-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-CRACK-THUMP-THUMP-CRACK-

“I’m furious, beyond furious actually. This anger had been building ever since Becker was butchered by Glitchtrap and his obedient murder slave. Being stripped of control like that is nerve-wracking. It was important to send Becker on a goose chase, all those morons had to do was leave multiple trails out of the city. Should’ve known the plan was doomed to FAIL, but I’m not omnipotent, just overly cautious and paranoid.”

-BZBBZZZBZZBBZBBBZBZBZBZBZBZBZBZBZBZBBBZZBZZZZZZZBZZBZBZZZZZ-

I CAN’T BE EVERYWHERE; SLEEP IS A MUST FOR US! STABILITY REQUIRES SLEEP!

-BSBSBSBBSBSBSSBSBSBSBSBSBSBSBSSBSBSBSBSSBSBSBSBSBSBSBBSSB-

I CAN FEEL OUR BODY TREMBLE AS THE A FAMILIAR VOICE YELLS IN MY HEAD

              My head shakes as the buzzing fades away again, refocusing on the matter at hand. It had slipped my mind what the ramifications of denying the blinding weasel and the braindead puppet. Although, HIS plans went beyond resurrecting a worthless zombie, unlike my “associate’s” belief in the zombie’s gospel. I’m not a fool, the only reason Vanny was still useful was because she has VANESSA’S BODY. My host’s existence was testament to the zombie’s failed initial plan. Then again, it was a miracle that Glitchtrap didn’t order Vanny to dispose of Gregory.

“God dammit! What’s the point of gaining remnant if the dumbasses want child remnant specifically.” My hands vibrate from pain as I tore up failed notes to grasp ointment and gauze.

-RRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPP-POP-SQUEELCH-FWIIIPPPP-RIP-TACK-

“Those two are doing as they please, disregarding the consequences and this new “plan” of theirs will be blown-up in their faces, don’t need to be a genius to see that.” My hair is ruined, and my base is dusty.

-CCCCCRRRREEEEEEEEAAAAK-

              I look at the worn photos in a corner, an echo of nostalgia filling my host before fading into obscurity. Gregory had turned every mirror in the base to the walls, but I know he’s hiding from that specter. I know the specter isn’t harmful, but Gregory suffered enough at the ghastly apparition of my “Boss” to leave mental scars. The apparition is talkative, a mechanic, and clearly a past victim, I don’t know who it is though they value family if their staring at pictures isn’t obvious enough.

“Gregory is an orphan by no fault of his own, I still see flashes of that night he became one by Glitch’s orders. I desired to be FREE, now I’m tired of it all, so fucking tired. Just a few more tuning sessions and I can set it all in motion.”

-CREAK-FWOOSH-CLICK-CLACK-CLICK-CLACK-FWOOSH-

-HRUM-HRUM-HRUM-HRUM-HRUM-HRUM-

              The comforting, amber glow of Gregory’s remnant illuminates this room, the jars are quiet and calm in his presence. However, the room adjacent to this crawl space closet is different, almost joyous in the windy whispers. Although I hadn’t the reason to look into Gregory’s memories, I’m aware of their shared past, but the remnant isn’t picky in what is transferred back into the body. So, I see Gregory’s childhood before the headset, yet it’s clear that Vanny existed before it all. I can’t understand what made her wait to kill THEM, she could’ve done it at any time prior. I can theorize but no proof exists to answer this query of mine.

-CLICK-CLACK-CLICK-CLACK-FWOOSH-CLICK-CLACK-CLICK-CLACK-FWOOSH-

-HROOO-GIGGLE-HROOO-GIGGLE-HROOO-GIGGLE-HROOO-GIGGLE-

-TINK-CLANK-TINK-CLANK-TINK-CLANK-TINK-CLANK-

“It’s all irrelevant, I need to finish what’s in store before those two get wise to my lip service and platitudes. Lucky for me, Vanny’s forethought isn’t beyond covering up her crimes, or she’d ask about the remnant I’m using. Time to check the others.” Crossing the gap to the door.

