Something More Than Fear
AN: when I say day 8’s prompt was “possessed” I knew I needed to do something with the Spectre. I had a blast writing this one, it’s so different than what I’m used to! Fair warning, the tone borders on horror, & it’s a lil spooky towards the start, but other than that, it should be fine. Of course there’s descriptions of possession, so if you don’t really like the sound of that, feel free to skip through
Color code guide to make it easier to read, cause there’s a lot of characters when the voices get involved. The Princess & Narrator use regular, non-colored text
Hero- red
Skeptic- blue
Smitten- pink
Contrarian- green
Cheated- orange
Paranoid- purple
Hunted- orange
Stubborn- purple
(sorry, ran out of colored text & had to double up, but I tried to use the colors that aren’t used as much)
You've done this song and dance before. Too many times to count, actually. And each time, she's different than you remember. Unpredictable. Adaptable. Playful, yet malicious. Sweet, but cunning.
You had foolishly thought it best to spare her, but not save her. Let whatever was supposed to happen play out naturally. But that only served to enrage her, and it was among the more terrifying forms she's become.
She was a fearsome specter, face doll-like and cracking.
Heart. Lungs. Liver. Nerves. Heart. Lungs. Liver. Nerves.
She floated around you, drifting closer before floating back just to lunge at you, face contorting in a startling snarl. She cackled as you nearly lost focus, nearly died of fright right then and there.
Heart. Lungs. Liver. Nerves.
But it was always a pointless effort to resist, in the end.
The Princess removes her mask, two bloodshot eyes staring, unblinking, from an endless void that swallows you whole.
You are on a path in the woods, and at the end of that path, is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is a princess. You are meant to slay her.
~~~
You wordlessly follow the narrator's directions, walking up the path to the cabin. You don't bother to take the knife, much to his dismay, choosing instead to stare at your imaginary reflection in a mirror that's not there.
"How many times do we have to tell you? The mirror is right there!" the Voice of the Hero insisted.
Oh really? Then where is it?
"It... disappears every time we try to get a closer look."
Well that certainly sounds promising. Not suspicious at all.
Anyway, you made your way down the creaking stairs, surprised to see the rotting skeletal remains on the princess still chained to the wall.
"What? No, t-that can't be! It reset!" Hero cried out, panic lacing his voice.
"You didn't think we were done, did you? Your poor little body gave out before the real fun could even begin," the Princess's ethereal voice echoed around the room. She floated on the edges of shadows, creeping close when your back was turned before darting away.
"It's not supposed to be this way," you pointed out, goosebumps prickling the back of your neck. The glaring inconsistency of continuity set you on edge, and the voices in your head were in a tizzy.
"She's more in control than she wants us to think," the Voice of the Cheated spoke up incredulously.
"I think she's more in control than the Narrator at this point," the Voice of the Skeptic rudely added. "Oh, someone's defensive."
Okay that is it! I am sick of you insinuating that she's some all powerful witch, she is just a princess, now do your job now and slay her.
"Umm, how do you expect us to do that? She's already dead," Skeptic noted smugly.
I'm getting sick of you.
"He does make a good point though. I mean, what are we supposed to do now?" Hero asked, and you all paused for thought.
You had been studying this new iteration of the Princess, and while still terrifying, her features were softer, more beautiful. This time when she dove in to spook you, you didn't even flinch.
Clearly, she didn't like your lack of reaction.
"Oh, you think you're tough now, is that it? I don't scare you anymore?" she growled in frustration, hovering in his personal space, circling him like a shark. "Well, I'll make you scream, one way or another."
A chill ran down your spine as her words sank in. Then, a much stronger chill wracked through your body as she entered your body, nestling into the farthest crevices of your mind, hiding beyond reach.
"Get her out!" the Hero panicked.
"I agree, it's already too crowded in here with you lot," the Contrarian agreed condescendingly.
"Wow, is it always so loud in your head? No wonder you're so quiet most of the time," the Princess teased, settling icy hands on your shoulders.
Your breath hitched at the touch, and she smirked. She had to admit, the feathers adorning your body had made her rather curious...
No. Oh you've got to be joking.
Seriously, I can't believe I have to say this! I think I'm going to gag.
Sigh.
She had, for quite some time, wondered where you're ticklish-
"What?"
"Excuse me?"
"All I heard is that she thinks about us! What a loving heart she has, to ponder something so trivial and sweet!" the Voice of the Smitten spoke up to add his unwanted opinion. "Well that's rather harsh."
