Chapter 11- Torture
First, King Boo paralyzes the younger Mario Brother with his blue tongue. Upon contact, Luigi screams in pain. His nerves feel like lava has replaced his blood and is scorching him from the inside out. The phantom monarch continues to subject Luigi to this pain for several minutes, grinning evilly as he enjoys watching his nemesis scream and wriggle in pain. The boo halts his tongue lashing on the green clad man and turns to the red clad man trapped in the painting. He can see tears streaming down the older brother's cheeks even though they are squeezed shut, to block out the visual of Luigi in pain. "My we haven't even gotten that far and you already have your eyes shut like a child watching a horror movie. How are you going to enjoy the show when you can't even see?"
"Fuck you Boo," Mario spats, his voice full of hatred and spite.
"Heh, well then I guess I will just continue," the royal specter smugly replies. With a chuckle he turns back to the younger brother and continues on with his tongue torture until he becomes bored; then he decides to switch tactics. King Boo sinks his teeth into Luigi's arm, drawing no blood, but inflicting a greater deal of pain.
The green clad plumber screams with a higher pitch as the bite delivers a more potent dose of the poison found on the boo's tongue. Luigi's vision goes white as the pain overrides all of his sensory systems. After a minute of gnawing on the plumber's arm, the phantom monarch releases his grip. Even after the teeth are removed though, Luigi still whimpers in pain with eyes clinched shut and teeth gritted.
"Ah now that was satisfying," King Boo smugly grins as he licks his lips and teeth.
"I do believe he is malleable now," Jezebel impatiently observes, hinting to moving the process along.
"I agree dear, but I am just having too much fun," the boo admits.
"I see; I just wish to see these thorns taken out of our sides as soon as possible. But if you insist on more 'fun', then why not practice what I have taught you," she suggests.
"Excellent idea," King Boo agrees. "What better host to practice on than my greatest foe?" The ghostly monarch looks back to Mario, "Wait until you see this little trick, it's a show stopper!" The specter turns his attention back to the little brother. "First distract the senses," he bites down on Luigi's arm again. The plumber screams and strains against his bonds then King Boo makes his move. His bulbous white body fades slightly and collides with the plumber's body. The boo continues to fade in and out while disappearing into the plumber, as if Luigi was devouring the boo. Once King Boo completely disappears from sight, Luigi slumps forward no longer reacting to pain or any other stimuli.
"Luigi? Bro are you alright," Mario asks worried. The younger brother raises his head up and meets Mario's eyes. The older brother gasps at the sight of red glowing eyes staring back at him.
"Why I feel great how about you bro?" King Boo's voice comes out of Luigi's mouth.
"You sick son of a bitch," Mario barks. "First you torture him then possess him and take away his free will? He did nothing to you or that demon bitch back there to deserve that!"
"My, my, such language," the possessed plumber playfully scolds; "that's not being a very good role model for the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom, who all hold you in such high regard." He turns to Jezebel, "I thought you said this would be difficult. This is surprising easy."
"Usually it takes time to perfect," Jezebel notes, irritation in her voice. "Of course, I guess you are just a natural. Maybe we should move on?"
"Well I think its time for some more fun," Luigi/King Boo grins ignoring Jezebel's suggestion, then suddenly the plumber slumps over once more. After a few seconds his head rises and he blinks numerous times, his blue eyes visible.
"What happened? Mario?" The younger brother looks to his older brother confused.
"It's going to be okay Luigi," Mario chokes out, trying to be positive although he is unsure of this evening's outcome.
"Where's King Boo," Luigi asks then suddenly his eyes bulge and it becomes hard to breathe. He starts to have a seizure; his body is shaking out of control.
"Luigi! Luigi! Shit, no…Luigi!" His brother cries out, scared. "At least give him a stick or something to bite on so he doesn't bite off his tongue!"
The green clad plumber tries to respond to let Mario know he is okay, but cannot. His mind races trying to regain control most specifically control of his neck muscles, as he fears his head banging against the tombstone could cause massive damage. After what feels like an eternity, his body stops seizing and he is able to take a deep breath. What caused that? I have never had a seizure before, so why start now? He looks up and around, to see his brother trapped in a painting and Jezebel in Daisy's body standing next to him. More importantly, where is King Boo?
"I'm right here plumber."
He hears the boo, but not with his ears; seems like a thought. He looks around confused gaining notice from his worried brother.
"Luigi what is it?"
"Voices," the younger brother answers, "I'm hearing voices Mario. Am I going crazy?"
