I hope this chapter will suffice.
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Chapter Eleven: What Wears a Dark Suit and Is Completely Evil?
With a single Slodging gag, Finn was churned out of whatever kidnapped him. The remains of its mucus and tar-like sludge stuck to him, some even kept him briefly stuck and tied to the floor before he broke the thick organic bindings. "Speh, gah!" Finn spat out what managed to slip past his lips before asking out-loud. "What is that freak!?" He readied himself to fight the goopy monstrosity that brought them to... wherever they now were now.
No answer to be heard from the Lich, as he too hadn't the slightest clue as to what.. stood... 'stood' isn't the right word: mounding pillar of abysmal black sludge drizzling upon them seems more appropriate. With no words from the Lich, Finn heeded his instincts and went to deal the first blow on his mutated kidnapper that just seemed to remain there unmoved, it didn't have eyes, but he was sure it was watching.
Finns speeding run-up was brought to a tumbling stop when an unmistakable snarky voice reigned supreme in the room. "I wouldn't make Grok angry if I were you, well especially if I were you." Finn turned to see the shadow along the floor leading towards its owner and then their eyes met.
"Ah, it's been such a long time since we last met. Now I don't know who I am addressing in there, but Finn or Lich, my comment stands corrected."
Both Finn and the Lichs mouths jarred open, "Hunson?!" Concurrently they both announced the demon lord in front of them: Finn in the more startled and questioning manner, the Lich shown more aggression, holding a grudge in his tone.
"I take it I am talking to you then Finn, considering you look surprised to see me. Ol' Lichy could never get the possessed ones facial expressions right. You look quite genuine. So how have you been sport? Can't imagine too well with him inside your head." He swirled his pointed finger at Finn's facial area.
Finn was bewildered by Hunson's welcoming attitude. Even though they've crossed paths before, not leaving on the best of notes - Finn was sure Hunson was not going to tolerate his being here; especially when harbouring the Lich along with him.
"H-hello Mr Abadeer." Nothing else Finn could think of saying. He sheathed his weapon and stood as formally as possible in his rags. The Lich did a low chuckle at his currently felt insecurity.
"Oh that's polite of you, but considering I let you speak my name there's no need. Just call me Hunson. And no need to be so bashful boy, we're all friends here, I won't hurt you."
"Oh Hunson – so many lies..." The Lich criticised his claims, again giggling away.
"So tell me: how did you managed to convince Lich to come here, out of all places? I'm sure by now he won't stop wailing on about how you both shouldn't be here and how it is in both your best interest to get out. Am I right?" He made took a pause to look back at Finn, who said nothing, not even a nod; never-the-less he needn't an answer from Finn, he was confident that he was correct. Hunson continued. "I must say though, he isn't over-exaggerating. Mostly everything he has told you up to now is true. This place, my realm; I once told him it would be his grave if he ever stepped foot inside. It looks like that time has finally come, eh?" Hunson strutted back and fourth as he engaged in his one-sided conversation with Finn, who only listened.
He moved over to the circular iron table with a fancy mauve armchair perched by its side; both of which where isolated near the centre of the room. The current placement of the furniture didn't look too usual, seemed that they had recently been moved there; the chair was facing towards Finn in the centre. Hunson took in hand the ruby encrusted goblet and jet black wine bottle with no label or anything to distinguish it, which had both been placed along with the table, standing on top. He poured himself a drink before sitting down; the liquid was black like the bottle.
"Drink?" He asked, looking over his shoulder at Finn. The hero shook his head at the offering, "Um-n-no - thank you."
"Good, I only have one cup..." Hunson he finished pouring himself and sat, crossed legs.
"So kid, hows life been treating ya? Can't imagine too well the past, what - week, month since he festered inside you?" Finn went to speak, though Hunson unexpectedly continued before he could. "-I must say you looked far more... youthful since we last – though it has been a long time." Hunson didn't make it clear if his questions were simple rhetorical small talk, or if he wanted answer to them. Though the amount of time he gave before passing them up made them seem like unimportant chatter.
