The Scarecrow, Part Three
David
It has been a while since David's been sacrificed. It's been even longer since all four members of a trial team had been sacrificed. David awoke in the forest, and he had that dreadful feeling that he knew well by now. Usually when this happened Feng would be there to give him some comfort, but something deep down told David that she had suffered the same fate. David struggled to remember how he ended up being sacrificed. He was in some sort of indoor insane asylum, he heard screaming, then all the sudden he saw spiders crawling all over his body and all over the walls. The next thing he knew, he was on a hook, then he ended up here. David did not move from his little spot in the ground, not until he could see Jake walking around in the distance. David finally stood up, and he met eyes with Jake. David was settled down enough to return to the camp. He could see that Dwight had returned to the camp, and he was doing his best to describe what he had seen.
"F- Fire.. I saw fire everywhere.." Said Dwight to Meg, still shaking a little. "Fire of all things."
"Spiders." Said David. "I saw spiders."
Claudette, who was sitting next to Dwight on one of the logs, looked up to David. Then she looked to Dwight. "Are you afraid of fire Dwight?"
Dwight nodded.
"And Detective, you are afraid of spiders?"
David nodded. "It's what we fear most." Tapp said. "Whatever happened, it did not happen instantly. I saw a poster on the wall change to a news article."
"You saw a poster?" Dwight asked.
"Yeah, it was a political poster for the mayor's office." Tapp said, crossing his arms. "Harvey Dent." Tapp looked to his side to see Jim approaching the campfire. He looked as if he had just slept. "Does Arkham Asylum ring a bell?"
Jim nodded, and he looked to Quinten who had escorted him to the campfire. "Arkham Asylum is where all the worst monsters live."
David Tapp nodded. "Makes sense. I think Harvey Dent is our killer."
"Two Face." Said Jim.
Dwight stood up, and he took a step toward Jim. He had a few questions. "So when Harvey Dent's not running for mayor or drawing giant green question marks on the walls he's showing us what we fear most?"
Jim chuckled, and he took a puff of his pipe. He was only here for a little while and he almost smoked up all the tobacco he had with him. He had already agreed to help Bill with his little tobacco garden. The thing was, Jim knew nothing about gardening, so he had already taken a liking to Claudette for her help. "You could not be anymore wrong." Jim said, with the same smile behind his mustache. "Harvey Dent is one of the mob bosses, the Riddler's the one that draws the green question marks, and the Scarecrow, Jonathan Crane, is the killer here."
"So you know him?" Asked Quinten.
"Hold on." Tapp said, turning to the bell. "I'm going to ring the bell, and you need to tell us what you know.
Dwight nodded, and after the bell was rung, he looked to Jim. "Usually things are not this chaotic. The Entity is expanding faster than ever."
When the bell was rung, the survivors that came were pretty relieved to see that the Entity was not calling for another trial. The last two survivors to come to the fire were none other than Laura and Ace. Ace's hat was dirty with mud, and on crooked. Ace didn't know that it was so obvious what he just got back from doing.
Dwight, not as shaken from his sacrifice, was the first to speak from this meeting. "So we have a new killer. The Scarecrow. Now, did anyone actually see him?"
Feng, looking to the ground, shook her head. David said nothing. Tapp crossed his arms and looked to the side. Jim spoke. "They call him the Scarecrow because he's dressed like a Scarecrow." He said sarcastically. Jim looked to the ground for a moment. "I remember now." He sat down on one of the logs, and he paused. "Yes, we were planning a raid for one of the Penguin's safehouses."
"The Penguin?" Asked Laura, not knowing how dirty the back of her clothing looked.
"Mob boss." Said Jim. "We found out that he hired Scarecrow for something, so we knew that he was up to no good." Jim packed the last of his tobacco into his pipe. "We were counting on the Bat to-"
"Another mob boss?" Asked Nea.
"No. A.. Superhero." Jim said, looking to the ground. "Apparently in your world, super heroes don't exist."
"We're all from different worlds." Said Meg. "In my world, Trump's president. But in Claudette and Dwight's, Clinton's president.
"Luthor's president." Said Jim. "Anyway, something went wrong, and there was a gunfight. Here I am." Jim looked to Tapp. "What kind of fear gas was he using?"
"Fear gas?" Asked Tapp. "Well I don't know. I just saw a brown blur and then all the sudden the Dent poster on the wall changed to newspaper clippings, then the bear came."
"What were on the clippings?" Asked Jim.
"Stuff about the Jigsaw killer not being caught." Said Tapp.
As a man of the law, and a former detective, Jim could relate. "Crane's using his newer stuff. Your mind will bend until you see what you fear most."
"So how do we deal with this?" Bill asked, already seeing the horrible Tank from his world again.
