Fuck. Color coating is hard. Picasso will remain red. We'll make Red blue. The bright green is obnoxious.
...
So, Red was at the door. I was ready to run. It looked like another trap to me but that never seems to stop Picasso. She went right ahead and let Red in. And unfortunately, it was to our favor. It gets really difficult to scold her about doing stupid things when it occasionally works to our favor. It reinforces this insane notion she has that she can do whatever the fuck she wants and everything will work out for her.
It's going to get me killed one of these days.
So, Red immediately stepped in when Picasso opened the door.
"H-Hello?! I-I found it for you! I've been good! I-I swear!" she declared and stared at Picasso expectantly offering no explanation for what the fuck she was talking about. She was fidgety beyond belief. She looked... terrified. I moved past her and checked the hall behind her. I thought someone might have chased her up here. Not that that would have really explained how she found us but I was grasping for any explanation I could get my hands on for what the fuck was going on. Her appearance seemed so out of place, the most alarming thing about it being that she showed up with a mask around her neck and what appeared to be a sheathed katana around her shoulder. It was pressed hard against her back underneath the backpack she had on. Where the fuck did she get that?!
I don't even think she looked as I passed her by. She just stared up desperately at Picasso. SO confusing was the situation that Picasso was actually speechless for once in her life. She quietly stared back and tilted her head.
"L-L-L-L-L-Look!" she yelled getting more agitated as she took her little backpack off her back and held it up to Picasso. I think she was working herself into a panic.
I pulled it out of her hands and gave a cautious peek into the bag...
'No way!' I thought to myself. I fully unzipped it so I could get a good look. I had to be sure and I was fucking right. C4. The Backpack was FULL of C4.
I looked up to see Red nervously glancing back and forth from me to Picasso. I held it open for Picasso to see before zipping it up and slinging it onto my own shoulder. I wasn't about to give that back.
"S-See! I got it! I-I-I also found the statue! That was everything you told me... I d-did good... I-I'm good... Right?" she asked and pleaded at us desperately.
Picasso walked passed Red and looked both ways in the hall. This made Red squeal and hug herself facing down. She was shaking like crazy. Took her a good half a minute to finally look up. She seemed relieved.
I, however, was getting anxious. This was taking too fucking long. We needed to have left five minutes ago.
"O-Oh. S-Sorrry. How st-stupid! You want to see it," she said sliding against the wall to get around Picasso, for some reason deliberately going out of her way not to touch Picasso. "C-Come on!"
Picasso looked at me, she had been surprisingly quiet this whole time. I guess maybe this was one of those types of things that leave you speechless? I mean, I wouldn't know myself. I'm always speechless.
I motioned at the window. I still very much thought we should be escaping through it. She shook her head no and started following Red who had a little head start on us now. I let out a loud groan as I followed her to let her know how bad an idea I thought this was. She continued to do whatever the fuck she wanted to do, like she always does.
So, Red led us to a room on the third floor and pulled out a key and unlocked it for us going in ahead of us. There were two people tied to chairs in here. When we came in they started fidgeting and struggling against their bindings making muffled noises against their cloth gags. I think one of them might have been crying.
The way Red casually walked into the room and motioned at them was kind of surprising.
"I-I'm sorry about the witnesses! Th-They were a-already in the room... I tr-tried to kill them for you but e-every time I tried to cut them I get s-s-sent flying across the room! I f-figured, if they were a big enough i-issue, y-you could get rid of them! W-Was that b-bad?" she asked in a sheepish scared tone. Her voice slowly got quieter over the course of the sentences like a child explaining something to an angry parent already convinced they were in deep shit.
Picasso didn't acknowledge her... like at all. She moved around the room looking for something. I took the opportunity to move over to Red's hostages. I wanted to see if hurting them would really send you across the room. I gave the crying one a little flick on the nose. Harmless. It didn't send me flying either. They did, however, start crying hysterically, bawling their eyes out. Before I could experiment further with the concept, my attention was drawn back to Red as she started talking again.
"O-Oh! I-I... S-Sorry. I keep doing that. S-So, SOOO, s-sorry! N-Never again! I-I swear it," said Red moving to the closet. She did something to the top left of the closet's back wall and then that whole back wall slid open revealing a set of stairs. "It's down here!" she declared leading the way down. Me and Picasso shared a look and then we followed her.
There were a lot of stairs. Like, a WHOLE lot. My fucking god. We definitely went further down than three floors, the stairs started like a stairwell but at one point they just became one continuous diagonal. They FINALLY ended with a door, which was locked. Not that that mattered. I think Red was in the middle of explaining how she couldn't figure out the lock when Picasso tackled her way through it... old wood I guess. The whole place looked old, the entire room was coated in a layer of Dust. There were a few corpses on the floor, three doors leading somewhere else, and, of course, the thing we had been looking for was there too, a large marble statue of what I am assuming was Hecate fixed to the center of the room.
It didn't have a spot of dust on it. It looked brand new... magnificent. She was beautiful. All three of them were. The statue was three figures of the same women facing in three different directions, each one with a stick in hand.
But my marveling over them was interrupted by Red breaking into another little episode of pleading.
"S-See! There it is. Th-That makes me a good girl r-right?!" she demanded to know desperately. We both stared at her. I wanted to ask so many questions. I wanted to say so many reassuring things... she needed them. She really, really, really needed them.
When she didn't get an answer, she crouched over and hugged herself rocking back and forth. "It's okay. Y-You're a good girl. Or you wouldn't be a-alive. So good.... s-so good," she said making a desperate effort to reassure herself.
...What the fuck had happened to her in the three weeks since I last saw her?
I continued to stare for a moment but I was still very much in rush mode. I didn't quite feel safe in this place, I knew I wasn't going to feel safe until we were the fuck out of Black Lake.
I went to go check the doors to see where they went but Picasso grabbed me by my shoulder and shook her head at me. It didn't occur to me at the time because operating without ever saying a word is kind of more comfortable and normal to me, but my god was she being quiet. Still not a single word out of her.
She tapped my backpack and then pointed at the statue.
'Guess it's time to rip this town out of Fracture's overly self-entitled hands and give it back to the gods,' I told myself as I kneeled down and got to work setting up the C4. I found everything I would need to rig up a timed detonation.
I looked expectantly over at Red. Just where the fuck did she get all this?
"W-What?" she asked, frightened by the sudden turn of attention to her. "I-It's the good st-stuff, I s-swear! St-Stole it from the bikers like I was told to! I-I was g-good! ST-STOP STARING AT ME!" she yelled tearing up in a panic.
'Bikers' huh... probably timberwolves?
I looked away and finished rigging the statue to blow. I wanted to reach out to comfort her but I'm pretty sure she would have started screaming for her life.
The little digital display started counting down. Picasso waved her hand and a Path portal violently ripped open. She spared no time disappearing inside it. I followed her and stopped a few steps in. I looked over my shoulder to find Red still standing there in a panicked uncertain huff.
"I... H-Hello?!" she called at the portal. "Uh... Okay. B-Bye?" she said looking at the bomb then back at the portal. I reached out and pulled her in making her make an odd yelping noise. She screamed once inside in an absolute panic over her surroundings, which was odd. I mean sure, it was the path. It's a spooky, discomforting, and weird place but you'd think you had just poured a bucket of maggots on her the way she was acting. She squealed and broke into a full sprint after Picasso and dove out of the Path when Picasso opened an exit portal.
I can't say where we landed but it was some place safe. Red curled up into the corner shaking violently and pawing at her face with her palms like she was trying to get something off that she didn't want to touch.
I hate landing somewhere new when we travel with the Path. Now we needed a new car and to figure out where we were...
All stuff I was gonna have to figure out. And I did. I pulled around in the new vehicle later that afternoon. We had to keep moving. We pathed here so it wouldn't take them long to find us. I waited as Picasso packed up our stuff and held the door open for Red, who nervously crawled into the car and then curled up on the floor in the back seat.
Finally Picasso hopped into the passenger's seat and stared at me.
I wasn't sure what she was waiting for... I started to pull out a map so she could pick out a random direction for us to head for when she finally spoke for the first time in hours. "We're keeping her. Drive," she said in a grim, serious tone. Then she immediately adopted her usual big goofy grin, let her chair back, and threw her feet up on the dash board.
"HURRAY UP! I want to be somewhere with a Golden Coral. I'm gonna eat ALL THE EGGS. You're gonna be like 'No way' but then I'M GONNA DO IT and it's gonna be great! Hurry up, hurry up, HURRY UP!" she demanded. I immediately regretted the brief joy hearing her talk gave me because it looks like I'm not gonna be able to get her to shut up again.
In fact, I think she might be talking into overtime to make up for all that time she spent quiet because she hasn't stopped since we started driving. She's even been sleep talking, although not quiet as fast.
Can't fucking win with her.
At least the thing with Black Lake is gone. We even managed to save someone.
In a comment, Fracture mentioned that only half the people in Black Lake died. It's hard to imagine everyone didn't die if it was as bad as the Archivist was predicting, all the fears swarming in to claim the place at once.
In fact, he mentioned that they were rioting, which I think implies that the town is still standing... but if they swarmed the place I couldn't imagine anything would still be standing.
Whatever happened, it seems Fracture has lost control of the place. That's really all that matters.
Moth out.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Black Lake Falls, Part 1
Hahaha. Fuck. So we called Fracture out. We killed Black Lake's resident Archivist, destroyed all the information in the library that Fracture was likely waiting for the Archivist to finish collecting so Fracture could steal it all for himself, and then we announced what we did and revealed all the likely classified information about Black Lake that Fracture probably didn't want to see get out. And we got what we wanted. And what we wanted swiftly kicked our asses.
We were snooping around the hotel. We needed to find that statue. There would be no greater leverage to use against Fracture than the Statue that was keeping this town safe from all the angry inpatient fears that wanted to storm in and make it their own by ripping it a new one. That's when I got a call from Fracture. I waved Picasso over and pressed the little green receive button and the speaker phone function.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?!" yelled Picasso at the phone.
It was quiet for a moment, then Fracture spoke. "What the fuck are you waiting for. Say what I told you to say, Mutt."
