Chapter 4

Cartman felt as if he'd stared at the wall for hours, just petting the cat in his lap and listening to his purr. He felt so tired, but he didn't want to fall asleep. He wasn't usually this exhausted, his body very used to his sleepless nights, and Cartman was starting to feel anxious. He didn't know why he did what he did, his shoulders tense and heart pounding in his ears. He'd never felt so panicked!

The only thing that seemed to keep him grounded was that steady purr that was vibrating against his hand. He felt as though he couldn't function without this comfort, and he dreaded the moment the feline would leave him to pine for food. In this moment, that was his greatest fear. He couldn't bring himself to face what had happened only a day ago. All he could bring himself to do was pet this cat, his head throbbing steadily and mercilessly. It was painful in a way he couldn't describe, eyelids lowering.

He was numb until his greatest fear came true.

The cat jumped from his lap and Cartman gasped softly at the sudden abandonment. He watched the cat with a feeling of twisting dread in his stomach that made him nauseous. The cat hopped up one of the steps all by himself and looked back over at Cartman, as if beckoning him. Cartman didn't hesitate to respond, nearly jumping to his feet in obedience. There was something ominous about the whole thing, something that felt wrong in Cartman's body as his feet walked forward without his permission. He didn't question this, however.

The cat seemed to smile with his eyes as he climbed the stairs, Cartman right behind him as if being led with some kind of leash. The cat circled around Cartman's ankles when the brunet reached the top of the stairs, tail dragging along his legs as if some kind of encouragement. Cartman watched as if in some kind of trance, eyes following the feline as he snuck into Cartman's bedroom. Cartman blinked a couple of times and moved forward again, opening his door and stepping inside. He didn't even notice his own hand locking it.

It never crossed Cartman's mind to question the way this wounded cat effortlessly jumped on his bed, nor did he wonder about those glowing dark red eyes. It didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was laying down, because it felt right and he wanted to do it. At least, that's what he heard in his mind.

Wait… I'm… I'm not tired…

Sleep.

..!

Cartman's eyes widened, but it was the only alarm in his relaxed body as his head laid on the pillow. Even his heartbeat was controlled and steady as this strange yet familiar voice invaded his mind. Cartman swallowed thickly and his jaw tightened. This began to feel similar to when he would wake up in the middle of the night and his body was still asleep. But now, he couldn't move his fingers or anything! Not even a twitch!

What..?! What is this?

Relax.

Who are you?!

I'm your friend.

The cat walked on Cartman's chest and sat on it, eyes locking with his own. Cartman's eyebrows raised in surprise. His lips parted, but he couldn't speak. He could only think.

Kyle… Kyle was right…

No he wasn't. Not about everything.

You're not what you look like are you?!

It doesn't matter who I am. I'm your friend. I understand you in ways no one else can.

You…!

Not even Kyle.

You made me hurt him!

No, Eric. You hurt him.

You hurt Kyle, Eric.

No! I didn't want to! He just… He wouldn't stop, he… He…

...deserved it.

...deserved it?

I don't blame you for thinking that, Eric. He always hated you. And he never even gave you a chance to explain at the basketball court, did he?

...I.. No, but.. I didn't think he…

And he doesn't have any idea what you went through when Mr. Kitty died.

…

It's okay, Eric. I know. I know how you felt.

She was my best friend.

I know.

She listened to me…

I know, Eric. I know…

She loved me…

But your mother doesn't understand either, does she?

No…

She doesn't care about Mr. Kitty.

She never did.

She never did.

All she cared about was her fuckin drug money.

And when Mr. Kitty couldn't walk anymore she just said we'll get another one!

She said I was being a baby!

She didn't care about how I felt! How hard it was to say goodbye!

She NEVER cares! She… She…

She hates you.

...I know…

And so does Kenny.

...What..?

Do you really think he missed fishing day for a date? You're smarter than that, Eric.

I know Kenny. I talked to him too.

All of your friends.

...You did?

Yes.

What the fuck did they say?

I think you know the answer to that, Eric. They always talk about you behind your back.

Like yesterday.

Like yesterday.

