Prompt: Whistling and Bruises
Character Focus: Catalyst
Character Current And Future Universes/Books: Hadal Zone and Atom's Analysis'
Warnings: Blood, Knife, Bruising, Manipulation, Some Death
Third Person
There's whistling in the forest and it's getting louder.

Anyone who had nothing to worry about would dismiss it as someone simply taking a stroll. Unfortunately, Catalyst has his life to worry about and he knows the owner of the whistle is not a friendly face. In fact, he doesn't expect to escape again if he manages to catch up again. He doubts his attacker is stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice.

He only got lucky last time. Luck has never been his strong suit, he knows he's only been graced this once. He can't throw it away.

There's still throbbing pain in his left eye as he squints through the thick plant life, trying to find the way he came but finding it difficult to see. It was bad enough before, but now he's down to a little less than one eye. He can feel his skin puffing up around it as he controls his breath.

"You don't have anywhere to hide." A voice calls. It's close- too close. Catalyst has to suppress the surprise that wants to leave him and focuses on finding a way out.

There's a safe house not too far if he can manage to leave the forest in the first place. Catalyst has no idea where he is but as he moves as silently as he can through the bushery, he knows at least he's getting away from one of his problems.

A stray branch pokes his arm and the bruise there flares up pain in alarm. Through the skin of his teeth, Catalyst doesn't cry out. Instead, he muffles it and winces to himself.

He's not used to this in the slightest. Catalyst normally doesn't like the run away from a fight, especially not from one guy. He likes to stand his ground, look them in the eye and above all costs, find a way to win. Use every trick in the book- no matter how dirty. Throw stand in their eyes, take advantage of a previous injury, copy their power and turn it against them- anything.

But this is an opponent whose power he can't match. He tried. If he stood his ground, Catalyst would surely lose, and then...

Well, he's not sure what would happen if he loses.

Catalyst has no intention of finding out.

Run. A voice urges. If he catches up... That's it. It's all done. Everything will crumble.

"Don't distract me." Catalyst grumbles through his breath. "You don't think I don't know that?"

Then, he stops. Something is wrong and he knows it but he doesn't know what. Chills seize his body and he whips around but nothing is behind him.

Catalyst suddenly freezes because he knows now. Fear grips his heart and he knows it's all over.

The whistling. It stopped.

"Oh, there you are." The voice from above chuckles. It's forced, Catalyst can hear the frustration in his voice. The pure rage behind it that is slowly settling now that he's tracked him down but still remains. He knows he's going to pay for the trouble he caused him.

Catalyst looks up.

Glowing, gold eyes peer down at him. The moonlight illuminates the pair of golden bat wings that are keeping them in the air, just below the treeline.

The figure drops down in a graceful manner, then stands up and if he wasn't already intimidating, towering over Catalyst. In his full height, the man with golden eyes is well over six feet tall, possibly even seven feet. Catalyst doesn't know and with his situation, he doesn't care. There's something more important at stake.

"So you're the meatsack who's been so difficult to track down." The demon man says. His voice is smooth but Catalyst is experienced enough to hear the malice in his voice. He's not unlike a businessman, but unfortunately, far more deadly.

Up close, Catalyst can more clearly see him. Before he was so focused on running that he didn't even get a good look at him. Now, his body is frozen and the only thing he can seem to think is danger and how utterly screwed he is.

The man has fair skin and long, blonde hair. His wings, now folded at his back, resemble a bats, with pointed edges. He has long, striped horns that seem to reach for the sky and a freezing, glowing gaze. He's wearing a suit, and he seems to have a monochrome gold color scheme going on.

Maybe if Catalyst wasn't scared out of his wits, he'd comment on how extra he looks.

"I'm surprised you lasted this long. Not many tangle with Pride and almost get away with it."

It's only then that Catalyst regains his ability to speak. "What?" He says, his voice quieter than he would've liked but he can't seem to speak up.

The rage previously in the background fades and instead is replaced with amusement. This whole ordeal seems to be simply a game to him now. One that he knows he'll win.

"Pride." He repeats. "Don't act like some part of you doesn't know me."

He takes a step forward. Catalyst doesn't even think twice about stepping back, it happens on instinct.

"I can see it in your eyes." The man muses, eyes now glowing softer as if more relaxed. "This might be the first time we've met, but you know me. You know what I'm capable of."

It's true. In the back of his mind, a writhing voice trembles and whines for an escape. Catalyst can't provide it, but at the very least, he can tell him who he is. The name is familiar in an odd way, even if he's never spoken or heard it.

"Azazel." High class demon of Pride.

"So the meatsack does know who I am." Azazel chuckles, this time more genuinely amused, though Catalyst's blood boils. "I knew it was in there somewhere. He couldn't forget, could he?"

"Don't call me a 'Meatsack.'" Catalyst blurts. A part of him regrets it but another part thinks that if he's going down, he's going down as himself.

"Oh?" Azazel takes a step forward, eyes once again glowing more intensely. "And what are you going to do about it?"

Catalyst sees it one of three ways. He still has an emergency pocket knife on him, he could easily stab him as either revenge or a distraction, but that might anger him.