I felt my heart sink... as Duckie's voice came clear as day though the phone.
"I-I..."
"Sound it out."
"On... roof... get me..."
"I... yeah sure. Close enough." And then Fracture hung up.
I sensed an obvious trap, not that it mattered. Picasso was already half way up the stairs living me little option but to follow. If it was a trap, she was gonna need help.
I let her run out onto the roof ahead of me and waited for whatever the trick might be from the door infront of the stairs. Fracture and Duckie... god damn... he really is alive... they were standing out in the middle of the roof waiting for us like bait.
"Here it is, Picasso. This is what you wanted right? To have your little fight with Duckie."
Picasso rushed at them both like a moron. Duckie sidestepped her, caught her by her collar, and then used her own momentum to throw her back sending her tumbling to the floor. If there was gonna be an ambush, I figured they would have dove out when Picasso did that so I decided it was probably safe to come out and help.
I ran over to Picasso when Fracture pulled out his gun and fired several shots at my feet. I instinctively dodged... big fucking mistake. Never dodge Fracture. He never shoots to kill. Always to guide you somewhere. I dove for cover and from around that cover sprang 7 proxies.... cute.
Five hollows, I think. I can never tell with Fracture, he likes to mix masked mutes in with his hollows. And Sloth and my little Maggot. Seven people he knew I wouldn't kill.
Fracture took a step and was suddenly perched behind me on a statue like a cat taking the high ground... or a bird.
"Now now, Moth. Can't have you interrupting Picasso and Duckie's big reunion. You'll have to wait your turn."
I tried to fight my way out of the seven of the seven of them but its hard to fight your way out of circle. Swing one way and they'll get you in the back. Swing the other and they'll pull a foot out from under you. Toying with me. They probably could have killed me there but that didn't seem to be the plan. He was gonna have Duckie kill us one at a time... give us what we were asking for... asshole.
I caught glimpses of Picasso fighting but I couldn't really focus on it. It didn't look like she was doing very good on her own. Every time I caught a peek she was being thrown back with a punch or just actually being thrown.
She started yelling at him. She threw a fucking fit.
"Is that ALL YOU'VE GOT!? You need MORE people so I can KILL YOU ALL OUTRIGHT! DO YOU HEAR ME, FRACTURE? When I finish with Duckie, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE!"
She was losing. 'Everyone'. Bold statement...
That's when Nat showed up.
"The fuck is going on here?"
"FIGHTING FUCKFACE AND DUCKIE. Whats it look like?"
"You shouldn't be here..." said Fracture dropping unsteadily from his Statue and drawing his gun. His face... he'd had the biggest fucking grin up to now but it was gone now. Nothing but a serious look of concern. A variable had shown up and it was threatening all those precious little plans of his.
He pointed out three of the hollows that had been on me and pointed to Nat. "You three, with me... Kill her."
The three of them stepped back and moved over to her. "Pincer three maneuver." I was familiar with that one... pin down and execute. He was really gonna do it. Not sure... why...
"... Motherfucker, this is what I get for being nosy. You know, I wasn't going to interfere, but if you want me killing your men... fuckwit..."
Didn't matter I guess. She struggled a bit under his gun fire until she realized he wasn't shooting to kill.
"What, you're too much of a chickenshit to shoot at me but you'll send your goons to kill me?"
"It's not my cup of tea. Guess this isn't fooling anyone anymore." Then the gun fire stopped. I'm assuming he put his gun away.
Not long after that she made short work of them. Sloth is shit in a fight and I actually taught Maggot how to fight so without their copious backup, I was able to get them both on their asses and leave to go help Picasso while Nat finished dealing with her stooges.
...
I got a look at Fracture as she finished cutting one of them down... I sympathize with hollows myself... their deaths are a tragedy. It's like shooting a puppy in the face... it may have been doing wrong but it doesn't know any better. It's just a dog...
But that look Fracture gets whenever something dies in front of him would almost make it worth cutting one down. It's as if someone had actually shot a puppy in front of him. He stiffens... goes wide eyed... seems to be in complete disbelief that that was possible before he snaps back from his shock, shaken... if only for a moment.
I have no doubt that if Nat hadn't arrive, he would have left when it came time for Duckie to finish it... he doesn't have the stomach for this shit.
...
Right... the fight. So while Nat was still dealing with her hollows, I went to help Picasso. The fight had taken a turn from bad to worse. Where previously she was being thrown around, he'd pulled his knife now. Picasso kept swinging with her hatchets but he always dodged and moved around her. And every time he did that he cut her open somewhere. Nothing vital... he was gonna bleed her out.
By the time I had gotten over to her, she was bleeding bad and down to a knee.
"Not... good enough... again..." spat out Duckie in crude broken sentences... I was kind of surprised he could talk on his own, I have to assume Fracture taught him a few lines to fuck with us.
I moved between him and Picasso. I... he grinned.... what passes for a grin on that big ugly sandpapered face.
I came at him. This was the moment I'd been training for. Everything I had been waiting for... it was finally time to prove I was better than Duckie... but... I wasn't. EVERY attack I made got countered with a hard punch in the kidney. I kept trying. I kept swinging until I could hardly stand and what I was doing turned into a desperate flailing.
I made a huge fucking mistake.
In the middle of the fight I heard Fracture giving new orders to Sloth and Maggot.
"Maggot, plan C."
"Plan C?" asked Sloth. Then he cried out in pain.
"Plan C. Excecute the traitor."
"MOTHERFUCKER."
I tried to turn to look and make sure he was okay. That got me firm first in the gut... I crumpled to the floor gasping for air.
I stared for a moment, wheezing for air and desperately trying to get off the ground.
I could see Nat... trying to help Sloth. Then extreme discomfort as Duckie lifted me to my feet to face him by my head.
"Don't... deserve... mask...WEAK!" declared Duckie. I tried to get free but he didn't give me much time before he pulled his head back and fucking headbutted me in the face. Then things went black for little while.
I didn't stay down long. I about drowned in the blood that had started pooling in my mask. I popped up for air, apparently still at Duckies feet. Apparently Picasso was beside me now. I could hear her.
"OH NO! You're not getting me with that-" she yelled and then suddenly got quiet. "...again...?"
I looked up... apparently Picasso had tried to use her brother's sword... and I guess that didn't work. Because Duckie had it... and he had run her through with it.
I pulled my mask to my face... its cracked to shit now... barely holds together... It looked like that was gonna be it... we were gonna die.
That's when I heard Sloth come charging across the roof.
"N-No! Patrica!" he yelled. He jumped on Duckie's back and threw his weight back, pulling the both of them over to the ledge and away from us. Nat ran over.
"Moth, now's the time if you're gonna do this..."
I... fucked up. She was talking about finishing Duckie... but we were so fucked up... I thought she was telling us to get out of there. I grabbed Picasso and ran... I should have finished Duckie...
I lifted Picasso up and opened a path portal.
Stopped... Turned back for a moment..
"This is how it started, huh, Donald...? Let's end it like this too!" declared Sloth... both of them went off the side of the building... I couldn't watch beyond that... I left through the portal and started bandaging Picasso up in our room. I... assumed they had both died. Apparently not...
...
I wasn't even finished bandaging up Picasso before she started struggling and trying to get to her feet. She pushed me aside. "H-Have... to get back there... KILL... Duckie..."
I grabbed her by her shoulders and forced her to sit back down. "Th-They're still there! W-We have to finish this! Th-They're still there! They have to be!"
I stared her down... shook my head. I think that was when she actually realized how fucked up we both where and stopped trying to stand back up.
She glared angrily at the wall as I finished sewing and bandaging her up... snapped my nose back into place.
We were packing up to leave... we had to get the hell out of there and regroup somewhere where Fracture couldn't wait us out with another ambush... that's when there was a knock at the door.
I cautiously looked through the peep hole... I... couldn't believe my eyes. It was Red... she was standing at our door waiting for us... I... I assumed it was a trap. She had a knife in one hand and a mask around her neck. We were heading for the window when she called out. "Hello?! I-I found it for you! I've been good! I-I swear."
...What?
I wasn't about to take anymore chances. I kept moving to climb out the window. I was on the other side of it too... when I realized Picasso had abandoned my plan and opened the door to let Red in.
I climbed back in... as it turned out, Red had come to help us... for some reason. And she came baring Black Lake's doom.
... Stopping point... make this part 1. Need to start moving again.
We were snooping around the hotel. We needed to find that statue. There would be no greater leverage to use against Fracture than the Statue that was keeping this town safe from all the angry inpatient fears that wanted to storm in and make it their own by ripping it a new one. That's when I got a call from Fracture. I waved Picasso over and pressed the little green receive button and the speaker phone function.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?!" yelled Picasso at the phone.
It was quiet for a moment, then Fracture spoke. "What the fuck are you waiting for. Say what I told you to say, Mutt."
I felt my heart sink... as Duckie's voice came clear as day though the phone.
"I-I..."
"Sound it out."
"On... roof... get me..."
"I... yeah sure. Close enough." And then Fracture hung up.
I sensed an obvious trap, not that it mattered. Picasso was already half way up the stairs living me little option but to follow. If it was a trap, she was gonna need help.
I let her run out onto the roof ahead of me and waited for whatever the trick might be from the door infront of the stairs. Fracture and Duckie... god damn... he really is alive... they were standing out in the middle of the roof waiting for us like bait.
"Here it is, Picasso. This is what you wanted right? To have your little fight with Duckie."
Picasso rushed at them both like a moron. Duckie sidestepped her, caught her by her collar, and then used her own momentum to throw her back sending her tumbling to the floor. If there was gonna be an ambush, I figured they would have dove out when Picasso did that so I decided it was probably safe to come out and help.
I ran over to Picasso when Fracture pulled out his gun and fired several shots at my feet. I instinctively dodged... big fucking mistake. Never dodge Fracture. He never shoots to kill. Always to guide you somewhere. I dove for cover and from around that cover sprang 7 proxies.... cute.
Five hollows, I think. I can never tell with Fracture, he likes to mix masked mutes in with his hollows. And Sloth and my little Maggot. Seven people he knew I wouldn't kill.