Cartman felt a bitter and dangerous anger rising in his chest. The cat moved and curled up in his hair, purring loudly.

I know, Eric. I know you're angry.

Of course I'm angry! They've been talking about me behind my back!

Why do they even hang out with me?!

I thought I was their friend! Why ELSE would they?!

Unless… Unless they…

Pity

Pity me…?

That anger was quickly replaced with a heavy sadness, eyes watering with betrayal and hurt. He felt alone suddenly, and hated, and just, fucking horrible.

And… Tired…

So many people hate you. So many people.

…

Tears slid down Cartman's cheeks, eyelids lowering even more.

Why do you think that is, Eric…? Is it because of you?

Is it your fault?

Did you make them hate you?

Does it hurt now?

Knowing you deserve it?

Knowing deep, deep down…

That you're absolutely worthless.

…..

Cartman felt completely drained, his skin paling and growing cold all over. His eyes closed and his head fell, going completely limp.

That's it…

…..

You're mine.

"Okay, fine, let's say for some crazy reason that you're right, and that cat's possessed." Stan said distractedly as he held ice to Kyle's neck. Kenny watched the two interact thoughtfully as he ate handfuls of cheerios. Stan huffed when he pulled back, and saw that Kyle was still tirelessly scouring the internet. "Kyle. Kyle!"

"Huh? What? Dude, I'm researching shit." Kyle replied briefly and in a rasp, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Stan looked frustrated.

"Are you even listening to me?! You've been up all night looking up stuff about a demented cat! You should be resting! Cartman tried to strangle you yesterday." Stan reminded him.

"That wasn't Cartman." Kyle insisted, and Kenny looked away but nodded in silent agreement. Stan looked between them and sat back, holding his head.

"Am I, like, the only fuckin SANE one in our group anymore?" He asked himself. Kenny sighed and wheeled his own chair over, putting a hand on Stan's shoulder.

"Look, dude. I didn't want to say the obvious but you're one of the most closed minded people in South Park. A LOT of shit happened to us in this town. Crazy, unexplainable and definitely supernatural shit." Kenny reminded him. "But you don't ever talk about it. You act like we all imagined it."

"What? Kenny! I mean, okay, yeah. A lot of random and fucked up shit DID happen to us. But it happened when we were all KIDS! Are you really saying that we didn't make up stuff to have more imaginary fun?" Stan replied. "There's no WAY we didn't over exaggerate! Like when we played Stick of Truth! That was all pretend! Or how about when we were lied to by the adults and told that GLOBAL WARMING was physically attacking us? Come. ON."

"And what about when BP oil summoned Cthulhu and Cartman used him to banish us to an alternate dimension?" Kenny demanded. Stan laughed.

"Kenny! It was pretend! We were playing superheroes!" Stan exclaimed. "You can't really think that stuff actually happened! Like what, I really have the power over tools? Or, what, like you can't die? It was all a game!"

"..." Kenny glared at Stan and turned away from him looking increasingly frustrated. Stan crossed his arms and looked away.

"Jesus, Ken. I mean, what, ninjas? When we were playing ninjas? Was that real? I'd like to think that you'd learned something about reality versus fantasy after what you did to Butters." Stan mumbled. Kenny dropped the cheerios and gave Stan a deadly stare.

"Fuck you, Stan!" He snapped. Stan looked over at him and put his hands up passively.

"Kenny, I was just making a point." He defended himself.

"No! You can't just say something like th-"

"I found something." Kyle cut them off and grabbed Kenny's shoulder, yanking him to the computer. Kenny's eyebrows furrowed and he squinted as he read the words on the screen.

"Luke 8: 26: And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

27: And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 28: When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. 29: For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness. 30: And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31: And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 32: And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 33: Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked." Kenny sat back and looked at Kyle strangely. "...Dude, aren't you Jewish? You don't believe in this stuff."

"I know that cat is being possessed. And the only thing that possesses people or animals are demons. Look, I don't believe in this stuff. But there has to be an explanation for what's been happening with that cat and why Cartman did what he did." Kyle rasped. It sounded painful for Kyle to speak, and Stan almost cringed.

