Silence & darkness only the hum of the downpour outside could be heard

"Todd."

silence

"todd..."

still silence

"...I know you hear me boy."

" Please...stop...I want to hear the rain..."

silence.

"No time for rain...Cassie's in trouble."

Opening his eyes, Todd saw the nightlights from outside cascading through his small window up high from his cell onto the wall before him.

"Cassie?...What's wrong with her?" Todd said softly to the empty room. He knew exactly where Shmee was. Right in his head waiting heavy.

"...Let's say...things that were from your past came back to haunt you - no- us again."

Standing up straight from the fetal position, Todd listen intently. Shmee being cryptic with him was an ongoing thing. But this felt for the first time ever, Shmee was actually worried a bit. And more than ever, he wanted out.

"So, what now?"

"...you know what. Give me access and we can both be freed. Help Cassie and me by getting out of here and i'll leave you alone forever."

His heart stopped. Eyes snapped wide open. Years he wanted this curse of knowing too much to end and for Shmee to leave him alone. What exactly compelled him now, suddenly, to surrender?

"What the hell are you talking about? Don't do this to me you nightmare-"

"I know exactly what im talking about! and you will know too once we open those doors...let me in..."

Looking at the heavy set door, Todd remember the first time being put in here those years ago. Shmee took over, did horrible things, things Todd couldn't believe and not remember. Why, after all this time. Why leave out of the blue? He could guess Shmee was getting anxious to take over Todd again - that Todd remembers clearly from all those years ago. He didn't want to hurt anyone else.

Cassie

"Whatever it is, please don't hurt Cassie...please. I beg of you."

After a moment in silence the room began to whirl, Todd's head almost immediately began pounding and splitting all the way down his spine. Total darkness enveloped his vision, the nightlights that once poured in, shaded out of focus and disappeared.

"Your wish is my command."

Corridor to corridor, cell to cell. Eff and Sickness made grotesque faces and guttural sounds not of this world at each poor soul locked away in each room.

"Is this all you wanted to do through here? To goof off?" Dboy moaned.

Laughing along with Sickness as their bodies contorted back to their hybrid forms, Eff replied,"C'mon it's whatever little we can get off without being able to drain them."

Sickness slicked her hair back in a smile, "Besides, I haven't felt this pleased since The last time I toyed Devi."

Rolling his eyes, "Yeah we noticed you can't get her out of your head since you decided to take up her name." Dboy said.

Crossing her arms, "Whatever, I'm ready to go whenever you all are."

All three men looked at her in confusion. "I thought we were having a good time?" Eff said.

"Well I was," Sickness replied, "but eh, I dunno. It feels like a tease. Kinda getting a little bored."

Reverend shrugged, "I'm with you on leaving, feeling the same way here. Just depending when the rain will stop."

Dboy held the bridge of his nose in annoyance, "The rain had already stopped 5 minutes ago you idiots. I thought you all were sense what I was."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Eff quipped back, "The rain is still pounding. I wish I was fucking with you on that."

Sickness and Reverend also looked at Dboy questionably. The rain had been thundering outside for a while, and none in the group could tell what was Dboy sensing.

"If you're talking about your tremors again, none of us has been feeling that." Reverend replied.

Realizing he was the odd one out, Dboy saw all their faces and knew they were telling the truth. Turning back around to the main lobby, Dboy stopped in his tracks. This was far from a tremor, what was coming on now it was coming for them.

He hadn't felt this fear since the first time realizing the Creator was gone from the walls.

It felt however this time impending doom. He could feel his heart in his chest pounding and his blood ran cold. Reverend noticed something was wrong with Dboy as he stood their silently with his back turned looking toward the floor.

"What's the matter with ya?"

Silence.

"I.. think we need to leave." Dboy replied as he looked back towards the group. They all noticed the strange look, and quickly knew something was wrong. The room stood still, the sounds of the rain blurred out, and the end of the hall began to shroud in darkness. Before any could react, the ground beneath them lifted and the walls collapsed as all bodies flung about and the floor they were on crumbled beneath them.