Fracture took a step and was suddenly perched behind me on a statue like a cat taking the high ground... or a bird.
"Now now, Moth. Can't have you interrupting Picasso and Duckie's big reunion. You'll have to wait your turn."
I tried to fight my way out of the seven of the seven of them but its hard to fight your way out of circle. Swing one way and they'll get you in the back. Swing the other and they'll pull a foot out from under you. Toying with me. They probably could have killed me there but that didn't seem to be the plan. He was gonna have Duckie kill us one at a time... give us what we were asking for... asshole.
I caught glimpses of Picasso fighting but I couldn't really focus on it. It didn't look like she was doing very good on her own. Every time I caught a peek she was being thrown back with a punch or just actually being thrown.
She started yelling at him. She threw a fucking fit.
"Is that ALL YOU'VE GOT!? You need MORE people so I can KILL YOU ALL OUTRIGHT! DO YOU HEAR ME, FRACTURE? When I finish with Duckie, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE!"
She was losing. 'Everyone'. Bold statement...
That's when Nat showed up.
"The fuck is going on here?"
"FIGHTING FUCKFACE AND DUCKIE. Whats it look like?"
"You shouldn't be here..." said Fracture dropping unsteadily from his Statue and drawing his gun. His face... he'd had the biggest fucking grin up to now but it was gone now. Nothing but a serious look of concern. A variable had shown up and it was threatening all those precious little plans of his.
He pointed out three of the hollows that had been on me and pointed to Nat. "You three, with me... Kill her."
The three of them stepped back and moved over to her. "Pincer three maneuver." I was familiar with that one... pin down and execute. He was really gonna do it. Not sure... why...
"... Motherfucker, this is what I get for being nosy. You know, I wasn't going to interfere, but if you want me killing your men... fuckwit..."
Didn't matter I guess. She struggled a bit under his gun fire until she realized he wasn't shooting to kill.
"What, you're too much of a chickenshit to shoot at me but you'll send your goons to kill me?"
"It's not my cup of tea. Guess this isn't fooling anyone anymore." Then the gun fire stopped. I'm assuming he put his gun away.
Not long after that she made short work of them. Sloth is shit in a fight and I actually taught Maggot how to fight so without their copious backup, I was able to get them both on their asses and leave to go help Picasso while Nat finished dealing with her stooges.
...
I got a look at Fracture as she finished cutting one of them down... I sympathize with hollows myself... their deaths are a tragedy. It's like shooting a puppy in the face... it may have been doing wrong but it doesn't know any better. It's just a dog...
But that look Fracture gets whenever something dies in front of him would almost make it worth cutting one down. It's as if someone had actually shot a puppy in front of him. He stiffens... goes wide eyed... seems to be in complete disbelief that that was possible before he snaps back from his shock, shaken... if only for a moment.
I have no doubt that if Nat hadn't arrive, he would have left when it came time for Duckie to finish it... he doesn't have the stomach for this shit.
...
Right... the fight. So while Nat was still dealing with her hollows, I went to help Picasso. The fight had taken a turn from bad to worse. Where previously she was being thrown around, he'd pulled his knife now. Picasso kept swinging with her hatchets but he always dodged and moved around her. And every time he did that he cut her open somewhere. Nothing vital... he was gonna bleed her out.
By the time I had gotten over to her, she was bleeding bad and down to a knee.
"Not... good enough... again..." spat out Duckie in crude broken sentences... I was kind of surprised he could talk on his own, I have to assume Fracture taught him a few lines to fuck with us.
I moved between him and Picasso. I... he grinned.... what passes for a grin on that big ugly sandpapered face.
I came at him. This was the moment I'd been training for. Everything I had been waiting for... it was finally time to prove I was better than Duckie... but... I wasn't. EVERY attack I made got countered with a hard punch in the kidney. I kept trying. I kept swinging until I could hardly stand and what I was doing turned into a desperate flailing.
I made a huge fucking mistake.
In the middle of the fight I heard Fracture giving new orders to Sloth and Maggot.
"Maggot, plan C."
"Plan C?" asked Sloth. Then he cried out in pain.
"Plan C. Excecute the traitor."
"MOTHERFUCKER."
I tried to turn to look and make sure he was okay. That got me firm first in the gut... I crumpled to the floor gasping for air.
I stared for a moment, wheezing for air and desperately trying to get off the ground.
I could see Nat... trying to help Sloth. Then extreme discomfort as Duckie lifted me to my feet to face him by my head.
"Don't... deserve... mask...WEAK!" declared Duckie. I tried to get free but he didn't give me much time before he pulled his head back and fucking headbutted me in the face. Then things went black for little while.
I didn't stay down long. I about drowned in the blood that had started pooling in my mask. I popped up for air, apparently still at Duckies feet. Apparently Picasso was beside me now. I could hear her.
"OH NO! You're not getting me with that-" she yelled and then suddenly got quiet. "...again...?"
I looked up... apparently Picasso had tried to use her brother's sword... and I guess that didn't work. Because Duckie had it... and he had run her through with it.
I pulled my mask to my face... its cracked to shit now... barely holds together... It looked like that was gonna be it... we were gonna die.
That's when I heard Sloth come charging across the roof.
"N-No! Patrica!" he yelled. He jumped on Duckie's back and threw his weight back, pulling the both of them over to the ledge and away from us. Nat ran over.
"Moth, now's the time if you're gonna do this..."
I... fucked up. She was talking about finishing Duckie... but we were so fucked up... I thought she was telling us to get out of there. I grabbed Picasso and ran... I should have finished Duckie...
I lifted Picasso up and opened a path portal.
Stopped... Turned back for a moment..
"This is how it started, huh, Donald...? Let's end it like this too!" declared Sloth... both of them went off the side of the building... I couldn't watch beyond that... I left through the portal and started bandaging Picasso up in our room. I... assumed they had both died. Apparently not...
...
I wasn't even finished bandaging up Picasso before she started struggling and trying to get to her feet. She pushed me aside. "H-Have... to get back there... KILL... Duckie..."
I grabbed her by her shoulders and forced her to sit back down. "Th-They're still there! W-We have to finish this! Th-They're still there! They have to be!"
I stared her down... shook my head. I think that was when she actually realized how fucked up we both where and stopped trying to stand back up.
She glared angrily at the wall as I finished sewing and bandaging her up... snapped my nose back into place.
We were packing up to leave... we had to get the hell out of there and regroup somewhere where Fracture couldn't wait us out with another ambush... that's when there was a knock at the door.
I cautiously looked through the peep hole... I... couldn't believe my eyes. It was Red... she was standing at our door waiting for us... I... I assumed it was a trap. She had a knife in one hand and a mask around her neck. We were heading for the window when she called out. "Hello?! I-I found it for you! I've been good! I-I swear."
...What?
I wasn't about to take anymore chances. I kept moving to climb out the window. I was on the other side of it too... when I realized Picasso had abandoned my plan and opened the door to let Red in.
I climbed back in... as it turned out, Red had come to help us... for some reason. And she came baring Black Lake's doom.
... Stopping point... make this part 1. Need to start moving again.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Not a Gnat
So, I got a tip the other day from a reliable contact. Told me there was a potential ally in the area. They had apparently recently arrived in Black Lake, just by random chance I guess. Gave me an address to visit them. Didn't tell me anything else. One of many draw backs to my vow of silence, I can't request more information. I tend to have to work with what I'm given.
So I hunted down the address. It led me to the outskirts of town to a shitty little motel. Home sweet home.
I went up to the door and I knocked. I was hoping they'd be home. It's one thing when a Masked figure shows up at your door... it's another thing when you come home to one waiting at your door. That tends to freak people right the fuck out. Regardless of if you're a proxy or a runner, it's incredibly fucking disturbing.
Fortunately, she was home. Unfortunately, she was not incredibly receptive to my kind.
The moment the door opened, I got pulled in and shoved against the wall with a knife threateningly held before me. She kicked the door closed with her foot as not to cause a scene as I desperately tried to wrestle the knife away from my throat.
"Another one?" She asked with great disgust. "I'm so fucking sick of hollows showing up to kill me."
Sensing this wasn't about to go well, I shoved her off of me to create some distance. Then a fight began.
Here's a spoiler, I ended my time with her on good enough terms that I'm not about to give away her fighting style or methods by describing the fight. Suffice to say, we fought. It ended like this.
"God I'm so fucking SICK OF THIS SHIT. I HATE FUCKING ZOMBIES."
To which I rolled my eyes expecting her to attack again. But she didn't. Shes quite observant. She caught it.
"... Did you just fucking roll your eyes?"
I nodded.
"You're not a hollow."
I nodded again.
"Why the hell didn't you say so?"
I shrugged. Believe you me, she was not about kill me. I hadn't even brought out the spear. Although she thought I was a hollow... she might not have really been trying... but she was angry like she was trying.
Tough call.
"I might have killed you!"
He shakes my head no. Again, from what I saw in that fight. No.
"Bullshit. I would have."
That went on for a little while...
"Whatever. Just, why the fuck are you here exactly?"
I groaned. This was getting beyond what I could explain with simple body language. So I finally busted out the pen and paper. To which I received a look of disbelief and a glare.
'I got a tip a potential ally was in town at this address,' I wrote.
"The fuck makes you think I'm a potential ally?"
'A tip.'
"Ally for what?"
'Fighting Fracture. Killing Duckie.'
"Oh. You're not a proxy?"
'That's... complicated.'
"Yeah. Me too, I guess. What do you want?"
'Keep safe. Figure out how to get a leg up on Fracture.'
"Why don't you talk?"
'In honor of Father and the Man who originally trained me.'
"You still call the skinny fuck 'father'?"
'I do.'
"I don't think I can help you."
'Because of the Father thing?'
"Because I'm pretty sure I hate the skinny fuck."
'I don't care?'
"I don't think I can work with you if you still sort of work for him."
'You should really talk to Picasso.'
"Who's he?"
I honestly might have corrected her then and there but I was pretty sure she was about to throw me out as it was and it was kind of funny to think of the name Picasso as a boys name after hearing it applied to a girl for the last few years.
