Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly AU
Disclaimer: I own little to nothing in this story. (There may be a chapter two. Don't count on it though. Not that anyone is even reading this story, anyway.)
Please enjoy!
Hiccup and Toothless, the prized identical twin sons of Ceremony Master Drago Bludvist, were enjoying their walk through All Thor's Village. At least, they were trying to enjoy it. But it seemed as though their friends thought otherwise.
Toothless turned his attention from his brother to pay more attention to his worried friends. "Hey, guys. What is wrong?"
A short and stout girl with brown hair and brown eyes looked at Toothless as though she were held at knife-point. "Your father told us to find and tell you two that you two are to be the next for the ritual." Her voice even sounded like it, too.
"Meatlug, please, tell me that you are lying!"
Meatlug looked down at her feet, sorrow waltzed with guilt. "I really wish I was, Toothless. But your father told us to tell you this. I cannot imagine how upset you must feel."
Hiccup looked up to look at his older brother. Despite being identical twins, Toothless was 6'2 while Hiccup was 5'2. It was obvious who was fed more. That was why Hiccup was always looking up to see his brother's face. And currently, Toothless' showed anger and distress; they had already lost enough friends to the ritual.
"Toothless, I am sure everything will be fine," Hiccup stated calmly. He knew he should have hated it, but Hiccup knew he was too sick to live longer than a week and that there was no point in trying to prevent his death when he was just going to die soon. Might as well put his death to good use.
"Hiccup, how can you say that? I am not going to kill you!" Toothless' voice seethed in anger.
"But I'm sick and dying anyway, so what not just grow up and kill me?"
"There could be a cure, Hiccup! If Dad would just bring you to a healer, you would not be dying! He is just trying to force you to accept your role, Hiccup! He just wants to manipulate you into doing what he wants you to do!"
"Toothless, he did take me to see the healer. There is nothing to be done! There is no medicine to be forced down my throat!"
"Yakshit! There is clearly a cure, he just won't let you have it!"
"Um, do you guys think you can take this argument somewhere else, maybe?" a muscular boy with red hair and dark brown eyes said. He was always the shameless one in the group. Too shameless, with how he flirts with Hiccup. But Hiccup can't love anyone. No one but his brother. But even then there are limits on the amount of love they can show each other in public and in private.
Toothless just turned to glare at Hookfang then turned back around to Hiccup, grabbing the baggy white sleeve of his brother, who cried out in surprise, and dragged the protesting male away.
Hiccup had always despised his reflection. It was always so ugly. Yet, Toothless was the most beautiful person he's ever met. Toothless was always perfect. Maybe it has something to do with him being older and him getting to stay with their father when Hiccup leaves this world. Maybe... maybe when Hiccup is a butterfly, he'll be beautiful. Maybe then, he'll be perfect. Then, he'll have his father's approval. Then, he won't have to be despised by the other villagers.
When he is a butterfly, the children will chase him and try to catch him. And when they failed, they would keep trying, just knowing they would get him one day. Or so they think.
But with how Toothless has been scolding Hiccup and arguing with their father, Hiccup was afraid he was never going to be beautiful. Hiccup was afraid he was never going to be perfect. Hiccup was afraid he was never going to get his father's approval. Hiccup was afraid he'd always have to be despised by the other villagers.
Hiccup was never going to be chased around by a group of little kids who will try again and again to catch him, each time thinking they are so much closer to catching him.
Toothless didn't want to go through with it.
Hiccup leaned against the wall near the stairwell to listen in on the argument between his father and brother.
"We need to do this to keep the Damned Dragon at bay!. Toothless, why won't you just accept this? Your brother has!"
"That's because you brainwashed him! I will not let you brainwash me, too!"
"Oh, come on, Toothless! Stop being so stupid. You are smarter than this! There is no point in fighting this when your brother is just going to die soon, anyway. Would you really have his death be for nothing or would you rather have him die a saint? Your choice!"
