Chapter Text
Written: December 1st, 2024
Edited: June 13th, 2025
- Wilderness - Vermont -
I'm a fucking idiot.
That's the best way to describe it as lay against the cold stone wall of the cave.. I'm a cave explorer as one of my hobbys, my main job is providing hacking and software defense for various companies. I make shields for them and traps to prevent hackers from getting in and stealing data.. But cave exploring is one of my true passions, well, that and crochet and drawing on occasion... I enjoy finding places and making sure they're safe for others to explore in. Well, this cave wasn't safe.
Like in the movie The Decent, I've been trapped in this cave for.. I don't know how long. Kinda hard to tell time in the dark... My watch ran out of battery ages ago. I've given up on people saving me as I lay here starving to death.. I've ate all my rations long ago and I'm withering away, licking the caves walls of the moisture and minerals like a fucking mountain goat. My bodies too stubborn to freeze to death to end my misery..
I sit here weakly writing my will and testament... For whoever finds it in future.. I just hope when I die my body is in a funny pose.. "Hah.." I chuckle weakly at the thought. Writing down at the bottom of the page. *Will*
My name is Chloe Smith, I am twenty eight years of age.. and I leave everything to my mother, if she be deceased I leave everything to the descendants of my Aunt. If there should be none, I wish for all of my assets to be sold and given to animal rehabilitation facilities and sanctuary's around the globe.
My eyes grow heavy, I can feel the hand of death on my shoulder as I finish writing. Sealing it inside a water proof Ziploc bag I shove it into my backpack, keeping it beside me. I look scornfully to the fucking boulder that crashed down after I climbed in. Even after I fucking checked it's stability... Leaving me in this dead end cave.. "Mama.. I'm.. coming.. home.." I smile and close my eyes, allowing sleep to take over. Passing out from lack of energy, my heart slowly gives out under the stress and lack of nutrients... and I die.
- ??? -
A lion with fur covered in dust from space, lays on a throne of human bones. The fresh wounds that cover its body bleeding solar flares. One of its eyes a newborn sun while the other a black hole, indicating he's blind in that eye. It taps it's razor sharp claws against a skull with a hum. It's mangled ear twitching as it hears the arrival of a new soul. "Hm?" The feline looks up to its mother and creator who smiles at her child lovingly. "Who have you sent me to torture this time, mother?" The lion asks with a flick of its tail, looking at the gargantuan being that is Tiamat. A copy of his face enters his domain and looks at him. His mother using his own visage to communicate. For every child, a new head grows.
"A young pure soul, Dolor." The small wisp of a soul flutters down into its scar covered paw. He digs his nails into it hearing the soul shriek in pain and fear.
"Why have you given them to me? You only send me the worst humanity has to offer." Dolor, or Pain in Latin looks up to his mother. He is the one in charge of taking the worst of the worst. Serial killers, pedophile's, rapists, any human that has sins weighing them down when the die is sent to him to be tortured for energy to fuel their lives. He creates energy in excess for his other siblings who fail in making their kills lose. He rigs the game against his prey to assure they fail... That's why he's given the worst of the worst.
"I know you have grown bored with your usual flock my child. Repeating the same tasks day after day with no entertainment that stimulates you. I wished to give you a new toy, un-blemished with sin. It should surely create delicious reactions." Tiamat smiles at her child with an evil glint in their eyes.
Dolor smirks sadistically at his mother, liking the idea of a new form of entertainment. "A pure soul hm?" Raising a brow he grins, showing his razor sharp teeth. "Why not send it to Tim? He enjoys the pure ones the most." Dolor looks to his paw, at the soul who flutters about. He admits, he finds the blue hue pretty then the usual red and black souls he's sent..
"Tim has had plenty of prey recently, he may come over to see the soul however. He is the most curious of my children." Tiamat says fondly with a smile.
"I understand. Thank you for this gift mother, I shall make the most of my entertainment." Dolor grins and Tiamat bows their head disappearing from the pocket dimension. "Now, what to do with you Miss Smith.." Dolor licks his maw at the soul, analyzing the girls fears. "Let us ask." Concentrating his energy's into the soul, he gives it shape. Just enough so it can hear him..
- Chloe Smith POV -
"Ah.." I grunt out, looking around a dark void in confusion. Feeling stabs of pain at my sides like I've been stabbed with a knife multiple times. "What..?" I say in confusion. Holy shit the afterlife?
A darker skinned man appears in my vision, long black wavy hair cascading down his shoulders like a lions mane. Covered in fresh and old wounds alike, one of his eyes a pale white indicating that he's blind. Wearing a fluffy black cape and black leather armor that reveals his chest, gold rings and necklaces adorn his body. I can see feline ears hidden amongst his hair. "Greetings, Chloe Smith. You have died." He speaks to me with a deep rumbly voice that makes me shiver. Kinda sounds like Batman but deeper.
"Well shit." I say with a deep sigh, my time within the cave flashing in my mind. "So you're god then?" I ask with a raised brow filled with confusion. Doesn't look like a god.. he looks like if Scar was made human..
