At first, Evan thinks it's a joke, but the look on the officers' faces say otherwise. Now he doesn't know what to think at all, and he knows he must look confused as all hell.
"What do you mean I have witches' blood?" Evan asks. "As far as I know, I've never used any magic."
Bruce and Wayne look at each other and grin before staring right back at Evan. It creeps him out.
"You and that Monster Blood are more connected than you think, kid." Wayne chuckles. "You ever wonder why everything turns to shit when you get in contact with that stuff? I'll let you in on a little secret: it's not just a coincidence. IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"
"Let's calm down, Wayne. I'm sure all of this must come as a shock to you, Evan." Bruce says, as if trying to calm Evan.
Evan doesn't appreciate the attempt, and makes it known.
"Look, I don't appreciate being talked to like I'm a kid!" Evan snaps. "What exactly is so shocking?"
Bruce sighs. "I thought you'd understand, but I suppose I'll have to spell it out for you. It's been you all along, Evan. You've been cursing the Monster Blood and not even knowing it."
Evan shakes his head. There's no way any of this is true.
"That was Sarabeth, not me."
"It was in the beginning, yes. The Witch Sarabeth did indeed curse the Monster Blood the very first time." Bruce replies. "But the other subsequent times? I'm afraid not. There's something about you, Evan, something we don't quite understand yet. Maybe it's your fear, your anger, whatever it may be, it causes the Monster Blood to react in, well, monstrous ways each time you've come into contact with it."
Evan continues shaking his head. Now he just feels plain angry. How could he possibly cause the Monster Blood to grow? To make OTHERS grow? It simply doesn't make any sense. Could his own fears really be the trigger for all the disastrous experiences he'd had with the Monster Blood?
"You both are liars!" Evan yells. "I don't believe a word of this."
"Believe what you want, it's the truth." Bruce says. "You'll have to accept it sooner or later. We intend to find out how you've managed to make the Monster Blood do what it does. See, I don't think you even know either, and for this reason, you are the greatest threat to our reality. Who knows what else you could curse without even realizing?"
"Kinda funny, isn't it?" Wayne asks. "The more terrified you are, the stronger the Monster Blood seems to become."
"No. No way." Evan replies. "I don't care about whatever stupid rules for reality you guys have. I'm leaving this place!"
Before the Reality Police can say anything, Evan finds himself breaking into a mad sprint away from them. His cuffs are on tight, but his legs are free to run like hell. Evan knows he'll probably get caught, but he doesn't care. He has to get away from here, back to Dark Falls, back to his friends. The idea of being stuck in a cell forever amongst all these strange creatures, or worse, terrifies him. He still can't bring himself to accept the possibility his great-aunt has passed on her own magical abilities. It's simply too wild to believe. He is a normal teen, Evan tells himself. A normal teen who's had four different frightening experiences, but a normal teen nonetheless, not some witch like Sarabeth. Evan knows exactly how things ended for her. If the Reality Police have any say in it, who's to say they won't sentence him to a similar fate? For something he didn't even know about until a few seconds ago? No way is that even close to fair.
"Damn it, kid!" Wayne barks. "STOP RUNNING!"
Evan can hear Wayne bolt after him before he comes to a sudden stop, probably stopped by Bruce.
"Let him run, Wayne." Bruce tells him. "He won't get very far. Then we just up his punishment even more."
"Hm.. you do have a point." Wayne replies. "YOU'LL COME BACK, KID! ONCE YOU SEE WHAT ELSE WE HAVE LOCKED UP IN HERE!
Evan keeps running, the yelling of Wayne echoing behind him. Hardly any of the other Reality Cops seem to react beyond mild disapproval. Is this really what my life has become? Evan wonders with a bit of amusement. I'm some wanted "Reality Criminal"? Who knew that was even a thing, but apparently he's not the only one wanted for messing with reality, as pinned on the walls are countless wanted posters for alleged Reality Felons.. Evan wonders what their offenses are. One of them catches his eye, a skinny boy about Evan's age by the looks of it, with wavy brown hair and dark eyes. He's wearing an Oakland Raiders cap too big for his head. Evan reads the words under it.
WANTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST REALITY: TODD BARSTOW AKA "THE WORM KING", 17. WANTED FOR BREAKING DIMENSIONAL RIFT BETWEEN HUMAN AND INSECT WORLD. SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND VERY DANGEROUS.
Finally, Evan sees what looks like a potential way out- a flight of stairs leading downwards, but he stops as he notices a bright yellow warning sign. CAUTION: AUTHORIZED REALITY PERSONNEL ONLY- STAY OUT OF THE BASEMENT!
Basement? Evan says the word aloud in his head. He's not very fond of those. It was always there, in every horror movie Evan ever had the displeasure of watching, that some kind of monster or killer lurked. But he has to try, regardless of whatever might be waiting for him. So down the winding stairs Evan goes. There's a lot more steps than he expected. Evan's struck immediately by just how warm it seems to get the deeper he goes, like he's plunging into Hell itself, and maybe he is. Evan's so preoccupied with his own thoughts he barely registers as something seems to creep up from behind him. But then he feels it. Something slowly wrapping around his shoulder, like a long spindly vine.
Because it is a vine, Evan realizes with horror. He manages to push it off of him before the tendril starts to strangle him but soon finds himself confronted with even more strange plants that seem to be growing on the walls like moss, and just as green. Their roots reach down, breaching the tile floor, so much that Evan sees the ground beneath him is starting to crack just to handle the growth. Above him, more vines and branches are creeping in from the ceiling and what was once a basement now looks more like a jungle to Evan. It's barely recognizable to the facility above. Evan starts to wonder if maybe this is a greenhouse or something, but it seems way too out of control to ever pass as one, like nature run wild. Then there's the noises. Oh god, the noises. The plants around Evan sound like they're crying out in pure agony. He's never heard anything like it and it chills him to his core. He knows plants are alive, sure, but these ones, they really feel ALIVE, like they have tiny hidden eyes and are watching him. Like he could press his hand and feel them breathing. He tries not to stare too long.
After making his way through the jungle, Evan reaches what seems to be the actual basement itself, and it might be even worse. Large plants cover the room like a canopy, casting everything in eerie shadow. Evan finds himself bathed in a deep green light. The vines around him continue to move as various plants Evan doesn't even recognize make more eerie noises. They sound even more animalistic now that he's closer to them, but yet so strangely human at the same time. Covering this garden of a room also is what appears to be lab equipment. Evan figures this must have been a place for scientific research before whatever happened to it. The tiny basement is so cramped it leaves little room for him to walk, nor for these massive plants. Evan thinks there's no way this environment can possibly be healthy. Even he's finding it hard to breathe down here.
"Hey! Can't you read?" a harsh voice calls from behind Evan. "You shouldn't be down here."
It makes Evan jump in his tracks. As he turns to see the source, he spots a thin man in a lab coat and jeans. Evan can hardly make out his features until he walks closer, but as he does, Evan finds himself even more afraid at what he sees. In the man's white coat are little rips and tears, exposing bits of green flesh and leaves that seem to be growing from them. The same leaves cover his body in random places, including his head, sticking out like his skull is some kind of succulent vase. If Evan hadn't gotten a closer look, he might have mistaken it for hair. As Evan examines it closer, he sees how dark some of the leaves are, like they're dying.
His face is gaunt, sunken-in cheekbones and a circular pair of glasses that conceal two piercing green eyes that almost seem to glow in the dark. Much of his face is green too, a sickly off-shade on which Evan can see visible veins and what look like bits of tree-bark starting to grow. This carries down to his neck, which is even veinier. Evan feels sick to his stomach as he sees what looks like a mushroom sprouting from it. It makes Evan's skin crawl the way it's practically bursting from his flesh like a growth. As Evan looks at the man's hands, he sees they're hardly hands at all, his fingers more like long, slender branches, some of which almost droop down to the floor. Now the man is looking at Evan with a cold, inhuman look.
"You should have listened to the warning. Stay out of the basement." the man says.
The tone of voice reminds Evan of a scolding parent.
"W-who are you?" Evan manages to choke out despite his own terror. "I-I'm sorry if I'm interrupting your work. These guys want to kill me!"
