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phagechildon · 5 years ago

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That Which is Human - Chapter 4

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Summary: No one’s mentally prepared as Natsume’s past comes back to haunt him. But he’s not going down without a fight, especially not when his friends and family are more than ready to protect him, even if it’s from his own choices.

Warnings: Torture, blood, child abuse, mentions of child abuse, Stockholm Syndrome, kidnapping, and memory relapse

----

Taki’s body shook against Tanuma, making him tighten the hold he had around her as he involuntarily let out a soft choked sob. They were comforting each other, just as Touko and Shigeru were as they saw silent tears stream down Natsume’s still, pale and swollen cheeks. They called the doctor in moments ago to check him over, but he saw no change - he was still unresponsive. Natsume was probably mad at himself for making them all cry, yet no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t put a strong front on - not this time.

“I’m sorry, Natsume,” Tanuma sniffled, feeling Taki tighten her hold around his chest in an attempt to comfort him too. “I’m sorry we weren’t there for you.”

Both him and Taki felt like they could’ve done more to prevent this; after all, this was a human threat, not youkai. If they had just walked with him a little longer they could’ve helped fight them off or even convinced him to go fishing instead. Of course none of that mattered now, yet the guilt remained.

Nyanko Sensei sighed from where he was perched on the window seal, seeming to be quietly talking to the others they couldn’t see, but Tanuma could sense them. Ponta looked tense and uneasy, his eyes not leaving Natsume’s body for even a second. They were probably talking about the curses Natori mentioned earlier, but with that intense gaze Tanuma really hoped they weren’t.

The door to the room opened with a little bit of force, making everyone quickly turn, ready to protect Natsume at a moment’s notice. When they saw it was just Natori they sighed, turning their attention back to their unresponsive loved one. Tanuma didn’t though, there was a determination burning in those dark red eyes and a worry he could practically sense.

“Natori-” he stopped as both Touko and Shigeru fell against each other, making him gasp in worry as he pulled away from Taki. The exorcist was at their side instantly, making sure they were securely leaning against each other.

“Don’t worry, they’re just asleep. Can you and Taki push their chairs together and move them back a bit?” He mindlessly ordered more than asked as he pulled some paper dolls from his pocket, looking them over.

“What are you doing?” Tanuma asked as they started doing what they were told, being extra careful.

“We’re going to perform an exorcism to break the curses,” he said as a magic circle started forming around the bed, seemingly out of nowhere.

“Once you break them, he’ll wake up, right?” Taki asked as she pulled her hands to her chest,

“Possibly,” Natori responded as he ripped up a few papers and scattered them in the circle. “We won’t know until we get rid of them.”

Possibly? So they didn’t know for sure? Tanuma and Taki looked to Nyanko Sensei, seeing the youkai strangely calm about all this. “Sensei-”

“He’s telling the truth,” the youkai said as his black eyes narrowed in on the exorcist. “One of the curses is degrading his health. The doctors probably won’t notice until it’s done a lot of damage and probably blame it on some autoimmune disease.”

“What can we do?” Tanuma asked as he took a determined step forward, growing more pale at the news. “I want to help.”

Natori looked up from his preparations and threw a pad of paper at them. “Rip that up and scatter it around him.”

“You sure this’ll work?” Nyanko asked in suspicion, recalling the way he tried to break Hiiragi from her curse.

“It’s the only way I know of without exorcising the youkai,” he said as he stared at Natsume for a moment. “Hinoe knows a counter spell and will cast it in order to protect Natsume.”

“It’ll either break the curse or do nothing. If all else fails, we’ll just have to hunt down the one who did this,” Hinoe regrettably said, finishing the circle. “Are you ready?”

Natori nodded. “Go stand next to the Fujiwaras,” he ordered the two children who simply obeyed, looking at each other nervously.

In sync Natori and Hinoe clapped their hands together, each starting their own incantation.

Something didn’t feel right, Tanuma realized as a sharp pain shot through his head, feeling the energy in the room sky rocket. Nyanko Sensei seemed to notice as well as he hopped over to Natori and pressed a paw to his leg, lending him some of his power.

The wind in the room started picking up more and more, the light from the magic circle seeming to wane. Tanuma felt his eyes nearly roll into the back of his head as he fell to his knees, nearly falling over.

“Tanuma!” Taki quietly cried as she knelt down, letting him use her as support.

A deep rumble caught their ears, a rumble that sounded like a growl masked by thunder. The room grew cold, the wind feeling sharp against their skin. Fear made the hair on the back of their necks rise as they watched what looked like fog seep from Natsume and settle across the room like a poisonous gas.

This wasn’t a curse, this was something else - something evil. But why didn’t they sense it before?

“Keep going!” Hinoe desperately gasped, feeling Natori falter in his shock. The exorcist tremblingly closed his eyes, realizing how wrong and ill prepared they were.

There were two curses and a youkai possessing Natsume; a corrupted youkai that was powerful enough to give off a poison by merely breathing.

“Why even bother trying?” A deep rumbling voice chuckled. Natori and Hinoe blaunched as they watched Natsume’s lips move, that frown turning into a dark wicked smirk. Very slowly Natsume’s heavily damaged body sat up, the laughter dark and chilling everyone to their bones.

“N-Natsume,” Natori trembled, stopping his chants in utter shock. This was a very powerful youkai whose evil presence nearly overwhelmed him into unconsciousness. Horrible gruesome images flashed behind his eyes, of people being tortured and slaughtered in its name, most of them children .

‘Stop- it hurts-!’

‘Mom, dad- ‘Help - someone- anyone!!’ Natori felt bile rise in his throat, but forced it down.

“He’s my prey you twat!” Nyanko Sensei hissed, though there was a hint of nervousness in his voice. “Don’t make me force you out!!”

“Like you could,” it mocked, those eyes fluttering open. Natsume’s usual warm golden eyes were completely covered in black goo that seeped down his cheeks, slowly turning red and running like blood. Natori felt his heart stop in his chest realizing that thing was starting directly at him .

That smirk widened, the same black ooze starting seeping from the sides of his lips.

“A human’s challenging me? How cute, you’re so pathetically weak, like an annoying gnat that hasn’t realized it’s going to die today. You’re nothing compared to this body,” the voice said as it ran his wrapped fingers over Natsume’s chest, sighing in ecstasy. “So… powerful, so angsty, so miserable!” It flung Natsume’s head back as it shivered in delight, those sickening eyes half lidded in pleasure. “So much sorrow, yet so much light-! What a fine specimen!!” Those fingers danced along Natsume’s pale bruised neck, snapping the three out of their stupor.

It was trying to sink it’s nails into his neck-

It was trying to hurt Natsume-!!

Something splashed against Natsume’s face, making the voice screech as steam rose from the skin.

“Natsume is my Master, I won’t allow you to hurt him,” Misuzu glowered darkly from the window.

Natori quickly pulled out a charm, intune with Hinoe’s movements as they both threw talismans against Natsume’s chest. The horrible screech stopped instantly as Natsume’s limp body fell back against the bed.

The magic circle disappeared underneath them as the lights slowly flickered to their normal brightness, revealing all the scraps of paper that used to be white now black all over the room.

Silence, everyone was absolutely silent. Even Tanuma who lay half conscious against the chair Touko and Shigeru were sleeping on was completely silent.

“What. The hell. Was that,” Nyanko finally voiced, looking to Hinoe and Misuzu for answers. The two youkai both shook their heads, the female seeming quite exhausted and negatively affected by the presence. So was he, but he wasn’t going to let it show.

“More importantly, how is that thing completely masking its presence now?” Natori asked as he finally let himself fall to his bottom, needing to rest. “It’s incredibly powerful and obviously malicious. Yet I can’t even sense a trace of it.”

No one had an answer, of course they didn’t. This was a youkai unlike any other they’ve encountered before.

“I sensed… children,” Hinoe mumbled, her eyebrows knitting together worriedly.

“I saw children,” the exorcist spoke up, not wanting to recall those visions. “I think… children were sacrificed in this youkai’s name.” Wearily he looked over at Natsume’s friends, seeing Tanuma forcing himself to stay conscious while the girl seemed both out of breath and half conscious as well.

They were in danger. All the children in this hospital were in danger if this thing managed to get loose.

“Those seals should hold it for a while,” Natori sighed, running a shaky hand through his hair.

“My spit weakened it as well,” Misuzu said from outside. “It’ll take a while for it to regain enough power to break them.” Nyanko Sensei looked back to Natsume, his ears flickering curiously. Without giving any warning he morphed into his true form, gently surrounding Natsume’s bed protectively.

“His body’s really weak, I’ll see if my energy can help him stay stable.”

“Won’t that give that thing energy too?” Natori asked, to which Hinoe shook her head.

“If that were the case, the youkai would’ve woken up a long time ago since Madara’s been lending him some of his energy since he got here.”

“The exorcism woke it up.” Natori almost jumped at the new voice as he whipped his head around, seeing the youkai with the big head and mustache back. “One of us can try to force it out of him, but we risk severely damaging his mind.”