Jezebel laughs, "No, not crazy plumber, possessed."
"That's right Luigi, it's me inside your head," King Boo gloats. Suddenly Luigi convulses, a sharp pain in his chest causes him to wheeze. "Enjoy the ride."
The pain starts immediately like light from the flip of a light switch. It feels like razor blades have replaced his red blood cells and are ripping through his entire body. Each beat of his heart feels as if daggers are inserted and removed with each cycle. His stomach and intestines are towels being wrung out by hand, twisted into a tight ball and the pressure never released. His lungs are on fire as if he were drowning, no matter the amount of oxygen, it still feels like its not enough. His head feels like it's being beat on by a sledgehammer, unable to hold onto another thought other than the pain.
"STOP IT! Stop it! God let him be," Mario sobs unable to hold back anymore and listen to the screams anymore.
Luigi stops screaming, goes limp then raises his head once more, eyes glowing red. "Aw, isn't that sweet? The older sibling begging for me to spare the younger," King Boo mocks.
"Please just stop, kill me instead; just please stop torturing him," the red clad plumber pleads.
"You just don't listen do you? Death is not in the cards Mario," King Boo reminds.
"Then spare him the pain, he will no doubly be able to put into a portrait by now, so why continue?"
"Because you both have to have to pay for what you have done, not just to me," King Boo answers with a grin.
"But to me," Jezebel replies.
"We did nothing to you," Mario snarls.
"The Shadow Queen, does she sound familiar? Of course she does, that was my mentor and my sister, tart."
"She took over Peach and was going to destroy the world; she left me no choice," Mario defends quickly as the motives now start to make sense.
"As you leave us no choice now," Jezebel/Daisy turns to Luigi and addresses King Boo, "Continue."
"NO!"
Luigi slumps forward once more, red eyes disappear, and his blue eyes become visible again.
"Luigi, I'm sorry; hold on," Mario warns with tears.
"Sorry? You did nothing wro-" Luigi stops mid-sentence as the pain resurfaces. His eyes slam shut and he screams once more.
"God, stop this please," Mario softly prays; "neither of us can take much more."
After five more minutes of the green clad man's screaming and torment, he slumps forward and King Boo exits his body. "That was quite exhilarating," the ghost smiles proudly.
"Yeah exhilarating," Mario growls. "Now you've had your fun, let him go."
"Now we have discussed this, that is not going to happen; however I did think about that mishap you had earlier. I have to say the idea of keeping you as a trophy and killing your menacing brother is very, very appealing…" King Boo grins widely.
"NO! No, kill me," Mario pleads. "I'm the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, dozens of people want me dead! You could have the honor of being the one who dispatched Mario!"
"As tempting as that sounds, I would rather you remember me and curse my name, as you feel that large void in your life. The void of losing your brother and being haunted by the memory of watching him die by the hands of his love and unable to do a damn thing about it," King Boo describes, licking his lips enjoying the sweet irony.
"You sick son of a bitch," Mario exclaims.
"Quite, ain't it marvelous," the royal specter replies then turns to Jezebel. "Would you do the honors my dear?"
"Gladly," she purrs. She stands in front of Luigi but turns her head around to speak to Mario. "This is for ruining my family, now I will ruin yours!" Jezebel/Daisy turns back to Luigi and clamps her hands around his throat. "Die vermin, die," she hisses as she squeezes tighter.
King Boo relaxes the vines, letting Luigi grab onto Jezebel's wrists in a futile attempt to pry to them loose. Luigi struggles to take a breath, but still tries to speak. His sentence comes out mumbled, not understandable.
"Did you have any final words," she sneers. "Well how unfortunate for you, that you will not have the opportunity to speak them!"
She increases the pressure causing Luigi to turn red and slightly purple. Just as his world is going black, Jezebel lets up on the pressure and he sucks precious air into his lungs. Oh thank God, sweet air. Wait what the? She had me; what is she doing? Jezebel slinks back, holding her sides in pain. Well if she is going to be distracted, lets see what we can do about these vines. He uses the slack given to him and grabs a small knife out of his pocket and hacks at the vines discretely.
The female demon turns around to see King Boo with a small box. Her eyes widen in fear, as the maple box and its contents are very familiar to her. "What is that," she asks playing ignorant.
"I think you know quite well what this is my dear," King Boo notes. "Now, I am afraid your usefulness is over," the royal boo places his arm onto of the box preparing to open it. "I will give you the chance to leave now, since you were helpful, but if you do not leave I will be forced to use this."
