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MK woke with both a jolt and a horrifying realization.
The Bone Lady Demon wasn’t gone.
He just talked to her, in his dreams. MK seldom dreamed, and he especially never dreamed so vividly. But after three days of insomnia and finally collapsing on his bed, he had a horrific vision.
She was in front of him, smiling like someone who already knew she had won. They were in the void together, the air cold.
His dreams were never cold.
Lady Bone Demon was beckoning him to come closer, to come towards him.
MK stayed still, and stayed far away. He couldn’t have moved, even if he wanted to.
“Aren’t you tired?” She asked softly, voice melodic. Had MK not known what she had done it would almost be comforting. “Don’t you think you deserve to rest? A proper rest, where you don’t have to worry about anything? Where you don’t have to protect anyone?”
Then she started to approach slowly, and MK wanted to flee. But he couldn’t do anything in the void, could barely move at all.
Her smile is wicked, but also kind. The Lady Bone Demon truly thinks she’s doing the best for the world. “Out of everyone, you are most deserving of rest.” She was right there, right in front of him, so close he could glimpse her bones through her translucent skin.
She looked so real.
“Don’t worry.” She smiles at him, one thin hand brushing through his hair. MK’s still frozen, unable to escape. “You won’t have to worry about protecting anyone ever again.” Then one, slender finger touched the center of his chest.
That’s when he woke up with a start, heart pounding, chest aching. It felt like a heart attack. He placed a hand on his chest, the exact place the Bone Lady Demon touched.
It ached. Like a bruise.
Oh Gods.
Oh Gods.
She was still there. She was in him, affecting him, maybe even possessing him.
His hands were shaking. MK couldn’t make them stop.
MK couldn’t control himself.
He stands, stumbles, legs weak, stride unsteady. She was there. She was in his body. Somehow, before she died, she found a way to use him as a host.
How?
It didn’t matter, she was going to hurt someone, she was going to hurt his friends, she was going to use his body to hurt his friends.
He was going to hurt his friends.
With a shaking breath he stumbled out of the room and down the hallway, the walls swimming in his perpendicular, shadows taunting him. Glimpsing in the corner of his eye, it looked like there were faces in them.
Was the Lady Bone Demon making him see things? Could he even trust his own eyes?
She needed to get Out.
How? How could he get her out? She left Bai willingly, Sun Wukong needed to be coaxed to push her out, and the Bull Demon King needed to be defeated for her to leave his host. It changed every time. Injuring the host was probably his best bet.
Still in complete panic he rushes down the stairs, to the restaurant, clattering against the walls. Though vaguely he was aware it was one in the morning and he was making a racket, MK didn’t care. She needed to get out.
How could he get her out? How could he free himself? There had to be something, anything!
Wukong freed himself when he touched the staff. Maybe that would help?
No, then she might get her hands on the staff. Who knows how much damage she could do with it?
Something else, he had to try something else.
His skin started to itch. Absent-mindedly MK scratched his arms, wondering if this was her starting to take control. How long did it take her? She was able to possess the Monkey King in only a minute or two, but that was the height of her power. How long did it take to possess the Bull Demon King? How long did it take to possess Bai?
MK had no idea, but he needed to act fast.
The old lights flicked on as the boy started to hyperventilate, the aching in his chest worsening.
She needed to get out.
Get out.
GET OUT.
“Kid?” Pigsy mumbles, wearing an oversized shirt as pajamas, and rubbing his eyes. “What are you doing up?”
His heart beat faster. Pigsy was right there. His dad was right there, and the Lady Bone Demon was going to hurt him. She was going to kill him.
“I need to get her out.” He forced out with a wheeze, trying to think of something.
“Kid?” Pigsy asks, sounding concerned.
MK ignores him as he looks around frantically. His eyes land on the mop closet, and an idea starts to form.
If a host body was injured enough, she’d leave, or at least be forced out. Probably. MK couldn’t be certain, but there was a pattern. It wasn’t exactly possible to get in a fight right this second, but what if he were able to hurt himself in another way? Hurt himself from the inside.
There was rat poison in that closet.
