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shmorp-mcdurgen · 1 year ago

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Mandela Prophet AU: Long Walk Home (Restored)

After being left behind by Jonah, Adam finds himself alone, walking home in the cold. However, during his journey back, he encounters something, and it seems to have an offer for him.

TW: MAJOR body horror, blood/gore, vomiting, character death

Notes: this is a rewrite of THIS fic I made a little while ago when this au was still new, and this rewrite is around 4'860 words (around 1000 words longer than the first one I think.) So yeah. that's funny huh.

January 13th, 2009. 3:31 AM

God, Adam hated the cold.

He had lost track of how long he had been walking at that point, boots dragging against the ground as he kicked rocks down the asphalt road. He crossed his arms, pressing them against himself as he shuddered from the cool winter air that hit him. All that protected him from the frigid air around him was a black hoodie, with the letters “BPS” written on the back and front in yellow letters, along with a pair of ripped skinny jeans. His hood was pulled over his head, covering his hair aside from his pale, dark blond bangs that covered his forehead. His hands were covered in fingerless gloves, though they didn’t help make his fingers feel any less like they would fall off at any moment.

“F-Fucking…dickhead.” Adam muttered under his shaking breath, which clouded the air in front of him. “Prick.”

That fucking asshole; leaving Adam to walk miles in the cold, narrowly avoiding falling every time he slipped on a frozen puddle. If Adam wasn’t preoccupied with the idea that he’d die of hypothermia, he’d find Jonah and beat the shit out of him until he bled. A coward was all he was, deciding that an empty house was too scary for him. To make things worse, Jonah took the only car along with him, meaning Adam had no choice but to hope he didn’t freeze to death during the walk there. As soon as Adam saw Jonah again, he’d regret just abandoning him, as soon as he recovered from the broken nose Adam would give him.

He gave up the hope of hitchhiking, considering he hadn’t seen a single car pass by for the hour he’s been walking. He passed underneath the light of the scarce streetlights, looking up to see that he was nearing a turn in the road, sighing as he realized he was around halfway to the border to Bythorne. Another hour of walking; lovely. He tried to ignore the soreness in his lanky legs as he approached the metal railing on the side of the road, staring out into the dark woods behind it as he paused for a moment. His brows furrowed and his expression darkened as he leaned onto the railing, seeing the steep drop before him as he took in a deep breath, trying to think of what he should do. He could’ve walked back to Mandela in the time it took to get to Bythorne, maybe finding help there, or he could’ve sucked it up and continued the exhausting journey to the BPS HQ without a vehicle. That or he could’ve stayed where he was, wallowing in his own frustration and annoyance until he froze to death. He let out his breath, turning back towards the road as he prepared himself to bear the cold for one more hour, deciding to take his chances and head towards Bythorne.

Adam had only taken a couple steps before he stopped again, staring ahead at the road before him, frozen, though not from the cold. The wind had ceased, and silence fell, overbearing enough to make Adam’s ears ring. He stared down the street, eyes fixated near one of the streetlights, or more accurately, a figure he saw standing next to it, right outside of the lights beams. It was tall and humanoid, though Adam couldn’t make out its facial features from where he was. It wore a white robe from what Adam could see, along with a dark grey sash around its waist. They had long, pale grey hair that draped over their shoulders, along with a large, metal collar around its neck. Adam stared at the featureless monochrome face staring back from the dark as he found himself instinctively stepping back a few steps, shaking his head before turning around to take his chances with going back to Mandela instead.

“Good evening, Adam.”

Adam flinched when he saw the tall figure standing before him, looking up to see their face, seeing that it finally looked at least mostly human, aside from the grey skin and somewhat uncanny smile, along with the pitch black irises staring back at him.

“W…what…are you?” Adam asked, unsure why he suddenly felt a deep pit in his stomach.

“I am the angel Gabriel,” Gabriel introduced, though Adam had a hard time believing it. “I’ve come to simply…chat with you.”

“I…No. No I’m not talking with you.” Adam stated, stepping back a few steps. “Do you think I’m fucking stupid? You’re no angel, and we both know it.”

