Pitch Perfect SpookFest 2022 - Day 4

Master of Puppets

Summary: Fat Amy buys a ventriloquist's dummy at a flea market. She wants to learn how to be a ventriloquist. Things take a wrong turn when the dummy seems to come to life and speaks on its own.

Several of the Bellas are spending the afternoon at a local flea market. Beca found and purchase an old record player. She then spent most of her time at a table selling vinyl records. She had found a couple that she was planning to buy and was looking at the back covers at the list of songs. She was so engrossed that she didn't hear someone come up behind her.

"Are you going to buy that?"

The voice suddenly speaking in her ear startled Beca. She put her hand to her chest, turned, and screamed.

"What the hell is THAT?" Beca asked, pointing at the thing Fat Amy was holding.

Amy chuckled. "It's a ventriloquist's dummy. See? Look here." Fat Amy held the dummy up and removed her hand from its back. "There's a lever to make his mouth move, and I throw my voice, so it sounds like he's speaking."

"I didn't know you could throw your voice," Beca said.

"I can't," Fat Amy said. "But, I'm going to learn. I think it will be fun, don't you?"

"It's creepy looking," Beca said. "It reminds me of a clown, and I hate clowns."

"You're afraid of clowns?" Fat Amy asked. "Since when?"

"I didn't say I was afraid of clowns," Beca said. "I said I hated them."

"Same thing," Fat Amy said, shrugging.

Beca glared at her and turned back to the record she had been looking at.

"Why are you afraid of clowns?" Fat Amy asked.

"I am not afraid-"

Fat Amy stared at Beca with a raised brow.

"Fine," Beca said. "When I was five, my mom took me to the circus, and I got separated from her, and I started crying because I couldn't find her. My mother didn't find me, but a clown did. He was big and had a scary face. I ran away from him screaming; my mother found me a minute later. After that, I had nightmares for months. And I still can't be around them, so you need to keep that thing away from our room."

"But it's my room, too," Fat Amy said.

"If you plan to keep that thing, you'll need to find someone else to room with," Beca said. "Or, I'll just move into Chloe's room with her, and that dummy can be your new roommate."

"His name is Jasper," Fat Amy said.

"I don't care what its name is," Beca said. "I meant what I said. Keep that thing away from me."

"Fine," Fat Amy said. "I'll keep him somewhere other than our room."

"Good," Beca said. "Now, let's find the girls and get out of here."

~~ Pitch Perfect SpookFest 2022 - Day 4 ~~

When the girls got home, Fat Amy took her purchases, including Jasper, up to her and Beca's room. She looked around and decided the best place to hide Jasper was under her bed. She had just shoved the dummy under her bed when she heard Beca coming up the stairs. She remained kneeling by the bed and acted as if she was straightening out the sheets.

"You're making your bed?" Beca asked. "You never make your bed."

"As my grandmum used to say," Fat Amy responded. "There is a first time for everything."

Beca laughed. "She's right," she said. "But in your case, I think it means you're up to something."

"Words hurt, short stuff," Amy scoffed as she stood up. "I'm going to see what we're doing for dinner."

"Chloe wants to order in," Beca said. "I think she was going to check with the girls so we can decide what to get."

"Oh, okay," Fat Amy said and flopped down on her bed.

"Owwww!"

"What was that?" Beca asked.

"What was what?" Fat Amy responded.

Fat Amy quickly looked down at her bed when they heard, "Get off me, FAT Amy!"

"That! What's that?" Beca screeched, pointing at Amy's bed.

"Oh, that," Amy said, chuckling nervously. "I'm practicing throwing my voice. You thought that was coming from under the bed, didn't you? I did that. I threw my voice, um, eh, so you would think there was something under there."

"There is no way you learned how to throw your voice in just the last hour," Beca said.

"I am a puppet master, Beca," Fat Amy said. "I can control Jasper to speak whenever and wherever I want."

"Leave her alone, Beca, and maybe she'll shut up!"

Fat Amy's eyes widened, and she looked from Beca to her bed and back again.

"You did not just say that," Beca said, glaring at Amy.

"I did say that," Fat Amy said. "I swear it was me."

"Do it again," Beca said. "Throw your voice and say something."

"Okay," Fat Amy said. "I will."

Fat Amy stood and smoothed down her shirt. She then cleared her throat and asked, "Jasper, where are you right now?"

"I'm right where you left me, lard ass!"

Beca stood staring at Fat Amy. "Your lips moved."

"They did not!"

To prove it, Fat Amy spoke out of the side of her mouth, saying, "You heard me, lard ass!"

"Stop! Just stop!" Beca yelled, waving her arms at Amy. "How did you really do it? Do you have a tape recorder or something under your bed?"

"No, you idiot," a third voice said. "It's me!"

Beca and Fat Amy both screamed and jumped onto their beds when Jasper crawled from under Amy's bed.

"What the hell is that thing doing in here!?" Beca yelled.

