// TW \\

IMPLIED NONCONSENSUAL SUGGESTIVE CONTENT.

DEATH

DISTRESS

IMPLIED ABUSE

———

The dead arose from their graves. Nickel's tears hit the ground and killed the grass, not that it mattered since the grass around Nickel slowly began to wither away the more power he used. Like a tidal wave of death as his powers swept through the field killing every plant that seeped into the earth. Corpses of the soldiers that used to hunt the many that stood within the field jolted up, blood soaked skin reanimating, muscles tensed and joints crackled as they were forced back into motion. Their glazed pale eyes sparked purple and violently attacked the creatures that dripped the physical shadow that they were made from.

Cobs finished restraining Lightbulb and clenched the threads around her and her beloved pet as Paintbrush panicked and tried to free her along with the others below. He then watched the grass die and bit down grinding his teeth as he turned to Nickel.

Nickel seethed with rage and disdain staring up at Cobs who seemed relatively impressed yet amused. He hadn't expected Nickel's powers to develop so quickly.

Cobs chuckled condescendingly and stared down at Nickel with his hands placed behind his back. Eyes in his cloak twitching with annoyance of his defiance. "I'm surprised how fast you—"

Nickel summoned a scythe glowing brighter than anything he had created with his abilities before and slashed it at Cobs, watching his form split in two instantly.

Cobs's eyes widened as his top half was separated from the bottom. He seethed but it was quickly cut short due to Nickel's scythe cutting into his body once again.

And again.

And again.

Nickel screamed with tears of anguish and anger as he tore into the darkness that radiated from Cobs's body. And relentlessly cut through his flesh. Blackish purple blood sprayed and splattered across his blade made from the energy of death itself.

He mangled and clawed until he couldn't any longer. His energy drained and he collapsed looking at the blood and gore bellow him. He wheezed and coughed tears still pouring down his face.

That's when something wrapped around his neck area. He gasped as Cobs reformed, his hand morphed into the black substance and wrapped around him as he gasped and struggled.

He chuckled coldly and lifted Nickel up by his neck. "It's quite cute how you thought that would work..." he grinned through his teeth.

Nickel felt all will to fight leave his body. Everything just felt so hopeless in that moment. He was brought back to a time where he was at the mercy of his father. And if he listened... He would be left alone. His body was motionless and he just hopelessly cried as his neck was constricted, and lungs were deprived of air. His feet dangled there tears dripping onto his feet which swayed below.

The substance separated from Cobs's arm as he moved Nickel aside by force. And made his way Balloon, his smirk now mixed with malice... and something else.

Cobs stood over him, glaring down at him. His glasses glowing in the light overhead.

Balloon felt tears sting his eyes, he scrambled back. Away from Cobs. Away from— everything. Cobs remained motionless, but Balloon bumped into something behind him. Black ooze... which soon enveloped his limbs.

"You shouldn't have ran..." he said in a sadistic tone watching him squirm and beg to be let go. Balloon was lifted and he cried in fear his breath heavy and rapid in panic. Cobs he was petrified as a hand touched his face. "Don't struggle... you'll only make it worse." He muttered threateningly.

Lightbulb pulled at the threads along with Paintbrush. They tugged and clawed at the many strings that held her down. Silver soon came to Paintbrush's aid. His hands sparked with electricity and lightning crackled as it shot out of Silver's fingertips. They sprung along the threads which emanated an energy as if it was a void in itself, but it soon dissipated as Silver overloaded its power threshold, which was drastically lower due to Cobs being busy, and disintegrating them in an instant.

Lightbulb fell to the ground with a thud she groaned and lifted her head, and Paintbrush and Paper checked over her. Paintbrush, wincing and clutching their chest slightly. Moving too quickly strained and hurt their already wounded body.

Paper soon lost focus to the voices from behind. He looked across the field at what was happening just beyond the dead grass. His eyes widened as they laid on the scene before him.

How dare he touch him in that way?! The look on Balloon's face was recoiling just to witness. The amount of discomfort he was displaying more than evident.

Paper was frozen in shock and anger. His rage manifesting inside him and his eyes sparking purple. A deep purple. His teeth clenched, and his knuckles soon followed as he ripped himself towards them.

OJ flinched at his sudden movement and tore his eyes away from lightbulb opening his mouth to warn Paper. To stop him.

Paper bolted towards Cobs screaming with unbridled fury and disdain as he attempted to attack the man before him.

Cobs glanced back and scoffed, summoning a spear of the dark ooze which quickly impaled his body. Blood spilling from his lips as he shakily looked down. His chest impaled.

Something was wrong...

