Chapter Text
Laurens sighed as he sat near the campfire, he couldn't sleep lately, and he had this nagging feeling in the back of his mind. It's been bothering him ever since. He looked around the camp and spots Hamilton's tent still lit, of course he was still awake. Laurens was about to go and annoy him before he heard something in the forest, he turned around and saw..
Well.
Nothing.
He sighed, the nagging has been driving him crazy, but it doesn't hurt to check. Maybe it was a British ambush? Better safe than sorry. He checked his musket, before creeping up to the source of the noise. The nagging feeling was getting stronger, he didn't like it, but what other choice could he choose? This could be an ambush for all he knew, and if he didn't check, they could die and lose resources!
As he rounded the corner, there, he saw something horrifying. His own general, back turned towards him, standing over a fellow solider, and covered in likely their blood. The General doesn't even look like General Washington anymore; his hands were pure black with bright glowing red claws. He stayed still, wondering if he noticed him yet. Judging by the way the General hasn't turned to him, he didn't. If he could just run back to camp, and tell Hamilton, then he should-
CRACK.
He flinched, and his eyes shot down to where his foot is. He stepped on a damn stick. His eyes shot back up to the General, and (of course he heard that) he was staring straight at him, practically through his soul. Laurens' started to panic; he took a step back. Another. And another. Before booking it to the camp, this was a dumb and cowardly move, but he would rather at least have a chance to live than to just die.
He can hear Washington gaining up on him, he was always the faster, and stronger one. He couldn't run forever, but if he could just get back to camp then-
Laurens life flashed before his eyes as he suddenly tripped. Of course he did, why wouldn't he? He didn't have enough time to stand back up as Washing- no. The demon stood before him, grinning like a madman. Laurens tries to crawl away, but the demon grabbed his collar and forced him up. He felt something hard against his temple.
A gun.
Laurens breath hitched as he felt the cold metal against his head. He couldn't die here, he can't. Not here. His friends, Alexander, Lafayette, Mulligan, hell- even Burr will be devastated.
"Well, well, who have we got here, hm? John Laurens. Tsk, tsk, curiosity kills the cat, right?"
The demon's breath felt unnatural, cold and hot. Laurens tried to kick, punch or even squirm out of his grasp but he couldn't. He was too weak against this monster. He heard the demon chuckle before the gun was pressed against him harder. He tried to kick him back, but of course he didn't even flinch, he was like a brick wall. He'd seen him survive a shot to the chest after all-
The signs. Of course he didn't see the fucking signs! He was too blinded by trust and loyalty to even care about the red flags. His thoughts were interrupted by a cold, sadistic laugh.
"You've seen the true me, can't have you spreading it around. Goodbye forever."
BANG.
The sick sound of a body was heard, Laurens' bit the dust. Literally.
-----
The next day was not the best. People were talking about how Laurens and Lee were missing. Hamilton and the others took it the hardest. After a day or two, they were presumed dead, Hamilton and the others were always seen with each other now. Seemingly paranoid that one of them will go 'missing' again.
Washington stood there, watching everyone panic and worry.
Perfect.
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Lafayette just didn't believe that Laurens, of all people, would just simply go missing. That wasn't like him. There was more to the story he bet, maybe he can ask Mulligan, or Alexander to help. Burr would definitely not agree, saying that it's 'stupid' or 'pointless'. You know what, who cares what he thinks, and Alexander... he's too in grief to properly help. Then it's settled, he'll ask Mulligan.
Meanwhile, Mulligan was fixing up some torn-up pants, trying to get his mind off of Laurens. He didn't deserve to die, he didn't really know much about that Lee guy, he was pretty loud and annoying. But he didn't really want him dead, but at least it's quiet now.
Well, until Lafayette barged in his tent and almost made him cut his finger.
"Jesus, Lafayette-! Theres a thing called knocking you know-"
"I don't think Laurens just 'went missing'."
Mulligan pauses in his sewing, staring at Lafayette like he'd grown another head.
"..what? But the General said that he went missing."
"Oui, but I don't believe it. Laurens will never just 'go missing', sure he's reckless and all, but he'll fight tooth and nail to come back to us. Right?"
Mulligan didn't respond but instead stared at the floor. Lafayette was right, he was loyal to his friends, especially to Alexander. Those two were pretty close ever since they met, he doesn't blame them, those two were like puzzle pieces fitting into each other perfectly.
"Yes, I guess.. so, what? What do you want us to do?"
Lafayette sighed, seemingly troubled for what he was about to say.
"I say we search for Laurens."
"What. We could be searching for a corpse, Laf! I don't think there's a point in this-"
"Then I'll go alone."
Mulligan paused again, stared at Lafayette's determined expression and sighed. Lafayette can be stubborn if he really wanted to, almost more than Alexander, and that's saying something. Guess he couldn't really convince Lafayette in this.
"Alright! Alright, fine."
"Oui! Knew you'd agree, mon ami. Come, come, I have a plan."
