To Find: Season 1 (WITHOUT YOU I Fall Apart Tape)

Story Tape #27

Just passed out after the previous tape. Exhausted and tired, he was sleeping on the couch with saliva trickling down the left side of his cheek. The sound of the front door opening as Cherry walks in her room, noticing Just sleeping as she smiles to herself. Quietly shutting the door as she walks into her bedroom, grabbing a blanket and placing it over Just. She sees his Duck mask hung up on the wall, taking it off of the wall as she inspects his mask. Burnt marks, dried-up blood, deep scratch marks, and dirt covers the mask. She sighed sadly to herself, feeling bad for Just and she can't imagine what he's been through. She walked into the bathroom with the mask, cleaning it up for quite some time. Time passes as she leaves the bathroom, the mask good as new as she hangs the mask back up. Cherry then heads back into her bedroom, sitting down on her desk as she looks through the camera. Seeing the photos of the Entity emerging from the waterfall of goo, feeling uneasy as she then sees the pictures of Soren being tortured. She covered her mouth, tearing up a bit as she felt saddened by the sight of seeing Soren in pain. She started to come up with a preparation plan, in case the Entity within the goo were to ever escape the cave and cause havoc. Time went by, Cherry exiting her bedroom as she looks at Just. She walks up to Just, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead before leaving the room.

Just slowly awakens from his sleep, blinking a few times as he sits up on the couch, covering his face with both of his hands. Soren… The Goo… D.E.F.E.A.T… Shadow-Walkers… So much shit to think about, so much crap to worry about. God, what is this Goo? How can we even stop it? Whatever the hell is in that Goo, it's slowly emerging. The clock is ticking. I got up from the couch as I saw the camera on top of the table, grabbing it and putting it away. I went to go grab my mask as I was in shock, seeing that it was clean as I grab it off the wall; looking at it as I couldn't help but smile. Thanks Cherry, you didn't have to. I wish I could give you a hug and to say thank you. I put my mask on as I leave the room, exiting the building as I hear the ear piece making a static noise hearing Jelen's voice.

"You up, Wanderer?"

I responded with a relaxed tone of voice, my day feeling a bit brighter thanks to Cherry cleaning my mask.

"Yeah, I'm up."

Jelen responded with leadership, ready for action.

"We've got work to do. Another duo work, me and you. Cherry is preparing the town in case the Goo situation gets out of hand. We save Soren and take this thing down, yeah?"

I smiled underneath the mask, feeling courageous as I headed out of the town and into the dark Forest.

"Yeah, let's do it."

I hear the tree branches moving around as I look up to see Jelen traversing from one tree to the next, summoning the Blades of Vengeful Gust as I was getting close to the cave; the entrance of the cave still taped up. Creature roaming around near the cave as I looked up at the trees at Jelen, leaning my back against one as I radioed her.

"Jelen, I'm going to sneak past the monsters. Rather not deal with any actions for awhile and draw attention, we're on a time limit."

Jelen nodded as she responded back to me.

"That's why I am here, do what you have to do. I'll deal with the monsters and pick them off. Good luck in there, gather what you can and get out of there."

I waved at Jelen before casting the 'Vanesco' spell, slowly and carefully making my way towards the cave; the creatures making low moaning sounds as their body jitters as they shake their heads violently. I was getting nervous as I got down on the ground, delicately crawling underneath the tape as I slowly rose up; backing away enough so that they couldn't hear my normal walking speed as I ventured into the cave once again. I felt something odd. Oh no, no. Something is wrong. The music. It's all mashed up together as the songs (WITHOUT YOU, by The Kid LAROI and I Fall Apart, by Post Malone) glitches between each other, sounding distorted and slowed down. The atmosphere was unnerving, so I had to be cautious. There is something definitely going wrong. I felt like the corridor was longer than before, yeah, something isn't right. I see the rocky walls turning into the black goo, my breathing becoming heavy as I radioed Jelen.

"Jelen… We have a problem."

Jelen responded back, hearing the sound of her rifle silently shooting at the monsters.

"Yeah? What is it?"

I spoke with my voice becoming shaky, my breathing heavy as the walk down the cave felt so long.

"The Goo, it's getting worse. It's spreading across the cave. I'm not fully inside the cave yet, but it's covering the walls"

Jelen lets out a sigh, sitting on the tree branch picking off the surrounding monsters one by one quicker than before out of frustration.

"Shit. Make sure to take pictures. We need to handle this threat Just, now."

I shook my head, continuing to walk down the cave as the music became louder.

"No Jelen, not now. Need to collect more information, at least one more time. Let me finish this and we can talk more about this. I'll see you soon."

She responded by saying "Best of luck to you." I was getting nervous as I slowed down the pace of my walk, afraid as to what I'm about to see. I finally made it inside the cave. No, no no no no!!! Shit!! Whisper appeared in front of me to my left, looking at the Goo getting worse.

"Just, our time is near."

I lashed out at Whisper while keeping my voice low.

"Whisper, shut the hell up! Why the fuck would you say that?"

He looked at me, his TV head making static noises

"This is the same goo that almost killed you, is it not? Your weapons, unaffected by it so how will you get rid of it?"