He, unlike the others wasn't regenerating from a blow like this. He was... So weak in this moment. Or maybe it was because Cobs was strong...? He didn't know. Paper tried to speak, but only a small gasp escaped him as he watched Cobs turn to Balloon, the substance crushing around the young boy's body as Balloon left.

Cobs waved his hand causing Paper's existence to dissipate instantly. And they left view as everything faded to black.

Darkness...

Lightbulb pulled at the threads along with Paintbrush. They tugged and clawed at the many strings that held her down. Silver soon came to Paintbrush's aid. His hands sparked with electricity and lightning crackled as it shot out of Silver's fingertips. They sprung along the threads which emanated an energy as if it was a void in itself, but it soon dissipated as Silver overloaded its power threshold, which was drastically lower due to Cobs being busy, and disintegrating them in an instant.

Lightbulb fell to the ground with a thud she groaned and lifted her head, and Paintbrush and Paper checked over her. Paintbrush, wincing and clutching their chest slightly. Moving too quickly strained and hurt their already wounded body.

Paper soon lost focus to the voices from behind. He looked across the field at what was happening just beyond the dead grass. His eyes widened as they laid on the scene before him.

How dare he touch him in that way?! The look on Balloon's face was recoiling just to witness. The amount of discomfort he was displaying more than evident.

Paper was frozen in shock and anger. His rage manifesting inside him and his eyes sparking purple. A deep purple. His teeth clenched, and his knuckles soon followed as he ripped himself towards them.

OJ flinched at his sudden movement and tore his eyes away from lightbulb opening his mouth to warn Paper. To stop him.

Paper bolted towards Cobs screaming with unbridled fury and disdain as he attempted to attack the man before him.

Cobs glanced back and scoffed, summoning a spear of the dark ooze which quickly impaled his body. Blood spilling from his lips as he shakily looked down. His chest impaled.

Something was wrong...

He, unlike the others wasn't regenerating from a blow like this. He was... So weak in this moment. Or maybe it was because Cobs was strong...? He didn't know. Paper tried to speak, but only a small gasp escaped him as he watched Cobs turn to Balloon, the substance crushing around the young boy's body as Balloon left.

Cobs waved his hand causing Paper's existence to dissipate instantly. And they left view as everything faded to black.

Darkness...?

Lightbulb pulled at the threads along with Paintbrush. They tugged and clawed at the many strings that held her down. Silver soon came to Paintbrush's aid. His hands sparked with electricity and lightning crackled as it shot out of Silver's fingertips. They sprung along the threads which emanated an energy as if it was a void in itself, but it soon dissipated as Silver overloaded its power threshold, which was drastically lower due to Cobs being busy, and disintegrating them in an instant.

Lightbulb fell to the ground with a thud she groaned and lifted her head, and Paintbrush and Paper checked over her. Paintbrush, wincing and clutching their chest slightly. Moving too quickly strained and hurt their already wounded body.

Paper soon lost focus to the voices from behind. He looked across the field at what was happening just beyond the dead grass. His eyes widened as they laid on the scene before him.

How dare he touch him in that way?! The look on Balloon's face was recoiling just to witness. The amount of discomfort he was displaying more than evident.

Paper was frozen in shock and anger. His rage manifesting inside him and his eyes sparking purple. A deep purple. His teeth clenching...— and—......

Wait a second...

He's been here before. He froze staring at the scene before him. He's been here— he's died. He's... ceased to be— Paper remembered the taste of blood. The look on Balloon's face when he had failed— had he really failed...?! He grounded himself, thinking of what to do next. If he was really coming back to live somehow— why did nobody else remember what happened. He pushed it aside shaking his head and bolting towards Cobs. This time he knew it was coming.

As if on cue OJ yelled for Paper to stop, not wanting him to get hurt. Paper recognized this.

Cobs glanced back and scoffed, summoning a spear of the dark ooze. Glaring daggers at him similarly to before.

Paper dodged out of the way seconds before it had even formed. Cobs flinched at this and he took a step back. Summoning another spear. This time hitting.

The event repeat similarly to before. He was impaled and blood spilled from his mouth and down his chest. The slow feeling of the pain fading to static as he lost blood and some sort of... feeling took over before death. Either he couldn't regenerate... Or Cobs had a strength that was unmatched to his own. Just after this revelation the light once again faded from Paper's eyes.

Then...

Darkness.

...

Paper gasped to live as he was brought back second before doing anything. He looked to Lightbulb and around at the field. His eyes locked on Cobs again. Rage took over and courses through his veins once again as Paper ran from the group ignoring OJ's calls.

Cobs glanced back and scoffed, summoning a spear of the dark ooze. Glaring daggers at him.

The first spike flew by Paper's face, followed by the next, and his hands and eyes fizzed with a bright purple colour as Paper's fist collided with Cobs's face. He yelped and tumbled to the ground, slamming his fist into it as he glanced up at Paper, grinding his teeth. His glasses barely hanging onto his face. Cobs used his free hand to push them back up.

