Chapter 18: Dreadful Encounters- Pt.1
Clyde and Craig
The sky has now darkened to a point where it looks very foreboding. Neither any thunder nor lighting have been heard or seen for quite some time, but the rain is still pouring down heavily from above.
"Stop," Leon abruptly orders.
"Huh? Why?" Clyde asks.
"Because I Said So."
Deciding not to question Leon any further, Clyde stops running, forcing Craig to do the same since they are still holding hands.
Panting, Craig raises an eyebrow at Clyde. "W-why did we s-stop?"
Clyde doesn't answer him until he's breathing normally. He turns his head to meet Craig's confused gaze. "I don't know. My Inner Guardian told me to. Yours didn't?"
Lowering his eyebrow, Craig shakes his head. "No, Stri-I mean mines didn't say anything." He isn't sure if he should reveal to Clyde that his guinea pig - who no longer looks like a guinea pig - is now his Inner Guardian just yet, and he's glad that he caught himself from spilling.
It's the little brunette's turn to copy Craig's earlier expression. Was he about to say Stripe? Now that he thinks about it, he's surprised Craig didn't bring his pet with him. He cherished it very much, and Clyde highly doubts the Being of Darkness corrupted it. Craig didn't say that it did, plus it's just an animal - a small one at that.
"Clyde, We're Takin' A Detour."
Clyde makes a face as he looks forward, having not a clue what detour means.
"Master Craig, There's Something I Must Tell You," Stripe says. Craig frowns, looking ahead of the sidewalk as well. Whatever Stripe is about to tell him is not going to be good thanks to his stern tone. "I Was Going To Wait Until After We Defeated The Being Of Darkness, But It's Far Too Dangerous To Approach It Now. One Of Its Victims Has Claimed A Friend You Once Told Me About Named Bebe Stevens Some Minutes Ago."
"What?!" Craig thinks, greatly shocked by the news.
"A...detour?" Clyde repeats back confusedly.
"Yeah, Meaning We're Gonna Try And Save Bebe Instead," Leon says.
"But what about going to help Kenny?" Clyde thinks it's rather sudden that his Inner Guardian has decided they help Bebe now, although he has no problems with it since he wanted to do that in first place. But at the same time, he doesn't wish for anything bad to happen to Kenny. Leon told him that killing the Being of Darkness wouldn't get rid of its corruption, so perhaps he's thought of another solution, Clyde believes.
"...Two People Are Already Helping Kenneth Right Now, But Something Has Changed. It's Far Too Risky To Approach Kyle's Area, And The Two Of You Wouldn't Last Even A Second If We Go There Now."
Clyde looks over at Craig, his friend's face is expressing an emotion he can't read. He presses his lips together and glances down at their intertwined hands, giving Craig's hand a light squeeze. When he looks at him, he softly asks, "Do you wanna help Bebe?"
Craig looks away with a reluctant frown on his face, then he mutters, "We don't really have any other choice...I just...want this all to end."
Clyde couldn't agree more. First, there was the murder case along with Eric's missing whereabouts that will forever be unsolved, and now there's a monster tearing their town upside down. Perhaps this all happened because of the murder, which Clyde now believes could've been the Being of Darkness' doing. It could've also taken Eric. Clyde really, really hopes Kenny and the two unknown people that are with him defeat the Being of Darkness. But most importantly, Clyde yearns to save Bebe—to revert her back to the way she was before all of this occurred. He thinks it's possible now since Craig is with him, and they both have an Inner Guardian. Leon told him that Craig's Inner Guardian was Light while him and his father were running away from home earlier.
"Alright," Leon says. "Let's Hurry. Me And The Other Inner Guardian Will Transport You Two In Front Of Bebe's House."
Clyde nods his head, staring into the distance with determination gleaming in his eyes. He's ready to put his powers in action to rescue the girl he likes.
Suddenly, light footsteps sound from behind the two boys followed by a voice.
"Clyde?"
The children tense up, Clyde's eyes widening in disbelief. He knows that voice, there's no way he could mistake the voice of-
"Clyde."
Slowly, Clyde turns his body around, and so does Craig but at a faster pace. Their hands slip from out of each other's grip. Clyde can feel his heart accelerating in his chest. Craig is already facing the individual, his amber eyes gaping at them with absolute horror.