"It helps if you know what you fear most, and that you know that it's fake." Jim said standing up again. "That, and if you have someone to drag you somewhere safe. And by the way, be very careful when approaching someone that breathed the gas. They may see you as something they fear and attack you."
Most of the people at the camp were pretty nervous about this. This was worse than the Doctor, this was worse than anything they had seen so far. Of course, it would only be this way until the Survivors figure out a good counter to the Scarecrow. Tapp and Jim discussed the Scarecrow for a while longer, but after a while the usefulness of talk had passed.
Jake
After some time, the campfire called for another trial, and it was Claudette, Ace, and Meg that were called to go. Jake volunteered after he tossed a pair of glasses into the fire. There was something from the hospital that he wanted. The four easily outmaneuvered the Bushman, as the bullets fired could not round all the corners. Jake left the trial dragging two mattresses and a pocket full of fittings. He also grabbed a stray coffee cup. Jake had found out that the more significant an item, the more likely the trial would take place in that map of the item's origin. Jake went to work making more cabins. It was while cutting down a tree that he paused. He appreciated the log cabin feel, and he had no problems with living in one for as long as he was here. But when he saw that now Ace and Laura were taking a liking to one another, he realized that eventually marriage would be a common thing in this camp. Jake leaned his homemade ax against the tree, and he walked to the river. He had seen some natural clay a while ago, and he decided to try building a brick house. So far, he had only made a few sheet metal shacks, and a few log cabins. Other than Jake himself, nobody lived in their own home. All of these buildings but one were dormitories of sorts, save for the clinic and other storerooms. Jake had built a larger log cabin as a recreation area, but the survivors only used it for casual and not so casual card games. Ace was there the most of everyone. Jake found the clay deposit, and he saw that there was plenty. Jake took a little pack of crackers from his pocket and he walked along the river, seeing that there was plenty of clay to use. Food was a funny thing. It was not required for survival, but it was still a nice thing to have.
Jake could tell that it would take a long time to make enough bricks to make a nice house. Jake had plenty of time. He decided to make a house that could comfortably house two people, as by the time he would finish the house somebody would be married. There was no need for a bathroom, so all that was needed was a bedroom, storage room, and a living room. That was still a large amount of bricks. There was also the roof shingles that needed to be made. Those would be made from clay as well. Jake already had the facilities to deal with the clay, as he had previously made bowls and cups for the survivors. He knew that for this project he would need to expand the clay related facilities. Jake jollily filled two buckets with clay, and he went to work making them into bricks. By the time he took a rest, he had several dozen bricks being fired and hardened. When he had returned to his shack, he found that Claudette had returned some of the tools that she had borrowed. Eventually Jake would have to tell her that he had feelings for her. But not now, not for a while.
The trials kept passing by, and by the time that the Clown and Kate showed up, Jake had finished clearing out the area for his first brick house. He almost had all the bricks he would need as well. After all this time, nobody had ever been able to actually see the Scarecrow. In fact, the only way he could hurt you is if you panic. Jake was the first to find this out. When Jake saw the black panther approaching him, he stayed calm, and he was able to dodge the skythe that was coming for him. Of course, later that trial he was hooked because he could not remain calm the next time he saw the panther.
It was not long before Kate, being a religious fellow, was asked to marry Dwight and Meg. Kate declined, as she was a more conservative Christian. Only a minister could do such a thing. And do be a minster, you must be male. Of course, the way these couples lived, they might as well be married. Jim volunteered to wed the couple, as he knew the power of love. The Pink Lanterns were a force to be reckoned with. By the time Jake had finished the foundations and the flooring for the brick house that he was building, Dwight and Meg found themselves married. Nea and Quinten insisted that they would be married next. Jake wanted to have the home ready for his two friends by now, but he had no willingness to skip on quality. Only the best for Dwight and Meg. They were apart of the original four, when things were the worst. The four originals had developed a special relationship. Jake was laying down his bricks when Claudette came to visit.
"You've been busy." She said humbly.
Jake almost said nothing. He remembered how he felt about Claudette. "It's for Dwight and Meg." He said simply.
"May I help?"
Jake put the brick he was holding back into the pile. He then stood up and faced Claudette. The rest was history.
Sally
Tea with the Wraith was not quite what Sally had expected. For one, Philip actually agreed to tea. The Wraith said nothing during the event, although Sally did gain plenty from his body language and his occasional smiling. Sally still saw the event as a failed event. The tea time took place in Sally's room, with Anna's things being cleared for this tea party. As of now, Anna was in her room, under the watchful eye of Amanda. Dr. Crane, the new killer happened to be a psychiatrist, and he was perfectly happy to take a look at Anna. Dr. Carter and Dr. Crane agreed. Anna had never passed a state of childhood due to the lack of parental supervision. This, coupled with a couple different forms of social autism meant that Anna's mental development would be very slow going.
