The Price of Selfishness

'''Hyde without a Jekyll: '''*Catt awoke in a strange place. It was dark, damp, and cold with bits of lamp light creeping into the room through the cracks in the walls and ceiling. The wind blew angrily outside making the entire room sway and groan in protest. It was hard to tell what lay in the shadows of the room besides a few tables which held shadowy items and objects that glinted in the gas light. When she tried to move she found that it was impossible. Ropes lacing her arms, legs, and torso held her down. They cut into her skin almost warning her, begging her not to struggle. Her back hurt from the hard unforgiving surface she was tied to and creaked with pain when shifted her weight. But something was off about this place that she could seem to put her finger on.* Catt Hatter:  *An errant gust of wind snuck through the thin cracks, chilling her skin. The unexpected sensation made her shiver and she noticed that her jacket, and the swatch of red silk she used as a necktie, were missing. She also was lacking both her shoes and socks, but she could feel the brim of her hatt pressing into the back of her head against the surface beneath her. So there was that. Catt sighed heavily in the near darkness, she remembered what she'd done. She had betrayed her friend with a hug, forced her to continue her unhappy existence and prevented her life goal right as she was about to reach it. Alli had more than every right to be angry with her, and take her recompense. I'm worse than Judas... She thought, lamenting that she had hurt her fr-, her once friend.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *The shadows danced and swirled around the room playing tricks with Catt’s eyes. As a breeze drifted through the room a strange aroma reached her…it smelled of smoke, burning wood, and something sickly sweet. The smell itched the back of her mind, as though a memory or emotion was trying to crawl its way up past the bullet fragment and into her consciousness. She laid there listening to the building groan and creak with the wind, begging to fall and let its days of standing end. Something was off about this place, something that taunted her in the swirling darkness. Catt glanced around the room looking for the unknown but finding nothing. Or was there something? Was there a figure standing in the corner watching her? No, it was only the shadow’s ballet…Wasn’t it?*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  Alli? *Catt asked the shadows softly, her voice sounding strange and unwelcome in the near dead air of the room.* I'm awake.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *A low growl originating from the corner echos around the room. It doesn't sound like Alli's voice.* ''You don't get so say that name! *A glint of metal, the whistling of air being cut, and then a sickening thunk'' as an object embeds itself into Catt’s upper thigh.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  Ngk! *Her body reflexively spasmed, straining against the ropes as the blade struck bone. She struggled to catch her breath and caught a glimpse of the end of a small knife handle.* Ow... *She groaned laying back against the table, breathing shallow.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *A figure stepped towards her. It wore a worn, torn, and bloodied suit; goggles that relfected the gas lamp's light; a scarf that covered the lower half of it's face; and a top hat which strands of dark hair stuck out from underneath it. The figure calmly strides over to Catt's leg and gently massages the muscle around the wound. It hurts but eases the pain a bit. The figure then puts one hand onto Catt's leg, knife handle between the index finger and thumb and pushes, while the other hand slowly twists and pulls the knife out sending shock waves agony through her body.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Catt gasped roughly as the blade was withdrawn, her body going rigid once again. Her vision swam, was it tears or just the pain? She couldn't tell, and didn't care. She just lay there breathing as she felt warmth slowly spill down her leg.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  Shhh....No tears. Not yet.'' *The figure then plunged their hands into Catt's leg, reaching deeper and deeper into the warm muscle and blood until they hit the bone. The figure stopped for a minute letting Catt catch her breath while they slowly and carefully wrapped their fingers around her femur, feeling where the knife had chipped it, weakened it. *

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *She tried to apologize, but her throat clamped down on the words as the intrusion of her captor's hand sent sparks through her body and splotches clouded her vision.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *When vision finally began to return to her she saw her the figure looking at her. There was a moment where it almost seemed like the figure was about to apologize but it was gone and no words of sorry were heard over the loud snap of Catt's femur bone breaking in half.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *What was that sound, was someone screaming? As her mind slowly returned, she realized it was her that was screaming. Another moment and she remembered why. She felt light headed and gasped, then the scream continued. Her whole body quivering as she howled, the wind rattled the warehouse windows indifferently. The sound of her distress drifted across the abandoned neighborhood, over the silent streets and into a pair of sharp, attentive ears. He knew that voice, almost as well as he knew his own. But what was she doing here? He stepped easily from rooftop to rooftop, letting her cries guide his direction.*

