Critter Volume 3 Chapter 7 : Dead To Me

(Please Read to better understand) Previously On Critter:

Lauren accidentally found herself viewing some of Jason’s private police files, which reveal that Tyson had fang marks on his neck when he died. She has since kept it to herself.

Megan was supposedly sent to Traci’s “dungeon” because she was an elemental. Megan proposed to Mitch that they find the other elementals together to ultimately defeat Traci for good. Traci’s grudge towards Mitch would make it hard to return to Bon Temps permanently.

Ashley has been with Traci for the past while to gain information on Mitchell’s whereabouts, but began to get caught up in the power along the way.

A "man in a suit" has appeared or been mentioned in many story lines. 

Bon Temps

Kyle had a firm grip on Kelly’s hair. He was pulling her away from the crash site where her three friends plummeted off a bridge. Kelly didn’t know whether to try to hurt him or not, before today Kyle was a friend. She doubted this was actually Kyle, she assumed it was some sort of dark magic. Suddenly, Kyle let go. He then gasped for air “KELLY! IT’S ME KYLE! I HAVE TO HURRY SHE’S COMIN-“ his shrieking voice was cut off by a deeper voice of the same tone. He let out a scream, and then he was back “KELLY, I CAN’T HOLD THIS BITCH OFF FOR TOO LONG! YOU HAVE TO GET CLAYTON! HE’S DYING! GO!” and just like that Kyle hit the ground. He was rolling around in the dirt and screaming. It was this moment that Kelly knew someone was inside of him, the old man from the book store was right.

Kelly leaned over the edge, the limo was smashed into the tree, the driver had been thrown from the windshield, and he didn’t make it. She could see her friends had made it to the bottom and were on their way back up. A feeling of relief flew through her. Kelly ran towards them “we have to go now!”.

Lauren, Mitch, Megan and Logan sat in a booth at his bar. Dayna had told them everything, how the bar was taken over by Clayton and how the entire town assumed they had died. They of course couldn’t tell Dayna the real reason as to why they had been missing, so they said they were on a secret well-needed vacation in the Caribbean. Dayna wasn’t the brightest, the excuse worked. Dayna and Jenna were the only ones working tonight, other then the cooks. They had each ordered their favorite meals, the thing they have been dreamt about most since they entered Faetasia, other then a hot shower.

A frantic Kelly running through the front doors interrupted them. “CLAYTON!” she screamed as she tumbled up against a counter top. The restaurant was empty, but then she saw them. Her supposedly dead friends were sitting in the booth across from her. “Mitch? Lauren?” she said. Lauren stood up “Kelly it’s so good to see you again” she ran to her friend and embarrassed her tightly “where were you guys? We thought you were dead” she explained “It’s a long story, we will catch you up to speed soon but where is everybody?” she asked, “When you two disappeared, Lena moved away shortly after. Clayton and I stayed here but something has gone terribly wrong, something is happening to Kyle. He’s not himself, and I need to find my brother” she said trying to catch her breath. Mitch approached and placed his hand on her shoulder. He was then bombarded with images in his head, flashes of Clayton stuck in a box, and then an image of the cemetery, and a quick flash of Clayton screaming sent him back to reality. “We have hurry! I know where he is!” he shouted “you two stay here, we’ll be back” he pointed at Megan and Logan as he ran out the door with Kelly and Lauren.

All it took was one more spell; one more spell to convince Ashley that she was doing the wrong thing. As she stopped midway through a spell Traci had taught her, she realized that she was getting too lost in the magic. She had killed Paul, not that he didn’t deserve it; it wasn’t her style to hurt an un-armed person like that. She wondered what her mother would think of her now, what would Kindred think of her? Her friends? She had to get what she came for; it was suddenly all that mattered.

