"YOU'RE PLANT FOOD NOW, KID!"
Evan hears the shouting despite his fading senses. He thinks it's Dr. Brewer saying it at first, until he realizes Bruce and Wayne have entered the room.
"Stand down, doc!" Bruce orders. "We need him alive to stand trial."
Evan feels the branches loosen around his neck as Dr. Brewer leans forward.
"I just saved your life. If they caught us talking, they'd kill us both." Dr. Brewer whispers raspily in his ear. "Now get out of here!"
Finally, the plant-man lets him go, but Evan can still feel the phantom vines around his neck. Pressing a hand to his flesh, warm blood is trickling down and Evan knows Dr. Brewer's hands must have left behind some scarring. So much for trying to save my life, Evan thinks. Surely there was a better way than strangulation.
"Take him." Dr. Brewer tells Bruce and Wayne. "He's useless to my research."
That's a little harsh, Evan says to himself. Chances are Dr. Brewer means that too. Evan has little time to react or say anything before the Reality Police seize him once more by his shoulders.
"Hey, don't touch me!" Evan shouts.
Bruce and Wayne ignore his pleas. Evan can tell they're angry, and in a rush too, as they practically start dragging him up the basement steps.
"This is the last time you'll get away from us, kid." Wayne says. "The boss wants to see you NOW."
"Really? You've done a pretty shitty job so far." Evan replies. "Maybe I'll just run away again."
Wayne grits his teeth, sticking his face close to Evan's, close enough than he can see the individual stubbles of hair on Wayne's face. Evan can smell aftershave on him, or is it cologne? He's about to open his mouth before Bruce cuts him off.
"You know, perhaps you're right, Evan." Bruce says. "I think we've been a little too kind to you so far. From now on, we'll treat you as the threat you truly are."
Bruce shoves Evan forward as they keep walking. He's a bit too happy to keep pushing Evan around. Then from the ceiling, making a horrible screeching cry, Dr. Brewer's plants descend to attack. Both Reality Cops angrily fight them off in their attempt to come back to the surface.
"Goddamn plants!" Wayne growls. "What were you doing talking to Brewer anyway? He's a lunatic."
Yeah, a lunatic that you keep feeding victims, Evan thinks. Clearly, Brewer's hatred for the Reality Police is a mutual thing.
"Nothing." Evan lies. "I thought there'd be an exit down there, and he just attacked me out of nowhere."
Wayne chuckles sinisterly in response. "Be careful what you wish for, kid. You wouldn't have stood a chance had we not stepped in."
"Indeed." Bruce replies. "Sounds like you owe us for saving your life. You could at least show a little gratitude."
Evan rolls his eyes. "Fine. Thanks. Now, take me to your leader or whatever you're going to do."
Finally, they've left the basement behind, and the horrible noises from the plants are now just an echo in Evan's mind. He'll never go back there again, that he's certain. He just hopes Dr. Brewer will keep his word.
Walking down the long halls of the facility, Bruce and Wayne lead him into a large glass elevator. The number pad reveals there are over 13 floors and as Bruce hits one of the buttons, Evan realizes they're going all the way up to unlucky Floor 13. Because of course they are. The elevator is a bit clunky, to say the least. Evan can hear the gears whirring to life as it starts to go up. He prays that it doesn't break. Being stuck here with the cops doesn't sound like his idea of a good time.
"So.. this boss lady of yours," Evan starts to ask, "She must be really scary, huh?"
"Her word is law." Bruce replies. "She has every torture method you could possibly imagine, and her means of dealing out punishment is even worse."
"I think she has a special one in mind for you, kid!" Wayne laughs. "It's going to be glorious."
Glorious? That's not really the word Evan would use, and he shudders at the mention of possible torture, all kinds of disturbing images coming to mind, like the ones in Andy's favorite horror movies.
With an audible ding, the elevator doors open and Evan is shoved into a dark courtroom by Bruce and Wayne. He stumbles forward from the push, falling to his knees onto the hard wooden floor. Wayne harshly lifts him back to his feet, snapping in his ear something Evan doesn't hear over the eerie humming in the room.
