December 14, 2021

Adam clumsily climbed the tree to the roof, laying down in a star position and just giving a shaky breath. Todays been a lot, and its still too early.

Adam looks starkly at the crimson red sky, a constant reminder of how far from home he was. He could walk, drive, anything, and it wouldn't be enough to get back to his apartment, the one place he felt safe. Where he could spend his days and nights, indulging the internet, relaxing. Now it was constant stress, Gods this, Corrupteds that. The only solice he had were brief moments of pure loneliness. Those hours of solitude where he felt a sense of comfort were gone, now the hours he spent in the basement or on the back porch felt so empty. He genuinely had no idea what to do anymore. His one area of comfort was ripped from him, leaving him in the apocalypse with nothing but a house and people he barely knew.

Adam gets back up to head off of the roof an back inside, attempting to grab the tree to climb down. But whoops! He slips and falls to the ground. A loud thump as he hits the floor, and he groans and curls up, nice try ginger boy.

December 15, 2021

Adam's back here, climbing up to the roof, ignoring the labored breathing and pain from his chest. He lays down on the roof and pulls out the pills he'd stolen from Code when he was just arriving, just looking at them. Spider appears on the other side of the roof, holding a knife.

Adam turns to look at her briefly, “Ah- I can leave, if that's convinient-“

"Why would that be convenient?" Spider asks, turning to look at him.

“Oh- uh- I don't know- I assumed that if you came up here, you might've wanted to be alone… one of the only quiet places around here…”

"You aren't doing anything to me, and if I wanted to be alone I'd be a million miles away by now," Spider shrugs.

“Fair enough. Can I- ask why youre up here? If thays not too prying?”

"I like being up high, yourself?"

“Quiet. Things dont seem to be so chaotic up here, I can be alone with my thoughts.” Adam slips the pills back into his pocket.

"Yeah, this is the best place in the house for that reason.." Spider sees him move something into his pocket, "What's that?"

“Oh- these are the pills I had to take from Code one time…” He pulls it back out out of fear of Spider.

"I see," Spider rolls her eyes at him and twirls the blade.

“What about it-?” Adam asks. Spider shrugs, not saying anything. Adam tucks them back up and looked at the sky, “Its a nice night…” Adam slowly and carefully climbs back down, heading inside, not falling this time.

December 20, 2021

Adam struggles to climb the tree but makes it, lying down, looking at the sky,

"It's quiet up here."

"You like this place a lot?" Code looks at Adam.

He smiles, "I do. Besides the falling and breaking a rib."

"Yup, that does not sound fun."

"Eh, wasn't too bad compared to snapping my arm..."

"From what?"

"Terminal..."

"Ugh, let's not talk about Terminal," Code sighs, "Let's talk about something else. Where else do you want to go? Maybe we can go tomorrow."

"Good idea... I don't know- what's there to see in an apocalypse?

"I'm not sure... Any landmarks you want to see? Or anything you want to know about?"

"I don't kow- uhhh, grand canyon?"

"We could go there if you like, or anything else?"

"Are all other cities like this?"

"I'm... not sure."

"We could always find out."

"We could..." Code looks down, "Do you really want to?"

"I do- would it be dangerous?"

"I don't know... I have never tried before. We could try, if you really want to." Code looks at Adam and starts to sing, "Quand il me prend dans ses bras. Il me parle tout bas, Je vois la vie en rose..." Adam tilts his head, listening along, he would join in but he doesn't know the song. Code smiles at Adam, and continues singing. Adam just sighs peacefully and closes his eyes, listening to Code. Code smiles and blushes. Adam opens his eyes and looks over to Code, catching the blush.

"Does the song mean something to you?" he asks.

"Uhh, it's just a French song I like. Do you not like it? I can sing another song."

"Nono! It's beautiful, I enjoy your singing." Adam says, shaking his head.

"Do you want another song?" Code asks, "I have many of them."

"No no, it's perfect."

"I think you're bored of it though...I don't mind changing! I'll change the song right now," Code seems nervous and is thinking.

"No- Really I liked the song." Adam takes Code's hand.

"Really?" Code starts to blush again.

"Really."

