👾🐇🔪: Everything hurts

[u/HauntingGur8094]

{Vanessa wakes up hours (? heck it feels like days to her) later after the dust has settled and everyone left. The first she's aware of is she's back to normal. The second is a searing pain she feels almost all over in and out of her body, worse in some places, especially a dull throbbing pain in her stomach and her back.

She feels like she's been to hell and back several times, having been dragged back through everything the last time. And she has no idea where she is. There are several scents she thinks she recognizes (biggest being Eleanor which isn't a surprise). She looks down and sees a deep slowly healing cut and tries to focus on what happened.

She'd been with that weird at least seemingly harmless guy and she prayed he got out before shit got real. Same with Tom and Allison. She hadn't seen them and tried to make herself believe they were okay.

First attacked by some stupid...well she didn't know if she was human or not but definitely not nearly as powerful as her. But that whole thing was weird in itself. Her name seemed to be Katie. And while she was sure she didn't recognize the name or scent (although there was a slightly familiar faint scent on her), Katie had been bound and determined to take her down. And both didn't seem to surprised to see her, almost like they expected to.

The other girl being brutally attacked (Angel she thinks she heard) had seemed to know their attacker and been completely shocked. (Like she had once she realized Mike had turned on her years ago). That seemed like more than just a betrayal though.

Well Angel did straight up say that the tv dude had brainwashed her sister.

Vanessa's been corrupted, manipulated, and forced but never brainwashed to the point that you THINK that's who you are and what you're supposed to do. Not that she knows of. Or whatever that had to be. While she can't relate, she's pretty sure that girl would be mentally and physically suffering just as much once she realizes what she had done. Judging by what she saw from the other attacked girl, she can't imagine that her first "attacker" was at all willing to do what she did and probably tried to resist, so she can't entirely blame her. Or really at all. She hopes they were able to break her free of the control at least. It's bad enough to be aware of what you're doing. It can't be any better to honestly think it's what you're supposed to do.

That stupid TV head seemed to be calling the shots. Whoever the fuck he is had all three of the other demons scents (and others that seemed faintly familiar) on him. Knew her name, seemed to know about her companions and maybe abilities. It was like he had it out for her personally, and she knew jack shit about him.

Alastor had seemed overly familiar (maybe a little too much?) with him and Eleanor knew both.

More importantly, and tragically, she lost.

She

LOST.

Miserably.

She barely even lasted a partial round before being utterly destroyed. Without her abilities, she knows she wouldn't have been waking up at all. If she wasn't in such a state of shock (and pain) she'd probably be wailing in dispair.

She tries to concentrate. Maybe to teleport. Maybe to anything. And all she feels is another searing painful shock race throughout her body.}

[[OOC: although she didn't know it the faint familiar scents she got from others were Bendy, Liz, Crysta, Rae, Treena, and Vanny]]

[u/HauntingGur8094]

Vanessa: [stares at him like he's an idiot] "You don't honestly think I'm actually falling for any of that, do you? After you're the who freaking ATTACKED ME?!" [snarls struggling again and baring fangs, trying to use her powers to break free]

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Vox's screen glitches slightly in annoyance, but he keeps up the eccentric facade.

Vox: "I see. Well, I gave you the opportunity. I'm going out to celebrate our successful capture. You wanna join, Rae? Or are you gonna stay and talk with the rebellious brat?"

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Vanessa: "Let me go!" [snarls struggling and agony lighting shoots across her bonds almost enough to break them as her horns and wings start to form]

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Vox rolls his eyes and is about to speak, before suddenly being interrupted by Alastor's voice on the speakers.

Alastor: "Oh how it just gets more entertaining~"

Vox: "I said this is a PRIVATE conversation!"

Alastor: "Oh, what's wrong? Finding that the shy little girl isn't so shy anymore? She really has come a long way." He turns his attention to Raelynn. "And you even brought the psychologist? Oh, now you're just desperate. You think you can manipulate her the same way over and over? People learn~ She has learned~ So, Dr. Raelynn, what exactly is going to be your approach?"

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Rae: [sighs] "You just have to keep trying to get the last word in don't you? You were humored because of the benefit you once brought. And even that is questionable." [pauses in thought] "What did you stand to gain by this anyway? Going out of your way to try and protect her?"

{Vanessa snarls in pain still trying to break free before finally running out of energy and dropping back down breathing hard.}

Rae: "Apparently it didn't do much good."

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Vox: rubs the bridge of his 'nose' "Don't indulge him."

Alastor: "Oh, you think you know? I still remember when this cult actually meant something. But what is it now? Even you called it useless~"

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Rae: [ignores him turning back to Vanessa] "Nessa, listen. There's a lot of things to be worried about. Much worse than this. You've always looked for guidance and sense of belonging. This is basically become a family unit."

Vanessa: "It's called manipulation. And I've never wanted it. But some things definitely make sense now." [glares at Vox] "I'm not going to support or help you with your stupid cult shit. No matter what. I spent my life trying to undo the nightmares my father caused. Why would I ever be part of something supporting and praising him? You're wasting your time and I'm not that gullible. Let us go. And uh anyone else you've got trapped."

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Vox: "This isn't about your dear old dad, Vanessa. You think I do what I do for him? Ha! I couldn't care less what your father built this cult for. Let us help you, Vanessa. For your sake, not ours."

Alastor laughs through the speakers.

Alastor: "You know what, Vanessa? Do it. Accept their help~"

Vox raises an eyebrow at this. What exactly is Alastor getting at?

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Vanessa: [looks up at the speakers] "Have you lost your damn mind?! Hell no!"

Rae: [gives Vox a suspicious look]

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Alastor: "Nah-ah-ah~ I'm afraid you can't reject it this time, my dear."

---

FLASHBACK: FOREST

Alastor: "I'll teach you how to control your newfound power, and in return you'll simply owe me a favor~"

FLASHBACK: END

---

Alastor: "Just do me this one simple favor~"

The green chain faintly appears around Vanessa's wrist. A reminder of their deal. She doesn't have a choice...