The exorcist took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind of all thoughts. If he kept panicking he’d never figure out a solution. He needed to stay calm.

“Do you know any other exorcists?” Hinoe asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice. “As much as I hate to rely on humans, they’re the best chance we have.”

“Of course I do,” Natori said, trying to figure out who would be best suited for the job. They needed someone powerful to help compensate for his lack of power. “I’ll make a few calls.” The other tricky part was finding someone who was able to do an emergency call. “We shouldn’t let the Fujiwaras or the kids stay,” Natori said as he slowly forced himself up, walking over to Natsume’s friends. “Are you two okay?”

“Yeah,” Taki said between breathes, glancing over at Tanuma who opened his eyes a little more.

“I will be,” he groaned, weakly holding his head. “Natsume… is he-”

“He’ll be fine, we’ll make sure of that,” he swore, offering a hand. “You two should rest. That thing gave off a nasty poison. You’ll feel better with some sleep.”

Tanuma hesitantly took the hand, unsure if he could even stand. The powerful presence gave him a pretty bad fever and splitting headache, something he was sadly used to.

With Natori’s help, he was able to get up on wobbly legs. Taki quickly stood and wrapped one of his arms over her shoulders. “Where should we go?” They couldn’t afford the hospital staff to get involved, they’d admit Tanuma without a second thought.

“I’ll take care of that,” Misuzu said, making eye contact with Chobihige. “Youkai as powerful as us can manipulate memories and perception. We’ll make them think Natsume’s in another room until we’re able to save him.”

“Wh-what?” Both Tanuma and Taki gasped while Natori grew a little nervous, not really sure how they would be able to keep the ruse up.

It just meant he’d have to work fast. “You’ll see,” Natori merely waved as he opened the door for them, seeing the police officer outside had been put to sleep as well. Not like they had been helpful with how late they were anyway.

The two hesitated as they looked at each other, not really sure if they wanted to leave Natsume alone or not. They felt so useless, a feeling even Natori shared.

“Go ahead, they’ll work their magic. You’ll feel like the new room had always been Natsume’s.”

Once the kids were out, Natori closed the door, looking to the still slumbering Fujiwaras. “Is he… suffering?”

Hinoe sighed along with Nyanko Sensei as they both shrugged. “Don’t think about that, not now. We need to focus on helping him. While you look for another exorcist, we’ll recruit more youkai to help us look for the one responsible for this.”

Natori raised a confused eyebrow. “What if the one possessing him is the one responsible?”

“It isn't,” Nyanko said. “It's too interested in Natsume unless it would’ve just eaten him before you found him.”

That made sense, as much as he hated it. It was probably trying to find a way to break the curses itself in order to keep Natsume for itself. “Hiiragi, Urihime, Sasago,” he said, all his shiki immediately appearing. “Take the Fujiwaras to the new room. I’ll be back.”

----

Natsume let out a choked gasp of air as bony fingers tightly squeezed his neck, his own hands desperately reaching for the wrists of his attacker. Fiery pain shot through his palms as he forced his hands back, finding the entity’s skin as hot as metal that was just pulled from an oven.

‘Misery… feed me your misery…!’ A voice whispered, it’s breath making his nostrils nearly bleed when he inhaled.

‘Poison!’ His mind urgently supplied, making him grit his teeth as heat started forming in the hands that were wrapped around his neck. This was bad, he had to get this thing off him before those hands boiled his skin and he passed out from the poison!

Summoning what little strength he had, he opened his eyes and threw a punch at the pitch black creature with yellow eyes, somehow hitting it right in its face. The youkai’s hold around him tore away as it tumbled off him. Taking desperate gasps of air, he clumsily rolled onto his side, his body hitting a small metal gate.

‘Huh?’ He looked down, seeing he was laying in a hospital bed of some sorts. As confused as he was, he tumbled over the gate and onto the floor, smacking his head on the cold hard tile.

“You can’t escape… you’re mine - mine!!” The voice growled as the shadow stood up, making Natsume scramble to his feet. Seeing only one door he crashed into it, finding himself in a dark hallway filled with other doors. It was so dark, making it nearly impossible to see where he should go. If this was a hospital it must’ve lost power. However that wouldn’t explain some of the dim lights that stayed on as they flickered.

He didn't have time to focus on the specifics for now. He needed a place to hide until he could come up with a plan.

Taking a deep breath he took off down the hallway, his eyes desperately looking for something that could help him. He could try hiding in one of the other rooms, but what if that thing found him and hurt the other person stationed in the room? He’d never forgive himself.

“You can’t hide from me, Natsume,” the youkai’s voice echoed down the hall, sending chills down his spine. “I’m already inside you. You’re just postponing the inevitable.”

He was already inside? - No, Natsume shook those words from his head as he focused on running. He couldn’t let the other get inside his head, if he did, it was all over.

“There’s nowhere for you to go,” it echoed this time. “Did you forget what they did to you?”

What... they did to him? Natsume’s eyes widened as he felt reality crash into him all at once, the overwhelming pain literally crumpling him. He put his arms out in front of him to break his fall, but as soon as pressure was applied he let out a horrific cry as his wrists felt like they snapped off, his face slamming into the tile.

His head spun as his ears gave off a horrific low ring, completely disorienting him.

So this is why he was in a hospital… if he was here, that meant someone found him!

“S-Sensei!” He called out, hearing his voice echo down the halls, garnering no response. The only thing he could hear was the dragging footsteps of the youkai somewhere behind him as it slowly made its way towards him.

“Did you really think they’d come for you?” The youkai chuckled. “That cat of yours took the Book of Friends and left. It realized how weak you are, how unnecessary your existence is.”

Natsume growled, not believing the voice for a second. Even though they’d never admit it, they deeply cared about each other. In a strange way, Natsume saw him as a loving supportive Uncle, or maybe even a young grandfather. Honestly those examples didn't fully cover their relationship, but he didn’t care. They didn’t need to label their relationship because it would always be there.

“Sensei!!” He called again as he forced his arms in front of him, feeling them shaking.

He could do this, all he had to do was stay away from that thing because no matter what it said, he could feel Nyanko Sensei and all the others around him.

Taking a deep sharp breath, he pushed himself up from the ground, biting back the horrific cries of pain as his wrists, thighs, ribs - everything begged him to just rest.

When he finally got to his feet his ankles gave out, making him stumble and slam into one of the walls, feeling as if nearly every bone became disjointed. Everything became fuzzy again, black dots beckoning him into unconsciousness.

But he could hear it, the soft ominous footsteps getting even closer than before.

Taking another deep shaky breath, he pushed himself along the wall, going as fast as he could. His thighs brushed up against one another, blood slowly seeping down his legs as he reopened the scabs. Natsume felt his lips quiver, trying his best not to express the pain. The further he went however, the harder it became. His legs became so shaky he had to lean forward more and more as he felt cold - so, so cold. The pain was starting to subside as he slowed, the hall swaying as if he were in a boat. The world slipped away for a moment, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as he collapsed on his knees.

Cold… he was so cold, but he had to keep going. Unlike last time though, nothing responded to his commands.

Cursing under his breath, he chanced a glance down, only to grow pale. The hospital robe he was wearing was literally soaked in blood as the area around him was becoming a puddle of red. He hadn’t realized it before, but the fall from the hospital bed probably reopened the deep wound on his chest.

His ears started ringing again, the static following shortly after.

“Sen...sei,” he whispered, finding the static sounding slightly different than before. The more he listened, the more it sounded like the ocean as water slowly pooled on a sandy shore before receding.

‘I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…’ someone faraway sobbed. ‘I can’t end it, not yet…’

Warmth slowly seeped into his cold body as he finally let his eyes close, the sensation reminding him of home.

‘Thank you, Sensei…’

----

“That’s not good enough!” Natori growled as he punched the wall of a building a little ways from the hospital, his whole body shaking.

“S-sorry Natori, I can’t just leave, not when I’m so deep in this case,” Aimiya sorrowfully said, truthfully wishing he could help.

“But Natsume’s a child -”

“And your friend, I get it,” the other man sighed. “Look, I’ll talk to my client and see what I can do.”

Natori didn’t even say goodbye as he hung up, rubbing his temples in frustration. Either no one was answering or no one was available, even when he tried begging them for help. He didn’t know whether this was his bad luck or Natsume’s. Then again, it was probably their bad luck combined.

Shit… Natsume needed him more than ever, and he was proving to be useless. If only he had more power, he’d actually be able to protect him.

“So you’re here after all,” a sickeningly familiar voice came from behind him, making him stiffen. Of all the people to just show up out of the blue, it had to be Matoba. What did Natsume do to even accumulate this much bad luck?

“What are you doing here?” Natori blurted out before taking a deep breath, trying to calm down. As much as both he and Natsume hated Matoba, he was both knowledgeable and powerful. If anyone could save Natsume, it was him.