"You cannot dismiss me like some indentured servant," Jezebel yells. "If it were not for my assistance you would never have even caught these mortals. You are indebted to me!"
"Again, you have been useful, but you really didn't think I was going to let you kill my arch nemesis did you? He is destined for a painting not for death and the deed will be done at my hand not yours. So once more, your services are no longer required my dear and you are free to go as my payment for your help. Don't take my offer lightly," the monarch specter warns.
"HA," Jezebel laughs. "You think a little jewelry chest is going to scare me; or you, for that fact, a pathetic, self-appointed king of ghosts? You will pay for your treachery!" She lunges at the boo with her purple spindle fingers outstretched. Before she makes contact, King Boo swings his arm forward and a swarm of boos rush out from behind him and attack Jezebel; holding her down. King Boo floats over to her and opens the chest to reveal a dark purple gem in the shape of a star. "NO! NOT THAT," Jezebel tries desperately to claw away from the chest, but as if she is being sucked in by a maelstrom she is pulled out of Daisy's body and into the gem.
After Jezebel is captured, King Boo shuts the chest. "Stupid girl, I did my research and this wonderful amethyst star was the key to sealing her away just like her sister was. Contingency plans are a must when it comes to teamwork, you never can trust anyone you know. Now where were we?" He turns his attention to the green clad plumber, who is not only free, but has also regained the Poltergust 5000. "Infernal machine! I should have had you drop it at the church!"
"Its just you and me now King Boo," Luigi declares, determination set in his eyes.
"Not quite plumber, not quite," the phantom monarch informs. "We still have your brother." The specter grabs the painting and flees into the graveyard.
"Mario!" Luigi chases after the large boo through the front of the graveyard and into the woods, where the specter disappears from sight. Fog has rolled into the woods, covering it in a thick fluffy looking blanket of smoke, making it impossible to see very far ahead.
"Are you looking for him," King Boo's voice comes from above. Luigi turns his head to the sky to see the phantom monarch hovering in a tree up high, dangling the Mario's portrait above him. "So high up, I'm sure the landing would crack the frame and rip the picture inside," the royal boo hypothesizes. "Behave and surrender nicely Luigi or your brother takes the plunge," he threatens.
"Don't do it Luigi! You've got him on the run," Mario orders.
"No surrender," Luigi replies, following Mario's orders.
"Your call," King Boo shrugs. "Good-bye Mario!" He flings the painting over Luigi's head.
Quickly Luigi turns about face and chases after the flying portrait. Luckily, King Boo did not fling it too far, so Luigi is able to catch up to it. As it drops in altitude to about ten feet above ground, the younger Mario Brother whips out the Poltergust hose and reels in the portrait without it touching the ground or damaging it. "Mario," Luigi sighs in relief, "you're safe finally. Now where can I put you so you stay that way?"
"I don't know, but I hope you kick that boo's ass," Mario sighs. "I am tired and ready to get out of here."
"Agreed, I will try to make it speedy," Luigi promises as he tucks Mario under his arm and heads back to the church. He stows Mario among the pews once more "I will be back bro, just hang on."
"Good luck Bro," Mario encourages.
Reluctantly Luigi leaves the church and returns to the graveyard. A chill shimmies up his spine as he steps back into the graveyard. Suddenly he hears what sounds like electricity crackling close by and getting louder. Quickly he ducks behind a tombstone, the purple ball of electricity collides and disperses on the stone's surface, cracking it.
"It is just us now Luigi," King Boo mocks. "Come on out and play," the phantom monarch cackles as he throws three electric spheres at Luigi.
The plumber is able to dodge out of the way of all the spheres, but watches as they obliterate the tombstone. Geesh that was close, Luigi thinks as he hides behind another tombstone, noticing a chunk of the broken tombstone by his hand. He peers over the square stone to see King Boo scanning the environment, then the boo locks eyes with the plumber.
"You can't hide forever plumber," King Boo informs as he throws an electric ball the size of a bowling ball at the Mario Brother. Luigi rolls back to the broken tombstone just before the second one crumbles from the force of the electric sphere. "I will destroy every gravestone if necessary, but you will fall at my hands plumber!" The phantom monarch continues to rain the purple electric spheres toward Luigi. From behind a tombstone the green clad man steps out and faces the boo. "Ah are we going to surrender," King Boo asks triumphantly.
"No," Luigi answers simply. "I'm just done running. Bring it on you chirpy, pathetic excuse of a boo," he challenges.
King Boo laughs at the plumber's attempt of courage with his blue tongue wagging. "If you insist," the royal boo shoots another bowling ball sized electric sphere toward the plumber.
