To Find: Season 1 (Losing It Tape)

Story Tape #22

The tape begins with the song (Spinning in a Dream, By Lorn) playing in the background, Just stands in a void-less existence. His entire body was shrouded in darkness, all you can see are his eyes looking down at the dark abyss. Just, how are you feeling at this exact moment? Tell us how you are feeling.

"I feel... Sad. I could never catch a break in Soren's Darkest Mind. Always something happening, always something that I'm doing, always something that happens to me. Getting hurt, crying, facing the horrors of which Soren has created in his mind. No wonder the darkness took him, because it's terrifying. Imagine experiencing the things that I am feeling, dealing with what feels like a neverending nightmare. The only way the nightmare can finally end is by being dead or saving Soren and taking down D.E.F.E.A.T."

Just, look at the screen. What do you see? Just looks at a huge projector screen, looking at himself fighting against the Shadow-Walkers. He starts to cry, clenching his fists as he smacks himself on the head. Just, stop hitting yourself. It's okay. What do you see?

"I see myself fighting terrifying creatures. They are so terrifying, so horrific... Their eyes, their teeth, their deformed body. Their arms don't match their torso, their torso doesn't make their face, their face doesn't match their legs, their legs don't match their fingers. Why does that creature have ten eyes? Why does that creature only have arms, legs and no torso and head? What is that thing? What the fuck is that? This is all shit that Soren came up with? How? Why? What is wrong with him? Why does he need a reborn soul to handle his nightmares, why couldn't he handle it himself? It's his problem."

That's it. Just, express your feelings to us. Let it all out. Let them know who you are, how you feel, what drives you to even keep going. Just, you're a lost boy battling with himself even after being reborn. This "baptism", was it even real? Did it mean something to you?

"It did, for a while."

What happened?

"His soul still lingered, I did the things that Soren did. But, I can change that, right? That's why I am here, isn't it? To do something that Soren couldn't do himself, to be the soul that'll lead us to having a life worth living."

The sound of bone crushing can be heard as Just smashes a Shadow-Walker face in with one end of the Staff, its face becoming more and more mangled with its jaw hanging out. You have no idea what you're capable of, don't you? When you are angry, when you have so much rage inside you, you sure do know how to take that anger and implement it well. Take that anger and better yourself, become that soul Soren created. Isn't that what you want? Just started to sob, whimpering to himself as he nodded his head.

"Y-Ye..Yes... Yes, I do... I do... So fucking bad, I do."

Then do it.

"Do it..."

Just runs up to the Leader of the Security Guards that went looking for him during the events of 'Silent & Vicious.' The Leader chuckled to himself with several of his comrades standing beside him with their hands firing up ready to shoot projectiles.

"Once D.E.F.E.A.T made an announcement that you're here, I just had to show up. I assume that a Merchant friend of yours helped you out, so after I kill you I'm going to kill him. You took down a lot of my men, it's time to go to sleep ducky ducky."

Are you going to let him disrespect you like that Just?

"No..."

What should you do?

"Kill him."

Why do you kill?

"Why shouldn't I? They want to kill me, so I should do the same."

What about showing mercy?

"Why should I show mercy to those who wish to harm me?"

Where will you go after you die?

"To my Lord."

Which one?

"The One who made the Heavens and the Earth."

Do you love your Lord?

"Yes, I do."

Are you having Deja Vú?

"I think so."

Good. Now live your life, all the way to your death freeing Soren from his prison, to live your life as Just. Everything goes quiet, the screen turning black as Just says quietly to himself as his voice alters a bit of aggression.

"Bēlua."

Just roared out loudly as the building shook, summoning the Claws of Screams. The song (ENTROPYYY, By Lorn) plays to depict Just losing himself, his sanity whenever he possesses the Claws of Screams. Just body twitches as he places his hands on the ground, looking at the Leader and his few Comrades. The others looked at Just with fear while the leader looked at Just fearless, inviting him as he took out a large blade which is longer than Just body.

"That's what I'm talking about, a bounty worth claiming. Come on, bring it on Wanderer."

Just, do you know who We are?

"No."

We are the spark within you. For the love of God, kill him.

"I will."

Just ran at the Guards quickly, clawing one of their legs as they fell down on the ground; putting his fingers together to create a Claw-like blade as he punctured the Guard in his ear. The others were terrified as they ran away from Just. Before they could run away the Leader makes a swift horizontal motion at the running Guards, cutting them in half as they die on the ground. Just tilted his head, pulling his Claw away from the dead Guard head.

"Such pussies... That's fine, I can handle you myself. I've fought worse."

Just rushed towards the Leader, dodging his swing as Just scratched him on his arm before the Leader replied with anger; grabbing Just neck and throwing against the wall. Grunting a bit as Just gets up, trying to scratch his own face through his duck mask; the Leader swings his large blade to cut Just but he drops down on the floor, leaping at the Leader as they fall on the ground. Just starts scratching the Leader's face aggressively. His body shaking underneath Just as he cries in pure agony, blood splattering all around as it causes a mess around them. The Leader struggles to speak as blood splurts out of his mouth, looking at Just.

"F-Fu... Fuckin.. Stop.. Please, let me go.. I won't bother you anymore-..."