"There will be no need for him to die if you give him medicine! There has to be something he can take that will help him get better! And what about Sharpshot? How do you think he'll feel when he finds out one of his beloved brothers - the one he loves most, actually - is dead for a reason he doesn't understand! He'll be heartbroken!"
"Then be the better older brother! Trick him if you have to! But you and your brother must go on with this ritual, whether you want to or not. Besides, there is no medicine Hiccup can take!"
"Yakshit! The ritual is stupid! Why don't we all just move away? It'll be safer for everyone! If mine and my brother's ritual fails, everyone is going to get hurt. And the one to blame? YOU!"
The sound of skin clashing on skin entered Hiccup's ears.
"You do not talk that way to me, young man! Now, grow up and just do as your told!" The slam of the front door shook the house. "Oh, Almighty Holy Dragons, please, watch over my boys and let them go through the ritual without any problems."
Hiccup sighed in despair as he got up. When he turned around, his little brother was standing near his secret entrance to the secret room in the house. Sharpshot was well on his way to be blind. The only thing the poor young boy could see were blurs and shadows.
"Sharpshot? What are you doing? I thought I told you to stay in your secret room and hide; keep yourself distracted," Hiccup said softly.
The poor kid shook with sobs. "I-I'm s-s-sorry! The-they were just... the y-yelling was t-too much!"
Hiccup walked closer to Sharpshot. "Come on," - Hiccup grabbed the younger boy's hand - "let's get you ready for bed. You have a long day tomorrow."
"We are running away, Hiccup."
"What? But, Toothless-"
"No, Hiccup, you are not going through with that ungodly ritual. And neither am I. Look at what it has done to our friends? Meatlug and Hookfang are never going to be the same after having to go through with it themselves! Do you really want that for me, because I do not!"
Ever since Toothless got back home from the argument he had with their father, he had been trying to convince Hiccup to run away with him and their friends. Hiccup looked down at the floor. The floor as cold as Toothless's heart at the moment. But I want us to be together, forever. Can't you just give this to me, brother? Oh, "dear" friends of Toothless, why did you put this idea in his head? Why?
"What ritual?" a small voice questioned innocently. The two boys turned to see their beloved younger brother, Sharpshot, standing at the doorway to their room.
"It's nothing you need to worry about, Sharpshot," Toothless reassured.
But it's all I am worried about. And you should be too, Toothless.
"You should get some sleep, Sharpshot," Hiccup said. Sharpshot squinted at them, as though trying to analyze their faces. But his eyesight was bad, and seemingly getting worse by the day.
"Can you both tuck me in? I was gonna ask Papa, but he yelled at me before I could say anything." Sharpshot looked at the ground, as though ashamed. But there was no reason for him to be ashamed. Toothless should be the one who is ashamed. Wanting to run away from his duties and problems? Such a coward!
"Of course, Shaprshot. We can tuck you in," Hiccup said in a motherly way.
Sharpshot's face lit up in an overly excited way. "Yay! Do you think you two can tell me a story, too? And maybe sing a lullaby? Maybe even lay with me until I fall asleep?"
Hiccup smiled at Sharpshot. "Of course I will! What about you, Toothless?"
Toothless gave Hiccup a stern look that said, "we will talk about this later." When Toothless turned to Sharpshot, the angry scowl was replaced by a joyful expression. "Of course, let's go!"
Hiccup stood next to his brother, who stood next to their father. Their little brother, Sharpshot, was too scared of people to come with them to greet the outsiders stopping by. Hiccup didn't like how they picked this time of year to stop by All Thor's Village. Hiccup wished they would leave. It would be best for them. Better than what was to come if they stayed. Especially since one of them was a friend of Toothless. But Hiccup suspected that his brother and the beautiful pale-skinned girl with snow-white hair and ice-blue eyes could have been more than just friends. And if they aren't, they will be someday.
