Chapter ten:
Nightingale
I watched the rain fall in sheets against the window. The storm raged on outside, the tears came from my only good eye I had left. Underneath my hands laid the stuffed cat I won from the dark carnival. Doctors came, doctors left, shrinks came, shrinks left. I just wanted my son and Jack. I wanted them to come back to me, happy and healthy. I wanted my little family to be stronger than ever. The moment I looked away from the darkness outside was from someone else walking into my room. My eyes shifted and I saw him.
A rather tall, handsome man. There was a presence surrounding him that made me feel…different. He was silent as he entered my room. He had neon colored eyes, he held no smile, his hair was black streaked red. His chin was rounded, jaw chiseled. He wasn't wet from the rain; his clothing was tight and pristine. The moment he came into the light, there was some sort of nobility about him that struck out as odd.
"Hello Faylen Snow. Do you know who I am?" His voice rang like music notes. I only shook my head slowly. On top of his head were two horns, I had no fear of him. If someone like Jack existed, I knew there were others like him.
"I'm someone everyone should fear." His tailored suit was the color of charcoal, with a blue undershirt. It looked like money…expensive. I just looked at him, silent.
"Did you know, what Jack is doing is taboo?" He walked to my bed, sitting down on the corner. His eyes traveled over me, over my skin.
"It's wrong, what he's doing…loving someone he can't kill." He tilted his head.
His face was beautiful.
Scarily beautiful. I just watched him carefully.
"Faylen, we're monsters. We're not meant to love humans. We're meant to kill them. It's not a fairytale where everyone lives happily ever after. This isn't some romance novel. This is real life. We're real…I allowed him to let you live years ago. Now, he's keeping your son alive." He gave me a sad smile.
"My patience has grown, very thin child." He reached out to touch me, I flinched. That sad smile returned.
"You've been hurt by so many…I can sense why he loves you…" He stopped, looking where my eye used to be.
"You've been through so much Faylen Snow. What you want, you can't have. It's not right." I narrowed my eyes at this man. This stranger who waltzed into my room like he was some sort of king…as if he knew what I was thinking he gave a chuckle.
"My child, if only you knew. I'm no king. I'm that which man fears. I'm the devil himself. A god if you will…" He looked at the stuffed cat.
"He really cares about you, doesn't he?" He sighed softly, he was silent for a moment.
"I invoke the hive-mind…I represent chaos, I…invoke chaos without order. I am he, who waits behind the wall…I am Zalgo. Those who gaze upon my presence, goes insane or simply dies." His smile faded.
"I create the beings like Jack. Slowly you'll lose your mind and you'll have a choice Faylen. Join me, or die. It's that simple." My chin trembled, eye filling up with tears. He just nodded.
"There we are, there's that fear I was looking for…" He was getting ready to stand.
"What about my son?" I whispered, he froze where he stood. He looked me over, a softness filled his eyes, lips turning into a smile.
"If Jack doesn't kill him, I'll take you for myself. Hell has gotten pretty lonely as of late." He raked his hands through his hair.
"If you don't come willingly, I'll take you myself. Trust me my pretty redhead, it wouldn't be pleasant. There are many, many ways I can take you…" He closed his eyes and that smile grew wide.
"I can take you by force, I can trick your mind, or…" He was coming close to me again, I could smell him. He smelt of sandalwood and an underlying scent of death. Just like Jack. I stared at him wide eyed.
"I'll make you my little marionette. It's your choice…if Jack doesn't complete what he's made for, then I'll ruin his life completely, by taking that which he cared the most for." He knelt beside me, his full lips pursing.
"I'll make his colors fade all over again Faylen…" His fingers touched my chin, and I felt myself tremble. His eyes stared through me, into my soul.
"You don't fear me…you fear for him, and your son. You're much stronger then I give you credit for. Something…most of you vile things are lacking…I might just make you my little pet, just like Jack had done." My stomached dropped, feeling my heart pound within my chest this man's eyes twisted and turned every part of my insides.
"I love Jack…" I whispered, his smile exposed white, sharp teeth.
"Faylen, I've been keeping my eye on you. There's something deep inside you, waiting to be released…you just don't see it…I do. Jack, won't allow you to let it out I know he won't…" His laugh was deep, musical. My heart leapt within my throat.