Sally could tell that Philip was a mute, in fact, she could only know that his name was Philip because of the dreams that the Entity would provide. Sometimes, they provide glimpses into the upbringing of the housemates. For some reason many of the killers here appeared to be mute. The entire time, the Wraith seemed like he was on the edge of saying something.
"Well, as I said before, Anna requires supervision, and I'm sure that Amanda is getting tired." Sally stood up from her seat to open her door for the Wraith, only to turn around to see the Wraith standing in front of the record player. With gentle fingers, he turned on the music. He then slowly turned around, and positioned his arms in a way that would be asking for a dance. Sally accepted. The music was slow, and so was the dance.
Herman
Turns out the best thing that one could get as a killer was not anything that could be asked of the Entity. When Dr. Crane showed up, Herman found a great friend. Right now, the two were in Herman's room. Herman's room was more of a laboratory than a bedroom, with chalkboards and the like. The two of them being doctors, they enjoyed talking about medical school. They also talked quite a bit about the human mind. They both enjoyed breaking human minds, but from different approaches. Herman was glancing at the chalkboard while Crane was scribbiling some notes.
"I don't understand why Amanda and Sally want a cure for Anna's autism." Said Crane. "The two of them seem quite content with being mothers."
Herman tapped the chalk stick to his chin. Crane had told him about some of the new developments in science since Herman's passing. He was still processing it. "I suspect that it's a subconscious thing. They say they want process, but they are actually quite content." Herman paused for a few moments. "You should visit the Clown. The two of you have a knack for mind altering gas."
Crane looked up from his notebook. "I'm perfectly fine not seeing another clown for the rest of my life."
Herman chuckled. "This is not what I would call life."
Crane chuckled as well. "I'm just saying, I've already had enough clowns in my experience." Crane looked to his notebook, then he adjusted his tie. "So, do you ever get bored here?"
Herman shook his head. "No, you find hobbies. Amanda and Sally are slowly raising a child, we have our research."
"What about the others?" Crane asked.
Herman shrugged. "Mick is sane enough to find something to do. All of the others, I suspect they just sit in their rooms in a lobotomized state."
"I would like to see these lobotomized killers."
"I don't." Said Herman. "Amanda might ask me to cure them as well as Anna. You know how the Chainsaw Brothers act."
Crane tilted his head a little. "What about Sally? Why just Amanda?"
Herman had a bit of a awkward pause. He stuttered. "Uh-.. Can you please explain this metahuman thing to me once again?"
Amanda
Anna's room was the most colorful one of all the rooms Amanda had been in. Quilts hung on every wall. It seemed like every time the Entity asked what Anna desired most, she asked for a quilt. Amanda knew why, it was because of the memory of Anna's mother. Only now did Amanda understand the visions of Anna's life. Amanda was sitting on Anna's bed, also covered in a quilt. Amanda had been drawing some blueprints for some more traps, hoping to ask the Entity if she could use them. Anna was sitting at her table, playing with a porcelain baby doll, humming the same song.
"Anna, are you hungry?" Asked Amanda.
Anna gave no response. Her conversations with Herman were the only times that she had spoken. Anna told Herman that she would speak English when she was ready for it, but for now, she would not speak English.
"Anna, are you hungry?" Amanda asked again, a little firmer this time.
"Nyet." Said Anna, who had stopped playing with her doll. Now she was adjusting the rabbit mask on her face.
"No?" Amanda looked to the door. Sally would be done with tea by now, but for some reason she was still absent. Perhaps the date was going well. Something different from the survivors, was the fact that the killers required food and rest. Some killers feel as though it's not required, but you tend to feel much more healthy if you eat. "You haven't eaten anything all day." Amanda was rather concerned for Anna, since usually she is more active than this.
Anna adjusted her mask again, and Amanda could see the corner of a bruise. Amanda sprung to her feet. "Anna, take off your mask."
Anna shook her head.
"Anna please." Amanda pleaded.
Anna shook her head, more violently.
Amanda did not need to see the wound. "Who did this?"
Anna shook her head once again, a few tears dropping from her chin.
Seeing that Anna was saying nothing, Amanda glanced around the room, until she saw the stack of childish drawings. She picked up the stack, and she flipped through the papers. The first one was a picture of Anna, Sally and Amanda all holding hands. The next was a crude scene of when Crane and Herman tried talking to her. She then found a picture of Anna playing with Lisa. That surprised Amanda, but it was not what she was looking for. Finally, she started finding pictures that she needed to see. Mick, the Bushman, always drawn with more pressure than the other pictures. Mick was always drawn in a scary way, showing that Anna had negative feelings toward him.
Amanda held up one of the pictures for Anna to see. "Did he do that to you?" Amanda asked.
In response, Anna covered the eyes of her mask with her hands, quivering a little. It was then that Sally entered the room, a happy smile on her face. The smile then faded when she saw the scene before her.
