It didn't take long for Eddie to get the priest. One that he and Waylon had seen not that long ago. Who looked like this was perfectly fine. In fact, he seemed to be pretty happy for the Groom. Complimenting Elliot's looks and dress in a polite manner. All of which made his stomach twist in disgust. But he kept his emotions in check. Doing his upmost best to keep the sweet smile on his face. Which was proving to be more difficult to do as Eddie insisted on carrying him. Everywhere he needed to be.
Every-freaking-where. It was starting to really get on the shorter man's nerves. Sure, he was still terrified of Eddie. But that was starting to fade. All he wanted to do was go home. Not be some housewife for a creep like him. But he did his best to keep the smile plastered on his face. After all, his life wasn't the only one on the line. If he didn't behave, he was sure Waylon'd be the next victim. Or any other person at Mount Massive. And despite how terrifying most of them were, they didn't deserve this treatment. So he was going to just pretend that he was perfectly fine with it. Act the part that Eddie wanted him to play.
Until Waylon and him could escape.
Keeping the smile on his face, he listened to the two men. The Priest, Father Martin, seemed adamant that they do it now. That way the ceremony would be done before morning. As it the good Father needed the church for something important. What that was, he wouldn't say. But he said that it was going to be of upmost importance. Not that Eddie minded. He wanted to get the ceremony done as soon as possible. Elliot suspected it was to keep him from running. Or at least the Groom seemed to hope he wouldn't try to run during the wedding. Part of Elliot wondered if Waylon was going to be released for that. Or if he was going to still be tied up. When he tried to ask this, Eddie ignored his words. Pressing the issue caused the Groom to give him a sharp glare. Followed by a firm 'no'. Oh, that wasn't going to stand. There was no way that Elliot would make Waylon stay tied up.
Not with someone like Eddie hanging around. Or any of the priest's congregation hanging around. Good portions of them had blunt objects and knives. If Waylon couldn't move...they'd...pushing that thought aside, he insisted that Waylon be untied. That it wouldn't look good in front of the guests if his 'Maid of Honor' wasn't standing next to him. Giving the Groom his best puppy dog eyes while he did so. Pouting for added effect. Hoping he wasn't coming off as a giant crybaby. At first, Eddie looked displeased with the idea of untying Waylon and letting him up. But when Elliot had pouted, he reluctantly agreed to it. In a soft voice, he said,"I suppose it would look strange. But if she steps one toe out of line, she's going with the others."
"Yes, Dear.",Elliot stated. Giving the Groom a gentle kiss on the cheek. A very quick, very chaste one at that. Not unlike the kisses that he'd given his Mother when she was around. Or his Grandparents when they were around too. It still made Eddie smile a bit more before turning his attentions back to Father Martin. For this, Elliot tuned them out for a bit. Glancing around the Church for any places that he and Waylon could escape. There weren't many that he could easily see. But he thought of the bathroom. There had to be a window or vent or something there. As both of them were small enough to squeeze through. While Eddie was much too muscular to fit. A second later, he was being pulled out of his thoughts by the Groom jostling him slightly. Making him realize that he was being asked a question. Looking up at Eddie, he raised an eyebrow. Then Elliot asked,"I'm sorry?"
"The Priest has asked you a question, Darling.",Eddie answered. Giving a polite smile as he nodded his head to the Priest. Father Martin asked him if he was fine with some of his congregation having weapons or not. And if he wanted he could have them leave the weapons in another room. Elliot said,"I'd really prefer if they leave them in another room. Armed people make me highly uncomfortable."
This was something that Eddie seemed to agree with. Even going so far as to hand Father Martin his knife. As if wanting to show Elliot that he wasn't a threat. Possibly that was the goal. Though he knew better than that. Especially after what he had done to Waylon not that long ago. Shoving those thoughts aside, he gave the Groom an encouraging smile. Giving him another little peck on the cheek. Doing his best to keep the other man happy. A few minutes later, the pair finished speaking. In a little while the wedding was going to happen. Father Martin claimed that his congregation were going to get thing set up. Telling the pair something sweet that Elliot didn't listen to. Instead he focused on Eddie as he took him back to Waylon. Telling him all the things that he was hoping for after the wedding. How their honeymoon was going to be so wonderful.
