Crying.
The tears of a child.
Crying out for someone.
The child is shown crying on the floor.
Then a large shadow appears behind them.
Zander and Jaxson fell onto a wooden floor.
"Ugh, that hurts." Zander said holding his bandaged torso.
Jaxson groaned as he got up.
"Hello?"
The two turned to see a chubby little mouse looking at them, who came through a door.
"Uh, hi there." Jaxson said.
"Who are you two? My daddy never mentioned having visitors." The mouse asked.
"Uh, no?"
"Oh! You must be his helper and his son. Daddy always needs helping hands."
"I guess we are." Zander said.
"Oh goody! But can you help my daddy like that?" The mouse asked pointing to his bandages.
"It's fine. Just a small wound." Zander said as he got up.
"Ok, well I better find my mommy's letter." The moise said as he walked away.
Jaxson then looks at Zander with a deadpanned expression.
"Really? A helper and son?"
"I don't want to scare the kid. Let's just play along." Zander said.
"Fine."
The mouse then came back with a note in his hands.
"Hello. My mommy said that my daddy needs his pills, and I need to find them. Can you help me find them?"
"Ok then. But don't you mean medicine?" Jaxson then asked.
"Pills are used as medicine. I guess that's what he meant." Zander said.
"Exactly. By the way, my name is Keymic."
With that, the three begin to walk down the hallway, where it is revealed to be covered in cobwebs.
"Oh look!" Keymic said as he points to a picture.
The two looked to see a picture of the little mouse riding a steamboat.
"That steamboat trip was a long time ago. It was a happy time!"
"I can tell." Zander said.
They continued down the hallway and went theough a door, where they began to hear someone crying with a deep voice.
"What was that?" Jaxson asked.
"Oh that is daddy. He seems to be hurting a lot."
It was then revealed that they were on the second floor of the house, where they walked towards the stairs.
"Oh go- uhh goodness! What is that smell?!" Zander said as he and Jaxson recoiled by a unknown stench.
"I don't know, but I have to clean them." Keymic said.
"And my "daddy" will help you with cleaning too." Jaxson said with a grin.
Zander rolled his eyes as they made it downstairs, where they see stuffed animals being displayed as trophies, a large picture of a grown dog stepping on a deer he shot with his gun and said gun in display next to it, and piles of unknown muck on the floor and walls.
Then suddenly, a long arm came down from the ceiling that is shrouded in darkness, holding his hand out.
"Mousey. Help poor daddy and bring medicine."
Keymic seems to have no reaction from the hand, but Zander and Jaxson were shocked by the long arm.
"What hell is that?!" Jaxson suddenly yelled out.
That yell caused the crying to stop.
"Mousey. Did you brought in those friends of yours again?" The voice asked in a venomous tone.
"Oh no daddy. This is the helper and his son." Keymic said nervously.
"That is right sir. I am here to help you in any way you need."
"...oh. It's about time. Now then." The voice began to cry again.
"Mousey, help them and find my medicine."
"Ok then. We better start cleaning." Keymic said as he brought out two mops.
"Ok, but what's with the hand?" Zander asked as he grabbed a mop.
"Those are the hands of a man who works hard for his family." Keymic said as he begins to wipe the muck away.
With that, the man and the mouse began to wipe away the muck, while Jaxson just sits at a table and couldn't help staring at the arm who kept its hand out.
"Uh, Keymic. How is this helping find those medicine?" Zander asked.
"It's somewhere around here. We just need to find it." Keymic said as he wash the walls, where he managed to find a med box.
Keymic opens it and took out a bottle of pills, where Zander, who was still cleaning, and Jaxson, who got up, took a closer look at it.
It was filled with painkillers
"Daddy needs these pills to stay unruffled."
Before they could ask, Keymic walked up to the hand and emptys the bottle into its hand.
The hand then retracts back to the ceiling, snd the three heard a munching sound and a sigh of relief.
"I'm going to lie down and you three bring me more. Chop chop."
"Well, we better go to the master bedroom now." Keymic said.
"Why does he needs that much pills?" Jaxson now asked.
"Daddy is hurting a lot, so he needs those pills." Keymic said.
"Is he really in that much pain?"
"...I believe so, but daddy is tough. Because..." Keymic said as he looks up to the large picture.
"Daddy likes spending time in nature."
"Well, we better go to him now." Zander said as he managed to finish cleaning.
"That's the spirit. Daddy would be awfully cross if we don't come." Keymic said.
