"I haven't felt this way in so long," Dani whispered to her friend Tara.
"I mean, Blue is very good-looking! I'd say go for it—who cares if it's just a quick romance?" Tara whispered back, giggling.
The two women had met on the road, Tara part of a traveling commune, with Dani tagging along at some point. They had grown close over time, bonded by their shared history of traumatic relationships and their desire to break free. Dani had confessed early on that she was trying to escape her current marriage, fleeing all the way from California. Tara assured her that she was safe now. Dani was finally free.
Shmee heard their whispers and took mental notes on everything. Even though they were on the other side of the trailer, outside while he and his companions sat around the campfire with the other travelers, Shmee's sharp senses picked up every word. He knew he was close to breaking into Dani's mind. The whole day had been spent carefully weaving his way into her trust—playing the role of the charming stranger, offering playful wit, complimenting her on the smallest things without overstepping. Trying to telepathically tell the others to shut the fuck up about their protests when running around the town to go to the parks, going to Dani's favorite bakery, helping the humans pitch up their tents, etc. All to make sure to seem genuine.
"How long until we can leave? I'm not spending night two with these vagrants. One night was enough," Dboy grumbled to Eff.
Eff sighed, slightly annoyed but understanding Dboy's frustration. They were close to whatever was calling them in Maine, but Eff couldn't help wanting to see the outcome of Shmee's little experiment.
"Well, Blue boy," Eff whispered back, leaning in as they sat by the campfire with the other drifters, "I'm going to wait and see. I'd tell you to go off on one of your sulking walks, but last time you did that in a human encampment, that demon witch tried to kill you. Speaking of, say—" Eff paused, realizing he never got a clear answer from Dboy about that encounter. "What was that about?"
"I'm not 100% sure what she was. But I remember her name—Zaira. I've been thinking about it, and I'm certain she's connected to whatever's waiting for us in Maine. But who the fuck knows," Dboy said, rubbing his tired eyes. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had a full night's rest. He'd been resisting the physical need for sleep, a tease of a concept that now seemed almost bitter to him.
"Psst, hey, I think "Blue" is making some progress," Reverend whispered as he sat down beside the two doughboys. He quickly tapped into their minds before continuing. "But it's something you're not going to like. Shmee was talking to me in my head, and it's happening right now."
Eff perked up at the news. "What's not to like if it's working? If it's happening right now, let's check it out!"
The voice of mania quickly stood up when Reverend just as quickly put a hand on his shoulder to sit him back down.
"Not yet you wretch! It's something I'm afraid won't appease you. Something I don't think Nny ever instilled something of this in either of you."
Dboy and Eff exchanged curious glances, their eyes narrowing. Dboy scowled. "You all been tiptoeing around this for too long. Just what are you two up to that Eff and I haven't been instilled with?"
Reverend began to slowly form a smile. His white cold eyes looked back at Dboy, which he could admit can be intimidating at times. Chuckling softly revend began to sit up straight before patting both men on the backs.
"Ok, but you're not going to like it. It's easier if I show you." He then showed the vision of what Shmee shared with him in the past hour before disconnecting telepathic ties.
Both Eff and Dboy saw themselves inside Danis's van. She was sitting in the back of her bed naked with Shmee - or in this case - the man she called Blue. Dboy wanted an immediate out while Eff remained intrigued. "No backing out yet hahaha" Dboy could hear Reverend say to him while watching what he could understand the worst of the worst about slowly becoming human was happening in front of him. The grotesque pleasure of the flesh.
"Just what the hell does this have to do with overtaking a host? She's not even a host!" Dboy hissed telepathically back at Reverend.
Eff nudged Dboy," Maybe let's pay attention as it could be different?"
"Blue" traced his fingers along Dani's back as he kissed her softly but with a domineering passion. He knew he had to dance out human desire carefully as he knew she would clam up at any slight disturbance. Shmee could see the cracks of light in her had been shaken up by the man she was running away from. She was primed to be easily overtaken. He just knew he had to play his part delicately. Blue had to overtake Dani for Shmee to slowly drain her life force. What he had done to Todd for many years in order to become real. Only this time it wasn't his natal vessel and a stranger. Things had to be done differently.
Shmee knew this wasn't his primary way to soak up trauma, he was created in Todd's head so his purpose was rightfully inherited by him. Shmee just realized now this could be the easiest way in back into another's head. He then thought of the nurse Cassie and all the swimming thoughts & desires she had that Shmee could never take advantage of. How she was so lonely.
Before he knew it, Blue was already inside of Dani. Perhaps this was going to be too easy. He looked into the eyes of the woman under him. How it told him so much yet she had no idea how she was now letting in a voice of trauma? No, no she wanted to be healed she needed something like Shmee to block it out. To sponge it up. How much of a "helpful" tool Shmee could be for her? But he knew, he was getting everything in return. Piece by piece her soul away from her, to him.
"Blue..." Dani breathed into his ear as he held her body close to his.
"It's ok Dani, I'm here keep me here please..." Shmee had to hold back laughing. Was he really that worried that it wouldn't work? He could see her light getting brighter before remembering to break contact with Reverend. He had to make double sure this would be a success.
The doughboys snapped back into their bodies, away from the vision Reverend had shown them. Dboy felt his stomach was trying to launch out of his mouth as he kneeled forward, clutching the ground. Eff stood up shakily and staggered away, his face pale. Neither of them ever wanted to experience what they had just witnessed again.
"What's the matter with you?" Sickness asked, noticing Eff's ashen complexion as he walked past her, shaking his head. She rolled her eyes, deciding it best to be her own company, and walked past the group of voices and went ahead into the woods. Sickness had been doing her best to avoid small talk from the humans, especially from Dani's friend Tara or anyone else in the camp. The insinuation that they all thought she was a battered woman still clung to her like a lingering stench.
"Want the night to be over with already, huh?" a woman's voice called from a nearby tree. Sickness turned to see a slender woman with piercing green eyes, her black hair peeking out from under a headscarf. Unease prickled up Sickness's spine—something about this woman didn't sit right with her.
Crossing her arms, Sickness scoffed, "Are you gonna try to get me to tell you some sob story too? What's up with you people wanting to butt into others' lives?"
The woman chuckled softly. "I'm not like the rest. I promise. And you're not either—that, I promise."
Sickness shot her a sideways glance. "And just who are you to me?"
The woman shrugged, giving a small, knowing smile. "I just happen to know your beautiful Creator better than you."
Sickness froze, her mind reeling. In an instant, the woman disrobed, revealing a nightmarish form: tentacles erupted from her neck, and black smoke screeched as it plumed around her. Sickness stumbled backward, terror gripping her as she realized that this thing was just like the Monster Behind the Walls.
"Don't make Father wait, girl," the creature growled. In a split second, a tendril whipped around Sickness's legs and began dragging her into the woods.
Panicking, Sickness reached out telepathically to Reverend, Shmee, Eff, and Dboy as she was pulled further into the darkness.
"HELP ME! I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK!"
