AUTHOR'S NOTE: So this is just a random observation, but after looking at my anatomy charts, I've realized that Victoria's mutilations would make it impossible for her to move her arms and torso properly (once you look past the fact that heavy blood loss or infection should've killed her first). It just makes the cenobites all the more amazing :). The cult that's seeking possession of the box is introduced in this chapter and the boy that stabbed Victoria in the alley is finally given a name (I was too lazy to come up with one before). FYI, the cult is NOT the Deaders.
Chapter 3: Coming to Terms
The young man sat in the dark, the awkward position the straight jacket held his arms in was causing them to fall asleep. He stared blankly at the padded wall in front of him, practically identical to all the other with the exception of the one containing the door. He shook his head, ridding his face of the unkempt locks. The formally dark hair had been steadily losing its color and was now mostly white. He didn't belong here. He wasn't crazy. He'd told them the truth; the box had unleashed the creatures that had killed his friends and carried that stupid cunt off with them. It was pointless to take her; she was dying anyway. That much he would still claim as his handy work.
His head shot in the direction of the door. Someone was coming in. He figured it was the doctors, once again coming to give him a dose of mind-numbing drugs. When the door opened, a young man he'd never seen before entered. The stranger appeared to be in his early twenties, barely older than the detainee himself. Judging by the dim lighting in the hallway it was clearly the middle of the night.
"Who the fuck are you? How'd you get in here?"
The new arrival smiled.
"Hello, Andrew," he said. "I've come to ask you a few questions."
"About what?" Andrew asked apprehensively. "You here to laugh at me, too? Call me crazy like everyone else?"
"No, my friend," the stranger said, leaning down to whisper in the younger man's ear. "I believe you."
Andrew gasped in disbelief. Had he heard right? This stranger believed him.
"Tell me about what you experienced."
Andrew took a deep breath and recounted the events of that evening in the alley; the girl, the demon, the slaughter of his friends. The stranger listened intently, nodding every so often.
"That sounds like them, The Order of the Gash," he said. "Tell me, was there a puzzle box?"
"That gold thing? Yeah, she was always playing with it. What is it?"
"The Lament Configuration. It summons them," the stranger replied. "And what about the girl?"
"I don't know. I assume she's dead. They took her with them."
"She's better off dead than with them."
The man made a gesture towards the door. Two men entered the small room and moved toward Andrew, removing the straight jacket.
"I'd like to make you an offer," the stranger said as Andrew clambered to his feet. "Join us. Take your revenge on the monsters that killed your friends."
He extended a hand to the younger man. Andrew stared at it.
"What did they do to you?" he asked.
"They killed my father," he said. "He tried to put an end to their reign, but they killed him. I was but a child and my mother; she lost her mind after it happened. She was locked up for a while, in this very institution actually, but she killed herself, the error of a negligent nurse. I seek to avenge them both and finish what my father started."
Andrew nodded, taking hold of the man's hand and sealing his fate.
"What's your name?" Andrew asked. "You know mine already."
"Jack Merchant."
~[ ]~
"You look so much bigger than you did at first," Adrian said with a smirk. "It's only been a month."
"Thanks, Ade," Victoria said. "It's so nice of you to notice my weight gain. That's kinda how the whole pregnancy thing works."
"I'm not an idiot," he replied. "It just seems like you've gained a lot in such a short amount of time. More than expected."
"Well, shit, I didn't know you were the expert on cenobite pregnancy. I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I'm the only cenobite that's ever conceived. No one knows what to expect, not even Leviathan."
Adrian stared off into the mist shrouded world. The floating deity of the Labyrinth made him slightly uneasy, even though he'd been in its presence on numerous occasions. He knew there was great power contained within it, and thinking about the extent of that power frightened him. If it could cure Victoria of her paralysis, then imagine what else it could do. He let out a sudden shriek as something tore out of the mist and ran full throttle towards them. Victoria laughed as the Chatter Beast heeled to her side.
"I hate it when it does that!" Adrian panted, bringing a hand to his chest.
Victoria smiled, patting the twisted canine-like creature on the head.
"He's very protective," she said. "He's incredibly loyal to Pinhead and knows that I'm important to him." The Beast chattered up in agreement, very pleased with his compliment.
"There is nothing more important to me than you, my love," Pinhead said, seeming to materialize out of the mist with Dimitri at his side. He kissed her forehead. Adrian went to Dimitri, resting his head against his lover's shoulder. Dimitri reassuringly rubbed the younger man's back, knowing that Adrian was still freaked out by this alternate plane of existence. The four of them began to leisurely walk through the dimly lit corridors, the Chatter Beast running in playful circles around the group. Victoria chuckled.
"Our child's gonna love him," she said, gently squeezing Pinhead's hand.
"I am sure of it," he agreed.
Adrian leapt in surprise as the nameless female cenobite's voice rang through the hallway.
"Stop where you are!"
Pinhead and Victoria immediately looked concerned, their human companions confused (and slightly scared in Adrian's case). A bleeding, naked man ran came into view around the corner. He moved with surprising speed for a man who was losing so much blood and was limping heavily on his left leg. The Chatter Beast stopped its gleeful meandering and growled in the man's direction.
"Oh shit," the man muttered, seeing the pair of cenobites standing in his path. He turned to flee in the direction he'd come from, hoping that maybe he'd be able to duck down a side path before the others caught up to him.
Victoria stepped forward. With an elegant yet effortless hand gesture, a chain flew from thin air and wrapped itself around the man's neck, dragging him to rest at her feet. She placed a foot on the struggling man's chest.
"Ah, Frank Cotton. Trying to escape yet again, I see."