“That’s one way to greet someone,” Matoba smiled, Natori finding it unsettling as always. “We received several reports of youkai gathering here in packs, making some of the local ill. Since this is your territory, I wanted to see why you were slacking off.” He tilted his head a bit to the side, his one eye bearing deep into the other as if trying to read him. “Are they too much for the infamous Shuuchi Natori to handle?”

Shit, Natori hadn’t even thought about everyone else in town. He knew the youkai were all after Natsume, so he didn’t even think about how their presence would affect others.

“I’m dealing with it,” he said, his voice just as stiff as he was.

“Are you now?” Matoba mockingly smirked. “Is that why you sounded so frantic on the phone a moment ago?”

Natori clenched his fists and bit back a growl. The other had no clue what happened, he couldn’t snap at him for being insensitive - yet. “Yes,” he hated to admit, not making eye contact. “I highly doubt they’re going to attack someone, not when they’re all after the same person.”

Matoba’s smirk fell, a tinge of curiosity filling that haunting dark eye. “Oh? Who could be so important they’d ignore all the other ‘snacks’ that walk by?”

This whole situation just kept getting worse with no light in sight. As much as it nauseated him, and as much as he didn’t want Matoba near Natsume, he knew this was the only choice they had. No one else was available, no one else could make it. And unlike some of the others, he knew Matoba was strong enough to help.

“Would you be willing to help me with a job? I’d pay you as if I was the commissioner,” Natori asked, one of his lenses glaring over.

Matoba’s smirk fell into a look of suspicion. “Why would you want to act as a client if you’re just asking for help on a job?”

“Because I don’t want the client to be responsible for any charges or requests. I want to be solely responsible for the payment.”

Realization seemed to dawn upon Matoba as his smirk returned. “Does this have anything to do with Natsume?”

“Yes,” he said seriously, his tone making the other frown again. It obviously wasn’t the reaction he was hoping for.

“What’s going on here, Natori?”

He told him everything, about the kidnapping and the possession. The other didn’t interrupt him once and remained stoic, making it impossible to see how he felt about the whole thing, though he could swear Matoba’s posture fell a bit.

When he was finished the other exorcist sighed, watching the wind blow leaves off a dying tree. “I see, so that’s why you were so frantic,” he said as the wind slowly died down again, a small smile forming on his face.

“Like I said, I’ll be the one paying you, not Natsume, me-”

“No, I think I’ll do this one for free,” he smirked, a devious look filling his eyes. “I could benefit from Natsume owing me a favor.”

The color immediately drained from Natori’s face. He made a mistake, he should’ve never gotten Matoba involved. “Like I said before, I’ll be the one commissioning you, not him, me-”

“It doesn’t matter even if you paid me, we both know his nature.” Matoba’s dark eyes suddenly fell along with his smile. Natori couldn’t tell if the new expression was one of disgust or sorrow. “Like the kind hearted fool he is, he’ll make sure to return the favor. However it’s me who owes him for his help.”

He was right. As much as Natori hated to admit it, Matoba was right. Natsume was such a kind hearted fool he’d even want to repay Matoba back. However, Natori would have to be sure Natsume understood it was Matoba who was returning the favor.

“There’s a mix of allies and enemies among the youkai. Most of the allies are gathered at the hospital watching over him. So unless one attacks, please refrain from exorcising them”

Matoba’s eye widened, becoming intrigued. “Oh?” He smirked, looking towards the hospital where Misuzo peeked over the roof upon sensing the new exorcist. Matoba remembered seeing this one once from a distance when he had captured Natsume in the Eastern Forest a while back.

“They know who you are, and they won’t hesitate to attack if they sense any ill intent towards Natsume or the others. Besides, if you hurt any of them-”

“Natsume would hate me,” the other finished with a smile. “I know. I’d hate for that to happen, especially since he’s so useful .”

Natori hated that response, but let it go. “When can you come?”

Matoba snorted as he put one hand on his hip. “I’m always prepared, as every exorcist should be. Some of my clan are even stationed near the forest, waiting for me to give the command to start exercising the youkai there.”

“Just remember what I said,” the actor mumbled as he led the way. The closer they got the more amazed Matoba seemed to become as that sickening smile kept widening on his face.

As they neared the hospital Misuzu turned to them, glowering darkly. “You brought back a roach. Should I take care of it?”

Natori let his shoulders sink. “We didn’t have a lot of options.”

“I’ve seen you before. What kind of contract do you and Natsume share?” Matoba asked, not showing a single sign of fear. Even Natori still felt uneasy talking to the horse youkai as he grew slightly pale.

“Tch, like you’d understand,” Misuzu hissed, looking back to Natori. “Are you sure he can be trusted?”

“Like I said, we don’t have much of a choice-”

“And I rather like Natsume,” Matoba added, finding the situation amusing. Even powerful youkai like this knew and hated the Matoba clan; he took it as a compliment. “He’s rather useful to have around.”

“And this is the only use you have,” the youkai bellowed, the area darkening despite the sun peeking through the clouds. “If you do anything to my master, even the youkai after your family’s eye will cower before my wrath.”

The smile completely fell from Matoba’s face, making Natori curse under his breath. Misuzu just had to go there. “Focus on keeping the other youkai out,” he hissed, hoping the other wasn’t too upset about the comment as he headed into the hospital.

“Such mouthy youkai,” the head exorcist mumbled, not sounding mad, just thoughtful. “I see where Natsume gets it.”

Natori wasn’t sure what he meant by that, so he merely continued on, hoping Taki and Tanuma weren’t in the room. They held little to no power, so Matoba shouldn’t be interested in them, however they were still Natsume’s friends. That fact alone would make him interested in them.

As they neared the room Matoba looked around, feeling eyes on them. “What’s the excuse you have going for the doctors? They don’t exactly believe in our work.”

“We don’t have to worry about them,” Natori reassured as he put his hand on the door handle, hesitant. He really didn’t trust Matoba… he just had to hope bringing him into this would be worth it. “Hinoe and Misuzu took care of them.” Before the other could ask for elaboration, he opened the door, letting the clan’s head eye settle upon Natsume, allowing him to take in his condition. For once he didn’t have any witty or passive aggressive remarks; he didn’t even assess the youkai present in the room despite how powerful they were.

He just stared at Natsume, completely stoic.

“Do you sense anything?” Natori couldn’t help but ask, wondering if he could feel something he and the others couldn’t. The other’s eye narrowed, almost in frustration.

“Two curses filled with powerful negative energy,” he said, his eyes slowly moving up to Nyanko Sensei who stayed strangely quiet. “As powerful as you are, you’re awfully useless.”

“We’ve already given him hell,” Hinoe said, her tone so dark and cold it literally sent shivers down the actor’s back. He was thankful he was on her good side. “Why’d you bring scum back?”

Immediately he paled over, praying Matoba wouldn’t take offense to their words. “He was the only one available,” he quickly admitted, watching the exorcist amusingly smirk.

“Thankfully for Natsume,” he said, glancing back to the coma induced child. “I can’t think of an exorcist powerful enough to deal with whatever youkai’s inside him. Not even I can sense it.” Natori’s eyes widened in absolute shock. Not even Matoba could sense it? “A kid with powerful youkai servants like this are bound to attract powerful enemies - I warned him this could happen.” His eye fell though, as if realizing the youkai was probably the aftermath of what Natsume’s uncle did to him. For once, the other almost seemed at a loss for words, something Natori never thought he’d ever witness.

“And a shady exorcist who follows the same hateful path as his ancestors remains alone,” Hinoe merely smirked, a devious fiery glint flaring in her eyes. “Unlike Natsume, no one would come running if you were in this position. Most youkai would actually prevent selfish exorcists from trying to use the opportunity of freeing you just to become famous.”

Matoba couldn’t help but smile again as he put a hand on his hip, snapping out of his previous mood. “You’re probably right. But that’s the difference between me and dear Natsume.” His eye narrowed darkly, obviously annoyed with the meaningless chit chat. “I wouldn’t fall prey to such curse, let alone youkai.”

He didn’t say human, though Natori wasn’t sure what that meant.

The heart monitor suddenly changed, signalling Natsume’s heart rate rising. Everyone quickly turned, feeling the darkness practically pour into the room again.

The youkai heard them, it was waking up.

Nyanko Sensei sat up and took a few steps back from the bed, resisting the strong urge to literally eat them all for being so damn annoying. “Stop arguing and do something!” He snapped bitterly, his seriousness almost off putting.

“Right,” Natori said, relieved to see Hiiragi and the others had fixed the magic circle and replaced the papers while he was gone. He’d have to remember to thank them once this was over.

Taking out a protective charm, he got in position. “Ready?” He asked Matoba and Hinoe who both nodded. He saw Misuzu peek through the window again, ready to spit if need be.

Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. They couldn’t fail Natsume a third time.

They started the chant, Hinoe saying her own incantation as the circle became a deep gold color. A soft wind started picking up again, the breathing mask falling from Natsume’s cracked and swollen lips. The seals against his chest started to shake, not from the wind, but from the energy and poison that was leaving his body.

“Fools,” the deep voice from earlier rumbled again, that poisonous stench flowing from the unconscious boy. “Didn’t you learn ?”