--

Jasper Jekyll:  ( Almost as if on cue, the giant perks up. She knows that scream. She tiptoes to the every edge of the door, peering at Hela's sleeping form before rushing down the hall to a familiar well furnished office. A giant fist bangs against the door. ) Jekyll! I know you're in there Jekyll, get out here! ( Nothing. He must be on an emergency call. She runs a meaty hand through her hair with she notices sweet bell-like notes floating down from the top floor. )

Madame La Déchante:  ( A few minutes more and the singing stops abruptly when the door nearly comes crashing down. The Prima Donna had been rehearsing her latest aria when the thunder so rudely interrupted her own. She opens the door. )

Jasper Jekyll:  ( Before she has a chance to speak, Jasper interrupts her again. ) I need you to guard Hela.

Madame La Déchante:  You...want me...to guard an attempted serial killer?

Jasper Jekyll:  Yes.

Madame La Déchante:  Erm ( She gingerly guides The woman back behind her auditorium and into her dressing room. ) Why don't you have a bit of a lie in, mm? You're not quite looking very well. Just rest here. ( She guides the giant onto her bed. )

Jasper Jekyll:  I don't NEED rest.

Madame La Déchante:  Oh come now, all creatures big and small require rest.

Jasper Jekyll:  ( She stands up, pushing the lady aside. ) If you don't want to take the shift, that's fine. I'll find someone else.

Madame La Déchante:  ( In one swift motion, the diva flips her back onto the bed, landing a tiny syringe in her thigh. ) You're not going anywhere until your hysteria has calmed.

---

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *The figure pulled their hands out of Catt's leg. They dripped with blood.*Oh Catt...what did I say about crying. *The figure signed with the disappointment of a mother.* You're going to ruin your makeup.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *A confused whimper was all the sound she could manage. As her body shook and heaved, its shallow breaths coming in spasms, more involuntary tears slid from the corners of her eyes.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  *Her Captor took out a candle and a box of matches.* Don't worry Catt...*They took out a match.*...I'll make it all better.'' *The figure lit the candle. The shadow's dance intensified, swirling in and out as the flame swayed in the breeze*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Catt stared at the candle's warm glow, she would have sighed if she could control her shuddering chest.* Yo-ou sh-oul-dn't bo-th-ther... *She choked out sullenly.* I d-on-n't de-serve to feel bet-ter, n-ot af-ter ho-w I hur-rt you...

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  We can agree on that. *The figure chuckled.* But I'm still going to help you...because that's what friends do...''*The figure pressed the fire and hot wax into Catt's open wound. The sweet smell of burning flesh filled the air. It made Catt gag. The flame sizzle and pop as the wound is cauterized and the flow of blood lessened to a trickle.* ''...at least that's what you taught me.''