'Not a proxy. Hates father and fracture... a lot.'
"So why isn't he here?"
'Pieces of mask glued to the face. Makes it hard to move around in public during the day.'
"Can't he just not glue the mask to his face for the day?"
'It's permanent.'
"No glue is really permanent to skin."
'Glued is an expression. They were seared to directly to the face.'
"Holy crap"
'They don't come off.'
"That's insane."
'I agree.'
"Look, I want to talk to someone who actually talks before I make a call. Does Picasso talk?"
I nodded. 'A lot.'
"Good. Take me to meet him?"
I nodded once more and moved to the door. Waited a moment while she secured the room and we both slipped out to walk to the hotel.
It was a quiet walk for the most part. Sure that was mostly my fault.
"You can afford this?" she asked skeptically as we arrived. I just nodded. No need to get into it with someone who wasn't with us yet how we were being funded. Although, I get the sense she wouldn't have approved in hindsight.
I led her up to our room. It was still littered with mousetraps from before.
"... What's with the mouse traps?"
"THEY WERE PART, of my, CUNNING plan!" yelled Picasso as she leaped unnecessarily from the bathroom in front of us almost tripping over the traps on her landing.
This seemed to concern our guest quite a bit. She looked back and forth at the both of us for a moment rather dumbfounded.
"Who the fuck is this?"
"I!" yelled Picasso taking an overly unnecessary bow, "Am Picasso."
"... I thought Picasso was a dude..."
"I am not old, or ITALIAN!"
"Okay. I can see that."
"WHO are YOU?"
"I'm Nat... I don't work with psychos. Sorry."
The mention of her name made me turn my head. I hadn't realized it was her until that moment. Shit.
"WELL FUCK YOU TOO!" yelled Picasso storming off to her bed to sulk at her sudden rejection.
"Well, she just proved my point. Nice talking to you two."
"DON'T YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION MY FAULT! Own your own shit..."
"Goodbye, you two."
I waved as she left.
Picasso just kind of huffed. "Whatever."
And then Nat was gone. "I DON'T WANT TO KILL HER... she seemed nice... FUCK!" lamented Picasso once she was gone.
I should probably give that some context. Anyone who has refused to help us on our journey so far... has turned on us and eventually came back around to try to kill us... It's hard to expect Nat won't be any different... have to keep an eye out for her...
I'm kind of glad she went though... no offense of course.
Whether she turns on us or not... this might have been for the best.
Moth out.
So I hunted down the address. It led me to the outskirts of town to a shitty little motel. Home sweet home.
I went up to the door and I knocked. I was hoping they'd be home. It's one thing when a Masked figure shows up at your door... it's another thing when you come home to one waiting at your door. That tends to freak people right the fuck out. Regardless of if you're a proxy or a runner, it's incredibly fucking disturbing.
Fortunately, she was home. Unfortunately, she was not incredibly receptive to my kind.
The moment the door opened, I got pulled in and shoved against the wall with a knife threateningly held before me. She kicked the door closed with her foot as not to cause a scene as I desperately tried to wrestle the knife away from my throat.
"Another one?" She asked with great disgust. "I'm so fucking sick of hollows showing up to kill me."
Sensing this wasn't about to go well, I shoved her off of me to create some distance. Then a fight began.
Here's a spoiler, I ended my time with her on good enough terms that I'm not about to give away her fighting style or methods by describing the fight. Suffice to say, we fought. It ended like this.
"God I'm so fucking SICK OF THIS SHIT. I HATE FUCKING ZOMBIES."
To which I rolled my eyes expecting her to attack again. But she didn't. Shes quite observant. She caught it.
"... Did you just fucking roll your eyes?"
I nodded.
"You're not a hollow."
I nodded again.
"Why the hell didn't you say so?"
I shrugged. Believe you me, she was not about kill me. I hadn't even brought out the spear. Although she thought I was a hollow... she might not have really been trying... but she was angry like she was trying.
Tough call.
"I might have killed you!"
He shakes my head no. Again, from what I saw in that fight. No.
"Bullshit. I would have."
That went on for a little while...
"Whatever. Just, why the fuck are you here exactly?"
I groaned. This was getting beyond what I could explain with simple body language. So I finally busted out the pen and paper. To which I received a look of disbelief and a glare.
'I got a tip a potential ally was in town at this address,' I wrote.
"The fuck makes you think I'm a potential ally?"
'A tip.'
"Ally for what?"
'Fighting Fracture. Killing Duckie.'
"Oh. You're not a proxy?"
'That's... complicated.'
"Yeah. Me too, I guess. What do you want?"
'Keep safe. Figure out how to get a leg up on Fracture.'
"Why don't you talk?"
'In honor of Father and the Man who originally trained me.'
"You still call the skinny fuck 'father'?"
'I do.'
"I don't think I can help you."
'Because of the Father thing?'
"Because I'm pretty sure I hate the skinny fuck."
'I don't care?'
"I don't think I can work with you if you still sort of work for him."
'You should really talk to Picasso.'
"Who's he?"
I honestly might have corrected her then and there but I was pretty sure she was about to throw me out as it was and it was kind of funny to think of the name Picasso as a boys name after hearing it applied to a girl for the last few years.
'Not a proxy. Hates father and fracture... a lot.'
"So why isn't he here?"
'Pieces of mask glued to the face. Makes it hard to move around in public during the day.'
"Can't he just not glue the mask to his face for the day?"
'It's permanent.'
"No glue is really permanent to skin."
'Glued is an expression. They were seared to directly to the face.'
"Holy crap"
'They don't come off.'
"That's insane."
'I agree.'
"Look, I want to talk to someone who actually talks before I make a call. Does Picasso talk?"
I nodded. 'A lot.'
"Good. Take me to meet him?"
I nodded once more and moved to the door. Waited a moment while she secured the room and we both slipped out to walk to the hotel.
It was a quiet walk for the most part. Sure that was mostly my fault.
"You can afford this?" she asked skeptically as we arrived. I just nodded. No need to get into it with someone who wasn't with us yet how we were being funded. Although, I get the sense she wouldn't have approved in hindsight.
I led her up to our room. It was still littered with mousetraps from before.
"... What's with the mouse traps?"
"THEY WERE PART, of my, CUNNING plan!" yelled Picasso as she leaped unnecessarily from the bathroom in front of us almost tripping over the traps on her landing.
This seemed to concern our guest quite a bit. She looked back and forth at the both of us for a moment rather dumbfounded.
"Who the fuck is this?"
"I!" yelled Picasso taking an overly unnecessary bow, "Am Picasso."
"... I thought Picasso was a dude..."
"I am not old, or ITALIAN!"
"Okay. I can see that."
"WHO are YOU?"
"I'm Nat... I don't work with psychos. Sorry."
The mention of her name made me turn my head. I hadn't realized it was her until that moment. Shit.
"WELL FUCK YOU TOO!" yelled Picasso storming off to her bed to sulk at her sudden rejection.
"Well, she just proved my point. Nice talking to you two."
"DON'T YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION MY FAULT! Own your own shit..."
"Goodbye, you two."
I waved as she left.
Picasso just kind of huffed. "Whatever."
And then Nat was gone. "I DON'T WANT TO KILL HER... she seemed nice... FUCK!" lamented Picasso once she was gone.
I should probably give that some context. Anyone who has refused to help us on our journey so far... has turned on us and eventually came back around to try to kill us... It's hard to expect Nat won't be any different... have to keep an eye out for her...
I'm kind of glad she went though... no offense of course.
Whether she turns on us or not... this might have been for the best.
Moth out.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Oh, Right.
I... am an Idiot. I like to think I'm smart. I'm damn good in a fight, I can take care of myself, and I know how to keep under the radar but its so easy to lose sight of the big picture.
We didn't come here looking for Duckie. We came here because we knew Fracture kept tabs on this location and we were trying to force his hand by coming here.
I got so distracted by the potential Duckie spotting, I forgot that our reason for being here was to piss of Fracture. Apparently, just being here hasn't done it for him. Hes been quiet. No attacks or any such shit.
But I bet you won't take kindly to me spilling this towns little secret will you Fuck Face.
Hmm... maybe I should slow my roll a little. I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
So here is a proper first point for this update. We got our hands on this town's secrets.
While I was out, Picasso set all the mouth traps to sit on the top shelf of the closet and then rigged them to fall at the pull of a string.
I can home with lunch to find her pulling said string. I leaped back out the room. She does the string pull traps a lot and I thought I was about to get hit with something. I was actually rather relieved when I heard someone else start screaming.
Was confused when I came back in to find a man covered in snapped traps squirming in agony and screaming on in front of the closet.
Picasso had some chloroform ready for him. She still hasn't quite mastered using that... always knocks herself out too whenever she uses it on someone. Think its how impatient she is with it. Have to be careful with that shit...
So I went ahead and tied our peeping tom to a chair and set Picasso on the bed and waited for them to get up. Also removed the mousetraps while I waited. It was something to do...
"OH GOD FUCKING DAMN IT. Hate Chloroform headaches..."
"..."
"YOU SHUT UP. I'll do it right one of these days... Oh look, I tied him up in my sleep. How COOL am I?"
She wandered over to him and gave him a few light slaps on the cheek. He groaned and rolled his head and shifted his body weight before squinting his eyes and looking up in mild dazed irritation.
"Morning SUNSHINE!"
He recoiled at the sound of her screaming.
"Or should I call you noisy? I can hear your LOUD ASS BREATHING through the closet door."
She wandered over and into the closet and gave the bottom of the back wall a little kick revealing it to be a little doggy door type thing. I checked it out later. It had a latch on his side. Had we kicked it before, it wouldn't have budged. Not sure how Picasso figured out it was there.
"COOL LITTLE DOGGY DOOR! So what's your deal MUTT, who do you work for?! FRACTURE? DADDY? The state of Pennsylvania?.... OR...?!"
She said taking a dramatic overly expressive pause.
"Do you like, just really hate this room and people who stay in it or something? Seriously, whats your deal dog."