The idea of which almost made Elliot sick. But he kept the sweet smile plastered on his face as they got back to the room. Waylon stayed still on the table he was laying on. Looking concerned but keeping quiet as they got closer to him. Once they were close enough, Eddie set Elliot down on a nearby chair. Then came back over to Waylon. Calmly, he started untying the ropes that were binding him. Warning the former technician that if he tried anything, he'd hang like the other sluts. A threat that Waylon didn't take lightly as he lay there. A moment later, his bindings were off and he carefully sat up on the table. Rubbing the marks that had formed. Mumbling a quiet 'Thank you' to Eddie that he doubted the Groom could hear. Seconds later, Eddie went back over to Elliot. Kissing his forehead as he gently held the scrawny man's face. Squishing his cheeks gently as he spoke about their wedding plans. Surprising Waylon with how soon it was going to be. How fast that this man was going. Shoving those thoughts to the side, he watched the Groom leave the room. Blowing a little kiss to Elliot once again before heading to the other room. In a quiet voice, Waylon asked,"Where's he going?"
"I asked for some water and he's getting me some.",Elliot explained. Keeping his voice just as low as Waylon's. Then he explained what was going to happen. How they were going to an actual Church for this wedding. That the Priest was real. One that they'd seen a couple of hours before. And had been finger painted with blood on the wall. Which made Waylon slightly shudder. Glancing briefly up at the door, he continued,"Fucker didn't even try to help me. He complimented Eddie on his choice of bride even. Telling him how pretty I am."
"How slender I am too.",Elliot added. Feeling disgusted at how he was creepily the man stared at him. Chewing his bottom lip, he hated how gross feeling about it. Pushing the feelings away, he looked up at Waylon. Who looked to be deep in thought. A second later, Waylon whispered,"Well, if we play our cards right. We can escape through a vent or something."
"I'm not letting this guy keep you.",he assured. There was no way in Hell that was going to happen. And he was going to keep an eye on that priest. If that man was fine with Eddie kidnapping someone, who knows what else he would be fine with. Or what company he keeps. Before he could say anything else, he heard approaching footsteps. Waylon quickly shifted back to a reasonable distance from Elliot. Not wanting to set Eddie off more than he already had. Keeping his expression calm as the Groom came into the room. Holding a glass of water that Elliot had asked him for. Who took it from him with a small smile and a polite 'thank you'. A second later, he was being shifted to sit on Eddie's lap. His back was now pressing against the Groom's chest. Big hands were placed on his shoulder and thigh. The hand on his thigh wasn't in an improper place. Yet, it still made Waylon uneasy as he watched them together. Listening to Eddie speak quietly about their wedding. The words he was using made Waylon sick to his stomach. Did he talk to all his 'brides' like this?
Doing his best to pretend that he didn't exist, Waylon listened. Noticing that Elliot was barely able to keep his calm. Sounding slightly uncomfortable about the ideas of the 'Honeymoon'. And it didn't take much to realize. As he knew full well what Eddie was expecting from Elliot. Making him even more queasy as he listened to them speak. A few moments later, there was a knock at the door. Followed by a random variant peeking his head in. Telling them that the Church was ready for them to use. This information brought a huge grin to Eddie's face. Carefully picking up Elliot, he headed for the door. Only pausing to give Waylon the stink eye. In a barely controlled tone, he said,"Well? You heard the man. The ceremony is starting."
"Get up and follow us.",he added. Then started walking once again after the variant. He barely caught Elliot's expression as he looked over Eddie's shoulder. A look of utter panic on his face as he clung to the Groom. Quickly slipping off the table, he hurried after them. Doing his best to assure Elliot that everything was going to be fine. Even though he wasn't entirely sure if they were going to be. But he wasn't going to let Elliot see how scared he was. A few moments later, they were in the Church. Various variants from earlier in the day were seated in pews. Some had the decency to fully dress themselves. While the others just put pants on. Like the two twins that they had seen earlier. Who were giving the pair strange looks as they passed them. Heading down the aisle and straight for the disturbed Priest. Who seemed very happy with holding a bible as he stood there. Waylon struggled with the urge to strangle the horrible fucker as they got closer. Smothering the instinct, he glanced up at Elliot.
Elliot was looking slightly nervous. Smiling a bit too hard for the former technician's liking. But it didn't seem to bother Eddie. In fact, he was humming an old timey song he'd heard playing in the room they'd found him in. Something about marrying a girl like his Father had. It was disgusting. Shoving this aside, he took in the sights around him. There was at least a few ways they could run. And he spotted a vent that looked to be easy to crawl through. The thing was between the restrooms. Convenient and slightly lucky. Grinning slightly, he stood to the right of the priest. Where he remembered Lisa's Maid of Honor standing at their wedding. Another action that seemed to please Eddie a little. Or at least make the man not look at him as if he were a disgusting insect. Gently, he set Elliot on the ground in front of him. And Waylon finally got a good look at Elliot. The lighting in the Church was significantly better than in Eddie's workshop. It showed off how simple the dress was. But how beautiful, well made, and somewhat flattering it was.