Looking up, overhead lights illuminate parts of the courtroom. To his left and right, about a dozen more Reality Officers in suits are just staring forward, their eyes hidden behind sunglasses, not moving or saying a word. It's unnerving, Evan thinks. Then his eyes are drawn to a large statue in the middle of the room, made of bronze, by the looks of it, depicting what seems to be a little girl in overalls, maybe six or seven, with her hair tied into pigtails. Evan thinks maybe it's a memorial for someone, until he looks down at the inscription etched on a plaque at the girl's feet: TARA THE TERRIBLE: OUR FOUNDER. PROTECTING REALITY, NO MATTER THE COST.
Evan isn't sure what to think. Surely the Tara the statue depicts can't really be the founder of the Reality Police, right? At the very least, maybe it depicts her when she was younger. Yeah, that makes sense, Evan says to himself. And then his thoughts are interrupted by the booming voice of Bruce, which is seemingly amplified by how the room is structured, bouncing off the walls with force.
"Officers, please rise for the arrival of our glorious founder, Tara Webster!" Bruce announces.
Evan wants to ask if they aren't already standing up right now but then from the shadows, even more Reality Police make themselves visible. He's literally surrounded by people in suits, and they're all staring up at a large judge's podium up on the balcony encircling the room. So Evan follows their line of sight, watching as a little girl emerges from the darkness until she's fully visible. There's no question about it, this is the same girl as the one in the statue, though it's easier to see all her features now. She has stringy brown hair, the same color as her eyes, and a small button nose. The way she's standing on the podium now makes it look as if she's towering over Evan, despite the fact she's, well, a toddler, and somehow the expression on her face is a stern and terrifying one, the kind you'd expect to see on someone with a lot of authority. Maybe too much authority.
Still, Evan can hardly process what he's seeing. It's too absurd to believe, and he wants to laugh.
"This is a joke, right?" Evan asks. "Someone has to be pranking me right now."
In response, the Reality Police turn to look at him. They all look furious.
"This is the dreaded TARA THE TERRIBLE?" Evan laughs. "I expected someone a little.. Taller."
"I'd advise you to keep her name out of your mouth, kid!" Wayne snaps. "You will be SILENT!"
"No, it's okay, Wayne." Tara finally says. "I'm glad Evan thinks this is so funny. It means he underestimates me."
Out of her mouth, it sounds high pitched and squeaky.
"I think you look like a Krej." Tara says. "That's jerk spelled backwards, you krej".
The other Reality Police nod their heads in agreement. Apparently they also think Evan is a krej.
"And what's the punishment for being a krej?" Evan asks.
"Ask my stupid brother." Tara replies. "Oh wait, he doesn't exist anymore!"
Tara starts giggling evily, and the other officers join in on the laugh. Evan gulps. What happened to her poor brother?
"You remind me of him." Tara says.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, I used the cuckoo clock, alright? I'm sorry." Evan says. "But I had no other choice."
Evan can't believe he's arguing with a seven year-old. And he thought it was bad with Kermit.
"Really?" Tara asks. "Do you know what it's like to be erased from existence?"
Evan just blinks. "Well, no. I guess not."
This is true enough, Evan thinks.
"It HURTS." Tara says. "A LOT."
"Look, I'm really sorry that happened to you, but you have to let me go." Evan pleads. "A really bad guy is about to do something really horrible, and I can't stop him if I'm locked up here."
Tara shakes her head. "No. Something bad always happens when you use the clock and you broke it. Now I'm going to erase you too."
"No!" Evan shouts. "You can't do this! I swear, nobody was erased this time around! I was safe! I think!"
He feels panic for the first time. Did a little kid just sentence him to death? What exactly was non-existence even like? He tries to think about it but the concept is too much to grasp it hurts Evan's brain.
"You don't know that." Tara says. "There's always consequences."
The last part comes out as sounding like "kawn-se-gwen-sis" in Tara's voice.
"At least give me some options!" Evan pleads. "I don't want to be erased!"
"Well that's just too damn bad!" Wayne says. "The leader's rule is LAW.
However, Tara looks as if she is thinking about what Evan just said. She maintains the same pondering expression for almost a minute.