"I don't mean to press, but my question still awaits an answer. I attend to hear whatever that answer may be; so, allow me to reiterate: 'how did you manage to convince grizzly to come here?' He wavered his glass in the air, circulating the drink inside to his conundrum, this time making it obvious he wanted a response.
"I... didn't want him to hurt anyone else, so I came here." He grabbed the sides of his shirt, feeling small, put on the spot between Hunson's inquiries and the Lich listening in; and the giant faceless pile of gunk behind him.
"And he just let you do that? That's not the Lich I know." He elevated his voice as if addressing somebody in another room, "Gone soft have we Lich?" Something didn't add up to what Finn told him, he expected him to elaborate without saying, giving him a daunt questionable stare, a smirk still stapled to the lower half of his face however.
And he did, "He didn't give me a choice... I didn't give him one either."
Wasn't the best answer Hunson sought, was a bit too obscure for his taste. "Hmm. Lich, you are remaining awfully timid my old friend, hiding behind the flesh of this young boy. Why don't you speak for yourself a little here..." He remained masked inside Finn, not arising to Hunson's ridicule, a trick to draw him out; as much as he had to say. Nor was Finn feeling so voluntary to have him take over once more. "A little shy are we. Ah, well. He always had the tendency for being so gloomy and dramatic. I guess his just a bit upset because he knows what is coming." He took another sip of whatever it was in that goblet, straightening up more comfortably in his seat, starring down into the dark void of his drink. "I did warn you Lich. One place in the universe to avoid, and you were tricked somehow by this boy no less to bring you here." He gave a villainous chuckle to his adversaries predicament, basking proudly in this once in a life time monument.
Hunson had stopped running his mouth a moment as he just sat, sipping away. Finn took the opportunity to speak; nervously he stuttered (Something about Hunson's demeaning personality, and always smiling creeped him out more-so than the Lich), "Um-s-so how are you going to get rid of him?"
The Lich broke out in his sour, maniacle laughter, almost like he was holding it in, awaiting Finn to stumble upon those words. "Ahahaha – ahhh! Finn. You didn't think I'd just let my host drag me to my grave without me insuring that I get my wish – one way, or another. I've predicted two outcomes to this little meeting of ours. The one where I win. And the one where I win – oh-hehehe! Either way, Finn – no matter how hard you try. No matter how much you fight. No matter how you beg, pardon or barter! Your fate lies in death. It was written and given your consent the moment you stepped through that portal. I told you not to come here; for this place is not only my grave, but is now also yours. The saddest part really, is the fact that you could have beaten me. I was growing worried you would, but now, your time, is up."
Those words, almost felt as reality in front of him obscured and slowed as he spoke. They sent a coursing pain from chest to stomach, and goosebumps, shivers over his skin, down his spine. Something about them whispered truth and certainty. The Lich believed them so-much-so that it felt as if that belief alone shifted the fates to his will, it felt as though Finn could feel time change course to make the Lich's fantasy fact, he could feel his time ticking away within every heartbeat.
Sound rushed back to his ears after exiting his derelict state, to hear Hunson mid-sentence. "-and even though you know my daughter and all – I'm sorry to say kid, but in order for the Lich to die, he must be killed in a mortal host, which is you."
"W-wait! What!?" Finn protested.
"Yeah, sorry. My daughter isn't going to like this either; probably not going to talk to me for another century or so. She always spoke highly of you. I think she actually might like you, if you know what I mean." Hunson twerked his eyebrows up and down over at Finn, sidetracking, speaking so nonchalantly about how this will effect himself. "Had to be you out of all the dimwitted mortals on Ooo for that shrivelled roadkill to hitch. Oh well... Grok!"
Hunson shouted of his ghastly pet to awaken, as it seemed to have drifted to sleep while they discussed. It inhaled a snort before breaking from its standing slumber, knowing precisely why Hunson called its name. It clumped over to Finn with its oozing yet solidly kept stumpy feet, leaving a trail behind.