No one spoke, no one fed into the monster’s ploy.

That only seemed to anger it.

Without warning the seals burst into flames as Natsume’s body sat up in the blink of an eye, the creature coughing and hacking up black sludge as it held it’s chest.

Natori’s eyes widened in fear, recalling the two fractured ribs. Did that thing just break them?!

“Focus,” Nyanko hissed, forcing Natori to concentrate again. They could worry about that later. If they couldn’t save his mind it’d be useless to worry about his body.

Those dark sludgy eyes opened again, staring right at Matoba with a dark permeating chuckle. “Bringing the big guns in are we? You’re all fools to trust a Matoba. The boy’s better off with me, with all the other kids!”

It wasn’t moving much, in fact it looked severely affected this time. The light from the circle was getting brighter and brighter, for once being brighter than Natori could handle. Everything was blurring and meshing together, images swam through his mind-

Of a small lonely blond child shivering in a pile of dirty laundry, of that same boy having his hair grabbed and head held in a toilet , thrashing for his very life as he choked on the waste water.

‘Yes…,’ the dark voice purred, sounding less deep and fainter than earlier.

Glass shattered and the child yelped. Large hands wrapped around his tiny neck, those small fingers desperately clawing at the wrist.

‘More… more.’

The child was famished, hardly able to move, but the pain - he could concentrate on the pain instead of the hunger.

‘Feed me… feed me your misery!’

Rain. It was raining. The child was very weakly digging in the mud around a metal pole, looking so tired , so scared, so-

Natsume. He was seeing Natsume as a child. There were horrible blistering burns on his arms and back along with horrible bruises with a collared chain fastened around his neck.

‘So much misery… so much pain . More… I need more, I need it with me - in me-!’

The child looked up in absolute terror, those warm golden eyes unmistakable as something came rushing at him.

That was Natsume as a child, and that youkai in the visions was the one possessing him now.

All the energy was drained from Natori’s body as he collapsed, something gently catching him before he fell on his face.

“Master,” he heard Hiiragi faintly say, making the exorcist open his eyes. He saw Urihime supporting Matoba who had collapsed as well while Sasago was supporting Hinoe who did not look happy about it. “Are you okay?”

Natori didn’t respond as his eyes panned over to Natsume, seeing Chobihige gently supporting the unconscious child. Blood was seeping down his eyes, nose and the side of his mouth, making the exorcist’s heart nearly stop as he panicked. The child was as pale as a ghost and he could faintly hear a elongated noise, meaning the machine detected no heart beat-!

“He’s okay, it fled,” Hiiragi informed, confusing the exorcist greatly. “A handful of youkai tried storming the hospital during the spell, distracting the ugly cat, Hineo and Matoba.”

“But the spell cast the youkai out and weakened it,” Urihime finished. “Although it would’ve been dealt with if that useless horse was paying more attention to the forest.”

“I was protecting my master!” Misuzu growled back, to which Hiiragi ignored.

“Thanks to a few other youkai, they didn’t reach the room.”

“Tch, like we could’ve exorcised it in one go,” Hinoe hissed this time, trying to pull herself free, but was too weak. “We chased it out of him and broke the first curse, but not the second.”

‘Shit,’ Natori grumbled, looking back over to the child where Chobihige and - Natori’s eyes widened in shock - was that Kai gently cleaning Natsume’s face off? The god lived in the mountains, how did it hear about his condition and when did he get here?

And that fox child - it was gently holding Natsume’s hand. Didn’t they say they lived far away too?

“We can’t do anything about the second,” Matoba said, sounding out of breath despite trying to hide it. “Not without tracking down the youkai that placed it.”

“You mean we have to track that thing down?” Matoba looked over at Natori, that gaze seeming slightly disappointed.

“What did you see, Natori?”

The actor bit his bottom lip, not wanting to say it outloud. Those were dark times for Natsume, times he never shared with anyone. “I saw that thing chasing him as a child,” he vaguely said, making the other smirk in amusement.

“I saw that, but I also saw another youkai.” He slowly went to stand, finding his legs weaker than he would’ve liked. Urihime stayed close, knowing the stubborn exorcist could fall any second. As much as she wanted that to happen, she didn't want her master paying the price for it. “It was a cursed god speaking to Natsume when he was kidnapped. I believe I’ve seen it before. I’ll have my people do a search and contact you when I have an update.”

Natori felt worry knot his stomach, not liking Matoba staying involved beyond the exorcism. What if he changed his mind and decided to force Natsume into something! “Matoba-”

“Don’t worry,” he cut him off, turning his back to him. “It’s like I said, I’m only returning the favor.” His eyes slowly settled upon all the youkai in the room, finally seeming interested in them.

“He has youkai that’ll come to him without being called,” he mumbled, this moment reminding him of when he captured Natsume in the Eastern Forest.

‘Why do you side with the youkai? They deceive and betray humans. You’ve experienced that, I’m sure. And more than once or twice.’

‘You’re right. But that’s not all. Some aren’t like that…’

‘Have you met many like that?’ He remembered asking. Glancing around the room again, he saw the horse youkai staring him down at him protectively as a powerful yet horrified child gently cleaned Natsume's face while a fox child sobbed into Natsume’s hand, begging him to wake up. The youkai with the large head and mustache was holding Natsume very carefully against himself, obviously waiting until they figured out what to do from there with the machine flatlining and all. Nyanko Sensei was gently nuzzling the back of Natsume’s head, probably trying to give him some of his energy to help him stay stable until the doctors came in. A kappa was holding a bottle of water, waving it towards Natsume’s direction and crying as he was held back by a ram youkai that sat with one wearing the same robes, the two of them sniffling and telling the Kappa to wait until the humans came.

A butterfly phased through the window, a youkai morphing from it seconds after. “I brought some herbs that are said to strengthen human bones and help with fevers!”

So, this is what Natsume meant. All the youkai presently here were genuinely concerned for his well being. Even someone like himself could see that. Of course they all probably had something to gain by being at his side, that’s just how youkai worked. But it did make him wonder how they acted around Natsume normally.

“We’ll always come for him, even if he tells us not to,” Hinoe said as she noticed he hadn’t left yet.

Matoba frowned, realizing he was caught staring. “How did he form a contract with you?” He asked, making her click her tongue.

“You exorcist types are so obsessed with contracts that you forget the strongest bond of all.”

“And what’s that?” He asked curiously.

“Something someone like you wouldn’t understand.” There was no use trying to explain it to him, it wouldn’t change his way or give him a new purpose in life.

Matoba couldn't help but let out a small chuckle as he headed out the door. “You’re probably right about that.”

“I have my own way of being connected with others,” he recalled Natsume saying, making him smirk. Natsume protected him on more than one occasion and even tried to cheer him up with a fruit despite hating him. That kindness made it easy to manipulate Natsume, and yet there was something about his actions that drew him towards the boy, almost making him want to protect him for more reasons aside from being useful. He’s asked him to join the clan more than once, where he could be kept safe from youkai and human scrutiny.

And yet the danger that nearly killed him this time wasn’t caused by a youkai, it was caused by a human. As much as he wanted to boast that they could have prevented this if he had been part of the clan, he honestly wasn’t sure. Natsume’s uncle was no exorcist, and the people who kidnapped Natsume weren’t either. They were normal humans with bad intentions who didn’t even realize they had a youkai bound to them; the cursed god he saw in the vision.

He wondered how Natsume would answer him if he asked him to join again. Would he respond the same way as he did in the Eastern Forest?

‘It’s true that it’s been difficult at times, but I’ve met many kind people.’ Would he still say that after the hell these humans put him through? After the damage they did to him and the damage they did to the others he saw in his vision? Matoba only saw one instance, he couldn’t even imagine what else the other witnessed.

How much did this event change his outlook? Would he even consider humans worth saving from youkai after this?

‘This has become rather bothersome and intriguing,’ he mumbled to himself as he pulled out his phone. “It’s always good to maintain good relationships with powerful people.” He smirked, clicking on one of the contacts.

----

Very gently Chobihige and Kai lowered Natsume back against the bed just as Natori heard panicked footsteps rushing towards them, yellowing out code blue. Natori tried to stand, but was held down by Hiiragi.

“I can’t be here, they’ll think it was me-”

“They won’t see you,” Chobi reassured. The door burst open before Natori could ask them to elaborate as the doctor and nurses ran over to Natsume, looking horribly puzzled. He was disconnected from everything aside from the needle in his arm that was hooked up to the IV and medication. They didn’t even notice the circle on the ground, thank gods. The papers couldn’t be seen by normal humans, but the writing was definitely visible.

“Takashi Natsume, can you hear me?” The doctor asked. When there was no response the nurses came forward and started hooking everything up to him again. “Takashi Natsume?” He lifted one of his eyelids and took a small flashlight, shining it over his pupil.

There was a reaction. Unlike before it actually dilated in and out normally.

“Draw some blood, let’s test it again. I want one of the family members monitoring him twenty four seven; I think he woke up and panicked.”