"I didn't know where else to hide him!" Fat Amy yelled back.

"Beca! Amy!" Chloe's voice called from the door. "Are you two alright up there?"

Just then, Jasper ran to the stairs. Chloe screamed, stepping out of the way when he ran down the steps and out into the hallway.

"What the hell?" Chloe yelled as she rushed up the stairs. "What WAS that?"

"That was Jasper," Fat Amy said calmly, hopping off her bed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go find him."

Fat Amy started down the stairs. Beca yelled after her, "DO NOT BRING THAT THING BACK UP HERE! I MEAN IT, AMY!"

"What's going on, Beca?" Chloe asked.

Beca looked around to make sure Jasper wasn't around and then slowly climbed off her bed.

"Amy found that, that thing at the flea market," Beca said, watching the stairs for signs that Jasper was coming back. "She said she's going to learn ventriloquism so she can make it talk. Only, it seems it can talk and move all on its own."

Beca and Chloe were startled by sudden screams coming from downstairs. They both ran down the stairs until they reached the first floor.

Beca put her arm out to stop Chloe when she saw Jasper chasing Fat Amy with a knife. Beca then stepped in front of Chloe to keep Jasper away from her. Fat Amy ran out the front door, screaming as Jasper ran out after her.

Beca immediately slammed the door behind them and locked it.

"Beca, what about Fat Amy?" Chloe asked.

"What about her?"

"We can't leave her out there, Beca," Chloe said. "We'll open the door and call for Fat Amy. Once she gets inside, we'll close the door before Jasper can get back in."

"So, you're okay with leaving that thing out there?" Beca asked. "I don't know if you realized, but he had a knife. He could go after someone. We have to figure out how to kill him."

"He's a dummy, Beca," Chloe said. "I don't think we can kill him because he's not alive."

"But he is," Lily said, startling Beca and Chloe. "Or soon will be if we don't take care of him."

"What do you know, Lily?" Beca asked.

"Jasper is possessed by someone who calls himself the Master of Puppets," Lily explained. "He is putting together a puppet army to take over the World."

Beca snorted out a laugh. She stopped when she saw how serious Lily was.

"Oh, you're serious," Beca said.

"So, what can we do to stop that from happening?" Chloe asked.

"We have to kill the vessel that the Master is inhabiting," Lily said.

"How do we do that?" Chloe asked.

"I have a plan," Lily said, grinning.

"I don't think I'm going to like this," Beca said.

~~ Pitch Perfect SpookFest 2022 - Day 4 ~~

After explaining her plan to Beca and Chloe, Lily left to find Fat Amy and Jasper. While she was gone, Beca and Chloe gathered the other Bellas together to explain what was happening.

When they were done, Stacie and Cynthia Rose began laughing.

"Wait," Stacie said, laughing loudly. "You're telling us there's a puppet chasing Fat Amy around with a knife? And this same puppet is possessed by a puppet master who wants to rule the World? That's hilarious!"

Cynthia Rose stopped laughing when she saw the looks on Beca and Chloe's faces. "You're serious?"

"Yes," Beca said, causing Stacie to stop laughing as well. "Lily is out looking for Amy and Jasper. She's going to lure them back here, and then we're going to help get the demon out of the puppet and vanquish it."

"No way," Stacie said. "You guys are pulling our legs. I have to give you kudos for keeping a straight face, though."

"I don't think they're kidding around," Cynthia Rose said.

"Come on, CR," Stacie said. "You can't seriously believe this is true."

"What if it is?" Emily asked. "Shouldn't we do everything we can to stop Jasper?"

"He's a dummy!" Stacie exclaimed. "He's not a real person."

Everyone jumped when the front door flung open, and Fat Amy came running in with Jasper right behind her.

They all watched as Fat Amy ran and pulled Beca in front of her.

"Save me," Fat Amy cried. "He's trying to kill me."

Jasper stopped in front of Beca and looked up at her.

"Move!" Jasper said, glaring at Beca.

"No!" Beca said and kicked Jasper, sending him flying against the wall.

"Oh, my God!" Jessica squealed. "He is real!"

Stacie and Cynthia Rose sat with their mouths open in shock.

Ashley jumped up and grabbed Jasper from where he fell. He seemed dazed but shook his head and stared at Ashley. He suddenly raised his arm and brought the knife down on Ashley's arm. Ashley screamed and threw him down to the floor.

"Ashley!" Jessica cried out, running over to her.

"Look out!" Ashley said, pushing Jessica aside when Jasper raised the knife toward Jessica.

The girls began screaming and rushed over to Ashley and Jessica. Emily ran to the kitchen and grabbed a towel. She hurried over to Ashley and wrapped the towel around her arm.

Jasper shook his head again and stood, waving the knife around in front of him. The girls stepped back to avoid being stabbed. Beca carefully made her way behind Jasper; he didn't see her as he was suddenly focused on getting to Fat Amy.

"You will be mine, you fat bitch," Jasper said, looking at Fat Amy.