Wasting no time, hurling down it's clubbed arm at him - Finn dashed out of harms way, equipping his sword, as blobs of black liquid spewed out from Grok's arm clashing amongst the floor, splattering down on its surface. The dismembered blobs all conformed together, sliding their way over to its feet, rejoining themselves too the monster's super-structure, as a regenerative effect.
While Grok was retrieving his sticky, lumbering arm off the ground, Finn took his clear opportunity to swipe three slashes – one to its leg and two to the abdomen. Grok didn't seem to be any weaker than before, or even hurt at all by the three deep slashes, it just made the same pain filled gargles of breath it had always done.
Finn took notice, and went in for another attempt before it could ready its own attack. He pre-positioned his blade, holding the hilt up to his shoulder - wielding it as a claymore, and slid beneath the monster to cut vertically from hip to thigh through its thick leg, luckily enough the length of his weapon was enough to cut through Grok's enormous diameter.
Finn kept a distance behind Grok expecting its leg to detach, and itself to tumble over. Finn's manoeuvre was a mere inconvenience, it naturally webbed its severed limb back instantly after the blade went through, reattaching it to its cortex.
It needn't turn to face the hero behind, it phased its front to the backside of its soft, misshapen form, not that its front looked all too different to its back. It once again threw upon Finn its weighted arms this time utilising both of them, Finn narrowly dodged out the way, failing to execute a safe landing, scraping his arm on the ground, hitting it hard.
Not learning from past experiences, Finn tried again to relieve this monster of it's many limbs, targeting the upper arm this time, he jumped, successfully slashing through. Grok only allowed the limb to fall to grow a new one instantaneously on the spot, catching Finn before he could land, smashing him into the ground and throwing him back up, hitting the ceiling, and letting him not so gracefully fall back.
Winded, he looked over to see if his attack managed to whittle down the beast, only to see his efforts be in vein as it recuperated the pile of sludge the once was its arm. Finn refused to lay back and let this thing beat him, however useless his barrage of assaults seemed. He sat up, sword in hand, taking a deep breath before he stood to try over.
The Lich was not so stupendously filled with pride however and knew this fight was a-loss without a game changer. He briefly took charge of the body, not looking for complete control, Finn struggled regardless to the heavy discomfort.
"Be still boy! Do you want to get us both killed?" He hovered his free shaking hand over the base of the blade, summoning fire from his palm, igniting the blade in green flame up to its tip. Having done with his task, he let Finn back his free movement.
Finn wasn't stupid, he knew the Lich was helping him to benefit himself. How this did overall alluded him, other than obviously not letting his host die. That's were he had him, Finn wanted the Lich dead, but too survive this if possible. One thing was for sure, if he didn't use his flame-infused sword on the monster that threatened his life. He would be surely dead in the next minuet.
Finn lunged forward one last time in hope this would work. Rolling past a fist dawning on him, and continued while Grok was stunned with its knuckle entrenched in the floor, he ripped the blazing-blade horizontally through its kneecap. In response he heard the monster howl deep from its chest in a pain it never felt before. The lost leg below the knee sizzled and dripped down without it coming back to regenerate. Grok now was was holding itself up with all its strength and still had its fist trapped. Finn took this to his advantage and finale severed to stuck arm, causing to beast to tumble over with all support gone on its left side. Still with fight left in the monstrosity, Grok swept its forearm to plough Finn across the room to no avail as he countered, latching onto the oversized arm, climbing up to Grok's shoulder and finale its head. Finn plunged his sword mercilessly into Grok's mound for a head, letting free one last vibrating muffled cry, it fell limp and reseeded down to a puddle of black goo.
With the flame doused, starved of oxygen within the confines of Grok's head, Finn went to sheath his sword, only to stop, realising there was still Hunson. He didn't want to fight him, but nor could he run or escape; surely they could come up with a way to eliminate the Lich without resorting in Finn's own demise. He turned to notice Hunson was not seated in his chair, his glass finished on the table. Finn hurried over to the only door I the room reaching out for the handle before being grabbed and hurled against the wall; the supernatural force causing him to drop his weapon. Hunson pined him up steady by both shoulders.