"You really think, that little piss ant could love you?" He was crawling on the bed, I wanted to move away…but I couldn't. There was something deep within him I saw, that made me want to believe what he was saying…
What's wrong with me?! My heart pitter pattered within my chest. He touched my face so gently that it made me start to close my eyes.
"There's no other choice. You want your son to live, join me Faylen. Join me and rule hell alongside me." Zalgo's voice dropped an octave, my heart fell with it.
Calen…Jack…darkness swam within my head, all I could hear was his dark voice.
"I'll make you into what you should've been, a long time ago Faylen. I'll show you, what real, true freedom feels like. I promise, I won't allow someone else to harm you, but me." I opened my eye staring at him, within those neon eyes I saw an escape…a feeling deep within my chest began blossoming. I gasped.
"I'll show you, what it feels like to have power. Over everything, and everyone…let me in Faylen. Let me in." He leaned into my lips, I fell into the sweet embrace of darkness.
…
I saw him, I saw Calen struggling for air. It took two seconds for me to grasp him from the oncoming death. He laid in my arms, gently I started shaking him.
"Calen! Calen, can you hear me?!" I shouted, he was gasping for air. His green eyes were wide, staring at me.
"D…D…Dad." He gasped out, the bruising around this throat was starting to set in. I looked from Calen to the rope that hung around the tree branch.
"I was almost too late to save you…" I brought him up, placing my forehead against his, his skin was cold and drenched from the rain. Lightening arced through the sky, his arms wrapped around me. I held him as tightly as I could, trying to warm his cold skin back up.
"I knew you'd come…I knew it…" He buried his face against my neck, he started to cry. Calen trembled against me. I knew he was frightened.
"I knew you'd save me. I tried to hold on for as long as I could." Softly I pulled him away from me, I ran my fingers over the rope burns. He winced lightly. I felt my own heart run wild in my chest, I was almost too late…I was…I was almost too late…I had almost lost him.
"How did you know where I was?" He breathed out.
"Stu had me hidden…" His eye lids were lowering.
"I'm so tired…" He laid his head against my chest, his breathing was light. Calen's heart had slowed to a normal pace. I kept him against my chest for as long as I could. I didn't want to let him go, I didn't want to feel like I had lost him all over again.
I got to my feet, keeping his small body close to mine. There was only so much more I could do. I looked to the sky, feeling the rain fall over my face, hoping for a sign. What was I, a homicidal clown supposed to do for a child who was almost murdered?
"I want momma…" He whispered. It was the least I could do. I saved this child from certain death. Two steps, purple clouds covered us. He was laying in my arms half asleep.
What am I going to do now? Are our lives going to be set straight now that I saved him and Faylen? The thought lingered within the corners of my mind, what were we going to do? Go back to normal?
What is normal? I came into their lives, aiming to kill the child, and I didn't. I…I felt too strongly to his loneliness to kill him…The halls of the hospital morphed around us, I kept my steps silent. Doors went by us, the hustle and bustle of life continued. People screamed, cried, and laughed with joy. Somewhere deep within the corners of my mind, I felt a pull...a single moment I stopped. Turning to a room, a single room…I opened the door with Calen in my arms.
This is where she should be...
A step within the room, the door slammed shut behind me. I stood within the fading light, a man stood in the center of the room, his back was to me. He watched the storm rage on outside.
"So nice of you to join me Laughing Jack." His hands were behind his back, his head was held high. I kept holding Calen close to my body, the man in the tailored suit emitted a power that intimidated the ever-living hell out of me.
"You've failed Jack." The man's voice darkened, my stomach heaved.
When he turned I saw those neon eyes and that face, my body felt weak. I wanted to scream and cower in fear. It was him. He was standing before me, staring me down.
"Please tell me you've brought me a dead child." He was condescending, staring me down at his pointed nose. He looked to Calen and he scoffed.
"Of course, the child isn't dead. Why would he be?" He shook his head.
"I was proud of creating you, and yet here you are, slapping my patience back in my face. What am I going to do with you…?" He smirked looking over to the bed. He waved me over, I didn't…I couldn't…
"Come Jack." He ordered, the sharpness of his tone forced me forward. Breathing heavily, out of fear I went to him. I looked to where he was pointing…
"Where is she?!" I snapped, he tilted his head slowly.
