Dandy's World - ONESHOTS

7 days. 7 Full days have passed since Finn was last seen.

Gigi's laughter has vanished, replaced by a profound emptiness that gnaws at her heart like a relentless shadow. She often finds herself staring blankly into the distance, her mind replaying the moments they shared—each memory a bittersweet reminder of the joy that has now slipped away. 

The vibrant colors of Gardenview feel muted and dull, reflecting her inner turmoil as she struggles to find solace in the beauty that surrounds her.

Gigi feels isolated, trapped in her own anguish, as if the world has moved on without her while she remains anchored in despair. Her mind always wonders back to the time where he first disappeared. How? He was with them the whole time. No one witnessed a death. No one heard a death. No one died. 

"Don't worry Gigi, I'm sure he's just pranking you"

"No worries Gigi, he can't have gone far"

"Awh c'mon Gigi, he HAS to be somewhere!"

These voices echoed in her mind, a painful reminder of what had happened, yet, still giving her hope that, even if he's not by her side, he MIGHT just be okay. 

Gigi sat at the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the wall, her heart heavy with the weight of Finn's absence. A deep sigh escaped her lips, a sound that felt more like a lament than a breath, as the silence enveloped her like a shroud. The vibrant colors of her room, once a reflection of her joy, now seemed dull and lifeless, mirroring the emptiness she felt inside.

She absentmindedly traced her fingers along the soft fabric of her blanket, lost in thoughts of their shared laughter and adventures, the memories flooding her mind like a gentle tide that only served to deepen her sorrow.

The world outside felt distant, and for a moment, she considered curling up under the covers, seeking solace in sleep. But just as she gathered the strength to rise, the soft sound of knocking echoed through the stillness of her room, snaping her back into reality.

With a hesitant breath, Gigi pushed herself off the edge of the bed, her heart racing as she made her way to the door. Each step felt heavy, laden with a mix of hope and trepidation. She reached for the doorknob, her fingers trembling slightly as she turned it.

It was Tisha.

"Heyy Gigi, so me and some other Toons are going to do a run...and we were wondering if you-"

Tisha stopped dead in her tracks. Clothes lay scattered across the floor, some haphazardly tossed out of the overflowing laundry basket, while others were tangled in a heap near the closet. A few favourite pieces peeked out from the mess, hinting at the vibrant personality that once thrived here.

The bed was unmade, with the comforter bunched up on one side and pillows strewn about carelessly. Books were piled high on the nightstand, some stacked precariously, others lying open with crinkled pages and damaged covers. 

Dust clung to surfaces, and a faint mustiness hung in the air, a sign that the room had been closed off from the outside world for too long.

"Oh. My. God. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING LIKE THIS???"

Before Gigi could respond, Tisha immediately ran inside Gigi's room and started to fold clothes that were scrunched up on the floor into tidy, clean piles.

Tisha takes a deep breath and stacks the neat piles of clothes in Gigi's Closet, and approaches Gigi's bed. She tucked the edges of the comforter under the mattress, ensuring everything was snug and inviting before fluffing the pillows, arranging them neatly at the head of the bed.

Tisha hesitates before asking...

"Soooo.....you coming?"

Tisha stares at Gigi who is now staring blankly at the wall, as if she's in her own world.

"Gigi?"

As Gigi sat on her bed, lost in a haze of thoughts and memories, she barely registered the world around her. The remnants of her cluttered room faded into the background as she spiraled deeper into her own mind. Suddenly, she heard her name being called   

"H-huh?" Gigi stammered.

She blinked a few times, shaking off the cobwebs of her thoughts, realizing that Tisha was asking if she wanted to join their run.

"Oh u-um, I think I'll sit this one out..."

Tisha stopped what she was doing and stared at Gigi, before finishing cleaning up.

Tisha sighed. "Well, suit yourself!"

And with that, Tisha left the room, closing the door with a gentle 'click'.

Gigi let out a sigh. She couldn't stop thinking about Finn, and all the fun memory's they had with eachother. Like that one time where Gigi and Finn were fishing and Gigi accidently caught a piranha, and it scared her so bad that she fell in the water, while Finn was just laughing and making puns about it.

"Well, yer can say that ya 'dove right in!'"

"Augh, seriously Finn?"

"Aw c'mon, ya have to admit, that was a real 'splash-down'"

Gigi groaned but couldn't hide her smile. 

Gigi chuckled to herself as she remembered these memory's. But that's when it came to Gigi. A thought that crossed her thoughts.

What if she revisited the place where it happened?

