★ Maizen: Paranoia

Chapter 55

An odd nightmare proceeded Mikey's unconsciousness.

It took place in a bathroom with a dim, yellow light. Mikey was laying in a bathtub filled with warm water, and it sloshed around him gently. The movements soothed him; it reminded him of his favorite places, such as the ocean. It was calming enough to where Mikey didn't care to be bothered by the extreme drowsiness he felt, along with the sluggish feeling in his limbs that prevented him from turning around to get in a more comfortable position. His eyes were mostly closed.

A creak was heard in the distance, and Mikey saw the bathroom door slowly push open. A figure walked in, dragging something behind him. Everything around Mikey was still so hazy that he couldn't make any of it out, but the item seemed to be heavy based on the sounds it made as it dragged.

Mikey moved his head to follow the figure, but it took a stupendously long time to do so. As the person stopped at the sink, his vision slowly but surely strengthened, and he began to distinguish black clothing; loose as though not their size, but it still concealed all of them perfectly. They ran their hands along the item, which Mikey could now see was an axe, with intrigue.

"I know what I said before." A deep, calculated voice echoed around the room. The figure turned around smoothly, wearing an all too familiar rabbit mask. His feet made no sound as he approached the soaking turtle. "But I admire you so deeply, Mikey. You're my muse; I want you to be mine forever."

Like lightning, flashes of panic, terror, and a raw instinct to flee surged through Mikey's veins, snapping him right out of the calming trance the water had had him in. He tried to run; he tried so hard, but his body barely budged. It took an agonizingly long time to move his fingers just a few inches. Usagi leaned over the edge of the bath, his movements weird and snake-like.

"How would you like to be my little toy for the rest of your life?" He asked. Now that he was closer, Mikey tried to move again, but he couldn't. All he could do was look at his own body as it layed stiff and heavy. It was only then that he noticed the markings drawn on him; along some of his body parts, such as his legs, waist, and arms, were dotted black lines. He didn't know what they meant, but what he did know was that they couldn't be good. He wanted to scream 'no,' to protest, to do anything, but it was simply impossible. Even though he was still, Usagi must have noticed the terror in his eyes and glided his fingers down the side of his face. "Shh, shh... it's okay, my fascinating hybrid. You'll live such a fulfilling life as my experiment. I'll inject you very frequently, like I've done now, so you won't have to feel anything as I cut you open and study your anatomy. This nice, warm water will help with that; it softens the skin. My scalpel will cut so smoothly through you. I have many potions of healing, so I can satisfy my urges as many times as I want, and you'll always be able to come back. Aren't you excited? It's time to fulfill your purpose."

Usagi took his axe and stepped into the bathtub. Even Mikey's tears felt as though they were coming at a snail's pace, and he didn't know if they ever actually left his eyes. Usagi gently aligned the blade with the dotted lines on Mikey's neck, preparing to strike the way a player prepares to hit a golf ball.

"I need to see you bleed." His voice was rough with anticipation. "Goodnight, darling. I'll see you in the morning. We'll do so many great things together."

He swung and hit Mikey's neck from the side, and his head jerked abruptly at the impact and cracked against the wall. Blood gushed out and sprayed into the water, and Mikey's own screams blared in his head, rattling his eardrums. But the sights and sounds only lasted for less than a second before he was snatched awake.

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January 8th, 2024

Day Sixteen