Nightmare Sequence 2: Twisted World, Cast a Cody…Hidden Confrontations
"Like the new feel to the unnerving tension swirling in the back of your head, just dying to rip your brain apart like a sack of guts? This is what you've been waiting for a long time, Cody…enjoy it. Embrace it. You know you want to kill me." Casteon's words struck chords as Cody tumbled down the abyss of black, seeing the exit as a large whirlpool almost invisible to the eye before loud cracking noises could be heard from above him making Cody look up towards the floor of the morgue where the body bags fell down the crumbling architecture itself, the pieces of the room starting to fall apart underneath as the body bags black with smoldering bits of ash circling the room began to open revealing the hosts that laid within as Cody looked around desperately. Soon the cackling of the bomber was evident in his tone before the black disappeared, and Cody eyed downwards just in time for a breakfall onto the ground below rushing up to his feet as he tumbled in a wheel and stood up aware that the scenery had changed once more but not to the detective's liking at all.
The place he landed in was a large caged area filled to the brim with surroundings of gravestones and crypts that bored out of the earth menacingly, a large metal sign from the bars repetitively spread out across the top spoke 'Mad' constantly like a twisted lyric as the sky was dark with the same red blood moon, this time with the face of Casteon uniquely painted on its illuminated surface into a mad smile, gaps to symbolize his eyes and mouth even the corners of his mouth stretching to new inhuman limits. The detective drew his pistol immediately; the headache still rang clear distorting him from reality and the illusion fighting the urge to succumb to its relentless call clutching the sides of his skull to prevent it but the voice just grew louder than a heartbeat thumping inside of his chest.
"So, you still try to resist? What kind of person would I be if I didn't give you some challenges…then we'll see what you fear the most, but what could it be? Is it your girlfriend's safety? Is it the fact you lived a lie for most of your life with your parents? Or the problem is you?" Casteon sneered in the thin darkness before the rustle of the body bags began to be heard, Cody now pointing the gun at five directions as pale dead arms tore through the fabric completely drained of color save the veins icy blue exposed as the detective backed himself against the rail, he wasn't afraid now…he was terrified. Just as what Casteon wanted all along from him, nothing in the world could make him much more frightened than the bomber feeding off his fear…and that really gave the detective something to fear as the body bags ripped away, the bodies of his own mother and father stood at the front of him flanked by the bodies of his teammates raising swords but Trent still armed with dual semi-automatics accompanied by a dark sneer on his face, Cody thought he might know how the nightmare ended and was proving the point in the detective's face. The other four held their blades tightly around their dead hands, but their faces were complete shady blanks and their pupils a diluted white ball glaring straight ahead at Cody before they charged in waves, first his parents slashing wildly at the detective who leapt away just as the blades clanged on the ground sending a vibration through them but the duo shrugged it off, continuously slashing and hacking at the detective who kept them back only with his pistol locking with their blades firing warnings into the air to the amusement of the chuckling master criminal behind the howling wind.
"What could you possibly hide about your parents? Oh what to do, when your parents are facing invisible problems that you knew but neither talked nor helped about it…such as your father having a disease wrecking his immune system, and your mother stressed out with the handling of her job while her husband just tries to make ends meet despite the family wealth and servants at their every whim?" Cody froze at that, he didn't know the bomber had hacked into his file to read up all his details and worse the man managed to find out that problem without him knowing, the detective could recall the time he overheard the couple talking about his father's problem and what his mother did to keep the family stable. He hung his head, that was the cold harsh reality that slapped him right in the face at the statement and even the bullies couldn't leave him alone as Cody laid slump in his room at the door each passing day with a father who is close to dying…
It was the first reason why their parents sent them away from the house, because they thought the children would be very unhappy and Valen seemed to be the only person who understood the situation and decided to bring it up only when the time came, but Cody's moping told the butler that he knew and so the event was brought up to ease the young man's troubled mind. It didn't feel right to the detective at all, the nervousness had not eased nor dispersed from the back of his mind at the prospect he would not see his father again which started to eat away at tender consciousness, worst was that maybe he may not see him and Gwen get together as it was his father own ambition for his son: for Cody to find someone he can care about and love him back for the way he treated her.