The outsiders wanted to document the village's ritual. Why anyone would want to do that is beyond Hiccup's comprehension. But there were always those weird people in the universe. Next to the girl (who was named Light Fury) stood a man named with brown eyes, short brown hair, and a sexy goatee named Viggo Grimborn. The other man was bald, had the same brown eyes, and an impressive black mustache named Ryker Grimborn. Ryker looked like a psycho. It was after the outsider's introductions that Viggo had Light produce a strange doohickey they called the Camera Obscura. To show the Bludvists what it, Viggo took a picture of the twins. Hiccup's face looked weird. Distorted. That was what intrigued Hiccup the most about the camera. However, that wasn't the only thing that interested Hiccup. Or, shall the author say, who.
Hiccup spent a lot of time with Viggo. And all that time spent with Viggo caught the villager's attention. Hiccup knew he shouldn't be hanging around this man so much, but he loved him and the feelings Hiccup got whenever he was around him. Still, Hiccup should really stop hanging around this man; doom and misfortune will only befall the handsome outsider.
Viggo held the camera up for Hiccup to get a better look. "This screen here will allow you to see what it is you want to take a photo of-"
"You should run away." Hiccup interrupted.
"What?" Viggo questioned, confused and puzzled.
"You should run away. Tonight. I don't want you to get hurt because of me. make sure to take Light with you" - so my brother and I can perform our duty - "to keep her safe, also."
"Alright, then I'll tell my brother and-" Viggo started.
"No! He must stay! I cannot explain why, but it is better if he stays," Hiccup said.
Viggo studied Hiccup's face. Viggo's face was that of understanding. "Alright. But will we see each other again?"
"I don't know. Hopefully, we may be able to. I still have so many things I want to do in life and they all involve you by my side." Why am I talking as though I will run away? Am I really going to do so?
Hiccup carried a tray to the cell in the Bludvist house where they were keeping the Wedge - the sacrifice of whom was tortured to death and then dropped into the abyss to keep the Damned Dragon pacified until the Chosen Children were ready to undergo the ritual. Hiccup was glad the Wedge was who he was. He never did like Ryker; he was always pining after Toothless, making him uncomfortable. He's even gone after some of his freinds.
Hiccup smiled a friendly smile as he pushed the tray through the door flap built for the tray. "How are you on this fine day?" Hiccup cooed, his smile looking more sadistic than friendly.
Ryker just glared at him.
"Not going to say anything? After all the things I have done for you..."
"You are the reason I am stuck here! I have a wife! And children!" Ryker snarled.
Hiccup's smile returned to its friendly state. "Should have thought about that before you did those things to my brother and his friends."
"Watch your tongue boy! When I get out of here, that will be the first thing I take from you!" Ryker growled.
Hiccup laughed. Stupid outsider! It's your tongue that will go first. And your teeth...
Hiccup was furious. Every one of his brother's friends has come up to him to ask, "Has Toothless told you the plan yet?" and "How do you feel about this plan?" and "Are you excited for your freedom?"
And Hiccup would answer, "Yes, Toothless has told me the plan," and "It is a very good plan," and "I am so excited to be free!" Of course, his second answer was a lie. But he wasn't exactly lying about his third answer. He was so excited to be free of his helplessly sick body. He was so tired of throwing up blood. He was so tired of the horrible fevers that show up out of nowhere. He was so tired of fainting wherever his body thought was good, except, of course, they were never good spots for him to drop to the floor as his vision fills with darkness.
Ugh, the darkness. Hiccup has always hated it. But this time, he found he enjoyed it.
Toothless will never find me in here. And neither will his blasted friends! Friends he shouldn't even have.
If Hiccup could, he would kill all of Toothless' friends. They were so stupid; trying to make him do something he didn't want to do. He didn't want to run away, but maybe it was for the best. Angry tears rolled down Hiccup's face merrily.
The life I and Viggo could have... as great as it sounds, I don't want Father to be disappointed in me. I'm sorry, Toothless! Please forgive me, Viggo!
Hiccup looked at the wall of the small space in which he was hiding to get away from his brother and his brother's friends.
Oh, those friends of my brother! They don't know what they are doing!
Hiccup reared back a fist and then smashed it into the wall that had been in his sights for a while now. He let out a muffled cry as he tended to his hand. His hand was now covered in various little cuts.