"I've watched you for a long time Jack. I keep an eye on all my pets. And I must say, red does look good on you." He nodded slightly. My mouth opened as I looked from the bed to him.
"She made the decision for you. There really wasn't much of a choice really." He chuckled.
"Faylen decided that she would be better off with me, and not with you. I don't blame her. After all, who would want to be with a child killing clown?" He pushed out his chest chuckling.
"You think you would've been able to hide all of this from me jack?!" The anger came flooding down on me. I kept Calen carefully in my arms. He nodded to him.
"Because of that child, you lost her. How does that make you feel?" He crossed his arms, my head hung low.
"Because you didn't do what I asked you to do, you no longer have a pet." His grin spreads.
"She wouldn't have wanted you anyway. She had a higher calling. Something you kept hindering…she would be a beautiful addition to the family." I stared at him, this time I felt the anger.
"You won't…" I growled. He lifted his chin with a much bigger smirk.
"I will, and am. Once she rests up in my home, I'll make her into what she should've been made into, a long time ago." He sighed.
"My work is far from being finished." Raking a hand through his black and red hair he smiled.
"Besides, her beauty doesn't go unnoticed. Someone as stunning as Faylen, should've been treated better Jack. I saw what you did to her ankle." He scoffed.
"Such a horrible lover." Shaking his head, I stepped forward again.
"I gave her a choice. Her soul, over her sons. And she chose her son over herself. Such a truly selfless woman…you could learn a thing or two." He laughed. I trembled with an anger I had never felt before.
"Angry, are you? Good. Use that and learn a thing or two." Zalgo towered over me, he towered over everyone but Slender. He raised his large hand, gently he caressed Calen's head. He saw the rope marks over his throat.
"Perhaps someday he'll join the family as well." He continued caressing the boy's head.
"After all, he has the same sickness as his mother, and his grandmother. A sickness, all of them have had…they've all tasted death, and understand how horrible it is. Immortality is their calling Jack." His yellow eyes stopped me flat.
"Maybe you'll have the family you've always wanted. Just not with Faylen. She's mine." He removed his hand, and I felt my heart start to break.
"You're taking her away from me for what reason?!" I screamed, Zalgo tilted his head back laughing.
"Because I can. I'm a god remember?!" He pushed passed me, walking to the door.
"Oh, and Jack?" Slowly I looked at him.
"Coming after me, would be a horror show. If you even try any heroics. I will snap her neck like a twig." He opened the door and left. I stared behind him I couldn't stop the tears that came from my eyes nor the sob from my throat. I was left holding a sleeping Calen in my arms, closing my eyes I allowed myself to hold him close. A moment passed as we appeared back home, in the dark carnival.
…
The bed sheets were comfortable, I was wrapped in silk with my face buried into a feather pillow. I felt at home, sleeping and relaxing away. Knowing that once I woke up, I'd be making Calen breakfast and laughing at the stupid shit that happened the last month or so. That everything that had happened, had been a bad dream. That it was just Calen, Jack and me.
As I opened my eyes, I realized everything I had hoped for…was just a dream. Nothing I had wanted was there. I pushed myself up from the bed. I was still dressed in a hospital gown. The bandage that wrapped around my head was gone. I could open both eyes, and able to see. I could even hear out of my left ear. I sat on the large bed. I was sleeping right in the center of it. I wrapped my arms around myself feeling lonelier then I ever had. I made a deal with the devil, to make sure my son and lover had stayed safe.
The door opened and I saw him in a different light, he was still as handsome has he was before. Just in a silk shirt and jeans. His muscles were large, and he looked me over. His mouth was set, and his eyes stared me down. I lifted my chin in defiance. I wouldn't allow him to control me like he wanted too…I wasn't going to be his little puppet.
"I have rules in my home." He walked to the bed, I pulled the covers close to my body. He kept his posture perfect.
"You're not allowed to leave this mansion, there are plenty of things you can do, if you need anything ask. You're not to socialize with anyone I bring home, you are to be a silent observer. Just like the marble hornets. I am the king of this land, you are to listen to me and follow everything I say. You don't, I'll send every and all my pets after your son. Understood?" He waited for an answer, I nodded.
"You don't speak much, do you?" He asked.
