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It was cold, dark, ....slimy.
It felt so familiar.
Wet vines wrapped around his neck, restricting his already compromised air flow.
It felt sickly and foreign.
His friends were right beside him. The same vines and restrictions upon them.
Vecna looks at them him with determination, and desire.
“Join me William. We’ll rule together.”
Will felt like a brick just hit his chest.
How could he ask this? How could this man, the one who caused him so much pain…ask him this?
Did he really think that after all he put Will though, he’d join him? Against his friends?
His family?
His sister, his brothers, his-
…
Mike.
“Never”
It's barely a second before the tentacles tighten around the party's necks.
Choked gasps and cries fill his ears as they slowly suffocate.
What could he do? He can't join Henry…but he can't let his family die either.
He tries to talk. All that comes out is a choking sob.
The vines loosen with a slimy squelch.
“Have you changed your mind?”
A haste nod.
He could hear his friends gasp.
He could feel their sadness, disappointment, anger.
His knees hit the ground with a thud.
He coughed as tried to catch his breath.
Vecna was just feet in front of him.
He looked up to the grotesque man. If you can even call him that anymore.
“Let them go…and I'll join you.”
He says through gasping breathes
He could hear a symphony of shouts and cries behind him.
“Just let them go. Please.”
He practically begged.
“Very well.”
Before he could even turn around, he heard multiple, very distinct, crunches.
Sickening thuds hit the ground.
What?
His eyes widen, his limbs shake, his breath quickens.
This can't be. No..
He turns around slowly, praying it's not what he thinks.
God didn't hear him.
The sight is…indescribable
His friends, his family, his..his everything,
Gone. In an instant.
He scrambles over to Mike's side, knees quickly getting stained red.
Mike's neck is twisted in a way it shouldn't. Broken and nauseating
His eyes wide; stuck in his final moments.
Will’s fingers ghost over Mike's face. Removing damp hair from his forehead.
He reaches and pulls him into his lap, his hand brushing blood and bone, and something....wrong.
He pulled back with a sob. He held Mike close to his chest. Hoping he can hear his heart beat, fight, come back.
Will looks around at the broken bodies around him, it's sick, horrible..
He has to hold back gagging as reality sets in.
Blood and gore, puddling around him. Broken and battered bodies, thrown to the ground like ragdolls.
He feels hot tears invade his vision. His hands are wet and sticky with blood, coming from what he assumes is Mike's spine protruding through his neck.
He can't hold back sobs.
They wrack his body violently.
His friends…gone.
Why? He gave in! He joined 001! Was this man really this horrible? To kill his heart in front of his eyes?
His heart.
His…Mike.
…
Gone.
Broken.
Shattered.
Henry stands there with a sadistic smile. Very clearly enjoying the little ‘show’.
He can barely get any words out of his mouth.
All that comes out is a gargled sob and one word.
“Why?”
…
Eventually, the tears subside.
Will feels nothing.
Is nothing.
A shell of what he used to be.
Will realizes,
This is what Henry planned all along, isn't it?
Will had lost everything dear to him.
There was nothing left;
And that's exactly what Vecna wanted.
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