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realmackross · 8 months

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PARTIES: @ignxta, @realmackross TIMING: The night of September 8th. SUMMARY: Chai comes over for a two person pity party with Mackenzie that leads to a trip to the Serpent Flats where things don't go quite as planned...Hang on kids, you're in for a wild ride. WARNINGS: Substance abuse tw (has heavy mentions of alcohol throughout), mental health tw, murder mention tw, unsanitary tw (just in case)

The sleepover had been a literal nightmare. Unfortunately, Mackenzie couldn’t really remember what happened, since she was the one creating all of the chaos. But when she had come back around, she knew that something really bad had taken place. Now was damage control time. What did people know and not know? What were they going to say outside of the sleepover? Would the media find out? Her mind raced with all kinds of thoughts filled with the worst of the what ifs that eventually led to the woman needing a break from it all. A distraction. Reckless or not at this point, she didn’t care. She just needed to make the thoughts stop.

“Dippin’ Dots and alcohol.”

Sending Chai a text, Mackenzie invited him over to finish off the treat he had brought to the sleepover. Of course by the time she had sent the text, she was already half a bottle down on vodka and ten cups in on the Dippin’ Dots she couldn’t even taste. But at this point it didn’t matter. She couldn’t promise there would be any left when he got there, but she’d surely try. The alcohol, on another hand, was a different story.

—

Chaisai was…confused. That was the easiest way to word how he was feeling. The events of the party were clearly some kind of trick, maybe this was the way the Allgoods hazed their new members? It didn’t have to make sense to him. But maybe he had overreacted a bit–or underreacted, it was still foggy on what kind of decision this had been–and touched the Abnormal Crystal and now he was experiencing some new side effects that hadn’t been present before. The Abnormality, or something encased within it, seemed to want control over his body. He didn’t mind that much. Mostly it felt like it wanted him to keep going to Bleak Point, which was easier said than done. But perhaps he could bring company. So when Mack had asked him to come over for Dippin’ Dots and alcohol, who was he to deny her?

His car rumbled up to her Barbie Nightmare House for the second time and Chai awkwardly swung his body out of his car and headed up to her door. Getting his movements right when he was fighting for the controls led to his gait being slightly stiff. He felt a little robotic, a little like a…maybe zombie was not the right descriptor here, if Mack wanted to give him that story. Chaisai stood at her doorstep for a moment, considering just walking in, before he shot Mack a quick text that only said here.

—

Mackenzie heard her phone go off with the notification from her doorbell camera and the text that Chai had sent. She could already feel the tiniest of buzzes, but still not enough to do any real damage. She would soon fix that though, especially now that she had someone to party with.

With the bottle in her hand, she made her way to the front door to let her new friend in. Of course, she wasn’t entirely sure if they were friends after the events at the sleepover. All she knew was that he was giving her the time of day, and if it meant she had someone to get drunk with and eat ice cream with, that was okay. Plus, he had said something about her touching his rock, and it having magical powers. Just like everything else in Wicked’s Rest, it had sounded ridiculous, but what else did she have to lose? Besides, it’s not like it could probably really do anything to her. Mack was a zombie and it was a rock, “Hey Chai. So glad you could make it to my pity party of one. Your Dippin’ Dots are in the freezer and there’s alcohol on the counter, but I call dibs on the three bottles of vodka.”

—

Chaisai smiled when the door swung open. “Hi, Barbie. It’s good to see you looking so full of life. So vivacious today.” He wasn’t joking. She did look better than the last time he’d seen her. The contacts were gone, her head was back in its correct position, and really, what more could he ask? “Hey, a pity party is still a party.” He squinted at Mack at the comment about the vodka and his eyes scanned her with scrutiny. “You can handle three bottles?” he asked, his disbelief evident in his tone. Probably some kind of wicked celebrity party thing, he figured.

Still, he needed no second prompt before he was brushing past Mack and headed to the kitchen. His movements still felt unnatural, but he hoped he looked normal. Something about touching the Crystal had changed him, but he couldn’t figure out what exactly was happening or why. Reaching for a bottle, his hand jerked, nearly sending the bottle crashing to the ground. He managed to snatch it before disaster, and exhaled with a laugh. “Knock yourself out with the vodka,” he said as he began to pour his own glass. “I don’t think I’ll need three bottles.”

—

Full of life? Mack was surprised to hear that, but she’d take the compliment. It was better than feeling dead on the inside and out, “Thanks, Ken. And you are right about that. I’ve even got My Chemical Romance playing in the background.” She stepped back from the door so he could come in, “I could probably handle a lot more, but we’ll start with three.” She hadn’t tried drinking herself into oblivion yet, but tonight they would possibly find out. Like licking a Tootsie Roll Pop, except how many drinks does it take for a zombie to get wasted.

Mackenzie shut the door behind him and followed along as he went to the kitchen, only to see disaster averted, “Damn. Sharp reflexes. Good job, Ken. If only you could have caught me like that the other night.” She had wondered if he still didn’t believe what she was, but shook that thought when she went to grab more Dippin’ Dots and another unopened bottle, “So what’s the plan? Eat, drink, and be merry or was there something else you wanted to do? Anything but mattress surfing.” She didn’t want round three, especially if it involved Chai with some fava beans and a nice chianti, which she had downstairs with the rest of the wine.

—

“I don’t see how you could handle three by yourself–that’s, what, 80 proof?–but sure, I’d like to see you try,” Chaisai had already resigned himself to taking care of Mack tonight, should the pity party take a turn for the worse. It’s what he would hope a friend would do for him, and he figured Mack was as close to a friend as he had right now, despite the whole sleepover thing.

The mention of the sleepover made Chaisai purse his lips. “How could I have caught you?” he asked carefully. “I think you would’ve broke my bones. Besides, you’re okay now, right?” He turned to look at her, confusion written across his face. “I mean, you look okay now…” He let himself trail off. Maybe she’d finally explain what that whole thing was about. Or maybe she’d just keep up the story about zombies. “The plan? I guess we can clean up some of these Dippin’ Dots. Definitely drink. No mattress surfing, but did you still want to go to Serpent’s Flat? I could get us a Lyft.” He took a sip of his drink, quietly watching Mack’s face for any reaction.

—

Mackenzie wasn’t being very discreet in holding her alcohol, but she knew Chai had been there. If he found out again, what was the worst that could happen? It would just prove that she was never lying to him. Plus, if they wanted to have fun, it was going to take copious amounts. It’s not like alcohol poison was a thing for her anymore. She had easily started to learn that after coming to Wicked’s Rest, “Challenge accepted.”

Walking over to the counter, she pulled out one of the chairs and sat down, her fresh bottle and Dippin’ Dots placed in front of her and ready for consumption, “It was more of a joke, but yeah, you’re right. I probably would have crushed you.” She looked down for a minute, her mind flashing back to the sound of her neck cracking for the second time in her undead life. There was no doubt that Mackenzie probably had PTSD from all she had seen and done, but she was an actress, and she had a part to play, even if it was only to help her make it through another long day of being dead.