Looking away from him I sat down on the bed, keeping the blankets wrapped around me tightly. I wanted Jack. I wanted to be near him again, I just…wanted him.
"You'll speak to me sooner or later Faylen. Mostly if you want to eat." He turned from me and slammed the door shut behind him. The lock turned over, I placed my hands to my face and I cried. I cried harder than I ever have.
I missed my son, I missed Jack. I missed Myu the children…
I lifted my face to look out the window, all there was to see was red skies, and white clouds. I was a bird, trapped in a cage.
What can I do to get out of this situation that I'm in now? I waited for a response. I got nothing. Deeper inside, I knew there was no way out…I was stuck where I was…
"Please come find me Jack…please…" I stood, looking around my new home. There was a dresser, a large vanity with a seashell comb. I turned back to the window…I walked over and peered outside. Creatures roamed the grounds, different looking…things patrolled around the large home. A few looked up to the window, my heart heaved.
"Oh god…" I whispered covering my mouth. This was real…
This is all real…isn't it? I couldn't wrap my brain around what I was seeing. Wrapping arms around myself, a soft knock came from the door. I kept my mouth shut. The door unlocked, a young girl walked into my room, her long blonde hair was knotted and her white nightdress was covered in red and brown. She had a single brown eye, and a hole for the other, I felt I was staring back at myself within those never-ending eyes. Her arms were covered in red cuts, her throat had a deeper one, she stood there within her arms held clothing.
"Ms. Faylen?" Her voice was soft, my heart hammered against my chest. Fear escalated into terror, I just gave a nod.
"Mr. Zalgo asked me to bring you these. My name is Sadie, if you need anything please feel free to ask." She placed them at the end of the bed.
"Sadie...?" My voice must've caught her off guard, she looked up at me. Her white lips pursed together.
"Yes Ma'am?" Her own voice seemed lost.
"W…Where am I?" I whispered, she gave a slight shrug.
"In limbo to some, hell for others. For me, this is my home to serve Zalgo, and you his future bride." My legs started to give out underneath me.
"Wh…what? I don't understand Sadie, why me?" My voice cracked, Sadie turned to close the door. Her eye was filled with understanding.
"I don't understand how Zalgo works, or why he works the way he does. Sometimes when one person is filled with so much hatred, sadness, and or sorrow he takes them into his home and turns them into what you see. I, my name is Suicide Sadie. I've tried hundreds of times…till finally I succeeded." She pointed to her missing eye.
"I'm stuck. I'm a ghost. But here, I'm a solid being. And I know what you are thinking too Ms. Faylen. There is no way out. You're stuck here for however long Zalgo needs you." She closed her one good eye.
"What he sees in you, is someone in true despair. He wants to help you. And he gave you a chance to live. As one of us. A thing. You won't be human anymore." A soft sigh came from her lips.
"What about Jack?" I asked, her brows knitted together.
"Which one?" She asked.
There's two? I thought.
"The clown? What about him?" She continued. I gave her a look and she tsked.
"You love the homicidal child murdering clown, don't you?" She looked back to the door, before pointing to the clothing.
"I'll tell you more later, just get dressed and ready. He's expecting you for supper. Don't be late Faylen. He hates it when people are late." She turned to the door, before looking back at me.
"He loves your voice. Sing a little, it'll help loosen him up. The more you're on his side, the easier living here will be." My eyes filled with tears again.
"I'm not someone's toy!" I screamed, Sadie seemed forlorn.
"We're all someone's puppet Faylen. Some are just kinder then others." She closed the door behind her, I looked at the clothing on the bed. I touched my throat.
He want's my voice…? I went to the edge of the bed, reaching over I pulled it up.
The dress was a soft green, with a lace corset. My brows knitted together. Peeling the old hospital gown off, I pulled the dress over my head. The velvet kissed my skin, leaving a gentle caress. Pulling the bottom down, I went to the front and pulled the satin ribbon. Tying it into a bow, I took a deep breath trying to calm my racing mind.
Just breathe…
Slipping into the small Mary Janes that was left for me at the foot of my bed. I went to the door, closing my eyes unsure of how I was going to handle this situation.
My life just got a bit more fucked up…didn't it? The thought pushed through tears of fear.
Here goes nothing…