Gabriel’s smile didn’t wane as it tilted its head slightly. “…Really.” Gabriel chuckled slightly, its voice distorted as it did so. “Well, I suppose you wouldn’t think so, would you. You never believed in such things.”

Adam didn’t respond, taking a few more steps backwards.

“It’s cold out, Murray.” Gabriel stated. “Funny; someone who claims to be your best friend leaves you out to die alone. A coward.”

“How…how do you know about that?” Adam asked.

“I’ve been observing from a distance.” Gabriel answered simply. “I know just how much Jonah has been…a thorn in your side. He’s been preventing you from continuing your search for the truth, holding you back from your…true potential.”

Adam lost eye contact for a second as he looked at the ground, brows furrowing slightly.

“Though, I suppose you never felt the same way he did towards you, did you? After all, you don’t need friends.” Gabriel chuckled. “They only hold you back. They’re hindering your progress.”

“Look, leave me alone,” Adam commanded. “I’m done. I don’t need help from you things. I can handle myself.”

“Perhaps...” Gabriel looked down at Adam, leaning down slightly. “However, you won’t find what you’re looking for by yourself.”

“Sure I can—”

“No…oh, no you can’t.” Gabriel laughed once again; a laugh that felt…demeaning. “You can’t even begin to process the truth; the truth of this world, or…even the truth of your own existence.”

Adam became silent, staring at Gabriel as it began to walk past him, Adam able to see two large open wounds on their back; where wings would be.

“However, I believe you’re looking in all the wrong places; a problem that can be solved quite simply.” Gabriel paused, turning their head back at Adam as they held out their hand within his view, revealing that they were holding a red apple in their hand. “Murray, I can help you. I know exactly what you’re looking for, and believe me; I can help you find it.”

Adam watched as they grew closer, holding out the apple as he stared at it pensively. “Take it…and you’ll find that all your answers are really right in front of you.” Gabriel continued as Adam took the apple out of their hand. “The truth of what happened to you…what happened to your family…everything you have ever desired will be yours.”

“…Everything?” Adam asked as he looked back at Gabriel’s face.

“Indeed.”

Adam looked back down at the fresh looking apple in his cold, shaking hands as he thought to himself. “I’ll…figure out what…happened to my mom?” Adam asked quietly.

“Of course.” Gabriel smiled wider. “And I can guarantee that even your friends will finally see what you are truly capable of. They will find out just how wrong they were about you. You will be ignored no longer, Murray.”

Adam stared at the fruit, even as Gabriel appeared behind him and put their hands on his shoulders. “Everything…right at your fingertips.” Gabriel whispered. “All you need to do…is take one bite.”

Adam took in a deep breath, thinking for a moment before he raised the apple towards his mouth, and took a bite.

It tasted of charcoal and rotten meat.

He choked it down, looking at the apple only to see that it wasn’t a very pale yellow, instead it appeared to be a dull grey, and Adam could see what looked like bug limbs twitching as they stuck out from the “apples” flesh. Adam dropped the “fruit”, seeing it turn to mush the second it hit the asphalt, all while Gabriel began to laugh. Its cackle drilled into Adam’s head; a discordant, inhuman sound that echoed around him. Adam coughed and choked, his throat beginning to burn as he gagged, scratching at his neck as he fell to his knees.

“You truly are a selfish fool, aren’t you?” Gabriel mocked. “Almost pitiful.”

“W…Wh-what…what the fuck…what the fuck was that—” Adam questioned, despite feeling as if something was scratching the interior of his esophagus.

“Thank you, Murray,” Gabriel chuckled, ignoring Adam’s question. “You have made things so simple for me.”

Adam looked back up, seeing that Gabriel had vanished into thin air, all before he looked back down, trembling as he tried to make himself gag, but finding himself unable to. He forced himself onto his feet, gagging and coughing as he covered his mouth, stumbling down the road as he decided to go back to his original plan; returning to Bythorne. He felt sick just thinking of going back to Mandela, though it could’ve also been the strange dread he felt that made his stomach churn.

His breathing was harsh and uneven as he staggered down the road, letting out groans and gasps of discomfort as the pressure where his stomach was soon turned into pain. The lights he found comforting above him slowly began to be unbearable, making his dilated pupils sting every single time he passed under one. He felt as if he would vomit at any moment as he tried to maintain balance despite feeling lightheaded. Was he dying? Was it poison that he ate? He didn’t know the answers to any of the questions that came up in his head, only trying to focus on getting help.

“J-J-J…J…Jonah?” He called into the night air, having to choke out the word, as his throat felt tight. “JONAH?!”

No answer; wherever Jonah was, he was too far away to hear Adam’s calls.

Adam let out a surprised yell as he felt a surge of pain hit him at once, causing him to hunch over as he held his stomach, feeling as if his insides were burning. He covered his mouth as he fell to his knees on the side of the road, lurching over as he threw up a mix of bile and blood. Despite getting everything he could out, the burning didn’t wane; it even began to get worse, even when he had nothing else in his stomach to puke out. Adam swayed in place, shakily rising to his feet as he walked around the puddle of his own internal fluids, trying to ignore how he saw bloody chunks of flesh in it.

For miles and miles, he continued to walk, despite how weak his legs felt with every passing second. Not a single cohesive thought ran through his brain as he stumbled, holding his arms against his torso as hard as he could, despite it doing nothing to help the increasing burning, stabbing pain developing inside of him. He twitched and shook, unable to stay still as if strings were pulling on every limb, forcing them to move in borderline painful ways. His elbow popped every time his arm jerked to the side, his knees cracking with every awkward step, and his head jerking and twitching at random moments. He wanted nothing more than to collapse to the ground and sleep until morning, giving him a break from the increasing agony he felt coursing through his veins as he forced himself to walk one step at a time.

Had it already been an hour? Adam couldn’t tell, with his grasp on time slipping. Thoughts ran through his head, most feeling not his own as he tried to make one cohesive thought to figure out a way to get him out of the situation he was in. However, as he tried to force his mind to slow down, his eyes caught something in the distance. Red lights; a car’s taillights pierced the darkness, Adam able to hear the sound of the engine running as he slowly grew closer. He felt a tinge of hope, for the first time that night, all before he looked down towards the side of the vehicle, the hope turning back into anger. Jonah.

Jonah was sitting against the side of the car, knees hugged close to his chest as he sobbed into his arms. Adam could make out his silver dyed hair, and he was wearing his leather jacket and white sweatshirt, along with blue jeans and red high-top shoes. His quiet sobbing was barely audible until Adam staggered close, letting out a pained groan as he nearly fell to the ground, clasping his stomach as he fell to his knees. He looked up at Jonah, the car feeling so close yet so far. He breathed in and out repeatedly, finding his voice before he choked out: “J-Jonah?”

Jonah looked up, not even glancing in Adam’s general direction at first, looking around before his gaze finally reached Adam. “…Adam?”

“J…Jonah you…you fucking dick…” Adam groaned as hunched over, barely processing the sound of Jonah’s footsteps rapidly approaching him.

“W-What; Adam what ha—”

“Shut up.” Adam stated as Jonah helped him to his feet. “Just…get us the fuck out of here, man.”

Jonah rested Adam’s arm over his shoulders as he led Adam to the car, lightly pushing him into the car through the passenger side door before entering it himself, looking back at Adam as he slammed the driver’s side door closed. “What happened, what’s going on?” Jonah questioned, his eyes showing his unease and fear as Adam bounced his leg and leaned back in his seat.

“Look…I’ll explain it later, just…go, alright?” Adam exhaled. Jonah didn’t question it, driving away as soon as Adam was done speaking, speeding down the road and towards Bythorne. Jonah glanced towards Adam every few seconds, seeing that he was trembling, curled into himself as he leaned against the car door. Jonah tried to keep his breath steady, repressing his fright before he prepared to speak, only to be interrupted by Adam.

“I…didn’t think you’d actually…listen to me.” Adam said quietly.

“What?”

“You…just fucking left?”

“Look I…I can’t just…I couldn’t just stay there,” Jonah stated. “And I thought…you wanted me gone anyway.”

There was silence for a moment as Adam shuddered, feeling a strange twitch in his torso.

“You’re in a fuckin…paranormal group and you’re scared of the paranormal?” Adam glanced at Jonah, Jonah only returning the stare for a brief moment before looking away.

“I-I…I wanted the money, okay?” Jonah sighed. “…and…friends. It’s hard to get a job around here anymore so…I thought it would…help.”

“You never cared?” Adam questioned. “Is that why you never fucking help with anything?”

“I cared, like…God, I don’t know.” Jonah responded.

Adam scoffed before coughing and shuddering once again.

“Look, I’m…just…happy to see you again, man.” Jonah said hesitantly. “I mean…you…are Adam…right?” Jonah smiled nervously and insincerely as he looked at Adam.

“Of course I am.” Adam stated with annoyance. “Blue eyes. If you even paid attention, you’d know that alternates have black eyes.”

“I know but—”

“Wait, you…you think I was replaced?” Adam questioned. “You thought I died in there?”

The silence felt deafening, Adam shaking again as he tried to silence the thoughts that ran through his head.

“Jonah, did you—”

“Yes.” Jonah responded quietly, his voice almost nothing more than a squeak.

Adam scoffed again, brows furrowing as he looked out of the passenger side window. “Of course you did.” He stared outside blankly, barely able to see the trees on each side of the road aside from what was within the headlights beams. The calmness was short lived however, as he suddenly felt a jerk inside of his body, as if something had shifted against his ribs. Adam abruptly hunched over, grasping his stomach as he let out groans of discomfort, Jonah looking at him as he did so.

“Adam?” Jonah felt a pit in his chest grow as he watched Adam shake harder. “You…are you okay?”

“I-I-I don’t…know.” Adam stated, finding himself unable to sit still for even a second. “I think…I need a hospital.”

Jonah’s breath quickened when he heard that statement, turning back towards the road before he saw a sign on the side of it; the sign that signaled the edge of Mandela’s border, and thus the entrance to Bythorne. “We’ll be there soon, don’t worry.” Jonah attempted to sound reassuring, though not even he was sure if there truly was nothing to worry about. “You’ll be okay, alright? You’ll be fine.” Adam’s shaking was becoming worse with every passing second, and the dread creeping up in Jonah’s mind was following suit. Jonah tried to focus on the road as the trees disappeared on the edges of the road, being replaced by a large field on both sides. He was so close to Bythorne, and more importantly, a hospital. Just 20 more minutes at most, less if he ignored the speed limit despite the ice on the road. Jonah took on last glance at Adam to check up on his state, only to see his eyes roll back and his body jerk forward, spitting out blood onto the dashboard.

Jonah let out a surprised yell, staring at Adam as he began convulsing, slamming his head against the back of his seat repeatedly. Jonah pressed his free arm against his chest, trying to keep him still as best he could while also trying to keep an eye on the road. Jonah cursed under his breath as he tried to suppress the urge to panic, feeling Adam resisting against his grasp under his hand.

“O-Out…out.” Adam mumbled.

“What? W-What do you me—”

“Get me out of this FUCKING CAR.” Adam commanded, blood running down the edges of his mouth.

“Okay, okay!” Jonah hesitantly obliged, pulling over and parking beside the edge of the field. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Adam pushed open the door, stumbling out and towards the front of the car. He only got a few more steps before he collapsed, laying on his back as he continued to violently shake, Jonah leaving the car to try and help. Jonah stood in shock as he tried to think of any way he could possibly help Adam as he laid on the ground, convulsing.

“I-I’ll go get help okay? I’ll see if there’s anyone around here.” Jonah said as he looked around.

“Don’t leave me…don’t leave…m…” Adam could barely get his words out, feeling a pressure building in his chest.

Jonah ran down the road until he was at the edge of the field, seeing that not a single car was driving their way, nor were there any homes in view. “HELLO?” Jonah called into the night air. “HELP! HELP US! ANYONE?!”

Jonah let out a frustrated and worried groan as he realized there was no one and nothing nearby that could help them, snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Adam’s scream from a distance. He immediately turned back, rushing as fast as he could towards Adam, out of breath by the time he arrived. “We need to get out of here; get in the car.” Jonah exhaled, as he crouched by Adam’s side, grasping his hand to pull him up.

“I-I don’t—”

“I know you don’t want to, but we need to get you to a hospital.” Jonah said quickly. “Come on, let’s go.”

Jonah helped Adam sit up, Adam groaning with every movement as they both slowly stood up. “We’ll get you help, okay?” Jonah reassured. “You’ll be okay—” Jonah felt something shift under Adam’s back, jerking his hand away when he felt it as Adam let out a loud yell, immediately falling back to the ground. Jonah stared at Adam with confusion and fear as he began to let out pained yells, coughing up blood onto the road below him as he grasped the sides of his hoodie with his clammy, cold hands.

Jonah had no clue what to say, feeling a deep fear as he backed away, seeing something crawling underneath the skin on Adam’s back. Adam’s screams of pain continued, becoming worse with every passing second and with every sharp pain he felt in his back, as if something was pressing against the inside of his skin and muscles. Adam could feel and hear his ribs cracking, shifting in unnatural ways and breaking away from each other. He was muttering unintelligible things under his breath, interrupted by more screams as blood began to stain small parts of his hoodie’s back, barely visible through the black fabric. Jonah watched, Adam’s screaming not stopping before something pierced through the skin.

Fingers were pushed through Adam’s back, with a skeletal hand following, then an entire long, disproportionate, mangled arm that slid out of his back, placing its hand on the ground next to his body. Jonah yelled, stumbling backwards and falling to the ground, crawling backwards with his eyes fixed on the half-formed limb until he pressed his back against the grill of the car. Blood dripped off of the limb as skin began forming around its blackened bones, the limb moving in an unnatural way, as if it never moved before. More squelching and tearing was heard as a second long arm pushed itself out of Adam’s back, lying on the ground next to Adam as it felt around.

The choir of agonized screams, tearing flesh, and cracking bones continued as six more limbs followed, much shorter and more proportional than the two that came before them. Jonah watched in horror as they wriggled around, feeling the cool winter air, Adam’s wounds stinging and burning from hitting open air as well. Adam shakily held up his head, blood seeping out of his mouth and his eyes bloodshot from crying, feeling something scratching at the inside of his cheeks. Eight mandibles pushed themselves out of his mouth from the inside of his cheeks, feeling around as Adam gagged and choked.

He saw something appearing in his peripheral vision, barely able to process it before a hand placed itself over his left eye, Adam weakly trying to remove it as two more covered his other eye and his mouth, suppressing his hoarse screams entirely. Jonah watched as Adam thrashed around, trying to free himself from the parasite’s grasp fruitlessly, all before he abruptly became still, his limbs becoming limp as another parasitic limb held up his head.

Silence fell, with only Jonah’s harsh breathing and the sound of blood dripping onto the asphalt being heard. Jonah couldn’t even find his voice to scream, staring at Adam’s bloody body, unsure if he was dead or alive until the limbs twitched once again. The two largest arms pressed against the ground, raising Adam’s limp body up until it didn’t even touch the ground. It looked like a spider almost, with Adam being at the center of the eight parasitic limbs like a spider’s main body. Jonah watched as it grew still, holding Adam’s body above the ground before its arm turned his head around to face the cowering man in front of the car. As soon as Jonah saw the fingers covering Adam’s eye shift and reveal one horrified, watering eye staring back at him, he immediately snapped out of his shock and scrambled to his feet.

Jonah screamed, running across the road as Adam’s eye was covered once again, all before the two limbs holding his body up began to “run” after Jonah. Jonah didn’t look back once, no matter how close the thing’s “footsteps” sounded in the snow behind him. Jonah cried, his tears freezing to his face as he scrambled towards the woods, hoping to lose the thing behind him if he managed to make it there. However, when he felt a hand grasp his ankle, tripping him and making him fall to the ground, he realized he simply didn’t have the speed to do so.

Jonah slammed against the ground, turning onto his back as he stared up at Adam’s body, seeing the hands covering up most of his face. The hand covering Adam’s mouth moved and his mouth opened, the mandibles in his jaw exiting it. One of the main arms pressed against Jonah’s chest, pinning him to the ground as two free arms cracked and twitched, lengthening until they were wrapped around his neck and clasping his jaw. Jonah stared at Adam’s face, sobbing and kicking his legs in the air as he felt the grasp of the hands tighten. “Adam…” Jonah whimpered. “…Please—”

He couldn’t even get his sentence out before he felt his neck crack.

