Chapter Text
Jax would never forget the feeling of his skin being pulled off.
It was such a cartoon concept. The plastic casing of a toy breaking off. The stuffing of a doll falling out. The fur of a bunny getting pulled off.
He could feel every part of it. Agonizing pain from both his skin and the yellow bones?? Frame?? What was he supposed to call the yellow plastics within him?
It was almost like being pinched too hard, the feeling of his skin being pulled off. But a million times worse. Like a crow bar digging in and pulling till his skin and muscles and fur stretched. The laughter ringing out around him. They could all see him for what he was. Past the mask. Past the cartoon character. They had gotten under his skin. He had let them. And they mocked him for it. He was a joke. Pathetic. Weak.
Some part of him knew it wasn’t real. It was Caine. It was the circus. Caine was throwing back his words with acid and mockery. You lie to us. What a bold claim from someone so fake.
Jax tried to pull himself together. Literally, mentally, both, neither. It all blurred into a nightmare that was horrific in its realism.
Then it stopped.
The voices.
The pulling.
Not the pain.
Not the darkness.
Not the slight breeze on his exposed yellow bones
“What happened?”
“Did it work?”
“Is everyone ok”
“What’s going on???”
Jax was still surrounded by darkness. But he couldn’t have been alone as he heard the soft vibrations of words he could barely make out.
They sounded weird, as if underwater.
Jax’s mind raced in an attempt to make sense of his situation. He couldn’t hear Caine. And the ring master wasn’t torturing them anymore. Was it possible the crazy chess piece had done it? Jax didn’t dare to get his hopes up again. Not after last time.
He almost jumped out of his skin (ever the funny one) when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It felt bigger and heavier touching his yellow frame. Almost violating.
Pomni Jax tried to ask but couldn’t hear his voice. He felt his face move. The yellow plastic warping painfully.
“Jax” the voice must be Pomni’s yet it still sounded weird.
What’s going on? He tried to ask. To say anything.
“What did Caine do to you” the voice was harsher. Zooble. Pretending like they cared.
“Jax are you ok?” Timed and pathetic. Gangle.
“Kinger!” Pomni again. Was Kinger there? Everything was so dark.
“I think…” Was that Kinger? His voice was so soft. Slight vibrations Jax could barely make out. “…deleted… Caine…”
Was Caine gone?
“Holy shit”
Holy shit