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A/N: Alright guys, this is it! We're down to the wire! Memories will only have about...hmm... Three more chapters left, I'm thinking. Maybe four, if I want to write an Epilogue. Good news is, I do plan for there to be a sequel. Bad news? I don't have a name for sad sequel. So...yeah! Anyways, read this chapter, and tell me what you think, please. :3
I see the angels,
I'll lead them to your door.
There's no escape now,
No mercy no more.
No remorse cause I still remember
The smile when you tore me apart.
"Angels" - Within Temptation
They had arrived at his temporary home at about twenty until nine. The sun had long since settled beyond the horizon, but the nighttime sky was far from dark. All around the forgotten hotel business flashed their lights and played their screaming billboards. On the streets below, cars screeched as their passengers cursed the leader in their little game of Cat-And-Mouse. Outside, all was chaos.
But inside, all was calm and quiet.
Or, well, it was now, anyways. But it hadn't been at first. Upon their arriving at the hotel, Memory had relinquished all control to her sister – an act which, to put it mildly, had made the Symbiote furious. He didn't like it when the personalities switched on him, especially seeing as how one of the personalities was completely unpredictable. For, though he was Carnage and Carnage loved Chaos, he still liked to know what to expect, because only he was allowed to be sporadic in his thoughts.
So when she had lashed out at him with her powers, the Symbiote had been quick to act. He had been quick – and merciless. Kasady had watched, bemused, for just a moment as his other half reminded the young woman under whose control she was in. But that soon got boring, and he reminded the Symbiote that the both of them needed her, at least for a little while longer. After that, Carnage could play with her for as long as he wanted.
"It wasn't a smart move, you know," Kasady sighed, shaking his head as he moved to sit on the side of the old bed. The springs creaked as his weight was added to that of the bound girl sitting just a few inches away from him, "Carnage wanted to hurt you, to get you back for that little mistake. But I didn't let him. I couldn't let him hurt my Memory..." he began to pet her hair, "Not when I have so many plans for you."
Every time his fingers ran through her hair, every time his flesh came in contact with hers, a shiver ran down her spine. As disgusting as his touch was, and as nauseated as it made her to think of his "plans," Mary knew better than to lash out again; she knew better than to even speak, if she could have done so through the gag. The last time had left her with a shallow cut across her temple, and a tendril-shaped bruise around her throat. So she settled for glaring at the monster instead.
Kasady did not seem to notice the utter hatred that burned in her eyes. Instead, he seemed quite delighted in the fact that she had not died when his Symbiote had been released upon her frail form, or even lost consciousness when his tendrils had started to squeeze her very life-breath from her. She was stronger than he had ever calculated.
"We're the same, you and I. Or at least very similar," Kasady continued, turning his gaze up to the ceiling to muse on the words he seemed to just be spitting out at random, "You and I share a body with a being much stronger than ourselves, dear Memory. But you and I... We're not weak. We are merely opportunists, trying to survive in this chaotic world. You have strength, and I think," he paused to give a mad little giggle, his eyes flashing, "I think we're going to draw that strength out."
In the back of Mary's mind, Memory gave a little whimper. Her sister quickly sent a wave of warm, comforting emotions back, along with a promise. It was the same promise she had uttered when Memory had first appeared. It was the same promise she had repeated when she and here sister were given to Jackson. It was a promise of protection.
Don't be afraid, Mary murmured, Don't be. I'm here, sis.
I'm not afraid. Not for myself.
Don't worry about Otto, either. You know he can take care of himself. He's a smart guy; a tough guy. He doesn't need us–'
I'm not afraid for him, either. Memory's voice was soft, quiet, as if even she couldn't believe the words she was speaking. But still, they continued to come, He knows better than to try to get himself hurt, especially for something as...as minor as us. I'm afraid for you, sister. Kasady... Kasady ignores you. He refers to us as simply 'Memory'.
Yes, Mary had noticed that a while ago, but she had just refused to acknowledge it. At least in front of Memory. She hadn't wanted to worry her sister any more than she was already, but apparently Memory was more observant than even she had given her credit for. Smart kid.
I don't want to lose you, sis. I love you too much to lose you...
A smile crept onto Mary's face, though it went unseen by Kasady thanks to the gag still in place. Don't worry, sis. I'm not going anywhere. You and I, we're stuck together until this world decides that both of us can finally rest. Until then... Well... Ta-da.
"–I have to wait until the city sleeps before I can, though," Kasady's voice continued, completely unware of the secret conversation that was going on between his captives. "Because I can't imagine it's going to be pleasant for you, you see. And I know it's going to be just murder for your sister. But that's all right. That's all right...
"There's nothing wrong with a bit of pain."
"There's nothing wrong with a bit of pain, Mary. It teaches the boy he can't be weak. I will not let my son be a failure!"
Tolbert's voice came drifting back into Octavius' mind, the condescendingly sneering voice hissing its venomous words in its ear. All his life, Octavius had fought that voice. All his life, he had struggled his hardest to defy his father, to prove he wasn't a failure. He had gone to college and earned degree upon degree in various scientific fields. He had snatched a doctorate or two at a young age. He had eared fame and notification beyond that which his father had ever dreamed.
And then the Spider had snatched it all away.
But that had not been a failure, not on his part. It had simply been a...miscalculation. He had not calculated that the hero would try to kill him, no; his thoughts had simply been to avoid getting captured. But that mistake had led to an even greater opportunity. When the door to world-wide fame shut that day, another opened. Like Isaac Newton and his apple, falling asleep had given Octavius his greatest creation: his beautiful arms.
They carried him across the city now, allowing him to travel far above the common minds. The ordinary and everyday were all confined to their cars or motorcycles, but not him. He had his greatest success, the fruits of decades of labor, permanently attached to him. They were everything to him: his weapons, his aids, his transportation... They were perfect.
And yet they had failed him.
And because of their failure, he had failed her.
The thought caused his teeth to grind together.
Years. He had gone years without failing, avoiding the very thought like the common man avoids a mutant. He had done well, too, until she had appeared. His Desdemona, His Delilah, his... his Mary. She and her sister had worn at his defenses until he had let it all slip. And because of that, he had fallen.
Octavius landed, hard, on the roof of an apartment building. His arms lashed around his person, like snakes waiting for the perfect opportunity – and victim – to strike. It was almost as if they were as annoyed with the thought as much as he was, though he quickly tossed that thought away. But that only made way for another, darker thought to enter his mind, whispered by his darker side. His entire body tensed.
We are not abandoning her.
The Octopus gave a dark laugh, as if amused. Do not fear, Octavius. It was merely a stray thought, a passing suggestion that simply...slipped. I would never even dream of abandoning our dear Memory. Or her sister, Bloody Mary.
Octavius felt his spine tense at the nickname Octavius had broached. Bloody Mary, the murderer even children whispered about. The young girl who had claimed so many lives, her hair had turned red, stained with her victim's blood. And even though the name had been appropriate – and probably still was – what was left of the man behind the monster gave a shudder.
One arm slithered over, opening its claws so the bright, white "eye" could observe his face. Octavius saw himself in the video feed that linked directly into his brain, closed his eyes at what he saw. The man in his vision wasn't the man he had been a year ago, or even two months ago. The cold, calculating scientist who had been feared and respected seemed to have disappeared, at least for a moment. Now he seemed more like a man on the edge, a man desperate to find what was stolen from him. What he wanted...needed to have beside him.
"We are not abandoning her." He repeated.
"You're right. We're not."
A/N: LE GASP! A new voice. Who is it? It can't be Kasady! Or could it? Make up your mind, and review! 8D