He slammed the door open, before falling to his knees and searching frantically. Even with the light on, the closet wasn’t all that well lit.
“MK? What are you doing?” Pigsy asked, slowly approaching. He sounded even more concerned now.
The boy was starting to get annoyed. “She’s in me. She’s trying to take over. She’s trying to hurt you. I can’t let her.” MK explains in panic, as his search was coming up with nothing. Where was it?
“Hey, maybe you should get off the floor.” Pigsy suggests. Once again, MK ignores him.
There it was! Tucked into the corner, behind the comet. A bottle of rat poison, bulk sized.
With shaking hands MK tears off the lid with a popping sound and starts to raise it to his lips. His mouth caresses the glass, before a hand grabs the back of his shirt and tears him away. “Kid!” Pigsy yells, full on freaking out. “What the Hell are you doing?”
The bottle tips over and starts to spill. MK tries to jerk out of Pigsy’s arms, but he’s holding fast. Though he could easily force his way out of the man’s grip, he knows it would hurt his father. It might even help the Lady Bone Demon take over.
That wasn’t an option.
Instead he tries to reach out to grab the bottle, which is just out of his grasp.
“MK, MK, calm down ok? What are you doing?” Pigsy wrestles him away even further, and uses his entire body weight to pin the kid to the floor. MK can see the utter terror in his eyes. Finally he calls “Tang, call the Monkey King! There’s something wrong with MK!”
He tries to shove Pigsy off, but the pig just pins his hands down. “I have to get her out! She needs to get out!”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking but you need to breathe.” The chef tries to direct, voice shaking.
Still panicking, MK frantically shakes his head. “My chest, my heart, she’s there, it hurts!”
A horrified expression crosses over Pigsy’s face, and he readjusts, moving his body off of MK’s chest, probably assuming he had somehow hurt the kid.
Taking his chance MK leaps forward, grabbing at the poison. He can explain later, it’ll make sense later, but now he needs to act. She could take over any second, and he can’t let that happen.
“NO!” Pigsy yelled, looping his arms around MK’s chest and tackling him.
“What’s going on?” Tang finally arrives, in a loose robe and dangling nightcap. He yawns. “Pigsy? MK? Why are you on the floor?”
“That doesn't matter now! Call the Monkey King!” Pigsy screams, using all of his strength to keep MK away from the poison.
“He doesn’t understand!” MK yells in return. “She’s going to take over! I don’t know how to get her out! I need to get her out! She can’t hurt you!”
Tang stares for a second, before nodding. “I’ll call him.” Then he rushes off, back to his and Pigsy’s bedroom.
“Listen, kid, listen.” Pigsy says, grabbing his chin and forcing MK to look at him. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but please, just calm down. I’m here, I’ll protect you, I’ll keep you safe. She’s not after you. She’s not here. The Lady Bone Demon-”
“She’s going to hurt you!” MK yells in terror, finally throwing Pigsy off. The man hits the counter with a grunt, as the boy scrambles to the potion.
How would he know who MK was talking about? He never said her name out loud, didn’t dare to. So how did he know? Were his eyes starting to glow white? Is that how he knew?
He couldn’t waste any more time. He couldn’t hurt them.
MK grabs the bottle, half spilled on the floor, raises it once again to his mouth, and then-
“Kid?” The Monkey King appeared before him, vivid and brilliant golden light. A spector, not there, but real enough for MK to see the furrow in his brow and concern in his face. “What's going on?”
Finally! He’d understand, he’s been possessed before, he’d know the need to get her out. “The Lady Bone Demon, she’s taking over. I have to get her out, she can’t take over! She’s going to hurt everyone!” He explained frantically, light headed and not even taking a breath between sentences. “I have to get her out!” He went to grip the monkey’s armor, like somehow it would tether him to reality, but his hand went through the spector.
“I’m going to be there soon, in only a few minutes.” He promises, voice soft and reassuring. “Why were you trying to drink rat poison?”
Right, he didn’t know. “If the host is damaged enough she’ll leave. Maybe I can make it so she doesn’t take hold!”
Still concerned, Sun Wukong nodded. “But she’s not possessing you right now, right? It’s still you.”
