Carl's Doomsday Scenario (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #2)

by Matt Dinniman

These three were sisters or close family members, and all three had died at the same time. I shook my head. Fuck this game.

I watched Donut for a bit, and I could tell what she was doing. She wasn’t really asleep. She was just closing her eyes and pretending that she was back home in her favorite spot. After some time, I blew out the candle and went to sleep myself. When I woke up, Donut was back in her usual place on my neck, and Mongo had jumped onto my legs, sinking the whole bed in.

Donut? Where’s Donut? My chest pulled with fear. No, I don’t want to be alone. “Donut?” I called. “Where are you?” No answer. Carl: Donut? Fuck, please answer me. There was no answer.

“If I die, you need to promise to let Donut free,” I said.

This, I thought, this is my family.

“Cats don’t drink cocktails,” I said. “Cats don’t shoot lasers from their eyes, either, but here we are, Carl. Mama needs a night off.”

“Carl?” she asked. I looked down into her large, glowing eyes. “Yeah?” “I’m not as dumb as I pretend to be. I know she’s dead.” “I know.” I wrapped myself around her. We both closed our eyes and braced for the end.