LU 191 - Dr. Thornberry 49

I woke up in my throne, a bit dazed. I looked around me and remembered what had happened. I let Mira kill me to save Space and Frezz. God, that was terrifying. Hopefully they’re okay now though... I might as well head home to check on Frezz.

But as I was heading out the doors to the office, Electric greeted me with a smile. He told me that an adventurer had found their way into the mass. Which was just great for my reputation, but I knew I could figure out ways to hide it from the public. I just sighed and let him take me to it, I needed to check if it was anyone I knew.

We finally reached the river by his house, and jumped in. The entrance was small, but we were able to squeeze our way through like last time. And yeah, the mass had definitely increased since the last time I was here. Which wasn’t even too long ago.

But as I was about to comment on this, we both watched as one of the plant’s vines covered up the hole that we had just come through.

*“Electric-…”*

He looked at me with a panicked expression strewn across his face.

*”Vice. Does anybody know we’re down here?”*

*”No…”*

I was scared, this is a people eating mass we’re talking about. And we were both stuck in it. I quickly looked for any means of escape when I heard Electric chuckle. I turned over my shoulder to look at him…

The scared face he had a moment before was gone and it was replaced by a grin.

*”Good.”*

I tried to fight my panic and confusion to stay levelheaded, but I could barely get any words out of my mouth. He started talking again.

*”You really are stupid Vice. You sell potions to ANYONE? Anyone could walk into your store to get potions.”*

I sweat as I watched him drink... I didn’t think people would use them like that- and against... me?

I tried to get away but bumped into the wall behind me. Fuck, I had backed myself into a corner. Electric pulled out a crossbow.

*”Electric! We can talk this out! You don’t need to-“*

*”We don’t need to Vice. It’ll all be over soon.”*

And the shot was fired. But it wasn’t any ordinary arrow.

I cried out in pain as I watched the sparkling lights explode in front of me. My face, fuck my face it- hurt. I wanted to curl up and cry but I couldn’t. I pulled out my sword and tried to fight back, keeping one hand up to my cheek. But no matter how much I slashed my sword, it was no use. He had the high ground.

I crumpled down to the floor, exhausted.

I could barely even move my neck up to look at Electric, leering down at me.

*”How pathetic.”*

He spat at me and I realized.

I really am pathetic. The past 28 years of my life and all I’ve done is fail. Every time I think something is successful it goes wrong. Every time I think I made a friend they betray my trust. And every time I try to help someone it backfires on me. It hurts. But not my body. My heart aches. I’ve lived a life not worth living. And here I am, about to die again, not even a day after I sacrificed myself. And for who? Frezz and Space. I don’t even know if they care about me at all. They might as well not. It’s not like I care. They’ll probably lead me to my death too.

I tried to talk- say anything that would get Electric to let me go. But nothing worked. Even I knew, while I was talking about Space, that he would never come get me.

But Electric’s next few words changed my train of thought.

*”Vice, is it not suspicious that I happen to pop up as soon as this thing becomes a problem?”*

…Did he make the thing? Was I fooled this whole time? But I was wrong.

I continued trying to pleed with him, begging him to let me go.

*”Space and Frezz- they’ll for sure come get me…”*

*”No Vice, they’ll only act as a thorn in our side.”*

He laughed while talking.

*”Thorn. For such a fierce sounding name you’re quite weak aren’t you? Incase your endermite sized brain hasn't put it together yet... I’ll spell it out for you. I’m one with this thing.”*

I stared, wide eyed. He didn’t create the mass… he was a part of it? …And he wanted to kill me.

*”Electric I don’t want to die-“*

*”Good. It’s more fun watching them struggle.”*

Is this what Hallthorr had felt like? Is this the kind of torture I put people through?

*”Can you at least answer me one thing?”*

*”What.”*

*”Why me?”*

*”You looked weak. Both mentally and physically.”*

So it shows huh? Is this really what my life has come to?

*”It created me Vice. For this purpose.”*

I needed to get away from him- I struggled to move to the other side of the room, but he leisurely followed and kicked me as soon as he reached me. I fumbled into the wall, clutching my stomach with pain.

He reached down and removed my chestplate.

*”You couldn’t even keep fighting in the very end.”*

I held back tears.

*”It fucking hurts Electric.”*

And he stabbed me, right in the gut. My vision went hazy, but I was still here, barely hanging on.

He picked me up and brought me next to the mass. I wriggled around in his arms but it was no use.

*”As I said Vice. I enjoy watching them struggle.”*

And with that, he pushed me into the plant’s tendrils.

As soon as I got pushed into the mass, I was sure I was done for. I already knew this earlier, but now it was certain. I crawled into the little open space I found and curled up, clutching my knees to my chest. Even that hurt. Every little movement I made felt like I was being stabbed.

I eventually stopped moving, but I could still feel my heartbeat in every part of my body.  How had I fallen for Electric’s trick? How had I not realized sooner? If only I had just gone home today like I was supposed to… I would’ve been able to spend the night with Frezz instead of being here, dying alone.

Would anyone come to save me anyway? They couldn’t even get in here of they wanted too... And how am I sure they’d come get me even if they did know? What am I supposed to do if I can barely trust the two people who mean the most to me?

I dragged myself out of my own thoughts and instead watched a tendril start to wrap around me.

This was it. The mass was working faster now, encasing me in a thick cocoon of itself.

I deserve this. This is all I’m worth. A lonely death with no one to come help me.

I shed a single tear before losing my notion.

*Vice Thornberry was consumed by Electric’s plant mass.*