"Alright then..." Code continues singing. "Il me dit des mots d'amour. Des mots de tous les jours. Et ça me fait quelque chose..." Adam closes his eyes again, and tries to hum along. Code smiles at Adam. Adam opens an eye and smiles back. Code says, "It's late. Do you want to go to sleep soon? Or do you want to continue staying on the roof?"

"Uh- I might skip sleep tonight... nightmares are gonna be... bad after what happened."

"Alright then... Only for today, got it?" Code puts out his pinky, waiting for a pinky promise.

"Fine, I got it." He gives a small laugh before wrapping his pinky around Code's.

"You better sleep tomorrow, you promised." Code laughs, hugging Adam.

"I keep my promises, Codie." Adam hugs back.

"Good. Hey, I was just thinking. You keep calling me Codie, and I was thinking of what I should call you? Like a nickname, if you want of course. Am I rambling? Probably, anyways yes. Just pick one please and I'm going to shut up now." Code covers his mouth.

Adam grins, "Well- I've never really had a nickname... I just used Codie because I heard Luna say it some time and I really liked it... You don't have to worry about rambling."

"Do you want a nickname?"

"I think I would, depending on what it was."

"What would you like your nickname to be?"

"Well I uh- I didn't think that far-"

"Um, what about Addy?"

"Hmmmm... I like that... just from you though." Adam tilts his head.

"Alright then. So it's settled."

"Settled it is!" Adam smiles.

Code sings another song for Adam. "N'as-tu jamais vu les belles filles. Qui se promènent à Paris..." Code stops singing and smiles tiredly at Adam. Code starts to nod off and falls asleep. He places his head on Adam's shoulder and falls asleep. Adam smiles at the sleeping Code, before setting him aside lightly, and hopping down from the roof.

December 21, 2021

"Code- you should really be resting." Adam says. Code shakes his head. Adam frowns, "Why not-?"

"I don'tttt wannaaaa"

"But you need to, you're sick." Adam says. Code shakes his head. Adam sighs, "What can I do to get you to sleep?"

"Uhhhh- Kiss meeee on theeeee lipssss"

He just looks at Code, "N-no... I don't think that's a good option."

"Thennn I wonttt sleeppp"

Adam sighs, "There has to be something else."

"Nooooooo"

"Can we go back to the basement, Codie?" Adam asks. Code shakes his head. He frowns, "Why not?" Code just shakes his head. Adam sets a hand on Code's shoulder, "There must be a reason?" Code falls down off the roof. Adam yelps and climbs down after him, "Codie-!"

Code stands up, "Hey, Adam. It's not Code anymore. He's having a nice sleep in the back."

Adam frowns, "Ah- Cove..."

"Wow, the disdain. You know why I called you dense now?"

He sighs, "I'm putting the pieces together."

"Good. You better tell Code how you feel. Which I am guessing is nothing." Cove says, "He'll probably cry a bit, but it's better than hiding forever. If you do like him, then you have a shot now."

Adam narrows his eyes, "Don't assume how I feel."

"I assume what I want, thank you."

"I'd rather you not."

"Then why not you tell me? I mean... he won't know. Since he's asleep. But I don't believe you do. So why don't you change my mind?"

"I'm not sure." Adam sighs.

"Oh, the usual." Cove chuckles, "Well, whatever. I'll take that as you didn't change my mind. And that you do not like him."

"No. That's how I feel-" Adam stammers, "It's- complicated..."

"Always is. Sometimes it is easier if you just admit. Then again, not everyone can easily. I understand."

"Admit what."

"Either ways, I'd be careful." Cove says, "Code doesn't seem... right. I'm worried."

"You're worried?" Adam asks, "Right in what way?"

"Oh, fuck off. Code might be having a 3rd person. Like... 3rd in the body."

"... Hm."

"Have you noticed him getting sick? He doesn't get sick that easily. Last time he got sick, was because of me."

"I see-"

"Yes. So you have to be careful. I'm worried this third person is unstable."

"Coming from you that's a lot."

"Fuck you. I don't care about your safety. Don't get me wrong, I want you to die. But Code likes you too much, and knowing him, I would suffer for that. So I'm not going to. But I do not like you."

"Rude... What have I done to you?"

"Nothing. I just don't."

"Well I don't like you all that much either."

Roxy manifests next to Cove, "I heard this is where the damned congregate-" she processes what she heard Adam say, "Oh is this? A bad time?"