During that whole rant he just stared at her in mild irritation and didn't says anything.
"HA! A MUTE! A hideous crime against nature!"
She turned and slugged me. "No offense." She turned her attention back to the guy.
"So you want to play vocally challenged do you?"
She slammed her hands down on the arms of his chair. "Well... we, HAVE WAYS OF MAKING YOU TALK!"
And as she yelled she pushed his chair into the corner. "Namely, boredom," she said plopping onto the bed, grabbing some food and eating and pointedly ignoring him for the rest of the day.
And so from there, we just, kind of kept him tied to the chair. Picasso insisted that we feed him baby food, which, she would feed to him with a spoon while treating him like a baby but for some reason still referring to him as a dog. She just kind of smeared the food to his face, regardless of whether or not he actually resisted eating it....
So, that happened for three days I believe. Towards the end of the third day I came home to Picasso smearing his face with more food when he finally broke.
"FOR THE LOVE OF GRANDFATHER STOP IT. I'LL TALK, JUST FUCKING STOP IT ALREADY."
"Hehe. Hello mister not-so-mute-anymore! WHO ARE YOU?!"
"... I'm Kappa."
"Kappa? [A bunch of words in a language I don't fucking understand] Kappa?"
"... Is that... Greek?"
"... K isn't Greek... its a letter. STOP TRYING TO CONFUSE ME!"
"R-Right, wh-whatever. That's my name. Calm down will yeah?"
"Does doggy need more food?" she says picking up the spoon of baby food and making "Choo, Choo" noises.
"No! B-Baby does not need any more food ever! I gave you my name! What the fuck do you want from me?!"
"Okay then, 'K', why were you spying on us? WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?!"
He cringed a bit at her yelling. "I thought the name might have said enough... I'm an Archivist. I work for the Blind Man, grandfather... Specifically, I'm Collector Kappa. I'm observing PRE cult behavior in Black Lake. This place draws them in like a magnet."
"Well, Collector K, WHY SPY ON US?!"
Once more he cringed.
"Mask behavior in this town is already kind of odd-"
"Wai, wai, wai, wai, wai, wait... WAIT... wait... wait... you call proxies masks too?"
"Well... not usually. I know you refer to them as masks though... been spying on you... remember?"
"Right... okay. Sorry, GO ON."
"So mask proxies in this town are weird. They don't talk, but they aren't hollows and they don't respond to the mention of the slender man at all. But they all operate as one cohesive group. Then entered you two. You two were new, obviously masks, but clearly independent of the others. Plus, you talk.... well, one of you does... It seemed like it merited study... so I did... listen... I obviously don't mean either of you any harm. Can you guys let me go? I'm worried about the Library. I've been away from it for to long... something could have happened to it by now."
"AND WHY SHOULD I TRUST YOU."
Cringe.
"... Y-You can come with me if it would make you feel any better... I'll answer more questions... maybe you can answer some for me..."
"... Fine."
So we went to the Library. He had some trouble walking at first. Being tied down for three days is hell on the body.
The Library was a small one. It had a front desk, and a dozen selves. Six rows. Two shelves to a row with room to walk in between the two shelves. Also had a table and four chairs.
He plots down and Picasso plopped down on the chair across from him. I stood quietly at attention behind her.
"So... I guess you weren't lying... MAYBE..."
He seemed significantly more relaxed. "I wasn't. I am honestly just happy to see the Library standing."
He got up and got some water from a water cooler. Put three cups on the table and sipped at his. "Thirsty?" he asked.
She Picasso made a nauseated noise. "Pfffght. Ewww. Water," she said pushing the cup away with a finger. "No thank you."
"Suit yourself."
"I WILL!"
"Yeah... I uh, figured."
"Good... because I am.... I'm good at that..." she saids looking away for a moment lost in her own awkwardness. "So... you have any idea what the fuck is WRONG with this RIDICULOUS town?"
"Right... well that's complicated. Do you know what a cult town is?"
"YES"
"Okay. And a point of power?"
"YE-... er... kind of."
"And how about what the crossroads are?"
"... Demon flee market?"
"... No. The NPE."
"... What the fuck is that?"
"Non-Phobic Entity. A powerful sentient location, like the empty city, but as an Entity it does not inspire or act on peoples fears. It merely tests them. And should they pass those tests, it even grants wishes and the such."
"WISHES?!"
"Yeah. Tests usually involve self control."
"...Oh... so... I've looked at the archive blog from time to time... went silent... never heard of a NPE..."
"... Not an official category. But it's one I think should exist. Many things labeled as a 'phenomenon' are entities in their own right."
"... What the FUCK, does this have to do with Black Lake?"
"Right, so Black Lake was a cult town. It, like most cult towns, was built on a point of power. Man and PRE are drawn to locations like this. Man instinctively... PREs aggressively and territoriality. A lot of major cities actually fall on points of power. Points of power like this though, ones out in the middle of nowhere, they almost without fail, develop cult towns. Its actually a pretty interesting UXP. Although, its existence is purely speculative or theoretical. Many might contest that the PREs are simply territorial and that the locations themselves have no bearing beyond being owned by the PREs. That its the PREs that make these locations of any interest."
"UXP?"
"Unexplained phenomenon."
"Right... I'm only going to ask this one more time. What does any of this, HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!"
"Well, it all comes together to make this situation... aren't you thirsty?"
"What part of EWWW, didn't you understand earlier?"
Suddenly things started to click in my head. His posture... actively pushing a drink someone doesn't want... sharing all this information. That's three red flags. Something was very up. I moved around the table and pretended to thumb through the books behind him. I watched him nervously shift as I came around. I could see he was trying to conceal something in his lap.
I could hear his chair squeak as he leaned back to look over at me. Picasso forced his attention back forward.
"I'm not asking that thing I said I wouldn't ask again, GET ON WITH IT."
"R-Right. Right. So Black Lake was a Cult town. But, and this is rather uncommon, Black Lake managed to rebel and win. A splinter cell of proxies decided they didn't want to take orders anymore. They killed all the loyalists and erased their history. They made pretend like they had always been a normal town. One or two generations later... its like they always were. Not sure how that's possible myself. I guess PRE01 decided he didn't care for the location and... just kind of let it happen."
"But, PRE01 or no PRE01, Black Lake still sits at a desirable point of power. So when PRE01 let its influence get pushed out, it attracted the attention of every other PRE. And now that everyone wants the location, PRE01 came back to reclaim it for itself. Or so it seems I guess. Maybe that's the who points. Maybe its a show of dominance."
"Now, the Fears can't go head to head. I mean, they can, but when the do... well... I assume you've heard of Nightscream's Plague Doctor/Slender Man incident? It permanently scarred the land where PRE01 and PRE12 fought. Killed everyone who couldn't get out of there in time. So imagine what hell might break loose if all 22 of the PREs where to go at it after one location. The state of Pennsylvania may very well have become forfeit as it got ripped apart at its very seems. I've heard it speculated that something like that happened at the Bermuda triangle. Supposedly there was a big Island at the center there at one point. Ridiculous speculation."
"So, instead of destroy Pennsylvanian, PRE cults are fighting as proxies for their fears."
"... Does that mean the Archive is gonna invade Black Lake?"
"We have the Library. That's all we really care about. Let them take the rest of the town."
"So that's why YOU'RE here?"
"I... kind of... that and to observe and report any interesting phenomenon."
"... WHAT THE FUCK DOES THE CROSSROADS HAVE TO DO WITH ANY OF THAT?"
"I'm getting to that, sheesh.... you should really drink that water. Its getting warm."
"...Just... SHUT UP... and speak."
"R-Right. So, I'm sure you've noticed that the Cultist don't spend any time at the hotel and that whenever you strike your buddy there you get feedback while at the hotel."
"Nope."
"I... huh, Really? W-Well, the hotel is a neutral zone. No PRE cultist can kill any other PRE cultist while in the hotel. To avoid the issue, most Cultists just tend to avoid the location. I believe this neutral zone and the absence of any direct presence of PRE in Black Lake as the result of the Crossroads interfering. I base this on the statue I found hidden in the hotel. If you no where to look, bound to the very foundation of the building, there is a statue of three Identical women facing out in different directions back to back. Each holding two torches. I believe this is a statue of Hecate, the Greek Goddess of the crossroads. I'm not sure how the crossroads presence came to be in Black Lake. Maybe its natural. Or maybe that's how the cultists who set themselves free did it. Maybe someone made a deal to protect the town. Again, its a lot of speculation and theory but its the only theory I have on why the PREs didn't collide on this location and tear it at its seems. You should REALLY have a drink of water."
By now even Picasso was starting to get suspicious of his insistence. He didn't notice me come up behind him and pin his hands. He panicked as Picasso took the cup and pushed it to his lips. "YOU DRINK IT!"
She held his nose and made him open up some and forced the water into his moth.
After that we finally let him pull free. "F-FOOLS! Wh-What have you done to me?!"
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU TRY TO DO TO ME?!"
"P-Poison you... w-with EAT."
"HAHAHA. SERVES YOU RIGHT FUCK FACE."
He started wheezing and gasping. "... Such... beautiful... singing..."
We watched as he made his way over to the water cooler and started chugging it right from the nozzle.
Picasso shoot her head disapprovingly... with out me quite catching it, she set the place on fire on her way out.
... Appropriate... I guess.
So... Black Waters secrets from a potentially reliable source. Your move Fracture.
Moth out.
We didn't come here looking for Duckie. We came here because we knew Fracture kept tabs on this location and we were trying to force his hand by coming here.
I got so distracted by the potential Duckie spotting, I forgot that our reason for being here was to piss of Fracture. Apparently, just being here hasn't done it for him. Hes been quiet. No attacks or any such shit.
But I bet you won't take kindly to me spilling this towns little secret will you Fuck Face.
Hmm... maybe I should slow my roll a little. I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
So here is a proper first point for this update. We got our hands on this town's secrets.
While I was out, Picasso set all the mouth traps to sit on the top shelf of the closet and then rigged them to fall at the pull of a string.
I can home with lunch to find her pulling said string. I leaped back out the room. She does the string pull traps a lot and I thought I was about to get hit with something. I was actually rather relieved when I heard someone else start screaming.
