Chapter 8
Marceline let out a startled hiss as a bright light snapped to life, temporarily blinding the vampire. She blinked the spots from her eyes and gave an annoyed growl.
The rattling of chains confirmed her suspicions that she was still shackled, but now she also was sporting a metal collar around her neck. How is got there, she couldn't begin to guess.
"Alright, I'm getting tired of this!" she shouted up towards the light. "Just let me and my friends go, and I promise not to hurt you too much!"
She growled again as her demand was met with silence. She looked down at her shackles and smirked.
"Fine, I'll just bust out myself!" she shouted defiantly. "Just you wait until I get these things off!"
Marceline reached deep inside of herself and tapped into the dark powers that she held within. If her human form couldn't break the shackles, then a more inhuman one surely would. Just as she had an image of what she wanted to transform herself into, a white-hot pain tore through her like electricity. She snarled and fell to the floor, blinded by pain. The shock broke her concentration, and she lost the form that she had desired. The moment the form was lost, the pain stopped.
"What the heck?" she panted as she looked down at her shackles.
Unsure of what had just happened, Marceline gathered herself.
Let's try that again. She said to herself as she shut her eyes.
Once again, Marceline tapped into her dark heritage and sought a form to better suit her needs.
Once again, her body was struck down by an unyielding pain. With a thud, Marceline's body hit the floor. Her body felt incredibly weak as she pushed herself back to her feet. Shaken and pained, Marceline looked down at her shackles. This time, she could see several runes etched into the metal of her shackles. They glowed a dull red as the pain subsided. She then ran her hands over the surface of her collar. She could feel similar runes carved into the metal as well. It was then that a terrifying reality came to light. Her powers were being blocked. Any attempt at using her powers would result in the white-hot pain she had felt.
"Oh, that is so not good…" Marceline muttered, letting a hint of fear slip through. "Guess I really am in trouble."
With a tired huff, Marceline took a quick look around herself. The room that she was in was completely empty save for the single light that shown from the ceiling.
On the floor were several markings of unknown nature. Marceline couldn't tell if they were caused from natural wear and tear or artificially made.
Either way, she knew that she wouldn't like the answer. She then spotted a security camera and a loud speaker placed in one corner of the otherwise empty room.
"Alright, I'll bite. What do you want?!" Marceline shouted up towards the camera with an annoyed tone.
A blaring screech blasted out of the loud speaker. The screech ended abruptly with a crackle of static.
"Hello Marceline, welcome to your first test."
Marceline shuddered at the malice that was scarcely hidden by faceless voice. She recognized it as the voice from the tape, and as the voice from the holding room she and the others were chained in.
"You once prided yourself as a vampire hunter. You hunted and slew countless of the night dwellers, that is, until you fell to the curse yourself. How long has it been? How long has it been since you felt the beating of your heart? How long has it been since you knew the warmth of your own body? How long has it been since you felt the warmth of the sun?"
Marceline scowled and bared her fangs up at the camera. She didn't need any reminders of what it was like to be a creature of the night. She could never forget the things that she could no longer enjoy. But she never let that get in her way of living her life.
"Immortality, a blessing and a curse, isn't it?" the voice continued. "Time is fleeting, yet time is something that you have always had plenty of. This excess of time has driven you to find different ways of filling the hole in your soul. You try to heal yourself by fulfilling your basic desires. But no matter how much you indulge these primal desires, it never is enough, is it? No amount of music, or drink, or companionship is enough to relieve you of the emptiness. It is this gluttony that has driven you down the path that has brought you here."
Marceline's ears twitched. Between each word the voice spoke, she could swear that she could hear the faint sound of tape reel clicking and turning. Marceline shrugged it off, she had more pressing matters at hand.
"You didn't answer my question!" She shouted angrily up at the camera. "What do you want?!"
The speaker was silent for a moment before crackling back to life.
"I want to play a game."
Marceline was suddenly yanked out of the air as the chains connected to her shackles retracted into the floor, forcing her into a standing position. The room shook and trembled as the sound of gears and pistons roared. With a loud metallic grinding sound, the ceiling began to slide apart. Marceline's eyes widened as a large glass vat was slowly lowered from the ceiling. The vat easily held more than three gallons of liquid. Attached to the bottom of the vat was a metal base with a nozzle and release valve. The light above the vat glimmered through, revealing the liquid's red color. A familiar metallic tang filled her noise as the vat lowered further.
