Mortuus tore open Mordecai's desk drawer and rummaged through documents and folders. "Where is it? I know there's something." He muttered, slightly annoyed by all the dozens of useless folders in all his drawers.
As he ruffled through the papers of a green folder, a report caught his attention. A note on the form read, "Peter, if you find this, play the V.H.S."
Mortuus looked around the room he was in. For the first time, he noticed a V.H.S. on a back table next to a T.V. He didn't remember it being there, but it wasn't like he was the most observant.
Mortuus popped the V.H.S. in and pressed play. The screen lit up with black and white life. On the screen was Mordecai in his round reading glasses. In the background, Mortuus could see a wooden cane propped against a chair.
As he looked at it, the sound of a cane tapping against tile rang through his head, followed by creaky gears and latches. The sounds grew louder as he watched and didn't seem to be coming from anything.
Just as mysteriously as they had come, the sounds receded as Mordecai began to speak, "Someone is sabotaging the subjects. PROJECT MORTUUS was only intended to bring them back, but Someone has given them some sort of enhancement drug." Mordecai said nervously, his eyes darting back and forth as if preoccupied with something behind the camera.
"Peter, you are the last subject and the only one without the drug. Only you can stop this. Be the good the project intended. And I'm sorry, but Subject E-3 is your-" The recording scratched to a halt. The tape was jamming and unwinding as smoke billowed from the port.
Death appeared behind Mortuus, his scythe clicking on the tile as he glided closer. He spoke, his eyes fixated on the smoking tape, and he knew that it had stopped before telling the truth about PROJECT MORTUUS. "Now you know, Mortuus. What will you do?"
Mortuus sighed and pulled his cannabis out. Taking a long drag, he spoke up with annoyance in his voice. "I'm going to end the horrors of PROJECT MORTUUS once and for all, Death."
Death chuckled, "You still have a savior complex after rebirth."
During the millennia of being the Grim Reaper, he'd seen countless heroes fall to dust in their vengeance attempts. He'd seen great monarchs topple as their subjects rebelled. He'd seen women who gave their lives for a man. And he'd guided them all on their journey to Valhalla, Heaven, or even Hell.
Death hoped that Mortuus would not be one of those souls. A soul corrupted with a false sense of heroism that would ultimately kill him again. Mortuus loaded his revolver. "If I don't stand, we'll only fall further."
Death sighed to himself and shook his head as he vanished into the cannabis smoke and left Mortuus to himself. "Just know what you stand for..."
Mortuus left the bunker and ventured to Crater Hollow. It was the only place Willem could be. And from the floating objects, it was clear he was there. As he neared the town square, he could see cars hovering overhead, and bodies hung as if on strings.
It was a grizzly sight with bodies split down the center with organs orbiting them in clouds of blood. It was something straight out of a horror film, the very sight of which made his stomach churn. Mortuus looked away, trying his best not to throw up.
At the center of it stood Willem with his pack in hand. His eyes were closed, and he hovered inches off the ground. He seemed to be overtaken by a demon or something, his hair sticking up like it was statically charged.
Mortuus shouted up at him, "WILLEM!!" He pleaded with little resolve, "YOU HAVE TO STOP THIS!!" Willem just seemed to be ignoring him. Mortuus stepped closer, and Willem's eyes shot open. As he looked down at Mortuus, everything floating crashed to the ground.
Willem stayed in the air, his heavy metallic breaths visible. "Did they stop when they were killing my platoon!?" He uttered through clenched teeth. He was clenching so tightly that his gums were bleeding.
A tear trickled down Willem's cheek as he seemed to remember his time in Vietnam and what had happened the day he returned. His wife had poisoned him, believing that he was a demon taking the form of her beloved.
Mortuus took his revolver out and held it in his hand shakily. Willem looked down at the weapon, "Go ahead, E-5. This isn't the first and won't be the last."
Mortuus sighed and lifted his hands over his head as he stared down. He sighed and lifted his head to look Willem in the eyes, dropping the revolver at his feet. "I don't want to hurt you, Willem." He said softly, his voice barely noticeable amongst the noise around them.
Willem looked at the revolver. Why would he discard the only thing that kept him safe? "Why not? Everyone else does." Willem scoffed. He didn't believe that anyone could have sympathy for him.
Mortuus slowly stepped closer, his hands in view as he kicked his revolver farther away. "Because you aren't a monster." He said as he reached a hand out to Willem, his other hand still held over his head.
Willem nervously reached out and took his hand, slowly descending from his hovering state. He didn't feel safe, but he thought he could trust him. What else did he have to lose at this point?
Mortuus held his hand, reassuring him that he was okay. "I don't blame you, Willem."
Willem nodded, still not sure if Mortuus was really being nice or just tricking him into getting the drop on him. He let go and spoke softly to Mortuus, "Aren't you afraid of me?" Mortuus shook his head.
"I've seen your soul, Willem. You're not a monster. You're just confused." Mortuus said and picked up his revolver. Willem shuddered, preparing for a bullet to his chest. To his surprise, Mortuus handed the gun to him.
He closed Willem's fingers around the gun handle and pointed it up. Willem's breathing deepened as he realized Mortuus was making him point the gun at his head. One slip of the trigger and Willem would blow a hole right through Mortuus's head.
"If you're a monster, then shoot me." Mortuus said calmly. Willem moved the barrel away from Mortuus's head, trying to keep it from injuring him.
"No." He said.
Mortuus pointed it back at himself and began to shout. "SHOOT ME!! DO IT!! IF YOU ARE A MONSTER, SHOOT ME!!"
Willem shouted no back, tears pouring down his face. His face was red, and his eyes were bloodshot from crying. He didn't want to do it, just like when he was forced to kill a man in the tunnels of Vietnam.
Mortuus chuckled and lowered the barrel from his face. "I told you, you aren't a monster." He said with a pat on the back. As cruel as it was, it had worked to demonstrate his point.
"But I am." Willem spoke through tears.
Mortuus looked him in the eyes, "If you were a monster, you would have killed me even though I helped you." He sighed and lifted his cannabis to his mouth, leaning back a bit and blowing the smoke out, "We all fight demons, but only monsters let them out."
"You've seen my demons," Willem sighed. Mortuus wrapped an arm around Willem's shoulder. "Your demons were broken out, Willem."
Mortuus began walking, guiding Willem with him.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9bwPIgMiy
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