"Nay child. I am known as Dolor. I am one of many of my species.. I was given your soul by my creator.. I normally torture the most vile of humanity, but she gave you me to offer entertainment." Oh that's totally a demon... what the fuck did I do to end up in hell?? And hell exists?? Fuck, the Christians were right.
"I.. so you're a demon then? Or some sort of wibbly wobbly timey wimey equivalent?" I say with a squint, looking around the black void. Seeing nothing I sigh through my nose, returning my gaze to the man- er.. demon.
"In a way, yes I suppose." Dolor nods his head with a smirk, showing off his sharp pointed teeth. Ah shit. This is hell... And not the cocaine and hookers kind. "I shall be giving you trials. A task to complete which depends on which world you wish to do the task in. Normally it's surviving the story to it's end. Other times you are given specific tasks, such as killing or imprisoning a villain of some form.." Dolor rests his hands on the front of his body, showing his sharp black nails. The tips of them red with old blood stains.
"Okay...... What do I get if I beat the task? What happens if I lose?" I ask the feline hesitantly, squinting at him with suspicion.
"Should you win, you live in eternal bliss within the trial world as a god. Should you lose I turn your misery into a fuel source, feeding it to my.. lesser siblings." Dolor paces around me, watching me as if he's a wolf and I'm a rabbit.
"Well fuck." I say with wide eyes filled with shock. "Uh.. so I can pick anywhere?" Gonna need to be somewhere in know like the back of my hand.. gonna be something I can do-
"Yes, you shall also be given an ability that shall help you defend yourself. Most of the worlds your kind chooses are fantastical in nature." I nod in understanding, sighing with relief knowing I will be able to pick a place where I have an advantage via information. "However, I shall be choosing the ability." Dolor grins at me with a predatory gaze.
"Ok.." I say with pursed lip, I drop to the floor...? And sit down beginning to think, biting my lip I think of all the story's I know of. Taking my own skills into account.. I can defend myself pretty well, I know hand to hand combat.. I'm pretty strong too. You have to be to do free hand rock climbing and cave exploration. "Does it have to be a pre made story?" I ask the man with a raised brow, rubbing my chin in thought. Immediately scratching out several stories I never got to finish such as One Piece. Or more complicated ones such as the DC universe. Marvel MCU could be good, but I would get my ass kicked by Thano's. Especially if I can't choose the power.
"No, I can make you one custom. Simply tell me what you wish." He shakes his head and I sigh slightly with relief.
My mind flickers to topics I know of well.. the only one that comes up that I know I can stand a chance against as my normal self makes me sigh. "Slashers." I say with a reluctant nod of my head. I've watched plenty of episodes of 'How to beat: blank' on YouTube. I'm confident I can beat Slashers by just being smart and not an idiot. Half of surviving horror movies is just common sense.
"Slashers..?" Dolor tilts his head in confusion, squinting at me. Not understanding what that term means.
"Mhm. Like the movies Scream, Halloween, Friday the thirteenth-" he holds his hand up, silencing me.
"I see I see. I have just read your memories." Dolor waves me off with a nod. That's a little alarming.. I'm surprised he's not gagging at the amount of porn in my head tbh. "Certainly. I see all of your favorites, I shall make something entirely new for you... Your goal: Survive the Slashers." Shit, that's easy. Booby trap the fuck outta my house. Guns will be my friend... But he didn't specify how long.
"What's the end point?" I ask the man with a squint, he grins at me.
"There is none. If you can survive until you reach let's say.. sixty.. I shall give you your win." He smirks to me. SIXTY YEARS?!??!!! SURVIVING SLASHERS LIKE KRUGER?!? fuck my life.
"Fuck my life.." I sigh and tug my hair, scowling at the smirking man. I envision devil wings and horns on him. "So, what's my power then?" I ask with a sigh, wanting to figure out a good way to defend myself.
"That my dear you will need to figure out for yourself." He grins at me completely, showing off an inhuman amount of teeth.
"THAT'S NOT-" he snaps his fingers, the sound echoing loudly across the blank void.
"Good luck.." his eyes glow red in the dim light as everything fades to black.
- Third Person POV -
"Hahaha!" Dolor laughs loudly with amusement, resting on his throne of skulls. Staring down at the wispy soul who panics in his paw like a mouse. "You are an amusing soul! Finding serial killers from horror movies of all things amusing... but the thought of actually killing someone disgusts you! Perfection!" Staring deeper into the soul he searches for inspiration for her powers. "Your death reminds me of the tale of the Wendigo.... dying of starvation.. you had fortitude to not harm yourself and eat your own flesh... I have it. You shall become a Ghoul from the Japanese animation your friend quite enjoyed." Dolor grins as he stares down at the soul in his paw. "The perfect entertainment. Forced to kill and consume human flesh, all the while surviving the characters you enjoy! Why don't I add a bit of zest to this dish and make them obsessive without your knowledge? That feels right.." Dolor licks his maw with anticipation, excited to see how the girl will react. He shall wait for a trigger before activating the Ghoul inside of her.. making her appear human before he turns her. The anticipation of it will make him giddy.