Mack let her eyes move back up to meet his, “That sounds pretty solid. And yeah, I do. I’m still intrigued by the fact that a rock can apparently make weird things happen. So yeah. Let’s eat, drink, and be merry, and then you can show me what the big deal is about your rock.” She opened her new cup of Dippin’ Dots which looked almost like Dippin’ Sauce and decided to just pour the thick, creamy liquid back like a shot.

—

Making a note to locate ibuprofen or something later, Chaisai briefly wondered if they would even make it to the Abnormality. Something inside him twisted impatiently at the thought, and he resigned himself to making the trip happen before Mack could finish the challenge of three bottles. He went into the freezer and grabbed a cup of Dippin’ Dots for himself–Ultimate Brownie Batter, the clear winner of the available flavors–and went to sit beside Mack.

“Look,” he started, noticing how poorly his response had landed. “If I could be your knight in shining armor the other night, I sure would have, but I don’t think anyone was expecting that. Least of all your lamp.” He gestured vaguely to the end table where a lamp should reside, hoping to lighten the mood at least a little. Maybe Mack was just a really good actor, or maybe things were more complicated than they seemed. She looked to be taking this harder than he’d expect for a prank, unless it was because it had really blown up in her face. The little stunt did end the sleepover early, after all.

A shiver of elation mixed with indignance ran up Chaisai’s spine at Mack’s words. On one hand, he was glad that she’d acquiesced to his plan, and the words your rock felt like a badge of pride. But something deeper inside him scoffed at how she could doubt the power of the Abnormality. Chaisai tried to keep his face a perfect, placid mask and he nodded. “Don’t cast your doubts just yet,” he chided with a smile. “The Abnormality is not just any rock. It’s so much more than that.”

—

Mackenzie swallowed the Dippin’ Dots soup and sat the cup back down on the counter, “Honestly, I didn’t expect it either. Not to be pushed over a railing by a mattress.” She could tell that Chaisai was still in denial, but it was fine. To each their own. Besides, she was just glad someone wanted to spend time with her after everything that had happened. But what was it about the lamp? She still wasn’t sure. Winter had mentioned something about it after everyone had left, but it meant nothing. Glancing over, she noticed the table was bare and needed something. Maybe she’d go shopping online or try to find something in town, “Speaking of, what’s the deal about the lamp anyways? I knew it got knocked off the table, but it seems like you’re not the only person who’s made a big deal out of it. It’s just a lamp…” She turned her attention back to Chai.

While she waited for his answer, Mackenzie unscrewed the cap on the vodka, and took a long slow drink barely feeling the burn as it slipped down her throat. When she was satisfied, she sat the bottle back down, “Well, whenever you’re ready, to take me to the, what’d you call it? Abnormality? I’m ready. I’ve never, in my life, wanted to touch someone’s rock as much as yours so lead the way.” If they were Ubering, the vodka was coming with her. She needed the buzz, because honestly, going to see some flat piece of land that was supposed to be magical sounded like something out of a movie she once auditioned for a very, very, very long time ago.

—

“Yeah, I’d expect to be pushed over a railing by a close friend who is secretly an enemy or enemies to lovers to enemies, maybe. But no one ever suspects the mattress,” Chaisai said, shaking his head slowly. “You hate to see it.” Was humor the way to cope here? He couldn’t tell from Mack’s vibe if she was at that point with it, or if she was taking this more seriously. He took a mighty swig of vodka and tried not to cringe before he chased it down with a bite of Dippin’ Dots. Honestly, it didn’t help much, but it was anything at all. How could Mack chug it like water? She was on another level, clearly, and he’d have to play catch up.

“Oh, the lamp?” he said, regretting bringing it up. Milo had explained it was due to his wizard magic, but Chaisai wasn’t sure if that was the kind of thing someone kept secret or not. “The lamp, yeah,” he said, stalling for a moment as he thought up a story. “I dunno what happened, but I think when you, uh–,” was there a polite way to phrase this? “–when you took your little tumble, I think someone jumped and bumped it. Cleaned it up, of course, but yeah. I felt bad, because you were, er, indisposed.” That was the kindest way he could think to say it without using words like beefed it, or fucking died, or any audio descriptors. “It was a nice lamp,” Chaisai said, shrugging. He took another bite of Dippin’ Dots before he had to say anything more on the subject.

“Oh, yeah. Hold on.” Chaisai pulled out his phone and went about ordering their rideshare to take them to Serpent’s Flat. “It says they’ll be here in 10.” He took another swig, longer this time, and couldn’t help from cringing. A shiver ran down his spine and he had to take another bite of his ice cream again. “I don’t know how you’re doing that. Vodka sucks bad.” As Mack started talking about the Abnormality, a devilish smile spread across Chai’s face. “You wanna touch my rock? Bro, you could’ve said anything and you chose to word it like that?” He laughed, shaking his head again. “That’s sus as hell.”

—

“The mattress. The real silent and deadly killer. Would make for a great movie. Maybe I should write a script for it, since I have so much time on my hands now.” She let a soft snort leave her lips, but was secretly heartbroken at the idea of not being able to make movies anymore. Change had always been hard for Mackenzie, but all the change that had happened within the last couple of years had been the worst thing she had ever experienced.

She watched him fumble through the story of the lamp, so immediately her mind went to it, too, being the victim of supernatural shenanigans. “Well, I appreciate the mess being cleaned up. It was a nightmare cleaning up all the Barbie decorations after everyone left. And I’ll be honest, I didn’t really make much of an effort until probably a week later. I don’t think I ever want to see the color pink again.” Mack shuddered at the thought and topped it off with a drink from the uncapped bottle.

“Ten minutes and then I get to see what all the fuss is about.” Mackenzie finished off the rest of the liquid, before screwing the cap back on, “I guess I’m just used to it, but clearly it looks like you’re not from that face you just made.” She laughed. Grabbing the empty bottle, she got up from her chair and went back to grab another unopened one, “I’ve got jokes okay? I’m not just Double D Barbie…Depressed and Dead. But no, really. How bad can this thing be? I’ve touched lots of rocks before.” She narrowed her eyes at him, “Not like that, btw, and nothing has ever happened. Are you finished with the Dippin’ Dots?” If they were about to leave, she was going to at least straighten up the kitchen before they left. Melted Dots and empty liquor bottles was not something she wanted to clean up when she got home from their exciting night of touching flat, hard mounds of the Earth’s creation.

—

“Isn’t there some wild percentage of people who die in bed? Maybe the statistics are wrong and it’s really about people who die by bed.” Chaisai had questions that lingered on his lips. If Mack was still feeling sensitive about the party as a whole, swearing off pink and all, how could he just ask her outright? He licked his lips and pressed them into a thin line. “I don’t…,” he paused, finding the right words. “I don’t really understand what happened that night. Like, a lot of wild shit popped off all at the same time. I’m just trying to wrap my brain around it. But like…you’re like, I don’t know, Deadpool? Like the regeneration thing.” Maybe it was rude to ask so outright, but he had to know, had to understand.