"Blood?" she questioned quietly. "Is that blood?!"
Her question went unanswered the vat finally stopped descending. The nozzle was directly level with Marceline's mouth. Her chains suddenly gave enough slack for her to move her arms.
The loud speaker crackled back to life as the faceless voice spoke again.
"There is up to one-point-five gallons of blood within a human body. The stomach of an average vampire can easily hold that much. The vat you see before you is currently holding three gallons of blood. That is three times the amount the average vampire's stomach can hold before bursting."
Marceline's widened eyes spotted a set of keys floating at the top of the vat. She looked down at her shackles and then back up the keys.
"No way." She spoke with a slight tremble in her voice.
At the sound of a buzzer, four slots on the floor opened up. Out of the floor sprang four metal frames that were lined with long spikes. The glimmer from the light above showed that the spikes were cast from silver. Several of the spikes were perfectly positioned so that they aligned with her heart. With a snap of electricity, a single electric clock flickered to life on the wall. The clock was set to count down from sixty seconds.
"Once the timer runs down, the spikes will be driven into you, killing you. The game is simple. Empty the vat before the timer runs out and win your freedom. But be mindful not to spill too much blood."
At that moment, a tiny droplet of blood dripped from the nozzle and stained the floor. An unearthly red light suddenly glared up from the floor as a pentagram burned through the dirt and dust. The spiked frames suddenly lurched forward several inches closer towards Marceline. She couldn't believe it. This wasn't just your average dark magic. This was ancient, foul, nameless dark magic. Magic that not even her father dared dabble in. Not only that, but it had been somehow worked into the mechanisms of the device. That took skill, not just with magic, but with engineering.
"Should any blood spill onto the pentagram, it will speed up the timer and with it the spikes. Like I said, the game is simple. Empty the vat before the timer runs out. Or, do nothing and let the spikes impale you."
Marceline could not believe what she was hearing. It had to be some kind of sick joke. But the clicking of gears and the shimmering red vat of blood before her proved otherwise.
"Live or die. The choice is yours."
With one final crackle of static, the speaker fell silent.
Marceline felt sick as she looked up at the vat of blood that stood before her. Her eyes darted in every direction for a way out. With the spiked frames inching closer with every second, Marceline didn't have much time to think. She knew what she had to do, she just really wished that she didn't have to do it.
"Chill, Marcy, you can do this." She reassured herself uneasily. "You've done your share of keg stands before. You got this."
With a trembling hand, Marceline gripped the release valve. She licked her lips nervously and swallowed the lump in her throat. Her eyes quickly glanced up at the keys that floated at the top of the vat. Marceline shook the doubt out of her mind and readied herself. She was thankful for her empty stomach.
"Down the hatch I guess." She muttered bitterly before placing her mouth over the nozzle.
The release valve squeaked before unleashing a torrent of blood into Marceline's mouth and down her throat. She gagged from the force of the flow before swallowing the warm liquid in a sickening gulp. A sudden warmth spread through her body. She had not tasted blood this rich before. Yet, its flavor was familiar to her for some reason. She felt her stomach churn as it began to fill with the crimson fluid. Once the level of the vat had been drained past the one-gallon mark, Marceline quickly turned the valve and stopped the flow of blood. Her stomach was more than half full and she knew that she still had two more gallons to force down.
Pace yourself, Marcy. She told herself as she hiccupped. Only two more left.
Knowing that the timer would only keep counting down, Marceline groaned and placed her mouth back over the nozzle. With a turn of the valve, the vat bubbled and began to gush more of the iron rich liquid into her mouth. With every passing moment, Marceline could feel her stomach fill. It was becoming painful for her now. She could hear the gears that guided the spikes clicking as they drew ever closer.
Despite all of the dangers and distractions, her mind was still stuck over the taste.
Where have I tasted this before? She asked herself as she downed another mouthful of blood.
It was so familiar. It was rich and sweet. Almost sickeningly so. Suddenly, a dark realization sent horror coursing through her mind and soul. The blood that she was being forced to drink was human blood. But not just any human blood. The blood she was drinking was Finn's.
Crimson surged up from her stomach as she gagged at the terrible revelation. She was drinking Finn's blood, her best friend's blood, the blood that he needed to survive! Blood gushed up through her nose and out of her mouth and splattered on the floor. The pentagram burned brightly as the blood ran into the markings. The timer on the wall leapt forward ten seconds. Like the evil clockwork that it was, the spikes all lurched closer towards Marceline.
