Warning: This chapter contains blood!
CHAPTER 3: Erika's Revenge
I couldn't sleep at all that night, so I dragged Cream Puff with me to wait outside the door of Escargoon's bedroom. At around 6am, Meta Knight found me half asleep, slouched against the door.
"Erika?"
"Hey, Meta Knight."
"Why are you sleeping here?"
"I'm not sleeping." I rubbed my tired eyes.
"Would you like me to escort you back to your room?"
"No way, I'm staying here." I paused. "But thanks anyway."
Meta Knight wandered off again. I sighed.
"Wonder when that sleepy snail's gonna wake up," I said to Cream Puff. Then it did something surprising.
"Master."
"Huh? Did you just talk?"
Cream Puff floated around me happily. "Master." Its voice was squeaky and irritating but I tried not to mind. Instead, I smiled and held out my hand, where Cream Puff then perched. Its fur was so warm and fluffy that I couldn't help stroking it. Cream Puff made a sort of purring noise, like a cat.
"You're so cute," I whispered. "It's hard to believe you're a deadly monster."
Cream Puff made a yawning sound. Its eyes were beginning to close.
"Are you tired, little Cream Puff?" I took off my scarf and made a little nest on the floor. "There you go."
Cream Puff bounced happily into its scarf bed and fell asleep almost straight away. Watching it sleep made me feel sorta sleepy too. I lay down next to my little monster. Before I knew it, I had fallen fast asleep...
-x-
I awoke with a start when somebody kicked me. I let out a yelp and opened my eyes. Escargoon was glaring down at me.
"Outta my way! I almost tripped!" he complained, and kicked me again, this time on purpose.
"Hey, quit kicking me!" I leapt to my feet. "I've been waiting for you. Hey, don't walk away! I wanna talk to you!" I chased after him, closely followed by Cream Puff.
"Fine, but make it quick."
"I want to talk to you in the courtyard."
"I don't have time to be following you all over the castle!"
"Please? It's important."
Escargoon sighed, clearly irritated. "Fine, if it'll shut you up."
So the three of us headed for the castle courtyard. Cream Puff kept out of sight by hiding in my pocket. It made a very noticable bulge, but luckily Escargoon didn't see.
Before long, we had arrived in the courtyard.
"Alright, we're here. Now what do you want?" the impatient snail demanded. "If you're asking me on a date then forget it, you little brat."
Ew, what gave him THAT idea? I ignored his disturbing remark and gave an evil cackle, pulling my monster out of my pocket.
"Escargoon, prepare to meet your doom!" I grinned. "I present to you, Cream Puff!"
Cream floated towards Escargoon. He took one look at the monster's small size and cute appearance and burst out laughing.
"You call that a monster? I've seen scarier things in a teddy bear shop!"
"Look in the mirror if you want a real fright," I growled. "Cream Puff! Bite him!"
Cream Puff nipped Escargoon's finger. He yelped.
"Keep your oversized marshmallow under control, would you?"
I giggled cruelly. "That was just the beginning, slug features! Cream Puff, bite him harder!"
Cream Puff obeyed. It bit again, but not just a finger this time. Cream Puff tried to bite off Escargoon's hand. He wailed and flailed, trying to shake his hand free of the monster, but this only made Cream Puff sink its teeth deeper. Blood began to run down his arm.
"Get it off me!" Escargoon screamed. "Erika! Get it off me!"
"Alright, Cream Puff! Let go!"
Cream Puff stayed firmly attached.
"Cream Puff! I said let go!"
This time, my monster did as it was told.
"Master."
"Good Cream Puff," I praised. "Now, crack his shell!"
"WHAT?" My pathetic rival made a dash for it but Cream Puff rammed itself into his shell, knocking him face down on the ground. The shell didn't crack of course; Cream Puff was too small to do that. But now I had Escargoon right where I wanted him; lying on the cold hard ground, whimpering. Words cannot desribe how powerful I felt. As he watched me slowly advance towards him I could see the fear in his pleading eyes.
I wasn't finished yet.
"One last attack, Cream Puff. Bash his head on the ground."
Cream Puff launched itself at Escargoon's head, slamming it into the stone ground. Then Cream Puff did it again. Then again. Escargoon was breathing heavily and looked dizzy by this time. I ordered Cream Puff to stop, but it wouldn't listen.
"C-Cream Puff! That'll do! Stop now!" I commanded. Cream Puff glanced at me, then went back to beating Escargoon to a pulp. He made the terrible mistake of rolling onto his side. Cream Puff took this opportunity and flew at the screeching snail, sinking its teeth into his chest. Escargoon exploded with blood that splattered in all directions. I screamed, begging Cream Puff to stop.
Cream Puff took no notice and continued to eat away. I felt sick. Grabbing the ruthless monster, I attempted to pull it away from its poor victim, who was sobbing and whimpering and dripping with crimson blood.
And then all of a sudden, I became its next meal.
Cream Puff snarled and wriggled out of my grasp, flew around to the back of me and took a bite out of my head. It hurt like hell. I screamed again and collapsed face down on the ground. Cream Puff gave me one last sharp bite in my back before floating over the castle wall, heading straight for Cappy Town. Goodness knows what kind of havoc it had in mind.
"Cream... Puff..." I gasped with the last of my strength. Cream Puff didn't hear me. It was already gone. I looked at Escargoon. He was lying on his front again. His eyes were closed and he looked dead. I hoped like anything that he was alright. I only wanted revenge. I didn't want to KILL him.
Dead or unconscious, I was about to join him. I felt my eyelids becoming heavier and heavier. I struggled to keep my eyes open, until I eventually I had to give in...