“Hey, if we ever have another killer party and you need a hand, just shout. Scout’s honor.” He scooped up the last few bites and passed Mack the empty cup. “How do you get used to that? No chaser?” Maybe she could do the whole three bottles thing. Chaisai took another long swig, immediately regretting having finished his Dippin’ Dots. He shuddered with a shake of his head. “You’re built different, you know that?”

Standing up to clear off the counter with Mack, Chai could feel the little rush to his head. He wondered if the Crystal was feeling it, too. Would it be easier or harder to keep himself in line? He didn’t ponder it long, tuning back into the present moment as Mack spoke. “Oh. I thought Double D Barbie—another incredible way to phrase things—but I thought it might stand for Dippin’ Dots. Can I be Double D Ken? Am I Kenough for that?”

—

Mack narrowed her eyes and thought for a moment about what Chai had said, “You probably have a point. But it would hurt bed frame and mattress sales, so they spin it to make it fit their propaganda.” Mattress conspiracy theories. If this was any clue to where the night was going, it was going to be quite interesting. And now she was being compared to Deadpool. “I hope I’m not as pretty as Deadpool.” She had thought it had been pretty obvious, but she could tell he was struggling with the idea of the supernatural. Hell, she was too, and she WAS supernatural, “I can see the gears spinning, and I wasn’t lying when I told you what I was. Trust me. It makes no sense to me either. But at this point, if you want to think I’m Ryan Reynolds, then be my guest.”

Snagging the empty cup from Chai, she tossed it in the trash can, along with the empty bottles of vodka, “Honestly, I don’t want to experience another killer party for a long fucking time.” Wetting a few paper towels Mackenzie began wiping down the counters. When she was finished, she snagged the last unopened bottle she had originally gone for, before the distraction of cleaning came about. With her attention back on Chai, she grinned, “Nope, no chaser.” She leaned in closer towards him, “I’ll let you in on a little secret, “I can barely taste anything, so yeah, I would say I am built different.” Mackenzie straightened back up, before walking back around to the other side of the counter to sit next to Chai again.

“You okay there? You look a little wobbly.” If he wasn’t feeling the greatest, they could go to the Flats another time. Mackenzie wasn’t going to make Chai go somewhere if he didn’t feel good, “We can do this another time if you’re not feeling it. And my mom and dad always said I had a way with words. But of course. What is Barbie without her bestie Ken? I’d say you’re Kenough.” She gave him a good firm pat on the back.

—

“You’re definitely prettier than Deadpool. The costume would be a nice touch, though. You ever considered a life of fighting crime?” Joking about it made it easier for Chaisai to wrap his brain around the concept. This was the stuff of comics, not real life. Yet here they were, face to face, and he was pretty sure this was real. “This is a weird town, you know? I didn’t think it could get zombie levels weird, but it surprises me daily.” There were questions he wanted to ask, but if Mack was grappling with her reality already, he didn’t want to make things weird.

Chaisai scooted out of Mack’s way as she cleaned up the kitchen, but lingered there, feeling like he should be helping in some way. “Hey,” he said, with a smile he hoped was reassuring. “If anything like that ever happens again, at least I could be more helpful next time.” God, he hoped there wasn’t a next time. The thought of the sound of Mack’s neck snapping made his stomach flip, but he maintained his composure. If he thought about it, that night was really something for everyone involved. He would rather not think about it. Mack leaning in pulled his brain back to the present. “You can’t taste anything?” Chaisai repeated, surprised. “Man, I thought you were maybe just some hard ass, Hollywood party girl. Nope, just Deadpool.”

The suggestion that they didn’t need to go to the Abnormality sent a surge of emotion through Chaisai’s chest. His brow furrowed and he shook his head. “No,” he said, a little too firmly. “I’m good, just don’t have the Deadpool tolerance.” He tried to force a smile again, but it looked out of place. “Come on Barbie, let’s go party.”

—

Mackenzie acted bashful when Chai complimented her about being prettier than Deadpool, “Awww, you’re sweet. I do like a good costume, especially the ones that really sell that you’re about to kick somebody’s ass? You know, I haven’t, but maybe if I had a solid partner to help kick some bad guy ass I would.” Being a vigilante superhero seemed like a fun idea now that it had been brought up. It’s not like much could really mess with the young actress anymore. Even bullets wouldn’t stop her…well, as far as she assumed, but she didn’t want to find out anytime soon. “It is a weird town. But I’m just glad I’m actually starting to make friends, like you, the official Ken of Wicked’s Rest.”

With everything finished up, the only thing left to do was wait for the car, “I appreciate the offer, but I’m pretty sure no one, you included, wants to see that happen again.” Mackenzie hated not being in control of her body, and more so not being in control and not remembering what she did when the hunger took over. It had been a scary experience every time it happened, and one she could stand doing without ever again. “Not anymore, nope.” She narrowed her eyes, “Hey! I’m still a hard ass, Hollywood party girl. Plus, I’m sure Deadpool would love being called that, so ha! And where do you think these dark circles came from under my eyes? Not from a regular 8 hours of sleep, thank you very much..”

Mackenzie raised an eyebrow when Chai returned a hard no, “Somebody’s determined to go spend time with their favorite rock…Now where’s the damn uber? I’m not getting any younger. And I refuse to open this third bottle, until we’re standing at your favorite place in Wicked’s Rest, toasting its weirdness.”

—

“I think you’d look kickass in a Deadpool costume, kicking ass.” Chai laughed at the thought, imagining Mack fighting bad boy zombies. “I personally think I’d rock a pair of tights, but I’m not much of sidekick material. I’m just a squishy little guy.” He didn’t think the Abnormality had afforded him any good powers. He couldn’t fly or see through walls or anything. It had only given him a sense of security that he couldn’t explain in words. It was like knowing something bigger than you had a plan, but not in a religious way. Mack calling him a friend caught him off guard. “Oh. Yeah, I agree. It’s easier to navigate the weird when you aren’t alone.” A pang of guilt tugged at him. He had had friends who touched the rock with him. They weren’t around anymore. But it wasn’t like the rock could kill a zombie, right? She was already dead. She survived a nasty fall, what was the worst that could happen?

“Damn, if I’d known that I would’ve at least brought something I could drink without a chaser,” Chaisai teased. “How am I ever going to compete with Hollywood’s best zombie party girl?” Only zombie party girl? He wasn’t sure. That thought could wait until he was awake in the middle of the night. It was too existential right now. His phone vibrated at that moment, and he checked it to see the rideshare driver coming down the street towards the house. “Speak of the devil,” he said. He offered Mack a hand. “Shall we? I hope you’ll at least think my favorite rock is cool. There’s a whole chunk of town buried underneath and no one really knows how or why this happened. If it’s not cool in any other way, at least it’s a miracle of nature. What more can a guy ask for?”

—

“You know what would look good in a Deadpool costume? My butt. I’ve worked hard for this ass, and just because I might fall apart a little, every now and then, Barbie’s gonna keep her damn ass.” Mackenzie had wanted light and funny. She needed it. Chai probably needed it. Everything about Wicked’s Rest had seemed so heavy at times, and a night of not thinking had been exactly what she had needed, “Hey, first. You said sidekick, not me. And squishy and little doesn’t mean shit. Some of the best stunt people I’ve worked with were squishy and little and could take a fall like nobody’s business. Maybe I can show you a few things one day, you know, when neither of us have been drinking.” Perhaps the alcohol was getting to her a little more than she thought, but if it made her a little happier for the evening, what was the harm? At least she’d be making good memories with someone she felt she could trust.

