Don't Starve

Puppets

Willow's P.O.V:

We walked back to camp. Our bodies too stunned to speak or run. Wilson didn't come back that day. Or the next one. I was afraid he wouldn't come back at all.

A week had passed without any new source of life. While Wendy watched over the camp, I made a daily trip to find wood, food, and Wilson. Fall was quickly diminishing and the wind soon turned cold. Another day would go by without a whisper of Wilson to be found. Wendy wouldn't even mention his name anymore, not even to herself.

Then a new hope arrives on the eleventh day as a figure appears at the top of the hill. Sadly, Maxwell has yet again crushed hope under his control as the figure turns into another lost soul trapped in this land of misery.

Wendy's P.O.V:
Willow almost smiles noticing the figure appear at the top of the hill. I stand, weak on my knees from waiting so long. I can barely make out the outline of the person in the dimming light of dusk. He makes his way closer and Willow's smile disappears. It isn't Wilson.

"People," he says, picking up his pace when he sees us. Abigail places her hand on my shoulder, hovering just a few inches away. I let her cold drift into me, reminding me she hasn't left.

"Who are you?" Willow says, more sternness in her voice.

"Oh." The man says, coming to a stop a few feet away. "You just children." His voice has a heavy Russian accent, one that I had only heard once over the radio.

"Yes we are, who are you?" Willow hisses, obviously annoyed at the new arrival. I put on a cutesy smile and rock back and forth.

"I am Wolfgang." He says, sizing up both of the girls. There is no doubt he is a threat. Abigail leaves my side and circles Wolfgang. Willow narrows her eyes suspiciously. Nevertheless, I know it will change nothing on the situation. He will stay. I can tell that in Willow's eyes she has already given up on Wilson. This will be a welcome change, having a new member. Abigail nods her approval, she knows more then I do that he can be trusted more then feared. Not like we have much of a choice.

Wolfgang's P.O.V.:

I wasn't there for more then two days when a strange creature stumbled into our camp ground. He was something more then a shadow creature. He looked sickly human in his eyes. The eyes pleaded for help, for mercy, for humanity. He seemed frightened when he first arrived at camp, but his fear turned into a slick, horrifying grin.

Willow's P.O.V:

It was him, but at the same time not him. Evil had corrupted his skin and mind, but I could feel that his soul was still fighting it off desperately. I was hoping he would return, but never like this.

"Hello Willow, Wendy" he said nodding at both of us. I couldn't find the ability to speak. Wendy for the first time looked unhinged from the situation. Wolfgang curled his hands into fist, but was clearly unnerved. I could tell by the sweat beading down his face that he was scarred.

"Come on, what's the matter?" the shadowy creature parading around in Wilson's skin asked "Its just me."

"No its not. You're not Wilson, so stop pretending to be him." I say, standing my ground against whatever the thing in front of me is. His smile drops.

"No, I'm not that pathetic excuse for a scientist. He is long gone." the thing says, glaring at me with his pleading eyes that tell me he is lying.

"You're a liar." I spit out. He seems pleased at my displeasure and distrust.

"Smart girl." he says grinning "But he won't be here for much longer. I'll be done with this body soon and he will be nothing more then a distant thought." I can feel the shadows biting at my thoughts again, shrouding me in a dark cloud. I want to escape. I want to feel the flames burn into my skin and hold me in their warmth.

Wendy's P.O.V.:

Its been two hours since Abigail left my side. I haven't seen her since that demon walked into camp. Wolfgang tied him to a tree near the camp. Willow refuses to alternate watch. I don't understand why we don't just bash the creatures head in.

I twiddle with my flower for more then an hour when Wolfgang comes running over to me. He seems scarred out of his mind, a look unfamiliar to someone so well built. He was coming from the direction of Wilson's tree. I take off towards it, leaving the grown man to cower in the safety of our fire pit.

Willow is lying unconscious a few feet away from where I last saw her. Her body is covered in a thin black goo along with the rest of the ground. The tree Wilson was tied to has rotted to the core and I'm surprised its still standing. I remove the goo from off of Willow and check to hear her breathing. I can't hear her heart, but she moves slightly and I know.

I get up and slowly make my way to the rotted tree. Wilson limply hangs over the rope that we tied him to. The black ink has cleared out of his skin and his face is very pale. There is blood dripping down from his face and a pool of it mixed in with the goo. His shirt is soaked in blood and his right hand is completely missing. It's dripping blood as well. He doesn't move or breathe and I don't dare to move any closer.

Before I can react, a black hand covers my mouth and nose, sending me into a state of limbo.

Willow's P.O.V.:

I jolt out of my sleep as the sun peaks above the horizon and shines its bright rays upon me. The colors start to mend together and I get my barring. Wendy and Wolfgang are still fast asleep to the left of me. I sit up and look around. Nothing makes any sense.

"Morning sunshine," says an unfamiliar voice. I turn to face him and notice that awful creature from yesterday.

"What have you done?!" I growl, feeling my anger burn in me from yesterday's encounter. He gives me a grin and takes a seat in front of me.

"You better watch your volume there" the thing says shaking his finger at me"We don't want to wake the others." I glare at him and try to leap towards his throat, but I find myself unable to move. He smiles, clearly enjoying me struggle. I can feel the rope around my wrists now, rubbing them raw.

"Where's Wilson?" I say between clenched teeth.

"I told you he's gone." it says, feeling satisfaction that he could say that.

"Liar!" I scream. "You're a liar!" He rolls his eyes and frowns, knowing I'm not giving up without a fight.

"Fine, have it your way." the Wilson creature says, moving out of the way "There's not much left to him now."

Wilson's body lies on the cold ground a few feet away. He is pale and sweating heavily. Dried blood covers most of his face and chest. I can't stand seeing him like this. He is just barely a whisper of what I saw the first day I came here. The thing moves in front of my vision again, blocking Wilson from me.

"What are you?" I growl, looking at the ground and not his accursed eyes.

"I'm a better Wilson then he will ever be," it said, gesturing behind him "Maxwell created me to be."