The two kids went up and Zander follows, but stops to look at the gun, that seems to be a shotgun.
"Oh, don't touch that! Daddy doesn't let anyone touch his exhibits!" Keymic said as he turns around.
"I was just looking." Zander said as he went up the stairs with them.
They walked down a hallway, where Keymic opened the door to the master bedroom, where Zander and Jaxson have finally met "Daddy".
"Daddy" was a grotesque blob of flesh with four arms, with one being the longest out of them, it standing by two weak legs that could give out at any time, and it has a long neck with a head of a dog with no eyes or hair and sharp jagged teeth, slobbering some bile.
The head reeled back and rushed towards them, only to stop a few inches in front of them and screamed.
"BRING ME THE PILLS!"
Zander and Jaxson just stared at the monstrosity, while Keymic nodded and begins to look around.
"What are you staring at?" "Daddy" asked, glaring at the two still staring.
"...this is by far the most terrifying thing I ever seen." Zander said.
"Same." Jaxson replied.
"Well, little bunny boy. Help my son find those pills. The adults needs to talk." The head said in a venomous tone.
"I think you should help him. I'll stay and talk." Zander said, with Jaxson nodding and walking with Keymic, wanting to get away.
"So you are the helper my wife hired. I'm surprised that she hired you. So how much is she paying?" The head asked.
"Uhhh... we are doing this for free. Out of the kindess of our hearts." Zander said, feeling disturbed by the head.
"Daddy" begins to groan as it rubs its head with two of its arms.
"At least she did something useful." "Daddy" groans.
While the two talk, Jaxson and Keymic look for more painkillers.
"Hey, is that really your dad?" Jaxson asked, feeling disgusted by the creature.
"He is, but I get my looks from my mother. That is what she said." Keymic said as he looks for the pills in the drawers.
"But that thing... is a monster." Jaxson admits.
"Maybe you are scared from his shouting. After all, parents shout if the child is irresponsible." Keymic said as he took out a bag of chips from a drawer.
"Here, have some." Keymic offered as he opened the bag.
Jaxson looks at Keymic, then at the bag, and shrugs and begins to eat chips with Keymic.
After having a little snack, they continued to search for the pills, where Jaxson went into a closet where he found a med box in it.
Just as he opened it, where it was revealed to have the pills, he heard "Daddy" yelled.
"BRING ME THE PILLS!"
Jaxson was about to come out, but remember that Zander is still injured.
"Maybe that monster won't notice if I take one." Jaxson thought as he opened it and put one in his pocket.
He then exits the closet, only to be met with the head staring at him.
It opened its mouth and knowing what to do next, Jaxson dumped the pills into it.
"Ahhhhh. Soooo goooood." "Daddy" said in a relaxed tone while it chews the pills.
"Well, I guess that is that. We better be going now." Zander said, wanting to leave now.
But then suddenly, "Daddy"s body began to change.
Its leg gave out as the body fell and crushed them, two of the arms were absorbed in it, and a head was being formed from the body similar to the original one.
"Wait a minute." Daddy said as he chews slowly.
They all went silent for a while, then "Daddy" grabbed Keymic and Jaxson by their pants.
"DID ONE OF YOU TAKE DADDY'S MEDICINE?!" "Daddy" yelled.
"No!" The two said in fear, but Jaxson knew that he was the one who took the pill.
"Hey! They didn't take any pills! You ate two entire bottles of that stuff and look at yourself! I mean, what is wrong if you miss just one pill?!" Zander yelled.
"Daddy" glared at him then at the kids.
"Maybe you're right. But I need my medicine to keep the pain away. So how about this? Find me more. You have ten seconds, or all of you will be punished."
"Wait what?" Zander asked in confusion.
"Ten, nine, eight..."
Not wanting to get on that monster's bad side, Zander searched the room, hoping to find any painkillers.
He doesn't want to know what would "Daddy" do to him or the others if he doesn't find them.
"Seven, six, five, four..."
Zander then remembered something important.
"Three, two, one and a half..."
Zander reached for his pockets, hoping to find them.
"One, ze-"
"Here!" Zander then took out a blue pill that he and Jaxson are familiar with.
"What is that?" "Daddy" asked.
"It's a medicine similar to the one you take, but it's more effective." Zander said, in hopes of persuading the monstrosity.
"Daddy" took a closer look at the blue pill, and without warning dropped the boys.
It then harshly grabbed the pill and dropped it in its mouth, and swallow.
After a minute, "Daddy" groans in relief.