----------
"Hey, Laf.. are you sure we should be doing this at midnight?"
"Oui, oui. No one will see us at night."
Lafayette says as he grabs a lantern, Mulligans grabs his musket and loads it. They both glance at each other and nods, starting to walk towards the forest.
It was dark, of course, but the bushes and branches made it ominous, the leaves crunched loudly under their boots, the sound piercing through the dark silent night. They both tensed at the smallest noises, but most of it was small animals or the wind. Mulligan shivers from the cold wind, regretting not bringing his jacket, Lafayette seemingly just doesn't care.
It's been hours, the sun is already starting to rise in the horizon. After non-stop searching in the dark for hours, Mulligan sat down on a large log, while Lafayette kept searching nearby so they weren't truly separated. Mulligan was starting to regret agreeing to this a long time ago, but still, he couldn't let Lafayette go alone, and Laurens.. he had to find him soon, eventually, at least. He sighed, resting his elbows on his legs. They were far away from camp, yes, Burr and Hamilton would notice soon enough, right? Wait, no, he should be focusing on finding Laurens, where'd Lafayette go anyway-
A scream that sounded weirdly like Lafayette. Lafayette? Oh shit.
Mulligan bolted right up and fumbled to grab his musket before rushing where he last seen him.
"Lafayette?! Lafeyette where-"
He stopped. He had found Lafayette and..
Laurens and Lee. Both hung by their necks on a tree. Their blood was dripping down from both of their wounds, seemingly looking like hanged meat, something you'd find in a butcher.
"..oh god. What monster would do this?!"
Lafayette didn't speak, he didn't tear his eyes away from the bodies, he couldn't. John Laurens, their best friend. He didn't deserve this fate. What had he done wrong? There was a noise in the bushes, and it wasn't a small animal this time. Something large lunged out of the bushes, but Mulligan reacted before Lafayette, but still, Mulligan wasn't fast enough.
Mulligan was lifted up by the neck by the figure, the musket dropped to the ground.
Lafayette barley got to draw his own pistol before he was grabbed by the wrists and thrown against a tree. The tree splintered from the impact, Mulligan watched in horror as Lafayette's body slumped on the floor, unconscious.
"NO-!"
The figure threw Mulligan against another tree next to Lafayette, Mulligan crawled over to Lafayette, trying to shake him awake.
"Lafayette- please, wake up-"
When Lafayette didn't stir, his heart dropped, he looked over at the figure, watching them step mockingly over to them. Mulligan pushed Lafayette's body behind him protectively, as the figure stepped closer, he managed to get a close look at it.
It was their General.
Before Mulligan could say anything, he got knocked out.
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Cold.
Empty.
Disgusting.
Hard.
It was everything a cell was, Lafayette thought, he leaned against the wall of the cell, glancing over at the still unconscious Mulligan beside him from time to time. He looked over at his bound wrists; it was rough and tight on his skin. He glanced over at Mulligan who was still unconscious, he nudged him with his foot. When he didn't stir, he nudged him harder.
"Mulligan, wake up you big doofus."
Lafayette whisper-shouted, apparently that was enough to wake Mulligan. Lafayette sighed and nudged him on the chest, hard. Mulligan yelped and sat back up, now awake.
"Okay, okay! I'm awake! I'm awake.."
"Mon dieu.. took you long enough your horse fucker."
"I do not fuck horses-"
"NOT the point, mon ami. The point is, where are we?"
Mulligan paused and looked around; it was dark and uncomfortable.
"..huh. Y'know, is it just me or does it look familiar?"
"..mon dieu. This is the cellar!"
Both froze, this is cellar where they captured red coats and caged them in here. But no one really knows about this place, only the higher ups and.. Washington. They both sat in silence, the General was the only one with the cell door, could it mean-
"NO! Our own General- couldn't.. couldn't have.."
Mulligans words faded as he slowly realized, Lafayette stared at the ground, with an expression unreadable. When Mulligan tried to stand up, a force pulled him back down, his hand shot to his neck, realizing his neck is chained. Lafayette glanced over, noticing the sound of Mulligans distress.
"..your neck-"
"I can see that. Now that I know, it's pretty hard to breathe in this."
Mulligan said, looking at Lafayette's bound hands. He sighed and sat there for a moment. There was a weird feeling of silence, almost daringly comfortable. Both victims didn't look at each other, but then a sound snapped them out of their daydreams. Mulligans eyes shot towards the entrance of the cellar; Lafayette didn't budge but still looked over anyway. It was the same figure from before.
George Washington.
Except, his usual hat was gone, replaced with large piercing horns and with a smug grin.
"Two in one. How lucky."
He mocked as he stalked towards the cell, both victims tensed. This isn't the general they knew, it was a monster wearing his skin. Mulligan straightened up, his expression hardened.
"You. What do you want?! What have you done with the real George?!"
"Real George? Why I'm right here. Shame you didn't believe my story about Laurens."
Lafayette perked up, now listening intently to the conversation.
"..Laurens. Lee. You hanged them up like meat, like they were just trash."
