Chapter 378: A deal with the devil 2
Blake stumbled back, shock and horror written across his face. "Rose? Rose, fight it!"
The familial wearing Rose's face laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "Rose isn't here right now. But don't worry, I'll take good care of her body."
With inhuman speed and strength, Rose's possessed form lunged at Blake. He barely had time to dodge, the wind from her attack ruffling his hair.
"Blake!" Randal shouted. "We need to restrain her!"
Reggie was already moving, grabbing the chains they had removed earlier. "Rose, if you can hear us, we're trying to help!" he called out, circling behind her.
The possessed Rose spun, her movements unnaturally fluid. "Help?" she cackled. "You can't even help yourselves!!!"
She lashed out again, her fist connecting with Randal's jaw and sending him sprawling. Blake used the distraction to tackle her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Now, Reggie!" he shouted, struggling to hold her still.
Reggie moved quickly, wrapping the chains around Rose's thrashing form. It took all three of them to finally secure her, binding her once again to the sturdy frame post.
As the last chain clicked into place, Rose's body went limp. When her eyes opened again, they were her own, filled with pain and fear.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I couldn't... I couldn't stop it."
Blake stood back, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. The room was silent except for their ragged breathing, the aftermath of the violent struggle hanging heavy in the air.
Without a word, Blake turned and walked out of the cabin, the half hinged door slamming behind him.
"Blake!" Rose called after him, her voice breaking. "Please... I'm sorry!"
But Blake was already gone, disappearing into the darkness outside.
Reggie and Randal exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do next. The revelation of Rose's oath, coupled with the violent manifestation of the entity possessing her, had shaken them all to the core.
"I'll go after him," Reggie said finally, moving towards the door.
Randal nodded, turning back to Rose. "I'll stay here, keep an eye on things."
As Reggie stepped outside, he found Blake standing at the edge of the clearing, his silhouette rigid against the starry sky.
"Blake," he said softly, approaching his friend. "Are you alright?"
Blake didn't turn around, his voice low and filled with a mix of anger and despair. "How can I be alright, Reggie? The woman I love made a deal with our worst enemy. Everything we've been through... it might all have been for nothing."
Reggie placed a hand on Blake's shoulder. "We don't know that. Rose made a mistake, yes, but she was desperate at the time. She didn't have a choice."
Blake shook his head, his fists clenched at his sides. "But she should have told me. All this time... we could have been preparing, fighting against this."
"Maybe," Reggie conceded. "But dwelling on what might have been won't help us now. We need to focus on finding a solution."
Inside the cabin, Rose hung limply from her chains, tears streaming down her face. Randal stood nearby, his expression a mix of sympathy and wariness.
"I've ruined everything," Rose whispered, her voice barely audible.
Randal moved closer, careful to stay just out of reach. "No, Rose. We're not giving up on you. We'll find a way to break this oath, to free you from the Nemisis's influence."
Rose looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair. "But what if there isn't a way? What if I'm trapped like this forever?"
Before Randal could respond, Rose's body tensed again. She gritted her teeth, fighting against the entity trying to take control.
"It's... it's coming back," she gasped. "Randal, you need to get out of here. I don't know if I can hold it off this time."
Randal hesitated, torn between the need to help Rose and the danger she posed. "I'm not leaving you alone," he said firmly.
"Oh, not forever. Trust me, that's too long. You won't last long now and neither will your little pathetic family!!!" Rose's mouth voiced. The Nemisis was back.
Outside, Blake finally turned to face Reggie. His eyes were red-rimmed, but there was a determined set to his jaw.
"We need a plan," he said, his voice steadier now. "If Damien is connected to this, if he's still alive, we need to find him. He might be the key to all of this,"
Reggie nodded, relief washing over him at Blake's renewed focus. "Agreed. But where do we start?"
Blake's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. "We start by revisiting every lead, every rumor we can get about Damien. And this time, we don't stop until we find him."
As they turned to head back to the cabin, a blood-curdling scream split the night air. It was Rose's voice, but distorted, filled with inhuman pain and rage.
Blake and Reggie exchanged a horrified look before sprinting back towards the cabin. As they burst through the door, they were met with a scene of chaos.
Rose was thrashing against her chains, her eyes flickering between her normal brown and solid black. Randal stood nearby, a cut on his forehead bleeding freely.
"It's getting stronger," Randal shouted over Rose's screams. "I don't know how much longer the chains will hold!"
Blake moved forward, his heart breaking at the sight of Rose's suffering. "Rose," he called out, trying to reach her through the entity's control. "Rose, I'm here. We're going to fix this, I promise."
For a moment, Rose's eyes cleared. She looked at Blake, tears streaming down her face. "Blake," she gasped. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry... I ..I love you."
Then her eyes rolled back in her head, and her body went limp.
The cabin fell silent, the sudden absence of Rose's screams leaving a ringing in their ears. Blake, Reggie, and Randal stood frozen, waiting to see what would happen next.
Slowly, Rose's head lifted. When her eyes opened, they were completely black, and the smile that spread across her face was cruel and cold.
"Well," the entity said, its voice a chilling parody of Rose's. "Shall we begin?"
Staring at Rose now taken over by the Nemisis, Blake's thoughts were now linear. No more confusion. 'Since Damien being alive is the reason this curse hasn't been broken, then I know what must be done this time. I'll ensure he stays dead, permanently!' he clenched his fist with those thoughts.