Let the Games Begin | Dream Smp

It felt surreal for Kayla to step back inside the arena after everything that had occurred. Her memories from visits with Karl intertwined with her true experiences as a contestant, and it sent a shiver down her spine when she considered how much blood had been shed on the grass beneath her.

The only reason she kept walking in was the magnetic pull of knowing Wilbur was still at their camp, and that he still didn't have his memories back. She wondered how he would feel when he remembered: would he hate her? Forgive her? Kayla's stomach felt like it was turning flips inside herself, and she tightened her fist around the sleeve of her sweater.

"Hey, I know you're still beating yourself up inside," Techno whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder, "It's going to be okay. Wilbur loves you for who you are. He won't blame you. Okay?"

"I'm trying, but it's hard," she sighed.

He squeezed lightly. "You'll see. Once we take out his microchip, he'll remember. Then he'll ask questions, and you'll tell him the answers. Then you'll move on."

"That easily?" She questioned hesitantly.

"It will be—you'll see."

"Look! The camp's just ahead." Kayla released a shuddered breath, her eyes drifting up to where Phil was pointing.

Seeing the small stream that led to their camp stole her breath right from her chest. She thought about the days and nights she spent there, and the times she recovered from injuries beneath those trees. She also thought about the nightmares she experienced: flashes of her past, she now knew.

"Kayla!"

She flipped around, her heart swelling upon hearing the one voice you longed for most. A bright smile broke onto her face when she saw him running towards her, and she took a step towards him and let him engulf her in a tight embrace.

"Will, I missed you so fucking much," she whispered, holding back tears, "I'm so sorry. I made...mistakes. Mistakes that you won't understand right now. There's so much that you still don't know."

"What do you mean?" He asked, placing a gentle kiss on her lips, "What happened? The four of you disappeared into thin air. I swear—Puffy, Ranboo, and I turned the arena upside down and we still found no traces of where you went. I was so worried, Kayla. But you're safe, so that's all that matters now."

"I guess you're right," she sniffed, offering him a sad smile, "I'm sorry, though."

"What are you sorry about?" He questioned, "What did you mean by mistakes?"

"Hello? Oh my god—Where did you all come from?" Puffy exclaimed in shock. Wilbur released Kayla from his arms and looked over to see Puffy and Ranboo walk out from the direction of the camp.

"You have no idea what we've gone through," Sam chuckled, "Hold your questions for a couple minutes, okay? There's something we have to do first." He held up the knife, and Puffy raised an eyebrow in confusion. Kayla grabbed Wilbur's hand and gently pulled him towards the others.

"There's a microchip in you," she explained to him, taking the knife from Sam's hand, "If we take it out, then you'll remember everything from before the arena."

"Microchip...?" Wilbur repeated in confusion.

Kayla lifted the sleeve of his yellow sweater so that his right shoulder was exposed. She looked up at Wilbur, who was staring at her nervously. "Trust me."

He nodded.

She bit her lip and pushed the point of the knife into his skin. This was a repeat of a time that felt so very long ago, but now it was to correct the mistake she made then. The tiny, gray microchip popped out and blood beaded at the opening of the cut.