She walked towards the area Traci had been residing in for the past couple of hours. She was quiet about it just incase she found herself walking in on something she would regret. She peered past a big tree that covered Ashley’s entire body; behind it she could see Traci with her eyes closed and her fingertips pressed firmly against the crystal ball. She was focusing so intensely that Ashley knew something was about to happen. The image of a woman appeared before Traci. “AAH SISTER! You’re back!” she yelled “hello again” the woman replied, “How was the trip? Did everything run smoothly? You were gone longer then I expected” Traci said “I’m sorry sister, I have some bad news, their still alive and their here in Bon Temps, however I have made a deal with Mitchell. He promises to take me to the other elementals so that we can finally be rid of them all for good” the woman explained “after that, I will kill them both, as promised” the woman said “you listen carefully to these next words Megan, you may be my sister but if you can’t complete this simple task for me, then there will be consequences. If Mitchell were ever to realize the power he held in himself he could defeat us! Especially with two of them!” she yelled. “GET IT DONE!” she screamed as she released her hand from the crystal ball. Ashley turned around with a tear brewing from her eye. This was the last straw, Ashley left Traci, and she decided to give up the magic. One thing her mother always told her was to “embrace that what makes you special” and if being a regular old human was what she was supposed to be, then so be it. Ashley ran to warn Mitch.

“HURRY! HE’S HERE!” Mitch grabbed one of the two shovels leaning up against the tree; he began digging where a grave was freshly placed. “IS HE DOWN THERE?” Kelly screamed while crying. Mitch threw the shovel to the ground “STAND BACK” he demanded. Mitchell closed his eyes and placed his hands above the grave. The ground then began to shake, the dirt then lifted into the air and he placed it in a pile beside the grave. Mitchell then passed out unconscious.

Lauren jumped down into the grave; she blasted the lock off with a beam and flung the coffin open. Clayton lay inside, although it was weak, he still had a pulse. Kelly and Lauren pulled him to the ground level. “Come on wake up Clay!” cried Kelly. Lauren decided to send a small shock through his body to try and wake him up. She placed her hand on his chest, and sent light through his entire body. His eyes then opened and he gasped for air. “THANK GOD!” yelled Kelly as they hugged each other. The group then headed to Laurens house to discuss their next move.

They placed Clayton on the couch; they placed an ice pack on his head and gave him a big glass of water. “He should be okay” said Mitch “are you gunna be okay?” asked Lauren who was referring to him passing out after using his power “ya, I’ll be fine, sometimes when I use it too much I get really weak” he explained “okay so what the hell is going on?” asked Lauren as the three of them walked into the next room “Kyle is full out demon mode right now and I don’t know what to do, he was after me, there’s something inside him. He’s very powerful and pissed off. He threw my limo off a bridge and buried my brother alive! We gotta get this fucker!” she yelled.

A knock then came to the door; Lauren swung it open to see Jordan standing on the front porch. “Your alive?” he instantly asked. Lauren stood at the door holding her arm in the frame “you guys are back!” he yelled. Lauren pushed Jordan onto the front porch “give us a sec” she yelled as she shut the door. “Where have you guys been?” he asked, “did you kill Tyson?” she demanded an answer. Jordan felt like lying, it was something he had gotten used to since he became a vampire. Instead he decided to explain “Listen, I was just born, I couldn’t control-“ he was cut off “DID YOU KILL TYSON?” she shouted, drawing the attention of Mitch and Kelly inside. Jordan paused for a moment “yes” he replied, “I killed Tyson”. A moment of silence passed by when Lauren finally found the words “I don’t ever want to see you again, understood? You will never see any of us again! You will crawl into your little hole and sleep for the next thousand years and wake up and have a whole new mess of people to murder! If I see you again, I will kill you! YOU ARE DEAD TO ME!” she said as she stepped back inside and slammed the door.

New York City

A door suddenly opened, Rachel covered her eyes, as they were now sensitive to the light. The tall man was dragging one more person into the room. Since she had been taken to this place, 3 other people were dragged in one by one. This last one makes 6. The others names were Tommy, Emma, Xanthe and “what’s your name?” whispered Rachel as the tall man exited and shut the door “I’m Aaron” he replied. “What is this place” cried Aaron “we don’t know, we were all brought here just like you” replied Xanthe. Just then the door was thrown open once again. This time, it wasn’t the tall man, but rather a regular man. He walked in, he was wearing leather shoes and a long trench coat “it’s you” said Rachel as she starred at the man and remembered he was the same guy who gave her the folder at 16.