Elliot still looked too skinny for it. But he didn't look like he was positively drowning in it either now. He was also wearing long gloves that reminded him vaguely of Opera gloves. They were just as beautifully made as the dress. No veil, but that didn't matter. Eddie had seen Elliot's face for a while now. He wasn't walking down the aisle either. So why bother covering his face at all? Chewing the inside of his cheek, he almost jumped when music played softly. It wasn't the bridal march but it was definitely standard wedding music. He ignored it as he listened to the Priest. Keeping a careful eye on Eddie's hands.
Figuring that once they were off of Elliot's, he'd do something. Which would probably be just picking the other man up and running. It wasn't a great plan, but it was better than nothing.
"Do you, Edward Gluskin, take Ellie Porteous to be your lawfully wedded wife?",the Priest asked. Eddie responded with the normal 'I do'. Grinning from ear to ear as he held his future 'wife's' hands. Who was shaking slightly as he stood there. A second later, the Priest asked,"Do you, Ellie Porteous, take Eddie Gluskin to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do.",Elliot answered. Keeping his voice as steady as he possibly could. The answer made the Groom grin to a disturbing degree. Almost looking like a predator after his favorite choice of prey. Waylon shoved this thought aside as he tensed himself up. Watching Gluskin's hands as the Priest said,"By the powers invested in me. I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
With that, Eddie finally let go of Elliot's hands. Before he could pull the scrawny man into a kiss, Waylon grabbed him. Holding him like a child as he made a frenzied dash around the surprised Groom. Heading straight for the vent as he bolted. Elliot gripped him tightly as he did so. Watching behind them as they got closer to freedom. Seconds later, he heard Eddie screaming in anger. Calling both Waylon and Eddie sluts. Along with other horrible things as he came thundering after them. But he paid that no mind as he got to the vent. Quickly getting the scrawny man in before getting in as well. Both started crawling as fast as they could through it. Not once looking back as they did so. Continuing to ignore Eddie's cries as they moved along. Hoping that they were finally free of that monster.
Once they got out of the vent, they found themselves in a new place. Keeping a careful eye out for anyone tailing them. Anyone that the Priest could've sent. Both hoping that the Groom wouldn't be able to find them. As Waylon felt worried that he'd come after them. Do what he had done to the reject 'Brides' that were dangling in the gym. Not that he was voicing this. Since it was more than likely that Elliot was thinking this too. And voicing it just made it seem more real. As they walked, Waylon took the scrawny man's hand. Gently squeezing it as they headed towards a nearby gate. Which was, unfortunately but unsurprisingly, locked. Neither of them were surprised by this turn of events. But both men wished they were luckier.
As they went to look for it, they heard familiar singing. Causing both men's blood to run cold as they started looking for the key. Hiding a few times as they heard Eddie's singing getting louder. A little later, they entered a room that looked like a mock-up of the Church from earlier. Except no Maid of Honor or crowd. The bride looked to be a mutilated man with a similar dress to Elliot's. Holding a key in his hand. And the priest was just a dummy with a picture of the real one stapled to it. They ignored this as they went right up to the corpse. Elliot snatched the key from the corpse with a small smile. Which faded when they heard Eddie shouting. Looking over their shoulder, they saw Eddie standing at the doorway. Holding the knife from earlier. The light was behind him so they couldn't see his expression as he stood there. Huffing and growling the horrible slurs at them.
Both men sprinted to a different doorway next to them. Squeezing through a gap as Eddie started to advance on them. The other room was small and had an exit. Which was being blocked by propane tanks. Waylon quickly started to move them as Elliot kept an eye on Eddie. Feeling slightly relieved that Eddie's body was too muscular for him to get through. Eddie, obviously, wasn't happy with this. He kept screaming at them as he tried to grab at Elliot. Tears were rolling down his cheeks as he glared daggers at the scrawny man before him. There was a slight twang of guilt in him at this but he squished it down. This man tried to kidnap him. Tried to make him his 'Bride'. And would no doubt kill him if he hadn't fulfilled his 'wifely' duties. Elliot did his best to ignore him as Waylon got the door open. Grabbing each other's hands before they started running again. Back towards the gate they'd seen before and quickly unlocking it. They weren't sure if it was towards freedom or not.