"Ahhhh. That is so much better. Now daddy's going to bed, you all go away. NOW LEAVE AND BUGGER OFF!" Daddy said, before yelling.
With that, the three left the room, where Keymic closed the door as "Daddy" slept.
"I didn't knew you had one of those pills." Jaxson said as they walk down the hallway.
"I kept one just in case. But the last thing I want is to take it." Zander said.
"Why is that?" Keymic asked puzzled.
"It's a long story."
"Oh. Well, since daddy's going to bed, I'll be find on my own. So I'll lead you out." Keymic said.
Keymic lead the two back downstairs, where they (minus Jaxson) cleaned up, where Keymic opened a door revealing another hallway that leads to a door.
"Just go through the door, and you can go home." Keymic said.
"Ok then. Thank you Keymic." Zander said as he went through, with Jaxson following.
"Oh, Keymic. I think you should do something about the way you are living, since your daddy is so sick." Jaxson said as he closed the door.
Keymic just stood there, and begins to think what the rabbit said.
"Daddy is always in pain. Maybe I can relieve him of it, just like he showed me when he took me to one of his trips to nature."
He then turns to see the gun that his daddy never lets anyone use.
He went up to it, takes it down, and loads it.
He then went back upstairs to help relieve his daddy's pain once and for all.
Outside of the house, the duo saw that they are in a ruined town, where there isn't any life in sight.
"Well this is a downer. But it's better than back there." Zander said.
"Yeah, also..." Jaxson said as he took out the painkiller he had and handing it to Zander.
"Huh, I guess that... whatever that thing was is right. But still, thanks Jaxson. My side is killing me." Zander said as he took the pill and swallows it.
Then the duo begins to walk in one direction, and kept walking.
They honestly don't know where to go next, but it is better than having to stay in that house.
After a while, they stopped at a abandoned gas station where they search and found some snacks that aren't expired.
"Hm... expires June 7th, 2040? Time really does fly." Zander said as he tossed a chocolate bar to Jaxson.
"Yeah, to be honest. I don't really pay attention to the day. Just only know when it's day or night." Jaxson said as he ate the chocolate bar he caught.
"Same with me, but it is hard to tell if time really pass by." Zander replied back as he ate some chips.
"What do you mean by that?" Jaxson asked.
"It's... nevermind. It's too complicated to say." Zander said, not wanting to continue on.
Before Jaxson could push it further, they heard the roaring of an engine.
They went out to see a sleek black car with two large circles on top of it, resembling ears.
It stopped next to the gas station, where the driver came out of it.
He was a large yet elderly mouse man, with a gray besrd, red suspender with a blue shirt, and it seems he had seen better days with the scars on him.
"You got any gas?" The mouse man asked.
"Uh... we don't know. We just got here." Zander said.
The mouse man grunts as he went to one of the pumps with a gas canister in hand.
As he fills up the canister, he turned to the duo.
"Where you heading?" The mouse man asked.
"Honestly don't know. We were just resting after having to deal with-"
"Daddy?"
The two were a bit shooked by who the mouse was referring to.
"I've met him once, before he became that thing you must've saw, during a hunting trip." The mouse man said.
"He wasn't like that. Hell, this world wasn't like this before. But that won't stop me from completing my goal."
"And that is?" Jaxson asked.
"Finding the one who stole my life."
"...well, good luck on that." Zander said as the two began to walk away.
"Wait!"
The two stopped and turn to the mouse man, who finished filling up his canister.
"The place where I am going is fortified and they won't let me in without a reason! But you can help me!"
"How And why should we do that?" Jaxson asked.
"Because the one I'm hunting for has men everywhere. So there is a chance they will find you and do god knows what you. If you come with me, they can let me in, thinking I convince them I am taking you to be "coverted". But I will protect you from them. I promise you that."
The two look at the mouse man, then at each other.
"One second."
The two then turned with Zander kneeling down to whisper.
"Should we trust this old man? I mean, we can just jack his ride and leave him." Jaxson said with a grin on his face.
"Maybe, but what if what he said is true. Last thing I want is for us to be hunted." Zander said concerned.
"You do have a point."
"Not only that, but I doubt we can survive out here. I mean, we got lucky finding this place."
"Yeah. Fine. Let's go with the old guy. But if he does something, I'll blame you."
The mouse man drove through the wastelands, with his mind set on one goal.
To find the one who stole his life.
Zander was on the passenger seat, while Jaxson is in the back.
As they drove, the two looked out to see the ruins of many cities they passed.