The man narrows his dark eyebrows, somehow still present on his face, but then he looks as if he's deep in thought. As he grits his teeth, Evan can see they're caked with dirt in a kind of grimy film. His hoarse, raspy breaths make it sound as if something is growing inside of him too. Evan wonders if maybe there is and shudders.
"Who am I?" he repeats back to Evan. "I'm a scientist. Or maybe I'm just a plant just dreaming it's a scientist. You be the judge. My name is Dr. Michael Brewer, or at least that's what my memories tell me. They tell me I'm just another copy. Maybe they're right."
Evan just looks at the man in confusion. "You work for the Reality Police?"
This seems to make Dr. Brewer angry.
"No, I don't work for those animals!" Dr. Brewer snaps. "Why would you ever ask such a preposterous question?"
Evan chokes on his own saliva. "I-I just assumed, I guess. Since you're just walking around down here. So what are you, a prisoner too?"
"I was." Dr. Brewer replies. "But the thing about plants is… they grow. The Reality Police knew they couldn't contain me once my plants started to outgrow my entire cell. So we came to a little deal. They let me continue my research, providing me with fresh test subjects, as long as I promise not to kill them all."
"Test subjects? You mean- they gave you people to kill?" Evan asks. He feels sick.
"Kill?" Dr. Brewer looks at Evan like he's studying him. "I prefer to think that I gave them new life."
"New life?" Evan questions.
"Yes, take a look at this." Dr. Brewer says to Evan, leading him to a large plant at the corner of the room. "This is what's often known as a snake plant."
Evan reluctantly obeys and as he looks at the large leaves coming out of the dirt he spots what look like tiny pink growths sprouting from it.
"You know another name for a snake plant?" Dr. Brewer asks.
Evan shakes his head.
"Some people call it the mother-in-law's tongue. Who knows why? But as you can see, I decided to make things a little more literal. I've allowed this plant to grow actual human tongues from its leaves. Quite astonishing, wouldn't you say?" Dr. Brewer asks with genuine pride.
Evan feels like he's going to vomit. Sure enough, there's definitely a bunch of tongues here, but they don't look right.
"As you can see, mine has started to degrade over the years." Dr. Brewer says, opening his mouth.
Inside, Evan sees his green tongue is starting to break down. Like his skin, branches have seemingly sprouted from inside, and are scraping against the roof of his mouth. Evan can only imagine how scratchy that must feel.
"Oh god." Evan chokes out.
He backs away, right into another plant, where he sees what can only be described as a human face growing from within, its mouth open in an expression of horror. The flesh looks surprisingly realistic, only feeling all the more jarring in contrast to the green hue of the plant it's growing on.
"The ones that fail make great fertilizer for my plants to keep growing." Dr. Brewer says.
Evan looks down at the soil beneath him and shudders at the sudden realization.
"I'm- I'm walking on corpses?" Evan asks in a combination of horror and disbelief.
"It's all part of the natural cycle of life and death." Dr. Brewer says. "Humans live and then they die, giving nutrients to the soil and allowing new life to be born from death. Plant-life. That's how it's always been. There's nothing scary about it."
Evan has to disagree there. Not only is it horrifying, but all the plants Dr. Brewer has made can only be described as unnatural.
"That's how it was in the beginning, and how it will be in the end. Plants ruled the Earth long before humanity, and they will continue to flourish long after everyone is in the ground."
Evan isn't sure what to say. He failed Biology. All he remembers about plants is photosynthesis and he doesn't even remember what that means. He's more worried about getting turned into another horrific creation.
"But now my own plants are dying around me. My poor children, the more I've been kept away from a proper environment in which to thrive, the more I find myself weakening, and so my plants start to wither away too." Dr. Brewer says. "Maybe that's what the Reality Police want to happen. All the leader cares about is her silly little vendetta against those who break reality, not any of us. But maybe you're just what I need though, maybe you can give my plants energy again."
"Please don't kill me." Evan begs. "You must hate these Reality guys as much as I do."
This time, Dr. Brewer looks amused, but the expression fades as quickly as it appeared. Evan realizes he does look a little weak.