Paper spat at him and clenched his fists practically boiling over his top with power. "YOU PIG! YOU DISGUSTING WASTE OF AN OBJECT!" He seethed, now standing defensively in front of Balloon.

Cobs growled and stumbled up from the ground. Summoning spears and tendrils from the shadows of the trees and mansion to attack Paper.

Paper dodged every single one of them. Even if it took a few tries to get it right due to Cobs's unpredictable fit of rage.

Cobs kept trying and trying, but he froze at a revelation, and his eyes widened. "You... You're—..."

Paper was sweating bullets. He was exhausted... But determined. He didn't dare look back at the others. Scared of what they would think— and... Scared of seeing the dread in his husband's face.

Cobs was no idiot. He knew Paper's abilities. But... He was supposed to be weak. He was the second to last to be Crowned. This was wrong. Something was influencing him. An unknown factor was making him stronger than he should've been. Cobs wouldn't be able to kill him...

But...

He could still stop him.

Cobs waved his hands threads being summoned. As his glasses glinted, hiding his clear rage.

Paper flinched— this was new... He tried to duck— and dodge, but limb after limb was tangled and restrained. He yelled and thrashed pulling at the threads now wrapping around his body.

OJ's eyes widened. "NO!" He yelled trying to go after Paper, but was soon stopped by Candle, Silver in tow. "It's no use... he will kill you..." Candle muttered Silver reluctantly agreeing.

Paper struggled and cried, desperately trying to escape and attack Cobs— or just... get to Balloon. He stared at cobs with hate and tears in his eyes. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" He cried, shaking his head. "HE DOESN'T DESERVE THIS!"

"Trust me, the treatment I give to him is a mercy compared to what I could do and what others will..." Cobs chuckled, stepping towards Paper. He used his powers to yank Balloon from the ground and pull him towards Paper. "Besides... Look at how helpless he is... He won't survive. He will be safe and protected from everything once I absorb his energy and keep him safe at Meeple." Cobs sneered in Paper's face. Balloon squirmed and shook his head.

"PLEASE—P—!" He was cut short due to the shadowy substance wrapping around his mouth.

Cobs growled at him, before composing himself and turning back to Paper. "I already have to make the coin watch. Don't make me force your eyes to lay upon his weak form as well." He seethed.

Paper grimaced and shook his head. "You're a monster..." He whimpered with tears in the beds of his eyes.

Cobs clenched his fist.

Paper yelped as threads swiftly tightened around his body. A dreaded tearing sound accompanying the crinkle of his body followed. He took a sharp inhale, feeling blood seep deep into the paper he was made of.

"Want to see how fast I can make him submit?" He grinned through his teeth and moved his hand to face Balloon.

The boy cried out, muffled screams echoed through Paper's mind, the cries of fear traumatized him, shaking him down to his very core.

Cobs waved his hand, and the dark embrace of the shadows crept further around the boy's body, despite his struggle, and forced its way into his mouth, eyes, and any other way it could it's way into his body. The boy convulsed and t choked on the liquid void that enveloped his insides, and rapidly slipped away from consciousness. The silhouette of his body now dangling, dripping with the ooze.

Paper couldn't even breathe... he watched this happen with horror. And Cobs's hand which now found it's way back over to Balloon once again. Paper cried in rage and fear. "LEAVE HIM ALONE! STOP IT! STOP IT PLEASE! PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU!" He cried.

Cobs simply laughed and looked towards Paper with a teasing gaze. "Don't worry. I won't leave him like this long... I just need him to stay still for a moment..."

Paper wanted to scream and rip him apart. But he couldn't move. The hopeless face of Nickel... and Balloon's motionless body... He was so mad... yet so... Filled with despair.

That's when he heard it.

"God you're such an idiot Paper..." Called the shrill voice of Looseleaf from behind, who yanked Paper's head back with his ghostly hand, then forcing Paper's jaw to Bite his own tongue. Paper gurgled on the blood and chunk of his tongue meat that was now lodged in his throat.

He felt betrayed— has he been double crossed?! He needed to stop Cobs! HE HAD TO!!!

Cobs was distracted and didn't notice Paper drown in his own blood.

Darkness...

As Paper loomed over Lightbulb he clutched his throat and mouth and let out a muffled scream. Shaking, as tears dripped out of his eyes. He was touched as OJ reached out to comfort him, Paper slapped his hand away and stumbled back to look at Cobs and Balloon. He grimaced, rage and fear filled his eyes, but he was stopped before he blindly attacked them again.

"Don't." Looseleaf hissed, now clutching Paper's shoulder.

