goro. And he turned off.

- Ragnarust Finals