The Marionette of Madness

1

The three proxies stood outside the old warehouse. Something was in there that their master wanted, and it was their job to get it.

Masky pulled his gun from its holster and gestured to the others to follow. The building was dark and looked close to falling apart. In the back of the building, there was a doorframe that had no door. This was their was in. They slowly entered, all silent.

They kept to the edges and the shadows of the large room. They couldn't see what it was that their master may have wanted. The place seemed perfectly empty.

No, not empty. Someone was crying.

There, in a small patch of moonlight let in by the broken roof, was a figure. Curled up on a sleeping bag, crying softly. His shoulders were shaking as he sobbed, and the proxies watched uncertainly. He wasn't what they were looking for.

They couldn't see much, his back was to them, but something about him seemed odd.

Toby, the youngest and least experienced of the group, took a step forward towards the figure, but Hoodie stopped him, shaking his head. He pointed and the three watched as a shadowy figure appeared.

"What's wrong my dear?"

Its voice was feminine, and soft, almost as if trying to be comforting, but there was a sinister edge to it.

The young man sat up, his back still to the group. Though they still couldn't see his face, now they could see something strange. Around both of his wrists were metal bands, and another was around his neck. They were like shackles, but they were connected to nothing. Around the metal bands, his veins stood out bright green.
"Fuck off."

The shadowy thing leaned in closer and placed a hand on the young man's cheek, though he pulled away.
"Now, is that any way to speak to your mistress?"

The young man stood up now, walking away from the creature. His hands were shaking.
"I can speak to you however you want. You don't control me."

The thing laughed.
"Thats where you're wrong my dear."
From the creature's hand flowed a series of glowing green strings.
"I have total control of you."

The strings flowed towards the young man and attached to the metal shackles. They began to drag him back towards the creature. Now, they could see his face, and if they weren't used to strange events,they would have been shocked. His eyes were bright green. No pupil, no scelera, just endless green. Two vertical scars ran down his face.

As he was forced by the strings to stand there, suspended by his wrists, the rest of his body dangling in the air, each proxy was separately reminded of a marionette.

His face was contorted in anger and fear.
"I never should have made that deal with you."

The thing laughed again.
"Oh, but then your poor baby brother would still be dead. You wouldn't want that, dear, would you?"

He was silent.

The creature produced a vial of glowing green liquid from someplace unseen. Masky pointed to it as discreetly as he could. That was what they had come for.

"It seems you need your medicine my dear, you've become quite disagreeable."

She handed him the vial, and his hands took it, though his face made it clear this was against his will.

Before he could drink it, the three proxies left their hiding spot. Masky and Hoodie went after the shadowy figure while Toby went after the vial.

With the monster distracted, the young man held the vial out to Toby.
"I don't care who you are, or why you want it. Just take it."

The young proxy took it, confused. Just as he pocketed the vial, the monster threw aside its attackers and pulled the young man close and forced the contents of a second vial into his mouth. He fell, coughing, his arms still held up by the strings.

"Oh dear," mused the creature, "it seems we have visitors. Mari, why don't you get rid of them for mistress?"

The young man, Mari, lifted his head. He had green tears flowing from his eyes, and a smile filled with sharp teeth.
"Gladly."