‘If only,’ Natori sighed, closing his eyes, finally able to fall unconscious knowing Natsume was okay.

#phage writes #natsume yuujinchou #natsume's book of friends

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thatssonanii · 6 years ago

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Pieces

A/N: I don't know where I'm going with this but it's been on my mind and I wanted to get it out. I ran out of room on mobile buuut here it is 😧😧😧

Sunday

7:45pm

Marietta, GA

"Pick your head up, sweetheart. Your crown might slip."

"Not today, Mama."

"Well, Mercy, I just want you to hold your head up. What's so wrong with that?"

At 26, Mercy Banks had heard her fair share of sit up straights, stop slouchings and enunciates to last her a lifetime. Her mom wanted her children to be prim and proper at all times, no room for error. She got her way with two of her three children. Mercy not being one of them.

"Let her be, Elise. She just got here."

"Thank you, Daddy," Mercy said kissing her father's cheek.

"That's why she turned out the way she did, Tony. You always baby her and undermine what I say."

Tony waited for his wife to leave their living room before starting a conversation with Mercy. If he couldn't count on his other children he knew he could count on Mercy. She has been a Daddy’s girl her whole life. His oldest, Jamal, loved to he around him but he had been so busy with his career and wife he hadn't been around as much as either of them would have liked. His other daughter, Raven, on the other was exactly like his wife. Raven fell in line growing up and still with everything Elise wanted.

"How's my babygirl?"

Mercy sat across her dad's lap, laying back against him as she did when she was younger. "I'm okay, Daddy. How are you?" She asked softly.

"I'm better since you decided to come tonight. Haven't seen your egg head in two weeks," he joked.

She rolled her eyes playfully. "You know why but I try to call you."

"Are you still going," Tony asked.

She nodded just as the doorbell chimed. Elise came rushing through the living room with a smile on her face. Tony sighed knowing which one of his kids was on the other side of the door since Jamal couldn't be on time to save his life.

"Don't let anything that's said or that happens tonight bother you. Okay?"

Mercy nodded as she watched her mama and Raven walk back into the room. Her husband, Anthony, right behind them. He shook hands with Tony then kissed Mercy's cheek.

"What's up, Mr. Banks. Mercy."

"Not much, youngin," Tony nodded looking to his other daughter, "You not speaking, Rae?"

"Sorry, Daddy. How are you," she asked turning in his direction.

Tony nodded then gestured to Mercy. "Your sister, Rae."

"Hello, Mercy. You look," she paused to look at your younger sister, "Comfortable."

"Thanks, Raven."

"You know your sister, Raven. She likes the bummy look," Elise laughed grasping Raven's hand.

Another doorbell chime brought the last Banks' child, Jamal, and his wife, Melanie. Tony whispered to Mercy to get the door. As she exited the room, Mercy could hear her dad saying something to Raven and her mom.

Jamal and Melanie stood on the other side, wide smiles on their faces. Melanie stepped into the house, pulling Mercy into a tight hug rocking her small body side to side. They had the relationship, Mercy wanted with Raven but she knew it would never happen.

"You look so pretty, CiCi. Look at this hair," Melanie gushed. "You used the hair mask I gave you?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Thank you again."

Jamal opened his arms up to Mercy, smiling harder when he felt Mercy holding on tightly to him. In Mercy's eyes, Jamal could do no wrong. "They started up already?" He asked.

She nodded then turned away from the door to walk them into the living room. Claiming her seat back in her father's lap, trying to tune out the conversation being had.

Thankfully for Mercy, dinner was finally over and she was closer to leaving her childhood home. The spotlight was on Raven and Anthony as they had finally decided to try for children after being married for five years. Of course, Elise snuck questions in at Mercy about her lack of husband, children and a presentable career. All of which were deflected by Melanie, Jamal and Tony.

"I need you to be dressed and presentable on Tuesday by seven, Mercy."

"For what, Mama?"

"Your sister has found you a nice young man that wants to take you on a date. Isn't that exciting," Elise gushed to her less than pleased daughter.

The frown on Mercy's face seemed embedded all evening. Jamal and Tony weren't near to thwart her mom and sister's invasion into her life. They had gone into the den to talk, leaving the women in the living room. Melanie had gone outside to take a call.

"No, it's not and I'm not going."

Raven sucked her teeth much to Elise's dismay. She hated that noise more than she hated to see her children roll their eyes and slouch. Raven pointed her finger in her sister's direction. "Oh, you're going, Mercy and you're gonna have fun. He's cute and he's successful. Don't ruin your chance."

"My chance at what? Being a trophy wife like you, Rae?"

"Now, Mercy, don't be rude to your sister. She's trying to help."

"No, you two are trying to run my life. I don't want to go so I'm not."

The three Banks women stared at each other. Mercy knew ever with all the fighting she was doing thay she would be on that date. It didn't mean she would enjoy it though.

"Are you trying to embarrass me, Mercy? Your sister graduated from college and graduate school, handled her career and was married for three years by the time she was your age," Elise sighed throwing her hands up. "Yes, Jamal was late getting married but look at what he did at your father's company. My God its as if you tuned me out your whole life."

Mercy's face and eyes burned. Even though she had tried to let the things said roll off her back like she was always told to do, it was too much. For protection, Mercy wrapped her arms around herself staring down at her feet.

"I mean yes you graduated and I'm thankful for that but you've done nothing since. No career, no husband and no kids. All my friends ask about my kids because they know that my kids have done extraordinary things," Elise exaggerated loudly. "Two of them have but then there's you, Mercy. There's nothing there but a college degree and paid off medical bills. You came from my womb, I birthed you with everything you needed and yet you still disappoint me this way."

Raven stepped back from their mom, she was uncomfortable with the way Elise spoke but she would never say anything. Making their mom happy was at the top of the list and until Mercy could get on board this would continue to happen.Tears fell from Mercy's eyes, hitting the hardwood floors beneath her.

"Now you're crying," Elise laughed, "I should be the one crying. I'm the one who's embarrassed and disappointed."

Anthony walked into the room unaware of what was going on. He grabbed for Raven's hand, gaining her attention. "You ready to go?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Mama, I'm heading out. I'll call you tomorrow."

Elise nodded, waving her away too focused on Mercy. With one look at Mercy, Raven backed out of the living room with her husband in tow. She didn't bother saying goodbye to her brother or dad for the sake of not wanting to be involved. Melanie passed them on her way back into the house.

"I'm sick of you and this pity party you're constantly throwing, Mercy. It stops today," Elise demanded.

Melanie stepped into the living room, wanting to help. "Everything okay? Sounds like you guys need a breather." Melanie said with a smile

"Everything is fine, Melanie. Just trying to talk sense into my disappointment of a child here."

Mercy didn't bother lifting her head, hugging herself much tighter. The tears flowed freely from her eyes, no need to stop what's been seen already. Elise's tone bothered Melanie, she left the room in search of Jamal and Tony.

"Lift your head up and stop that crying. I'm not going to continue talking to the top of your head."

Mercy lifted her head sucking her bottom lip in, staring directly into her mom's eyes.

"There were go, now I can stare into the eyes of my beautiful baby girl and let her know," Elise paused stepping closer, "That she is going to make me proud from here on out. She's going to stop this crying, stop the pity party, stop dressing like some bum and do what I ask of her. Understand?"

Elise wiped the tears that fell from her daughter's eyes, waiting for an answer.

Tony stood between them, his hands at his wife's shoulders. "We talked about this, Elise. Leave her alone."

Jamal called out to his baby sister, beckoning for her to come to him and his wife. Slowly, Mercy walked to him and into his arms. He held her against him, Melanie stood beside them rubbing Jamal's arm.

"Why? Because she's sensitive? That's rich," Elise scoffed. "She is too old for this, Tony. She needs to grow up, do what is expected of her."

"Just stop, Elise. We'll talk about this later." He said through his teeth.

Elise narrowed her eyes at her husband. "I have to stop or what? She'll do it again?"

"Let's walk your sister to her car, Mal. Come on."

They stood at Mercy's black jeep, none of them said a word. All Jamal could do was hug his sister as she cried softly. Wanting to give them time alone, Melanie went to wait by their car for Jamal.

"You wanna come over? Watch movies or something," Jamal asked as she stepped away from his embrace. "We can watch whatever you wanna watch. Even if it's bullshit." They laughed together. The first smile from Mercy all night.

"Funny but no. I'm gonna go home."

"Go home and do what, CiCi?" Jamal asked with his hands in his pockets.

She rolled her eyes at his question. "Write or edit some pictures, Mal. I don't know."

"Alright but call me if anything comes up."

"Anything like what?" She asked opening her car door.

"You know what. Don't play, Mercy."

With that, Jamal helped her up into the jeep watching her pull out the driveway.

Tuesday

6:50pm

Marietta, GA

As much as Mercy fought, she got dolled up and presentable for whoever Raven had sent to take her out. The only thing Raven told her was that he drives a silver Mercedes because of course that's all that mattered to her. She checked her phone for the time before she stepped out onto the porch of her town home for air while she waited.