Finally, Clyde has himself positioned to where he can see the person. His enlarged eyes display the same horror, and they well up with tears. There is definitely no mistaking them now, this person is his-
"M-mom..." Clyde whimpers.
'His mother's' eyes are closed and she's smiling. It's a gentle smile that fails to mask her true intentions. Her right hand is suspiciously behind her back.
"Shit, This Isn't Good," Leon grumbles, unsettled. "Didn't Think She Would Follow Us."
"C-Clyde, we should run," Craig says, already taking some steps back. How did Mrs. Donovan know where they were?
The tears flow freely down Clyde's cheeks. The woman before them is not the sweet and kindhearted Betsy Donovan they both knew and loved. Without another word, Clyde turns away.
"How rude, turning your back on your own mother." Clyde's heart hurts after hearing such words.
"C'mon," Craig says as he turns around.
"Clyde...where's Roger?"
Ignoring the increasing pain in his chest, Clyde begins to walk away. Craig follows him without looking back.
The woman's fake smile drops. "I knew these brats would be defiant. It's a shame this body's husband is nowhere to be seen," the entity possessing her says in her head. "You two best not take another step if you don't want anything to happen to this body."
"Master Craig, Do Not Turn Around."
However, Leon was too late to warn Clyde. The moment Clyde turns around, his mind goes blank and his eyes become vacant.
"Hehe, gotcha, you troublesome pest."
Leon, who's standing in a divine sanctuary domain, glares daggers at the pleased-looking woman through a rectangular-shaped viewscreen that has wispy, black edges. Her eyes are open, and they are a dull red color. "Tch, fucking great..."
"S-Stripe, what happened?!" Craig asks, scared.
"...I'll Tell You Later, But For Now, You Must Stop Clyde."
Craig hears some footsteps, and he twists around to see Clyde approaching his brainwashed mother. Craig quickly notices her eyes. They're not dark green, instead, they're red. He's never seen a corrupted person with red eyes before. He focuses back on his task, which is stopping his friend. He grabs the brunette's wrist, but it makes no difference. In fact, Clyde starts pulling him along.
"Clyde, stop!" Craig uses both hands to keep Clyde from moving, planting his feet firmly to the ground to help him gain the advantage. But since he's wearing socks and the ground is slippery, it's difficult to maintain his balance. He preservers the best he can. "Why are you walking towards her?! You know she's not your mom anymore!" Clyde continues to walk as if he's in a trance.
Mrs. Donovan giggles, smiling again. "It's useless, but it's cute seeing you struggle."
Craig ignores her. He doesn't know what else to do, and Stripe picks up on this. "Bind Him."
Craig frowns, but doesn't object. He did it to his parents, so he can do it to Clyde as well. To keep him away from harm. He retracts one hand from Clyde's wrist, making a reach for Clyde's other hand that's limp by his side. It was an easy attempt. Craig pulls Clyde's hand back and holds both limbs in a secure grip his skinny arms can muster, then closes the space between them. Craig closes his eyes, focusing on his magical energy. Mrs. Donovan watches silently with mischievous interest. When Craig feels the warmth of his magical energy rushing to his hands from his right eye, he opens both eyes - his right one silver - and says the incantation spell.
"Chains of Light, restrain him!"
Two slightly big white auras instantly emanate around Craig's hands, then split into two groups of two and travel over to Clyde's wrists and ankles like drifting snowballs. They first shape themselves into actual chains around his wrists and ankles, their features a prominent white, then they solidify. Craig releases the boy with a deep exhale through his mouth. He closes his eyes, and when he reopens them, his right eye has returned to its original color. Clyde stands perfectly still, obligated to the restraints that bound him in place.
"Excellent Work, Master Craig. It Looks Like You're Getting Used To Your Magic," Stripe praises, making Craig smile a little. "Clyde Was Under A Hypnosis, Still Is Currently Until We take Care Of His Mother."
Nervously, Craig directs his attention to Mrs. Donovan, unnerved by the wide grin on her face.
"How interesting," she says. "Seems I was fortunate to come across two hosts harboring Inner Guardians. The Master will be delighted knowing that I got rid of you nuisances." With a joyous laugh, she removes her hand from behind her back. Warning bells start going off in Craig's head.