"It's true. They've kept me down here for too long. All I want is to escape and finally be allowed to grow again."
"Okay, so that's a good start." Evan replies. "I want to get out of here too."
Dr. Brewer looks like he's thinking again. "Perhaps we can help each other then."
Evan nods. Good, I'm actually getting somewhere with this guy, he thinks.
"Exactly what I was thinking."
Dr. Brewer eyes him with suspicion. "What do you have there in your pocket?"
Evan's heart stops. The Monster Blood. Dr. Brewer has seen the Monster Blood. Evan can only imagine what things the doctor could do with the stuff. But it's a little too late to hide it.
"It-it's really nothing important." Evan stutters. He knows how much of a liar he sounds like right now.
"Show me what you have. Now." Dr. Brewer orders. "Or maybe I will kill you. I'm sure you wouldn't like that, would you?"
Now he really sounds like a parent, Evan thinks, like he's shouting at Evan to show him his report card or like he's a dog with something they shouldn't have in their mouth.
"My hands are a little tied up right now." Evan says, motioning down to his cuffs.
Dr. Brewer makes a noise indicating his frustration but to Evan's surprise, he's actually able to remove his ties, freeing Evan's hands. It feels good to move them again. Now if anything goes south, he might actually be able to fight back. Not that he stands much of a chance against Brewer and his plants. The doctor seems powerful.
Evan knows what he has to do, and reluctantly removes the dusty blue can from his pocket, handing it to Dr. Brewer. He doesn't expect the doctor to be able to grip it considering his hand-branch situation, but Evan's surprised to see Brewer fully able to wrap his fingers around it. He looks down at the can and studies it, reading the label aloud.
"Monster Blood. Surprising Miracle Substance." Dr. Brewer reads. "What the hell is this?"
"It's not something you should mess with." Evan warns. "It's partially why they want me here."
"Now you've sparked my curiosity."
"I'm serious. It's not a joke. If I open this can, the Monster Blood will start to grow. And it will keep growing. No container will be able to hold it because it will outgrow everything you throw at it. And it'll keep eating to sustain its appetite. But it's never satisfied. Anything that consumes it will start to grow too." Evan explains.
"Anything?" Dr. Brewer asks. "Fascinating."
Evan knows immediately what Dr. Brewer must be thinking, and the idea horrifies him.
"You want to use it on your plants, don't you?"
"Yes, and why shouldn't I? I'm a scientist. I want to run every possible test to see how my plants grow and adapt to new changes. What if your Monster Blood is what allows my plants to live? To evolve more than they ever have before?"
"Because it's dangerous!" Evan says. "And what if the Monster Blood kills your plants?"
Dr. Brewer shakes his head. "No. They'll survive. That's what plants always do. We survive, regardless of challenges. Do you want to get out of here or not?"
"Of course I want to get out!" Evan snaps. "But not at the risk of opening that can again. I can't do it."
"You mean to tell me you'll give up your freedom because you're too scared of some green ooze?"
Dr. Brewer sounds upset, but Evan is angry too. He's so sick of hearing people making fun of his fears. They'll never understand what it's like to be him.
"Look, two of the Reality Police guys up there, they told me somehow I've been cursing the Monster Blood. I don't completely believe it myself, but even if it's true, the Monster Blood can't be controlled. Once it's open, all hell breaks loose." Evan tells Dr. Brewer.
The doctor still doesn't sound convinced. "And what are the rules for this Monster Blood?"
Evan shrugs. "I don't know. Not completely. I guess as soon as it's exposed to air is when it starts to happen."
Dr. Brewer looks as if he's just had a bright idea. "Air, you say? My poor plants have been devoid of so much of their necessary oxygen you might just be able to open that can without much of a problem. Not that I believe in this magical nonsense anyway. It's simple science."
Evan looks at Dr. Brewer and thinks. He's still finding it hard to breathe in this environment and starts to wonder if the doctor might be onto something. He's never tried it before. Still, he's reluctant.
"I don't know." Evan says softly. "You can't guarantee that will happen."