Minutes later, a sleek luxury car pulled into her short driveway behind her jeep. She heard his door open and close but she didn't see him until he came from around her jeep. He was too busy picking small pieces of lint from his suit jacket to notice her. He stepped up onto hee porch finally looking up, looking straight into Mercy's eyes and smiled.

"You must be Mercy," he said taking her hand placing a kiss on the top.

"That's me," she nodded pulling her hand from his, "You are?"

"Semaj Brooks but everyone calls me Lucky." She nodded, watching him as he looked at her from head to toe. "You look amazing, Mercy. Your sister didn't do you any justice, I didn't expect this."

She nodded once more. "Yeah, I can imagine what she told you. Are you ready, Semaj?"

He nodded leading her off the porch.

"Please call me Lucky though. I'm Semaj at work, Lucky to everyone else."

Mercy had decided to enjoy herself but she knew this would be last time she saw him. Anyone who knew her sister and was close enough for this to happen wasn't anyone she wanted.

#pieces #ryan destiny #luke james #woody mcclain #gabrielle dennis #antoinette robertson #naomi campbell #nas #tyler lepley

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sandjob · 7 years ago

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I thought my last dream was weird, what the fuck is going on? (8/7/17)

Dream journal part two: Electric Boogaloo

First of all, holy shit. Let’s see if I can piece all this together.

I had finished rendering/uploading my videos and was drowsy as fuck, so I decided to go back to sleep for some fucking reason.

I was talking to my friend M, and told her that I was sad because I could never meet K in my dreams. I really want to spend time with him properly, but I have trouble focusing enough to get into the astral. She told me that I should ask him to pull me into the astral while I’m dreaming next time. I had done this once before and it worked, so I decided to try again... It uh, ?? Not sure what happened here.

I cannot stop sleeping. Anyway, let’s see how much I can remember... This might be long.

Everything is weird and disjointed again in the first dream. Some sort of small cave that looks like it’s made of the same material as garbage bags, and a few holes that let sunlight stream in. Can’t remember much else, except that that was not the only place I found, and that I don’t think I directly met K.

Ah, wait. I ended up in Sophia’s rental cabin (?) which she had to rush out of to make room for the new tenants. It started off as Merk’s two roommates, which... For some reason, one of them, S, was acting extremely pissy? But it was never explained why. I was confused and upset about it because S is normally very nice!

They were complaining and moving things around, “Why couldn’t you guys put them back where they BELONG?” they kept asking me. I shrugged many times during that conversation.

Family members showed up. Their family. I talked briefly with a few of them, but didn’t leave for some reason. I asked what they were all doing in town. A funeral, they said. “Family members” included a duck, a small horse, a goat and a sheep. In the fucking cabin.

I offered my hand to each animal respectively. For some reason they all interacted positively with me. Until I reached the sheep, who bit down on my hand. It didn’t hurt. I pulled my hand away carefully, so I wouldn’t upset it. It tried to headbutt me.

I stepped back away from the sheep, but it kept trying to headbutt/kick/bite me. I kept moving away from it calmly. Everyone else kept acting normally and ignored the sheep, until it kicked one man in the face trying to get to me. It was a pretty big sheep.

One of the family members said they were going to call “Goat” to see me out. They didn’t seem annoyed with me, they just thought I maybe needed help? It was weird. Goat showed up and calmed the sheep down, putting one arm around the sheep and one arm around me. He walked me out of the building with an arm over the shoulder. I didn’t look at his face until I got outside.

He seemed very friendly, and I immediately liked him. When we got outside and I was starting to walk away, I realized he was waving me off but I hadn’t taken time to look at his face. He didn’t want me to, but I saw it anyways. It was kind of grotesque, with one eye larger than the other, and kind of wrinkly or something. He had red hair.

He kept apologizing about his face and I told him I wasn’t bothered by it, (but I can’t remember the words I used?) and that he looked fine. I tried smiling at him to let him know that he didn’t have to worry about me. It went well.

At some point I woke up, seconds before my phone started to ring. My sister was calling to see if I wanted to do oil painting with her tonight. We agreed to do it later and she left to take a nap.

I fell back asleep and still don’t remember a lot. I was with my mother at some sort of... Museum/medieval reinactment place. There were big wooden facades with castles painted/carved into them. It was a mess. I remember not a lot, except that archery was going on in one of the buildings. I wanted to check the whole thing out and my mom agreed, but something was preventing us.

We ran into a man in the weirdly central parking lot, who was hanging off a light pole. He told us that something was going on (can’t remember what) and that the museum was under siege?

I was in a room with some other people. Another guy with red hair, shoulder length, was clothed laying in the bed with two mostly naked people. I don’t think they were having sex, but it still felt a bit weird. I was standing a few feet away from the bed, looking towards the door. I spoke briefly to the red haired guy (I don’t remember about what) and started walking to the door. I ended up in some sort of tiny closet partially in the wall and under the floor. I was ok with being in there for some reason? One of the people in the bed was slightly green tinted, but alive, and wearing something strappy.

I’m with my mom again, and we are on some sort of road trip. We are at a gas station. I have a second younger brother, and he has a dark brown mohawk and a shit attitude. My mother had just bought us pjs. He wore dinosaur pjs (what is with my brain and dinosaur pjs?) which were white and dark green with T rexs on them. I for some reason picked out a teal blue flannel nightgown. Still trying to figure that one out.

My mom bought me a cheese burger. As we were checking out, I looked at the beer cooler, and I looked at the... novelty fish tanks. Containing miniature sharks and other cool creatures, underwater hermit crabs and things like that. Some of them were marked as “used: 32.00$$” like used cars at a car lot or something, in that fluorescent yellow or pink paint.

My younger brother demanded that mom buy him something, a toy I think? I told him not to be rude. My mom yelled at me for being “an ass” to my little brother. Somehow the subject turned into me being abused as a child, but him being spoiled. She said something about him learning on his own. I tried to push the issue to clarify that I was not blaming the abuse on her, but she wouldn’t listen. It wasn’t my idea to talk about that.

A woman behind us in line was buying several puppies “on a sale” and for some reason we looked at her with distaste. My little brother was polite to the gas station attendant.

We walked through a store of doll clothes. I asked my mom if I could stop and look for BJD sized clothes, and she said yes. I didn’t look for BJD sized clothes for some reason. I ended up following my mom instead. She was still mad about earlier. I continued to try and reason with her. She kept bringing it back to the abuse subject, even after I tried to drop it. It keeps happening. This happens a bit in real life, too...

We walk to a large closet door and my mom opens it, revealing a hot spring/bath. We go in, and she goes into a secondary closet like door which contains a shower. We all got in the bath with our clothes on. I began eating my cheese burger, but the ketchup wore through my left hand and made a hole. I looked at it in confusion and washed it off in the water. The hole was gone.

I managed to calm my mom down and explain that I hadn’t been blaming her for the abuse shit. She started to relax again.

I walked over to my little brother, who was liberally squeezing toothpaste onto a toothbrush with his back turned. I held out my hand and asked if I could have some soap. He squeezed a fuckload of toothpaste into my hand, and turned back around casually. I decided to just deal with it, and pretended I was going to wash myself (still wearing my nightgown?) with the toothpaste, making sure my mom saw so I could make her laugh.

The toothpaste wore through my hand. It was a big hole, most of the palm. I flipped my hand over and looked at the back, laughing. I folded my thumb in, and stuck up my pinky and forefinger, which for some reason looked hilarious and made my laugh. When my mom asked what I was doing, I held up my hand with a hole in it and said “Haha, look!! Toothpaste stigmata!”

My mom looked a bit shocked, but I said “It’s ok, I’m just being dramatic, it doesn’t hurt now, but I bet it’ll sting a fuck ton when I put it in the water” I started laughing.

I woke up and rolled over to pet Krieg. My sister called right then, saying she was ready to come get me for oil painting.

Everything is fucking weird.

#notes i guess #dream journal #not important

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hamlet-writes · 8 years ago

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Epistemophobia- Pt. 1

Sometimes, the best discoveries happen completely on accident.

Three gunshots rang through the heavily perfumed air, and socialites shrieked and swore as Jonathan and his hired grunts strode calmly through the front door. Women clutched pearls to their chests with an aghast gasp and scrambled out of the way, leaving a clear path leading directly underneath the huge yellow diamond chandelier hanging over the gala like a spider in its web.

Why do they still hold these things? Jonathan thought. They always get robbed. He stopped just before the chandelier, holding up a hand to signal his henches to do the same.

"Evenin' ladies and gentlemen," Jonathan said, adjusting his mask. The whole room fell silent, all eyes fixed fearfully on him. Excellent.

"Lovely time you're havin' here, isn't it? No expense spared, I see. Even had this specially made and shipped in, didn't you?" Jonathan continued, gesturing towards the chandelier. "From...Italy, I believe?" One of the partygoers stepped forward, raising his hands in the air as Jonathan's henches trained their weapons on him. Jonathan smirked when he saw who it was- the host himself, Bruce Wayne.