              This was the other secret I’d kept for so long, these jars are almost gone, soon nothing will stop me from getting what I want. I can feel the exhaustion in my being, but I’m almost finished, soon nothing will matter after this is all over, not Vanny, the missing children, nor the past. Gregory will wake believing it all to be nothing short of a bad dream, it’ll be better for us all in the end.

-Staring into the, now hung, mirror, with the ghost behind me-

              It’s merely a feeling, but a warm echo settled into my chest, guess you agree with my plan. I’m no longer looking at a reflection of blue eyes, only weary amber stared back, a splash of ever-present pain apparent in them. How it feels to watch an imposter live your life, steal your friends, and continuously bloody your hands until knee-deep in bodies. That is a kind of trauma I could never understand, but freedom is near, yours and MINE.

“Cassidy won’t agree to your plan, no longer will HE be in her grasp.” Sorrow hangs in the room from the ghost.

“What SHE desires is irrelevant, after all, she is still hiding from the consequences of HER actions.” Tis wrong to snap at him, but her actions led to this nightmare’s existence.

              I turn to the machine, Vanessa’s unconscious form strapped into the comfy chair. Moving her was easy, but Gregory worries, she’s gaunt, starved of nutrients, and so pale it’s as if she’s already dead. Yet, tis an improvement over how near-death she had been before the “tuning” I began. Calling it tuning was quite clever when the truth was that I’d been feeding the agony Vanny pulled from Vanessa back into Vanessa’s body.

-SLOSH-GURGLE-TINK-

              I stared down at the faintly glowing, emerald liquid sloshing and coiling the jar like a water snake. It YEARNS to return to the host. I lied when I told them that Vanny would overtake Vanessa, it wasn’t the opposite either, this would weaken Vanny’s hold tremendously, but it won’t be a miracle fix-it as I mentioned to the ghost. There are still other safeguards that warden set up.

“When the stage is set, I won’t be able to communicate with him, so you’ll have to in my stead.” My eyes glance to the darkened corner.

-TINK-SHINK-TINK-SHINK-TINK-SHINK-WWWHHHIRRRMMM-BUBBLE-BUBBLE-FSSSSS-

“Now then Vanessa, this is your final round of shots. Soon, you’ll be right as rain and on your way.” I slot the jars into the feeder before pressing the button.

              I’d set up Gregory’s feeder last night, so all I need is to sit and let the machine work as we sleep. Everything is done, soon Freddy will deliver Vanessa to the Lost and Found office. As for Gregory, my faithful partner will hide him in one of my burrows near the Atrium, just in time for the show. Vanny and Glitch will be scrambling to brainwash him again. I’ll be laughing the entire time, wherever I land when they realize the chip is gone, from Gregory.

              Remnant is a wonderful quick fix, as long as the one healed matches the one it’s pulled from. I glance at the faded scar that’s hidden by Vanessa’s right bang; it was shrinking more, and soon it’ll be completely gone. How easy those two were to convince, an unexpected accident with a Monty endo in P&S was all I needed as an excuse to put her under. Now, to get rid of the last piece, her chips.

-POP-HHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS-SQUEAK-HIS-BUBBLE-SPARK-BZZZ-ZIP-GURGLE-

“It’s time for you to return, Gregory. This night will be nightmarish, perhaps traumatizing. No need to worry, you won’t be alone. Neither of you will be alone.” Situating myself comfortably, nodding to my assistant bot.

-WWWHHHIRRRMMM-BUBBLE-BUBBLE-FSSSSS-

              My vision blurs as the needles gently poke and the injections start flooding Gregory’s veins at once. No surprise, I feel at peace, my mind tranquil as the blur turns from white to black.

“-sigh- It’s finally time, will be amazing to sleep, uninterrupted.” Gregory’s head lolls as the rest of him relaxes into the chair.

Logan: It’s probably just Peanut *half asleep*

Virgil: HOW ARE YOU SO SURE!?

Logan: *pets hair* Shhhhh sleep. If we sleep, then we won’t feel the ghost kill us..