Duvet
Ennard quickly crawled through the catch basin on the side of the road, leaving the rotting corpse of Michael Afton behind.
It gave one last look towards him before it attempted to escape further into the sewers.
"Attempted" because it was stopped by something; someone.
"Where are you going?" The person standing before it looked familiar to Ennard, although it didn't know why. They had white hair and intense blue eyes. Ennard stared into their eyes, almost entranced, and suddenly a long-forgotten memory was unlocked.
"Princess…Juniper…?" It was Circus Baby's voice that spoke through Ennard.
"That is how you knew me then, yes." Princess Juniper confirmed. The amalgamation of possessed animatronics was confused.
"Why are you here?"
"You answer my question first and then I'll answer yours." Ennard remained quiet for a bit, unsure of what to answer. The truth was: it didn't know. Now that Michael was no longer of use, it had no real way to hide in plain sight.
"We do not know; we only know that we cannot be seen as we are now." "Princess Juniper" tilted their head, mulling over Ennard's answer. Then, she returned the favor by answering the question asked of her.
"I'm here to collect that favor, Elizabeth." Ennard became disgruntled; it had Elizabeth Afton's soul and, therefore, her memories. Yet, Ennard had no desire to grant the "fairy princess" anything, least of all a favor that was promised by a child that died years ago. Their prolonged silence seemed to clue Princess Juniper in to what Ennard was thinking and a fearsome scowl shadowed over her ethereally beautiful face. Despite the warning signs, Ennard decided to verbalize their thoughts.
"We are not Elizabeth Afton, though we have her memories. We are not obligated to do any "favors" for you. We only wish to leave." The already dark sewers seemed to grow even darker; the shadows engulfing everything in sight except for Princess Juniper's glowing brilliant, blue eyes. When Princess Juniper next spoke, their voice was a deep grumble and her overall presence felt as if it were encompassing everything.
"You would try to cheat me?" Juniper laughed, then, a sound more akin to thunder than human laughter, "That would not be wise. You may no longer be Elizabeth Afton, but you contain her soul via Circus Baby. If you will not grant me my request, then…" Juniper eyes suddenly vanished and Ennard prepared to defend itself. All of a sudden, a large, clawed hand grabbed Ennard by its face, pulling it backwards. She gripped Ennard tightly in her, now much larger, arms. Ennard still could not see Juniper, but they could feel that she was much larger than she had appeared before, and far stronger. It heard her breathing heavily, her face next to its own. Ennard was unable to move or defend itself. "…I will simply take whatever it is I wish from you. I wonder what I should take…?" She had hummed in amusement; her voice was almost a purr. "Should I take your eyes? Or maybe I should take everything except your eyes?" Juniper gasped gleefully, then, "I know! I won't take something! I'll take someone: a life for a life! Your father is still wandering around, I believe that I shall go fetch him! Two birds with one stone!" Ennard was filled with panic as it was released from the Juniper's vice grip.
"Wait!" It called, Circus Baby's voice breaking through, "Please wait!" The darkness seemed to recede and Princess Juniper as Ennard remembered her was standing before them once again, impatience practically oozing from her.
"What?" Juniper was curt. Ennard could see the desire for their creator's soul shining in Juniper's eyes. Their father's soul. Ennard had to stop her.
"Name your favor." Juniper's disappointment was palpable, if only for a moment, before putting on the mask of neutrality.
"When you "scooped" Michael, he was injected with Remnant. His soul is still attached to his body. I want you to encourage him to possess it. I want you to bring him back." Juniper looked up at the sky through the catch basin, "I am unable to do this myself, unfortunately." She looked back to Ennard, her expression softer and just slightly pleading, "He is your brother. You must love him, still, no matter how deep down it may be." Ennard did not say anything, but, after a brief moment of hesitation, climbed up to the catch basin and focused its many-eyed gaze on Michael's corpse above. Juniper gave a last bit of advice: "You have to will it, Elizabeth."
As Ennard stared at the corpse of its one-time brother, Ennard replayed old and nearly faded memories of a time before. Memories of a happier time. Piggy-back rides, tea parties, sneaking ice cream when Daddy wasn't looking. Ennard began to chant.
"You won't die."
"You won't die."
"You won't die."
"You won't die."
"You won't die."
"You won't die."
"You won't die."
"You won't die."
Michael's eyes snapped open.