Or maybe I don't know what I am doing...
Hiccup reached into his left boot and pulled out his dagger. His brother made it for him a while back to protect Hiccup from his bullies-of which he had many. Those were the days when Hiccup saw everyone as a coward. Those were the days when he despised the ritual and would rather die by hanging for criminal charges than go through the ritual. Those were the days when Toothless was excited to partake in the ritual. And then they were both told what they had to do. And just like that, it was like their thought processes switched. The two grew closer. But not close enough, in Hiccup's opinion.
He aligned the knife to his ring knuckle, and applied as much pressure as possible, determined to defeat his skin's purpose in life. After a while, he ran out of room on his knuckles to put a cut.
I should get the other one, now. And I should hurry, as I'm running out of time before Toothless-or someone even worse-finds me and catches me in this act.
And guess what happened? As Hiccup was figuring out where to put the first cut on his uninjured hand, he heard a voice. But not just any voice. Her voice. Hers and those two muttonhead brothers of hers.
"Hiccup! Hiccup Bludvist, come out now! We shouldn't have to look around for your stupid ass!"
"Red, maybe we should try to be nice. Give him a false sense of security when we find him."
"Green, that is the best idea I have ever heard you say all week! Purple, you should start taking lessons from Green! You have been slacking on generating great ideas!" Red scolded.
Hiccup burrowed himself deeper into his hiding place. His fingers coiled tightly around the hilt of the knife.
"Hey, Red! Look at this trap door poorly hidden behind this crate!" Hiccup heard Green call out. Hiccup wanted to die.
The feeling multiplied when the door slid open and Red's whorish-looking face showed up in the doorway.
"Found ya," Red snickered. She reached into the small space and dragged Hiccup out of his haven. Hiccup dropped his knife as he was pulled out, lashing out and all.
I'm going to die.
Nausea took Hiccup's body hostage and before Hiccup could try to stop it, a hot crimson liquid spewed out of his mouth. Onto Red. Who screeched like the Damned Dragon's fire had descended upon her. Hiccup's body erupted into pain as he landed on the cold, hard dirt road. But he couldn't let himself think about the pain as he threw up more blood.
I want to die.
Hiccup almost felt comfortable in his brother's arms. But the of which Toothless was moving and the numerous potholes in the road made the ride bumpy. Hiccup couldn't get all-the-way comfortable. His insides made sure he felt as miserable as possible.
"Toothless, I need a break," Hiccup whimpered, voice hoarse from the previous five breaks that left bloody puddles on the side of the path. Toothless sighed as he set Hiccup down. It was good that Toothless put Hiccup down when he did because crimson came pouring out of Hiccup's mouth.
I hate this. I hate how weak I am right now. Should I even be sacrificed with this sickness that I have?
Tears poured out of Hiccup's eyes as sobs took control of his body. Arms that were not his own wrapped themselves around his body, one hand swept away his bangs from his face, the other rubbed his arm.
"Should we even be allowed to perform the ritual with this... this curse that has taken hold of me?" Hiccup asked.
Toothless' hold tightened. "I still think there is medicine for you out there. But no, we shouldn't. Not when they are working you to death."
The two stayed where and how they were, only moving about so Hiccup could expel the crimson liquid without making a mess on themselves. Crimson butterflies came and circled them, as though to keep them company. All was quiet - minus the disgusting sounds Hiccup made when he vomited.
"Boys! There you two are! I was looking everywhere for you two. And Hiccup... Hiccup you are so lucky that I-" Drago stopped his rant before he could even start it when he noticed the moderately large puddle of bloody despair on the dirt and the tears streaming down both his boys' faces. His angry expression was replaced a grim one. "So, the sickness has gotten worse?"
"Yes, Father, it has," Toothless replied for Hiccup, as the boy was too weak to do anything but slump over.
"I'll go tell the priests to start preparing for the ritual early. We must hurry before we lose the boy."
Toothless' eyes widened. "No! Please, there are other twins you can use, but don't use us! Please!"
