~~~Author's note~~~
This will be one hell of a chapter! Thank you all for making it to chapter seven! As always you guys are awesome! So, stay safe and get ready for this wild ride!
~~~Dice's dream~~~
Dice shot up from his bead, not knowing the light that came from outside, as his mother opened his door. She grabbed him by the hand and flea from their house that is engulfed in flames. Dice's father was seen outside of the fire again, but this time it was worse...much worse. Dice's mother pleads with her husband to stop this madness as a car drove up. She turned around and saw a man get out of the car, holding up a pistol, and shot. Dice saw his mother fall to the ground as his father turned around at the sound. Dice is in tears, seeing the blood pour out of his mother's skull, bits and pieces of die, bone, and other parts are too horrifying for any boy to see at 12.
"You want the boy then take him!" Dice's father screeched picking Dice up by the collar.
"Father! What are you doing!?" Dice pleaded as he struggled to break free from his father's grip.
"Hold it." The Devil boomed at Dice's father and the man with the gun.
"Glad you could make the scene boss."The man said and the Devil knew it is Blackruth as he morphed into his original bird-like form.
"I am not your boss anymore." The Demon scowled as Blackruth shot Dice's father in the chest.
Dice fell to the ground with a thud and scruffles backward while seeing Blackruth coming towards him. Blackruth Shot him as well and Dice winched in pain as he clenched his chest that was hit. Blood pooled out of his ribcage before he lost consciousness. When he started to regain consciousness he stayed silent to hear what the Demon and Bird were chatting about.
"I beg to differ. I am all that you have got left." Blackruth replied smugly picking up Dice's parents and throwing them into the fire. Dice watched in horror and cannot even move due to his injuries. He sees the Devil catch his scared eyes.
"The deals are done..." The Devil said while he pulled his Triton out beside him and stabbed Blackruth through his heart.
Blackruth looks back at the Devil with vengeful eyes. "You'll...regret...this..." Was all He could muster as he was burned alive by the Devil's flames that ignited on his spear.
Dice curled himself into a ball, poor boy didn't know what else to do, and the Demon walked over to him. "Let's make a deal." The Devil said while he knelt down to Dice and Dice nodded sobbing.
~~~End of dream~~~
Dice jolts awake, seeing the cup brother's bounce on top of him, and sat up in his bed. He shook the dream out of his mind and focused on what he needed to do now. Find Porsha, erase her family's work, and stop Inkwell from disappearing. Mugman pulled on Dice's sleeve as Cuphead patted his head to see if he is listening.
"You okay?" Cuphead asked and Dice moved his hand from his head.
"Yes. just give me a moment to adjust." Dice implied as he tried to scoot them off the bed, but failed.
"Well, you better hurry! We are here!" Mugman said as the whistle blows for the next stop.
Dice hurried to get the two off the boat and onto the dock. He patted himself down as he realized his bag was missing and Cuphead handed him it. Dice sighed in relief and thanked the boys while he put the bag over his shoulder.
"Okay, where to?" Cuphead asked while he looked around. His expression changed as the fog cleared out of their vision. He gripped Dice's pant leg. "Where are we?" He asked as Dice noticed Mugman taking his hand as well.
Dice reassured them as he patted both of their heads. "We are in the city of Aster."
The scene they all had to take in was machinery everywhere around them. Old cranks and oil spills everywhere they walked and they saw no person was in sight. Dice saw the symbol all too familiar now, the hand gripping the red scarf in the shape of an "S", and noticed people inside buildings with that mark. As they travel further down the city changed, from a vague empty wasteland to a flourishing vibrant city. The symbol is above them now as they enter the gates that read: "Ruth Haven". The people are all chanting and singing praise as the three spot someone in the center of the crowd. It was Blackruth on a stage, behind a large podium, and he looked to be holding something.
"Praise the Prophet!" The man in a crowd says triumphantly strolling into the scene.
"Thank ye all, but praise is to the RuthHaven we all have here," Blackruth replied and made the crowd cheer even more with his praise.
"When will the Porcelain Doll redeem us?" One cooed at him and then another asked. "Will she fulfill the tapestry of old!?"
Blackruth consoled them to all quiet down as he answered. "Yes, havens! The Doll will fulfill the prophecy on the tapestry, you see before you, and we will are share in the rapture that will come forth!"
Dice sees Mr. Wheezy walk up with Porsha beside her. She...she's changed...her hair is still a crimson red, but looks to be an unkempt curly mess. Her face is a paler pink now and her cheeks look to have lost some color. Her normal attire is different too. The rosy blouse and ruby skirt she wore so beautifully is now just a shamble. She has on a satin-like cotton white blouse, with cuffs around her writs, a cloudy grey skirt, and white flats. The only color that was as bright as her was her hair and those Ruby red eyes while she looked to the crowd. Dice and her eyes meet then she noticed the boys are with him. Dice saw the expression she gave them and moved closer in, but he stopped as Mugman takes his hand. Mugman pointed to Porsha's hand as it begins tapping on her side.
