Scratch frowned and shrugged. "Pretty par for
the course, with me, I'd say. No idea if he thinks I've earned my place after
all this time. As for Lainey... Well. I didn't survive, did I? Really, I was no
different from the Carmines, or the Davids of the world. Just in denial about
it, like most people. But I'm not a person anymore, now am I?"
"Oh, but you are a person," I said,
sympathetically "Even though your body is no longer human, you are still a
person in there. A human mind with all the flaws and feelings hidden in a
monstrous form. It's alright dear"
He lifted a chunk meat and potatoes up to his
mouth. Suddenly his face extended like a goblin shark to consume the food. In
what I suspect was an attempt to avoid those uncomfortable human emotions, he
suddenly seized upon an earlier point “Your mistake with Fell… Is really quite
simple. You got attached. You broke a person down and rebuilt them into a nice
little doll. But a doll is ultimately a slave to the desire of its master,
yeah? Hehehe. But You? You didn't want it that way. And you call ME lonely.
Father's music wasn't enough, so you had to create family for yourself, instead
of winning it, the right way." He pointed at Hart. "Like that."
He looked back to me with an attempt at a sympathetic smile. "It's a
tragedy really, but you made a doll into family. But the truth is, no matter
how well made the doll, it is still just a doll. She is what you want her to
be, and she cannot be anything more. Ever."
"Motherfucker don't go pushing that family
shit off on the Wolf just because your whore of a mother was to fucking stupid
to work a coat hanger before your ugly ass popped out!" Fell growled
"The Wolf didn't force me to love her! I only started falling for her AFTER
I became a proxy"
"If she was just a doll, I don't think she
would have survived this long.” Hart interjected “We -all three of us-" He
gestured to himself, Fell and I "became family because we had each other's
backs and we lived and worked together long enough to start caring about each
other." He swallowed a forkful of potato “What do you have? A gassy
bootleg Spider Man that hates you and a Juggalo. That's pretty sad, man."
He said with a chuckle.
Scratch smirked at Hart. "Awww. Isn't that
cute. Really though, Kristy... Fell is a very well-made dolly. I WOULD say
you'd be surprised what a well-made doll can weather, but you've already seen
it. Even if you don't realize it. But that's not what I'm talking about. I
don't doubt her abilities. She seemed capable enough from what I've heard...
But so are plenty of Hollows. And Kristy just a couple steps removed from that.
Completely devoid of choice. Unable to live a life removed from her Master.
Even after that Master died... Heh. You know, I wonder... How hard would it be
to bring back some of the mind that was shredded during all that torture? What
would the mind think? More importantly... What would it choose, hmmm?"
"I suppose we will never know, dear." I
said quietly. "You certainly will not be the one to find out"
"Fuck right off!” Fell fumed at Scratch “I was
weak before the Wolf nabbed me! If she hadn't, that fucking prick, Josh would
have used me as a fucking meat shield against someone else and I probably would
be dead as your ass should be! I don't fucking care what the old me would have
done because the old me couldn't fucking do diddly-shit!"
Before things could escalate further, I attempted
to redirect the conversation slightly. "Well, with all this talk of
family, I must ask, how are they treating you at home, Scratch? Gleeman and
Spinner and those you serve, I mean."
He began to absorb the human flesh on his plate.
"Hmmm. This from the one Mother lady you mentioned before? Doesn't matter
anymore, I guess. Heh. Home is... Fine. I miss the old team, but Gleeman is
still around. Spinner is... Well. Not the usual sort I like to associate with,
but he has his uses. Father... Whispers, on occasion. And I follow through, of
course... Haven't really heard from the Attendants in a while though. Years.
Probably occupied with other things."
"To answer your question about the meat, yes,
it is from the mother; her leg to be specific. She is quite tender, isn't
she?" I said, briefly pausing to consider his answer "Probably best
for you that they are keeping their distance. I am glad that you still have
Gleeman though.... Not that it matters, but I do not like Spinner. Don't like
how he talks about you, or Ritter, for that matter. Keep your eye on that
one."
"Yeah, tender enough.” He smiled “Ever eaten a
baby, before? Toddler? Doesn't get more tender than that... Now as for Spinner.
He's not much to worry about. Single Minded Psychopath. I pegged him for what
he was back when he was messing with those college students, and I have been
able to predict his every move since. He's not loyal, he doesn't have anything
resembling morals, decency or good taste... But, for what he does do, there is
no one better." He shrugged before spearing more of the human flesh to add
to his plate.
After momentarily imagining the tenderness of
infant and toddler flesh, I responded. "Ah interesting. I’ve never tried
child flesh. I was not exactly in a position to keep and cook the ones I
killed. Don't get satisfaction out of killing children either, so I'm not
likely to get the opportunity in the future… Also, I do hope you are correct
about Funnel-web." Contemplatively chewing on some asparagus, another
question came to my mind "So, you mentioned that Ritter whispers to you...
How exactly do you feel about him?"