It's been a few hours since they left the gas station, and the mouse man seems to be on edge, while Jaxson is sleeping the back and Zander is in the front.
"So, what happened here?" Zander asked, wanting to break the ice.
"...a mistake happened, and we didn't stop it."
"Can you be more specific?" Zander asked, earning a glare from the mouse.
"Sorry." Zander apologies, feeling a bit unease.
"No, I'm sorry. I don't know where you two came from, but it must've been better than you."
"I'm not sure about that." Zander said .
"I an sure about it. Because it all started with the greed of two men in charge. They first gotten their company, Disney, the rights to many studios, and before we knew it, they own the rights to owning right. Then they manage to convince an all powerful deity to sign their rights and power to them. When that is done, the power was given to their mascot, Mickey. He then became this almighty god thst converted everything to worship their mascot."
The two just stared at the mouse, thinking he is nuts because the story seems too fake.
"I know it sounds ridiculous, but it is true. Not only that, but I have someone on the inside saying that Mickey is becoming more vulnerable each day. So I need to get in their base to put a stop to this nightmare."
"And this Mickey is the guy who stole your life?" Zander asked.
"Yes. Believe it or not, I didn't chose to look like a giant rat." The mouse man said as he took out a picture of female mouse with a bow on top of her head.
"And neither did my wife. We had no choice and tried our best to live our life the best we can. But then Mickey's worshippers came to our home, asking to join them. We said no, and they left. But then our home was set ablazed. I survived, but she..."
The mouse then had tears in his eyes as he puts the photo down and continue to drive.
"I immediately knew who did this. And from that day, I decided that I won't stop until Mickey perish for what he did to all of us."
Zander just sat there, shocked.
He may have seen The Darkness corrupting everything in sight, but he forgot that moments like this exists.
They knew that it wasn't The Darkness he and Jaxson has to be careful of.
It was the people being driven mad by other forces.
"Damn. I am so sorry man." Zander said, in a way to comfort him.
"I know. I'm sorry for letting it all out, especially to a child. The mouse man said.
"It's fine, I guess. I'm sorry for you too." Zander said as he felt unsure of what just happened.
The mouse man didn't say anything as he continued to drive.
After a day on the road, eating whatever the mouse had, the group finally made it to the destination.
It was a large white castle, with a tower behind it having a mouse symbol on top of it.
As they left the car, they walk towards the castle, where Zander and Jaxson saw a statue of a man holding hands with a smaller mouse.
Then suddenly, a young man in robes wearing a mouse hat came up to the group.
"I see that it is you Mickey #273." The young man said.
He then looks over to see Zander and Jaxson.
"And who are these two? No, more importantly, why are all of you here?"
The mouse man bows his head.
"I came here to redeem myself. When I lost my wife, I took a personal journey and found my way again. I'll serve for Disney. And I'll do it by guiding these lost souls to Mickey."
The young man is confused, where he turned and ran back inside.
"Mickey #273?" Jaxson asked.
"My name was replaced and forgotten when I became this." The mouse man said, just as an elderly man wearing the same robes and mouse hat, but red, came out with the young man.
"So, from what I hear, you want to redeem yourself?" The elderly man asked.
"Yes father."
"...then have a magical day." The elderly man said as he took out a pendant and tapped it on the mouse's head.
"May Mickey be merciful to you."
"Then may we see him?" Zander asked, getting the stares from the two believers.
"I see that you are eager. But you can not. Mickey must not be disturbed. Now come."
The group entered the castle, where they saw multiple people, some like the mouse man who looks like cartoon characters, kneeling as they pray to a stained glass of the same mouse from the statue.
"I appreciate that you finally came to your senses, but you need to prove your worth. Go to the cellar, and make sure that the items are all accounted for. As for these two, my child will deal with them."
With that, the group split into two.
"What's in the cellar?" Zander asked.
"Some unusal books some of our people found. They have weird titles like Holy Bible and Natural Law."
"Aren't they important?" Zander asked, now confused by what the young man said.
"If Father says that they are nothing, then they are-"
Then without warning, the mouse man came up and knocked the young man out with one punch.
"What the hell?!" Jaxson yelled out.
"We have one chance. Lets go." The mouse man said as he walks away.
Not wanting to stay, the two followed him.
As they walk, they came across an old door, where when it was opened to reveal a long path of stairs.
As they descend, the duo began to talk.
"Are we literally going to fight a god?" Jaxson asked.