"What's wrong?" Sally asked.
"Mick!" Amanda shouted. Without speaking any further, Amanda marched out of Anna's room, and made a straight line to Mick's room. She assumed that Sally would stay with Anna. She pounded on his door, and she could hear the lumbering footsteps come to answer the door.
"Aye?" Mick answered, opening the door. He had a bottle of whiskey in his right hand.
"You bastard!" Amanda shouted, shoving the suspect drawing in the Australian's chest.
Mick didn't hesitate. With a heavy left hand, he slapped Amanda across the face. "Tell the little rabbit girl that ey'll be seein' 'er soon."
Amanda spat out a little blood. She was fuming with anger. She was about to scream when something washed over her. She felt calm, focused, determined. She was being called to a trial. No! Not now! She gritted her teeth, she had to fight the Entity to protect Anna. Amanda looked up to see something strange as well. The Bushman had the red glowing from his face as well. What? Were they both being called to a trial? That wasn't normal at all. Amanda could only let out a grunt as she closed her eyes.
When she opened them, she was at Arkham Asylum. She had only been here once before, but she could tell that the surroundings were significantly more expensive than normal. She also could tell that there were eight Jigsaw boxes instead of four. She also had eight reverse bear traps, instead of four. There were also double the normal amount of generators. It did not take long for Amanda to put two and two together. Two killers, eight survivors. That's what was happening. Amanda crouched down. In the chaos, the survivors would be vulnerable. She did not underestimate Mick either. He probably didn't care that things were different. He was just looking for survivors. He had the red stain, so that meant that his mind was numbed. All that mattered to him was the hook. It was then that Amanda realized that her mind was free. She could not feel the Entity controlling her.
As Amanda went from padded cell to padded cell, she observed the different quirks that the cells had. One had playing cards spread across the floor. Another one had green question marks scribbled on the walls. One had a generator in it. Working on that generator, was the little asian girl. Amanda knew her for her ability to quickly fix generators. Amanda charged forward, stabbing her in the side. As she was not under the Entity's control at the moment, she was able to act more quickly. She ignored the gunshot that she heard as she pinned the girl down. With a smile on Amanda's face, she slit the asian woman's throat. The reward for the ungrateful. Amanda heard a second gunshot as the life drifted from the small woman's eyes. She then felt the Entity's control over her once again. Sometimes the killers would be free during a trial, but not for that long. Another gunshot, and Amanda was already prowling. The old veteran was limping along, only to be met by Amanda's hidden blade. One reverse bear trap and a hook later, Amanda was back to her work. Being under the Entity's control, all she wanted was to sacrifice these ungrateful survivors.
The rest of the trial was easy for Amanda. The new woman, the one with the cowboy boots broke free of her grasp, only to be knocked down by the Bushman. At the moment, Amanda could feel no spite towards the Bushman. The two had to work together to get sacrifices.
The trial went brilliantly. Seven sacrifices, and one kill. When Amanda closed her eye at the end of it, she found that she was in the darkened 'reward room'.
"What do you desire most?" Came the voice of the Entity.
Now, anything that Amanda would ask for would appear in her room. "Something of John's." She said after a moment of thought.
When Amanda closed her eyes again, she found herself in her room once again. That was odd, since usually you would find yourself in the lobby after a trial. She observed Jigsaw's wheelchair in the corner of her room, a momento that meant a lot to her. She wanted to see Sally and Anna, so she turned to the door. She placed her hand on the doorknob, only to see that some black spines were jamming up the hinges of the door. The same spines that blocked the exit gate during a trial. Amanda huffed, with a unbelieving smirk on her face. She was grounded by the Entity by the looks of it.
Yeah yeah, you're not here for the relationship stuff, I know. Just keep in mind that some people like it, so please just ignore it if you don't like it. It won't hurt my feelings. I promise.
Anyway, I can already hear a few of youtyping angry things on your keyboard about my conservative Christian comment. My response to that: I do what I want, go cry about it.
I found a better excuse to not do the perks and stuff for the Scarecrow. This is entirely lore for him, so I can't even imagine him being playable. So there's that.
Also, thank you so much to those of you who had reviewed, it really meant a lot to me. It's what encouraged me to keep writing, no joke. Anyway, keep them coming please, and perhaps I will pump out chapters sooner. Who knows?
Lastly, next chapter will feature a new killer. I will give you a hint as to his identity. He comes from a series of movies where horror and fear are not the intended focus. It is actually a series of movies about freedom. If any of you happen to guess it, I will put something you think sounds cool into the story. I promise.
Lastly lastly, one of the reviewers noted a situation that would be quite amusing. I could not add it to the story, but I will list it here. The Cannibal and The Hillbilly playing chess together with their chainsaws at their sides. Yeah I know, awesome.