Grabbing a soulless unblemished skull from a pile, Dolor carves a symbol into the forehead using his claw. The skull glows a soft red and he smirks, grabbing her soul by his claws gently. "I hope you enjoy this little morsel." Pushing the bright blue soul into the skull, the jaw opens and exhales blue energy. He sets it down on a podium made of bones with a grin. Watching with excitement as the girl awakens.
- ??? - Chloe POV -
Groaning loudly I open my eyes with a frown. I sit up and hold my head with a groan, feeling as if I've been stabbed with an icepick through my nose.. "Fuck me.." I hiss with a frown. "Fuuuuck. I'm gonna have to experiment and see what my powers are.. dammit.." Getting up and out of bed I stop when I notice my back didn't pop several times. Am I having a rare good day? I mentally ask myself with a squint. "First things first. FOOD." I walk towards my door and see a note taped to it, the paper looking more akin to parchment. The script written in cursive which makes me curse.
"Fucking hell, gonna have to translate this like it's hieroglyphics.. This is why cursive was is out of day to day use." I say with a grumble, adjusting my glasses on my face. Walking to my desk I grab a paper and pencil and I begin to translate letter by letter.
Once I'm done I read it and scowl with hatred to the furry man. "You fucking dick munch. You really are Satan." I glare downwards towards hell with a scowl etched on my face. "You know I have trauma from school. Fucker.. making me young again, forcing me to survive the slashers for longer, forcing me to return to high school. With killers riding my ass no less.." The letter states that my parents in this world have died and I was legally emancipated. They were rich as fuck and owned their own company so I don't have to worry about money. Which is good for me. It will make my plans all the more easier.
Dumping the translation letter in the trash, I walk out of the room and prepare myself.. to venture Through the fire and flames. I'm gonna eat then go buy myself an arsenal of weapons, Dolor said in the letter that this is the early 90's. Which is rad, im gonna buy all the Pokemon cards now that I can. Shit even Yu-Gi-Oh. I started my original collection in the early 2000's.
Jogging downstairs, I find some ramen in the pantry and quickly cook it up in a pot. Eating it with a moan of relief, having haven't tasted food in weeks. "Bliss.." I say with a smile on my face, devouring the noodles. Even making a second and third batch just to fill my stomach and satiate my greed and lust for food.
Time to explore the town. I need to find a place that sells knives, and I need to nail down all the windows in my house and get several locks for the doors.. even a high tech security system. This house will be fort Knox.
- Later -
Walking into the hunting store, wallet in hand. My crochet purse hanging off of my shoulder. Thank god he gave me all the stuff I already own from my world. Even if some of it is de-aged.. rip wifi. Hello Dial-up my old friend. I walk up to the counter and look at all the knives. "Hello there, how can I help you?" A man in a camo hat smiles to me.
"I'm looking for a weapon for self defense. Something that can be hidden on my person?" I ask him with a blank face.
"Ah! Sure thing little lady! We've got several pocket knives!" He walks across to the counter displaying all of the foldable pocket knives.
"I would also like a larger serrated knife, and gun as well." The man nods his head, I find several small knives and buy three of them. One to hide in each shoe and one in my waistband. I even buy a large serrated knife with an antler handle as well as a pistol. The gun laws are really lax here.. they just let me buy it! Fuck yeah! 'Murica!
Smiling to the man I nod my head, hiding my purchases on my person. The gun being put back into its box and returning to my bag. I meander quickly over to the hardware store. Finding a brownish haired young man I approach him with a smile. "Excuse me?"
"Yes? How may I help you." He turns to me with a welcoming smile my heart races when I see his face. Looking down to his shirt I read on his name tag that his name is Billy.. not even here for a couple hours and I'm already meeting a killer. Great. Thanks Dolor you ass! I need to get on his good side.
"I'm uh looking for locks- multiple locks for my doors?" I explain to Billy who nods his head.
"Sure thing, follow me." He smiles with a nod and turns to walk away. Would it be simpler to just kill the slashers..? I don't like the idea of killing anyone, but I will defend myself. Leading me to an isle filled with various types of locks.
"Perfect, thank you." Basket in hand I look over them with an analytical eye, my mind mentally mapping out how they would fit on my doors and their effectiveness. I will need a lock that can stand up to Michael Myers strength.. I'll need to get a reinforced door as well. Billy watches me with curiosity as I drop box after box of different locks into my basket.
"Why so many locks?" He asks with a raised brow.
"Oh, I'm scared of people breaking in." I explain to him while loading up, even grabbing long nails and screws that I will use for my door casings and windows.
"Huh.. Say, I've never seen you around here before, you new?" He asks while adjusting things on the shelf to look busy. His gaze staring into me, trying to look for a crack in my calm facade.
"Mhm. Yeah I just moved here." I nod once while I grab another box of latches. My heart pounding in my chest.
"You go to school?" He asks with a squint of his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm enrolling officially on Monday." I smile to him, remaining calm visually thanks to my brilliant masking I've mastered over my life.
"Sweet, maybe I'll see ya around?" He asks with a friendly smile. Never drop your guard.
"Maybe." I smile to him right back, giving him a nod. "It was a pleasure Billy. Thanks for the help." I turn and make my way to the checkout, buying all my items before leaving... Next stop the shelter.