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The chilly air of the night made everything worse as the scene unfolded before their eyes.
“Forever, come down. We can talk this out,” Pac pleaded, eyes set on his decayed friend.
The abyss behind Forever’s feet howled with the wind. The man’s eyes were empty as he stepped back in the direction of certain death. Not only was he ready to jump at any given moment, but he also was dragging a drugged Richas with him. If he kept going, both would fall from the cliff.
“No! Stop coming!” Forever yelled, the blade in his hand hovering over the neck of his beloved son in a silent threat.
Richarlyson was shaking in his hold, cheeks stained by tears he dared not wipe. The child wasn’t scared for himself. He was scared for his dad.
The dad who taught him how to be the naughtiest.
The dad who was always up at ungodly hours of the night to tell random stories because he couldn't sleep.
The dad who went through thick and thin to protect and love him and his other parents.
“Do it, then! Do it!” Forever yelled.
None of the other habitants dared to make a move, worried about the child in his arms.
“Do it, your cowards! Come at me! Try your luck!” the rage was palpable, the man’s eyes devoured by the black of the possession. They didn’t know how to call the entity that took over their friend’s body, nor dared to think about it.
They should have noticed sooner. Offered help sooner!
But would it change anything?
Forever was never one to rely on others by choice. He always carried his burdens alone, worried about bothering his friends and family. He was selfless like that but still chose to believe that he was incredibly selfish.
They didn’t notice when he started building the N.I.N.H.O., nor when he did the stasis chambers for the eggs. They also chose to ignore the signals when he retreated after the elections, their little trip to the nether, and even during their stay in the Purgatory experiment.
They just put the thought of helping aside like something to be done later.
What a stupid thought.
It was at that moment that Philza noticed the creature’s hold on Richarlyson falter.
"Forever, this is not you!" Pac yelled, to which the creature laughed soundly, playing with the dagger in his hand.
"I've heard that name many times since I took over this body. It was their name, right? 'Forever'? Let me tell you a few things about them, then. Since you are so eager to 'get him back' or whatever shit you think any shit can do," the creature tilted its head to the side, a sick smile taking over its face.
Other than the inhabitants, a few of the kids had followed the group and now were standing by the side of their parents.
Pomme and Chayanne had their swords up while standing between Etoiles and Philza, while Tallulah stood proudly by the other side of her father with a bow and arrows in hand. Dapper had his scythe ready for a fight, while Baghera guarded his back with her daggers ready to attack. Ramon and Leo stayed behind with the younger children and some of the parents, sparing them a possibly bloody view of what was going to happen.
"First things first, the one who swore to be by his side no matter what. Right, Cellbit?” the creature scoffed. The aforementioned blonde sucked his breath, wrinkling his brows. "This person, Forever, had so many expectations of you. You were supposed to be his friend, his companion, his most trusted confidant. Instead, you left him to fend for himself, ignoring his pleas for help until it was already too late. It's not the first time, is it?"
"Then we have you, Jones. His so-called sister. The first outsider to get him to let down his guard, and one of the first to stab him in the back when the time came. You just lost being the first to BadBoyHalo, the one who exploited poor Forever until there was nothing left to suck from him. You, BadBoyHalo, chewed and spat him out like he was nothing. He had so much joy in gifting you those flowers, but you couldn’t understand what he really meant. Or even better, you chose not to."
"All of you are responsible for me being able to take over this body. I thank you all. They were an amazing host. He fought so hard, for so long. It took me literal months to take over, and yet they are still resisting. They're kicking and screaming, begging me to let go of this child, of your flock. He still considers you family. What a stupid thought. What a waste of time."
"You should be grateful your children are alive. It's his doing. Every time I aimed at them, he stepped forward and stopped me from pulling the trigger."
The creature slowly lost its smirk through their speech switching to a scorn, the knife now touching Richas' neck.
"So please, let me be the reason why you will resent him forever," the smirk was back, and the threat of jumping off the cliff too. "Do it! Come on!" there was blood running down Richas' neck at this point, staining the yellow shirt green with dragon blood. "Do it!" and amidst all the screaming and cackles of mockery, there was a single plea: "Please."
"I'm sorry," Chayanne heard his father murmur before a single arrow cut the air and slotted itself on Forever's chest, where Richarlyson had been held captive mere seconds before being pushed forward roughly against the ground.
"Richarlyson!" Cellbit screamed, running in the direction of his child. From behind him, Philza watched with a heavy heart as the creature fell on its knees, a saccharine smile on its lips.
"Bravo, Philza Minecraft. You did it. Let me echo this coward's last words for you," the creature mocked, blood staining their clothes and falling on the ground from the arrow wound. With a swift movement, the creature removed the arrow from its place, allowing the blood to gush out freely from the injury. "He says 'thank you'."