"Sorry, son, but we don't pick the sacrifices. The Holy Dragons do. They have never failed to keep us safe!" Drago turned around and walked away.
Toothless pulled Hiccup closer to his body. When he was sure their father was far enough away, Toothless whispered into Hiccup's ear, "We will get out of here. You won't have to do this stupid ritual. We will get you the medicine you need. We will get out of here."
Hiccup watched Toothless from their bed as the latter packed all their belongings into a shared bag. They only had so much time to get ready to leave and get to the meet-up spot. Thank goodness the two didn't own a lot of things. When all the packing was done, Toothless turned to Hiccup.
"Still want to do that stupid ritual?"
Hiccup thought for a moment. There were many pros and cons for doing the ritual and more pros and cons for not doing the ritual. "I don't know," Hiccup answered. He really didn't know if this was okay with going through the ritual anymore. He was starting to hate it. But it still had all those promises.
Toothless seemed surprised by that answer. He didn't say anything, though, as if not to change his brother's mind. Toothless hoisted the bag full of all of their most needed and prized possessions-which wasn't really much. "You ready?"
"Yes. Let's go before Father gets back."
So, the two ran to the spot where they promised their friends where they would meet up. When they got there, they checked to make sure they had everyone. Toothless carrying the luggage and Hiccup holding Toothless' hand, the two ran.
And ran.
And ran.
"Get back here!" a deep, gruff voice called from behind the group.
The group panicked as the footsteps of the Veiled Priests grew closer. Hiccup could hear that Red and her dim-witted brothers were with the Priests.
As they all kept running, Hiccup grew more and more tired. Hiccup stumbled, Toothess' hand gripped Hiccup's hand harder but Hiccup's wrist slipped from his grasp. Hiccup saw Toothless turn around as if to check on Hiccup. Hiccup just tried his hardest to keep up with his brother. It was just as Toothless faced forward that Hiccup felt the sudden urge to expel his insides. But he couldn't stop. If he did, he'd be forced to undergo the ritual. All by himself. There was no way Toothless would go through with it.
Hiccup knelt before the altar decorated with the Six Holy Dragons attacking the Damned Dragon, a white robe covering his sickly pale and thin body and attempting to cover up the abuse from earlier, but the truth bled through the material easily.
Why did you leave me? Why didn't you turn around and come back...?
Please come back... I don't want to be alone anymore...
Hiccup hung his head low, staring at the ground, as he was guided down a rather long staircase. His back ached and stung and he just wanted his brother there to offer him support and comfort and-
"Move faster, runt!"
Toothless, are you happy now?
3...
2...
1...
Yes! No more stairs!
Hiccup looked up from the cold, hard stone floor.
The floor... it's so cold... just like my brother's heart...
Toothless! Help me! Please, I can't breathe! This rope is making my suffocation unbearable. Why did you need to run? Please, come back! Your hands were made to crush my neck. COME BACK! Your hands would feel so much better than this itchy rope. Please don't make me die this way! Toothless! TOOTHLESS!
Please, don't leave me here alone! I don't want to be alone! I don't like to be alone!
It was dark. Very dark. Screams and groans and wails rang through the darkness. It frightened Hiccup to the bone. At least Hiccup had the light that shone from his bright white robe and the crimson cord around his waist.
Toothless, why did you leave me?
"I was wondering when you were going to arrive," a purring voice said from the darkness, scaring Hiccup more than the screams and groans and wails.
"Wh-who are you?" Hiccup cried out, terror wracking his body. It didn't help that he had to fight off hands that protruded from the darkness. They felt cold and mean and they left burn marks wherever their skin met his.
All of a sudden, a male taller thanHiccup came out. He had dark auburn hair and dark emerald eyes filled with a scary sort of joy, his skin was ashen, the clothes he wore looked almost exactly like Hiccup's but tattered and bloodied. Hiccup wanted to run into Toothless' arms beg him to never leave him ever again.
"How could you say such a stupid thing? I am you."