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Catt cried out as the heat fused her skin. It was hard to think through the pain, but she couldn't help but wonder if she had meant what she'd just said. It would be a miracle if Alli considered them to still be friends.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *After what felt like forever her captor pulled the candle away from the wound, leaving a gaping hole all the way down to the broken bone. The figure brought the candle close to her face.* ''...I want you to get a good look at this flame Catt, because it will be the last time you'll ever get this close to your precious light again. ''*And with that the figure pinched the flame between their fingers, turning fire to smoke. The room was once again enveloped in darkness.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Outside the wind rattled the windows again. The screaming had stopped so he had to trust his memory if he was going to hope to find her. A fortuitous breeze wafted the familiar smell of iron, and of her. He changed course, it wasn't far now.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *As Catt's eyes readjusted to the darkness she could see her captor placing the candle back into her satchel and pulling out something new as they walked around to her right side. The snap of rubber against skin echoed around her. A gloved hand rested against her cheek and a thumb gently wiped away Catt's tears.* ...You're makeup is smudged.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Catt didn't flinch as the hand moved across her eyes. Her breathing still ragged, she made another attempt to speak.* I, I don-n't wear mak-ke-up. *She croaked, the recurring make-up reference didn't make sense to her. It was the only thing that didn't.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  *The figure pulled out a vial and uncapped it, placing a cloth over the top.* Oh but you do...'' *The turned the vial upside down letting it's contents soak into the fabric.* ...and I'm going to help you remove it.*They capped the vial and placed it back into the satchel.* ''I'm going remove the lies you use for makeup, reveal what you face truly looks like. ''*The figure began to rub the cloth on Catt's cheeks, temples, and forehead. It doesn't hurt...at first. As her captor stroked her face and it grew warmer and warmer. The figure stepped back and watched intently. Catt was unsure of what was supposed to happen but then she feels it. A warm sticky liquid ran down her scalp and neck. It pooled in her ears.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *She opened her mouth, but words were forgotten as she felt her cheeks, and everywhere the liquid had touched, dissolve. Her face was burning, melting under the heat of whatever chemical had been spread across her pale skin. The smoldering pain brought fresh tears, which fell unbidden to trace lines of fire down her already searing flesh. If one were to hear her cries, they would think her throat was being crushed as she fought desperately to draw a full breath. The sound was broken and garbled, almost beyond recognition. However, the silent figure peering through the window would know that voice anywhere, no matter what its condition. After all, he had been hunting her for decades. And right now her choking, fractured sobs were music to his ears.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *Catt's captor didn't notice the figure in the window as she was much too absorbed watching her prey writhe in agony. She waited and watched as Catt's skin turned red, liquid bits running off her face. Soon specks of blood appeared as the lye ate through to her blood vessels. The specks pooled with the soup of flesh, slowing turning it to a deep crimson color. She had perfected this technique over the years. Testing, watching, and waiting until the lye had almost just eaten through to the nerves. It had taken her a while to know when was the correct time to start phase 2. Too early and the nerves wouldn't be exposed, too late and there would be no nerves to expose. Her tormentor watched as Catt gurgled, trying to get a scream out as the chemical ate through the lies and deception that made up her flesh. It was time. Catt gasped from the pain trying to catch her breath. Suddenly she couldn't breath at all as gallons of water washed over her face. She tried to suck in air but only got a lung full of water. Her chest burned. Her face burned. But her face didn't burn with that of chemicals, no it felt different. It felt like the burning of a candle's flame--no of a roaring fire, as though the lye had turned to blazing inferno that burned water like gasoline.* ''Most of my...playmates...normally pass out by now. ''*She heard her tormentor say as the flood ended. They almost sounded proud.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Catt gagged and spluttered on the water, the cold liquid sent her mind reeling back to when she had nearly drowned in the river all those months ago. But this time there was no Dr. Helen to save her. No one even knew she was gone. The breeze caused white walls of pain to come crashing over her mind with every movement. It felt like something was tugging at her, pleading her to just fall asleep and let it all go. But, had Alli just said something? She couldn't focus, couldn't remember what those words meant. She moaned softly, physically drained and mentally exhausted. Her eyes stared absently out the window, there were no stars to light the lonely sky. Only a grinning shadow that covered half the glass pane as the wind shook it once more.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *Her once friend gently dabbed away the excess water and lye from Catt's face with a towel.* ''I know you're tired but you cannot fall asleep yet...I'm not done playing with you.'' *As the water drooled out of Catt's mouth, the figure delicately wiped it from her exposed nerves. It hurt but the burning sensations lessened to a stinging.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Catt merely groaned, her mind too far gone to make sense of anything her senses told her. There was just pain, a continuous haze of pain that swayed her gaze around the room. Was someone laughing? The shadow at the window couldn't contain his delight at seeing his prey so weak and pitiful. He laughed loud and heartily, though it almost sounded like he was coughing as he dropped down into the room, perching on a stack of old crates labeled "Felt."*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *Not Allison whipped around to face the intruder, growling. This man-- (Not Allison blinked as this...thing. She didn't know what it was but she was sure it wasn't human so the best description she could come up with for it was thing. ) --This thing had just walked into her private engagement with Catt. Her Catt. Laughing like a hyena no less! This place was supposed to abandoned. It was abandon. History had made sure of that.* ''You better run off little monster! Don't you know this place is dangerous?!''