"The same way I have always felt.” He replied
“He gives me clarity of purpose. I am his servant, now and forever. Certainly
owe him that after I fucked up back in 2011." He scowled. The finger he
was using to absorb the meat on his plate began to tear at it, as if trying to
inflict pain.
"Yes, he gives you purpose, and you serve
him,” I said, “but how do you FEEL about him? Do you like him? Love him? Hate
him? Fear him?"
He considered the question for a moment.
"Well... One would have to be a fucking idiot not to fear him. Regardless
of serving him or not... I... Suppose I adore him"
"Ah, of course you would fear him.” I said
with a smile. “Don't agree with your assertion about those who do not, however.
I haven't feared him in a long time, myself. Don't take that as some foolish
underestimation though. I am well aware of what he is capable of. Heh I
remember when we killed my parents, how he lifted me up and constricted me. I
embraced him then, even when I thought he would kill me." I could not help
but happily linger on the memory before bringing myself back from the tangent.
"Anyway... while I don't share your fear, I do share in your adoration of
him, to an extent. Even now. He is a beautiful monster. A most welcome cancer
to humanity. That is why I do not seek to harm him; why I am staying out of his
affairs as much as possible.”
The meal continued in silence for a few moments. As
Scratch seemed to be finished with the food on his plate, I decided to indulge
a curiosity of mine "Oh! Something I've been wondering about has just
popped back into my mind. Scratch, would you be interested in a little
experiment? Something of a... palette cleanser?"
He raised an eyebrow at the question "What did
you have in mind?"
"Well..." I rose from my seat and pushed
up the sleeve of my coat, exposing my left arm. "I'm curious about what
would happen..." As I spoke, thin tendrils emerged from my fingertips,
hooking my flesh at one of the seams "...If you were to sample some of my
flesh." I pulled on the hooked flesh, slowly, deliberately peeling it
back. I felt a thrill of pain pass through me.
"What are you doing?!" Fell cried in
dismay.
"It's alright, love" I assured her as I
pulled the piece free. Thread like tendrils emerged around the wound and began
to stitch it closed. Placed the flesh on the table in front of Scratch before
pulling my sleeve back down and returning to my seat. "Would you like to
try it?" I asked with a grin.
He stared at it, frowning, for a moment, before
slowly reaching out his hand. He cautiously began to tap the piece of flesh.
I giggled, "It's not going to bite you,
dear"
"You say that, but if I did the same thing,
biting would be the least of what this could do..." He muttered. He
finally picked it up and began examining it closely for a moment. Then he
popped it into his mouth. All eyes were
on him at this point; anxiously- eagerly- awaiting the results.
He blinked, and made a face, but was otherwise
silent
"That's quite an expression. Are you alright,
Scratch?" I asked
Without a word, he abruptly lost his form and
splattered onto the ground. I admit, my jaw dropped in shock. I left my seat to
look at the puddle
"What the fuck?!" Fell blurted.
Hart had jumped from his seat, trying to avoid any
splatter. "Oh shit!" He cried. "Should I- Should I get the mop
and bucket or... something?"
I continued to silently observe the puddle. It
bubbled and began to shrink in on itself, as if it was burning away.
I sent out a tendril from my stomach and poked at
the center of the puddle. It was thick and wriggled at the touch, even as the other parts of the puddle
continued to dissolve. Curious, I attempted to push the flavourless substance,
only to discover that it was suspiciously heavy.
With a smile, I pulled the tendril back into the
maw "Tasteless. How appropriate." I giggled and stepped back.
"That's a cute little trick, Scratch." I said as Fell and Hart
continued to stare in bewilderment
Oily black arm bones erupted from the puddle and
proceeded to pull the rest of the body. Flesh, skin and clothes slowly covered
the bones, until his upper body was fully reformed. He looked up at me with a
frown. "Spoilsport."
"What the fuck?" it was Hart’s turn to blurt
I laughed and extended a hand to help Scratch to
his feet. "Heh. Sorry dear… All joking aside, how was it?"
This time, he took my offered hand and… began
climbing out of himself, as if he was walking up a flight of stairs. As his
shoes touched the ground, the remains of the puddle slid into him and vanished.
"Spicy.” He finally replied “Like eating... A pepper of some kind. No real
taste. Just heat."
I glanced at his hand in mine for a moment before
releasing it. It felt like a normal human hand despite being a puddle just a
moment ago. "Ah fascinating. Well I hope that body of yours does not get
heartburn" I said with another laugh. "Thank you for going along with
that little test... Would you like some dessert? I promise it will be more
pleasant."
He tapped his chest with a smirk. "I'm afraid
I have no heart to burn. Dessert DOES sound nice, though."
"Excellent." I smiled before glancing at
Hart "Hart, would you mind getting the cake, please?"
"Sure" came the response as he left the
room.
Turned to Fell and asked her to help me with the
plates. She agreed and I gave her a little kiss before we went about collecting
the used dishes. Once Hart returned, we carried the dishes to the kitchen. We
brought back fresh plates, forks and a knife, and went about setting them out.
