The good of your heart

*This story is under my folder “A monster creeps along”. Gacha Club character designs are under this forum: https://www.writerfeed.com/topic/117842-my-character-designs-lt-33-3?start=345. The 🪄🎪✨ represents Imogen’s POV and the 🎀🦓❤️‍🩹 represents Mia’s POV. Enjoy and Happy Spooky Season!*

🪄🎪✨

“So, you came here to see some monsters, eh?” Imogen asked, corking the vial shut. She had to be prepared for the woman.

“Yes. I know that it’s all for show, but it’s still fun. My brother would love this!” The woman beamed.

“Is that so? Tell me, what is your name?” Imogen asked.

All she had to do was tell the woman that she was going to show her an “exclusive attraction” and she followed Imogen right into a circus tent!

“Why do you need to know? We’re not seeing each other again.” The woman asked.

Imogen only grinned, sure to keep her charm up.

“We might just see each other again. I want to get to know my guests.” Imogen said, dropping her voice down only slightly so as not to scare the woman away.

“In that case, I’m Mia. Where’s this attraction that you were going to show me?” Mia asked. She seemed a little impatient, but only slightly, because her lips turned up in a smile.

“I’ll get to that in a moment. Drink this for me, okay? It’s a special kind of drink that I’m thinking of selling soon, and since you seem to be quite an endearing person, I’d like for you to try it.” Imogen said, taking out the vial of clear-colored liquid.

It looked just like water, but it was so much more.

Mia almost reached out for it, then jolted her hand away.

“I know that you’re Entertainer Imogen, but do I know you? Why should I drink it? Why-“

“Don’t you trust me? I trust all of my guests to have a spooky good time. I’m not the best at conversation, but I really think that you should try it. I’ve never seen such enthusiasm in the eyes of anyone else but me before.” Imogen said.

Was she laying it too thick? Would Mia run from her?

Imogen’s heart relaxed when she saw Mia blush a bit at her attempt of a compliment.

“You think I’ve got enthusiasm? Why, you’ve only ever seen my face! It’s sweet of you to say, but-“

“No buts. I can sense enthusiasm in anyone. I’m an Entertainer, after all. Now, why don’t you drink it for me? Come on, be the first to try my new concoction.” Imogen said.

Mia smiled and took the vial from Imogen’s hand.

She got Mia right where she wanted!

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🎀🦓❤️‍🩹

Mia took a full swig of the vial, enchanted by Imogen’s words and the prospect of being the first to try something new.

Though Mia was a grown woman, she was still a child at heart. She never wanted to tire of the whimsy that was in her life growing up, that she got from Halloween.

That was why she took the time out of her monotonous office job to go to The Creepy Weirdos Festival, which only came out every Friday the Thirteenth. When she saw the commercial on her TV, she just knew that she had to come!

Mom and Dad would never let her and her younger brother, Markus, go to the festival if word of it got around when Mia was a kid, which was why she took the opportunity as an adult. She had to live life to an absolute overdrive, or else what was the point?

But goodness, why did the drink feel so odd? Why did…how did…her hands…they were getting so long…so clawlike…so…her body…oh god, her body…where were those black and white stripes coming from? 

Mia’s insides felt like they were going to hurl out of her. Imogen briefly waved a hand mirror in front of her, where Mia caught a glimpse of a zebra-skinned woman with red eyes and sharp teeth staring back at her.

“It’s a huge adjustment, but monsters are always better!” Imogen beamed.

Mia collapsed to the ground, all the fight within her drained away.

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🎀🦓❤️‍🩹

Mia crawled on the exterior brick wall of the home, sensing Markus’ presence. It was a little muddled from the energy of the monster curse Imogen put in him, but he was still her brother.

However, he wasn’t like the monsters they left behind for their own lives in the shadows, the ones that still retained their humanity. She could feel that Imogen’s curse had made him a creature that hid in the closets of children and ate away at their flesh.

A tear slipped down one of her red eyes. Mom and Dad died of old age before the events of Mia and Markus happened. How much horror would they be able to comprehend if they knew? Would they still love Mia and Markus if they did?

Mia punched a hole through the window, sliding inside through the cracks.

There was no time to ponder the past. Only time to kill Markus, to make things right.

Even though her heart would break from his demise.

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🎀🦓❤️‍🩹

Mia dodged the bodies of the four little girls on the ground, her heart twisting with terror as she imagined what had happened to them. She already knew who did it, but it didn’t hurt any less.

“Markus! Markus!” Mia called out.

She was by no means “perfect” or “better” than him, for she still hungered for flesh, and she still ate animals that once had life, but to see that he would go after humans…that he lost his mind so…

Markus crawled out from the darkness, teeth bared, ready to kill. He was going to kill his twin sister, the one person he was looking for during most of his life, and he didn’t have an ounce of recognition in his gleaming red eyes.

As Markus pounced on her, Mia lodged her claws into his chest.

Both of them began to disintegrate to dust on the ground, the light of the moon the only thing that kept them company.

I wonder what Mom and Dad would think of us now… Mia thought glumly.