Shatter Me: Creepypasta X Reader

Chapter 41: A Plane of Serenity

A/N: Enjoy! <3

Y/n's POV
     I think I passed out at some point, cause when I open my eyes, I'm in a pure white room. So white that it seems to glow, and maybe it actually is. I try to sit up, only to be met with a huge jolt of pain. I carefully prop myself up on my elbows, but even that is too much.
     "Y/n! Wait, be careful you really shouldn't be pushing yourself." Zalgo appears, and he helps me lay down again. "Here, I can raise the bed for you."
     The best thing I can manage at the moment is, "I hurt...."
     Zalgo offers me a sympathetic look, "I know, just take it easy. You should focus on recovering emotionally and physically. One close contact encounter with Enmity is already ill-advised as it is. Your mental and physical capacities were already pushed beyond their limits when Enmity brought you here. After meeting with him again, your psyche started to feel the impact as well."
I simply stare at Zalgo, my head hurting too much to be able to comprehend most of what he said.
Zalgo notices this and sighs, "You're mentally, emotionally, physically, and now psychologically shot."
I looked away now, barely being able to give him a nod in understanding without the pain of a migraine shooting through my skull.
I thought back on what the demon said before Zalgo took me away. It implied that it meant to bring me into this sort of state. I look at Zalgo again, beginning an attempt to form words. I try, but the pain and exhaustion were too much for me to do so, and I wince in discomfort again.
Zalgo put a hand on my arm, "Don't push yourself. I told you this already. Try to form thoughts to communicate, I can read them."
Oh. That's right. Now I feel dumb.
I concentrate, forming words in my pulsating brain, It... called me it's... prey....
     Zalgo's demeanor stiffened, "Yes... sort of. Enmity was implying he was interested in you as a victim. I can only interpret his rough handling of you as an indicator that he was contemplating taking you for his own. It is good that he decided against it in the moment. You're not ready to handle something of his caliber."
     I take a moment to digest these words, It's... He's... too strong for me...?
     Zalgo nods, "At the moment, yes."
     But... as a Doll... I'm... more powerful than... you. I phrase it as a statement instead of a question.
     At this, Zalgo shifts uncomfortably, "I see what you're implying, and I'm afraid the answer isn't straightforward. If someone like me managed to get in good terms with a creature like Enmity, it suggests that I am stronger that him. Therefore, that would mean you are also stronger than him since you by nature are stronger than me."
     He pauses to let me process what he's saying. Then he continues.
     "But you must understand that demons of his nature are a... inconsistent sort of bunch. Do you remember what I said about how demons like him are born?"
I think, recalling the information before nodding.
"Good. And do you also remember how I said they are capable of inflicting their emotion on other beings?"
I nod again.
"A great deal of their power stems from that one ability. In Enmity's case, he uses this to his advantage by targeting his prey and engaging with them in psychological warfare. For the most part, Enmity fights with his words."
I think back to when the demon appeared at the Slendermansion to get me, and how it taunted Slenderman. It's words and presence alone were enough to keep Slender in place, paralyzed with uncertainty and dare I say fear.
     Zalgo continued, "Going back to my original point and your implied question, this psychological warfare and means of fighting will have different effects on different people. Depending on the individual, Enmity may have to put a greater deal of effort into killing his victims. I told you before how his inflicting agony into me may not work in his favor. This is because I am well acquainted with the emotion, and have a considerable amount of control over it. I can't tell you how long Enmity would have to persist me or what means he would have do go through in order to get me to succumb. Though I have high confidence that this is impossible due to my willpower and control. It's why Enmity resorted to simply becoming an ally of mine instead. He knows it is futile to pursue me."
     I take a minute to process this information. When I do, I give Zalgo a strange look, So what you're saying is that it basically boils down to coping mechanisms and emotion management.
     Zalgo nods, "Yes, precisely. Your mind is too soft and too weak to be able to handle or withstand something so intense as Enmity, therefore he is the one in favor of overcoming you in a fight. I doubt whoever led your training as Doll Master ever put you in situations where you'd have to control your power under stressful conditions."
I felt a bit offended, but I shook my head 'no' in response.
Zalgo closes his eyes and nodded in response, "Mm. It's as I predicted. You were coddled."
I frown at this, and glare at him slightly.
     "Oh, don't give me that look. I'm simply stating things as they are."
     I would believe him if it weren't for that self-absorbed smirk on his face, Oh yeah? Then why am I getting the feeling that you've known this fact for some time now?
     Zalgo chuckled, "Smart girl you are. Yes, I counted on this fact when I left to find you after your existence was revealed to me. It's not all that surprising to me that my speculation was correct."
     I look away, irritated as I slowly heave a sigh, Well you sure have been planning this for a while....
     Zalgo smiles down at me, "Yes, of course. I can't go risking my demise by letting you live under someone else's supervision. My first thought was to kill you at the first opportunity, but it seems I didn't have anything to worry about."
     I look up at him to see that there wasn't any mockery in his expression. I watched as he gently placed his hand on my head, rubbing it ever so slightly.
     "You've done well to show me that you are no threat."
     There was a soft, affectionate look in his eyes as he said this. I felt a fuzzy sort of feeling inside me, and it soothed the pounding ache in my physical and emotional wounds.
     I notice, unsure if it was just me making things up, I... think I'm getting better....
     Zalgo hummed, "Yes, that's another thing about Enmity's power. It is most inhibited by positive emotions. It's not your imagination, you are in fact getting better from this."
     He carefully picks up my hand, intertwining his fingers in mine. He brings the back of my hand to his cheek, gently holding it against his skin.
     .... Where are we...? , I ask.
     Zalgo smiles, "I've been waiting for you to ask that. This is a sort of pocket dimension that's attached to one of the rooms in my castle. Very few creatures have access to it. This plane of reality upholds a natural state of tranquility that doesn't exist on the outside world. It's the perfect place for you to recover from Enmity's side effects."
Huh.... Interesting. You really weren't kidding when you said you'd take me somewhere safe.
     The demon chuckles in response, "Of course. I have access to a great many things. You can trust me to always be able to provide for you."
     I smile gratefully at him, Thank you, Zalgo.
    He nods in acknowledgment, "Of course, my dear."
     I lean back into the bed I'm propped up on, sighing. I definitely feel significantly better. I take another deep breath, closing my eyes and focusing on releasing the built up stress that's festered within me.
     I open my mouth, my voice coming out small and slightly weak, "Zalgo.... You'll stay with me until I'm better... right...?"
     The demon promptly lifts his head upon hearing me speak his name. He likely thought that I wouldn't be able to speak so clearly after everything I've been through.
     He smiles softly at me, rubbing his thumb against my knuckle, "Yes of course, Y/n. I'll stay as long as it takes."