"What! Where?-"
"Ah! This chaos amulet does wonders. Gives me a snazzy suit. Allows me to be god of my own realm. Oh and also allows me disappear from thin air; amongst other things." Finn tried to tear off the amulet Hunson wore, believing it to be his source of power. "Oh please kiddo, even if you did take that away from me, I'm still a demon, I'm still deathless." Finn managed to push his shoulders forward enough to headbutt Hunson in an effort to escape, only to be thrown against the wall a second time.
"Gah!" For a split second Hunson displayed his face in frustrated anger after the blow Finn delivered, taking in a deep breath for him only to disguise that disturbingly calm smile again. "-Oh ho. Still got some fire in you eh?... You don't want to get you hands dirty so you create a sentient lump of lard for a henchman. God, everything's is so incompetent here. Well there's an old saying Finn: 'You want something done right, you have to do it yourself'. Now I'm just going to suck out your life essence, I could lie to you and say it won't hurt a bit, but, I'm deathless, I don't have any, and I'm not freaky enough to try it on myself, soooo, shall we?" Hunson gaped open his mouth abnormally, and as he said, began to suck away his life essence.
Finn swerved side-to-side trying in any way to hold on, but it was to no use as he felt his strength dwindle, his stamina drain, his physical and spiritual being being torn away from each other. Watching his life literally go before his eyes as a mist left Finn's body into Hunson's gullet.
Not before long the door busted open, Hunson snapped shut his jaw, without anticipation. "W-wha? Marceline?... And other two mortals that look vaguely familiar."
"Dad! What is this? Let Finn go!" Marceline pushed herself between the two; Finn, trembled from the knees to what he just endured, sliding down the wall, in no way able to hold himself up.
"Sweetie you didn't say you were visiting." He looked down at the debilitated boy she now guarded, awaiting some explanation. "Ah, yeah, your friend, his got the Lich inside of him. Nothing personal. Sorry honey, he has to die."
"No dad, he doesn't, and he won't." She made it damn clear, laying down the law, looking into her fathers eyes.
"Look, I know you like this mortal, but they all die sometime anyway-" He tried breaking down, justifying his intentions lightly as he walked around her to close the gap between Finn and himself, he spoke as though the hero was just a beloved pet.
She intercepted him again, not letting him near. "Not this one, not Finn!"
Marceline stood ready to do whatever was necessary to defend him, Jake also was prepared for things to go ugly. Bubblegum remained behind him, staying out of this feud with nothing to fight or defend herself with.
Hunson had lost his smile, finally taking the whole situation more seriously with his daughter in the room. "Sigh, Marcy, you have to let daddy do his job here. If he-"
"It's always about you and your work! You never stop to care about me or anyone else."
"...T-that's not... Everything I do I have you in mind... I just want to protect you, keep you safe. How can I do that if I let him free with that thing inside of him?"
"Take it out!"
"Take it.. out?... hmm. I guess that could work. I smell no essence on him, but he has to be a life form of some sort. Hmm, yeah I could do that! B-but honey, understand if I do this; the Lich is burrowed somewhere deep inside his head. For me to separate them would resort to excruciating pain; like blending up his brain and drenching it in acid, it wont be pretty. You sure letting the kid die isn't any better? I mean your call. It just doesn't look like he'll be able to take much more."
Marceline looked down on his ill form. He definitely was in bad shape; still conscious, listening to them debate his life, unable to form the little energy necessary to protest or do anything about it. She tried to get him to answer, tell her what he wanted, "Finn if you could just give me a sign, this is your life. What do you want?" She whispered down to his tilted head. He couldn't even lift it to look at her.
With no response, she looked back up to her father, for some insight as to what to do, her bottom eyelid now a dam holding back a flood of tears. He placed his hand on her shoulder, "...Darling... You have to choose."