Without any hesitation Gigi sprinted for the door and ran past multiple Toons, accidently bumping into Boxten and Glisten. Gigi overheard Toons whispering about her, but that didn't matter. HE mattered. FINN mattered. And if there was something that she KNEW would make her feel better, it was where she was heading to.

Gigi finally arrived at the fishing spot, her heart racing and breathless from the sprint across the familiar, winding path. The scent of the fresh water and the gentle rustle of the leaves brought back a flood of memories—lazy summer afternoons spent casting lines and sharing laughter under the sun. 

She paused for a moment, placing her hands on her knees as she caught her breath, the vibrant colors of the surrounding nature painting a nostalgic backdrop. Every detail felt like a time capsule, reminding her of the joy they once shared. 

Gigi finally caught her breath, the rhythm of her heartbeat calming as she made her way to the wooden bridge where she and Finn used to fish for hours on end. The bridge creaked beneath her feet, each sound a reminder of the countless afternoons they spent together, casting lines and sharing secrets.

She could almost hear Finn’s voice, teasing her about her not-so-great fishing skills and laughing as she playfully splashed him with water. Sitting on the edge of the bridge, Gigi closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the memories to wash over her like the gentle ripples of the water below. It was a bittersweet feeling, one that brought warmth to her heart but also a pang of loss that she couldn’t shake off.

With a deep breath, Gigi picked up her fishing rod and cast her line into the water, the lure creating a small splash as it landed. Minutes turned into what felt like hours as she patiently waited, but the water remained still, offering no sign of life. Her thoughts drifted back to all the times Finn would boast about his fishing prowess, effortlessly reeling in fish after fish while she struggled. 

She chuckled softly to herself, remembering how they would compete to see who could catch the biggest one. Yet, as she gazed out at the unyielding surface of the water, a sense of foreboding crept in. Why was she here? Why now?
Suddenly, her line tugged, and Gigi felt a thrill of excitement surge through her.

As she reeled it in, she was surprised to find a peculiar catch. It was Barnaby Wilikers, the purple striped wind up fish toy one that Finn always kept in his fishbowl. She gasped, holding the toy up to the light, momentarily perplexed. 

Why is this here? Memories flooded her mind, and it hit her like a wave: Finn must be here… for some reason. The realization sent a shiver down her spine, but she shook it off, trying to focus on the act of fishing, hoping to catch something real this time.
Gigi cast her line again, determination replacing her earlier unease. 

Minutes passed, but the water remained frustratingly devoid of any real fish. Just as she was about to give up, she noticed a strange change in the water’s color. 

A deep, unsettling red began to spread across the surface, contrasting sharply with the tranquil blues and greens of the river. Her heart raced as confusion clouded her thoughts. Could it be a reflection? The thought felt foolish, but an instinctual fear began to bubble within her. She watched, transfixed, as the crimson hue deepened, and her mind raced with possibilities that she couldn't quite grasp.

As the water continued to darken, Gigi’s heart sank further into dread. Suddenly, something began to surface—a grotesque sight that sent her heart into a panic. Body parts, dismembered and distorted, floated toward her, breaking the surface with a sickening slosh. 

She recoiled, horror gripping her as she realized what she was witnessing. In a chilling climax, she finally caught a glimpse of a familiar face in a twisted state. Finn’s lifeless body, drenched in blood and horror. The reality of the situation crashed down on her, and Gigi screamed, the sound echoing through the trees, as she was engulfed in a wave of anguish and despair. 

The memories of laughter and fishing, now replaced by a haunting image that would forever change her life. Blood oozed out of Finn's many wounds, Leaking from his eyes, as if he cried and begged to be 'spared' by WHATEVER or WHOEVER killed him.

Gigi knelt by the edge of the bridge, her breath hitching in her throat as tears streamed down her cheeks, glistening like the very water that surrounded her. The sight of Finn’s lifeless body, twisted and broken, shattered her world in an instant. She reached out, fingers trembling as they brushed against the cold surface of the water, longing to believe this was all a terrible nightmare from which she could wake.

"W-what did they d-do to y-you?" 

She sobbed, her heart aching with a grief so profound it felt all-consuming. Memories of their laughter, the warmth of his smile, and the dreams they had shared flooded her mind, each recollection a dagger piercing her soul deeper. In that moment, the weight of loss felt unbearable, and she cried out, her anguish echoing through the trees, mourning not just for Finn but for the future they would never have together.

"Even in t-the condition y-you're in now..."

".....I still love you..."