"Don't know, but let's hope not." Zander said.
Then suddenly, scratching noises were being made, coming from around.
The duo were nervous, but the mouse man doesn't mind it.
As they made it to the bottom, they saw a large doors that were wide open.
The three went through the doors, where thet saw a large throne with a mouse shaking in nervousness, being on edge.
"Mickey." The mouse man said in a angered tone.
"I can hear them. Scratching in the walls. My mind. My sanity." Mickey said, in a nervous tone.
"Is that him?" Jaxson asked confused.
"God I'm hungry." Mickey said, not noticing the three.
"It is him. Look at him. He's becoming weak. Now is the chance for me to do what is necessary."
The scratching noises came back again, causing Mickey to become more agitated.
"God fucking damn it!"
Then suddenly, Mickey became calm and stared at the two.
"The Lord is coming for you Zander. He will not stop until he gets you."
The mouse man and Jaxson turns to stare at Zander, who was shocked by the fact that Mickey knew his name.
Then out of nowhere, Mickey was holding a trident, ready to pierce Zander's chest.
"Jesus Christ!" Zander yelled as he delivered a kick to Mickey's chest.
The scratching noises came back, causing Mickey to look around, before turning towards nothing.
"How many are there now?! How many have you hidden from me Minnie?!" Mickey yelled at nothing.
Mickey then used the trident to hit one side of a wall, causing it to crack.
"I can do what I want! I have taken everything my eyes laid on. THEN WHY CAN I NOT TAKE YOU?! HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOU?!"
Mickey kept hitting the wall, until the cracks became large.
Then in a flash, the wall burst open, where The Darkness came flooding out of it, drowning Mickey in it.
Without wasting a moment, Zander and Jaxson ran back up the stairs.
As they look back, they saw Mickey came back up screaming fanatically as the mouse man ran towards him, grabbing him by the neck, and pushing him back down to The Darkness, like he was drowning him.
He finally complete his vengeance.
Zander and Jaxson were on a hill, watching the castle becoming consumed by The Darkness.
They just stared, trying to recover from what had happened.
"Hey Zander."
"Yeah Jaxson.
"What Mickey said. About the lord guy. Do you think he was here before with that robed guy?"
"Maybe. Though, I don't know if he really is searching for me."
"Yeah."
The two just stayed quiet for a while.
"Where do we go next?" Jaxson asked.
"To be honest. Somewhere far. Far from all of this. Whatever this lord guy is, he is someone we need to stay away."
It was then revealed that the two were sitting on the mouse man's car, which unfortunately ran out of gas.
"Agreed. Though I wish that mouse bastard has more gas in his car." Jaxson asked.
"He probably knew that this was a one way trip. Hut at least he parked here." Zander said.
"Yeah."
The two watched as The Darkness finally consumed the castle and sank down to the ground.
It was getting late, and the stars were coming out.
"Wow, never seen this much stars at home."
"Me too."
"Lying little piglets!"
The two turned to see that "Daddy" was behind them.
It became smaller than what he orignally was, having two working legs and arms, but it is still grotesquely ugly.
Its teeth are as sharp as knives, with its gaze being one of anger, as it glares at them while holding a belt.
But the most noticable was the bullet hole on its head.
"How did your fatass found us?" Jaxson yelled out.
"I can smell your scent for miles. But I know that you were lying about everything. Even had that fat piglet try to use my exhibit! But I punished him fairly." "Daddy" said as it held up the belt, revealing that it has blood on it.
The two were horrifed by what this monster did, but they don't have anywhere else to run.
"Now... I... will..."
But before "Daddy" did anything, it fell to the ground dead.
"Daddy" must've been running on fumes to get to the two, but it's injury finally got to him.
"S-should we go now?"
"Yes."
After that horrifying encounter, the two began to walk away from the scene.
After awhile, possibly an hour or two, they made it back to the gas station where they decided to sleep for the night.
With that, the two slept outside, where the temperature was jusr right enough to sleep in.
But as they sleep, the ground suddenly open, becoming a hole.
In a cartoonish way, the two stayed in the air for a while before falling down.
Where they are heading next, it will make them witnesses to another fall.
End of Chapter 6.
References made in this chapter:
Bad Cheese made by Simon Lukasik and published by Feardemic, Mickey Apocalypse: The Fallen Idol by Ethereal Snake, Disney Owns All by Cory Clayton, and POV your life is over by Flashgitz.
I do not own any of these works, they are created by the ones I have mentioned. Check them out to see the real deal.