Catalyst could try and call for help, but he doesn't think there's anyone around to hear.

And the third, his least favorite, is do nothing and hope he doesn't immediately get killed.

Though, he's not even sure if any of them will work.

(Choose Your Route:
1. Stab Azazel With Pocket Knife
2. Call For Help
3. Do Nothing
Choose wisely. Though if you're like me, you'll just read through them all anyways)

—

1. Stab Azazel With Pocket Knife

Catalyst resorts to his most basic instincts: Fighting back. Even if it doesn't work, Catalyst is going out fighting.

Slowly looking down, Catalyst masks his focus with a look of hopelessness. As planned, Azazel simply laughs at him, thinking he's won. Catalyst's hand curls around the knife as he prepares to strike.

"Humans are hilarious. They act all tough but they are no better than a chuchuwa. All bark, no bite. Better for pets, really. Perhaps you'd make a good one."

Catalyst can't take it anymore, quickly drawing his weapon and punching it right into the demon of Pride's heart.

Catalyst grins in satisfaction but his heart drops when he sees Azazel.

He didn't even flinch.

"You do realize that's a regular blade, right?" Azazel takes the handle of the blade and slowly pulls it out. He winces but that's about it. "Annoying, yes, but it's not going to do much against me. It was made to kill humans, not demons."

Catalyst takes a slow step back as Azazel groans at his now blood stained gold suit. "Look what you did. I never understood Asmodeus' obsession with you humans. I get that he's Lust but have some standards." His eyes flicker up to Catalyst. "I was hoping to solve this without getting my hands too dirty. I pride myself in winning a battle through the enemy surrendering, you know. But I suppose, it couldn't be that simple, could it?"

Azazel is so quick that Catalyst doesn't even feel the strike at first. Then, suddenly, his pocket knife is in Azazel's hand and there's a cut across his throat that's making it impossible to breathe without Catalyst choking in his own blood.

"A pity," Azazel clicks his tongue. "Oh well, I suppose there are plenty of other humans I could take on as pets. Besides, now I can more easily get what I want."

Even as he chokes to death and he crumbles to the ground, Catalyst as enough strength to look up at him.

Azazel just gives that same charming smile again. Like he's not watching him quickly bleed out. "Don't be absurd, you yourself have done barely anything enough to make me actively track you down. No, I'm afraid I'm after your... What's the human term for it?"

His lips curl up. Catalyst watches as his vision goes darker and darker until it's one of the only things he can see.

"Partner in crime."

Catalyst stumps on the overgrown forest floor.

There's a whistling in the forest and even if the source is right in front of him, Catalyst can barely hear it at all.

Ending 1: Death of a Warrior

—

2. Call For Help

Though Catalyst wants revenge, he mostly wants to live.

He swallows his pride and yells as loud as he can.

Azazel blinds, surprised for a split second but quickly masks it. He waits, and so does Catalyst.

There's only silence.

"You must really be desperate." Azazel crosses his arms, smirking. "What did you think was going to happen?"

Catalyst doesn't answer.

"Nothing." Azazel finishes his own question. "Nothing was ever going to happen, and you know why? Because I made sure of it. You think I lured you down here with no preparation? You think I didn't know exactly what to say to get you to go exploring deep in the woods on your own?"

Azazel gestures around him. "Nobody is here to save you. Your friends are occupied, the locals think this place is cursed- which they aren't wrong about- and while you did pull a dirty trick when I first ambushed you, I tracked you down anyways. I might've underestimated you a tad, but I still won. And that's all anyone will remember."

"Nobody remembers the attempts to fight back or to escape or anything. All they remember is who won. That's all that matters, and let me tell you, I don't have an almost perfect record because I laid down and died like everybody else!"

"I am Pride. The rest all died off- I'm the only that remains and I'm the only one that matters. Past Prides and those who tried to challenge me or share my rein are gone. I'm the one who survived. I'm the one who tore them apart before they could get to me. This world is unforgiving and I made sure I was at the top of the food chain so I would get killed and forgotten like every other insignificant bug on this miserable planet!"

Azazel opens his mouth as if to continue his monologue even further but suddenly, something is thrown through the trees and lands right in front of them. Neither can react fast enough before it explodes into a red dust.

Catalyst coughs violently upon breathing it in but it's nothing compared to Azazel, who sounds like he's choking.

The red dust is drawn to Azazel, circling him like a mini dust storm until suddenly, in a red and gold flash, all of it- Azazel and the dust- is gone.

"HOLY- I D-DIDN'T THINK THAT WOULD WORK ON HIM BUT I'M SO GLAD IT DID."

Catalyst's head snaps to see Fusion squeezing through the bushes. His clothes are a big roughed up and he looks like he's been scratched in a few places but otherwise he's fine. He's got a belt full of two more little balls like the one that was thrown. Fusion seems a bit shaken but Catalyst suspects its mostly adrenaline.

Catalyst looks back and forth between where Azazel used to be and Fusion. He can't believe his eyes. Did Oddball actually get rid of him?

"Did you just... Kill him?"

"W-what?" Fusion blinks, then quickly shakes his head. "O-oh, no. Just a banishing spell! Sends him right b-back to... You know."

