Cuphead and Mugman in "A Recipe For Evil"

Into His Claws

Ms. Chalice ran through the island as fast as her golden high-heeled shoes could take her. She ducked and weaved around bushes and trees as she traversed the dense forest that populated a decent portion of the island. Chalice knew of a hiding place. It was the same spot she had weaseled herself into last time she sought sanctuary. And nothing had found her there.

The sound of the angry mob following her seemed to die down. Ms. Chalice was making good distance between them and began to feel safe. She slowed her run and spun around to walk backwards. There was no sign of the mob. Not a flicker of torches or glint of their weapons could be seen.

"Phew! That was a close one." The golden chalice said to herself. That was just before the heel of her shoe caught on a tree root that was sticking out of the ground. "Whoa!" Chalice squealed as she fell onto her back. The shock from the fall, caused her to close her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them back up, Chalice was greeted with a dark sky filled with twinkling stars. Not the tree canopies that were above her just a second ago. Her porcelain body sat up and looked about. It no longer looked like Inkwell, but somewhere all too familiar.

"I'm...home? But how is this possible?" The golden chalice stood up and brushed herself off. She found herself just outside the boundary of her town, on a path that led to the Forest of Shadows. A flash of green light off in the distance caught her attention. It dimmed and brightened, coaxing her to come and investigate. Being the naturally curious person she was, Chalice jogged herself in the direction of the blinking light, which was further into the dark forest. The path opened up into a clearing. She stopped short as a horrid sight greeted her. Upon the blanket of grass lay a slew of corpses. And not just any corpses either: they were the bodies of her dead friends.

Chalice still saw the light blinking in the distance. But to get to it, she would have to pass through the garden of bodies. The golden chalice took a gulp before tip-toeing her way through. She made sure to keep her vision locked on where she was going, only taking glances down every few seconds to make sure she didn't step on anyone. Not that they would feel it, but more out of respect. Even though she dared not look at them for too long, it was clear that they had died horrible deaths the way their bodies were twisted and mangled. A greenish color of decay had painted over their forms.

"Chalice...." A wheezing, raspy voice called to her. The cup realized it was the corpse on her right talking. It was a mangled glassware person, indistinguishable from what he was supposed to be anymore. "Help us, Chalice. You can't leave us here." It begged. The head made cracking noises as it turned to look up at her.

"We're your friends. Don't we deserve better?" The one on her left wheezed. It appeared to be a bulky fellow that was missing a foot. Chalice's mind was reeling; how could they be talking right now? Had she been knocked out? This had to be a dream.

"This can't be real." Chalice shook her head, mostly trying not to make eye contact with the corpses. Their once hazy eyes began to shine a green light and stare deep into her soul. "I saw each one of you die. You can't be talking to me right now." She told them. It was all that the golden chalice could do to not freak out at this moment.

"That's right....we are dead....because of you!" They hissed at her. The five nearest bodies began to stand up and close in on her. "You saw us failing and did not call a retreat. You watched on the sidelines as we all died."

"You did nothing to help us..."

"And now our blood is on your hands." One of the corpses grabbed her hand.

"Let go, I say!" Chalice panicked and squirmed her hand out of its weak grip that was deprived of any muscle. Her glove was now stained red with blood. It seeped down each of her fingertips as if it were alive.