"What's wrong, Detective? Did I hurt you too badly, oh gosh I hope you haven't died yet because the fun is just beginning." Casteon spoke outright malice as Cody brought his gun to the charging corpses called his parents, cursing while he dodged another swing bringing the weapon towards them and fired two bullets at their hands forcing the two to drop their blades unto the ground earning some cries of pain from the pair. Taking the initiative to start, Cody charged towards the couple who had blank slated looks at their own son before the detective eyed a blur rushing in front of them as he heard a buzzing noise, filling his ears with annoyance and warning before Cody keeled over on his stomach as a shockwave shook his body to the core vibrating bones and muscle tissue the detective yelled out at the sparks pricking the very surface of his skin forcing hair to stand. As he recovered, he managed to see Heather charge again at him wielding a stun baton swinging in a hook with her arm for a jab to the stomach again for another maximum shock but Cody reacted faster, rolling on his side past the deadly move while the dark orbs were buzzing and disorientated from the previous attack, the young man getting up on his feet staring ahead blurred sparks still numbing his skull.
"Curse it, I'm not getting anywhere with this!" He said as Trent drew his pistols to fire.
"I can't believe it, first Cody doesn't respond and now the bombs are going off around the city…what is the point of this?" The morale in the office was staggeringly low, the phone calls streamed in from various sources around the world and in the elderly ex-spy's own personal best network in the government had turned up for nothing at all about the bomber or this mysterious research that produced the gas 'Nightmare' as he called it over their last talk, Valen and Gwen had tried to contact them but before they could an interference occurred in their communication lines cutting them off faster than they could reconnect with the signal. While it left the goth puzzled and worried, Valen had anticipated the attempts by Amos to destroy the connection and when they had contacted him at the entrance to the morgue but heard nothing except some buzzing, and then to the fright of the butler a deep laugh which came with the confrontation over the communication device…
"Look what the detective dragged in. It's Mr. Valen and the lovely Gwendeline, so nice to meet you…hehe, indirectly as it seems." The voice was familiar and the butler could feel a dark presence foaming through the receiver that brought much more uneasiness, Gwen could only stare at the speaker with dread and anger. This was the very man who was trying to ruin the city and kill Cody, the person who had planned the twisted plot to blow up the bombs one by one…it was not expected of the young woman now twirling a finger in her dark green hair at the unnerving voice of hate pouring in. Valen on the other hand knew exactly what the man wanted to do with this connection, but then there was nothing he could do unfortunately as hard as the servant wanted to believe it was true before his own eyes and ears: Casteon had gotten a hint of radiowaves and traced its source right back to him, many thoughts spread across his mindscape and none of the results were delightful.
"Amos Casteon. It seems that you've managed to trace our connections despite the racket outside, are you sure you have the right number?" Valen tried his best to act stoic and controlled of the man's intimidating actions, it was not for just the elder's sake but also the sakes of Gwen standing in front of him as he went on a one-to-one collision with the dangerous man. Casteon on the other line smirked at the comment, the man was acting tough and it was because Gwen was in the room…he had managed to guess something right out of this, and it made him much more assured.
"Don't play games, we both want to get down to business. Anyways, since you're the invisible audience to these events I just wanted to let you know something about my next stage of the plan…care to hear it?" Now that got both their attentions, the bomber clearly hearing the slight pause and hesitation in that one breath as he smiled in the dark solace of the new hideout, fingers tapping on the keyboard the screen glaring into his eyes while he observed the ventilation systems where the figures of Black Ops were creeping in like rats in a sewer. Valen didn't know what to think of the man who just handed an opportunity to even hear out his planning, perhaps he was crazy or just plain stupid but either way for Valen it would work out as he indicated Gwen to motion to the phone just for calling the police when that happened, but as the goth picked up the receiver a loud buzzing could just be heard meaning the whole connection was blown as Gwen realized the obvious: Casteon may give them information but not for a price vital to the city to do it.
"What are you offering?"
"Hehe, very straight to the point aren't we? Anyways, I will tell you what you want to know…but in exchange for the period I can disconnect you from the rest of the city via telephone and other communication device. Otherwise…" Casteon's hesitation to speak gave the intended effect with the butler rethinking his moves right now, it was an important piece of information but then he was going to take that chance and find a way around the communication lines through the outside connections. Now his new invention might be of use but then he had to get that information now, or else something worse will come and they won't know it when they were given the chance, Valen now indicated Gwen towards the drawer as Casteon continued pride filling his voice at the very picture painted before him twirling his fingers in the air playfully with the cord.
"I assume you agree, very well. I will start bombing the city starting with the domestic hangouts like pubs and bars and…oh, I have no idea, the policemen by the bridge first as I think I had trouble sleeping with their sirens running wild. Then I will start a plan to takeover the city, by the only power source for electricity in this area…the dam just north of here." Valen thumped his fist on the table, startling the goth as she took out a strange machinery with an old communications device similar to the World War 2 technology except that it had recent upgrades to it, a new satellite dish just revolving around while a couple of modern speakers were connected to it. The woman had no idea what it was used for but by the glances the butler was giving to her as signals, it must be very important to them contacting the outside world as she nodded and pushed a button seeing the machine light up and begin to do its job while Casteon and Valen spoke to each other, the confrontation becoming much more fiery with each word exchanged.