"Fucking bitch!" he gasped, his hands fruitlessly clawing at the chain around his neck.
Pinhead kicked him in the side of the head.
"How dare you speak to her in such a manner!" he snarled, delivering another kick to the man's ribs.
"Fuck you!" Cotton cried. "You and your whore!" He flipped them both the finger. Victoria responded by grabbing hold of the digit and yanking it backwards, the bones and joints breaking with an audible snap in her inhuman grip. Frank howled in pain, pulling the rapidly swelling hand to his chest. The Chatterer suddenly came around the corner. Pinhead pulled the now sobbing man onto his feet.
"Get this piece of shit out of my sight!" Pinhead snapped, thrusting the man towards his second-in-command. Chatterer caught Frank and with a slight bow, dragged the man down the hallway by the chain. Frank hung limp, all will to fight back gone.
Pinhead turned to Victoria and gathered her into his arms.
"Well done, love," he applauded.
"I learned from the best," she replied, smiling against his throat.
Their moment was suddenly interrupted by a loud gag, followed by the sound of vomit hitting the stone floor. They turned to see Adrian doubled over clutching his stomach. He stood up shakily, a fine sheen of sweat covering his forehead. Dimitri embraced his lover, gently running his fingers through Adrian's hair.
"Sorry," Adrian said. "I'm still getting used to this whole thing."
Victoria put a hand on his shoulder.
"Perfectly understandable," she said.
"I think we should probably go," Dimitri said.
Pinhead nodded, eyeing the puddle of vomit with slight revulsion. He aimed a kick at the Chatter Beast, who sniffed the puddle curiously. He gestured toward the wall, which slid open to reveal Dimitri's living room. Victoria ran a hand lovingly along Adrian's back.
"Feel better, Ade," she whispered, leaning forward and kissing him on the top of the head. He gave her a weak smile before being led through the opening by Dimitri. The wall slid shut behind them.
Victoria gave Pinhead a concerned look. He squeezed her shoulder gently.
"He is coming to terms with what you have become," he reassured.
Victoria nodded. She took hold of Pinhead's hand and the two of them continued on into the Labyrinth. After another brief inspection of Adrian's discarded stomach contents, the Chatter Beast followed.
~[ ]~
Dimitri sat in the bathtub, Adrian curled against his chest. The younger man was uncharacteristically silent.
"What's on your mind?" Dimitri asked, running a damp washcloth along Adrian's shoulders.
"It's just…" Adrian began. Dimitri started as his young lover burst into tears.
"Oh God, baby, what's wrong?" Dimitri said, suddenly alarmed.
"What has she become, Dimitri?" Adrian sobbed. Dimitri sighed as he pulled Adrian closer, burying his fingers into the young man's damp hair.
"She's a cenobite, love," he reassured. "Violence has become her nature. She's still our Victoria, just a little different."
Dimitri helped his distraught boyfriend out of the tub and dried him off. The couple collapsed into bed. Dimitri pulled Adrian's nude body against his own, sobs still wracking his thin frame. Dimitri made soothing noises against the back of Adrian's head. Eventually the sobbing ceased and Adrian fell asleep.
"We'll make this work," Dimitri whispered in Adrian's ear, looking past his head toward the Lament Configuration on the bedside table.
~[ ]~
Victoria sat in the shadow of Leviathan, lost in thought. A few tears trickled down her cheeks. She knew why Adrian had become sick; it was because of her.
What have I become, my sweetest friend?
She had become a monster, just like had Dimitri said. She placed a hand on her stomach. How could she possibly be a good mother or Pinhead, the creature who made her what she was, be a good father? She was suddenly terrified about bringing a child into this world. She'd finally come to terms with what she truly was.
Victoria…
She looked around for the source of the voice, but saw no one. She was suddenly struck by realization. She looked up at the rotating deity. Leviathan had finally spoken to her.
Do not be angry with yourself, child. You need to be prepared for the things that are coming.
Victoria gazed up in confusion. What things? Did He mean the baby?
Your friends are in danger. Very soon, they will come. You must be ready.
Victoria was suddenly alarmed.
"Who's coming?" she asked.
Just be ready. You must not let them take the box. Think about your friends, your lover, your sons.
"What are you talking about?"
The deity did not answer.
"Leviathan!"
Again, she was answered with silence. He had said all he was going to. Pinhead appeared at her side.
"He spoke to you?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied. "He said we're all in danger. Someone's going to try to take the box."
"He did not say who?" he asked in alarm.
"No," she said, putting her arms around him. "I'm scared, babe."
"I will not let anyone harm you or our child," he reassured.
"Our sons," she said. "Twins."
"Leviathan?"
"Mm hm," she smiled despite her fear. She ran a hand along her belly. Pinhead placed his hands on hers.
"They're moving," she gasped. "Do you feel it?"
He nodded. He tried not to let his worry show on his face. Feeling his sons' movement (and the discovery that there were twin sons) made him realize just how much he had to lose if what Leviathan said was true…and he had no doubts that it was.
ENDNOTE: My finals are complete and this next chapter is finally finished! It's the first one I've written that had no prewritten parts. So Jack Merchant, the son of John Merchant and descendant of the very creator of the Lament Configuration, is out for revenge. Bad news for our heroes. Adrian is now realizing just what Victoria's new cenobite status entails and he's a little freaked out by it. The first set of italics is Victoria's thoughts, not Leviathan. Sorry for any confusion. And Pinhead and Victoria are excepting twin boys! Very exciting!
DISCLAIMER: The lyrics to "Hurt" belong to Nine Inch Nails. I love that song and felt that that line was appropriate for what Victoria was feeling at the moment.