MK hesitated, before nodding. “It’s not too late. I’m still in control.”
“Ok, that’s good kid, you’re doing good.” He spoke so gently it was almost out of character. “Why don’t you take a deep breath. If she’s trying to take over you’ve been holding her back, right? You still have control.”
“I do.” He swallowed back tears. “I do.”
“Ok, that’s good. You’re doing great, kid!” He smiles. It was calming, even if he wasn’t there. “I know you can stay in control for a few minutes more, until I arrive. Then I can find a way to help. Does that sound ok?”
He hesitated. “What if I hurt Pigsy?” Tang wasn’t there, probably still in the bedroom, but he could see his father in the corner of his eye, keeping his distance, hesitant but ready to jump.
“You won’t. I trust you kid, just trust yourself. I’m two minutes away, ok? You’ve done so well, and I’m so proud. She hasn’t taken over yet.”
MK swallows tears and nods. “You’re going to be here soon?”
An award winning smile. “Two minutes, no more, maybe less. Just stay calm, and don’t drink any poison until I’m there.”
“Ok.” He promises, voice horse. Sun Wukong gives him one final smile before his spector vanishes.
Then he turns back to Pigsy. “Dad?”
The chef rushes forward and yanks him into a hug, his grip just as tight as before. “Jesus kid. Don’t do that!” He scolded, voice filled with relief. MK could feel his arms shaking. Or maybe he was the one shaking. He couldn’t tell.
“I can’t let her hurt you. I can’t let her hurt anyone.” MK sniffles, burying his face into his dads soft pajamas. It had the faintest scent of lavender from the wash. “She’s going to hurt you. She’s going to do it again.”
“She’s gone kid, the Lady Bone Demon is gone.” His arms tighten. It feels safe. His father always felt safe.
Was he going to hurt Pigsy? If he does MK doesn’t think he’ll ever forgive himself.
“She’s not.”
The chef doesn’t answer. Instead he cradles his head, pressing it gently into his shoulder. Gently he starts to hum and rock back and forth. It’s calming.
MK is exhausted.
The door slams open, making both of them jump. Sun Wukong rushes in, panting. How quickly was he traveling?
“MK, Pigsy, what’s going on?” He asked, rushing over.
Pigsy grips his shoulder. “I don’t know. MK started freaking out and trying to drink poison.” His voice was tight, high strung, his eyes a glare. “Do you know what's going on?”
“The Lady Bone Demon is trying to take over.” MK explained after him.
Sun Wukong takes a deep breath, gently takes the boy's chin, and tilts his head up. “Alright, let's take a look. I’ll be able to tell if there’s so much as a trace of her magic in you.” He sounded so confident MK couldn’t help but believe him.
The Monkey King pressed a furry hand against his chest and hummed. His eyes closed for a few seconds before he frowned, and took his hand away. “Nothing’s there kid.”
“What?” MK asked, not entirely comprehending.
“Yeah, you’re free and clear of possession MK, clean bill of health.” He nods, giving a smile.
“No, no, that’s not right.” The boy stuttered, starting to shake.
Gods it was freezing.
“Why do you think you're possessed kid? Maybe we can start from there.” Wukong said, voice calm and confident. Surely he knew what he was talking about.
“She came to me, in a dream. She told me it was my turn to rest, in a scary way.” He’d never forget the cold terror that ran through him at her words. “Then, then she touched my chest and-” He sobbed, throwing himself into the Monkey King’s chest, not able to force the words out.
“Ok, it’s ok.” He ran his paws gently through MK’s hair. “That must have been terrifying. I know what she’s like up close.” Hesitantly he pulled away a little, then knelt down, now eye level to the boy. “What happened after that kid? What’s gotten you so shaken up.
Sniffling, MK wipes his tears away. “Then I woke up, and my chest was aching. Right where she touched.” Another sniffle. “It felt like I was having a heart attack almost. I don’t, I don’t know what else would do that.”
“Oh kid.” The Monkey King softens, his expression almost pitying. “When's the last time you slept?”
MK blinked in confusion. “What?”
