South Park: Bloodline's, Book 1: Shadows Over South Park

The Puppeteer

The cold darkness of the warehouse clung to the air as Kyle finally untied the last of the ropes binding Tweek. The dim light from their flashlights cast eerie shadows on the walls, amplifying the tension that had been building for hours. Tweek slumped forward, gasping for breath, his body shaking from the ordeal.

Kyle: "Tweek, it's okay. We've got you," Kyle whispered, his voice cracking with relief.

He could feel Tweek trembling, and it took everything in him to stay calm. He knew they weren't out of danger yet. Stan stood nearby, his eyes darting around the room, watching the shadows with a heightened sense of fear.

Stan: "We need to get out of here," Stan said urgently, his voice low but tense. "Craig could be anywhere."

Tweek, still catching his breath, shook his head violently.

Tweek: "No... no, you don't understand. We have to leave now," he gasped, his words coming out in a rush. "Craig's not right... he's... he's obsessed. We have to go before—"

His words were cut off by a slow, deliberate clapping that echoed ominously through the warehouse. The sound was unnerving, sending chills down their spines. Kyle, Stan, and Tweek turned towards the entrance just as Craig stepped into view, his face partially obscured by the shadows. His eyes gleamed with a manic light, his smile twisted into something far from friendly.

Craig: "Well, well, well," Craig drawled, his voice dripping with a twisted sense of satisfaction. "Looks like you found him. Too bad you won't be leaving with him."

Kyle immediately stepped in front of Tweek, his heart pounding in his chest.

Kyle: "Craig, what the hell are you doing?" he demanded, his voice edged with fear and anger. "Why are you doing this? Why did you kill our friends?"

Craig took a few slow, deliberate steps forward, his movements calculated, almost predatory.

Craig: "What am I doing, Kyle?" he repeated, his tone mockingly innocent. "I'm doing what needed to be done. What none of you could ever understand."

Stan clenched his fists, stepping up beside Kyle.

Stan: "You killed our friends, Craig! This isn't love, it's sick!" Craig's smile grew, but there was nothing warm or genuine about it.

Craig: "Love, obsession... what's the difference, really?" he mused, his eyes locking onto Tweek, who was trembling behind Kyle and Stan. "It's all the same when you care about someone as much as I care about Tweek." Tweek's voice quivered as he found the strength to speak.

Tweek: "Craig... why? Why would you do this?" His voice was a mix of disbelief and fear, struggling to comprehend the horror of what was happening. Craig's gaze softened slightly, but the deranged glint in his eyes remained.

Craig: "Because, Tweek... you were slipping away from me. I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let anyone take you away. So I did what I had to do."

Kyle: "You killed them, Craig!" Kyle shouted, his voice breaking as the full weight of Craig's actions hit him. "How could you do that to your friends?" Craig's expression darkened.

Craig: "They weren't my friends. They were just... obstacles. Things standing in the way of what really mattered." His eyes locked onto Tweek's, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something almost like regret. "I'm sorry, Tweek. But I couldn't let you go. Not after everything."