Was confused when I came back in to find a man covered in snapped traps squirming in agony and screaming on in front of the closet.
Picasso had some chloroform ready for him. She still hasn't quite mastered using that... always knocks herself out too whenever she uses it on someone. Think its how impatient she is with it. Have to be careful with that shit...
So I went ahead and tied our peeping tom to a chair and set Picasso on the bed and waited for them to get up. Also removed the mousetraps while I waited. It was something to do...
"OH GOD FUCKING DAMN IT. Hate Chloroform headaches..."
"..."
"YOU SHUT UP. I'll do it right one of these days... Oh look, I tied him up in my sleep. How COOL am I?"
She wandered over to him and gave him a few light slaps on the cheek. He groaned and rolled his head and shifted his body weight before squinting his eyes and looking up in mild dazed irritation.
"Morning SUNSHINE!"
He recoiled at the sound of her screaming.
"Or should I call you noisy? I can hear your LOUD ASS BREATHING through the closet door."
She wandered over and into the closet and gave the bottom of the back wall a little kick revealing it to be a little doggy door type thing. I checked it out later. It had a latch on his side. Had we kicked it before, it wouldn't have budged. Not sure how Picasso figured out it was there.
"COOL LITTLE DOGGY DOOR! So what's your deal MUTT, who do you work for?! FRACTURE? DADDY? The state of Pennsylvania?.... OR...?!"
She said taking a dramatic overly expressive pause.
"Do you like, just really hate this room and people who stay in it or something? Seriously, whats your deal dog."
During that whole rant he just stared at her in mild irritation and didn't says anything.
"HA! A MUTE! A hideous crime against nature!"
She turned and slugged me. "No offense." She turned her attention back to the guy.
"So you want to play vocally challenged do you?"
She slammed her hands down on the arms of his chair. "Well... we, HAVE WAYS OF MAKING YOU TALK!"
And as she yelled she pushed his chair into the corner. "Namely, boredom," she said plopping onto the bed, grabbing some food and eating and pointedly ignoring him for the rest of the day.
And so from there, we just, kind of kept him tied to the chair. Picasso insisted that we feed him baby food, which, she would feed to him with a spoon while treating him like a baby but for some reason still referring to him as a dog. She just kind of smeared the food to his face, regardless of whether or not he actually resisted eating it....
So, that happened for three days I believe. Towards the end of the third day I came home to Picasso smearing his face with more food when he finally broke.
"FOR THE LOVE OF GRANDFATHER STOP IT. I'LL TALK, JUST FUCKING STOP IT ALREADY."
"Hehe. Hello mister not-so-mute-anymore! WHO ARE YOU?!"
"... I'm Kappa."
"Kappa? [A bunch of words in a language I don't fucking understand] Kappa?"
"... Is that... Greek?"
"... K isn't Greek... its a letter. STOP TRYING TO CONFUSE ME!"
"R-Right, wh-whatever. That's my name. Calm down will yeah?"
"Does doggy need more food?" she says picking up the spoon of baby food and making "Choo, Choo" noises.
"No! B-Baby does not need any more food ever! I gave you my name! What the fuck do you want from me?!"
"Okay then, 'K', why were you spying on us? WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?!"
He cringed a bit at her yelling. "I thought the name might have said enough... I'm an Archivist. I work for the Blind Man, grandfather... Specifically, I'm Collector Kappa. I'm observing PRE cult behavior in Black Lake. This place draws them in like a magnet."
"Well, Collector K, WHY SPY ON US?!"
Once more he cringed.
"Mask behavior in this town is already kind of odd-"
"Wai, wai, wai, wai, wai, wait... WAIT... wait... wait... you call proxies masks too?"
"Well... not usually. I know you refer to them as masks though... been spying on you... remember?"
"Right... okay. Sorry, GO ON."
"So mask proxies in this town are weird. They don't talk, but they aren't hollows and they don't respond to the mention of the slender man at all. But they all operate as one cohesive group. Then entered you two. You two were new, obviously masks, but clearly independent of the others. Plus, you talk.... well, one of you does... It seemed like it merited study... so I did... listen... I obviously don't mean either of you any harm. Can you guys let me go? I'm worried about the Library. I've been away from it for to long... something could have happened to it by now."
"AND WHY SHOULD I TRUST YOU."
Cringe.
"... Y-You can come with me if it would make you feel any better... I'll answer more questions... maybe you can answer some for me..."
"... Fine."
So we went to the Library. He had some trouble walking at first. Being tied down for three days is hell on the body.
The Library was a small one. It had a front desk, and a dozen selves. Six rows. Two shelves to a row with room to walk in between the two shelves. Also had a table and four chairs.
He plots down and Picasso plopped down on the chair across from him. I stood quietly at attention behind her.
"So... I guess you weren't lying... MAYBE..."
He seemed significantly more relaxed. "I wasn't. I am honestly just happy to see the Library standing."
He got up and got some water from a water cooler. Put three cups on the table and sipped at his. "Thirsty?" he asked.
She Picasso made a nauseated noise. "Pfffght. Ewww. Water," she said pushing the cup away with a finger. "No thank you."
"Suit yourself."
"I WILL!"
"Yeah... I uh, figured."
"Good... because I am.... I'm good at that..." she saids looking away for a moment lost in her own awkwardness. "So... you have any idea what the fuck is WRONG with this RIDICULOUS town?"
"Right... well that's complicated. Do you know what a cult town is?"
"YES"
"Okay. And a point of power?"
"YE-... er... kind of."
"And how about what the crossroads are?"
"... Demon flee market?"
"... No. The NPE."
"... What the fuck is that?"
"Non-Phobic Entity. A powerful sentient location, like the empty city, but as an Entity it does not inspire or act on peoples fears. It merely tests them. And should they pass those tests, it even grants wishes and the such."
"WISHES?!"
"Yeah. Tests usually involve self control."
"...Oh... so... I've looked at the archive blog from time to time... went silent... never heard of a NPE..."
"... Not an official category. But it's one I think should exist. Many things labeled as a 'phenomenon' are entities in their own right."
"... What the FUCK, does this have to do with Black Lake?"
"Right, so Black Lake was a cult town. It, like most cult towns, was built on a point of power. Man and PRE are drawn to locations like this. Man instinctively... PREs aggressively and territoriality. A lot of major cities actually fall on points of power. Points of power like this though, ones out in the middle of nowhere, they almost without fail, develop cult towns. Its actually a pretty interesting UXP. Although, its existence is purely speculative or theoretical. Many might contest that the PREs are simply territorial and that the locations themselves have no bearing beyond being owned by the PREs. That its the PREs that make these locations of any interest."
"UXP?"
"Unexplained phenomenon."
"Right... I'm only going to ask this one more time. What does any of this, HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!"
"Well, it all comes together to make this situation... aren't you thirsty?"
"What part of EWWW, didn't you understand earlier?"
Suddenly things started to click in my head. His posture... actively pushing a drink someone doesn't want... sharing all this information. That's three red flags. Something was very up. I moved around the table and pretended to thumb through the books behind him. I watched him nervously shift as I came around. I could see he was trying to conceal something in his lap.
I could hear his chair squeak as he leaned back to look over at me. Picasso forced his attention back forward.
"I'm not asking that thing I said I wouldn't ask again, GET ON WITH IT."
"R-Right. Right. So Black Lake was a Cult town. But, and this is rather uncommon, Black Lake managed to rebel and win. A splinter cell of proxies decided they didn't want to take orders anymore. They killed all the loyalists and erased their history. They made pretend like they had always been a normal town. One or two generations later... its like they always were. Not sure how that's possible myself. I guess PRE01 decided he didn't care for the location and... just kind of let it happen."
"But, PRE01 or no PRE01, Black Lake still sits at a desirable point of power. So when PRE01 let its influence get pushed out, it attracted the attention of every other PRE. And now that everyone wants the location, PRE01 came back to reclaim it for itself. Or so it seems I guess. Maybe that's the who points. Maybe its a show of dominance."
"Now, the Fears can't go head to head. I mean, they can, but when the do... well... I assume you've heard of Nightscream's Plague Doctor/Slender Man incident? It permanently scarred the land where PRE01 and PRE12 fought. Killed everyone who couldn't get out of there in time. So imagine what hell might break loose if all 22 of the PREs where to go at it after one location. The state of Pennsylvania may very well have become forfeit as it got ripped apart at its very seems. I've heard it speculated that something like that happened at the Bermuda triangle. Supposedly there was a big Island at the center there at one point. Ridiculous speculation."
"So, instead of destroy Pennsylvanian, PRE cults are fighting as proxies for their fears."
"... Does that mean the Archive is gonna invade Black Lake?"
"We have the Library. That's all we really care about. Let them take the rest of the town."
"So that's why YOU'RE here?"
"I... kind of... that and to observe and report any interesting phenomenon."
"... WHAT THE FUCK DOES THE CROSSROADS HAVE TO DO WITH ANY OF THAT?"
"I'm getting to that, sheesh.... you should really drink that water. Its getting warm."
"...Just... SHUT UP... and speak."
"R-Right. So, I'm sure you've noticed that the Cultist don't spend any time at the hotel and that whenever you strike your buddy there you get feedback while at the hotel."
"Nope."
"I... huh, Really? W-Well, the hotel is a neutral zone. No PRE cultist can kill any other PRE cultist while in the hotel. To avoid the issue, most Cultists just tend to avoid the location. I believe this neutral zone and the absence of any direct presence of PRE in Black Lake as the result of the Crossroads interfering. I base this on the statue I found hidden in the hotel. If you no where to look, bound to the very foundation of the building, there is a statue of three Identical women facing out in different directions back to back. Each holding two torches. I believe this is a statue of Hecate, the Greek Goddess of the crossroads. I'm not sure how the crossroads presence came to be in Black Lake. Maybe its natural. Or maybe that's how the cultists who set themselves free did it. Maybe someone made a deal to protect the town. Again, its a lot of speculation and theory but its the only theory I have on why the PREs didn't collide on this location and tear it at its seems. You should REALLY have a drink of water."