"Fine. I'll give you an option number two, if it makes you shut up." Tara says. "I can let him AXE you!"
Tara points and Evan turns to see just who the "him" she's talking about is. What looks like nothing more than a shadow starts walking towards Evan, and he sees that the figure is in fact a man in a black robe and cape, which drags across the floor with each step of his heavy boots. Beneath a black wide-brimmed hat, his face is barely visible. The man appears to be bald, but has a thick beard and goatee, with bushy eyebrows and cold, dark eyes. Along with his footsteps, Evan hears what sounds like a scraping sound. To his horror, he realizes the man is carrying a massive axe beside him, the kind you'd see back in Medieval Times.
"The Lord High Executioner!" Tara announces.
Evan gulps. He doesn't like how sharp that axe is looking, and especially now that he sees what looks like dried blood on the handle.
"I've killed many witches in my days in my service to the King.." The Executioner says in a dark, sinister voice. "Now I serve a new ruler. You will come with me, boy."
"With one swing of his axe, all the magic will be severed from your body, and with it, YOUR HEAD!" Wayne mocks.
"Uh.. is it too late to go back to the first option?" Evan asks nervously, his eyes studying the room.
The Executioner comes closer. Come on, Brewer, Evan thinks. If ever there was a time to unleash those plants of yours, now would be that time.
Then, as if, answering his prayers, the whole courtroom begins to shake with as much violence as a massive Earthquake. It sends Evan and everyone else to the ground. Even from here, Evan can hear the screams of Brewer's plants. The good doctor has actually pulled off the escape attempt, which means Evan now has to make one of his own.
Tara scrambles to her feet. "WHAT'S GOING ON?!"
The officers look just as dazed and panicked.
"Uh.. this isn't good, Miss!" Bruce says, looking at a tablet displaying the prison's security feed. "I think it's Brewer! Good god, he's gotten free!"
Evan wastes no time in running himself, and Tara notices.
"GET HIM AND GET BREWER!" she orders.
Now even more Reality Police are after him, but even they have to slow down as it becomes evident that Dr. Brewer is the real threat to deal with. Behind him, Evan can hear screams as vines burst through the floor, dragging officers to their doom below, while others are torn apart from the plants descending from the ceiling. The Reality Police stand little chance against all of Brewer's plants. Even the Lord High Executioner isn't much of a challenge, as his axe does little but spray green blood all over him. The plants are clearly stronger. Evan wonders if it's the Monster Blood that's making them like this. Then all kinds of other horrified thoughts run through Evan's mind. Has he just made a terrible mistake by teaming up with Brewer?
"Oh god!" Bruce shouts. "Brewer's started releasing the others from their cells!"
As Evan finally reaches his way out, he hears a horrible combination of roars and other sounds from the floors below him as all the cages start to open. Dr. Brewer wasn't lying, Evan realizes that now. He's certainly providing a distraction, but he failed to mention the whole "jailbreak the other monsters" part of his plot. And it's all Evan's fault. He gave Brewer the Monster Blood, now who knows what kind of chaos he's just unleashed?
Just get the clock, Evan reminds himself. Get to the damn clock. That's the important thing right now. It's hard to focus, especially now that the whole facility is covered with plants but as Evan continues running, finally, he sees an open door. He knows right away it's Tara's office as sure enough, there rests the cuckoo clock, the very same one Mr. Dark has, and the same one that erased her from existence. Evan wonders why exactly she chooses to keep it around. A memento, maybe? Or a reminder to stop all other reality-breaking threats? Evan doesn't quite care what exactly the answer is.
As more of Brewer's plants start to burst through the floor, closing in on him, Evan wastes no time twisting the cuckoo's head back to normal as soon as it pops out. As Evan waits for time to start moving forwards this time, he realizes he only has one last shot to stop Mr. Dark, and if he fails this time, he might as well just let himself die here, enough already have. There might not even be a Reality Police left anymore, judging by how silent the facility has become. It's the silence that makes him feel even more afraid. For in the silence is where monsters always lurk. Is Dr. Brewer the lesser of two evils compared to Mr. Dark? Evan wonders that question before deciding that yes, yes, he is. He has to be, right? But Evan still doesn't know he believes it.
