Chapter 11 #2
A sudden squeak made me spin around to find the single rat.
It was just standing there, staring at me.
And sitting right next to it were the pizzeria keys.
“What the—” The color drained from my face as lightning struck, illuminating a large stuffed clown behind it.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” The creepy-looking clown stared right at me, its large painted smile and eerie grin giving me chills.
“I fucking hate this place.” My eyes fell back down to the rat and keys.
It’s like the rat knew…but…how?
Following another squeak, the rat’s ears twitched before bolting from the keys, past my legs, and running in the opposite direction. “What the hell?” It was as if someone—or something was calling it. I turned back to stare at the stuffed clown.
It’s not real…it’s not fucking real.
My entire body was on edge, tingling from how freaky it was. My heart was pounding erratically in my chest as I began to sweat.
It’s not real. Just grab the keys and get the hell out of here.
I took a deep breath and lunged, snatching the keys up.
But just as I did, the stuffed clown fell, tackling me to the ground.
My heart nearly gave out from how fucking terrified I was, shouting as I pushed it off of me and crawled back on my hands and knees.
My body slammed into one of the arcade games, and I stared right at the mannequin, trying to catch my breath.
It’s not real! It’s not real! It’s not real!
My head began to spin as I stared at the lifeless clown, clutching my chest.
It’s not real!
“Montey?” Sybil’s voice broke my thoughts and I turned to see her and Lavender staring at me with worry. “What happened? Did you get the keys?”
I swallowed and tried to collect myself. “Yeah.” My hands waved, revealing the keys. “I got them.”
Lavender helped me to my feet as Sybil placed her hands along her hips. “Well then what the hell are you doing? Stop fucking with that mannequin and let’s go!”
The three of us quickly returned to the arcade and made our way back to the edge. We wasted no time, weaving through the remaining tables towards the mall entrance. As we stepped closer, we all slowed our pace, noticing blood on the floor.
Lavender’s eyes raised to meet my gaze. “You don’t think it’s—”
“No. It can’t be theirs. The twins had to have found a way out.”
She wiped her tears away. “You’re right.” She sniffled. “It’s probably—probably Crissa’s from earlier.” I nodded, knowing damn well it wasn’t ‘cause this blood was fresh.
Fuck, I hope Token and Ryder okay.
ZETH
“Fuck!” Token continued to cry out as the thick and heavy scent of his blood filled the room, saturating it with his fear.
He and his twin, Ryder, had made their way back to one another, and were now hiding behind one of the large, withered clown animatronics in the corner.
They hadn’t moved in awhile and just stopped running, leaving me bored, sitting around waiting for them.
The tip of my claw picked at my teeth, digging out fleshy bits of both William and Tawny while the twins made muffled noises and complained.
I rolled my eyes, sitting in one of the dining chairs with my legs kicked up on one of the tables, twirling the gun around. “Ugh! This is no fun! No fun at all!”
“Fuck you, Crissa!” The meatier of the two shouted from the other side of the room.
A cackle vomited from my mouth. “You are more than welcome to try, human. Though, I don’t think you can handle my dick buried deep in your ass!
” I paused as my smile fell, looking down at my vessel.
“Oh, I’d almost forgotten about that.” I laughed again.
“Well, I suppose we could still try. But fair warning, meaty arms, all my rendezvous tend to end up a bit dead.” He cursed at me again, but all I could do was laugh at his displeasure.
“Easy, big boy. I know you have no attraction to this body of mine.”
Ryder finally spoke up, peeking his head faintly from behind the animatronic. “Crissa…please,” he begged. “Token’s really hurt…and he’s—he’s bleeding everywhere!”
Obviously.
“Please! Whatever we did, we’re—we’re sorry! Please, just let us go!”
A loud sigh fell from my mouth as my head dipped back in disappointment. “I expected more from you, Ryder.” He didn’t answer, souring my mood further. ”Fine.” I sighed. “I’ll make a deal with you. If you can carry your brother out of here by the count of ten, I’ll let you go. Both of you.”