Just didn't let the Leader finish talking as he wrapped his fingers around his neck, both thumbs underneath his chin as he dug his sharp thumbs inside; growling along with the Leader yelling out in pain as tears flowed down his cheeks. Just growling loudly as he rips off the Leader's head, grabbing his hair as he raises it up in the air for the Shadow-Walkers and Guards to see. Whisper appears near the elevator as he smacks the wall to get Just attention.

"Just, let's go!! Come on!!"

Just looks behind to see Whisper banging on the wall, putting the Leader head inside his inventory as he quickly runs towards the elevator as the door closes; breathing heavily as he leans back against the elevator wall growling to himself, sitting down on the floor as Just begins to cry. Taking the duck mask off as he attempts to scratch his own face before Whisper grabs his wrists, staring at each other.

"Stop it. It's okay, the fight is over. Relax. It's me, Whisper you fucking idiot. The power you've received, from Bēlua, you can't control. Need to learn how to control yourself when using that power. He's called Bēlua for a reason."

Just breathing was shaky as he tried to regain his sanity back, putting his knees up to his chest as he curled up like a ball. Just, are you ok?

"I.. I think so..."

Do not lose yourself. His power is great, we know this but do not rely on it so many times. At least with Sophismae and Quiesco powers you have control over yourself. Be careful, We will see you very soon. Nonetheless, thank you for opening up to Us.

"M-mhm..Mhm... Yeah.. You're welcome."

Just began to fade away from existence, leaving just the empty abyss as the projectile screen goes dark. I slowly regain my consciousness as I look around to see that I'm in the elevator, Whisper beside me as the elevator is moving. Where will it go? Will it take us to the Sewers? I hope so. The elevator stopped, thankfully it was a lot smoother than the last time. I got up from the floor, looking down at my bloody gloves and suit; sighing a bit as I put my mask back on as I ready myself to see what was on the other side of the elevator. As soon as the elevator opened I stepped forward to swing my summoned bat, but there was nothing. We were back at the Sewers, thank God. Whisper walked out of the elevator calmly, looking back at me with a chuckle as I was so relieved. I put my bat away as I turned around while walking backward for a bit, watching the elevator disappear as the figure that was dead came back to life. Sitting on the exact same spot with its hand out, waiting for another key. Moments passed as I made it to the surface and into the alleyway, rubbing my neck a bit since it was aching from the fight with the Leader. The Merchant respectfully bowed down to me.

"Ah, the duck has returned, bloodied up as always. Did you use up your dosages?"

I shook my head.

"No, not once. Luckily the key you gave me didn't have an effect, so... Thank you, Merchant. I do have something else to give you. He mentioned you."

I summoned the Leader's head and placed it on the Merchant stand, he looked quite surprised as he examined his head.

"Well I'll be damned. You killed him. You killed the man that tried looking for you after you escaped from the Club. I knew him, I used to be his supplier and a supplier for... Hmm... D.E.F.E.A.T. but that was long before you showed up. D.E.F.E.A.T won't be too happy about this. We're going to have to find another way to get into D.E.F.E.A.T Prison, he'll definitely move him to a different location."

I replied with frustration, facepalming.

"Seriously? Great. Where the hell could he possibly move Soren to?"

The Merchant grabbed the Leader's head, starting the process of creating a key as he began to think.

"Mm. There's someone within my connection that's been collecting information about how D.E.F.E.A.T major sites operate in this city. What goes in, what goes out, where are things being transported. She can help you out, she too wants to help Soren get out of prison."

I raised an eyebrow, chuckling a bit.

"Um... She?"

The Merchant nodded his head, leaning forward.

"Yes... She. Why are you so confused?"

I stammer with my words a bit.

"N-No, no I mean... I didn't think that someone would want to save Soren, I mean... He doesn't have anyone, really, so who would want to save him?"

The Merchant handed me a bloody key, smiling at me with those hyper realistic teeth.

"You'll see. Here, also take this. Head towards the nearby streetlight, stand underneath its light."

I took the key and put it away, grabbing the next item the Merchant gave to me was a sticker of a Star. I was scratching the back of my head.

"Merchant..."

The Merchant replied, looking at me.

"Yes ducky?"

I replied, examining the sticker.

"What... The fuck is this?"

He answered the question quickly, being cheerful.

"A Star."

I looked at the Merchant, trying to compose myself.

"What does this sticker do for me exactly?"

The Merchant replied.

"How about you go see for yourself when you reach that streetlight and stop asking me so many questions, hm?"

I looked at the Merchant, staring at him as I slowly nodded as I waved at him while walking away.

"Yep, see you soon."

Both Whisper and the Merchant laughed at me, walking up to the streetlight as I stood underneath the light; looking up at it as I showed the sticker to it. This is so fucking stupid. The light started to flicker, hearing it make a low groaning sound as the streetlight leaned down to devour Just; swallowing him up. The Merchant busted out laughing as he pointed at the streetlight.

"BWAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!! Ah, that'll never get old. Good luck, Just. That woman can be a hassle at times, but she'll help you out."

The tape ends with it showing a visual of Just sliding down a tube in first-person, falling down into a cluster of garbage bags.~

-End of Story Tape #22-