The tape shows the interior of the cave, covered in black goo as the Entity within the waterfall is almost out. Showing it's large Head, one Foot on the ground with both of its Hands on the wall trying to free itself. The dark figures that were there to investigate the goo were engulfed by it, letting out a cry of agony as the goo was melting their body; reshaping it to many different types of proportions. Me and Whisper looked at each other, slowly fading away in the darkness, he felt disturbed. God, what is this thing? We have to do something about it. But what? How? If my own attacks can't defeat it, even with the help of Bēlua, Sophismae and Quiesco, how are we gonna be able to stop it? Is there no way to? I felt the Vanesco spell is about to wear off, I need to be quick. I make my way towards the trapdoor, the aura around me protects me from the effect of the goo, looking down at my cross as I plant a soft kiss on it. Thank You God for protecting me… I am not worthy. I opened the trapdoor as I quietly made my way down into the basement, the mashed up music was unbearable to listen to. Everything was offbeat, distorted, slowed down and at times would rewind at certain parts. The basement wasn't affected by the goo, it was just darkness all around. I disabled the 'Vanesco' spell to save my energy in case things go sideways, leaning back against the wall as I peak around the stairs; the Shadow-Walker once again interrogates Soren. Soren, what's happening to you? Soren had his hoodie on, his face mask wasn't on him anymore. Seeing nothing but his face shrouded in darkness, only seeing the bright red blood covering his face. The Shadow-Walker spoke to him.

"YoUr TiME iS AlMoSt Up. YoUR miND iS bReAkInG, PieCEs Of FraGmEnTS SePARATiNg, SlOwLy LoSInG YourSELF. MaHaJAh, WaSn'T iT? WHo Is ShE tO yOu?"

Soren responded with his voice making cracking sounds, his tone was weak and exhausting.

"S-She's a.. A… Whore…"

The Shadow-Walker smiled at him, leaning closer to his face.

"ShE's A WhAt?"

Soren replied, lashing out at the Shadow-Walker raising his voice.

"SHE'S A WHORE!! CHEATING ON ME WITH HER EX!! An Ex… Her is a FUCKING DRUG DEALER!"

The Shadow-Walker began to laugh maniacally, Soren head glitching as it jittered; the song speeding up then slowing down. On a never ending loop.

"SeEmS liKe ThiS WoMAn reALLy mAdE yOu FaLl ApArT. AhA…AHAHAHAH!!!"

Soren looks up at the Shadow-Walker going berserk as Its laughter becomes more unstable, leaning back against the corner of the wall in fear as Soren pleaded.

"No…No… Please, please!!!"

The Shadow-Walker pounces at Soren using long, sharp knives like fingers to scratch Soren aggressively on his face.

"PaTheTIC!! TWeNTy YEaRs OlD aNd HaS noThinG goInG oN In hIS LiFE!! WeAk!! WEAK!! THiS iS yoUR HeLL!! YoUR EtErNAl DamNaTion!!"

Soren cries out loud as he curls up in a ball. The tape shows visuals of Soren holding a knife, cutting underneath his pecks to get rid of the fat inside his chest. Soren was crying as blood splattered all around from his face getting cut.

"I'M SORRY!!! I'M SORRY GOD!! PLEASE NO MORE! NO MORE!!"

My heart dropped as I watched what was happening to him, tears flowing down from my eyes as I began to hyperventilate; sobbing as I placed my hand on my chest where my heart is at. I started to hit myself on the head with my other hand as I became angry. I can barely see due to the tears making my vision blurry. Leave him alone… leave him alone. Leave him ALONE!!  I walked around the stairs angrily, approaching the Shadow-Walker from behind as It slowly turned around.

"HmMMmMmM? WHo'S ThEr-"

I quickly plunged the Blade into Its stomach, screeching out loud as I stabbed it multiple times; we both made eye contact as It tried to bite my face off. I yelled out loudly as I dragged the Blade upward from Its stomach to his chest, reaching inside with my hand to find Its heart; furiously ripping it out as I threw it across the wall behind me. Breathing heavily as It slowly dies, dropping dead on the ground as I started to cry uncontrollably. Taking my mask off as I look down at Soren curled up, calling out for him.

"S-Soren… Soren.. Are you okay? It's me, Just… You gotta get up man.."

I crouched down to pat Soren on his shoulder, showing his bloodied dark face as I cover my mouth as more tears flows down my cheeks; giving him a hug as he bawls out crying.

"I-I d…don't w…ant to … be here.. anymore! P..le..a…se! Ge..t me out ..of he…re!!!"

I nodded my head as I helped him up, he reached down to grab his face mask and put it on; wrapping his arm around my shoulder as I walked us to the stairs.

"I'm getting you out of here Soren, it's okay.. We need to be quick, D.E.F.E.A.T isn't the only threat."

Soren nodded his head, wincing his pain as I walked us up the stairs opening the trapdoor as I radioed Jelen.

"Jelen, I have Soren. I'm getting him out of here!! I'm going to need your help, fast!!"

The sound of Jelen shooting her rifle can be heard, responding out loudly while in combat.

"I don't know what you did, but I'm kinda busy right now with these monsters and they are mad! I'll be with you soon!"

I sighed to myself as we walked out of the basement, the whole cave was flooded with Goo as the Entity within the waterfall made a low groan of agony. Soren looked at it, deeply shaken as he tapped my shoulder multiple times.

"Just, what the hell is that thing?!"

I looked at Soren, unsure as I shook my head as we walked towards the exit.

"I don't know Soren, but it isn't safe here. I found some people that can help us get out of here."

As we made our way towards the exit we heard a loud roar coming from behind us, we turned around to see the four investigators noticing us. Soren was frightened as I got in front of him, looking back at him.

"Run Soren! An ally of mine will help you out! Go!"

Soren nodded as he turned around and ran towards the entrance to the cave. I closed my eyes as I used the anger that I've felt towards everything that's been happening, finally being able to rescue Soren and now there are more obstacles getting in my way. I put my mask back on as I summoned the Claws of Screams, letting out a growl as Bēlua's voice rang in my ears.

"We need to protect Soren and hold these creatures off until Jelen sends help. We can only subdue them but for a while, are you ready Wanderer? This is one of your greatest trials. Do. Not. Die."

Yeah…

Yeah… I'm ready…~

-End of Story Tape #27-