The homemade vanilla cake had been placed before Scratch. I had decorated it
with vanilla icing and candy letters that spelled out "Happy
birthday". What can I say? I wanted to give him the celebration that he
had missed.
"Happy belated birthday Scratch" I said
before beginning to sing it to him.
He sat there with a stunned expression on his face,
somewhat like a deer in the headlights before turning his head to look at Hart.
Hart smirked "Happy birthday!" He
exclaimed "Don't worry, it's almost over. Just say thank you when she's
done."
I stopped singing as I could not refrain from
laughing at this. Taking up the knife, I cut a large piece of cake and handed
it to Scratch. "There you go, dear"
He looked at me with a pained expression "...
Thank. You."
Laughing, I replied "Aww you're welcome. I
hope you enjoy it". I served pieces of the cake to Fell and Hart before cutting
one for myself and sitting back down. Fell, by this point, was shaking with
laughter, while Hart simply grinned.
The room fell silent as we enjoyed the dessert. The
silence didn’t last however, as one of the uninvited- the former proxy- began
crying for help.
Scratch glanced in the direction from which the
noise came. "How the hell do you guys SLEEP with that racket? Thin walls
around here."
"It sounds like a soothing lullaby to me,
dear." I said, listening to her pleas. "But if it bothers
you..." I glanced at Hart, who was just finishing his cake "Hart,
would you please see to her?" He gave a nod before rising and heading off
toward the noise.
"I'm actually impressed that she is still screaming at this point." I
said with a smirk.
A thud as well as Hart's voice, rang through the
air "DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK IN? NO? THEN SHUT THE FUCK UP BECAUSE NO ONE
IS COMING TO SAVE YOU!"
I could not contain my pride "Oh he's grown so
much." I said softly
Hart returned to the room and his seat a few
moments later. As he sat down, Scratch glanced at him "Bold move leaving
it up to choice. Could just gag her. That's what I do when I want some peace
and quiet."
Hart glanced back at him, while running a hand through
his short black hair. "Well she's going to be quiet now, one way or the
other." he muttered.
Scratch smirked at him. "When you look in a
mirror, these days, what do you see?"
Hart looked puzzled by his question "What's
that supposed to mean?"
He smirked but did not reply; turning back to me.
"Screaming has its place, but... Well. In this life, the last thing you
need is constant, loud, noise. Drowns out the important little noises. Like
footsteps. Heheheh. Granted, when the screaming stops for no reason, you know
you have a problem... But I like to prevent it from getting to that point,
personally."
I nodded at Scratch’s words. "Indeed, though
her screaming is hardly constant. I figure she likely heard the van earlier or
perhaps your voice and got her hopes up." I giggled at the thought
"HONESTLY. I've been here a little while now.
If I was going to go rescue the princess, doesn't she think I would have DONE
it by now." he said, shaking his head. "Some PEOPLE."
"Oh, I know!" I shrugged "Well if
critical thought was her strength, she would not have come here in the first
place"
He glanced around for a moment "You got a lot
of space around this camp. How many of these idiots are you keeping here?"
"Oh, just the four right now..." I said
with a smirk of my own "Well... Three and three quarters, I suppose. I
shall have to let her know that her leg was enjoyed"
"AH, that reminds me.” Scratch said “You
wouldn't mind showing me the site of your resurrection, would you? Just curious
about it."
"Heh, of course you would want to see
that..." I considered it "Well, I could... but I don't think you will
like it" I said with a smile
He tilted his head with a frown. "And why is
that?"
My smile grew "Because of what you are made
of, dear. Getting too close might have some... unpleasant consequences for you.
Our dear little screamer certainly does not appreciate it"
He put a hand on his hat and leaned back in his
chair for a few moments before throwing his hat on the floor. The hat began
rolling to the door as he continued "I think I'll be fine... But just in
case, we'll send my hat instead of me. I assume you would want to go with it,
and then leave a puppy here to watch over me?"
I snagged the hat with a tendril and returned it to
his head. "Heh, no, no, no Scratch. I don't think we will be doing
that." I stood up and stretched, considering the options. "Come
on," I said, finally "If you really want to see it, we will all go
together. No cute little tricks. No pieces left behind. Otherwise, I am afraid
I will have to refuse your request"
He gasped in mock shock. "WHAT? You mean you
don't TRUST me?" He stood. "Fine, fine. After you then."
I snickered at his performance before leading the
way to the ritual room. Fell and Hart followed behind Scratch, keeping watch on
him. Reaching the door, I looked back to give him the opportunity to stop,
should he no longer wish to enter.
He had stopped in his tracks and was frowning.
"Hmmm... This shit feels familiar." He put a hand in front of his
eyes. "Go ahead."
"Scratch, what on earth are you doing?" I
asked in confusion
"Protecting my mind." He replied
I shook my head and opened the door.