"She Has A Knife. Please Be Careful."
Craig is appalled. "A-a knife?!"
It is indeed a knife just as Stripe said once the item is fully visible. Mrs. Donovan raises the blade up to her lips and licks it.
"Time to send you vermin straight to Hell."
Wendy
For some odd reason, Wendy is skeptical about being granted entrance inside the house she's currently standing on the porch of. The small roof is protecting her from the rain. The umbrella Mrs. Marsh gave her is closed up and fastened on the ground by her feet. She doesn't know why, but she got the awful feeling that the same thing that happened in her own home is happening right now in Bebe's. The possibility makes her take a step back.
The Stevens' ebony car is still parked in the driveway, but she doubts the family is out and about. She frowns deeply, her unease increasing. She hugs herself, feeling cold not just on the outside, but on the inside as well. She hates this. Today is the worst day of her life. She wishes that she was dreaming, that in reality, she's sleeping in her bed. She wants to go home. She wants to see her parents again, back to their protective and caring selves...A memory of her and her parents enjoying some family time together outside on a rare sunny day plays out in her mind's eye, and such a heartwarming moment makes her tear up. She still can't fathom that her mother is most likely dead, and that her father was the one who killed her. Wendy won't ever forget the man's dark green eyes that glowed in the darkness, the kitchen knife he brandished...nor her mother defending her to the bitter end. The stab wound she received to the chest was a horrific scene, but she managed to hang—just barely—on to life. Wendy starts to wonder what happened after she left. Is her father still alive? Or did her mother stab the man in return...so they could both be with each other in the afterlife...?
The tears pour from Wendy's eyes. The sadness is eating away at her to a point where her legs begin to shake. However, she doesn't drop onto her knees right away, because something stops her from doing so. Heat overlaps the coldness coating her entire body. It's not easing her emotions, instead it's only melting away the chill lingering on her skin.
Wendy knows exactly where she's feeling the warmth. Wiping away the tears in her eyes, she only looks at her right arm and rolls up her wet sleeve. A yellow light is seen for a fleeting moment. The comfortable heat is soon replaced by the cold. She shivers, unsure if the brief illumination was real or not. She lowers her arm with a heavy sigh, deeming the light an illusion. She frowns at the door. "I-I'll try knocking." Nipping her bottom lip nervously, she inches closer to the door and raises a weakly closed fist towards it.
However, she pauses when the warm feeling returns accompanied by a voice.
"It's Not Safe To Go In There."
Wendy gasps, startled. Just now, she heard a woman inside her head, and her tone was that of a caring mother, despite her warning. "W-who are you?" Wendy asks, hovering her fist over her chest. Her eyes widen a fraction at the yellow light emitting from the yellow heart in the middle. This time, it doesn't disappear.
"There's No Need To Fear, I Mean You No Harm, Wendy Testaburger." This lady knowing her full name doesn't ebb her worry. "My Name Is Elena Edgewood, And I Am A Spirit Known As An Inner Guardian. I Possess Light Magic Whereas There Are Others Who Possess Either The Same Element, Darkness, Or Both Light And Darkness. Those That Can Harness Both Light And Dark Magic Are Known As Mixed Inner Guardians, But They Are Rare To Come By." Confusion instantly washes over Wendy. She's not sure if she wants to ask any questions or keep quiet. "Your Bemusement Will Diminish Over Time. You Aren't The Only One Who's Obtained Someone Like Me. I Sense Another Inner Guardian Within This House, However Their Host Has Been Corrupted To Serve The Dark Master And The Darkness, Thus They Are Stuck."
Wendy frowns at the door again. In spite of her uncertainty, she believes that she should trust this spirit. "Is...Bebe the host for the Inner Guardian?"
"I'm Afraid So," Elena responds sullenly.
Wendy refuses to imagine her best friend with the same scary eyes her father had. "Is there a way to save her?"
"Hmm, Although You Haven't Undergone Any Training, You Do Have The Option To Save Her. However, As I've Warned You Before, It's Dangerous Inside That House, And If We're Not Careful...You Could Also Fall Victim To The Infectious Darkness Or Worse, Be Killed If You Oppose Them. The Choice Is Solely Up To You, And I'll Help The Best I Can."