"And I did, didn't I? I'm pretty proud of it to be honest."
"You MONSTER."
Lafayette stood and lunged towards the cell door but could barely because of the restraints. Washington didn't flinch but instead looked amused, he chuckled, seemingly enjoying Lafayette's anger.
"I know. I know, spare me the yelling. Hmm, I think I'll leave you two here for now. Let's see how you two do here alone. To rot."
Washington mocked as he walked towards the exit, putting back on his tricon hat. Lafayette struggled against the chains, but of course, it was futile. Mulligan just watched on, feeling.. nothing really. How was he supposed to feel? Knowing that the general that was supposed to protect them, be their anchor in the war.. was actually the one doing the killing?
Lafayette eventually gave up but sat near the bars, staring into nothing. Mulligan couldn't blame him. Not when the war was still going without them. Shame.
-------
⚠️ ⚠️TW CANNIBILISM UP UNTIL THE END OF THE CHAPTER. ⚠️⚠️
Time didn't stop for them, it seems. It's been.. well. A long time. Why bother keeping track if you're just going to die in the end? It had been days or weeks without food. They were getting hungry, obviously.
Lafayette sighed and slumped against the cold, hard wall. He looked over at Mulligan, who was asleep. They haven't spoken to each other much, only when the silence got too loud. His stomach grumbled for the 2348th(idk bro) time. So hungry, he could eat anything right about now.
He looked over at the sleeping Mulligan.
Eat..
Anything?
Whatever it takes to survive.
He stood up with some difficulty, limping towards the body.
He crouched next to it.
Just a little bite.
A little.
little.
Bite.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Too much of a little bite.
The next thing he knows he got shoved against the other side of the cell by it. It lost it's forearm, it was bleeding profusely.
"..what- WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU-?!"
Lafayette snapped out of this trance when Mulligan yelled, his eyes immediately shot to his missing forearm.
Oh shit.
Lafayette felt sick, his just ate another human. His friend no less. His mouth tastes metallically, blood. Mulligans blood.
"..I-"
Lafayette's voice was husky but guilty, Mulligan's breathing fell heavy as he collapsed on the cold floor, seemingly unconscious from severe blood loss. At least, Lafayette hopped. But that hope was shattered as reality sank in.
He just ate his forearm, of course he was dead from blood loss. Lafayette slowly walked towards the body, sinking to his knees beside him. Tears started to drop onto the body, he slumped down to lean on Mulligan's corpse, openly crying.
He just ate his friend. It was his idea to look for Laurens. It was his fault. He doesn't deserve to live, he should be the one on the floor, not Mulligan.
A clap. Then another. He doesn't look back up, because he knows that demon is back to mock him more.
"Well, I wasn't expecting this. I thought you'd both rot from starvation or dehydration, but I guess not. I won't complain though, this is much better."
The demon mocked as he stalked towards the cell, staring at Lafayette's pathetic form. He didn't try to argue; he was in the wrong. his fault. Washington noticed this and smirked, grabbing onto one of the bars, basically like a kid in a zoo.
"Y'know, the Battle of Yorktown is coming up. Shame you won't be there."
Washington smirked as Lafayette tensed. Yorktown, he had forgotten about that. He slowly lifted his head up, eyes red and puffy from tears, but Washington is already at the door. The door to freedom.
"Well, see you.. whenever I visit."
The door clicked shut.
And thats when Lafayette lost hope in everything.
-------
"I haven't seen Lafayette or Mulligan in a while, I'm worried."
"You're just paranoid, Alexander. It's probably nerves before battle."
Alexander sighed as Burr dismissed him once again, Burr believed everything the General said, I mean, he wouldn't blame him. He is the general for a reason. Alexander continued to load his musket while Burr quietly sharpened his bayonet. he couldn't help but have this nagging feeling. He sighed again and stood up, Burr raised an eyebrow in question.
"I'm going to go find them."
"Before a battle? Alex-"
"I'll be right back."
Alexander walked off before Burr got to finish his sentence. Burr watched him go until he couldn't see him anymore. Smile more, Alexander. Burr mumbled.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Alex checked both Lafayette and Mulligans tent. Nothing. He asked the General, nothing. He also asked around, well, nothing. He sighed and finally gave in to the nagging feeling, he turned towards the cellar, the only place he hasn't checked. No way could they be in there, but his instincts say otherwise, like Washington always said: 'always trust your instincts'. So, might as well test the theory.
He walked towards the cellar, taking it deep breath before opening it.
The first thing he sees-
"Oh god."
A pair of haunting eyes star at him, seemingly through his soul. Lafayette, covered in blood, next to him, Mulligan, who is missing a forearm.
A rough hand pats his shoulder from behind.
Washington.
"Alexander, I believe there is a war going on."
He says, dragging Alexander out forcibly.
"Wai-"
"Tell anyone and you're a dead man."
Washingtons form flickered, just for a second.
Let's just say that Alexander didn't speak for the rest of the battle.