Will you all just shut up? This is hard enough to get through as it is!
She also wondered exactly how sensitive you are. She had correctly assumed you're on the more... devastatingly sensitive side of things-"
"God, did you have to say it like that?"
I was trying to put it delicately.
She wondered exactly how ticklish you are, and correctly assumed that you are, and I quote, painstakingly ticklish.
There, is that better?
"Absolutely not! What- Why is she even thinking about that?" the Hero whined.
The Voice of the Skeptic scoffed in amusement. "I dunno, it's not like she has much else to do besides think of new ways to torture us."
While you were busy conversing with yourself, the Princess was getting acquainted with your mind and body, and more importantly, control over its primary functions.
That certainly grabbed your attention, and the Voice of the Hunted spoke up, fear lacing his voice. "Um, c-come again?"
"Shhh, you're giving away the best part!" the Princess playfully scolded the Narrator for simply doing his job.
"I-I'm sorry, but, uh, can you get out now?" the Paranoid asked, growing more anxious with each passing second.
She let out a sly, taunting chuckle. If she hadn't already possessed you, her smirk would've stretched wider, something dangerous flashing in her eyes.
"I had been doing just fine without that visual," the Hunted said, trying to shake the image from his thoughts.
"You know, I really like your little mantra from before," she spoke up, grabbing your attention once more. Her voice came from the back of your mind, inside your skull, curling through your ears in a tingly whisper. You couldn't help but shake your head on reflex, scrunching your neck as your feathers stood on end from the sudden sensation.
Her twinkling laugh rang out from all around.
"What was it again?" she paused for thought, running a single finger down your spine to make you convulse and yelp.
"Oh, I remember now. Heart..." Suddenly, a hand curled around your heart, scribbling ever so softly. You gasped and tensed up, choking giggles and flustered, stuttering hiccups slipping past your lips. Your heart skips a beat, racing faster and faster as she gently prods your tender heart.
"Lungs..." As if things couldn't get any more cruel, she targeted the most crucial organ at a time like this. She didn't go easy, either. She massaged around the inside of your chest until you were positively howling. You writhed beneath her touch, cackling as loud as your tortured lungs could manage.
"Liver..." You squawked out a laugh as both hands kneaded your upper belly, nestling in deep between your ribcage. You arched your back, writhing in ticklish agony.
"Nerves..." Dread filled the pit of your stomach, and rightfully so. Without any further warning, an endless current of ticklish energy coursed through every nerve ending in your body. You convulsed and twitched, finally falling to your knees and keeling over on the ground.
Through hysterical laughter, you pleaded for her to stop. You tried to appeal to her sense of reason, but at this point, you could barely form a coherent sentence.
Regular tickle torture was bad enough, but what she was doing to you was downright abysmal. Your body struggled to ward off the interior assault, but there was nothing that could be done. The ribcage, tasked with guarding such vital organs, proved utterly useless in protecting them against the foreign invader.
You curled up as tight as you could, a helpless, giggly mess as you wrapped your arms around your stomach. You frantically clawed at your chest, desperate to do something- anything to make her stop.
"Oh no no no, we can't have my pretty bird hurting himself," came her lilting voice from the back of your mind, making your brain feel fuzzy.
"I-I'm your pretty bird?" the Voice of the Smitten stuttered out in shock.
"Yes you are!" she cooed, voice dripping with condescension as she tried to mask her endearment. She fluttered under your chin as she spoke, drawing out a few giggles that sounded suspiciously like purring.
As you caught your breath, you felt your arms slowly begin to move. Your eyes flew open as you tried to yank them down, but they didn't even budge. What the hell?
"Very funny, which one of us is doing it?" Hero asked the others, annoyance lacing his tone.
"Don't look at me. I bet it's Contrarian," the Skeptic accused smugly.
"What- why me?"
"I know you think this is all just hilarious," he continued to bicker, just for the sake of it.
"Well it... kinda is, isn't it?" the Contrarian asked, barely holding back a smirk. He was met with a chorus of no's, even the quieter voices and the narrator himself all chiming in to scold him.
In what world is this funny to anyone but her?
"I just mean, it's a bit of a downgrade, isn't it? She goes from killing us with fear to- to this!" the Contrarian explained himself, earning a few amused snickers from his counterparts.
"I guess you do have a point," Hero agreed, barely holding back a chuckle.
"Hm. Bold talk from someone who can't even move," the Princess spoke up, and everyone went dead silent.