Wendy clenches her fist, her heart beating faster in her chest. She doesn't want to die, but she can't leave Bebe as she is. Not only that, but she wants to rekindle their friendship. No, she has to. Bebe deserves to know why Wendy has been avoiding her. Wendy comes to a decision. "I...wanna help Bebe. So please," she gives her bracelet a pleading look. "Help me." To be honest, she's not confident they will succeed. She is just a child with not a single experience in something like this. She thinks about Stan, and how the boy is out in this rainstorm with his mother. They were heading to the Broflovski's house to fend off the Being of Darkness. Perhaps the Being of Darkness had corrupted Kyle, which is why Stan was on his way to his house.
"I wonder what happened to Mr. Marsh and Shelly. Maybe the Being of Darkness got them too...At least Stan still has his family..." Wendy thinks with envious sorrow.
Inside of her bracelet is a woman with red hair that stopped at the center of her back and light blue eyes. She's wearing a white, short-sleeved dress that went past her kneecaps, and on her feet are white flats. Her accessories are a pair of diamond earrings and a sliver star necklace. She can see the girl's dolorous mien through a screen shaped like a heart. The never-ending domain that she created within the bracelet has a mixture of light purple and yellow occasionally moving like waves lapping against a shore. "Poor child. I can tell that she's been through a lot today, yet she's willing to risk her life to save a friend," Elena thinks with a sad smile. "Wendy," she says tenderly. Wendy looks back at the item she holds dear. "I Might Not Be With You Physically, But As Long As I'm In This Bracelet, I Will Protect And Aid You Without Fail."
Wendy's eyes shed a few tears. The way Elena just spoke reminded her of her mother. She would always comfort her in a gentle, motherly tone whenever she was down. She misses her greatly, as well as her father. But she has no choice but to move on, although she will never forget them. They will always be in her heart, and they will be more than just a memory to her. "T-thank you, Ms. Edgewood. I...I'll do my best too."
"I'm Sure You Will, And You Don't Have To Address Me So Formally. Elena Is Just Fine. Now, Are You Ready?" Wendy nods her head. She gazes at the door with newfound resolve. Despite the dangers that lie behind this door, she is ready to free her best friend from the evil that has her in its clutches. "Since The Door Is Locked, I'm Going To Transport You Inside. No, Better Yet, You Can Do It," Elena says, changing her mind in the end.
Wendy appears hesitant. "M-me? But how?"
"Don't Worry, It Is A Rather Easy Process, And It's A Spell That Doesn't Require A Verbal Incantation, Which Are A Series Of Words, To Execute It." Wendy nods her head, somewhat comprehending Elena's explanation, despite being nervous. "Though I Must Warn You, The Transition Might Leave You Disoriented." Although Wendy has never heard of the word 'disoriented' before, she can only presume that it's an uncomfortable feeling. But she nods in understanding once again. "First, Hold Out Your Hand, Then Think About The Destination You Want To Be Transported To. You Can Also Visualize It If You'd Like, Though That Is Only Recommended If You've Been To The Place Once Before."
Wendy hesitates. She's been in Bebe's house more than several times before, but she gets the feeling that it would be a lot safer as well as easier to just think about teleporting within the house. She sticks her hand out. "T-teleport me inside Bebe's house." She's warmed up for a third time, however it's coming directly from inside her body, right in her chest. The yellow light from her bracelet shines a bit brighter, as if resonating with her magical energy. Then all of a sudden, she's translocated within the Stevens' abode in a streak of white light. Instead of feeling vertiginous, her eyes start stinging because of the swift change from a moderately bright scenery into a dark one. She gently rubs her eyes.
"Are You Okay? How Do You Feel?" Elena asks, concerned.
"I'm fine," Wendy replies, keeping her voice low. She stops and blinks her eyes that slowly adjust to the darkness. She nearly screams when she meets two pairs of empty, dark green eyes staring at her from what seems to be in the living room. She knows one of them is Bebe, but...the other person could either be Mr. or Mrs. Stevens.
The higher pair of eyes narrow a bit, as if the person is smiling. But it's not a welcoming kind of smile. "How nice of you to come in uninvited, Wendy."