'''Catt Hatter:  Dangerous? ''I'm scarier than anything we're gonna see in this forest.' *He quipped, slipping into a Scottish accent. Regaining his composure, his form coalesced into one more recognizable as a young man. Pale, translucent skin surrounded his cherry-red predatory eyes, covered by a white collared shirt and pants. His black vest and hair matched his glossy black shoes. On a second look, Not Allison saw that where the soles of his shoes ought to have been, there were instead rows and rows of human teeth. The man growled mischievously,* Mind if I watch?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  Forest?'' *Not-Allison shook her head.* ''I don't care who or what you are! She's my Cat to skin and if you dare touch her, I'll destroy you! ''*To prove her point Not-Allison picked up a nearby rock, swinging it over her head she slammed it hard into Catt's right hand, shattering several bones. ''Catt will never be able to extend her false hand of friendship again.'' Not-Allison thought.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Catt cried out again as she felt her hand crunch under the rock. Everything was hazy, muffled voices, then another sharp pain in her left cheek caused her to yelp. The man, in response to the threat, had jumped down from his perch atop the crates. Without breaking eye contact with the tormentor, he'd stepped up to the table and smacked the nearly unconscious girl across the face before Not Allison could stop him.* All is fair in love and war.*He leered.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *Not-Allison growled in rage as she pulled the knife from her satchel and leaped across the table at the man.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *The man's grin extended grotesquely across his face. He caught her by the wrists and flung her across the room, where she landed and rolled to her feet. When Not Allison looked back at the man, he was standing on top of Catt, grinding his heel into her fractured leg. Catt screamed, her voice wavering as blackness clouded her vision.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *The wound in Catt's leg reopens and begins gushing blood everywhere.* ''You fool! You've opened up a major artery! She's going to die! ''*She once again rushes at the man, hoping to knock him off the table before he does anymore damage.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *The man leapt backwards off the table, landing as gingerly as a bird. He laughed, seeming to mock her concern.* 'Legends are buggers to kill.'

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  Legends are only hard to kill because their legacies live on forever!''*Seeing the blood drip from the table and onto the floor, she knew Catt had lost too much to be saved. If she couldn't make Catt suffer for all eternity, then she would claim the next best thing...her life. Not-Allison plunged the blade into Catt's chest watching and waiting for the blood to come up through her mouth and the mechanisms that propelled her wretched existence forward to slowly grind to a halt.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *The man howled with laughter, jumping back on top of the crates to get a better view. Catt's head rolled towards Not Allison, her eyes pausing briefly on the knife handle lodged in her chest, before meeting her tormentor's eyes. Blood came up into her mouth and dribbled down on the table. But the light in her eyes didn't go out, and her heart didn't stop beating.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  *Not-Allison stared at Catt in shock.* ...you're not dead...'' * As the idea sunk in she grew angry.* WHY AREN'T YOU DEAD?!?*She ripped the knife out of Catt's heart and began to repeatedly stab her with it, screaming all the while.* WHY * Chest.* DON'T * Neck.* ''YOU ''*Chest.* ''DIE!?! ''*Head. That last blow went straight through her eye and deep into her skull.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Catt's body convulsed each time the knife pierced her flesh. By the time the knife went through her head, she was unconscious. The man continued laughing from atop the crates.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *Not-Allison's hand let go of the knife leaving it in Catt's skull. She panted from the emotions and fury of violence and turned back towards the man.* ...why...isn't...she...Dead!?

'''Catt Hatter:  Hats off to our volunteers! *The man chuckled, savoring the spectacle.* ''Hats off to a job well done!'

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  You have a way with words.'' *Not-Allison mumbled under her breath. The man was very odd but she understood his meaning. That Hatt, that hatt Catt always wore, it's what's keeping her alive. Not-Allison had tried taking it off earlier when she was tying Catt down but she couldn't grab it....As long that hatt was on Catt's head she wouldn't die. Not-Allison sighed in frustration and tried to grab it again just to make sure her hypothesis was correct.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Her hands grasped nothing, even though there had been no physical way for her to miss. The man watched contentedly.* 'Burn baby, burn.'

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  *Following the man's advice, which hadn't been wrong so far, Not-Allison pulls out a candle and lights it. She slowly raises it up to the hatt until the tip of the flame caresses the brim.* ''Burn baby, burn.''

Obtained From
A Prank too far (Part 2)