"Please, gentlemen," Wayne said, hazarding another step forward. "There's no need for violence. We'll give you whatever it is you want."

"Oh, I'm certain you will, Mr. Wayne," Jonathan said, slipping his hand into his pocket and pulling out the trigger mechanism. After a moment's hesitation he added, "You may want to take a step back." With a brief glance behind him to make sure all his henches were wearing their gas masks Jonathan pressed the trigger. The nanoexplosive planted on the chain of the chandelier blew, and Wayne dove back into the crowd as it crashed to the floor.

The discovery of frozen fear toxin, like many other great discoveries, had happened purely by accident. In an intellectual discussion with Freeze gone wrong Jonathan had made the mistake of mentioning Nora. Victor had attacked, Jonathan had retaliated, and the frozen fear toxin had shattered on the floor and been released just as it was now. Gotham's richest and most influential screamed as fear gas billowed through the room, trying to no avail to escape their own personal nightmares. Jonathan allowed himself to grin underneath his mask, observing the chaos for a moment before turning to his henches.

"Grab anything of value and load it in the van," he said. "Quickly." They nodded, fanning out through the crowd and relieving the now-incoherent partygoers of their possessions. He turned his attention back to the crowd.

"Bruce Wayne," he mused, stepping over the twisted remains of the chandelier and kneeling in front of Wayne, who stared ahead in muted terror. Jonathan grabbed him by the face, studying him carefully.

"What could a spoiled little brat like you possibly be afraid of?" he wondered aloud. Wayne murmured in his delirium, fixated on something (or someone) that wasn't there. Jonathan leaned forward so that his ear was at Wayne's lips, listening intently to his words.

"Father...no, I'm- I couldn't- Mom..." he whispered.

"Yes, always the parents, isn't it," Jonathan noted, his lips twitching upwards in the ghost of a smile.

"No...Harvey! You don't- Barbara! Jason! Jason!"

Jonathan's smile died as the realization dawned on him. He'd heard these words all before, but someone else has been saying them.

Or else he hadn't.

"Jesus christ on a cross," Jonathan breathed, releasing Wayne and leaning back. Hardly daring to believe it he raised one hand in the air, covering the top half of Wayne's face. The resemblance was unmistakable. Jonathan stood, thankful his henches couldn't see his shocked expression beneath his mask. He gestured for the one nearest him to approach, and she did so apprehensively.

"What is it, boss?" she asked, pulling her gas mask farther up onto her face.

"Take Mr. Wayne here and load him into the back of the van with the rest of the valuables," Jonathan ordered. "And make doubly sure he's unconscious once you do."

"Not to pry, but why, sir?" she asked, grabbing Wayne by the arm and forcing him to his feet. "What do you think he's capable of?"

"Infinitely more than I realized just a moment ago," Jonathan said. He watched numbly as the woman half lead, half dragged Wayne away, lost in thought. It seemed the greatest discoveries really did happen by accident. He would have to remember to thank Victor. - Bruce groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, squeezing his eyes shut against what he was sure were going to be the blinding white lights of a hospital. He couldn't remember what he'd been doing last. Had he fallen off a building again? Was that why his head was throbbing with steady pulses of pain?

"Evenin', Batman," a mild voice greeted him.

Crane.

Bruce forced his eyes open, taking in his surroundings. Crane had his back to him, still dressed in his full Scarecrow getup, save his mask. He was bent over a long mahogany desk, covered in loose papers and notebooks no doubt filled to the brim with his "research." The only light came from the sickly yellow glow of the beakers of fear toxin lining the shelf on the far wall, dimly illuminating the ragged and dilapidated brick walls cramping him in on all sides. He glanced down at the cracked and discolored concrete floor, covered in water and ill-removed blood stains. The only exit was a rusty metal door in the farthest corner away from him. Bruce tried to shift in his seat, and noted that extra precautions had been made to secure him. His legs had been shackled and chained around the legs of the cold steel chair he was tied to (which was bolted to the floor), and Crane had somehow managed to put him in a full-body straitjacket, which he could've easily escaped from if it weren't for the chains wrapped five times around his torso. He wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Bruce wondered numbly how Crane had managed to fit the straitjacket over his batsuit, then started as if he'd been struck as the realization dawned on him.

He wasn't wearing his mask.

"Or is it morning?" Crane continued, turning from his work to face him. "Well, I don't suppose you'd know, now would you?"

He'd called him Batman. He knew.

"Starting to remember it now, are we?" Crane asked, a contemptuous smile forming on his face. "You really shouldn't hold so many parties, Mr. Wayne. They'll be the death of you." Bruce said nothing, setting his jaw resolutely and glaring ahead. Crane chuckled, turning back to his desk and lifting a vial of some clear liquid in delicate fingers. In one stride he'd crossed the distance between them, and Bruce couldn't help but notice just how much he towered over him.

"This should ease the headache," Crane said, holding it out as if offering it to him.

"How can I trust you?" Bruce managed to croak out. His throat was dry and cracked- an after effect of fear gas he'd come to expect.

"If I were tryin' to poison you right now, would I really have to trick you to do it?" Crane asked. "No," Bruce admitted. Without another word Crane tilted his chin up with one hand, pressing the vial to his lips and pouring it down his throat. Bruce winced as the bitter taste hit his tongue, pulling a face that would've sent Dick into hysterics, because Crane actually let out an audible laugh. He half-expected the hallucinations to start anew but, sure enough, the pulsing agony in his head dulled to a distant migraine.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Me?" Crane asked, pulling up the wooden chair that had been tucked beneath his desk and sitting on it backwards, straddling the seat and resting his arms on the back as he leaned towards Bruce. "Why, I just want to talk, Bruce." That rag-doll pose made Bruce uneasy- it reminded him much more of Scarecrow than Crane. If he had to be chained and taken hostage in a tiny room by one of them, he would much rather Crane be in control.

"Fine, let's...talk," Bruce said guardedly.

"Y'know," Crane said with a bewildered laugh. "This was just supposed to be a cash grab. In and out before the GCPD or the Bat- well, before you could get there."

"Oh really?" Bruce said. Crane might not have been the most boisterous out of the rogues gallery, but old habits died hard- he liked to lecture. If Bruce could just keep him talking for as long as possible, he might be able to get out of here.

"Oh yes," Crane continued. "They say some of the greatest discoveries happen completely by accident, and that's exactly what this was. Someone more...superstitious, might call it an act of God, but I'm inclined to believe this is just an incredible stroke of luck. Well, on my behalf, that is." Crane leaned forward, studying Bruce with a look of mock sympathy that made his skin crawl.

"It all makes perfect sense now, though, doesn't it?" Crane said. "Such a tragedy, to lose one's parents at such a young age. You musta been angry. Alone. Terrified."

"If you think you're gonna get me to talk about that, you're even more delusional than I thought," Bruce said, glaring. Crane chuckled.

"Oh, you will, Bruce," he said, folding his hands together. "All in due time." Bruce clenched his jaw, glaring wordlessly ahead.

"I will admit, this is quite the clever disguise you've crafted for yourself," Crane said. "The cowl?" Bruce asked. "The co- don't be absurd, Bruce," Crane scoffed. "You and I both know I'm talkin' 'bout your public persona." He leaned back in his chair, raising one hand as if outlining one of Gotham's dazzling bulletins.

"Bruce Wayne- carefree billionaire playboy," he announced with a derisive laugh. "And I fell for it, along with the rest of Gotham City.

"That's not the only one, either," Crane continued. "What was that other one...oh, that's right! 'Do the butts match?' Did you start that one?"

"...Oracle," Bruce admitted. Crane chuckled.

"Ah yes, Oracle," he mused. "I never could figure out what made her tick...that's the benefit of hiding behind a computer screen, I suppose." Crane straightened his back, gripping the back of his chair in claw-like hands and studying Bruce with a predatory intensity.

"But we know what makes you tick, don't we, Bruce?" he asked, smirking. "Just you and I."

"We're nothing alike," Bruce growled. Crane sighed deeply, rising from his chair and turning to root around in one of the long, narrow drawers of his desk. "You're right, we're not," he said. "I know now the only way to overcome fear is to face it head-on. You run from it every night, hide behind your fancy little toys, paint yourself a martyr just to hide the fact that you're terrified." He turned back to Bruce, some sort of device made of coiled wire and electrodes dangling from his hand.

"I suppose I could hold you for ransom," Crane mused, bending over Bruce. Cold fingers brushed the hair deliberately from his forehead as Crane set to work securing the two electrodes to Bruce's temples.

"What are you doing?" Bruce asked, dreading the answer. Nothing good, that was certain.

"These are psychoneurotic analysis and projection instruments," Crane explained, not looking away from his work. "A gift from Tetch. They allow me to record your brain patterns and see what you see." He stood, working the second device over his own forehead and producing a small remote from his pocket. Bruce glared stoically forward as Crane turned, dipping an empty syringe into one of the beakers of fear toxin and carefully filling it to the amount he'd apparently calculated. He turned back to Bruce, lifting his chin up with one delicate hand as the ghost of a smile twitched at his lips.