“You’re probably all wondering why you’re here, well I’ll tell you” the man said as he looked out at the 6 prisoners. “If you think someone is going to barge in those doors and save you, your wrong. Where we are, not everyone can just come. You are stuck here” the man began pacing “I believe in second chances, and each of you are in need of a second chance. Each of you have disappointed or wronged me in some way during your life, this is your chance to make it right. In a minute, a large door will open and you will all be released into his forest. The rules are simple, you must simply survive 48 hours in his forest and if by the end you are alive you will be set free, no questions asked. Your debt will be paid and you will be on your way. Any questions?” he said with a dirty smile “who is he?” Rachel asked, “They call him the Slender Man. Now, good luck to all of you” the man turned to leave. Everyone was shouting as he exited. A few seconds later the big garage style door slid open. Everyone’s cuffs then released from their wrists. The door leads to a dark, creepy forest. Tommy stood from the ground “now what?” he asked “we survive” replied Becky.

Critter Volume 3 Chapter 6 : Good Riddance

Bon Temps

Kyle lay on the couch, his eyes starred into the light bulb above him. He knew inside that whatever had been released from that locket, had affected him in a negative way. Kyle had little control over his body, inside he could think for himself but on the outside he was becoming a zombie. He closed his eyes and said a prayer. His mother always taught him that the biggest of problems could be solved with faith. He opened his eyes; a woman was floating above him. He could see a bright light and someone with long hair wearing a white dress. The face was over exposed, he couldn’t make it out. The light began to fade, Julia appeared. “Thank you, Kyle” she said as she entered through Kyle’s mouth. Kyle’s eyes closed and then re-opened. Julia had taken over; she was finally in the flesh. Here to finish what she started. Her first task was to obtain Clayton. Once she had him, Kelly would do anything to get him back.

Clayton sat with Kelly at Mitch’s Bar & Grill “so what do you think all this means?” asks Kelly “well he said “exorcismos, does that mean exorcism? It sure sounded like that” Clayton explained “performing an exorcism would mean that a spirit is inside Kyle, and I just refuse to believe that” replied Kelly “we’ve seen weirder things” added Clayton “Oh hold on, I just got a text from Kyle. I’m feeling a lot better; can you meet me at the cemetery? I’m here now at Mitch and Laurens grave” Clayton looked up at Kelly “see, there you go. He seems fine!” she said. Clayton through his coat on “I’m gunna go see if he’s okay, wanna come?” he asked Kelly “I can’t remember? I have Chandra’s birthday tonight, she rented a limo” Kelly giggled, “let me know how it goes okay?” Clayton nodded and left the restaurant.

Clayton pulls up to the grave site “KYLE!?” he shouted, but couldn’t see anyone. He exited his car and walked over to Lauren’s grave, no sign of Kyle. “Over here” he heard faintly in the distance “Kyle where are you?” he yelled again. The sound was coming from beyond Warrens grave, Clayton went to find his friend. He came across a freshly dug grave, inside was a coffin “what the fuck?” Clayton whispered. “Hi” he heard from behind him, Clayton turned around and saw Kyle standing with a shovel, he smacked Clayton over the head sending him falling into the coffin. Kyle jumped down and placed him firmly inside. He shut the door and locked it with a padlock. “KYLE!” screamed Clayton as he began burying the grave. “I can’t have you running around, I’ll need you” he said as he put the final load of dirt on top. Clayton was completely underground.

Kelly heard the screams of her friends from the road in front of her house. “Coming” she yelled as she grabbed her purse of the table and ran out the door. She hopped into the limo and was greeted by her friends Tara, Chandra and Simone. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHANDRA!” she yelled as she pulled out a bottle of champagne. The girls laughed and raised their glasses to the sky. “Here’s to a good night” she yelled. The cab driver was taking them to a nightclub in town. One of the only cubs in this area.