"Morse Code..." Cuphead says reading every bit Porsha recited on her hand to her side.
"Find Gibbson Rye*stop*can help*stop*ask for his finest sterling*stop*" Porsha stopped moving her hand and Wheezy ushered her to be beside Blackruth on the podium. Blackruth moved the child that he had in his hands.
"My fellow followers, it seems we have a tainted one in our midst." He replied sorrowfully as he gripped the child's shoulders.
The crowd booed and scorned the child that was standing on the stage with them. Porsha noticed Wheezy standing beside her now, but he looked troubled. Porsha looked at the crowd and the people were attacking a mere child. Blackruth released the child and pulled Porsha back as Wheezy lifted his hand.
"WAIT!" Porsha broke free of Blackruth's hold and ran and picked up the child. The poor kid was trembling in her arms. She gave Wheezy a firm glare. "Is this what you have been doing to these people!?" She turned facing Blackruth. "Killing an innocent child!?" He voice cut through the crowd and the people went silent.
"That child is tainted and must be dealt with. It is as the scripture says: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth." Blackruth quotes and Porsha replies to him turning to the crowd.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Porsha saw the mother rush up to her and thank her. Porsha handed the mother her child and Porsha turned to faced Blackruth. The mother and child are now off the stage and she projected clearly the last verse.
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:5-11, correct? Or am I not caught up with your blasphemous lies you added on the word that these people believe in?" Blackruth's eyes grew smaller as Wheezy stepped back from Porsha.
Blackruth quotes another verse while he pushed Porsha out of the way. "Just as the man was possed by the demon in the book of Mark, so is our poor Porcelain Doll! But, do not fret, for I am truly wonderful and merciful to her! 'Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter'-"(Mark 3:28) Porsha cut him off with another verse.
"Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. Danel 11:36, if I am not mistaken?" The crowd was suddenly confused on who to believe...their so-called Prophet or Porsha.
Blackruth retaliated back bitterly as he grabbed her arm as she continued with another. " James 4:4! You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." The crowd gasped and Blackruth looked at the crowd.
Porsha started once again and pulled her arm away from Blackruth. "Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause dissensions and obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them, for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk! Romans 16:17-18, correct?"
Blackruth is infuriated now and smacked her in the face. "Enough! You ungrateful WENCH!" Wheezy pulled her back, so, she wouldn't get Blackruth more upset.
Porsha looked at Blackruth and stated another verse. " 2 Peter 2:2&3: Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered, And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." She scoffs as she mentions the final verse to set Blackruth off the edge.
" Revelation 21:27 Nothing unclean, or anyone who does anything detestable, and no one who tells lies will ever enter it. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will enter it...Now, I know the scriptures and It is about time you learned them too. You so-called 'Prophet' from the heavens."
"Wheezy burn her..." Blackruth commanded of Wheezy as he slapped her across the face. "That is enough from you, you evil wench!"
"B-but, boss! Ya need her to complete the thing!" Wheezy stated and Blackruth tried to compose himself.
"...Do as I say or you will die just like the rest of the fools here..." Blackruth realized he said it aloud and Porsha realized the deal was off.
"She is a smart girl." The Devil said while he stood next to Dice and the Cup brothers.
Dice and the brothers stepped back, "What the hell are you doin' here for?" Dice asked.
The demon chuckled, "She won the deal and now I have to fulfill the end of it. You remember, don't you? When the Mug was held captive by 'em?" and flipped his hood on over his long cloak.
Dice and the boys remembered now and watched Porsha pull out something, a book. She shoved it in Blackruth's hands and he looked at her confused. Porsha walked off of the stage, "Mr. Wheezy, would you kindly accompany me?" and asked. Wheezy followed her as Blackruth was stopped by someone grabbing his shoulder.
"Sir, you need to rest. Come now." The man said and Blackruth followed while Dice noticed the Devil was gone.
Cuphead noticed the people dispersing after Blackruth left the stage with the man. Dice looked around and Mugman noticed a man still standing around. His head was in the shape of a beer bottle. the cap was copper and the color of the bottle was clear. No liquid could be seen in his head, so you can observe the cursive lining on his head. He was wearing a tattered grey suit and tie.
"Mister?" Mugman asked walking to the man.
"Mugman! Stay with us!" Dice pleaded while he rushed to him.
"It's quite alright. I won't harm anyone." The man's voice was scruffy and changed in some tones.
"Sir, would you be so kind as to help us?" Dice asked, pulling Mugman to his side.
"Gladly! Giddeon Rye! At your service!" Gideon replied smiling.
"Well, that saves us the trouble of finding you, sir." Cuphead said and Gideon looked at him.
"Doll sent ya?"
"Yes." Dice answered and the two brothers nod in agreement.
Gideon sighed and motioned them to follow him. "Let's talk somewhere safe. All eyes are watchin' us..."