By now even Picasso was starting to get suspicious of his insistence. He didn't notice me come up behind him and pin his hands. He panicked as Picasso took the cup and pushed it to his lips. "YOU DRINK IT!"
She held his nose and made him open up some and forced the water into his moth.
After that we finally let him pull free. "F-FOOLS! Wh-What have you done to me?!"
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU TRY TO DO TO ME?!"
"P-Poison you... w-with EAT."
"HAHAHA. SERVES YOU RIGHT FUCK FACE."
He started wheezing and gasping. "... Such... beautiful... singing..."
We watched as he made his way over to the water cooler and started chugging it right from the nozzle.
Picasso shoot her head disapprovingly... with out me quite catching it, she set the place on fire on her way out.
... Appropriate... I guess.
So... Black Waters secrets from a potentially reliable source. Your move Fracture.
Moth out.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Shopping List
I still haven't found Duckie... no sign of Fracture... no sign of Red.
This is starting to feel like a waste of time.
I've been watching the police station. That's where red mentioned seeing someone with what sounded like Duckie's mask... starting to sound like a pretty bad lead about now.
I think I saw a man come out in the mask she was talking about today. The diagonal in the mask's crack was wrong. Think the crack might has been too close to the right eye too. Hard to say. Didn't get a good look through my binoculars. But I'm pretty sure it wasn't Duckies.
We're spent so much time on this town... I don't want to let it all be a waste but if there's nothing here, there's nothing here. The fact that the town is prone to fear attacks isn't really helping. At this point its an irritating side note.
I don't know what to do...
Picasso has started sneaking out again. She's getting sloppy. I've actually been able to catch her on her way out... just not stop her. She keeps disappearing around bends. I think shes pathing. I hope she has more sense than that.
Fracture was using that to track us. She's gonna get us both killed doing that.
When she comes home she's laughing. She gives me a shove when she finds me waiting at the door. Says "Shut it STALKER MUTE," and then collapse on her bed. She throws shit at me when I stare at her expectantly in the morning.
"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! You're not my REAL mom."
Makes me want to strike her with the chair shes sitting up.
She gave me just about the same line this morning when I gave her expectant looks over her addition to the grocery list. 106 mouse traps. What the fuck is she up to?
I wish she'd talk to me.
The irony is not lost on me.
Moth out.
This is starting to feel like a waste of time.
I've been watching the police station. That's where red mentioned seeing someone with what sounded like Duckie's mask... starting to sound like a pretty bad lead about now.
I think I saw a man come out in the mask she was talking about today. The diagonal in the mask's crack was wrong. Think the crack might has been too close to the right eye too. Hard to say. Didn't get a good look through my binoculars. But I'm pretty sure it wasn't Duckies.
We're spent so much time on this town... I don't want to let it all be a waste but if there's nothing here, there's nothing here. The fact that the town is prone to fear attacks isn't really helping. At this point its an irritating side note.
I don't know what to do...
Picasso has started sneaking out again. She's getting sloppy. I've actually been able to catch her on her way out... just not stop her. She keeps disappearing around bends. I think shes pathing. I hope she has more sense than that.
Fracture was using that to track us. She's gonna get us both killed doing that.
When she comes home she's laughing. She gives me a shove when she finds me waiting at the door. Says "Shut it STALKER MUTE," and then collapse on her bed. She throws shit at me when I stare at her expectantly in the morning.
"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! You're not my REAL mom."
Makes me want to strike her with the chair shes sitting up.
She gave me just about the same line this morning when I gave her expectant looks over her addition to the grocery list. 106 mouse traps. What the fuck is she up to?
I wish she'd talk to me.
The irony is not lost on me.
Moth out.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Sins of the Daughter, Blood of the Father
A BEAUTIFUL pallet to PAINT with.
I should know!
I'm gonna kill DADDY and FRACTURE and FUCKING DESTROY Duckie.
And they were like... fatherly things at some point. MOSTLY.
Except Daddy. Hes was just kind of a... GIANT FACELESS SKINNY MUTE. He could have FIXED EVERYTHING but he just fucking STANDS THERE. I want to cut him deep.
I NEED TO KNOW IF HE CAN SCREAM.
My guess is no. No mouth...
...
Oh yeah. I wrote this. Hehe. BET THAT SOUNDS INCOHERENT.
FUCKING WRONG! This like, totally has a point and stuff.
Red's daddy is dead. He was MURDERED. Run through with his own sword! Supposedly. WHAT THE NEWSPAPER SAID.
Apparently, hes been looking for Red. And apparently, this town is stupid dangerous! Like, GIANT FUCKING BIRDS STEALING YOUR CHILDREN, dangerous. I call that a category 3! Only rates a two on my cuil meter though.
NOTHING NOT INVOLVING A HORSE CAN RATE ABOVE A TWO!
I don't care now many times I fall into infinity.
...
FUCK. Am I still doing this?
Right, so Red's Dad is a stupid american! Pop cultures tells the red, white, and blue apes if you live in a dangerous place, YOU NEED AN INCREDIBLY IMPRACTICAL FUCKING WEAPON.
So dumb ass was roaming the streets looking for his daughter with a katana. Because that's safe. According to the paper, he was reportedly well versed on how use it.
I think he was FULL OF SHIT! Where you gonna learn to do that in the MIDDLE OF FUCKING NOWHERE. I'll tell you where. NOWHERE. That's where.
I was convinced he fell on the damn thing walking. MY VERSION WAS FUNNIER.
Moth shoved the damn paper back in my face to finish reading.
Apparently, the murder weapon is missing. But the killer left behind the scabbard! With a PRESENT for the police! Four bloody finger prints.
Each belonging to a 'Ivy Knowlton', which as it turns out is Moth's 'Red'.
So the freaky emotion reading thing has apparently TURNED VIOLENT, or something.
In response to which, Moth has gotten out chloroform.
Hehe.... I bet hes gonna lose that hand trying to pull THAT SHIT.
Sword always beats drugs. And drugs always beat MUTES. So that's like, TWICE the disadvantage.
If he finds her, hes totally GONNA DIE.
SUCK IT MUTE!
Picasso entry end.
I should know!
I'm gonna kill DADDY and FRACTURE and FUCKING DESTROY Duckie.
And they were like... fatherly things at some point. MOSTLY.
Except Daddy. Hes was just kind of a... GIANT FACELESS SKINNY MUTE. He could have FIXED EVERYTHING but he just fucking STANDS THERE. I want to cut him deep.
I NEED TO KNOW IF HE CAN SCREAM.
My guess is no. No mouth...
...
Oh yeah. I wrote this. Hehe. BET THAT SOUNDS INCOHERENT.
FUCKING WRONG! This like, totally has a point and stuff.
Red's daddy is dead. He was MURDERED. Run through with his own sword! Supposedly. WHAT THE NEWSPAPER SAID.
Apparently, hes been looking for Red. And apparently, this town is stupid dangerous! Like, GIANT FUCKING BIRDS STEALING YOUR CHILDREN, dangerous. I call that a category 3! Only rates a two on my cuil meter though.
NOTHING NOT INVOLVING A HORSE CAN RATE ABOVE A TWO!
I don't care now many times I fall into infinity.
...
FUCK. Am I still doing this?
Right, so Red's Dad is a stupid american! Pop cultures tells the red, white, and blue apes if you live in a dangerous place, YOU NEED AN INCREDIBLY IMPRACTICAL FUCKING WEAPON.
So dumb ass was roaming the streets looking for his daughter with a katana. Because that's safe. According to the paper, he was reportedly well versed on how use it.
I think he was FULL OF SHIT! Where you gonna learn to do that in the MIDDLE OF FUCKING NOWHERE. I'll tell you where. NOWHERE. That's where.
I was convinced he fell on the damn thing walking. MY VERSION WAS FUNNIER.
Moth shoved the damn paper back in my face to finish reading.
Apparently, the murder weapon is missing. But the killer left behind the scabbard! With a PRESENT for the police! Four bloody finger prints.
Each belonging to a 'Ivy Knowlton', which as it turns out is Moth's 'Red'.
So the freaky emotion reading thing has apparently TURNED VIOLENT, or something.
In response to which, Moth has gotten out chloroform.
Hehe.... I bet hes gonna lose that hand trying to pull THAT SHIT.
Sword always beats drugs. And drugs always beat MUTES. So that's like, TWICE the disadvantage.
If he finds her, hes totally GONNA DIE.
SUCK IT MUTE!
Picasso entry end.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Nesting
I saw something... seriously concerning today.
I was searching around for Red. That endeavor seems to be a lost cause. If no one's found her by now, she's either dead, left town, or being kept hidden. She can't possibly be operating in town with people looking for her without her being discovered after all this time...
...
... Right. So I was searching around the park.
There was this big old tree house on one of the trees in the park. Not sure how the owners of it got away with that. I don't think most places will tolerate you building little houses in their trees. Particularly in a park on private property.
...
Right, right, right. So I was looking around when suddenly a fire truck came storming into the park blaring it's sirens and being escorted by a handful of police cars being equally as noisy. They stopped right in front of the tree house. The firemen got out and got a hose ready. The policemen got out and the three masked men among them pulled out flame throwers and started raining fire down on the tree house.
The first sound that followed were screams. Children stuck their heads out the window screaming in terror and begging for their lives, an act that give the masked men pause.
Then a second figure emerged. He was an adult in a big hooded sweater and had a big shit eating grin on his face. He pulled one of the kids to his chest and visibly held a knife to their throat trying to be intimidating.
That's when the second noise hit. Suddenly... all you could hear was the squawking of a thousand birds as they poured out of the tree house and started flocking around it and making dives for everyone and anyone in the immediate vicinity.
The masked men turn their flames on the birds to very little effect. The birds dove through the fire and brought then two officers, a fireman, and a passerby who was unfortunate enough to have taken refuge behind a police car when the swarm broke out.
I remember looking around as I hid behind a tree, and seeing people walking for their houses. Just casually walking. Many with an irritated sigh. No one was freaking out at the spectacle. No one ran over to try to help. No one ran away in terror or confusion. When the birds started squawking and people took note of what was going on, they walked away like this was a school fire drill or something.