"You know that we can find ways to ensure it gets out."
"Oh yes, Mr. Butler. I expected you to say that, that's why I managed to disrupt your telephones and other devices except the television for the large explosions you'll hear in…oh I don't know, two minutes!" Casteon countered it with a statement of confidence, pride obviously in the reveling of human lives lost this night as Gwen reached the very same conclusion eyeing the machine with hope and some feeling of arrogance at the man's own stupidity to leave out this strange contraption to reach the police. However, at the same time she was dismayed as right now they had no time to waste before Casteon lays to rest more unwanted souls destined for death, the machine starting making a beeping noise but it was concealed under the cover of a blanket which the young woman had to throw upon to prevent the bomber from finding out their own plans, though it seemed that the criminal caught on to their game.
"I see you've a strange device with you. Only one thing can do that kind of interference with my own signals, I'm really disappointed Valen bastardo…you really think a mere toy will grant you some entry into the police department. Well, I guess I have to bomb the city as fast as possible…right?" The last words rang like an alarm in both their minds as Valen now sprung into action raising his voice significantly and threateningly, eyes widening and almost bulging as he hissed out the sentence.
"I won't let you." All he heard was the laughter of Casteon as the transmission faded away, but at the same time he left the computer went dead with its monitor shutting down the deactivating noise was similar to the drowning hopes.
Now it was hopeless, Valen could not contact his beloved employer now and the situation went bleaker with the power down. He had no idea how he managed to do this, but it gave the butler a lot of theories…and every one of them told the same story: Casteon has somehow hacked into the asylum's electrical signals and manipulated them with his laptop to tap into the building's own frequencies he generated from the communications, an elaborate spy network tactic that was hard to initiate without outside help. At this Valen now had a sudden realization at the last part, his hands now trembling slightly while Gwen stared blankly at the wall her eyes were fixated on the single picture frame of a smiling Cody in his younger years hands behind his back in the same old clothing while the house stood behind him alongside his family, she couldn't believe it either that the criminal would suspect this and hack it ending the operation from afar. She was no strategist nor was she interested in the art of war, but from what she seen on the television it was clear that a strike at the communications isolated Cody from them…her Cody, the young woman was startled at that thought almost leaping out of her seat from the shock. Since when did she see Cody as her, well, lover? It wasn't that she regretted obliging him to act that disrespectfully towards her and possibly the others there but then it did not under such depressing circumstances…
"I can't…I couldn't." But then he was there for me all the time, and seeing how I'm now stuck here and unable to return the favor.
But despite all that she did, she liked the young detective for his actions shown towards her and the kind deeds he was doing for her today like bringing her over to his house and the dinner, then the time where they shared their pain of the years gone by. He didn't just apologize for what arrogance and hate he spewed at her, but gave her a chance to continue her life with him…suddenly she began to see a small part of her mother's reasons to pick Cody out of the male contestants when the third season was over, and her displeasure at Gwen's choices. It wasn't about the fact he was a rich kid or a person who was petty and self-destructive, but the idea that although they did hurt him…the contestants including her treated him like dirt, he repaid them back with more kindness shown much to the woman's own smile at the episodes he didn't miss a chance to ask her out. But all she could do for him was to wait…and hope that he wouldn't get himself killed out there.
"Cody, please…come back."
"I don't think I'm going to come back." Cody muttered as he traded blows with Heather who blindly jabbed with her stun baton snickering with each strike missing his chest but whenever he would move in for the weakness Trent drew his pistols and fired to draw him away firing back, which led to the exact point in time where he faced the same fruitless results dodging lead and defending himself against the onslaught of his parents wailing or screaming war cries smashing pipes down on the ground as he ducked both and charged again forgetting any strategy of far ranged attacks, zoning in on the two as he flipped his pistol to grip the chamber and with a resounding crack sent the metallic weapon smashing onto the scalp of the copy of his father letting out a howl as he stepped back, Cody now retreated from the attack watching the body stumble back holding the wound in his skull with bloodied fingers before he fell over on his back still screaming and holding small pieces of flesh. His mother stared at the sight, and much to Cody's disgust was unfazed by what she was seeing before she charged with her own weapon bringing into a lousy undefended strike vertically down for the detective's head but instead found two legs crushing her lungs and sent her flying into the iron twisted fence with full force, her eyes widened in shock at her carelessness before it rolled back into blank white. Heather and Trent now gripped their weapons tightly as they charged, Casteon's voice thundered again as Cody dodged pistol rounds and jabs of electrical charges to sent him reeling, the detective breathing heavily as he barely stood in the face of such an onslaught arms hanging the pistol becoming lugging baggage straining his muscles.
