BatIM AU: Henry's Path (OLD - rewrite in progress/consideration)

Act 2, Scene 9: The Fallen Angel

Wally Franks

Wally's head ached. He could barely see straight, and his vision swam to where he could only see fuzzy shapes. Soft humming filled the dark room he was in. He tried to move, but he was strapped down to some kind of table. His mouth was also clamped close, only able to make a few strained grunts in attempt to escape.

Then a terrible smell filled his nose, making him gag. Looking over to his left, he winced at the horrid sight. A clone of Charley sat on a table like Wally's. Its chest was ripped open, and bloody ink trailed out of his gaping mouth. That was what the smell was coming from. He tried to refrain from screaming, but instead a muffled whine came out.

"Looks like our little prisoner's awake," a soft voice called from behind Wally. He strained to look behind him, but he hurt too much. The woman who spoke moved around the table Wally was on. She was a form of Alice Angel, though one side of her face was corrupted. This must be Susie, because there were no other clones of Alice anywhere else in the studio.

"You're going to be the delightful edition to my collection. Not only are you going to make me beautiful, but your perfection won't go to waste here. The perfect little trophy, I'll say," she continued. She pulled out a butcher's knife and ran one of her long fingers over its sharpened edge. Then she bared her teeth. "I'll show Joey who really owns this place. He thinks that he's so special, strutting around and taking what's supposed to be mine. He thinks I'm on his side, but I know better than to trust a demon."

Wally made another muffled moan.

"Why am I talking to you, anyways? You're just another Boris clone that can't even make a sound."

Wally struggled to free himself from the iron-clad straps, but the sharp edges dug into his skin. Susie drew in closer, her rank breath making Wally's eyes water. She ran her finger up his chest and stopped when she reached the band around his snout. She tore it off violently, scratching Wally's fur around his nose.

"Unless... You're that one Joey was talking about. You seem different from the rest. You can talk, can't you?"

Wally glared at her, refusing to speak.

"Oh, well. Faster death for you, then"

Susie bean pressing the point of her knife into Wally's chest, sending a tingle through his spine. She slowly dug it in deeper until ink trickled out.

"Stop! Please, I can't do this!" he howled.

Susie stopped cutting, smirking evilly. "I knew it." Then she straightened up and crossed her arms. "Wait till I tell Joey."

"Why are you doing this? We didn't do anything to you."

"Why?" Susie echoed. "Why?" She repeated, raising her voice. "I want to be beautiful again. I'm so close. Your insides will complete me, don't you understand? It took so many of Joey's rejects to come this far. Perfection is within my grasp, no matter what he says!"

She threw the knife at Wally, just a hair away from his head. It slammed down on the table and shuddered. Wally watched a few shreds of his own fur drift away.

"Where are the others?" Susie was now in his face, her eyes wide and bloodshot with madness.

"Who?" Wally lied, trying to spare more time for himself.

"Don't act stupid! Tell me where they are!"

"I don't know! They could be on the other end of the earth for all I know."

"You must know something! Where were you going?"

Wally gulped loudly. He couldn't risk giving away his friends' location and leave them to die. But he didn't want to die, either. Then Sammy's words echoed in his mind, "Love requires sacrifice."