"Uh, I didn't actually mean that-" Contrarian quickly tried to backtrack, but it was too late. He'd sealed everyone's fate.
"Oh way to go, smart ass! Now she's definitely going to kill us!" Skeptic hissed.
"I want to make it clear, they don't speak for me!" Hero chimed in.
"It's too late now, I heard every word. You think I'm a downgrade just because I like to play with my food. But make no mistake, just because you'll be laughing the whole time doesn't mean I won't devour youuuu," she purred, voice switching on a whim between a low growl and a silky sweet drawl.
"Fuck, I'm sorry, please! Don't listen to him, you're absolutely terrifying!" Hero tried to bargain, desperate to save them all from a fate worse than death.
"Don't listen to them! You're absolutely ravishing! I could spend an eternity in your arms. No matter how you torment me, I'm happy to endure it, just to see you smile."
Oh for the love of God, will someone shut him up?
"Gladly." She spoke without an ounce of sympathy as she raked her nails down your ribs from the inside, and it was so much worse than you could ever imagine.
An undignified squawk escaped your throat as you realized you had no control over your arms, and the tickling was only getting worse.
From inside your chest, she played your ribs like a piano, composing a grand symphony. But that was merely the appetizer...
You were still reeling with laughter when you felt a ticklish flutter in your chest. Your heart skipped a beat, and you jumped at the startling feeling. Your pulse quickened as she cradled your heart, drawing teasing circles with her thumbs.
You writhed on the floor, hiccuping through shrill, desperate giggles. You struggled to maintain control, but your heart was racing in your chest, for no other reason other than the fact it really fucking tickles!
"Ohoho nohoho! P-plehehease- mahahake her stohohop!" the Voice of the Hero was also lost to hysterics as the Princess targeted the source of your heroic courage. It seemed that it was also having a strong effect on the Voice of the Smitten, as his booming laugh radiated throughout your mind.
"Dahaharling, m-maybe you should lihihisten to hihihim!" the Smitten pleaded, hoping to appeal to her kinder nature. Of which, I remind you, there is none.
The Princess let out an annoyed huff. "You're lucky this doesn't affect you too," she threatened, a sharp edge to her voice. "But I think I'll stay right here. Just for a bit longer."
She continued teasing your heart, delivering soft, playful squeezes that made you convulse. The Smitten would shriek every time, while the Hero snorted through his bellowing laughter. She noticed the way they were reacting the most out of the other voices, and wondered which spots would torment the others.
"Let's see... who's ticklish here?" she asked in a lilting tone, resting delicate, icy hands on your lungs. You gasped, arching your back on reflex. Your arms strained against whatever mental hold she had over you, but your arms remained stretched above your head. You whined as you bucked and kicked your legs, yet your torso remained stretched and exposed. Not that it would even help if you could move your arms, as proven before, but it still drove you mad knowing how vulnerable you truly are.
"Okay, we get it! You don't have to keep rubbing it in!" the Hero snapped, still catching his breath.
"Aw, is someone embarrassed?" she mocked, drumming her fingers over your lungs. Your breath hitched in your throat, body seizing up as you gasped for breath before she inevitably stole it away. She let out a sadistic chuckle, "I'll take that as a yes."
"T-this isn't fair! She has to know this isn't fair!" the Voice of the Cheated spoke out, fighting in vein to pull your arms down.
"Of course it's not! That's the whole point. You've always been mine to play with. It's not my fault this isn't what you expected."
"No one would expect this!" the Contrarian argued, right on cue. "Wait- what do you mean on cue? AHA! H-hehey behe cahahareful!" The Princess chose that moment to strike, cutting him off mid sentence.
The Voice of the Skeptic wasn't faring much better as she skittered her nails over and inside your lungs. They were rapidly twitching and inflating with each teasing touch, leaving you a gasping mess. The Skeptic giggled breathlessly, stuttering to speak, but he could barely think straight.
"Cahan you just- AAAH! STOHOHOP! P-plehehease! Thihis is cruel, eheheven fohor you!"
"Aw, you poor, ticklish thing. You can't help being so sensitive, can you?" she cooed, sickeningly sweet.
"S-stohop saying thahahat!" the Contrarian whined in embarrassment.
"Why should I?" she purred spidering over your hyperventilating lungs. "Is my little songbird a little flustered?" Her saccharine sweet voice curled around your mind, clouding your thoughts in a fuzzy haze until you were a giggly, wheezing mess.
You could barely hold yourself together; could barely keep track of her icy hands prodding inside you.
Heart.
Lungs.
Liver.