Adam blinks, "Uh- And who are you?"

"What he said," Cove says.

"I'm mister white christmas," she smiles, "I'm mister snow."

"What?"

Adam sighs, "That doesn't clear things up- but that narrows it down."

"First, Code falls, then Adam gets internal panic and then now we have mister... white Christmas." Cove sighs, "At this point, if the moon falls from the sky, I'm not even surprised anymore."

-some time later-

Cove points the middle finger at Adam, "See. Code wouldn't do this. But I would."

Adam rolled his eyes, "Man you're fucking obnoxious. It's too early for this."

"Ha. I may be the one that's obnoxious, but at least I'm not the one who can't get in touch with their feelings and their answer to everything is it's complicated."

"Sorry I was fucking forced out of the closet by a god and I don't know how to react to that."

"Oh sorry, try being chased and hunted down by one. Then afterwards have your host body get a parasite and a seal."

"Not an excuse to be an ass."

Cove sticks out his tongue and points the middle finger, "Stop being a wuss. You got problems, deal with it! Instead of complaining about it, why don't you try to do something about it? Your only excuse is, Oh I got forced. Code is around for you, geez. And now Code is awake and about to scold me for inhabiting his body. Fun."

"Well you didn't ask."

"Look, you got something to deal with. Deal with it."

"Easier said than done."

"Well it's better to try than to use an excuse forever! Geez. I'm going to go now. Just gonna let Code back."

Adam rolls his eyes, "Whatever." Cove falls over. Adam looks down at him, "Codie...?" Code stands up. "Are you... alright?"

"My... head hurts... a lot..." Code whispers.

Adam pulls Code into a hug, "Cove was a bitch..."

"Sorry...He didn't do anything to you right?"

He shakes his head, "Other than be a jerk, no."

"And... I didn't do anything weird or say anything weird when I was sick right?" Code asks, "I can't remember what I did..."

"Y-you were..." Adam takes a deep breath, "You told me I was cute, picked me up, and then asked for a kiss..."

Code looks to be in shock. "I- I uh- gotta go. I'm sorry-" Code quickly runs to the basement.

"W-wait-" Adam runs to follow.

December 26, 2021

Adam looks down at a sheet of paper, a composed note written on it. He looks down at it and sighs, setting it on the bed. Adam looks to his side. A small pill appears. He picks it up, looking at it. “Hm…” He shoves it in his pocket, beginning to pack a backpack. Adam sighs, walking upstairs towards the back door. He has to cut through the kitchen, though. Matilda Midnight is sat there.

Matilda watches Adam, mouthing to herself, "What is he doing now..." Matilda stands up and follows Adam. Adam cuts across the backyard into the street, doing all this to avoid going through the most likely populated living room. Matilda follows Adam from a safe distance. Adam walks through the streets silently, trying to get lost in the city. Matilda follows him still. There's something weird going on, and she's gonna get right down to it. Adam ducks into an abandoned pharmacy. Matilda follows him inside.

You're in my world now, mon ami. How do you like that?

Adam hears the jingle of the opening door behind him, but doesn't turn around when he says, “Why do you insist on following me for a simple walk. Surely you don't need the cardio that much.”

"Oh, it's a riveting exercise," Matilda says, "I like taking walks for no particular reason, and this is... simply... one of them. Though, silently leaving... now that's a shame. That's a real shame. Unless... you've got something to hide."

Adam's cool is perfectly intact, “I can see why you think I would, but I assure you I do not.”

"Then surely you wouldn't mind coming back to say your goodbyes?" Matilda asks, "If you're leaving..."

"And why would I do that?"

Matilda whispers, "Rosebud."

He narrows his eyes, "Rosebud? Im very good at lipreading, so can you mind expanding on what you mean?"

"Oh, you know exactly what I mean, Monsieur Adam." Matilda chuckles, "Rosebud. Or rather, arr zero five three bud."

Adam tilts his head, seeming largely confused, "I'm afraid my knowledge on the subject is very limited, besides what has happened in Lucille's server.

"That should be enough knowledge to warn you against taking it."

"Yes, I would think so."

"You would think so."

"And do you suspect me of trying to take it?"

"Then why are you guarding your pocket so tightly?"

"Simply a habit."

