Content Warning: Foul Language and Body Horror
Sludge ran through the halls, his heart racing as if it were trying to force its way out of his chest. Echoes of mechanical clicking surrounded him, and he couldn't shake the thought of knives from his head - but there was no way he was stopping now, not with the last few Soul Shards at hand.
He peeked over his screen and saw some of the shards lying on the floor. He dived down and swooped them up - then froze when he heard motorized footsteps coming down the hall.
He crouched down and squished himself up against the wall as much as he could as a monkey staggered into the transept. By some miracle, it didn't notice him and tottered off in the other direction.
When its footsteps faded away, Sludge ran down to the end of the hall and turned into another, then caught sight of something resplendent and purple. The last Soul Shard.
He immediately started running towards them and dropping to the floor, the carpet scorching his stomach as he wrapped his hands around the shard.
As the crystal in his hand faded away, he stayed still for a moment, meditating on the sense of completion that washed over him.
Finally, he was done.
"Wait – OH GOD! The ring piece!" He shouted as he remembered what he was here for, immediately getting up and running to the lobby.
Mortimer struggled to run down the hall to the lobby, almost out of breath and lightheaded due to the blood loss. He looked at his tablet, and at the zero at the top, which gave him enough motivation to keep on going. After all, he had all the shards, and he wasn't letting anything stop him now.
He looked up to see the altar before him; he relaxed and slowed down upon seeing it but immediately froze up as he heard someone else's footsteps coming up another hall. Assuming it was another monkey, he quickly began to pick up the pace. Pain shot up his leg with each step, but he ignored his suffering as the altar got closer and closer.
As he entered the lobby, he saw the last person he ever wanted to see running in from another hall - Sludge, who gave him an angry look in reply to his face of shock.
They quickly looked away from each other and barreled towards the altar. Mortimer pushed Sludge onto the floor and out of his way as he leapt towards the altar, clutching the piece and tearing it from its hands.
Time seemed to slow down to a stop as he admired the glittering violet stone in his hand. For the first time in a long while, he felt at peace.
Run!
His trance was broken by the screeches of many monkeys as they poured through the hall entrances in swarms. Immediately, he ran for the elevator, - Sludge followed after - sliding in at the last second.
Inside, Sludge began furiously pushing the down button while the monkey's cries grew louder.
"Come ON go DOWN fuck you fuck fuck I need to go DOWN I need to go down NOW I'm going to DIE" He cursed before the elevator doors closed and they began to descend.
Sludge took a quick breath, then noticed Mortimer curled up in a corner, a red stain on his lower pant leg.
"Ohhhhhh, you're not lasting another second out there..." He said without a sliver of empathy. "Gimme the soul shard so that when you die I be the one to return it to Bierce."
Mortimer said nothing but pulled the piece closer to his chest.
"...Really?" Sludge stared at him in mild shock. "Really, that's how you're gonna act? Selfish bitch."
"Hypocrite."
"Well then." Sludge shrugged before grabbing Mortimer's wrists and tried to pry the shard from his hands.
Mortimer squeaked as he stood up and raised his arm, putting the shard as far out of reach as he could. Sludge hung on, clambering up his body like a rabid squirrel.
"ARRGGHHH!" Mortimer screeched. "Get OFF, get OFF, you fucking ANIMAL!"
The two fought with each other for the entire trip down, not noticing that the door had opened – but were very aware when a loud thud hit the roof above them.
Immediately, Sludge let go and ran out of the elevator, Mortimer staggering and stumbling behind, as a sea of monkeys fell down the shaft and flooded the hall.
Sludge looked up and noticed a portal that looked similar to the one he entered at the end of the hall. Good. He had a goal.
The sounds of the monkey's knives swinging and the closely approaching portal encouraged him to keep running. He reached for it, then noticed Mortimer standing and appearing washed out.
"Dude," Sludge tried to negotiate. "Give me the piece. You're gonna keel any minute, it's not worth it."
Mortimer panted before looking him dead in the eye, yelling "NO!" and pushing him into the portal.
As Sludge's screams faded away, Mortimer just stared, wallowing in his stupidity. "Shit... huh... should've thrown him to the monkeys." He said before the screeches behind him grew frighteningly loud, which triggered him into diving into the portal.
Seconds later, Mortimer fell onto the ballroom floor. Sludge stood beside him, arms folded and only saying, "Good, the Ring Piece is safe."
"Ah! You're back!"
The two looked up to see Bierce smiling at them, "Honestly, I thought at least one of you would've died there."
"He nearly did." Sludge pointed at Mortimer, whose immediately tore off his bandage to check where he was hurt - only to see that the cut had completely healed, leaving only a faint scar.
Bierce just laughed at Sludge's comment before resuming her chilling demeanor. "Mortimer, please hand over the ring piece."
Mortimer reluctantly put his arm out and unfurled his hand, revealing the piece. Bierce smiled as she took it from him, then gestured towards the statue in the centre.
"Mortimer, Sludge, please touch the alter."
Mortimer and Sludge slowly reached out to the altar – but seconds before they touched it, they heard Bierce shout: "I recommend holding your breath while this happens - it lowers the chances of your organs exploding!"
"What-" The two of them said in unison before Mortimer went numb.
He felt no pain, but Mortimer still suffered deeply. He could feel his brain liquifying and his body unraveling bit by bit. He wanted to scream but he physically couldn't – his mouth and throat were sealed shut. With each agonising second that passed, he felt he was getting closer to collapsing into a bloody pile on the ground.
But then, as suddenly as it begun, the feeling stopped.
"Wha-" Mortimer gasped for air as he felt his body, surprised to see it was still in one piece. In fact, he was no different than before - save for a weird feeling radiating from inside him. Breathing heavily, he turned to Bierce, who only said "Well, that's over with. Eight pieces left - let's move on."
Mortimer stared at her aghast before shouting at her: "WHAT?! I've just come back from some kind of horror hotel full of – of – m - m – murder monkeys where I nearly bled to death and ruined my favourite jacket, and then I finally come back to safety only for you to attempt to tear me apart, and you think I'm going into another nightmare? No FUCKING way, you WITCH!"
Bierce didn't react but instead turned to Sludge – who looked a little dazed and terrified – and shouted "Hey kid! This guy's quitting, so that second chance is yours now-"
Mortimer's eyes widened in horror. "NO! NO NO NO- I mean, th-that was a joke - I'm not quitting - I'm not! Please, please let me continue this quest..."
Bierce turned back to him, laughing. "Oh Morty, of course you'll be continuing." Her face twisted into a more sinister look as her voice grew more threatening. "You have no choice."
Mortimer swallowed his saliva with a nervous gulp.
Bierce returned to her chilling smile and fixed her gaze onto the next gray ring from the monkey portal. Just like last time, it spun around, turning red in the process, and an image dropped into the centre – this time it was the face of what appeared to be a young girl with scruffy pigtails and empty eyes.
"Your next challenge awaits." Bierce said, gesturing towards the portal.
As soon as she said this, Sludge shoved Mortimer back and ran into the portal.
Mortimer stumbled back a bit before stabilising himself and running into the portal after him.
A/N: Kit here! Finally finished this chapter
Really like this one (SO many fave scenes) - and hopefully I'll be posting some bigger, more important stuff soon!
Fun fact: The altar scene was inspired by True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: National Anthem! Also, Sludge was originally going to die in this or the previous chapter - buuuuuuut I've decided to keep him alive. For now...
Also, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - I have AO3! (Same username as here) I'll be posting fic there as well as here - as well as some exclusive stuff! See ya there!