“I think I have some soda, water, and Bodyarmor in the fridge. Uh, and there is a bottle of wine. Oh, and Fireball, if that’s your thing. It’s usually my thing, because it’s the only thing I can taste. I know it’s not vodka, but at least you don’t have to chase it?” Mackenzie shot Chai an uneasy smile. “Yeah, more like Hollywood's pariah. But they don’t need to know that.” She was both relieved and excited that their ride had made it, and with a cold, dead hand gladly took Chai’s, “Wait, you didn’t tell me there was actually an unknown part of Wicked’s Rest buried underneath. That just made the curiosity factor go up tenfold. So you’re getting a mystery and nature’s beauty all wrapped into one? I can maybe start to see why you like it so much, but I won’t know until we actually get there.” She proceeded to move forward making sure to lock the house behind them as they made their way to the car.

—

Chaisai couldn’t not look respectfully. He glanced at Mack’s ass briefly and nodded. “Hell, yeah, Barbie. Keep up the good work.” He couldn’t keep from cracking a smile and chuckling. It felt stupid to be drunk, telling his zombie friend she had a nice ass before they did something reckless. He felt stupid, but he was having fun. That counted as a win in his book. “Nah, I think squishy and little is my downfall. Maybe you can show me how to make it my up…fall. But I think my crime fighting tactic right now is to tuck tail and run.” Truthfully, he hadn’t been put in any crime fighting scenarios, but when fight or flight kicked in, he’d want to choose the latter.

“Water?” he asked, as the options were being listed. “Water and vodka? Nah, bestie. But I’ll grab a soda.” Chaisai opened the fridge and grabbed a soda. He scanned the rest of the fridge briefly for any ominous Tupperware containers of brains, but abandoned the search quickly and returned to Mack’s side. Taking her hand, he was surprised it was this cold, but he didn’t comment on it. “Can’t spell party girl without…well, actually pariah doesn’t really fit in there, does it?” He shrugged. “You can be Wicked’s Rest’s party girl now.” Following her out to the car, he nodded as she spoke. “Yeah, it’s like natural phenomena, and history, and weird all in one package. What’s not to like?”

—

Mack was glad Chai had grabbed a drink to go. It wouldn’t be fun drinking alone, even if it was the saddest two person rager known to man. Letting go of his hand, she opened the door and climbed in the back seat, “Up Fall. Don’t think that slipped past me or the compliment about my ass.” She slid over in the seat catching the reaction of the driver’s face in the rearview mirror and stifled a laugh. “At least let me show you some basic self defense moves.” Mackenzie looked over to her friend. In this town, there was no telling who you would have to defend yourself from, and though she hadn’t put those that she cared about in a very good situation, she still wanted them to be safe, even if it meant against her.

“Wicked’s Rest’s party girl. I suppose it’s got a nice ring to it. Plus, it’s a little more private.” Mackenzie shrugged, before looking back up to the driver, “Take us to see his package - I mean, his natural phenomena…Shit.” What was the name? Rocks…Fl- “Flats. The Serpent Flats, please.” She let her eyes move back to Chai, “So maybe my limit is two bottles. Might not need this one afterall.” Raising it up, Mackenzie let out an uneasy laugh.

—

“It’s a nice ass, what do you want me to say? You know it’s a nice ass,” Chaisai said, climbing in the back behind Mack. “Would you not call running away self defense? I think that should be the first lesson in any self defense class.” He buckled up and greeted the driver quietly. Surely you had to hear weird things as a rideshare driver in this town, but their conversation was certainly bold. Chai couldn’t find it in himself to feel embarrassed or to censor himself.

He nodded along with Mack again. “That’s what I’m saying. Hollywood is too broad scope, but Wicked’s Rest is a nice fit, right?” Mack was opening her mouth and inserting her foot before Chaisai could get a word in to save her. “Your parents are right,” he said, smirking. “You really do have a way with words.” He had ordered this rideshare through an app, and the driver certainly knew where they were going, but Chaisai didn’t mention anything. “Does this mean I win? If you’re tapping out here, I think I win. I knew three was too much for any person or, well, any–,” he cut himself off, looking at the driver, then to Mack, then back at the driver. “Any Hollywood party girl,” he said, mentally kicking himself for the near slip up.

—

“I know. I’m humble about everything else in my life, but my ass cause I worked hard for that bitch.” Yeah, she was definitely starting to feel a little more tipsy. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all, but it’s not like she could get sick right? She was dead. “I mean, I guess. But what if you get cornered? What are you gonna do then? You can’t run, because you’re trapped.” Mackenzie knew this guy was going to have a story, but that was okay, as long as he didn’t know who she was.

Sinking down in her seat a little, Mackenzie tried to hide herself from the driver’s judging looks as best she could, “I’m starting to wonder if it is, since my foot is currently residing in my mouth. At least there’s no paparazzi waiting around every corner.” She looked out the window watching as the driver pulled away from her house. There had been times in her past, before being a part of the undead, where she had been caught in some awkward tipsy situations and this had been very reminiscent of it. However, Chai claiming that he won caught her attention and ripped her back to her current reality, “Yeah, no. I don’t think that’s right. I still downed two whole bottles, and who knows? The night’s still young. Give it time.” Luckily, she hadn’t caught his little slip up, which kept the mood light for her. The last thing she had wanted was some rando knowing what she was and spouting off to his buddies, even if it did sound preposterous.

—

Chaisai laughed. “You should be proud. Screw being humble, who said you had to do that?” Perhaps it was a celebrity thing, where you had to take fame with grace. But what was the point now if she was dead and thousands of miles away from the flashing lights and the big screen? “Ew, I don’t want to think about that.” Chaisai said, wrinkling his nose. “I don’t want to be cornered, but maybe that’s when my superpowers will kick in. Under pressure I’ll turn into Spiderman or something. This town is weird enough, stranger things have happened.” There was a part of him that hoped that maybe the Abnormality had something hidden in store for him, but he felt no reaction as he spoke. As the car drew nearer to the Serpent’s Flats, though, the familiar longing ache and the hum inside his core was back. Like a well worn sweatshirt, it brought him a sense of comfort and warmth.

Turning in his seat to face Mack better, Chai bit his lip, mulling over his question before he asked it. “Is it scary? The paparazzi always following you like that? I wouldn’t be able to feel truly alone, you know what I mean?” He glanced at the driver. Maybe this wasn’t the venue for this question to be asked, but what was the worst the driver could take away from this? He could see the headline now. Former movie star gets drunk in Maine and looks at rock. That was benign in his eyes.

“I’m counting it as an early victory,” he said smugly. “Even if the night is still young, I don’t see how you could possibly win at this rate. Not without ending the night with me carrying you.”