They were just passing over a bridge when the limo came to a halt “what’s going on?” yelled Chandra to the limo driver “there’s someone standing in the road” he replied “just go around them” replied Simone. Kelly peeked her head out, it was Kyle standing in the road. “That’s Kyle, I know him!” yelled Kelly “hold on I’ll go see what he wants. Kelly went to open her door and it wouldn’t open. Suddenly the car screeched over an inch. “WHAT WAS THAT” yelled Tara. Kelly looked up at Kyle, she didn’t think it was possible, but it didn’t seem like this was really Kyle. Kyle raised his hands and the limo began sliding over to the edge of the bridge. The girls were screaming. The bridge fell about 200 feet to the ground through trees. The limo stopped moving. Kelly brushed a tear away from her trembling face, she knew it was not over. The limo then flipped upside down and smashed through the wall on the bridge. It was half off the bridge when Kyle smashed through the window and grabbed Kelly’s legs. He began pulling her out. She was screaming for her friends and grabbing things to pull herself back in. Chandra reached out for her friend but it was too late. Kelly was pulled out of the limo. Kyle tossed her on the rain soaked pavement he then turned to the limo and kicked it off the edge. “KELLY!” screamed Chandra as the limo went over. It crashed through trees and broke branches but came to a stop when it landed in a massive tree with hundreds of branches. Kelly screamed for her friends. Kyle turned to Kelly “who are you” she asked. Kyle looked at her and began to sing. “Julia” she whispered.

Traci had been teaching Ashley small spells that she can use in self-defense or as protection from certain creatures. “I really didn’t think you were gunna shoot him” Traci said as she was sifting through a book for another spell. “I did what I had to do” said Ashley as she was practicing a spell. She was using a spell that shot electricity from her fingers. “I’ve never felt anything like this before” said Ashley “this is amazing” she added. Traci looked up from the book “I need you to do something for me” she said. “I need to know that I can trust you with this” “you can trust me” replied Ashley.

Ashley drove in the direction of Mitch’s Bar & Grill, she knew what Traci told her to do could help her get answers about where Mitchell is, so she decided to do it. She was asked to retrieve the crystal ball from Mitchells safe. If Traci had gone to get it, people would burn her at the stake. Well, they would try. Ashley didn’t know why she needed the crystal ball, but she was promised answers about Mitchells whereabouts if she retrieved it for her.

Faetasia

“OKAY SPIT IT OUT ALREADY WHO ARE YOU?” yelled Mitchell. The boy who we once knew as Sam turned to his friends “My name is Logan” “well it’s nice to meet you Logan” replied Mitch. Just then, the group heard shouting in the distance. Ericka was still tied to the tree limb, she began laughing “their coming for you” she said. “HOW DO WE GET OUT OF HERE!” screamed Lauren as she slapped Ericka across the face “You think I’m ever gunna tell you, princess” she said. Megan approached with her shank “I’ll make her talk” she said. Megan placed the blade on her neck, she made a small incision when Ericka let out a loud scream. Megan dug deeper “OKAY I’LL TELL YOU!” she gave up, blood dripped to the ground. “There are only two portals in and out of this place, there hidden. Not even I know where they are, however when you two were sent here a third portal was created. You can use that portal to get back” said Ericka. Her head rested against the rough tree bark “now let me go” “hell no” said Mitch as they headed towards the portal.

“Mitch, can I talk to you for a second?” asked Megan as they wondered off from the group “I only know the whereabouts of one of my sisters, finding the others is all you” she said. “Once we get out of here I’ll be able to use my crystal ball to find them, or maybe I’ll have a vision but that’s not a for sure thing” he replied “you have a crystal ball? That’s lame” Megan replied “If you knew how I got it, you wouldn’t think it was that lame, there’s only about 100 in the entire world” he said “where did you say your one sister lived?” asked Mitch “she’s in New York City”.