She got back to her feet, turning to her companions who stood in wait; neither of them looked like they had any form of made up answer to the question she had in her mind. She needn't say it, they both knew, having nothing to say themselves, all of them tangled between which choice was right or wrong. Nothing was clearly labelled, they could only guess what he wanted.
Finn began swaying, loosing grip on reality as he began to slowly blackout. "Hehe, pay attention boy. Don't fade on me yet. They're getting to the best part: whether to kill you, or torture you." The Lich sounded uncomfortably calm to this decision making, being that either outcome would result in killing him. Maybe he simply took comfort in knowing that both choices could result in Finn's death too. One of them still posed a chance for the hero. Would the Lich really be so pleased with something that might not even kill him; he wouldn't even see the outcome.
Marceline ultimately made up her mind, hoping this is what Finn would want. Part of it she knew was due to her own selfishness. "I... I don't want him to leave again... Finn I hope this is what you want. Dad... get that monster out of him!"
He looked down at the fallen hero; Finn resembled little more than a vegetable at this point after Hunson's previous treatment. "Are you sure. He's looking pretty rough..."
"Of course I'm not sure dad! Just please, get it done. You made him like this, now fix it."
"Right..." Hunson loathed always being the reason to see his daughter on the verge of crying. If this was an opportunity for him to change that; he didn't fumble around no longer. "You two: yellow and pinky - carry him this way. We won't do it here."
Bubblegum and Jake grabbed his arms and legs, lifting him up and following Hunson. "It's gonna be okay buddy. Hunson will get that freak out of you. You'll make it." Jake reassured his brother, not entirely sure if he could hear him.
Carrying him on through, Hunson instructed, "There, rest him on the table. Keep him held down." Jake and Bubblegum both gave each other the same look, each put out of their comfort zone following Hunson's orders. They laid him out on the table, then both moved either side, opposite each other to hold down his legs and arms. Marceline, after whispering something to her father, joined the gathering at the table, she moved to the top, looking down upon him. And lastly, Hunson stood beside Marceline, to the top of Finn's forehead. "Now Finn, if you can still hear me, this won't feel quite like what I did to you earlier... just brace yourself."
Hunson placed his hands down close to Finn's ears, taking a deep breath in, and a calm one out before abnormally, yet so naturally dislocating his jaw in order to open his mouth three times the size. He began the agonizing process of ripping out the deeply infused Lich from its host. Finn feeling all his blood pressure rise to the front of his forehead, and the rippling throbs in his brain; through the racket of Hunon's extreme suction above his face - sounded like a plane losing cabin pressure, he could hardly hear. The Lich sounded like he was chuckling to himself, "Yehehes! I win!"
This was bad, he started to resist against his friends holding him down, only for them to think it was due to the pain of the process; little did they know he needed this to stop, the Lich somehow wanted this to happen, it was more than just Finn's possible death.
Soon the attack on his nervous system really started to kick in, wave after wave of seismic trauma overwhelming his ability to do anything at, everything inside his skull feeling dislocated. He arched his back up in hope to escape, Bubblegum and Jake kept pinned his four limbs to the surface of the table, ensuring he stayed still as possible. Eyes open, frantically looking for an diversion or way out, or pressured shut, trying to focus off the sub-dermal suffering; no matter what, he saw a throbbing pale white to which everything sank in and out of focus. He couldn't hold up this exert durability no longer, his mind already over-clocked way past its bearable limits.
Jake and Bubblegum felt all his strain and resistance drop from their hands with few last twitches of nerve signals making their way late to the destined body parts. "Finn? Finn!..." Bubblegum called out, her voice faded. His face was pale, mouth drooping open, eyelids couldn't quite make it shut. She lightly slapped his cheek to tear him out of the trance. Hunson was about finishing up on his exorcism, before Finn's body finale let go of all senses and shut down. His mind was still induced in post-agony, but felt more empty, unburdened, free.
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