Hiccup tried his hardest to contain his cries as Evil touched Hiccup in a way that was not where men should touch other men even though Hiccup has dreamed of doing this with Viggo before and-
A horrified gasp left Hiccup's lips as he felt his sacred part release something. He fell to the ground, shaking as he felt a few more strings leave his body.
"Why-why are you doing this?" Hiccup snapped, frustrated tears streamed down his face. I just wanted to be a butterfly!
"I have been waiting for you for a long time, my bride. Now, what do you say about having some more fun?"
"No! No, get away from me! Toothless! TOOTHLESS! Please save me!" Hiccup cried as he fought off the hands of the evil entity before him. Hiccup scurried away from the monster. Hiccup wailed in terror, holding his legs close to his chest.
"Oh, come on. Don't be like that, darling. Everything will be so much easier for you if you just behave," the demon purred.
Hiccup sobbed as he felt cold, grimy hands attach themselves to his neck and squeeze.
Toothless, why did you let go?
Hiccup opened his eyes. He was standing on the altar, the altar where Toothless should have killed him, but he didn't. He ran. He ran and Hiccup was stuck in this new body that he couldn't control. He couldn't even control his own voice! But maybe the voice wasn't his. That laugh wasn't his laugh. It was too high-pitched and evil and hysterical and certainly not his. Just like his actions were his, not his.
Hiccup would never dream of killing anyone, not even his monster of a father. No no no, Drago was not a monster. Not compared to the thing that had taken Hiccup's body hostage.
Toothless... why didn't you look back? Why did you loosen your grip? Why didn't we try to run away sooner? You were right, Toothless! You were right! This ritual is bogus! It has been waiting for his bride - for me! - for centuries! I never wanted to be part of this union with him. I wanted to be part of the union between me and you!
Everyone was dead. Drago, Sharpshot (why hadn't we thought of bringing him along when we left?), the veiled priests, the mourners, the angry villagers, the fearful villagers, the young girl next door (who completed the ritual at the young age of nine. It's a true wonder why she was all messed up), Red, Green, Purple, that nice woman with her six demon children, Stormfly's family, Hookfang's family, Meatlug's family, and everyone else who stayed.
And who killed them?
"Hiccup... stop looking so sad! Good things will come from this moment, I promise, my bride!" The Damned Dragon cooed. At least, Hiccup believed the voice in his head was that of the Damned Dragon's.
"But I killed everyone..." Hiccup whimpered.
"No... we killed everyone! Stop taking all the credit for yourself! Ryker and I helped, too, you know!" The Damned Dragon snapped, feigning hurt at Hiccup's words.
Hiccup laid on the floor. He was in his bedroom; the bedroom he shared with his brother before he left Hiccup behind forever. Ryker hovered nearby as Hiccup talked to his possessor-was it possible for a ghost to be possessed?
Hiccup was just walking around the village aimlessly. How else was he to spend his leisure time?
Heh heh. Time. The only thing that Hiccup hadn't killed. It just loops now, though, as if the trauma of what happened was too much for it to continue its normal life.
"Fearless! Slow down! Stop! We really shouldn't be here! Father told us to never come to these parts of the woods because something bad exists here!" a shrilly voice cried out.
"Come on, Tearless. Quit being such a baby all the time! We'll be fine!" a gruffer voice called back.
Hiccup moved closer to where the voices were coming from, though tried his best to stay in the shadows. And it was like having Hiccup was watching himself and Toothless walk around the village together. Only these two seemed a little younger and the village was in shambles. The only difference was the smaller twin had some sort of knee injury, judging by the bandaging around his left knee and the way he favored it.
They will have to do.
"Fearless, come on, we really should get back! I already don't like this place. Those weird visions we had when we first entered? The sound of men singing yet this place looks like it has been abandoned for decades? Does that not say something is wrong here?"
"Tearless, you are such a drama queen sometimes."
You will not leave me this time, Toothless.
Hiccup crept up on the one named Tearless.
Please review! (Just no hate comments! Constructive criticism is welcome, though.)