Info
~ Author Nikuchan .
~ Co-author Syci
~Technical help and theme help from PrinceBun and
VivamusLudio.
[The drawing of Puzzle Maker [http://backrooms-sandbox-2.wikidot.com/local--files/collab:nikuchan-entity-puzzle/Puzzle%20Maker] was made by BUBBLINGBEACH and it's under the CC.BY-SA 3.0 license]
Agent Mark found himself observing once more the environment of Level Puzzle Box of Mysteries. The decorations and colorful walls reminded him of his kindergarten class the more he looked at them. It gave him a strange sense of nostalgia and relaxation. He didn't think he'd end up staying for a long time in it, but the Puzzle Maker convinced him otherwise. The bizarre jester he anticipated to be a simple documentation ended up consuming far much more of his week than initially thought.
Playing with the puzzle boy made him feel like a kid again, although in the back of his mind the need to return to tedious adulthood life was growing at an extremely rapid rate. No matter how much he enjoyed simply solving puzzles and escape rooms while enjoying a nice snack, he needed to return back to Base Gamma.
With a twinge of regret, he began packing his belongings and he soon walked to the exit door found at the entrance of the level's waiting room. He was about to open the door when the Puzzle Maker blocked his way all of a sudden. The boy looked hurt, almost. He didn't seem to be happy about the implications of what his taller friend was going to do.
"Are you going to leave?" The boy asked with a clearly sad tone. Mark felt guilty. He didn't know what he was thinking in that moment, but he could guess he was upset at him.
"I need to go back. I've got so many papers to compile… I got too distracted and I shouldn't have. Sorry that I have to leave so soon." He rubbed his eyes, thinking about how exhausted he will get. He didn't remotely consider returning in the level in that moment. After all, he was an adult and didn't have the luxury of being able to have fun all the time. He had to focus on his job, as much as he was tired.
"You promised we would play some more! Why are you going away so soon? You're too tired to go now! Why do you need to go back? It's making you feel bad!" The boy protested as he hugged him. His voice grew shaky from stress and concern. Mark could see the worry in his face.
He was taken aback by that, as he looked down at his small friend with a frown. "Because adults need to work to survive. I have to work to protect other people… even if it makes me tired. Adults have to make sacrifices. " Although Mark never had an healthy relationship with work. He would always exaggerate and overwork himself until exhaustion. He didn't sleep much the previous day, either. It was all because he felt compelled to work all day, otherwise he would have nothing else to make him feel useful.
"Why? Why do you need to get hurt for it? Isn't there another way? Can't everyone come here and be safe and happy? There's enough space! I don't get it…" The boy looked confused. Mark understood that he didn't have knowledge about certain aspects of humans nature and struggles. He knew he was merely trying to help and he felt greatly sorry for disappointing him so greatly. Regardless of that, he had a realization. He may ve exhausting himself too greatly, even more than necessary.
"Not everyone knows about your levell and not everyone can stop their tasks all at once… It requires some careful planning and decisions. It's not that simple unfortunately. I'm really sorry about having to leave." He didn't have the heart to also add that he wouldn't be able to visit him anymore. It would be far too hurtful for the child. Even if he denies it, he got attached and struggled to reveal the full truth.
The boy began to weep quietly. "Please don't go! Stay with me… When someone leaves… they never come back. They go away and get bored of me and get caught up in their jobs and chores. But I'm a great puzzle boy! I can help you feel better and we can have so much fun solving puzzles!" He was pleading with a pitiful gaze. It reminded Mark of when he used to plead his father to not work all day and play with him for once. But all he was met with was a blunt "No", as the man buried himself further in his office work. He barely remembered his face because of that.
Mark kneeled down at his little friend's height and lightly patted the top pf his head. He was reflecting on his priorities. He had been working non-stop for days and this was the only day he was able to accidentally get a break. Only because he landed in that level by mistake. He had to find a solution for both his and Puzzle Maker's sake. That is when he had a brilliant idea.
"What if we come up with a compromise? Something that will ease your concerns and will help me treat myself more kindly… I don't want you go suffer from loneliness any longer. I also don't want to destroy my brain everyday because of my fear of not doing enough." He said in a soft tone, feeling like he was a father in that moment. He was a father that had the chance to break a soul sucking cycle that affects majority of adults. He just needed to let go of his need for perfection. He cannot save people if he can barely keep his eyes open.
"A compromise…?" The Puzzle Maker stopped weeping as he looked up at his friend with a look of relief. Mark was glad to see that he wasn't crying as much as before. It made his heart ache far too much.
"Yes, a compromise. I will visit you every two days in order to rest from my job, but you must also understand that I still need to work despite that. Doing this will allow me to rest more often and to spend time with you, while also continuing my job with a fresh mind. The second part of this compromise would be for you to write the newest entity and level entry about yourself. That way we can have an easier time collecting information and we can divide the work it would take. I'll be here to help you in doing it correctly. How does that sound?"
The Puzzle Maker smiled at his proposal. His smile made Mark's heart soften at the sight. For a moment, he felt like he was talking to his past self. The child that never had the chance to talk to his father in such a way. The child that saw his father wither away due to work and had nobody to play with. He was there alongside his new friend. "It's a really nice proposal! I want to make sure we both keep it! I'll do my best as your friend to support you. But promise you will do the same!" His eyes were determined and jovial. Mark couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. This odd entity he met really got to him.
He remembered that he did his best to be cold towards him when he first ended up there. He was tired and grumpy, but the boy was so patient with him. He really just needed a friend. He needed someone to teach him things.
"Then it's a deal. We both will try to fulfill it. I will return soon after asking for the permission to begin writing what we need to do, alright?" Mark let go of the puzzle child, as he was now facing towards the exit door once more. Before he could leave, Puzzle held onto his sleeve one last time.
"Wait! Before you go… Let me give you something special. Don't lose it!" The Puzzle Maker rushed away, before returning five minutes later with a big paper. It was a drawing.
Mark couldn't help but tear up at that. He held the drawing close and smiled fully for him. A smile he held in for over 15 years of his adulthood. He felt freed by a painful shackle and he could see the shadow of who he once was smiling back at him from afar. It was not real, but it was symbolic to him. It was a start. He wasn't fully free from all his shackles, but it was progress. He just needed to work towards it.
With a last look towards his friend and towards the level Puzzle Box of Mysteries. He recognized the colorful rooms as part of who he was. He did not reject them any longer, accepting them as part of him before he left. Mark embraced his lost childhood and with it, a new goal to improve his life.
He will always be grateful to his little, cheerful, purple friend. For having opened a hole in the cage around his heart.
...But a new puzzle was left to be solved.