—

Chai was right. Mackenzie had tried to be humble and kind most of her life. Sometimes she was caught off guard if it had been a bad day, but she wasn’t in Hollywood anymore. Still, there had been something about being kind to those around her that Mack cherished. She had risen to the level of fame in part because people respected and liked her work. Fandom had been such a tricky thing, because humans were tricky and sensitive, “Kind of an unspoken rule, I suppose. But I guess you’re right. I’m not currently in the spotlight or being hounded for interviews.” She was still in the spotlight, but not for something good at the moment. But Chai didn’t need to know that. “See, you’d make a great Spiderman, and I would totally support you as being my local neighborhood spidey.” She smiled warmly at him, but something started to feel off, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Maybe the alcohol was starting to do more than just make her tipsy. Still, there was no time to worry. They were fine. She was fine.

His question for her quickly became a distraction to the funny feeling that was starting to take over her body. The paparazzi had been a tricky and sometimes intimidating part of her life to handle, “Yeah, it can be, especially if I go out on my own to do something. It’s like some of them hangout and just wait specifically for you, if they’ve caught a tip. Others just catch you in the wild. But the scariest thing is the people who see those pictures and study your routine getting this delusional idea in your head that they know you, just because they know what you do on a regular basis…” Her mood had dropped. She had been in some scary situations, because of the paparazzi, and she was grateful that was one thing Wicked’s Rest didn’t have, “I’d take monsters over people with cameras any day…” Mackenzie grew quiet and let her eyes drift past Chai and out the window into the night sky.

Mack was glad when the conversation went back to alcohol, and Chai’s delusional idea that he was going to be victorious, “You’re so on. I hope you like eating humble pie my friend.” A small smile spread back across her face.

—

Chaisai made a Spiderman gesture to mime web slinging, complete with sound effects. “Pschew!” The moment was short lived, however, as it seemed they were both putting their feet in their mouths. “Sorry,” he said, feeling guilty again. “I didn’t mean to be such a Debbie Downer, I’ve just never been famous or even close to it. It’s hard to put myself in your shoes, but that’s not the vibe tonight anyway.” Maybe verbally steering this soon-to-be trainwreck of a conversation into warmer waters could get them back on track. “I love pie,” he said. “Ooo, next time maybe we’ll make pie shots, okay? If we’re going to do these sad little pity parties, we might as well plan a little more ahead next time.” He still sincerely doubted that Mack could make it through another bottle tonight. Or, could zombies not get sick? Either way, he didn’t really want to find out. He considered not egging her on, but he was winning.

Before his eyes were aware of it, they were pulling up to the Serpent’s Flat viewing stations. Though he hadn’t been paying enough attention to see the Flats coming up on the horizon, the prickling feeling across his skin had told him where they were before the car had come to a stop. “Finally,” he whispered under his breath. “Thank you,” he called to the driver, unbuckling and reaching for Mack’s hand to tug her out of the car. “Come on, come on, come on!” he said, excitement ramping up in his tone.

—

Mackenzie let out a bit of sigh, before shaking her head, “It’s fine, seriously. It’s just a part of my life, and people get curious. I understand.” Mackenzie shot him a reassuring smile that everything was okay. “But I agree with you. Next Pity Party will be a well oiled working machine with a theme. And my vote is that we make these a regular occurrence. You, me, and a new part of Wicked’s Rest to explore every time…Okay, maybe not every time, but sometimes.” She liked the idea of a regular hangout session with Chai. He was fun and funny. A winning combination in her book.

Feeling the car stop, Mackenzie looked around realizing they were literally in the middle of nowhere, but before she could take a good look, she felt Chai tugging her out of the car with such an excitement that even she was surprised; the last bottle of vodka getting left behind in the seat of the car. It was when her feet hit the ground, that she had an overwhelming rush of that same strange feeling come about, and it left her in a daze for a moment, stumbling forward slightly, before she was able to regain her footing. But Mackenzie was still skeptical. There was no way touching a huge flat rock could turn your body inside out or do the things that Chai had claimed. It didn’t make sense. There had been some weird stuff happening in this town, but rocks didn’t have that kind of power did they? She wanted to prove him wrong. But more so, for herself, prove that this town wasn’t as fucked up as it really was appearing to be. Giant spider anomalies and magic name stealing creeps on the internet were different right? They had to be.

Letting her eyes scan the area, it was a vast void of nothing, but what looked like melted rock covering the land. It didn’t seem threatening. Just lonely. Desolate like Mackenzie’s life had felt most nights when she sat at home on the couch watching reruns of old shows. It didn’t look anything like she thought it would, and she couldn’t help, but wonder how the Serpent Flats came to be. She would have to look the history up, when she got home, if Chai didn’t tell her in detail. But first, she was on a mission. There had to be one normal thing in this town, and she was going to prove it, “So Spiderman. What is so damn special about this flat void of black rock?”

—

“I think we could manage that,” Chaisai said. “There’s a lot to explore here, even if we have to get a little touristy.” He hadn’t seen the town from a tourist standpoint, having grown up in Wicked’s Rest. It would be interesting to explore the lighthearted side of things with Mack, as well as the dark underbelly of the town. Tonight was more of the latter kind of experience, or at least it could be. Chaisai almost felt guilty, like he was tricking Mack into this. But she had willingly agreed, even after he mentioned the potential for something catastrophic. She knew the risks, even if she didn’t believe them.

As they exited the car, Chaisai could feel the absolute power of the rocky expanse before them. It was like coming home after a long time away. The feeling comforted him. He let Mack’s hand fall from his grasp and began walking forward to get a better view. His feet were moving before his brain had time to register it, and it made his head swim for a second. He caught something similar happening to Mack, but didn’t mention it. She would be fine.

When Mack spoke with such derision, that amplified surge of emotion gripped Chaisai again. This time it was a cocktail of anger and indignance and some sick glee that she’d finally experience the power of the Abnormality. “Come on, you’ll see. We just gotta get a little closer.” He beckoned her forward and started approaching the closest rocky surface. Its swirling patterns were enthralling. Chaisai thought he could just forever follow the ebb and flow of the crystalline surface, never getting bored.

“Come here. Come closer,” he said. The words came out without thought. He didn’t even glance Mack’s way as he reached out to brush his fingertips along the formation. It was like a static shock, sending a tingling sensation through his fingertips. The feeling rejuvenated any fatigue he had felt from drinking. “Home,” he mumbled quietly, and snapped his head to look at Mack, expectant.

—

Whatever this feeling was that was coming over her as they inched closer to the formation had started to grow stronger, and Mackenzie could have sworn that her head was starting to hurt. No, that can’t be right. It’s a placebo effect. Her brain was telling her something that just wasn’t true. But damn had Chai become so entranced by the rocks that lay out ahead of them. So much so that Mackenzie, though something was telling her to turn around, continued to blindly follow him.

The warning signs that lay just to the left and right of them had been completely out of her view. Maybe from the pull of the magnetic feeling or just because her eyesight had gotten so much worse since becoming a zombie, Mackenzie had chosen to ignore them. But it was just a bunch of rocks. She had been telling herself that since the first day she had talked to him. And now, here they were and she had a point to prove. If not to him, then at least to herself. Maybe bursting his bubble wasn’t such a good idea. He had been so kind to her, and she didn’t want that friendship to end, because she didn’t believe in the power of the Flats.