"Beca, do something!" Chloe yelled.

Beca nodded her head and grabbed Jasper, wrapping her arms around him and pinning his arms to his side.

"Let me go!" Jasper yelled as he started struggling to get out of Beca's grasp

"Somebody grab the knife!" Beca yelled, holding onto Jasper.

Before anyone could move, Lily was standing in front of Beca. She grabbed the knife and pulled, slicing Jasper's palm in the process. Jasper screamed.

"Oh, my gosh," Emily yelled, pointing at Jasper's hand. "Is he…bleeding?"

Lily looked down and saw blood dripping from Jasper's hand.

"He's morphing," Lily said. "If we don't get the demon out of him, he'll be real and will continue his quest to take over the World. And we won't be able to stop him."

"I'll kill you all," Jasper yelled as he continued to struggle against Beca.

"Somebody get the fire pit started," Beca called out while trying to maintain her hold on Jasper.

"What?! Nooooo!" Jasper screeched as he doubled his efforts to get Beca to let him go.

"I'm on it," Chloe said as she ran out of the room.

"Hurry!" Beca called after her. "I don't know how much longer I can hold him."

Stacie ran over and wrapped her arms around Beca, pinning Jasper between them.

"Mmmph!" Jasper moaned as Stacie squeezed him between her and Beca.

"Ow!" Stacie yelped as she jumped back. "The little fucker bit me!"

Cynthia Rose grabbed Beca from behind and wrapped her arms around them, immobilizing Jasper.

"We got him," Cynthia Rose said.

"Someone check on Chloe and see how the fire pit's coming," Beca said.

"We'll go," Jessica and Ashley said, rushing out of the room.

"Emily, help me grab some weapons to keep him in the fire once we throw him in there," Lily said.

Jasper gasped and tried once more to get out of Beca and Cynthia Rose's grasp.

"What kind of weapons?" Emily asked as she and Lily rushed from the room.

"I guess we just stand here and wait for the fire to be ready," Beca mumbled.

"Don't worry, Beca," Cynthia Rose said. "I've got you. He's not getting loose."

~~ Pitch Perfect SpookFest 2022 - Day 4 ~~

After what seemed like hours but was only ten minutes, Jessica and Ashley came rushing into the living room. Lily and Emily came in as Jessica said, "Fire pit's ready."

"Good," Beca said. "Let's burn this little shit."

Jasper renewed his efforts to struggle loose.

"Start walking, Beca," Cynthia Rose. "I'm right behind you and won't let go."

Beca took a tentative step; Cynthia Rose stepped forward as well. They managed to get through the kitchen and out the back door without Jasper breaking free.

Emily and Lily handed each of the Bellas a weapon. They held onto them as Lily explained what they needed to do.

"Beca, you and CR need to pin him down to the ground so I can skewer him with this," Lily said, holding up a broadsword.

"Where did you get that?" Chloe asked, eying the weapon.

"I have my sources," Lily said, shrugging. "Now pin him down."

"Okay," Beca said. "Cynthia, can you move around front and grab one of his arms? Once you do that, we can body-slam him to the ground. Hopefully, that will stun him enough for Lily to do what she needs to do."

Cynthia Rose nodded and did as Beca said, and before they knew it, Jasper was pinned down. He screamed and struggled but couldn't get out of their grip.

"Here goes," Lily said, standing over Jasper while holding the broadsword pointed down at him.

"Nooooo!" Jasper cried just as Lily pushed the broadsword through him.

The girls all cringed at the wails coming from Jasper. Lily managed to lift Jasper without dislodging the sword and placed him onto the fire. The fire started popping and sizzling.

Emily covered her ears to drown out the screams coming from Jasper. Lily pressed down on the sword to keep Jasper from escaping the flames. The other girls stood at the ready to help keep him in the flames if needed.

The fire crackled and popped around Jasper. Suddenly, a stream of fire shot straight into the air, causing the girls to all fall back. They watched as a purple haze emanated from the flames. Screeching and screaming could be heard over the roar of the flames.

And, suddenly, all was quiet. Lily jumped up and rushed over to the fire pit, and looked down. All that was left of Jasper was ashes.

"Is he really gone?" Fat Amy asked, peering over Lily's shoulder.

"Jasper's gone," Lily said. "Let's just hope the Master of Puppets is gone with him."

"You mean, the thing that possessed Jasper could still be around?" Chloe asked.

The girls shuddered and looked around, expecting to see another dummy coming for them.

"I mean," Lily said, looking at the group. "He may have invaded another body so he can continue his plan."

"How will we know if he did?" Emily asked nervously.

"We won't," Lily responded.

"How sure are you that the demon would possess another puppet?" Ashley asked.

"I'm not sure about that at all," Lily said. "He could be strong enough to possess a puppet or even a human."

The girls all looked up to the sky one last time before collectively turning and going into the house.

Beca remained behind. An evil grin came over her face as she picked up the discarded broadsword and made her way toward the house.