"I just... gotta push through.."

Virus' chest heaved as he walked across the arcade floor. His movements were sluggish, pained even. But even as his body yelled at him to let go, to finally rest and be at peace, he denied and continued on his way.

His body was bruised and broken, a shell of his former self. Ichor ran down at the seams of his screen.

Hope can't be lost that quickly.

...Right?

"Just... Gotta make it...." Virus coughed, his words slurring slightly, "Jarry is coming back for me..." he coughed and spat.

The world around him seemed to spin and glitch, his CPU beginning to falter. He fumbled on his own two feet as his screen dimmed.

He collapsed, resting against a wall, "Hah... Guess this is how this ends, aye...?" he let out a low and hollow laugh, not having any humor struck into the tone.

"He'll... he'll come back... I know he will," Virus' reassured himself.

The silence made him feel even more isolated. It was saddening, "You're coming back.. Right, JarJar?" he questioned. But all that answered him was painful silence.

"They wouldn't just leave me down here," Virus spoke to himself.

Ichor dripped from his head. Virus knew exactly what was going to happen to him; He'd be left down here to rot with the twisteds, before slowly becoming one of them himself.

The realization sent a shiver down his spine,

"I... I'm sorry, Jarry. I really am. Its... Not your fault. I didn't get to the elevator in time..." Virus' voice broke, his breath catching in his throat as he spoke. "Sometimes, sacrifices have to be made..." His screen flickered and spasmed.

Days passed by, and there was no sign of Jarry and the rest of the run he was with.

"hah... i... i really am gonna rot down here, huh..? just like how i did with those... christmas freaks..." Virus murmured, barely able to even speak now. His words came out as incoherent and pained mumbles.

His voice glitched and broke, "i guess this was the end of my night..." Virus' smiled weakly.

And with that, his system finally gave out.

System shutting down.