"Dude, stop talking! Jesus." He said. Kyle glared at him briefly and turned back to Kenny.

"You said you knew something was weird about that cat. Right Ken?" Kyle asked. Kenny rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah, dude. I mean, I thought it was just my imagination before, but thinking back on it, yeah. I know I saw those eyes before." Kenny replied. Stan looked over at him.

"What, like in a dream?" He asked skeptically. Kenny didn't look at Stan, scowling and picking at his pants.

"Yeah. Something like that." He grumbled and looked to Kyle again. "If it's demonic and Satan related, then I guess it can't be a succubus, huh?"

"No. If it was, then it would be female and trying to seduce him." Kyle replied immediately. Stan rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair, sipping an unfinished beer from last night.

"Not unless there are gay cat loving succubus out there." Stan joked. "Besides, what would a demon even want from Cartman? And why would it even take shape in a cat? If I was a strong evil demon, I'd take over a person. I mean, at least that way I'd be way stronger than a dumb cat."

Kyle stopped typing and looked at Stan, suddenly horrified. Stan blinked a few times in concern at that expression. Kenny sat up a little straighter.

"What Kyle? What did you figure out?" Kenny asked.

"What if the demon isn't strong?" Kyle said and looked at Kenny. "What if it HAD to take over something weak, just to take form in general? And in that case… obviously, it wouldn't want to stay in that form forever."

"But why a kitten?" Stan asked. "Was it the first thing it saw or something?"

"Because it's cute." Kenny said without hesitation, eyes hardening. Kyle looked at him.

"Because it's cute." He repeated. "Cute, and small, and pathetic… it's bait. So it can manipulate its caretaker and weaken them until…! Oh God, Cartman!"

Kyle jumped up.

"We have to get that thing AWAY from him!" Kyle exclaimed, voice totally going out. Stan grabbed his shoulders and shook him slightly.

"Kyle! Calm down. This was all hypothetical. We're not going over there after what he did to you! What if he hurts you again? What if he-"

"I don't CARE what he does to me Stan! I'm not gonna let some evil fuckin demon take over his mind!" Kyle exclaimed and shoved Stan off of him. Kenny grabbed his coat and shrugged it on.

"I'm with Kyle on this. He's seriously onto something. Like hell some demon's gonna hurt my best friend like that and get away with it." Kenny mumbled and handed Kyle his coat as well as Stan's. Kyle handed STan his coat.

"Are you coming with us or not, Stan?" Kyle demanded.

"...I.. Yeah. I'm coming." Stan relented and took his coat, but he didn't look happy about it.

Finding Cartman's front door open was not a good sign. The fact that the living room was empty wasn't good either. Kyle immediately started checking all of the rooms downstairs, while Kenny headed upstairs. Stan kind of stood awkwardly in the doorway, getting an overall uneasy feeling.

"GUYS! HIS DOOR'S LOCKED!" Kenny exclaimed. Stan followed Kyle, who was already bolting up the stairs. He watched the scene unfold from the top step, clutching the banister.

"Cartman?! CARTMAN! OPEN THE DOOR FATASS!" Kyle demanded and tried to jiggle the knob to no avail. He turned to Stan frantically. "STAN! We have to break it down!"

"What?! Dude!" Stan dropped his bag and walked forward unsurely. "Do you really think we should-"

"JUST DO IT!" Kenny snapped at him. Stan backed up to get a running start.

"Okay, okay!" He exclaimed and prayed to god football practice would help him here. He ran forward and tackled the door, breaking the lock with his force. The door swung open and smacked into the wall. Stan grunted and cradled his now aching shoulder while Kenny and Kyle ran inside. He raised his head slowly, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

He was asleep…?

"Cartman!" Kyle exclaimed and tried to shake him awake. Kenny saw the kitten on top of Cartman's head. It also appeared to be sleeping, but when he poked it, that was clearly not the case. He lifted it by the bent tail, holding up the dead body of a small kitten. He plugged his nose.

"Oh god this things been rotting for weeks!" He exclaimed in disgust.

"No way." Stan said and walked forward, plugging his nose.

"He's not waking up!" Kyle exclaimed and looked back at them, panicked. "What do we do?"