"You can say 'Hell,' Fusion." Catalyst can't help but roll his eyes, though he does so more fondly now that he's safe. "I can't believe you're an actual adult sometimes. You act like you're thirteen."

Fusion's face turns beet red. "H-hey! I just saved you!"

Catalyst paused to consider that. "I'll give you that one... Thank you." He mumbles it but he at least gives Fusion the benefit of the doubt and makes sure he can hear it.

He perks up and smiles at the praise. "O-of course!"

Catalyst looks back where Azazel was one last time. "So is he gone for good or..?"

"It only lasts a-a week." Fusion tells him. "Though if he's the big boss, maybe less... You're l-lucky Atom has so much research on everything! She h-had an impressive amount of equipment for dealing with them!"

"I'll have to thank her." Catalyst says, though he's more focused on his thoughts. His body is starting to return to its normal state. His adrenaline no longer freezes him in place, now calming down. "C'mon, I want out of here as quickly as possible."

Fusion nods and follows him through the brushes. "Hey, uh, any idea w-what that demon guy wanted with you?"

In the back of his head, Catalyst can feel the answer. He knows it, even if it's deep down and not his own thoughts.

"Not the slightest. I have made a lot of enemies over the years, maybe one of them stuck them on me." Catalyst lies.

Catalyst is usually good at lying but his body is still shaken up. He can tell Fusion saw right through it.

But Fusion, thankfully, chooses to ignore it. "Maybe... Hey, d-do you need help seeing? Your eye looks kinda swollen."

"I'm not saying I'm blind but you should probably lead the way on getting us out of here." Catalyst concedes. He hates to say anything at all but he can't deny that Azazel did a number on his remaining eye.

For a split second as Fusion stops to see what's familiar, Catalyst swears he hears a voice saying, "Its not over." And faint whistling.

But when he asks Fusion about it, he doesn't seem to hear anything.

Ending 2: Phone A Friend

—

3. Do Nothing

A mix of fear and adrenaline wins in the end. Catalyst is frozen in place, unable to move.

"That's what I thought." Azazel purrs. "Be a good little human and stand very still. Don't worry, it won't hurt in the slightest. In fact, you'll feel better in a second."

Azazel's eyes suddenly glow brighter than ever and emit a yellow mist.

Every part of Catalyst is telling him to run but he can't. He's stuck in place, hoping for the best outcome in pure fear.

The mist surrounds him and the screaming in his head gets softer and softer until he doesn't remember it even being there in the first place.

It's almost like being in a hot tub. A warm feeling relaxed him until he's sure he's not in danger. Gold dances in his head until he's not sure what he was so afraid of before.

He feels better than ever. He's never felt this happy before.

"You're going to look great in a nice golden vest, you know that?" Azazel's voice sounds like honey. "I have the perfect place for you back at my palace. You'll never be happier, trust me."

"I trust you." Catalyst says without thinking. He can't think at all. He means every word.

"As you should. I can make you perfect, even with your flaws. There's no need to be so tense. Just relax. Let go. Let me take care of everything."

His mind slowly is stripped away from him. He doesn't even remember his name at one point, though Azazel kindly reminds him when he asks.

Azazel. What would I do without him?

"Come with me," Azazel outstretches his hand. "Let's go home. We have work to do."

Catalyst takes it and they both vanish in a flash of golden light.

Azazel whistles chipperly. "No more mistakes. Nobody can say I'm not perfect now."

"So perfect..." Catalyst mumbles.

Ending 3: Perfect Record

—————
I couldn't decide on whi̻͋͂c̱h̛̾͂͐̽ ending I liked best so I created them all and left it up to y'all to decide which one you like best!

Welcome to GoreWriteTober! In which I make some spo̮͊o̱̳͜ḵ̨̛̝̂́͋̆͂̕ȳ̡̖͓̞̞̝̺̦̓̀͗̓́̋̆͗́͜͜͝ shorts using the following two prompt lists:

Some I might comb͕͚ḯ̪̞̿ṉ̢̩̱͎́e (Like this one) and some I'll just choice whichever will give me inspiration!

Honestly I'm just aim̎i̡̬n̊̾͌͟g̽̈̈́͂̅͛̎̌͡͡ for at least 5/31 this year. I got like, 2 last year so I'm setting low expectations so I don't get all disappointed if it doesn't pan out but yeah!

(This totally isn't an excuse to write as many
lov̺̉ḛ̼̺͟lỳ͔̦̗̙̱͓͓͛̒̏͗͋ characters as I can)

Anyways, that's all for now! Comments are
appr̪ec̠͓̄́ȉ͙̙̬͔͐ä̳̱́̓̈t̯̭̩̻̚̕ȩ̪̭̞͍̭̽̔d̛͔̬̜͒͊̆̔̂͑̃͘ and encouraged! Tell me what you think! Goodbye!

—JustAnAtla̲̯̿n̪̣̜̅͠͝ẗ́̍͊ͅi̘̩̙̯͚̒̏̍̚s̢̢̫̗̬̓̈́̋́͌͗͑͜Writer