[SOLO PLOT] Possessing Darkness [Briosca][Fin for now...]

[Irish Night Fox]

Bree was exhausted. Physically, but mostly mental. She had been at war with the Fae inside of her, and though she had had some small victories, it was still wearing away at her. Some days she wondered if the mental battles were even worth it or if she should just slip away into the darkness that was creeping in the back of her mind. It called to her, telling her about the sweet slumber she could have if she'd just give into it. Perhaps it would wipe away the image of his face, the look of terror, confusion, and pain as she drove the object into his shoulder. It haunted her every second. How could she have been capable of something like that? Was she really evil herself? Did she even truly love him?

No, that was the other talking. This wasn't who she was. Some days it was hard to tell though. Somedays she wasn't sure if this unrelenting need to find something was from her or the other. What was she looking for and why did she need it so desperately? Why was she stumbling endlessly through forests and rivers without a morsel of food till she was about ready to collapse? Those were the few times Bree had control. The other would just... fade away and Bree would do what she could with what little energy she had to find food and a place to wash up. Then she'd fall into the best sleep, where it was so dark she wouldn't dream. She wouldn't see his blood on her hands...

Then she'd wake and again she was left as an observer over her own life. The other would stalk Pae of all kinds- some Bree had never seen before. There was a time or two she thought the other would attack, but it seemed to come to its senses and realize it wasn't strong enough. It would then fade and Bree would be left to find a way to keep her body from dying away.

One of the worst experiences Bree would go through is the Fae peeling back her memories in a desperate search for whatever it was looking for. At first Bree had held on to her mind as a whole and fought off the stripping, but she was becoming exhausted. So she'd find bits and pieces that she didn't think would cause harm to her life or family. She needed to keep this being from knowing where she lived. She couldn't handle the thought of more pain befalling her family. So she'd put up a fight and slip it one or two bits depending on how hard it was fighting. It seemed to satisfy it at times, but others would enrage it.

If only she knew what it wanted. She had attempted so many ways to communicate with it, but generally it would only reach out to her when it found it necessary. Every time it was an icy grip that threatened to black her out- so it wasn't often. Bree supposed it was for the best. She'd figure it out one way or another wouldn't she? If not, she supposed the thing would find what it's looking for after awhile. Would it leave her alone then? If so, could she even bring herself to go home? Could she face the family she left behind and the love she hurt? She didn't think so. She could just fade away in this forest...

The icy grip curled around her mind, causing her breathing to come in sharply. What did it want? Fear tore at her heart as she waited for the voice, but it didn't come this time. Instead Bree was left with the sensation of ice filling her lungs. What was it doing? Was it finally getting rid of its host? A part of Bree welcomed it, the disgusting part that was excited by the prospect of slipping into the darkness and leaving behind the pain and uncertainty. There was still fight in her, though, and she pushed the feelings aside, “What is it...?”

A feeling. It was angry. It was tired of Bree holding back from it. Information? What information did Bree have that it so desperately wanted? She wasn't anyone special, just a baker with a family. She lived in a forest somewhere- She halted the thoughts the Fae brought forth. No! She wouldn't allow it to find out where her family was! The ice, oh it was hurting! Every breath hurt worse then the next to the point it was burning her insides. It would let up soon wouldn't it? It had to.

Ah, there it was. Sweet darkness. It was creeping over her mind, soaking in the pain. Yes, it would relive this for her. She'd just slip right into it and she'd be free. No more pain. No more pain... No more.  

[Irish Night Fox]

Bree had hoped it was over. She thought she'd be lost in the darkness forever. Just floating in a blanket of warmth where memories and life couldn't touch her. Instead, she had received glimpses of movement. Trees passing her by, the branches slapping her limbs, a bright sun shining down on her and warming her flesh. Not all of it was terrible till she began to recognize the area around her. The sounds, the surroundings, where was this familiarity sparking from? Dread began to fill her as her consciousness returned. She was headed home.

Whatever the other had done to her had loosened her grip on vital information. It knew where it was and where it was going. For what purpose, Bree wasn't sure, but silently she watched on. She had no power over her own body and had long ago stopped trying to will her power back over herself. The Fae was much stronger than she was, but instead she took advantage of the time she was given her own self back to nourish her body and put some distance between her and her home. It was all for nothing now.

She didn't know how many days it took them. It had taken her awhile to realize what was happening and to fully revive. She managed to fully come to in time to know this was the last place on the isle she wanted to be. The Fae seemed to understand the need for caution. As they neared she slowed her steps, having ceased her flying when she couldn't muster the strength much longer, and began to listen carefully. If Feral was near he'd be able to pick up their movement easily. There was so way they'd make it out of here without him attempting to stop them. She didn't want that, she couldn't see him.

To her surprise they came up on the house without much difficulty. Was he out at the tree? A part of Bree wanted to see him. Wanted to be sure he was ok and that he had forgiven her. The thought stung- what if he was hunting her down? He knew it hadn't been her so what if he was trying to save her? No, no she didn't want to see him! She couldn't have him attempt something like that!