Paper was shaking with rage and terror and he turned to Looked to Looseleaf. "WHY DID—? YOU— you killed me and now—!!! And... and now..."

Looseleaf silently waited for Paper to connect the dots.

"I'm back..." he looked to the two again. Nothing was too out of hand as they were before. He moved his hand down to clutch his chest.

"You rush in too fast. You lack plan and execute things impulsively." Looseleaf criticized, crossing his arms as he floated beside Paper.

His breathing sped up, and he panicked now clutching his chest harder. "How do I— stop Cobs?! How do I— I need to KILL him I have t-to— I—!"

"You're looking at this all wrong." Looseleaf hissed, floating forward. "You don't need to kill him. You need to save Balloon. You aren't strong enough to kill him on your own." They informed.

"But— b-..."

"Have you learnt nothing from Fan? Blind rage will get you nowhere. You have to channel it into your blows, to separate anger from your reality." He landed in front of Paper. "Focus on thinking clearly. On your breathing."

Paper stared into Looseleaf's large eyes that spoke every word he needed to hear. Except one. "You aren't going to help?"

"Unlike you, if I'm in control when you die, you won't come back." He sighed, looking to the side. "I may be strong but my ability can only influence yours so much."

Paper looked back to the two across the field. And clenched his fists. He then nodded and looked towards the two of them.

He didn't need to Kill Cobs. He needed to save Balloon. The war he was fighting wasn't meant to be his blade alone. He understood that now. Paper felt his eyes spark purple once again, ignoring the eyes of those behind him. He ran at Cobs, ignoring OJ's cries and dodging every attack and focused all of his rage and power into his fist as it collided with Cobs's face. His glasses, this time, shattered upon impact. Cobs was immediately caught by surprise, and disoriented, now unable to see clearly. He used his powers to try and regenerate his glasses.

Paper took the opportunity, as much as he'd rather attack Cobs, and turn to Balloon and Nickel. He needed to free them.

Looseleaf speared from behind. Grabbing his hand and directing it towards Balloon. The symbol on the back of Paper's hand glowed with a white light and shone as a magic circle clicked around Balloon disintegrating Cobs's black ooze due to Cobs being preoccupied. Balloon fell to the ground, and Paper gave a thankful nod to Looseleaf. Paper swiftly repeated the process as with Nickel, but refrained from touching him, instead ushering him up as Cobs quickly collected himself, adjusting his glasses.

Paper dodged and ducked out of the way of each attack. It soon was not the first time he'd been here. He warned Nickel several times of incoming attacks, the panic on his face evident.

As he reached the others he quickly shrieked, "RUN!!!" to those around. They all complied, scrambling to escape from Cobs who was livid.

How did he let this happen?! His fists clenched. But... didn't chase after them swiftly.

Paper ran holding the boy close to him as he dashed across the field and into tree cover. Not caring who followed behind him. He felt Balloon's shaking and heard the weeping that accompanied it. He hugged him closely trying to provide comfort.

Fan suddenly swooped in front of Paper, causing him to nearly fall over onto him. He was about to scream at Fan to move, but fan stopped him.

"I know a place to hide!" Fan shouted, waving for the rest to follow him, the group looked at each other, not really trusting Fan's word. But Test Tube ran after Fan, which caused everyone else to follow in tow.

Taco stared backwards over Microphone's shoulder as Cobs disappeared from view. She watched the whole time. Taco couldn't believe her eyes... what was he doing?! Why was... HE here... She knew he shouldn't be near kids... But she didn't know he was disgusting to this extent.

She kept silent as the group continued running.

Fan guided them to the gemory cave. He stood at the entrance, scanning the group for a moment before snapping out of it and running into the cave, waving for them to follow once again, grabbing Test Tube's hand in the process. "In here! Come on!" He shouted, leading everyone through the maze of tunnels and through rocky obstacles.

OJ caught up to Paper, as Fan began to slow.

OJ looked into Paper's eyes. His determination and care that rested within them. He returned a gaze similar.

Paper glanced at him, his eyes now looking hurt. And traumatized as if he had seen something he was never meant to see.

Because he did.

Fan soon stopped as he passed a wall that had been blown up. Rubble had different colour and words that would've been unreadable regardless. Nobody else recognized the surroundings.

Many collapsed and wheezed. They're throats having a stabbing pain as they rested from their mad dash. Fan looked away to Test Tube, who was giving him a thankful smile.

Paper collapsed against a wall. And held Balloon close to him, with tears in his eyes. He gently pat his head in a fatherly manner, resting his head atop Balloon's head to provide what comfort he could. As Nickel seemed to be preoccupied with his own trauma.

He comforted Balloon, with care and worry.

Though some of his comforting was Paper attempting to comfort himself.

The poor soul.