Most of them at least. I watched them in disbelief at their response to the situation before their very eyes. Watched as the made for their doors to hide away and ignore what was happening. Watched as a women looked over her shoulder one last time before she would have disappeared into her house and stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes widened and her mouth dripped open. I saw her mouth the words a few times before they seemed to get loud enough for the the neighbors around her to stop their slow evacuation and take note of her. I watched her break into a dash for the park as her voice got loud enough for me to hear.
"JOOOODY!"
A handful of her neighbors chased after her and literally tackled her to the ground. "G-Get off me! She needs her mom! Get off-!"
One's of the people holding her down, much to the bewilderment of the rest of those holding her, punched her hard in the gut. "You can't help her," he said in a cold tone as they hauled her off into the nearest house. "If they can be saved... the masks will save them."
To my amazement, the scene the Mother had made had attacked more attention then what was happening before them in the part... almost like that was less common than this...
...Concerning.
... so the masked policemen kept their fire turned on the birds at first. As people started to go down around them, one of them yelled and pointed to the tree house and turned his flame back on it, the children inside of it, and the man holding them hostage.
The other two masked men where hesitant to join him, but when the flock suddenly turned all its attention to and began swarming him they followed suit.
They were fortunate that one of the unmasked officers had the presence of mind to commandeer the fire hose. He turned it on the swarm to literally blast them away from the masked ones. While he may have put out one of the flame throwers by accident in the process, the cover gave the other two masked men the time they needed to engulf the tree in flame.
The screaming stopped... the hooded figure dove out of the tree house to escape the flames and landed hard on his back. He winced in pain. He was covered in burns. The birds tried diving for him but where rather scattered from being sprayed crossed the park with the hose. One of the masked figures rushed over and put a heavy boot on his chest as what few birds had managed to regroup pecked at him and picked at what flesh they could manage.
Scrrrish, as the masked man buried his boot into the hooded ones chest cavity.
He started screaming bloody murder riling up the birds into a greater fervor... and was suddenly silenced as the masked man bared down fire on his face.
When the birds scattered... torrent of fire from he flame thrower stopped. The hooded one's face was charred... he was clearly dead.
...
They pulled the fire truck up and used the latter to pull the kids out before they brought the tree house crumpling down to earth... none of children made it... all of them were charred and covered in burns.
Everyone looked to the masked man who had made the call to do this to them but he wasn't looking their way. He was facing away. His stance implied heavy stressed breathing. Guilt. He couldn't bring himself to face them... his comrades or the kids.
The officer who commandeered the fire hose approached him from behind... put a light hand on his shoulder.
"We do what we have to," he said trying to sounds strong... trying to be reassuring.
The masked man sighed. Pulled off his masked and turned it to stared at its face. His old face.
"We do until we don't," he said handing the mask off to the officer. "We do... until we don't. Its your burden now," he said turning back around and walking off.
"I... Wh-What?! No! Y-" started the officer as he started to chased after now retired proxy.
The other two proxy stopped him, each with a hand lightly grabbing him. He turned to face him.
"H-He can't... we have to...!" he stammered off in a mild fuss before letting his sentence hang. He looked up at them. He was scared. He watched quietly desperate for some guidance or insight on what to do.
They both shook their heads. One of them took the mask from him and put it up to his face.
He pulled back at first, but stopped himself.
"I-I ca-" he started again but was shushed with a finger to his mask's lips.
He started to panic a bit in place obviously still overwhelmed at this development.
One of them signed a familiar motion to him. They put hand to their chest and raised it... dropped their hand back down with a deep sigh.
'Breath in... breath out.'
"Thuuuuuuuuuuh....... thuuuuuuu," went the new proxy taking several breaths to calm himself.
When he was good and relaxed... they gave him a pat on head.
"..."
"..."
"..."
While this scene played out, the other officers and firemen watched with quiet reverence and awe. When they were done, they all got back in their vehicles... off they went.
...
I noticed on my patrol the night after that happened... all the tree houses were gone across town, or at least as far across town as I was willing to check. One or two of them also looked like they had been burned down...
I think... the convocation might have attacked the town today... I think what I saw happened in several places across Black Lake...
The people... they just casually walked to their houses... what the fuck is wrong with this town?
Moth out.
I was searching around for Red. That endeavor seems to be a lost cause. If no one's found her by now, she's either dead, left town, or being kept hidden. She can't possibly be operating in town with people looking for her without her being discovered after all this time...
...
... Right. So I was searching around the park.
There was this big old tree house on one of the trees in the park. Not sure how the owners of it got away with that. I don't think most places will tolerate you building little houses in their trees. Particularly in a park on private property.
...
Right, right, right. So I was looking around when suddenly a fire truck came storming into the park blaring it's sirens and being escorted by a handful of police cars being equally as noisy. They stopped right in front of the tree house. The firemen got out and got a hose ready. The policemen got out and the three masked men among them pulled out flame throwers and started raining fire down on the tree house.
The first sound that followed were screams. Children stuck their heads out the window screaming in terror and begging for their lives, an act that give the masked men pause.
Then a second figure emerged. He was an adult in a big hooded sweater and had a big shit eating grin on his face. He pulled one of the kids to his chest and visibly held a knife to their throat trying to be intimidating.
That's when the second noise hit. Suddenly... all you could hear was the squawking of a thousand birds as they poured out of the tree house and started flocking around it and making dives for everyone and anyone in the immediate vicinity.
The masked men turn their flames on the birds to very little effect. The birds dove through the fire and brought then two officers, a fireman, and a passerby who was unfortunate enough to have taken refuge behind a police car when the swarm broke out.
I remember looking around as I hid behind a tree, and seeing people walking for their houses. Just casually walking. Many with an irritated sigh. No one was freaking out at the spectacle. No one ran over to try to help. No one ran away in terror or confusion. When the birds started squawking and people took note of what was going on, they walked away like this was a school fire drill or something.
Most of them at least. I watched them in disbelief at their response to the situation before their very eyes. Watched as the made for their doors to hide away and ignore what was happening. Watched as a women looked over her shoulder one last time before she would have disappeared into her house and stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes widened and her mouth dripped open. I saw her mouth the words a few times before they seemed to get loud enough for the the neighbors around her to stop their slow evacuation and take note of her. I watched her break into a dash for the park as her voice got loud enough for me to hear.
"JOOOODY!"
A handful of her neighbors chased after her and literally tackled her to the ground. "G-Get off me! She needs her mom! Get off-!"
One's of the people holding her down, much to the bewilderment of the rest of those holding her, punched her hard in the gut. "You can't help her," he said in a cold tone as they hauled her off into the nearest house. "If they can be saved... the masks will save them."
To my amazement, the scene the Mother had made had attacked more attention then what was happening before them in the part... almost like that was less common than this...
...Concerning.
... so the masked policemen kept their fire turned on the birds at first. As people started to go down around them, one of them yelled and pointed to the tree house and turned his flame back on it, the children inside of it, and the man holding them hostage.
The other two masked men where hesitant to join him, but when the flock suddenly turned all its attention to and began swarming him they followed suit.
They were fortunate that one of the unmasked officers had the presence of mind to commandeer the fire hose. He turned it on the swarm to literally blast them away from the masked ones. While he may have put out one of the flame throwers by accident in the process, the cover gave the other two masked men the time they needed to engulf the tree in flame.
The screaming stopped... the hooded figure dove out of the tree house to escape the flames and landed hard on his back. He winced in pain. He was covered in burns. The birds tried diving for him but where rather scattered from being sprayed crossed the park with the hose. One of the masked figures rushed over and put a heavy boot on his chest as what few birds had managed to regroup pecked at him and picked at what flesh they could manage.
Scrrrish, as the masked man buried his boot into the hooded ones chest cavity.
He started screaming bloody murder riling up the birds into a greater fervor... and was suddenly silenced as the masked man bared down fire on his face.
When the birds scattered... torrent of fire from he flame thrower stopped. The hooded one's face was charred... he was clearly dead.
...
They pulled the fire truck up and used the latter to pull the kids out before they brought the tree house crumpling down to earth... none of children made it... all of them were charred and covered in burns.
Everyone looked to the masked man who had made the call to do this to them but he wasn't looking their way. He was facing away. His stance implied heavy stressed breathing. Guilt. He couldn't bring himself to face them... his comrades or the kids.
The officer who commandeered the fire hose approached him from behind... put a light hand on his shoulder.
"We do what we have to," he said trying to sounds strong... trying to be reassuring.
The masked man sighed. Pulled off his masked and turned it to stared at its face. His old face.
"We do until we don't," he said handing the mask off to the officer. "We do... until we don't. Its your burden now," he said turning back around and walking off.
"I... Wh-What?! No! Y-" started the officer as he started to chased after now retired proxy.
The other two proxy stopped him, each with a hand lightly grabbing him. He turned to face him.
"H-He can't... we have to...!" he stammered off in a mild fuss before letting his sentence hang. He looked up at them. He was scared. He watched quietly desperate for some guidance or insight on what to do.
They both shook their heads. One of them took the mask from him and put it up to his face.
He pulled back at first, but stopped himself.
"I-I ca-" he started again but was shushed with a finger to his mask's lips.
He started to panic a bit in place obviously still overwhelmed at this development.
One of them signed a familiar motion to him. They put hand to their chest and raised it... dropped their hand back down with a deep sigh.
'Breath in... breath out.'
"Thuuuuuuuuuuh....... thuuuuuuu," went the new proxy taking several breaths to calm himself.
When he was good and relaxed... they gave him a pat on head.
"..."
"..."
"..."
While this scene played out, the other officers and firemen watched with quiet reverence and awe. When they were done, they all got back in their vehicles... off they went.
...
I noticed on my patrol the night after that happened... all the tree houses were gone across town, or at least as far across town as I was willing to check. One or two of them also looked like they had been burned down...
I think... the convocation might have attacked the town today... I think what I saw happened in several places across Black Lake...
The people... they just casually walked to their houses... what the fuck is wrong with this town?
Moth out.
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