Instead her eyes landed on her children. Instantly tears began to run down her face. Her sweet babies were so big now! How long had she been gone? Gone enough to know she had missed out on so much. She'd missed so many firsts, so many days of connecting and being with them. Missed out on being able to impact their lives. Her heart clenched with the greatest pain she had ever experienced as she watched them. Cocoa Eclair, Foxglove, and Samoa were sitting on the lawn talking. She couldn't make out the discussion from her place, but from their facial expressions she could see it was light hearted. Then sweet Ty made his way out of the house with cookies. Her eyes widdened- he was still baking! Her heart soared but immediately crashed at the thought that she hadn't been the one to help him. All the time they could have spent together-

A loud noise made her jump. Were one of the kids making an animal noise? She watched wide eyed as Samoa gave off an intense roar and all the kids fell back before laughing. Was that happening because of the cookies? Had her son found his powers? Watching them so happy... A part of Bree felt the gladness as well. Perhaps they were still finding happiness during all of this hardship? She could only hope, this was too large of a burden for them to handle and she hated herself for placing it on them. She was so glad she could see them this way.

Bree truly thought this was a gift from the Fae. Perhaps she was showing her this so she'd compromise. That hope was dashed away when Cocoa Eclair screamed about something at her brother before storming off into the forest behind their house. When had she picked up such a bad attitude-

The Fae moved. Bree's heart began to pound in her ears as she watched them move around the house and towards the direction her daughter had gone. Why were they following her? Bree could only watch on as the gap between them closed. Cocoa Eclair was insight, kicking at some roots and complaining loudly to herself. Bree didn't hear any of it, she could only hear her own cries in her mind. Please, what are you doing!?

The Fae scrounged around on the ground before finding a decent sized rock. What threw Bree into a frenzy was the sharp point it had at the end. She was stalking her daughter! She was going to hurt her! “No!” Bree screamed internally, “No please! Not that!” It wasn't listening though as it pushed forward, bringing the rock up as it stalked closer behind its prey. Bree caught flashes of the rock impaling itself into the back of her daughter's skull and it was the last straw.

“I'll do anything! Please, don't! You can have them. You can have all my memories. Just... don't hurt her.”

Just like a breeze in the wind they were gone. Cocoa Eclair was alone, a sharp rock laying on the ground just a few steps away from her.  

[Irish Night Fox]

She had never felt so used and so vulnerable. Though she had stopped the murder attempt on her daughter she still had never felt so weak. Her body trembled, every emotion frayed. She was so tired, so used up and done with this. She released her power over her mind and sunk into a darken stupor as the Fae tore it apart. It was like watching a wild animal stricken with hunger. It peeled them back like they were nothing- not someone's livelihood.

She didn't want to wake up. She didn't want to keep this being from completing its mission- whatever that was. With how willing it was to destroy she could only assume it was something much worse than what Bree had been through so far. She didn't want to be there for that. She didn't want to have any part of this being and it's life. If only she could just give it her life, but she didn't know how.

She didn't know how to die.

That was it wasn't? That is what the darkness was. This whole time she had been fighting to survive all while death called to her. It told her she could be free. At what cost though? A family would lose their mother- one that had torn it apart and been without for how long now anyways? If she died would the Fae still be in control of her body? Free to do as it willed? Perhaps if she died she's stop its rampage.

But how? How could she die when she wasn't in control?

She could feel the hot tears running down her face. Though it controlled her actions it couldn't control the outwards showing of emotion. What was left of Bree now? Now that the Fae had its hold on everything was there any part of her that was her anymore? What was this subconsciousness anyways. It certainly wasn't life if you didn't have any control over it.

The Fae seemed to hesitate over the memories of Takeko. A burning rage flared up in her and Bree cried out. Had she sentence Takeko to the Fae's destruction!? It hovered over the memory, the rage almost unbearable. What had the angel done to her? But something about it didn't feel right. No, the Fae couldn't know Takeko so why was it so angry with her?

It moved on and Bree breathed a sigh of relief. She could feel it's burning anger still there, but at least they had dodge its wrath for now. Bree didn't dare to attempt to steal back the memory in fear of bringing it back up. Instead, she quietly watched on. She had no more power anymore. There was nothing she could do, but watch on as her life was torn apart memory by memory.

She couldn't tell how long this went on. She watched her life pass her by, feeling emotions of those memories wash over her with other emotions nipping at their heels from the Fae. It was confusing and left Bree feeling uncertain. Is that how she had really felt? Or was that the Fae's own emotion towards it? Why was it getting harder and harder to separate herself from it? She didn't want to be this. She didn't want it's grasp in her... But she was beginning to question who she was. Where Bree started and ended and where the Fae began and ended. Had she made the right choice in protecting her family this way? It could do worse things then ending her daughter's life.

There it is.
Where what was?
Where they're all hiding.
Who's hiding? Who are we looking for?
This whole time they've been locked up in their cozy little homes just out of reach. I knew you'd help me find them.
What's wrong with them? What have they done?

They were on the move again? This way looked familiar. Something about the city and where Bree went to sell her goods all the time. Yeah, she could see it now, her little stand covered in her treats. There were some who dismissed her blood for a chance at her treats, but for the most part she'd get nasty looks. Still, she'd managed to do better than she expected there. Was this real or a memory? Had to be a memory because she'd lived this a thousand times. Her kids had always wanted to go, to see the city, but she knew if she got looks they'd get much worse.

Oh her babies... She missed them so much. Could they forgive her?

Where was she going and why? She felt cold as she watched her home fade from view. The landscape remained familiar, but she didn't care. She felt nothing. Even the madness that had filled her moments ago from losing herself wasn't there. It was dark. Just empty darkness. She didn't want it, but welcomed it anyways. At least here she didn't question herself. At least here it didn't matter who she was. At least here her family couldn't get hurt...

Maybe someone would show her mercy and end this Fae. She wouldn't stop them.