“WE’RE HERE!” yelled Mitch as they came across the hole in the ground that they climbed out of many months ago. “Ready to get the hell out of here?” asked Lauren as she placed her hand on Mitchells shoulder “after you” he said as Lauren jumped into the hole. Megan then followed and Logan jumped in after her. Mitch took a look around “good riddance” he whispered as he jumped in the hole”.

When Mitch opened his eyes he could hear the shouting of his name, Lauren was in the distance waving him down. Mitch sat up and took a look around, he was in the same farmers field that he was in when he was sent to Faetasia. The group decided to make their way to the bar. Mitchell was overwhelmed with the feeling of freedom; his powers were instantly working again. “So do we call a cab or something?” asked Lauren.

The cab took off leaving Mitchell, Lauren, Megan and Logan standing outside the bar. Mitchell grabbed the door handle and entered. As they walked into the bar, covered in dirt, blood and sweat, Dayna was washing the bar with a bucket of hot water. She turned to welcome the guests and let out a loud scream. She fainted and hit the floor “we’re home” Lauren whispered.

New York City

Rachel woke up in a panic. She raised her hands only to be held down by chains. She was breathing heavily as she looked at her surroundings. A dark damp room, the smell was horrible, like dead corpse or something. She looked beside her to see another woman chained up beside her. “Hello?” she whispered, the woman raised her head and looked at Rachel “who are you?” the woman asked “I’m Rachel, who are you?” she asked “Becky” the woman replied. Rachel saw glowing bracelets around her wrists “what are those?” asked Rachel “these are to keep me from lighting this whole place on fire”. Rachel didn’t understand “what does this guy want from me?” Rachel asked “are you special too? Do you have abilities?” asked Becky “Umm yes, do you?” she replied, “That’s why we’re here, he eats anything supernatural, it gives him power” said Becky “well what are you?” Rachel insisted, “I’m an elemental”.

Critter Volume 3 Chapter 5 : The Tall Man

Faetasia

Lauren saw the panic, the Fae were running around collecting things and evacuating. When the bomb hit, she knew this was her only chance to escape. She was bound to a chair, blood dripping from her arm. She never felt this kind of anger before. Lauren clenched her fists and what happened next, no one would have expected. Lauren released a sheet of light that took out everyone in the room, even Evelyn. Lauren sat on the chair in shock, the rope had popped off. She was free.

Heart pounding, sweat dripping, Lauren ran through the halls dodging panicked people praying that no one would stop her. She arrived at an opening where the bomb had gone off, leaving it crumbling and unstable. She approached the edge and began climbing down. She turned to see the men and woman staying in the tents were creating anarchy. Running over the wall and bursting through it. “LAUREN GET BACK HERE!” screamed Evelyn who stood at the top screaming. Lauren hopped down and ran towards the forest.

“IS THAT HER?” yelled Sam. The group ran in her direction, Evelyn watched as the four of them regrouped “LAUREN!” screamed Mitchell as they embraced in a hug. Lauren began crying “we need to get out of here now! If they get to me I’ll never get out of here!” she panted. “Let’s go! NOW!” the four of them ran off into the forest. Evelyn shouted at Ericka “ERICKA! GO GET THEM! NOW!” Ericka turned and began running towards them with a few guards at her side.