"What did you do to Finn?!" she screamed up at the camera. "What did you do to him?!"
With no answer, Marceline quickly looked back at the timer. She now only had twenty seconds to complete this sick game. Her terror-stricken eyes looked back up at the half empty vat of blood that stood before her. There was only one way that she was going to find out what had happened to her friends, and that was to win the game. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she placed her mouth back over the nozzle.
I'm so sorry Finn. She thought dreadfully as she turned the valve.
The warm crimson fluid once again gushed out of the nozzle and down Marceline's throat. She gagged but kept it from rising back up. She cupped her hands under her mouth to keep any from spilling out. After five excruciating seconds, Marceline had managed to drain one more gallon from the vat. Her stomach hurt so badly now. She could feel her stomach stretch past what it was capable of. She lurched as her gag reflex fought against the flow of blood.
Marceline's eyes darted back up to the vat of blood. It was almost empty, and the keys would soon be within reach. Her eyes darted back to the timer. She only had fifteen seconds left. Panicked, Marceline turned the valve as far as it could go and unleashed the full flow from the vat. It was like trying to keep a fire hose stuck in her mouth as a torrent of blood drained down her aching throat. She lurched in pain as her insides strained against the volume of blood that was being forced into her. She felt like she was going to explode. She could feel the tips of the spikes poking against her shoulders. She was running out of time.
With fear widened eyes, Marceline looked up at the vat just as the last ounce of blood emptied out. Marceline gagged as something got stuck in the back of her mouth. It was the key, it had passed through the nozzle with only the chain stopping it from sliding down her throat. Marceline quickly pulled the chain out of her throat by the key chain, trying her best not to vomit. With blood slick hands, Marceline struggled with the tiny key until she finally managed to unlock her shackles. She ran her hands around her collar but couldn't find any lock. She was willing to deal with the collar later.
With only ten seconds to spare, Marceline carefully squeezed past the spiked frames that were only seconds away from shutting on her. She winched in pain as the silver spikes cut against her distended stomach. She clasped her hand tightly over her mouth as she fought back against the blood rising up from her stomach. With a loud snap, the spiked frames locked tightly in place around the spot where Marceline had been standing.
A bright light suddenly cut through the darkness as a door slid open on the wall. A rush of short-lived relief rushed through her veins.
She had done it, she had survived.
She had won.
Nauseated and agonized, Marceline slowly floated towards the exit.
The sound of a door sliding open pulled Princess Bubblegum from her moment of silence.
"Hello, is someone there?" she asked as she gently placed Finn's head on floor.
Through the darkness floated a very bloated and sick Marceline. She was clutching her stomach and clasping her hand tightly over her mouth. She had several puncture wounds on her chest and stomach. Blood had stained the front of her shirt and was running down from her mouth. The moment the door slid shut behind her, Marceline dropped to the floor.
Her body lurched as a torrent of blood erupted out of her mouth. Princess Bubblegum screamed and fell back as she tried to avoid the fast-growing crimson pool on the floor. Marceline heaved again, forcing more blood up from her burning stomach. She felt her ribs crack as her stomach muscles contracted again. The surge of blood eventually subsided with a weak gag as Marceline's body went limp. She was exhausted and in so much pain.
"Marceline, what happened to you?!" Princess Bubblegum asked as she walked around the pool of blood. She gently placed her hands on Marceline's shoulders and rolled her onto her back. Marceline's eyes snapped open and she let out a gasp. Her eyes darted in every direction. The room was so bright, and the stink of blood was still stuck in her nose, disorienting her, and adding to her panicked state.
"He made me…he made me…" Marceline muttered incoherently as her senses slowly returned to her. "He made me do it."
"Do what?" Princess Bubblegum asked softly as she cradled Marceline's head. "What did they make you do?"
Marceline's mouth quivered as tears swelled in her eyes.
"He made me drink it." She whimpered. "He made me drink all of it."
Marceline hissed in pain as her broken ribs settled back into place. Her stomach was still burning, and her body felt weak. A sick feeling rose up in Princess Bubblegum as she looked at the large pool around them. It was easily three gallons worth of blood.
"I'm sorry." Marceline sobbed as she turned her back to Princess Bubblegum. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
Princess Bubblegum shook her head and tried to wipe the blood from Marceline's face.
"You have nothing to be sorry about. This isn't your fault." She said in a soft, comforting voice.