"What about your dear Heather and Trent, the devil and saint of your life? Every single time I look at your life I know for a large fact that it was seemingly Trent's advice to move your advances on your love life but then it started to get so silly, didn't it? Because Gwen didn't love you back, instead she went for the easy choice of meat…in the form of that brat Duncan." He taunted, Cody's face now twisted and grimaced darkly at the sky that turned blood red as though on command showing the entirety of his thoughts, the man gritted his teeth almost grinding them.
"Don't ever mention his name…" Cody started but Casteon cut it off with a laugh.
"I can't? Or maybe I should do so more? It's just so damn fun, screwing your brain over with this gas…I was thinking about gassing the city with it starting with the city dam to flood it with water!" Cody's eyes shot out of its sockets at the slight hint of the intended target, his mouth cursing at his own stupidity as he slapped his forehead. Of course, if Casteon had intended to cause chaos in this city the target had to be exponential and a deadly threat towards them for order to quickly turn to panic. He wasn't working alone, he was working for someone or even worse people in the city willing to work for him and obey every inhumane command to kill their innocent lives, and it was something the detective couldn't stand for as he raised his gun again.
"I'm not going to let you." He growled before the bomber let out a laugh, almost shrieking into his ears as Heather suddenly sprung to life jabbing the detective who swore under his breath at the jabs of electricity ringing into his arteries sending him reeling backwards onto the pavement.
"Well, we'll see who is right in the end. By the way, before I go I will tell you a little something outside of your dreamscape…right now I'm killing off hostages one by one and I won't be responsible for it much now will I?" Casteon's voice taunted somewhat more as it faded into the dark skies, Cody now faced three opponents and fire was already sweeping into his system as he raised his gun at them down to the trigger. Heather moved first trying to jab him while Trent moved into position firing rounds accurately at the detective moving swiftly and agile dodging most of the projectiles while letting some scrape his clothing, going into a half-circle towards the dead queen bee and with a powerful swing caught the raised baton in mid-strike seeing the shock drain more color from the already pale deathly white cheeks before he snatched it away twirling it before he smashed it into the body's own chest earning sparks and screams in the air. It took a short while before Cody found out he had overdone it, the body falling to the floor in one large heap of white wilted youth twitching before he faced down his remaining opponents.
"Now, let's see if Casteon can stop this."
"Another one falls, Izzy! I hope you're trying out there…oh, who's that tired sack of flesh right there a sore eye in my midst. It's the good doctor and the orange-haired she devil." Casteon taunted as he fired a pistol round into a young frightened man with deep blue eyes, his pleading yells became silent before slumping over the balcony rail life dying from the orbs dimly fading into black followed by the bomber kicking the body over the top and onto the floor where two more bodies were, Izzy and Crane on the other hand were going hand to hand with the patients wildly smashing and slashing pipes along with brandished guns firing randomly into the twisted crowd of bodies and limbs. The Night Ops commander was slowly panicking as she roundhouse kick a patient about to slam Courtney's unconscious body, Crane was being weakened mentally and physically with the fighting of the gas inside his system…the cure was gone and in the bomber's hands, but the crowd of patients had flooded the various labs way before they were surrounded and as he fought he could see the storage area for the cure smashed open…it was a all out hell here, the cure takes close to an hour to make with the proper equipment now smashed by rampaging patients back in his personal lab.
So.
"Damnit, first Ezekiel then Harold and Leshawna…Geoff. Crap, this is not a facility anymore! When I get my hands on that man I'll!" She roared a yell as she shot another charging patient in her line of fire as three more replaced the fallen man, Crane could not really comment as he threw a Nightmare bomb at the group seeing more of them fall over trembling and screaming tugging his collar.
"There's nothing we can do, we must hold off the assault until it ends." He said defeated as the swarm of patients loomed over them. Casteon's laughter was hard and long at the sufferage and defeat of his enemies, tonight he will not only ruin the city but also within minutes he will have the detective's final test written right out for him…and it will soon be a glorious day for hell with the souls he delivered to the grave. Still laughing, he grabbed another captive by the throat and brought her out to the railing forcing a blond-haired woman in a surfers' shirt and boyish shorts looking at the horizon of blood and lead, all the while grinning to himself thinking of the soon to be fulfilled control of the city and chaos to come out of it whispering dark words into Bridgette's ear causing her to shiver and tremble.
"Soon, you'll be the last card I play in this machinery…very soon." He said before he pulled back from the balcony with his new victim into the darkness leaving the group to their fate.
End