"Let's get down to business, shall we?" he said. Bruce stiffened as the needle found the vein in his neck, clenching every muscle in his body as the toxin slid like ice through his blood. Immediately he felt his heart begin to race, pounding against the inside of his chest, and his vision swam with tendrils of winding pitch that wound steadily around his throat, slowly squeezing the air from his lungs.

"See you in your nightmares, Bruce," Crane whispered. His satisfied smile grew wider and wider, until it was a gaping abyss, waiting to swallow him whole. The floor crumbled beneath Bruce's feet, and he plunged into the depths.

#hannah writes #jonathan crane #bruce wayne #batman #jon plz

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ralphmorgan-blog1 · 7 years ago

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17 True Scary Stories That Will Ruin Your Night

Favi Santos

“I’m not your dad

“A girl I used to know told me a story that her ex husband used to wake up in the middle of the night because someone was tickling his feet. She told him her dad used to tickle her and her sisters feet to wake them up for school in the morning. So when weird things started happening around the house they would just say “knock it off dad” and it would stop. Well one day something happened in the kitchen (I don’t remember what) and she said “knock it off dad” and as she was walking out the door something growled in her ear “I’m not your dad”. They moved out a few weeks later.”

The man with the mustache

“When my son was about 3 he had a tent canopy attached to his bed frame. It covered about 3/4 of the length of his bed. He would always scoot towards the head of the bed and insisted covering up head to toe with his blanket, no matter how warm it was. I couldn’t turn off the lights until he was finished. I figured it was normal kid stuff. One night, just out of curiosity, I asked why he covered up so thoroughly. His response, “Because the man with the mustache won’t stop touching me. He’s always trying to tickle me. If I’m covered and way up here, he can’t reach me”. No one else had access to our house so needless to say, that scared the crap out of me. Till this day he still covers with his blanket, no matter how warm it is, although not as thoroughly as he used to. He doesn’t remember the man but still will not go to bed uncovered. He’s a teen now.”

Imaginary friend

“Ex-girlfriend moved into an apartment across the street from me, and told me her little brother had a new “imaginary friend” named Alex. Well I had been living in that neighborhood for about 5 years and 3 years prior to her moving in my neighbor Alex hung himself in that house.”

This is all very nope

“When I was a teenager in Colorado Springs we all used to crawl though this small tunnel that was directly under the interstate to get back and fourth from our neighborhood to the shitty trailer park with out obviously having to jump fences and run across the highway.

One drunken night alone I was on my way home about 2-3 am I came out of the tunnel only to find myself face to face with this huge rottweiler staring at me. I was in shock for a second, my stomach dropped. Instinctively I started yelling at the damn dog to go home. He just stood there glaring at me and every step I slowly took trying to get away he would bark and growl showing his teeth. So I started stomping towards him in a dominant way yelling at him to go on.

He turned and took steps back but still proceeded in torturing me barking and growling. I stupidity drunkenly started to power walk away. I then heard his feet running towards me as I had my back turned away from him. I turned back around only to see him lunging at me. I fell, when I turned and looked up the damn dog was completely out of sight as if I imagined the entire thing. To this day I don’t know if the dog was somebody’s pet or what. I didn’t hear him running away after I fell so I’ll never know I guess. Maybe he was a dark spirit.”

The thing

“When I was about 8 years old I was up in Maine at my uncle’s house with my cousin and little brother, all in the same age range. The part of Maine, Stratton, is pretty secluded about 30 minutes from Canada.

We were sleeping on sleeping bags in his living room, well all of the sudden through the window of my uncle’s door, probably about 9 feet tall, but had human like anatomy, this thing was standing hunched over looking into the house.

We all screamed and it did a non-human maneuver with it’s neck and ran behind the house. The footsteps of this thing practically shook the house. My mom and uncle come running into the living room. It’s been practically 20 years and we all still talk about it like it was yesterday.”

Spiders

“My friends father was a missionary in Africa. He was 16 and learning how to shave his face. 3 weeks went by and he woke up one morning with his throat extremely swollen. Flew him to the nearest hospital where the trauma surgeon took a scalpel…nicked my friends throat… and out spewed 100’s of tiny spiders….”

This is why I don’t work the late shift

“Was working midnights at a gas station. A couple came in trying to get behind the register. They went outside and left. I went in the bathroom and called the police. Who came as they were coming back in. They had bags, knives, a gun, rope, and various other weapons in the trunk. I don’t think they planned on me living. I was hiding in the bathroom when they were trying to come back in.”

Killer doll

“My pappy(grandfather) found a life size doll hanging by a rope around its neck, in a tree/wooded area on the way home one day. He said it looked like somebody hung it up there and was using it for shooting practice or something.

My mom was still a child so the jokester he is, brought it home for her and my Aunt. Well they actually liked the thing and cleaned it up and played with it. My grandmother says till this day the scariest things started to happen around their house.

ONE example: It was nighttime and her and my pappy were in bed sleeping. Well she said she woke up to the blanket making her feel strangled. And it was almost like someone crawled into their bed and laid in between them. She sat up, startled and that’s when their bed started to shake and dressers shaking also. But nothing on the dressers moved or fell. It got to the point she was so freaked out and fed up with all the spooky things going on in their house, she made my pappy get rid of it.

So he was good friends with the owner of a bar who was more than happy to take it off his hands. As he thought it would be a good conversational piece. Exactly one week later the man who the doll was given to died. Mind you he had perfect health.”

Final wishes

“On and episode of Beyond Belief like 7 years ago, I saw a true story about a step daughter who died She hated her step mother. And in death, they were both put in the same mausoleum. Every morning, the stone carcophagus’ were cracked and there was writing on the walls in blood begging for her to be away from the step mother even though the mausoleum was sealed every night… Still gives me chills to think about it.”

Dream boy

“This happened to me… I saw the ghost of a little boy run in front of my car and I almost crashed. That’s not the scary part tho. When I told my mom about it and where it happened, she told me of a dream she had when she was pregnant with me where she hit a little boy with her car on the same road at the same spot and when she got out to check on the boy, she said it was me.”

No curtains

“My husband and I had just moved into a new house in a new state with our then 3 year old. Naturally I needed to go food shopping for pretty much everything. It was dark by the time I arrived home and I could see, upstairs, in what is now our bedroom, (no curtains/blinds yet), what I was sure was my husband standing in the window. The light was on so it was pretty easy to see that he was standing there. I clearly needed help unloading so I went straight inside and upstairs only to find no one was up there. Came back down to find him on the other side of the house completely immersed in a video game, clearly had been there the whole time but I asked anyways and yup, hasn’t been upstairs since I left. Gave me the chills at the time, but more so after meeting our new neighbor who informed us the previous owner committed suicide inside our house. It was her (our neighbor’s) own late husband that discovered the body. Lots more stories, creepy but harmless, we still live in the house and have learned to coexist.”

Facebooking from beyond

“My friend’s friend died and a few days later the deceased was commenting on people’s fb post. People were spooked, angry, and confused. What it came down to was that it might have been something with his phone. He might have commented, loss service, passed away, phone was moved to a location with service, and then it posted. Still shocking.”

Grandma

“One night I hear my 6 yr old daughter talking to someone in her room. She was by herself. I asked her who she was talking to and she said “grandma ermmie”. Grandma Erma (only 2 people called her ermmie) died when she was 1. She never met her in person.”

Santa

“One Christmas, me and my son were at my parents house celebrating. It was getting late, i told my son, who was about five at the time, let’s get home and get you to bed before Santa goes to our house and has to leave because you’re not asleep. We get home, I’m getting our bags out of the car and my son says, mama!! Shhhh…Santa is in our house! My blood froze, our front curtains were open to show off our tree, so i asked what did you see? He said, Santa peeking at us in the window. I’m crapping my pants, i took him to my neighbors, and told them to call the cops if I’m not back in five minutes. The doors and windows were all locked and no sign of anybody in the house. I was scared all night.��

The dream

“One night I had a dream/nightmare? I was in a war. I went around the corner cause I was running from something. Came around the corner to see a gun pointed at my chest. It shot. With my left hand (this is important) I touched the wound and pulled my fingers away. There was blood on my 3 middle fingers to about the first knuckle line. I woke up in a dead sweat, calmed myself down it was only a dream, and went back to sleep. When I woke up however. I noticed there was something on my hand. My left hand. There was dried blood on my 3 middle fingers only down to the first knuckle. Of course I freaked out and immediately went to the full body mirror in the house. There wasn’t any other place that had dried blood.”

Trapped

“When I stayed at my grandparents house I was laying in bed and something came running down the hall. Everyone was asleep and the dogs were in the garage but whatever it was jumped on my bed, and since I had my head covered I never saw it, but it trapped me under my covers and I screamed and cried until I fell asleep.

I still have nightmares about it and that was close to 10+years ago.”

👻 You can read 101 of the scariest (and shortest!) true stories in our new collection, , available here. 👻

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