"Habit, or hiding?" Matilda asks, "They seem awfully connected."

"You're very accusing, aren't you?"

"I don't enjoy being lied to."

"And I don't enjoy being suspected of lying."

"Then come clean. If you don't have something to hide, surely you can remove your hand from that pocket."

He sighs, pulling the pill out of his pocket, "Here. A R053. I've been thinking on it for a while. Is this enough?"

"Most interesting. Most interesting indeed." Matilda says, "You did bring water, right?"

"I'm used to taking pills without water. Is interesting all you have to say about it?"

"Yeah, actually. Though..." Matilda takes out her phone, and snaps a picture of Adam holding the pill. "There we go."

Adam narrows his eyes, "And what is that for?"

"Personal amusement, really."

That seems to anger Adam a little, "Is this amusing to you?"

"A bit. Well, I shouldn't deter you any longer, Mr. Adam. Good day." Matilda leaves the pharmacy.

"Good day..." Adam looks down at the pill silently. Code enters the pharmacy. He slowly walks to one of the shelves, searching for something. Adam sees Code and silently backs to the corner of the Pharmacy. Code slowly walks around, and stops in front of Aspirin. Code grabs a packet.

"You don't have to hide, Adam. I don't really care. We broke up thanks to you, remember? I don't care about where you go, or what happens to you." Code walks out of the pharmacy and disappears. Adam goes wide eyed, and looks down at the pill again, eyes watering. Adam sighs, clenching his eyes and swallowing the pill. Adam groans, holding his head.

"F-fuck-" After a few minutes, 'Adam' opens his eyes and looks at his hands, "Who the fuck..." Cole appears in the isle and spots Adam, running over.

"Adam, are you okay? You didn't take a random pill right?" Cole asks.

'Adam' looks up at him, zipping up the backpack they were looking at and standing up, "Oh you knew the Adam fucker? Why'd you never tell him he had a terrible sense of style... and to shower more." Code reappears with Peyton.

"Fuuuck, you took it," Cole groans. Code walks off. Cole extends his hand, "God damn it... look, take my hand."

'Adam' looks between everyone, "Damn it's a party in here!" He looks at the hand and walks past Cole, "Man take me out to dinner first."

"Oh my fucking god I swear," Cole says.

"Adam, just take the hand please," Maiden pleads.

"Is this Adam?" Code says, walking back.

"Rosed Adam," Cole sighs.

"Alright, look away people." Code says. Cole turns away from 'Adam', covering his eyes. 'Adam' disappears. Code looks shocked. "Oh. Wow, alright. That's new."

"What happened?" Cole turns around, "Where'd he go?"

"Apparently, he can disappear now. You know what, my job was to bring Peyton here," Code says.

"Fuck, it's Lucy. She knows we lost," Cole says, "It's fucking over."

December 27, 2021

Drew appears in the basement, large generator and battery bank in tow. He gets everything set up to be wired into the houses power, then decides before shutting the power off he should let everyone know he was here.

"Ok, here we go." He disconnected the power, then quickly wired the battery bank into the breaker box, checked connections, and turned it back on. "Everything seems to be.... Yup it's all good!" He then connected the generator to the batteries and stepped back. Harmonia heads downstairs.

"Hey," she says, waving to Drew.

"Oh hey, just making sure the shields won't fry your electrics and kill the city's power grid." Drew said, half jokingly.

"Heh fair," she notices a note on what used to be Adam's bed. She walks over and picks it up.

"Oh I didn't even notice the bed and stuff there, is this going to interfere with someone's sleeping arrangements?"

"I um... not anymore.. Adam's gone now so.." she doesnt look at Drew.

"Oh. I didn't realize, I'm sorry."

"Its alright. I didn't know him very well... I don't really have the right to grieve."

"I didn't either, but everyone deserves to be grieved one way or the other."

"Yeah..." Harmonia looks down, reading the note.

The note contains good handwriting,

---

To whomever it concerns,

If youre reading this, you can assume ive taken the r053 pill, assuming anyone is reading this at all. Its come to a point where I feel completely useless in this household, and I dont see the use in staying here. I believe the r053 is the easiest and best way out. Im sure to be happier through it, and its best if you forget about me entirely. Dont save me, this is the best course of action for everyone.

~ Adam