Mackenzie moved closer as she watched him kneel down and soon reach out to brush what appeared to be a smooth surface with his fingertips. It was the way his head turned and his eyes were trained on her that had creeped her out just a little bit. It was as if she were walking into something she couldn’t escape and the closer she got, the sicker she felt. Mackenzie…it’s a fucking mound of flat fucking rocks. Chai’s probably just trying to freak you out. No more alcohol for the rest of the night.

Sucking in air and slowly pushing it back out, she shot a small smile in Chai’s direction as she kneeled down beside him, "What's the worst that can happen? It’s a rock…" Turning her attention back to the anomaly, Mackenzie paused before lowering her hand to meet that of the charred looking surface that spread out just beyond her and her friend.

As soon as her deadened palm lay flat against the cold stone of Serpent Flats it was like her entire life from the start up until this current moment flashed before her eyes. Her head had fallen backwards limp as she remained in some kind of trance. And when she finally came to, she wasn't herself.

Mackenzie's head fell forward and hung limply. There wasn't any kind of thought process left in her brain. But one thing lingered; an insatiable need for food. Her appetite was deathly. And it became apparent that something was not right with her when a low, breathy growl escaped her throat.

With her hand still flat on the rocks, she unsteadily moved her head and looked up at Chai. Her eyes were milky white, but she could still make out shapes and figures, especially of things that were living.

Pulling her hand up and slowly rising to her feet from the kneeling position she had been in, Mackenzie started to stumble forward slowly and awkwardly with one thing on her mind, making him her next meal.

—

Mack looked unwell. Curious. There had been no ill effects in Chaisai’s eyes, but Mack was looking pale, if that was possible for a dead girl. He watched her with curiosity as he absently traced the patterns on the surface of the abnormality. Mack seemed hesitant, so much so that Chai wondered what she was thinking. Was she afraid of rocks? The thought almost made him laugh, but he did his best to keep his face calm and reassuring. “Don’t be shy.”

The anticipation swelled in his stomach. It felt like an electric current running through his entire body. The tension ratcheted higher and higher until he felt like he’d been strung tight, watching as Mack’s hand moved towards the surface in almost slow motion. The second her hand touched the Abnormality, the tension broke. It felt like a rush of cold water being poured down his back. Chaisai sucked in a sharp breath as his vision blurred. He could see snapshots flashing across his mind, but they were memories he didn’t understand. He felt confused, like he couldn’t think straight. He and Mack had been drinking, but his stomach clenched with hunger. When he watched in first person as he stood over a still-warm corpse, one he knew he killed, and he watched as he dove in for a meal, it clicked. This was Mack’s memory. He was seeing what Mack was seeing. Abruptly, he removed his hand from the Flat and stood up. He didn’t want to see anymore of that. The hunger had quickly turned to a pang of nausea. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he felt cold. He shivered and turned his attention back to Mack.

Taking a step back, Chaisai smiled sinisterly at his friend as the hold of the Abnormality released her. He eyed her curiously as her head dropped forward. “How do you feel?” he asked, eagerly awaiting her response. What he hadn’t expected was the sound she made. Was she growling at him? “Uh, Mack?” He let out an awkward laugh, trying to ignore the way the hairs at the nape of his neck were standing on end. The Abnormality couldn’t kill her, clearly, but this moment was the first time he had considered if it had been a bad idea to test this out alone, at night, with a zombie. The way Mack’s head snapped up to look at him confirmed his suspicions. This was about to break bad. Taking a bigger step back, Chaisai locked eyes with Mack. He wondered if she could see him. Her eyes were different now, in a way that sent a shiver of panic up his spine. “Mack?” he called again, starting to back up for real as she rose to her full height. “Mackenzie? Can you hear me?” She stumbled forward and he stumbled back. The thought crossed his mind that this was the worst dance he’d ever done. Absurd. Stupid. Dangerous. This had probably been a huge mistake, and now he was going to end up as a chew toy. Was every party going to end with a hunger for brains? “Mack, answer me.”

—

Drool seeped from Mackenzie’s mouth. Her brain was numbed to anything, but the need for food. Words weren’t being processed, and she could no longer understand her name. Instead, all she saw was his form starting to back away from her. And with every step back that he made, she took another step forward. Her limbs were heavy as if the weight of the world hung on her shoulders, and she dragged her feet in true zombie fashion ready to reach her meal one way or another.

The Flats' power truly had a hold on her. It had been nothing like the sleepover. Mackenzie felt stronger. Her hunger was insatiable. Nothing could stand in her way. And right now, all she focused on was making a meal out of the man that stood just a few feet away.

Continuing to move along at a steady pace, Mackenzie extended her arms out trying to grab at Chaisai. Her eyes were hollow and filled with nothing but his reflection. Like a predator trained on its prey, she tracked him never missing a step.

—

Chaisai kept backpedaling, but Mack was closing in on him. As he backed away, he stumbled over the Abnormality itself, falling onto his back. His head connected with the serpentine surface beneath him and for a second, he just laid there. This wasn’t how he had imagined dying, but he knew it would be at the Flats. It would be kind of fitting.

Before he could think any further, before he could try to reason with Mack, before he understood what was happening, his body was acting on its own again. This time, he was grateful to have touched the crystal in his backyard. If he hadn’t, he might have just laid there. But now, he was staggering to his feet and he was running without thought. He didn’t need to stop to think about where he was going, he just knew the route. Chaisai kept checking over his shoulder to make sure there was distance between he and Mack, and his feet propelled him forward thoughtlessly. Like a parasite preserving the longevity of its host, the Crystal or the Abnormality piloted him onward.

—

Mackenzie was moving in closer, and when her cold, void eyes watched Chai fall back onto the Flats, she was preparing herself to drop down and make him into her first meal of the night. With each uncalculated step on the uneven, but smooth rocky surface, she felt the same initial power engulfing her whole form in a warmth that continued to drive her forward. However, before she was able to make her move, she watched as he managed to scramble to his feet and take off much faster than she was able to keep up.

A meal lost had only angered her, but Mackenzie’s reign of terror was just beginning, and as she moved in the same direction as Chai, whatever was about to cross her path was going to be in for one hell of a surprise.

#para: chai #para: rock me amadeus #{closer to fine; plot}#wickedswriting #ignxta #substance abuse tw #mental health tw #unsanitary tw #murder mention tw

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ignxta · 6 months

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TIMING: After this exchange SETTING: Mistwood Park PARTIES: @honeysmokedham & @ignxta CONTENT WARNINGS: none SUMMARY: Chaisai just wants to talk. Nora is all about action. Things get out of hand.