“Did you hear that?” he whispered loudly to his twin. “Come on, if we—”
“But!” I grinned, knowing this was all about to become much more interesting.
“If you fail…” A low chuckle ripped from the back of my throat.
“Well, let’s just say, I’ll be having a two for one special.
” My head tilted in his direction, blood-stained fringe draping over my eyes. “What do you say? We have a deal?”
Ryder remained hidden, but I could hear his weak little heart pounding in that hollow chest of his. “Deal.”
Wonderful.
“One…”
Ryder quickly tossed Token’s arm over his shoulder and stood, struggling to carry both of their weight. I tried not to laugh at the ridiculous display, knowing this would be too easy.
“Two.”
He used his legs to drag his brother, catching my attention as he struggled to make his way toward the center of the room.
Oh, so this one has thighs for days. How delectable!
“Three…” My body rose as I clasped the gun with a grin.
“Ten!” Ryder froze in the center of the old party room as I raised the gun to shoot, but when I pulled the trigger, nothing happened.
The boys both sighed in relief while I fumbled with the weapon, clicking the trigger again and again. “Oh, come on,” I growled.
“You—you cheated!” Ryder snapped, glaring at me before he and his brother ducked under another large table, draped with a long tablecloth.
I threw the useless gun across the room in a loud huff, hearing a squeak in the doorway.
“Oh?” I spun to greet the little rat. “Hello dear friend. Did you all finish off that old, wrinkly woman?” The vermin nodded its head.
“Wonderful.” The rat chittered a bit more, telling me new information.
“My oh my,” I purred. “Well, they won’t get far.
Keep an eye on them for me, shall you? My game here is almost complete, and once I’m finished, I’ll join you and your friends.
” The rat squeaked some more before scurrying away.
I leaned my head back, looking over my shoulder in the direction of the twins. “It seems your friends plan to leave you two behind. Pity really.” I fell to my hands and knees, slowly crawling towards them.
The smell of betrayal seeped from them both, filling the room as it mixed and collided with their fear and pain.
“It truly is fascinating how you humans can turn your backs on one another so easily. Such selfish beings. Ironic though, isn’t it?
You two betrayed dear Crissa for that red-haired black widow, and now, she and the others have done the very same to you, in the hopes of self preservation.
” I cackled. “And yet, here you are, moments away from your death. It’s all very poetic.
” I scurried over to where the two boys were hiding, climbing over the table, lifting the cloth to find them.
“Peek-a-boo,” I sang, greeting them with a giant smile as I stared, my head leaning upside down over the edge.
The twins were huddled together, Ryder holding his brother close as Token clasped his stomach.
His face was pale, the blood draining from the gunshot wound deep in his gut.
“Oh, you poor, poor thing. I shot you good, didn’t I?
” The corners of my lips turned up in an exaggerated smile.
The twins both glared at me, filled with such hatred.
I closed my eyes and inhaled, taking it all in.
Mmm. What a range of flavors before me.
I allowed myself to wonder for a moment as to what I looked like, my face covered in blood, still wearing Crissa’s greasy clown face paint…
it had to have been terrifying to witness such a sight.
And by the looks of these two before me, it was clear that I had truly demonized my vessel in the best way possible.
In all my time possessing humans, this had easily become one of, if not the most rewarding. And I was only just getting started.
I shall have to thank dear Crissa for such a sublime opportunity.
“Crissa, I know you’re still in there!” Token shouted, his words weak.
“Come on man…” Sweat beaded along his face, his breathing shallow and rigid.
Not only had he grown weaker by the minute, but the human’s pleas were now whiny and pathetic.
He exuded fear, not only for himself, but for others.
And his pain was oh so juicy, making my mouth water at the fantasy.
“Please,” he panted. “Just let us go. I—I know we hurt you…but it was all Sybil’s idea! ”
S-s-s-s-s-Sybil.
I glanced down at his bloodied hand, pressed against his stomach. It had soaked his shirt completely and was seeping between his fingers onto the floor beneath him. I knew his life was dwindling and I wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer.