CHAPTER NINE: A NEW REGIME.
Back at the headspace HQ, three people sit around a table at the top room (where once the alters played go-fish). A man, wearing a trench coat and possessing bright glowing cyan eyes (one of which has a question mark shaped iris), a woman with pink streaks in her hair and one pink eye, and a small child, who wears baggy clothes and has bright white eyes (no iris).
The man speaks up, having waited for much longer than necessary in his view, “Must we wait much longer to see the return of the Malevolent one?”
The woman scoffs at the man, her arms crossed tightly, “Of course you’d be the one asking these questions, Whyner. We need to stay put in order to figure out what is going on here.”
“Aren’t we meant to have seen Umbra by now?” Whyner asks again, his singular iris fixated on the woman sat on the other side of the table. “God only knows where she is right now. Probably off doing some evil deeds for the Malevolent one. That’s all she’s good for, afterall…”
They both hear the kid at the table sniffle, looking as though on the verge of tears as they grip their loose-fit sweater sleeves tight, “I-I’m scared…what does he want from us…?” The woman sighs, her voice less strict with the child. “To be honest, probably nothing good, Stormy. But I’m sure this little situation will be resolved in time…”
As she finishes her sentence, the sound of footsteps can be heard coming up the stairs of the HQ. From the top, Umbra emerges into the view of the three people around the table.
“Finally! And where have you been all of this time then? Out there torturing alters?” Ingress hisses at Umbra, her voice at a harsh tone.
“What I do for the Malevolent one is none of your business, Ingress.” Umbra responds in a cold yet oddly calm manner. Ingress merely stares sharply at Umbra as she continues to speak.
“Now, you three have been summoned here in order to discuss…serious system business. On behalf of the Malevolent one himself…” Umbra trails off as more footsteps are heard from the stairwell. “Ah, yes…here he comes now…”
Mal reaches the top, and he reveals himself to the others around the table: his demonic features seem to have grown stronger and more prominent since he re-emerged just days ago. His horns stick out like prongs on a pitchfork, his tail possessing sharp spikes that poke out dangerously, and his fangs - already fierce before - now akin to those of a wolf’s. He smirks at them all, hands behind his back.
“Welcome, components…for today will mark the dawn of a new regime in this system.” Mal speaks in a dark tone, revealing one of his hands to show off his clawed fingers, “From today, I will be reclaiming the title of “host”, a title that is rightfully mine…but for that to fully happen…I’ll be in need of some help…which is where you three-….wait…” Mal stops, his eye squinting slightly as his eyes gaze over an empty chair. “Where is Marzena?”
“They aren’t coming. Although it wouldn’t specify any reasons…” Ingress responds, staring at Mal with a unfazed expression.
Mal seems annoyed with this information: how could he possibly take over the system if people were gonna refuse his leadership? He growls deeply, before continuing his words. “Well then…that’s…no issue…I can still do this without them…anyway…you three will be necessary helpers for me in my plan to take over again. So…” Mal grins at the three people. “Will you join me?”
Ingress, Whyner, and Stormy all look at each other with differing expressions: Ingress seems unbothered by Mal’s demands, Whyner has an eyebrow raised questioningly, and Stormy is shaking and quivering in their seat.
There is silence for a moment before Ingress speaks up, her voice stubborn. “What would you do to us if we said no?”
Mal chuckles, taking a step closer to her. “Oh, Ingress…I’m afraid that ‘no’ isn’t an option anymore. You see…I’ve already won.”
“Oh? And how so?” Ingress stands up out of her seat, staring down the small demon child with disdain. “Mike is still the host, and unless you were able to get him out of front anytime soon, he will always remain the host.”
“So that’s all it takes? I’m sure I can manage that…afterall, I’ve been in and out of front a few times now…” Mal breathes heavily, a smirk still on his face. “And I’ll especially be able to accomplish that with your help.”
“My help? Oh please, you really think I’d willingly help you?” Ingress rolls her eyes. “You hold no power over me. I take orders from the host, and YOU, are NOT the host.”
“Oh but I will be. And you will take orders from me. But until then…I suppose I’ll have to force it.” He suddenly grabs her wrist and begins to twist it hard. Ingress yells in pain, being brought down to her knees. Stormy yelps with fright and covers their eyes, whilst Whyner arises from his seat.
“Is such forces like this necessary?!” Whyner’s voice booms over Ingress’s cries of pain. “Unhand her, won’t you?!”
“Not unless she shows me what I need to see. You know what I need of you. Now give it to me.” Mal growls in a dangerous tone, “or I may just snap it.” his grip on her wrist tightens and she cries out again. “S-stop! You beast of an alter!! O-okay fine! Just let go!”
Mal gives it one last squeeze before letting go, and Ingress grips her now swollen wrist with immense pain. “You-…you’re truly a monster…”
Mal rolls his eyes. “Tell me something I don’t know. Show me.” Ingress nods and shakily holds up her injured hand, conjuring something from the flesh ground: a long rectangular shape emerges from the ground with a reflective surface. It was a mirror.
Mal smirks, looking into the mirror. And what he sees pleases him very much…
He sees through Mike’s eyes, for just a fleeting moment: he appears to be walking through some strange jungle area, talking. Their voices were far away from Mal but he could still make out what they were saying.
“So…when you got hit in the head, you lost contact with them?” Zoey said, her tone concerned.
“Yeah…” Mike responds, also sounding concerned for what that means. “I don’t know why everything’s been so strange lately: they’ve all been quiet, even in my head and-…well…I’ve just not been feeling like myself yknow?”
“I know that too well by now…” Zoey sighs, looking ahead as they walked. “Wait…” she trails off, clearly questioning something, “don’t you wonder if…maybe…I dunno…another hit in the head would bring them back?”
“I-…I mean…” Mike sounds nervous at the idea, but doesn’t completely reject the thought. “It’s worth a try…right? It could be like- some sort of brain reset or something…could you maybe-?”
Suddenly, the mirror goes blank again, losing contact with the outer. world. Mal stares blankly at the mirror for a moment, before chuckling mischievously. “Oh….oh-ho-ho boy….what an idiot! Both of them! It’s like they’re both wanting me to just come out and play! Oblivious fools…they’ll all get what’s coming to them…”
The mirror sinks back into the ground, Ingress still cowering on the floor cradling her swollen wrist. Whyner stands beside her with a hand on her shoulder. He stares down Mal as he speaks: “so…after all of that chaos you’ve caused for this information, what’s your plan now?”
Mal smirks at Whyner. “That..is not for you to know. It’s for me to figure out.”
Mal turns his back on them and walks towards Umbra. He turns back to the three components with a prideful look on his face. “I know what my next moves are, but now you all must know your next commands. You see…I’ll need some guards for our…prisoners…” Mal’s tone becomes more commanding as he speaks. “Ingress, you’ll be needing to watch Svetlana, Stormy, you’ll be able to catch up with the old man…and Whyner…you’ll be the guard for our most important prisoner…”
“And what about that Vito alter? Shouldn’t he need guarding? Or Manitoba?” Whyner questions Mal sharply. Mal shrugs. “Oh, don’t you worry about them. Vito has his own special guard…and by the way things are going, good old Toto won’t be needing any guards….”
Mal laughs, clearly pleased with himself. He stares down at the injured Ingress and her swollen wrist. “Stand up and get that thing sorted out. Then go and find Svetlana. That’s an order.”
Ingress stands up shakily, Whyner helps her up. “All of you, go.” Mal ends coldly, and all of the components leave the room and head down the stairs, leaving Umbra and Mal alone.
“So…what is your plan?” Umbra asks him cautiously. She wanted him to complete his goal, but she also wanted to make sure he’s not going to get himself into too much danger.
Mal smirks at Umbra, his eyes flickering with mischief. “Don’t worry about me and my plans. Just know that this will most likely be the last you’ll see of me for a while…but whilst I’m away, I’ll need you to make sure this place is being run with a tight iron fist.” Mal chuckles. “In my honour, of course.”
Umbra appears uncertain for a moment, before nodding. “Of course, Mal. I won’t let them escape.”
“Good…good…well…I must go…who knows how long it’ll actually take before Mike’s stupidity gets the better of him?” He starts to walk away, cackling as he walks down the stairs. Umbra stays there for a moment watching him go, seeming worried for how this will pan out.
Mal walks through the subconscious, headed towards a boulder in the distance: it looked uncannily similar to Mal’s own head. He marvels at his own pride for a moment. Soon, everything would be just Mal. His time…
There are chains wrapped around the boulder, and a shackle at the end of it. Mal grabs the chain and binds it around one of his legs, locking it with a key. After locking it shut, he snaps the key in half and throws it way out of bounds and out of reach. He stares down at his shackled leg and laughs maniacally. Things were going to plan. Now he just had to…
Hardly any waiting was necessary, for at once he felt a switch. And with a poof, Mal was gone. A moment later, another poof. And Mike now lays in his place.
Previous chapter: https://www.tumblr.com/chestersbutters/822196190440505344/tumblr
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