After a heated text exchange, Chaisai found himself driving to Nora’s dropped location. Why she didn’t just outright give him her address he didn’t understand, but he assumed it had something to do with the spooky kid aura she had about her. If she tried again to convince him to dip himself in a vat of acid from those things, he’d be out the door in seconds. Whatever she thought was going on was clearly miles away from the reality he was living. Sure it had been hard to convince his body to get into the car and meet Nora, but it had relented. His actions were his for the moment, and he didn’t need any sort of cleansing to change that. The effects of crystal might not be his favorite thing at the moment, but he didn’t want to lose his connection with the Mineral Abnormality. The risk was too great, and Nora would never understand that.

As Chaisai pulled up to the coordinates Nora had given him, it finally clicked that there was a reason she hadn’t provided an address. It seemed she’d chosen to bring him to a cemetery, rather than her house. It felt correct somehow. Very Nora of Nora. It wasn’t like Chaisai had anything to fear about some bodies. What was the worst that could happen in a cemetery? Wandering in, he looked around for Nora. He was half expecting her to be crouched behind a headstone, just waiting to jump out at him. It would also feel very fitting.

Nora paced the familiar pathways of the graveyard. Her graveyard. The one she was happy to be back at. Far from the mines, safe. Emilio wouldn’t say it was safe, but maybe he would concede that the graveyard was safer than the mines. That was enough. In her pocket, hand clutched around it so hard that her knuckles were shifting white, was a honey jar full of acid. Acid from whatever creatures those had been. The acid that would save Chaisai. Nora had just met him, recently, but she would save anyone from the embrace of the mines.

Headlights flickered into sight and Nora made her way to the parking lot. Don’t give him time to speak, she told herself. Don’t give him time to react or do anything. He’s not in control. Nora pulled the jar out, flicking the lid off. Chaisai was getting out of the car as Nora strode forward, purposely. Her combat boots hitting hard against the gravel. Crunch. Crunch. Throw. Her arm outstretched to let the acid engulf him.

Chaisai had opened his mouth to call a greeting to his new friend, when the honey jar caught his eye. They had talked about the whole monster acid thing. She wouldn’t, right? He didn’t have time to consider anything beyond that before his body was reacting. A hand shot out and connected with Nora‘s arm in an attempt to knock the jar away. His other hand reached for her shoulder, shoving roughly.

“Nora, what the fuck!” he snapped, staggering back from her. “I thought we talked about this!” How dare she go behind his back like this. The urge to fight her rose up in him, but he didn’t dare move. “Not fucking cool, bro.”

The sound of thick acid splattering against the gravel was a fine imitation of poprocks. The rock snap, crackle, popped in the acid. “We did talk.” Nora muttered, ripping her arm out of Chaisai’s hand and staring blankly down at the lost acid. “You’re brainwashed. You’re not listening to me.” This was her second to last honey jar of acid, saved from the rescue mission on Teddy. If the last jar waiting in her pockets didn’t save Chaisai, she’d have to beat up more monsters for the chance. “Being mind controlled is not fucking cool, bro.” Nora tossed the words back at Chai in her bland monotone, crossing her arms against her torso and staring blankly back at him.

“You’re not listening to me,” Chaisai parroted, sidestepping the pool of acid and squaring his shoulders. Whatever happened to Nora in the mine was clearly different than what was happening to him. Why couldn’t she see that? “I am not brainwashed, Nora. I’m not mind controlled. I’m normal, okay?” His mouth tasted bitter and his mind seethed in anger. His nostrils flared, but he tried to keep a straight face.

“Normal.” Nora repeated the word, behind her monotone it lost the disbelief, the sadness, the plea to let her help him. Because Nora had thought being a crystal was the most normal thing in the world. “You just think you’re normal, because… well because it wants you to think that you’re normal.” How was Nora supposed to word this? Frustration seeped through her, a common reaction to the inability to grasp necessary words. Some people had it so easy. Nora’s hand wrapped around the jar in her pocket, popping off the top before trying for another surprise splash of Acid at Chaisai. Action was much better than words.

Like a rubber band pulled too tight, the tension that had risen in Chaisai’s chest snapped. He lowered his center of gravity, bending forward before lunging for his shorter friend. The two of them tumbled to the ground and Chaisai heard the second jar shatter in the gravel. Looming over Nora, straddling her hips, he grinned wickedly, but the expression didn’t meet his eyes. They remained dull, almost lifeless. “I like your style, but you’re gonna have to try harder than that,” he growled.

Pinned under his weight, Nora’s training to fight kicked in. The reminder of the knives she carried with her always burning in her pockets. The face of Debbie. Debbie who she had straddled moments before stabbing her in the face. Nora was not Debbie. Nora would never be Debbie. The bear shifted through her, ripping her clothes and body, becoming bigger, taking up space and displacing Chaisai’s hold on her body. A roar emanated from the bear, a response to the pain of transformation, the flashes of Debbie’s face, the need to regain control over the situation.

“Oh fuck–!” Chaisai had written a check his ass could not cash. Was everyone he knew a fucking wizard? There was a bear where Nora should be, and he was pretty sure this was it for him. He could have taken Nora as a human, but a polar bear was far outside his weight class. He scuttled back, crab walking away from the bear. As it roared, he scrambled to his feet to run, heading into the cemetery. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

Chaisai was running into the cemetery, her home turf. The bear walked. A steady unyielding pace following the brainwashed boy. Babadook, aware of all cowards who enter his hallowed ground, was also on the prowl. He cut Chaisai off in his escape, letting out a mournful howl, tentacles waving to make sure Chaisai knew he couldn’t run any further. And still the bear approached.

Chaisai looked back over his shoulder as he ran, watching the bear continue her pursuit. He hadn’t realized there was anything in his path until the creature cried out. Chaisai stopped short of running headlong into the creature, and screamed when he laid eyes upon it. It looked part dog, part roadkill, part…octopus? Whatever it was, he was sure it meant him harm. He backed away slowly, his hands raised in defense. “Nice…doggy.” The bloodied canine in front of him, the approaching bear behind, he felt like a caged animal. Nowhere to turn, the Crystal took the metaphorical wheel once again. He turned sideways between them and raised his fists, prepared to fight off whichever animal attacked him first.

Fear made a delicious meal. A consolation prize for an otherwise losing affair. The bear receded, Nora’s body ripping and breaking until it was bent and folded back into its human. “You don’t know what you’re doing. I forgive you.” Nora was standing naked in the graveyard, illusions warping the shadows around her to mirror Babadook’s tentacles, to keep the fear going. Fear, after all, was the only thing she knew how to do. She wasn’t sure how this was supposed to go. There was no more acid. She could kidnap him into the mines to track down some more of those creatures, but the thought of going back into the maw of the mines disgusted her. “Don’t let it control you. You deserve to be you.” Maybe if she was passionate enough, maybe if she was better at words, she could save him. Maybe.

Just as quick as the bear had erupted from Nora, it was disappearing within her again. “What the ffff…” Chaisai trailed off as tentacles appeared behind his nude friend. He was trying not to stare, but this wasn’t normal. “Nothing is controlling me. What–what are you?” He glanced back over his shoulder, half expecting the dog-thing to have vanished, too. It was, unfortunately still there, with it’s raw face staring at him. He shuddered, feeling his heart rate pick up, and turned back to Nora. “I’m me. I’m telling you, I’m me.” He said the words, but he didn’t mean them right now. He was the one speaking, but his body still belonged to the Crystal, still tense with clenched fists. “What the fuck is going on? I thought we were going to talk.”