But it was sure as Hell better than whatever Eddie had in store for them.
_
Everything was so damn difficult. They tried to find a way out of the building only to be met with fire. A patient was sitting in the middle of it. Quietly talking about how Murkoff took so much from him. How he had to burn everything to the ground. Telling them that if they wanted out, they had to go through the kitchen. Which was blocked off with tables that were on fire. Raphael bit back curses as they made their way through the fire. Only letting his anger out when they were away from the variant. Gripping his camera tight, he hissed,"The Hell does he expect us to get out? Pretty much everything is blocked off by fucking fire!"
"...I know but he's not trying to hurt us. Just Murkoff.",Miles stated. Much calmer than his assistant pictured he was going to be. In fact, he sounded much more sympathetic too. Part of him wondered just what exactly he'd been through before they met up. But didn't want to ask as he started taking calming breaths to settle himself. Soon as he was calm, Miles said,"There's gotta be a way to turn on the sprinklers. Soon as we get them on, we can get outside."
"Then we can get to that Priest and punch him?",Raphael asked. Only partially joking about wanting to hurt the Priest. But also somewhat serious. As the religious bastard put them through Hell and back for some reason. It did make him slightly happy when Miles agreed to the idea. Both smiled as they started checking places. Looking for a sign of where the sprinklers could be turned on. Finding more dead bodies that didn't surprise them anymore. Which vaguely worried Raphael. Wondering how he could become so desensitized to death all around him. But strangely feeling grateful that he wasn't a blubbering mess by now. Shoving those feelings aside, they started towards a narrow gap. One that was made of mattresses, drawers, metal bed frame, and a lamp. It was like the gap from before. Carefully, the pair squeezed through. Both found the button for the sprinklers. Not working. Both gave groans as they started looking for switches for it around the area. Neither finding them that easily.
They debated splitting up to find the switches. But worried that if they split up something bad would happen. Like a variant killing one and hunting down the other. Still, it would save them time. So they decided to split up to find the switches. If one found one, they had to immediately turn it on. With that, they hurried to find them. Miles headed over to the laundry room. While Raphael headed towards a gap like the other one. As he got closer, he wondered why the patients were bothering with it. It felt like a giant waste of time. Well, that was, until he heard familiar sound of clinking chains to his back. And a voice hiss,"Little Pig."
His blood ran cold as he booked it for the gap. Not once looking behind him as he heard Chris's footsteps or booming voice. All that mattered was getting through the gap. Getting to whatever laid behind it and hiding. Raphael picked up the pace as he got to the gap. Squeezed through and headed straight for the nearest door. Once inside, he paused as he stared at the men inside. Or the man inside. As there was a patient calmly washing another in the tub. Ignorant of the fact that the other was dead. It sent a shiver down his spine as he glanced around. Nearly immediately spotting the room with the switch. He headed over to it and turned it on. Soon as he got out of that room, he heard things scraping. It took a second for it to dawn on him that it was the blockade being moved. And felt his heart pound against his ribs as he realized there was no where to hide.
The man that was washing one of the corpses froze. Looking over his shoulder, he stared at Raphael. In a stern voice, he said,"Get into one of the tubs and cover yourself."
"I won't let him hurt you.",he added. It didn't relieve Raphael but he did as instructed. Getting into one of the dry tubs and moving the sheet over himself. Laying down in it, he did his best to calm his breathing. And it proved to be a good move. As a few seconds later, the door was slammed open. He heard Chris come into the room. Muttering something about having seen Raphael and that he was sorry. But what was to be done had to be done. Or something to that effect. It was hard to hear over the pulse pounding in his ears. Biting down on his bottom lip, he heard the man washing the corpse yell at Chris. Telling him that he was scaring the babies and needed to leave. There was silence for a moment. So quiet that he was sure the mutilated man could hear his heart blasting in his chest. Then he heard the tall man's footsteps begin to leave the room. And when he was sure that he was gone, he moved the sheet. Slowly sitting up, he kept an eye on the doorway. When he was sure that he was fine, he turned to the man with the corpse. Giving him a small smile as he whispered,"Thank you."
Then quickly got himself out of the tub. Quietly heading out of the room and in the direction that Miles had gone. Hoping to find his boss before the mutilated man could.