Nerves.
An endless, torturous cycle. And I, for one, have had enough of it.
~~~
You are on a path in the woods...
You stand there, still gasping for air, nerves still reeling from the unexpected assault. The narrator's voice drones on, reciting the opening monologue that you now know by heart.
You wordlessly turn down the path and head towards the cabin.
The interior of the cabin is almost entirely bare. The only furniture of note is a plain wooden table. Perched on that table is a pristine- feather?
"A pristine what?" the Hero spoke up from the back of your mind.
That's not right! It's a dagger! It's always been a dagger!
You rub your weary eyes, and there on the table sat a sharp blade. Your tired mind must be playing tricks on you. Best to kill her quickly and efficiently.
You ignore my words and walk up to the bare wall beside the door. What... what are you doing? There's nothing even there!
You walk up to the dark mirror only you yourself can see, hesitantly peering into the reflection. You can just barely make out a squirming, writhing form similar to your own. You reach out to touch the glass, and the mirror vanishes beneath your hand.
With a reluctant look, you stupidly decide to leave the dagger behind.
You're about halfway down the winding staircase, footsteps softly echoing off the walls, when a lilting voice called out.
"Is that you, my lItTLe soNG bIRd?"
Something about her voice sounded... wrong. It was too calm, too primal, yet there was a sweet, almost playful undertone you couldn't quite put your finger on.
"What did she call us?" the Voice of the Contrarian drew unwanted attention to the nickname.
"She sounds so... possessive," the Voice of the Hunted noted with horror.
"Nonsense! She's just giving us a loving pet name, is all!" Voice of the Smitten chimed in blissfully.
Oh you're her pet all right, but make no mistake: that is a very bad thing.
"Hold on a second, you've tried to make her seem like such a terrifying ruthless beast, but last time we came down here she didn't even hurt us," the Skeptic spoke up boldly.
"That was half the problem now, wasn't it?" the Hero added sarcastically.
Wait, what? What are you two on about?
"Nothing, just- forget it," the Hero brushed off the Narrator's concerns as you continued down the stairs.
"There you are. Took you long enough," the Princess purred as soon as your form emerged from the shadows.
She looked... different. That was a given; she just about always took on a new, unrecognizable form. But this time, she looked more animalistic: almost primal. Her hair hug in long, matted locks, curled horns protruding from underneath. She was still vaguely human in shape, with sharp claws and fangs. A fluffy tail swished back and forth like an irritated cat.
"Such a shame that last time was cut short. I wasn't finished with you yet," she continued, pacing back and forth as far as her chains would allow. She eyed you as if you were prey.
Actually, I suppose you are.
"Not helping!" the Hunted whined.
"I- I didn't have much say in the matter," you admitted hesitantly. A growling chuckle escaped from somewhere deep in her throat.
"Oh I know. Just make sure your pesky little friend doesn't hit restart before I'm through with you," she demanded.
I'm sorry, but what the hell is she talking about?
"You'll find out soon enough, you really don't have to make us say it," the Contrarian taunted, simultaneously trying to mask his embarrassment.
Y'know, I bet you're really wishing you would've taken that dagger right about now.
"You're really not helping," the Skeptic hissed.
You stilled and the voices in your head went silent as the Princess spoke.
"Why don't you come closer? I won't bite- well, at least not hard enough to draw blood," she chuckled at her own sadistic joke, swaying back and forth as she eyed him like prey.
It made your feathers stand on end.
Another low rumble sounded from her chest, "You get so fluffy when you're flustered, it's adorable," she cooed mockingly, reaching out to scratch under your beak. You let out a shrill chirping squeal at the touch, feathers shuddering at the delightfully maddening sensation.
"Did you hehear that! She called us adorable!" the Smitten called out adoringly, a slight laugh slipping through.
"N-noho wahahait!" you try to protest, taking a step back. However, she doesn't let you get very far.
The Princess manages to throw her chains behind you, giving them a hard tug to send you stumbling straight into her arms. You let out a startled scream as you scramble to escape, but her grip tightens around your waist.
"We have got to stop meeting like this!" she teased, voice dropping an octave as she nuzzled into the crook of your neck. You squeal as she nips at the skin, your defenses quickly tumbling in the form of a helpless giggle fit.
"P-Princehehess plehehease!" you continue to beg, though she heeds you no mind.
"That's right, sing my little songbird," she squeezed your sides, making you twist and arch in her hold as hysterics filled the air.
"AHAHA! W-why does heheher love hahave to tickle sohoho much?" the Smitten lamented through his own hysterics.