“You look a little rough.” Wukong gently caresses his cheek, wiping a tear away. “There are dark circles under your eyes. You’re shaking. Come on kid, when was it?”
He swallows. “When… Last time I slept was the night after her defeat.”
“That was three days ago!” Pigsy blurts out in shock. “You’ve been awake for 72 hours?”
“I just…” His voice starts to shake, and he takes a second to get himself back together before talking again. “I couldn’t. I kept worrying, kept panicking. Every time I closed my eyes I saw her again. She was hurting my friends. I just couldn’t handle it.”
“I know what happened kid.” Gently Sun Wukong guides MK’s head against his chest. He can feel the monkey's heart thumping steadily. It’s comforting. “You had a panic attack. A bad one too it sounds like.”
“No.” The boy shakes his head against his mentor's chest. “She was there, she was so real.”
“I believe you kid. But what happened was a trauma response. Not real.” A sigh. “You’ve been through so much. Your mind doesn’t think you’re safe anymore. That, combined with lack of sleep, probably caused this.”
This makes MK want to sob even more. “Am I going crazy?”
“No kid, no!” His arms tighten around him. “Not at all. You just need some help. And some sleep.”
Sniffling, MK buries his face even deeper into Sukong’s fur. He doesn’t want to be seen. “I can’t sleep. I’ve tried, I-I can’t. I just can’t.”
“Pigsy?” The monkey hums. “Do you mind if I stay the night?”
“Whatever the kid needs.” There’s no hesitation in his voice, just worry.
“How about that?” He chuckles, though the usual humor isn’t there. “Why don’t I stay in your room and watch over you. Maybe that will help. If there’s any sign of possession I’ll be right there.”
“I guess.” MK stutters. “But I don’t want you to have to stay up to watch me. Don’t you need sleep too?”
This earned a laugh. “I’m an immortal monkey who spent 500 years under a mountain. Sleep’s optional for me. It’s not for you.”
“You need rest, kid.” Pigsy chimes in softly, gently rubbing his back. With each second that passes it’s harder and harder for MK to keep his eyes open. “Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t sleep? Or at least told Sandy? He would have gotten you some of that tea of his.”
“Didn’t want to worry anyone.” The boy mumbles, just as his knees buckle and he starts falling to the ground.
“Kid!” Sun Wukong yells, scooping him up before he can fall to the tile ground.
“MK!” Pigsy shouts at the same time, though he jumps into action a few seconds later than the monkey king did. “Are you ok?”
“Fine.” He mumbles softly, vision blurring slightly. “I just feel… Weak. Dizzy.”
“You’re exhausted.” Sun Wukong mumbles, readjusting his grip to cradle the boy comfortably. For the first time in a long time MK feels soft, warm, and safe.
When was the last time he felt safe?
“I’ll clean this up, and we can deal with the rest of this in the morning.” Pigsy sighs, leaning down and picking up the now mostly empty bottle of rat poison. “You need to sleep, kid, alright? Go to bed.”
Before all this, before his mentor arrived, MK wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to sleep soundly ever again, if at all. But now it was almost impossible to keep awake.
He hums in response, eyes fluttering shut.
“I’ll get him to bed.” Wukong says. It sounds like he’s underwater. Pigsy says something else, but it’s so quiet MK can’t hear, nor does he try.
Then the monkey king starts walking somewhere, with MK bouncing up and down gently, like he’s in a calm ocean, floating in the waves.
“Here you go kid.” Sun Wukong whispers, placing him on something soft. Probably his bed. Something warm and soft is placed over him. A blanket. “All tucked in.”
Half in a daze MK reaches forward to grab his mentor, eyes still shut. “Don’t go.”
A furry hand gently grabs his. “Don’t worry kid.” A gentle laugh. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving. Promise.”
He still wasn’t convinced that he imagined the Lady Bone Demon, that he was truly gone, but Sun Wukong was there. No he wasn’t perfect, but he knew what he was doing, and he would notice if something was wrong. He could protect MK, and more importantly, he wanted to protect MK.
With one final yawn the tired boy curls up under his blankets and falls asleep, his mentor's hand still in his.