“You can’t convince the blind they can see with words.” Did that make sense? Nora hoped it did there was no reasoning with the brainwashed. Hadn’t Emilio, someone she trusted more than anyone, tried to convince her that the crystals were wrong? And she hadn’t believed him. Chaisai had no reason to believe Nora now. “I’m out of acid.” Nora admitted, the shadowed tentacles around her disappearing. “I can’t save you yet. I’ll go get more acid. I will save you.”

“Nora,” Chaisai sighed in frustration. She wasn’t hearing him. He was glad the tentacles were gone, but he was no less confused. He glanced over his shoulder again, and the dog was still there. He’d hoped the dog was a weird mirage. “I don’t want you to save me,” he said, turning back to face her, but refusing to look at her. “Can you tell me what is going on? You’re a bear, there’s a weird dog, you tried to throw shit at me when we specifically said we weren’t doing that.” God, could he trust anyone in this town? Just one normal day–He cleared his throat and tried again. “I touched the Abnormality and I…feel it. It’s like a piece of it lives in me, and its powerful and warm and kind. And the Crystal isn’t so warm, and it wants me to go to the mines, but I don’t! I haven’t.” With effort, he lowered his still clenched fists to his sides. “I don’t want to risk giving up my connection with the Abnormality. I don’t want your help. It’s like–it’s like everything makes sense. Everything is clear now. I want to stay like this. I don’t expect you to get it.” The Abnormality would never accept someone who would so frivolously throw away a gift like that. Chaisai’s jaw tensed and he locked eyes with Nora. She didn’t even know what she was missing.

“What is the difference between the Crystals and the Abnormality?” Nora asked, her arms crossing over her body, suddenly cold in the night air. God everything was weird, and why didn’t he see that the fact that anything was trying to co-live in his mind was the problem? That it was altering anything about him meant that he wasn’t Chaisai anymore. He was Chaisai plus whatever the fuck the abnormality was. “It’s not right. Crystals or Abnormality. It’s not okay.”

“The Crystal feels less like a…it feels like…Do you have clothes? It would be easier to talk to you if you had clothes.” Everything about this night so far had gone so much differently than expected. Chaisai would appreciate one single normal thing. “It’s like the Abnormality is everything,” he continued, picking a spot on the ground to stare at. “It’s sin and sorrow and pain and pleasure and comfort and chaos and power. The Crystal feels like just some guy that sleeps on my couch and doesn’t pay for rent. They both make suggestions, but I don’t always have to follow them. I’m not brainwashed. I swear, I’m thinking for myself.” He still felt boxed in between the naked bear and the other thing. “Can you please answer my questions? What are you, and what is that?” he asked, pointing to Nora and then hiking a thumb over his shoulder at the not-dog.

“No, I don't have clothes. They got shredded. They couldn’t fit a bear.” Nora tossed her hair back a bit, chin jutting forward. A body was just a body, and anyone who got distracted by that was weak. Probably. Nora ingested his information. The Crystal and the Abnormality both talking to him. But not controlling him? How did that work? “No offense, but what's special about you that they can’t control you? The crystals consumed me, they changed me, they took from me. Why can you hear them and not be forced to act to it?” And because he was answering so many of her questions, Nora decided to deign to answer one of his. “That’s my dog.” Nora answered, pointed at Babadook. “You’ve seen a dog before, haven’t you?”

Without a word, Chaisai took off his jacket and held it out to Nora. “It’s cold,” he said, matter of factly. A haughty anger flared up inside him and his brow furrowed. “I don’t know. Sometimes my body isn't mine, but that’s not so bad. Other people are weak, and that’s none of my concern.” He debated telling Nora more, but then he’d never get her to come touch the Abnormality. Of course, at this point, he probably wouldn’t get her to come anyway. “Two of my friends touched it, and both of them got struck by lightning. I thought I’d be next, but the lightning bolt never came. I don’t know why, but the Abnormality chose me. I’m not fucking that up for myself.” He glanced again at the beast and shook his head. “Never seen a dog like that. What’s wrong with it?”

Nora looked at the denim jacket, covered in pins and patches, as she listened to him go on. She had been about to reach out to grab it when Chaisai said other people are weak. A personal affront to Nora. Nora, who knew she wasn’t weak. Nora, who ran away from the lap of luxury and walked for two whole years, with nowhere to go and no end goal, knew she was not weak. Her chin jutted further up, her eyes catching a spark of the fire that burned inside her. “Congratulations on getting chosen for a shit prize.” Nora’s mind wasn’t going to change on this. “Listen, we aren’t going to agree. Maybe you should just leave.” It was cold, and she wanted to go into her crypt and put on her clothes and plan her next step for collecting acid to free him. She didn’t want to stand here and listen to his misbeliefs. “There is nothing wrong with my dog.” Babadook had come over, and she was petting his head gently. “You’re just mean.”

A laugh echoed off the burial vaults around them. Chaisai shook his head with a grin. Of course Nora would think the new power he felt was shitty. She would never get it; not unless he could convince her to touch the Abnormality and feel it for herself. “Fine,” he said, the smile slowly fading. “You’re too stubborn to listen to me anyway.” Sensing she wasn’t going to take the jacket, he slipped it back on. “Can I at least get you clothes?” he looked around, seeing only an unforgiving graveyard around them, and nowhere for Nora to get warm. What the fuck was she doing meeting him out here anyway? “Your dog has mange. And like some kind of alien thing going on. You should get that looked at.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “So are you gonna tell me why you turned into a bear? Or am I gonna have to google that, too?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Nora mumbled. “I can take care of myself. Worry about yourself.” Nora would worry about him too. There had been a conversation that happened here, but both of them had talked at a wall the entire time. Nothing getting through to the other person. “Babadook isn’t normally vengeful, but if you keep it up he might seek revenge.” It was one thing to be possessed by Crystal and an Abnormality, it was another thing to be mean to a dog. That was just low. “Google it.” Good luck to him. Years of googling had come up with nothing for Nora. She started to slip between a pair of headstones, illusions strengthening the shadows so the dog and the girl disappeared without a trace.

“Fine,” Chaisai sighed. “Whatever.” He watched as the shadows around the graveyard seemed to swallow Nora and her weird pet whole. What the fuck was his life? Chaisai stood there for a long moment after they left, wondering where to go from here, before he turned back the way he’d run and headed for the parking lot. His mind felt foggy, like he was walking through a dream. If he was normal, this would’ve shattered his reality at the seams. Instead of a crisis, he found himself fueled with more questions than he’d had when he arrived. If Nora thought she could cure him with another jar of acid, she had another thing coming. Good luck to her. Back at his car, he drove off, headed towards Serpent’s Flat to clear his head.

#ch: rock and a hard place #ch: nora #ch: babadook #that's right #babadook gets his own tag #ALSO #let it be known we did this in pretty much one go last night LMAO

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