It all seemed like a slow motion play by play, Mitchell felt like his legs could barely move. Even though they were, the four of them had finally escaped. It seems like forever ago he was sent here with Megan and Sam. They had finally gotten away, but Mitch had no idea what was in store for them once they escaped the palace. He knew he wanted to do something before it was too late, and he missed his chance. “LAUREN!” he yelled as he placed his hand against a tree catching his breath. Lauren stopped and her dirty blonde hair flowed in the wind as she turned to Mitch “come here” he whispered just loud enough for her to hear. Lauren stumbled over to Mitchell as he clenched her in his arms tightly. He then kissed her, so passionately as if it would be their first yet last kiss ever. He released and Lauren’s heart skipped a beat. “Why?” she whispered “I didn’t know if I was ever gunna get the chance to do that, and trust me when I say I’ve wanted to forever”. Lauren stepped back with a smile “well let’s get the hell out of here and then forever can continue” she flirted. She turned the others. Megan stood with a knife pressed firmly against her throat. Ericka has Sam on his knees as her hands began lighting up. “NOBODY MOVES!” yelled Ericka. Sam then stood up and grabbed her hands in attempt to push them in the opposite direction, he failed. The blast came out and shot him across the plain. He smashed into a tree and hit the ground “SAM!” yelled Mitch.

New York City

The sole purpose of Lena up and moving her and her daughter to New York was to escape the craziness that was Bon Temps. Although it seemed like crazy follows her. Rachel, Lena and Athena had taken a drive down to Jasmine’s house so that they could drop Athena off and figure out a way to reason with the man that wants Athena. Jasmine wondered what she was up to, but was left with no answers. Lena gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek and left her daughter. “We need to stop this, you understand how important she is to me don’t you?” cried Lena as she sat in the passenger side of the car. “We’re gunna find this guy, and we’re gunna stop him together” explained Rachel “there was something in the folder he gave me, at first I thought it was pointless but I shortly realized it was It was a place. On the first page of the book there were notes, mostly scribbles but one stood out. Der Grobmann, which is Dutch for The Tall Man. Underneath it was an address, that’s where we’re going, to hopefully find some answers from this man.”

Hours passed by and Lena had drifted off, she awoke to see farmer’s fields. She hadn’t seen these since she moved to New York. “Where the hell are we?” she asked “I think where almost the-“ Rachel was interrupted when she spun the wheel to dodge what looked like a man standing in the middle of the road. The car slid around and fell into the ditch. “Holy shit are you okay?” asked Lena “I think so” Lena turned to Rachel and began screaming. The man they almost hit was standing outside her window. The man reached in and grabbed her, pulling her out kicking and screaming. Lena jumped out of the car; she was shocked by the appearance of the man. He was strikingly tall and was wearing a black cloak. He was wearing big black gloves, the only thing she could see was the back of his head as he carried Rachel away “HEY!” yelled Lena, the man turned around and had no features on his face. Just a pale and empty face.

Faetasia

Mitchell ran to Sam, as he was unconscious on the ground. He was breathing, but hurt. Lauren raised her arm and began shooting light from her hands, Ericka did the same, and their lights collided. Laurens was somehow stronger and pushed Ericka to the ground. Megan elbowed the man holding her in the gut, creating a little bit of room to budge. She quickly swiveled out of his arms and knocked him to the ground. She took the knife and drove it into his chest. Lauren approached Ericka and with the whip that Mitchell had found she ties her to the nearest tree. “We’ll need her” she said.

“When this bitch wakes up, we will find a way out of here. She must know something” says Megan as she kicks her in the leg and walks towards Mitch “when we do get out of here, Traci is going to find us and put us back here, unless we stop her” she explained “what do you have In mind?” asked Mitch “If we find my sisters, together we can defeat Traci and finally live without constantly looking over our shoulders, the constant worry will be gone, but Traci has to die”. Mitchell walked towards her “Where are your sisters now?” he asked “well that’s where I hoped you would come in handy, use your fancy psychic abilities to help me find them, and then once their found, together we can kill Traci. You won’t be able to do it alone, only we can defeat that powerful of a witch.” She said. Mitchell knew this was his only option, he would never be safe from her if they didn’t find a way to defeat her “I’m in” he said “me too” added Lauren. The two of them shared another moment, just smiling at one another when Sam arose gasping for air. They ran over to him “COME ON SAM BREATHE! SIT UP!” yelled Mitch as he propped Sam against a tree “I’m not-“ he had trouble speaking “I’m” Sam took a deep breath “I’m not Sam, I remember now. I remember who I am”.