Marceline shook her head vigorously and pushed the princess' hands away. She was so ashamed of herself.
"Finn, I'm sorry." She sobbed. "I'm so sorry Finn. They made me do it..."
Princess Bubblegum felt a chill run through her veins. This blood wasn't just any blood. This blood was Finn's blood. But that was impossible. Humans couldn't hold this much blood in their bodies.
"Marceline, Finn is still alive." Princess Bubblegum stated as she turned the distraught vampire's head towards the opposite side of the room.
Marceline's eyes widened as they fell upon Finn's pale and bloodied form huddled on the floor.
"Finn…is alive?" she asked, confused. "But…I drank so much. How is he alive?"
"Finn is strong, we both know this." Princess Bubblegum stated. "But he has lost too much blood. I've managed to stop the bleeding but-"
Marceline abruptly pushed herself off the floor and floated unsteadily over towards Finn. She collapsed a mere foot away from Finn and started to drag herself over towards him.
"I'm sorry, Finn." She whimpered as she pulled herself up next to him. "They took so much from you."
Princess Bubblegum gasped as Marceline suddenly punched herself hard in the stomach.
"Marcy, what are you doing?!" she exclaimed as she rushed over to stop her.
Ignoring the princess, Marceline punched herself in the stomach again.
"They took so much from him." She repeated almost madly. "So, I'm going to give some back."
Marceline suddenly stuck her finger down her throat. She gagged as the remaining blood in her stomach quickly rose. She then extended her fangs and in a blur of movement sank them deep into Finn's neck.
"Marceline!?" Princess Bubblegum screamed. "What are you doing?!"
Marceline's cheeks bulged as the contents of her stomach emptied out into her mouth. Through the fresh puncture wounds on his neck, Marceline slowly pushed the blood from her mouth into Finn's neck. The blood inside of a vampire's stomach does not rot or decay, it is kept preserved and fresh. What Marceline was doing was equivalent to a blood transfusion.
Princess Bubblegum stood in awe as the color on Finn's cheeks slowly returned. She couldn't believe it. Marceline's plan was working.
After emptying her mouth, Marceline retracted her fangs from Finn's neck. She quickly ran her tongue over the puncture wounds, coating them with an enzyme that coagulated blood. Marceline wiped her mouth and spat out what blood was still in her mouth. She looked over at the still awestruck princess and smiled feebly.
"What, did you think I was going to drain him?" she asked with a smirk.
Exhausted, Marceline propped herself up next to Finn's unconscious body and laid her head back against the wall.
"He's shivering pretty bad." Marceline stated drowsily.
Princess Bubblegum hadn't put much thought towards it, but the room was rather cold.
"We should keep him warm." Princess Bubblegum stated as she walked over to the two of them. "He won't survive if he gets sick."
Princess Bubblegum gently sat herself down on Finn's opposite side and softly pressed herself against him. Marceline smiled and did the same. Slowly, but surely, Finn's shivering lessened.
Marceline held out her hand, which Princess Bubblegum took and held tenderly.
"Do you think anyone is trying to find us?" Princess Bubblegum asked quietly.
Marceline shrugged her shoulders.
"Jake and Lady are probably looking for Finn." She said with a tired yawn. "Peppermint Butler no doubt is looking for you. I have no idea who would be looking for me or Phoebe…"
Unable to keep herself from yawning, Marceline laid her head against Finn's shoulder. Princess Bubblegum yawned, her eyelids felt so heavy.
She knew that it was a bad idea to fall asleep in this waking nightmare, but she was just too exhausted. Finn's warmth was so inviting, and Marceline's presence was so comforting. Princess Bubblegum yawned and laid her head against Finn's shoulder as well.
Just as the three of them had finally gotten as comfortable as the stone walls and floors would allow them, there was a loud click. Out of the walls sprang several sprinklers that immediately began to spray water out into the room. Cold water rained down onto the three prisoner's heads, jolting two of them from their brief slumber. The water gradually washed the massive blood stain off the floor and down the drain in the center of the room. Now shivering themselves, Marceline and Princess Bubblegum clung to Finn for the little warmth that he could provide. Almost as suddenly as they had started, the sprinklers stopped and retreated back into the walls.
Now sopping wet, the prisoners huddled as close together as they could. The message was clear. There was to be no rest, not unless the unseen master of this house of pain allowed it.
"This place sucks." Marceline hissed through her chattering teeth.
Bloody enough?
