Swamp Thing: The Darkness Within

Chapter Eight - The Rot

Anton tied Abby to a chair, in his basement, and waited for her to wake up. Anton took her phone, and took out the sim card and battery out of the phone. After few moments Abby woke up, and moaned in pain. "What happened?". Her head was spinning and her vision was blurred. She looked at the man across her, and her throat become dry, and she coughed "Anton, what...". Anton laughed "You didn't put up much of a fight". Abby whimpered "What are you doing?". Anton spoke "I haven't been entirely honest with you". Abby snapped "Yeah, no shit Anton". Anton sighed "Don't be rude now, Abby".

Anton spoke "I have been watching you since your mother took you away from me". He carried on "I did try and take you away from your mother, but your mother was always there to save you". Abby whispered "You were that faceless monster...". Anton spoke "Is that what you called me?" he laughed. He walked closer "There is something amazing about nightmares, especially from a child". Abby spat in face as he walked closer. Anton wiped his face, and grabbed her from her shoulders. Anton snarled "You will learn to respect me Abby, and understand what I am doing is for you". Abby growled "They will know I am here, Liz and Alec...they will know...". Anton sighed "They will, but it will be too late by then...". He released his grip on her.

Abby spoke "What is your plan?". Anton spoke "Hopefully you have figured out that I am an avatar for the Rot, and so I have take on those duties...". Abby questioned him "You destroying the world with death and decay". Anton spoke "Yes, but I have been working on this for over a century now, and nothing is going to stop me". Abby growled "So why do you need me? If being an avatar for an elemental forces allows you to obtain all this power, how am I of any use to you?". Anton sighed, and he took a step back. "You are my blood, and I need to make sure my legacy doesn't die with me...". "...you will be as powerful as I am, and eventually making you an avatar for the rot" he finished.

Abby snapped "What if I refuse?". Anton spoke "There is no running from your destiny, Abigail". Anton sighed "You are have to be willing, and if you are not then that is your fault". Anton grabbed a cloth from the table next to him, and covered Abby's mouth. Abby started to moan and scream, and Anton smiled as he suffocated his own niece. Once she was unconscious, he heard knocks on the door. Anton smiled "The timing couldn't be more perfect". He walked towards the front door, to find Abby's friend; Liz. She spoke "Hello, are you Doctor Arcane". Anton spoke "Yes, and who are you?". She spoke "I am Liz, I am a friend of Abby...". Liz carried on "I was just wondering if Abby was here with you, because she never came home last night".

Anton spoke "Well, I assume you know the situation with Alec Holland". Liz spoke "Yes, I am fully aware of the situation about Alec Holland". Anton spoke "Abby stayed with Alec yesterday, and I came back here, she said she would call me if she needed me". Liz spoke "Well, if she comes down will you tell her Liz called". Anton spoke "Yes, I will...any friend of Abby is a friend of mine" he smiled. Liz felt slightly nervous, but she she brushed it off. She had a hard time trusting people, so she blamed it on her own paranoia. Liz spoke "Well, goodbye Doctor Arcane". Anton spoke "Please, call me Anton". Liz gave a small smile "Okay Anton, and thank you for your help so far...". Liz walked towards her car, and drove away. Anton sighed "This will be easier than I thought...", and he shut the door.

Anton journeyed back to Eastern Europe, with Abby who was both unconscious and unwilling to go. Once he arrived at his castle, he placed Abby in a bedroom, and locked the door behind him. A few hours later Abby woke up. She first struggled to breathe, and then scanned the room. She had a small idea where she was, but she never thought she would be right. She stood up, and she nearly lost her footing, and felt dizzy. She walked to the door, and attempted to open it, but it was locked. She slammed her hand on the old wooden door, she snarled and growled "Anton, let me out". She slammed her hand again, and shrieked "Let me out, you bastard!". She took a step back, and Anton unlocked the door. He opened it and stepped forward. "Is that any way to treat your dear old uncle", he sighed.

Abby clenched her hand into a fist. "Why did you bring me here, Anton?" She questioned him. Anton clapped his hands together "This is your home, and this is where you were born". Abby whispered "What do you know?". Anton sighed "I've known you since you were born, and you lived with me until your late childhood years". Abby was blunt "Did you kill her?". Anton was shocked "You think I killed her, I loved your mother...I am hurt that you would think that". Abby growled and step forward "Did you?" She spat. She was sticking to her question, she wanted to know, because she couldn't remember herself. Anton smiled "I didn't kill her, when I found that she had died, I knew that I couldn't take you...not yet anyway".

Anton carried on "People would know, and I couldn't have that...and anyway the Sunderlands' took you in, so I knew where you were, and I just wanted to you find me...". Abby growled "And what if I never found you?". Anton laughed "Abby, you would want solutions, you hate mysterious...because of memory gaps you have". Abby was stern "How do you know about my memories?". Anton sighed and stepped forward, and Abby stepped back, until she hit a brick wall. "Because I erased your memories too many times, and it left a big gap in your childhood...". Abby growled "Why did you do that?". Anton sighed "Childhood trauma can cause a big impact, and it would have pained me to let you love with the fact that you killed your own mother...". Abby felt the walls close in on her, and she felt a wave of panic wash over her. Abby whimpered "What did you say?".