6:11 AM

Adam awoke face down in the field, snow gathering in his hair and snowflakes landing on his sore back. Large red indents in his skin were visible through the large tears in his jacket, barely healed over enough to stop bleeding. Adam didn’t even want to open his eyes, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep, however as he shivered and felt the snow under his face making his skin go numb, he decided to wait just a little longer to do so.

Adam winced as he pushed himself off of the ground, shakily rising to his feet as he looked around, seeing that the sun was barely illuminating the sky, as if it was still midnight. Every bone in his body felt sore, with his back burning from the cold air. Adam couldn’t even scrounge up a single cohesive thought as he staggered around the field, looking around before his eyes fixated on something in the distance; the car, which still had its headlights on, signaling Adam’s way out of that hellhole. However, when he caught something in the corner of his eye, he paused, looking towards the middle of the field before he spoke.

“Jonah…?”

From where Adam stood, he could barely make out Jonah laying in the snow, unmoving. Adam stared from a distance, glancing back at the car before deciding to shamble through the snow and see what was going on. Jonah better get up before Adam gets there, else he’ll get his ass kicked for making Adam worry about him. Or, well, was Adam truly worried? He wasn’t sure, though he couldn’t help but notice that he needed to suppress the unease he felt as he approached Jonah, muttering as he did so. Soon, Jonah came into view, Adam looking at him with an annoyed, pained look before he spoke.

“I swear to God Jonah, if this is another jo—”

Adam froze when he finally saw Jonah’s body in detail. Blood was coagulating and pouring out underneath Jonah’s body, staining the pure white snow a deep crimson. His limbs were bent in odd ways, with bruises all over his body. Adam’s dilated eyes looked at Jonah, barely acknowledging how the body looked, as he was too distracted looking at where his face was.

Gone.

It was gone.

There wasn’t even a head, with only a bloody, messily torn stump where it used to be remaining. Adam looked behind the body, seeing something written in the snow above where the head would’ve been:

“COWARD”

Adam wasn’t sure why his nausea had left him, or why he felt so empty despite him staring at the horrific scene in front of him. He stared blankly at Jonah’s body, wincing when he felt a stinging sensation in his skin. He couldn’t remember anything before he woke up aside from agony, even being unsure what had caused it; were they attacked? Was an alternate the reason Jonah was gone? Adam wasn’t sure, backing away from his “friend’s” body before turning towards the road, deciding to take the car back to Bythorne.

He walked towards the car, glancing at the road and seeing a frozen, dark puddle in front of the car, deciding to ignore it as he opened the driver’s door. He sat in the vehicle, closing the door behind him in silence as he glanced at the dashboard, seeing yet again more blood splattered on it. With a blank expression and without a single word, Adam started the engine and drove down the road, leaving Jonah’s body behind as he headed home. He wished the car radio in the car worked; then maybe he wouldn’t be left alone with the new thoughts that ran through his head.

As he drove, he pushed back the urge to sleep at the wheel, all while ignoring the faint twitching in his stomach. The heater was barely succeeding in keeping Adam warm in the car, with his breath still visible in front of his face. He hated the cold, and now even his own body felt as cold as ice. Adam reached into his pants pocket, pulling out a small cell phone before dialing a number and holding it up to his ear. He waited a few moments, and when the automatic message came up, he began to record his message.

“Sarah.” He stated, his voice monotone and quiet. “I’ll be back at HQ in a little bit. I…have some new footage. You’ll see. Bye.”

#the mandela catalogue #mandela catalogue #tmc #mandela prophet #adam murray #jonah marshall #alternate gabriel #body horror #shmorp writes sometimes #blood tw #gore tw #tw character death #Adam has a bad day whoopsies #Maybe don't take apples from weird angel looking things. or anyone you don't know for that matter #Dummy. get spider'd idiot #This was mainly made to. add more details to how the parasite truly affects Adam cause. I didn't go into much detail in the og version #Up to you to decide which one you prefer but personally I like this one. /lh #Prophet Adam (tmc)

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