Chapter 6: Stuck

Perry

We were about to head back when we heard some clicking behind us. Guns were pointed directly at us. We both put our hands up.

"I can't have the two of you foiling my plans so early in the game. I intend to draw this out until all that remains is the breaking point," came a voice. We turned in its direction and there stood the man known simply as the Beast. Reputation had certainly inflated him to the point I nearly laughed at his appearance. He was not muscular and I wouldn't have placed him far above six feet tall, even with the slouch.

"Enigma, this has gone on long enough. Can't you just leave us alone?" asked Christine.

"It wouldn't really be much of a series if I stopped so soon now would it?"

I quirked an eyebrow in confusion. He continued, "Regardless, as much as I appreciate watching the hero flail helplessly toward their goal, it gets to be very… grating. I must confess that I am at a loss as to what to do with the two of you."

"Look here, Beast, leave Christine out of this. This business is between you and I," I said bravely.

He yawned, disinterested. "How about no? Perry, it is only fitting and fun that I take into account all factors involved. You're both coming with us." We were then seized by his men and thrown into a prison wagon. The Beast followed us in and cuffed us. A few men also followed to sit at the far end to keep an eye on us.

The wagon moved forward and the Beast spoke again, "I find it amusing; the people who remember are, quite possibly, the least useful of your group. If the bumbling scientist knew anything of the magic he possessed, he might be useful, but he does not. If the little Fireside girl here had any sort of influence in helping the others remember, she might be useful." He glared at Christine and she grit her teeth in frustration. "Sadly, what magic she received was a mere side effect and will lift with the curse, if broken. Then, there's you, Perry." He turned to me and laughed low. "You are in the in-between, a terrible place for anyone to be. I was sure your mind would have broken you by now. I know it is still only a matter of time."

We arrived at a destination. Some men came into the wagon and took Christine out. "Don't lose hope, Perry. We beat him before, we'll do it again!" she called out to me.

"Doubtful," replied the Beast. Once she was off and the door was closed, the wagon moved again. "Hope is the most useless tool of the mortal existence, a false fog which blinds us from the simplest truths: death comes to all and, sometimes, evil wins.

"The only thing blocking this is what the Author thinks should happen. I sense something impending… until then, they don't control everything." He smiled sinisterly. I shook slightly, knowing that I was in company with someone who had gone truly mad.

The ride was longer than I had expected and I was certain we had reached another border of town. We traveled further on until we reached a place where there was no noise to be heard. I was grabbed by the back of my neck and dropped into a dark hole.

"Maybe there is a chance for you. Maybe not. However, I don't intend to simply allow you to wander free. You needn't worry about the girl. She's safe. This place, however, is the site of your downfall," said the Beast. He pulled a pistol from his pocket and threw it down to me. "This, I think, will be my favorite part. I'll enjoy watching this play out." He let out a sinister laugh as he tossed me one bullet and left.

I held the two objects in my hand and my eyes gaped at the implication of what he wanted me to do. No. I refuse! I groped the walls, looking for any place for a possible foothold or handhold. Any ledges there were therein were either too slippery or so small only an athlete would be able to climb them out.

This was clearly a well that had been dried out for just such an occasion. By touching one wall with one hand, I measured that the well was twice as wide as what I could reach. So, there was no climbing out that way. I ran my fingers across my scalp, frustrated. Is this what is to become of me? Am I to starve in this hole with the dismal, cloudy sky my only friend? But… there was another alternative. The gun and round that lay on the floor where I had set them. I shook my head. No. I refuse. And yet, what was I to do?

I sat down against the wall, staring at the gun in quiet contemplation. It wasn't long before I grew weary and fell asleep. I slept and I dreamed.

She was there. I couldn't get to her, no matter the steps I took or how fast I took them. She was dancing. She looked… so happy… free… and… she was with someone else. He looked like me, but stronger. What is this feeling? What is the cause?

Doofenshmirtz—In the Enigma's Body

"Stop! You don't know what you're doing!" I cried out. I was being held back as I helplessly watched the Enigma, in my body, using the Dream-inator on Perry. He was warping it, somehow, messing with Perry's mind.

"On the contrary, Doctor, I know exactly what I'm doing. He might make it… but then again, he might not," he gave a low laugh, more sinister than any I had ever uttered in that body.

"You monster! You won't get away with this!"

"We shall see… we shall see…"

Perry

I awoke, but it was like I hadn't really awoken. I heard a ringing sound and it made it feel like the world was spinning. The chaos in my mind was unbearable. I gripped the sides of my head screaming for any kind of release from this.

On my knees and with blurred eyes, I caught sight of the gun once again. This has to stop! I loaded the round into the gun. Words ran through my mind, thoughts that didn't feel like my own.

Enigma—In Doofenshmirtz's Body

I had to give the doctor credit for fashioning such an ingenious machine from such limited resources. Perhaps he knew something of his magic after all. I couldn't let him know that though.

An option to mess with Perry's dreams was one thing, but since the connection was still live while he was now awake… well… I had to take advantage of it somehow. I saw his thoughts, jumbled and incomplete. I had no idea what the machine might be doing to him, but it did not look pleasant. Then, serendipity: a prompt to manipulate his thoughts. It can't be this easy, can it? Well, I guess we'll see…

I began typing: I've never felt more alone than I do now. She comes in my dreams, then she fades away. It's so real, it's like a memory, but is it really a memory I'd like to have? No. Every time I see her, it's too much of a heartache, too much of a pain. When life hands you lemons, they tell you to make lemonade out of it. So, when life hands you a gun, what else are you supposed to do?

Perry

My hands shook violently. Conflicting messages entered my mind. I thought things I didn't want to think. I was about to do something I didn't want to do. The bullet was in the chamber, all I had to do was aim and fire.

I heard a sound, but the ringing was still happening in my brain, so I didn't know what it was. I couldn't bring myself to look up. I felt myself slipping. Then, a rope was around me and I was yanked backward. The shock of it all knocked me out. Before I slipped under, I was distinctly aware of two things: I still had a tight grip on the butt of the gun and wherever I had been pulled to, I was no longer in the well.

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