I hope this works, the younger Mario Brother prays as he watches the purple sphere rocket closer to him. When it reaches a few feet in front of him, Luigi whips out the Poltergust 5000 and sucks the ball inside then switches the Poltergust into reverse, aims at King Boo and fires the sphere back at the spectral king. As the purple electricity collides with the King Boo, it envelops him causing him to screech in pain and float backwards, covering his eyes. Luigi takes the opportunity and runs forward with the Poltergust, turning it onto King Boo. The phantom is caught in the gusting vortex, panicking he chirps as he fights, but loses strength as he does. Suddenly a purple ring of electricity springs out from the boo and grows like the ripple of a raindrop splashing into a still pond. Luigi hits the deck, losing his control of the Poltergust and King Boo. As he pushes himself off the ground, the younger Mario Brother watches as King Boo retreats twenty feet away then turns back to face him.
"You think you're so clever! Well, not clever enough!" The phantom monarch throws open his stubby arms and from seeming nowhere, ten boos appear in a circle around him. "I am King Boo, heed my call and attack," he commands as he vanishes from sight. With cheeky laughter the boos fan out to swarm the plumber.
Luigi dives behind a tombstone out of sight causing the boos to spread out to search for him. The green clad man tucks himself into as small of a ball as possible behind the stone with the Poltergust in hand. The hair on his arms stand on edge as he feels the air become colder; the boos approach. He tries to breathe shallowly, quietly to not give his position away. At the end of the row of grave markers the first boo appears; he breathes in sharply in anxiety then watches as the others appear. All of them pass by, missing him. He cautiously stands up with the Poltergust poised, ready for battle.
"Behind you fools," King Boo bellows as he spots his nemesis.
Only one is able to turn around and become transparent before Luigi turns on the Poltergust. The slow remaining nine boos are caught in the vortex of E. Gadd's invention. The struggle against the current, but grow weak as they try. Luigi struggles to keep all nine in the vortex as they squirm in every direction. Three of the boos escape while the other six are sucked into the vacuum. The three escapees join the other free boo and turn transparent, vanishing into thin air.
"Damn it," the younger Mario Brother curses as he loses the four boos. I didn't want to test my reflexes like this, he sighs as he turns around and closes his eyes. He waits for the chill to begin to crawl across his skin, for the quiet snickering to slowly fill his ears and creep into his subconscious. As soon as it does he turns around and switches on the Poltergust. The boos screech in panic as they try to escape, but they fail and are encased into the Poltergust's chamber. The plumber sighs in relief then turns around to find himself face-to-face with King Boo. He yelps in surprise and falls backward as he tries to back away from the phantom monarch. The royal boo wraps his tongue around Luigi's forearm setting the plumber's nerves ablaze then the specter sinks his teeth into the younger Mario Brother's flesh. Luigi howls in pain, tears stream form the corners of his eyes. Quickly he grabs his flashlight and shines it into the boo's eyes which causes King Boo to release him.
King Boo retreats back to conjure more electric spheres to rain down upon the plumber. He creates twice as many and is able to hit the plumber in the leg causing him to slow and limp. The spectral king then targets a large tombstone behind Luigi and shoots several spheres at it until it crumbles; the pieces plummet toward the plumber and several strike him, pinning him to the ground. King Boo snickers gleefully as he floats over to the pinned plumber. "Aww, the poor little plumber is trapped! Tell me, are you scared," King Boo asks, relishing in the moment.
Luigi does not answer and continues to struggle to get his foot out from beneath the tombstone.
"You should be!" The boo licks the younger Mario Brother, sending Luigi flopping on the ground, temporarily stunned. "Now my dear nemesis die!" King Boo grabs the back of Luigi's neck, electrifying every nerve through his spinal cord.
His entire body feels like it is on fire as if he is being burned alive from inside. His breathing becomes shallow and almost non-existent from the intensity of the pain. Despite the pain, he reaches for the hose of the Poltergust and switches it on, surprising King Boo.
King Boo shrieks as the Poltergust switches on and the vortex appears. Frantically he releases his hold on the green clad man and flees. The royal specter escapes, barely and retreats into the foggy night. That was far too close for comfort. Damn plumber, King Boo curses. With tongue hanging out he pants, Too weak for another direct confrontation, but I cannot leave it up to my subjects; they seem to be ineffective against him. Argh, if only I had my Bowser suit! It was offense and defense in one package! A sword and a, he pauses a second as an idea strikes. Shield, he smirks with a devious toothy grin. Perfect.