"Well what would life be if scientists never tried anything? That's how the greatest of discoveries are made."
"I'm not a scientist." Evan replies.
"I can tell. But even so, you don't have to be a scientist to have a curious mind. Look, the plan is simple. If this Monster Blood works as you say it does, I can give it to my plants and I'll be able to spring myself out of here, providing enough distraction for you to leave. How did you get here anyway?"
"Uh.. I time-traveled using an old cuckoo clock." Evan says.
Dr. Brewer's face is full of shock in response to this, like Evan's just told him some stunning revelation. He doesn't understand why.
"The clock? Oh, no wonder she wants you dead." Dr. Brewer says with some amusement. "This one's personal for her."
"She? What are you talking about?" Evan asks in confusion.
"Look, kid, I'm a botanist, not a physicist. I can't claim I'm an expert on traveling through time, but I know there are consequences to it, especially in the Botanical world. Even if you kill one plant, it can send ripples that alter the timeline itself, or so I've been led to believe." Dr. Brewer says.
Evan wants to roll his eyes. He's not exactly worried about plants right now, but he doesn't want to let Dr. Brewer know that.
"Yeah. I'm learning that now. But what does it have to do with me?" Evan asks. "Why is the cuckoo clock so special?"
"Tara the Terrible." Dr. Brewer says.
"What?" Evan asks. The words sound funny coming out of Brewer's mouth.
"That's what everyone calls the leader of the Reality Police. Your little clock is the same one that almost erased her from existence. I don't really know the story, but from what I've heard it was her brother. He time-traveled too. Something went wrong, like, he erased a whole year from the timeline. The very same year our glorious leader was born. So poof. It was like she was never born."
Evan is finding it hard to wrap his head around what Dr. Brewer's saying.
"So then how does she exist?" Evan asks. "She should technically be dead, right?"
"How should I know?" Dr. Brewer asks. "But she does. And she's the reason why this place even exists in the first place. Because of what happened to her. This place is her revenge. You can imagine how angry she must be hearing someone else used that clock. If I were you, I'd be very afraid."
"Shit." Evan replies. "And it had to be me of all people, huh?"
"You're in luck," Dr. Brewer says. "I've heard she keeps one just like it in her office. If you can get to it, maybe you can get back to the present and do whatever it is you need to do. That is- if you're willing to give some of that Monster Blood to me. It may be your only choice."
Evan sighs, realizing Dr. Brewer is right. It doesn't make the plan any less scary though. There's going to be a lot of chaos involved just to see this through, but if it gets him back to Dark Falls with just enough time to stop Mr. Dark from completing his plan then it might ultimately be worth it. He just wishes Andy was here right now to help him.
"Fine. I'll do it." Evan says bitterly.
Evan prays he won't regret this decision as he takes the Monster Blood back. With all the reluctance in the world, he slowly opens the lid. Not fully, but close enough he can wiggle his fingers into the plastic can. As soon as they touch the Monster Blood within, fear floods into Evan's senses. It's just as he remembers it, cold to the touch and especially slimy, leaving residue on his skin that makes him feel unclean. He pinches two fingers together and pulls off a small chunk of the green slime and as soon as it's in his grasp, he shuts the lid.
"That's it?" Dr. Brewer asks, unimpressed.
"You should be grateful I'm doing this for you at all." Evan says.
He hands Brewer the sample of the slime. He seems satisfied enough and carries the chunk of green slime to what looks like a pitcher plant, depositing the piece of Monster Blood within.
"We'll grow back," Dr. Brewer tells the plant. "We always do."
"Can I leave now?" Evan asks.
He doesn't want to be around long enough to see what the Monster Blood does to Brewer's plants. But then Dr. Brewer looks at him with a face full of animalistic rage, letting out a terrifying growl that sends Evan freezing in his tracks.
"W-what are you doing?" Evan asks, slowly backing away.
But it's too late. In response, Dr. Brewer's long finger-branches begin to wrap around his neck, squeezing it with intense pressure. I picked the wrong guy to trust, Evan thinks with a sense of hopelessness, just as the mad scientist begins to suffocate him. Evan wants to scream, but the plants do it for him.