Because the only way she can love anything is to torture it, I suppose.
"Ohohokahay, you're rihihight! S-shehehe's cruel! Mahahake her stohohop!" the Hero's pleading voice sounded from the back of your mind.
Oh, so now you believe me. Funny how that works out.
"Wehehe get ihihit!" the Contrarian interjected, before a piercing shriek erupted from your throat. She actually bit your neck and unfortunately, it really fucking tickled.
"Cahahan you stohohop saying thahat?" the Hunted pleaded, desperate for the teasing to stop.
Saying what? Oh, you mean the word tickle? I suppose I could stop, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of my job, now wouldn't it?
"Noho need to rub it in," the Contrarian managed to clap back with only a minimal amount of giggles. "Ohoho fuck you!"
Wow, rude. Anyway...
Your knees buckled, and she easily forced you to the ground. You let out a squawk of surprise as an extra pair of hands kneaded your hips. Wait- since when did she have four arms?
"Thahahat's ihihit, we're dehehead!" the Hunted added as her claws dug in between your ribs, inching ever closer to your armpits.
Her newly acquired arms explored your stomach, drilling into a few particularly sensitive spots on either side.
"Aww, you’re just so sensitive, you can barely take it," she cooed with mock pity. “But you will.” She suddenly reached up to grab you under the beak, yanking you closer. She didn't let you go as she began ruffling your feathers around your neck and chest, sending you into a helpless fit of giggles.
You quickly became putty in her hands, chills coursing through your body with each delicate scratch from her claws. You were grateful for the fact your dark feathers hid your blush. Goosebumps shot down your arms and legs, setting your nerves alight.
It was the perfect distraction while her tail wrapped around your feet. By the time you realize what she's done, she's already sawing the feathery tuft between your talons.
You wail and thrash about in mirthful agony, completely helpless to her every whim. You twitch and cackle with each cruel swipe of her tail.
As you try to pry her hands away, she wrestles your arms above your head and pins them there. You gulp out of nerves, looking anywhere but her. She chuckles, cruel and twisted, and the sound wraps around you like a vine.
I really hate to say it, but you are completely and utterly under her spell.
"I-it's not a literal spell though, right?" the Hero asked, fear lacing his voice. But honestly, I couldn't even tell you at this point.
"Well that's just great," the Skeptic spoke up.
The voices in your head shut up as you erupted in wild hysterics; the Princess finally going for the kill and drilling under your arms. God, I wish she would just kill you so I don't have to watch this.
"HEHEHEY!" the Hero whined.
"NOHOT FAHAHAIR!" the Contrarian wailed.
"Shehe wouldn't do thahahat!" the Smitten added, somehow vouching for her, even now.
The Princess rakes her claws from your pits down the length of your ribs, sending a sharp gasp from your lungs. She smirked, vibrating your ribcage a little, watching as you crumbled beneath her fingertips. You tugged on your arms to no avail, shrieking and squawking as she scratched between the bones.
Her wicked tail continued to swipe relentlessly along your feet, adding to your torment. The soft, feather light touches conflicted with the sensations on your torso, and breathless giggles and snorts began to intermingle with frantic laughter.
"Aww, you're making such funny sounds! Why don't you make some more?" the Princess taunted in a sultry purr, using one hand to scratch around your neck.
You shook your head, more bubbly giggles building up in your throat. But despite your best efforts, they continue to spill past your lips.
She nuzzles against your breath, nipping and huffing against sensitive skin. As if things couldn't get any worse, she begins to trail lower, shoving her head under your arm and along your ribs. You let out a flustered squawk, twisting away only for her to force you back down.
She has you right where she wants you, and there is no escape from that. It would seem the Princess plans to keep you here indefinitely-
The Voice of the Hero cried out in a final plea for mercy, "WHAHAT? Noho, y-you can't just leave us like thihihis! Not with heheher!"
Oh, but can't I?
Your blood ran cold as you came to the horrifying conclusion that there truly was no way out of this. No acceptable path other than submission.
"NO! Gehehet back hehere ahahasshole! Dohoho somethihihing!" the Voice of the Stubborn cried out, desperate for any form of salvation.
Although I don't know what exactly you expect me to do. Apparently, last time I tried that, you just ended up... here.
"Shihit, hehehe's right!" the Hero realized with growing horror.
There was nothing else to do but to give up. You tilt your head back, body going limp and weak, a helpless smile stretched across your face.
You are completely, and utterly hers.
