take me back

TEAR YOU APART - CHAPTER 1: COTARD'S SOLUTION


After the events of Halloween night, 2020, there was a rumor that lingered within Trick or Threat Town. It was said that deep within a cave not too far from the village, was Lord Sinister's lair. Anyone who dared to enter reportedly never came back out.

Rex already knew this, as he stood right at the cave's entrance. He had no intention of coming back out in the first place.

Equipped with only a cheap flashlight, he moved forward, footsteps echoing against the stone walls. His mind was running a mile a minute, his grip on the flashlight continuously wavering.

After a few minutes of walking, Rex stopped in his tracks. Sweat rolled down his face as he waved his flashlight around, looking for any sign of what, or whom, he was looking for. For a moment, the only thing he heard was his own breathing, until he heard another noise, something that made him freeze in place.

A low chuckle came from right behind him.

Rex trembled as he slowly turned his head to find a pair of yellow, glowing eyes staring right back at him.

"Boo."

Rex didn't make a sound, paralyzed by adrenaline. Before Rex could even try to respond, he suddenly felt himself being lifted upward by the tall figure in front of him, bringing him to eye level.

"Ooh, seems like I caught a big one. What's a stout little thing like you doing, trespassing within my domain?" The tall figure spoke, his words laced with what seemed to be amusement.

"Looking for ya..." Rex forced out a murmur.

The tall figure's eyes widened in surprise, as if he wasn't expecting that answer. Then a smile crept onto his face, as he let out another amused chuckle.

"Oh? And why is that, little one? Could it be that you were thinking of defeating me, Lord Sinister, all by yourself?"

Rex didn't even bother arguing against his claim, as he figured that it wouldn't even matter in a moment or two anyway. All he did was stare back at him, studying his form in the faint yellow light. Lord Sinister seemed to be a large, black pumpkin, adorning a crown and a suit of armor. Rex honestly felt tempted to question why he was wearing armor in the first place since it sounded like such a hassle to put on, but he quickly decided not to.

They quickly noticed that Lord Sinister appeared to be examining them as well, assumedly sizing up their prey before going in for the kill. They braced themself, expecting to be crushed or ripped in half at any moment...

...but that moment never seemed to come.

Lord Sinister then spoke up again. "You know, most men who wander in here start struggling the moment I catch them, yet you are not. Why is that?"

Rex's expression shifted from one of fear to one of somber reflection. He didn't answer right away, noticeably hesitating before speaking. "Those who enter here don't come out alive, right?" They muttered.

That made Lord Sinister pause for a moment. "...So you entered my domain knowing full well of the consequences? Why? I don't understand."

Rex was reluctant to tell him what his actual reason was for being there, but seeing how he looked genuinely confused, he figured he might as well be upfront about it.

-

"...I see." Lord Sinister replied. This was a completely new situation for him; Everyone else who had wandered met their end due to naivety and ignorance, but wanting to die? He felt conflicted.

He stared silently at Rex for another moment, before beginning to walk back from where he came, with Rex still in hand.

"H-Hey, wait- where the hell are you taking me?!" He stammered.

"Don't ask silly questions, boy. I'm bringing you back with me."