....Eden Sungilda Presents...

[spooky noises]

The Magnus Archives

—Episode 3: Sated—

[CLICK]

[sound of several footsteps, rainfall]

MIGUEL:
[panting] you doing okay back there?

ESMERALDA:
[heavy huff] oh, splendid.

MIGUEL:
You can tell me if you're getting tired. I'll... I'll carry you.

ESMERALDA:
Hah. Not funny.

MIGUEL:
No, I'm being serious.

ESMERALDA:
You almost killed me the last time I got near you. Now you want to give me a piggy back ride?

MIGUEL:
Fine keep limping then. Hell if I care.

ESMERALDA:
...
.
.
.
Agh...

MIGUEL:
[sigh]

ESMERALDA:
Would you... actually, y'know, kill me?

MIGUEL:
I'll try not to. Just, just don't poke my buttons and we'll be fine.
[footsteps stop]

ESMERALDA:
[grunts, fabric rustling. Sigh]
Thank you... I've just been so tired...

MIGUEL:
I get it. It takes a lot out of you. In the beginning.

ESMERALDA:
How long do I have... until I...?

MIGUEL:
... I don't know. You don't have long until you die. But whether or not you come back... turn into one of them, I don't know.

[car passes by, splash.]

The rain isn't letting up. It's storming. Shock.

ESMERALDA:
What do we do? I'm so cold...

MIGUEL:
I'll find us cover but we'll have to keep going. Can't stop. Have to stay in the open, that's where Gwen can't find us. She specializes in secrets. We have to be somewhere everyone knows we're at.

ESMERALDA:
soo wouldn't that put us at risk of the other guys finding us?

MIGUEL:
Yes. But I can take care of them.

[CLICK]

.
.
.
[CLICK]

[muffled talking, chatter and silverware clanking]

ESMERALDA:
Sooo we just hide in this cafe for how long?

MIGUEL:
Until I say so. Drink your tea.

ESMERALDA :
It's... hot.

MIGUEL:
You're going to have to get used to it.

ESMERALDA :
do you carry that tape recorder everywhere? Why is it on?
MIGUEL:
Don't mind it.

ESMERALDA:
Okay, fine. Mister cryptic.

MIGUEL:
[sigh] look I'm not good with people.

ESMERALDA:
Clearly-

MIGUEL:
Let me finish. I'm not good with people, and it doesn't help that you give me no space to breathe. You just go on and on, yapping your head off the entire walk here- when I'm the one that's carrying you.

ESMERALDA:
Say it louder for the classroom, ay? Let everyone know how you sound like a total douchebag right now.

MIGUEL:
Hey I saved your life, the least you could do is be a little bit grateful, hmm?

ESMERALDA:
Yes thank you for trading me one problem for another. I do love being thrown around a musty apartment building and almost killed by you.

MIGUEL:
Now who's being loud.

ESME:
Still you.

MIGUEL:
Okay, clearly we aren't going to get along. So let's just give up on the small talk and call it a day. So drink your tea, sit back, and let me take care of things.

ESME:
Fine by me mister vampire.

MIGUEL:
Stop calling me that.

ESMERALDA:
[beneath her breath] but it suits you.

[long pause]

To what degree does this agreement affect? Am I to be silent at all times or can I speak about certain things?

MIGUEL:
Just shut up- SHUT UP.

[static]

ESMERALDA:
Fine but I just wanted to let you know that's a weird shadow on the wall.

MIGUEL:
What shadow- wait a minute. Do you hear that?

ESMERALDA:
[listens, static.] hear what?

MIGUEL:
We're in a cafe, Esmerelda. Why aren't we hearing anyone else?

Shock this isn't good, [chair leg scrapes.] Get up. Get up we need to go now-

UNKNOWN ENTITY:

[deep, unnerving laugh.] Esmeeee~ come out to plaaaay~

ESMERALDA:
What the f-

[wind whipped, sound of choking]

Unknown entity:
Nuh uh uhhhhh

MIGUEL:
ESME!

[grunt] Mierda! [sound of flesh ripping, a groan of agony.] What are you?!

ENTITY:

I? Him. Her. We are your fears.... Miguel's, Esmerelda's... Gwen's, Peter's... even your precious Xina's. And what was the other woman's name? What used to be her name?

MIGUEL:

Gah! Don't you dare-

ENTITY:
Dana's... ha. Hahaha. Even in their last moments, she and Xina only held you in contempt. Such malice. Such... venom. Maybe that's what we are.

ESMERALDA:
[still choking] ah...let.. GO!

[sizzling, a loud thud]

VENOM:
[screams]

MIGUEL:
RUN! RUN NOW AND DON'T STOP!

ESMERALDA:
BUT YOU'RE STILL TRAPPED- I'LL FREE YOU FIRST!

VENOM:
NO! HE'S MINE TO FEED ON!

MIGUEL:
[sound of slashing through something wet]

VENOM:
[Screams again] NO!

[CLICK]

[CLICK]

EDEN:
Well, that's the last bandage for ya Peter. You should be healed up back to no time.

PETER B:
Thanks Eden. I've been trying to tap into the tapes and see where Esme and Miggy are at. It sounds like they're in trouble. Want me to intervene?

EDEN:
No, that's too dangerous in your condition. Think you can alert Jess? Margo? Or even Ben could help us.

PETER B:
No, Jess is currently hunting down the guy you requested her to tail, remember? Margo isn't suited for this kind of entity, and Ben is... Well he has enough on his plate and doesn't need anything more. Miggy is just gonna have to pull through on his own.

EDEN:
This isn't good. [creak] I had really thought they'd be back by now after the club. What's giving them problems?

PETER B:
Well, I think I overheard Gwen Stacy at some point.

EDEN:
This is all going to hell. Fantastic! Are they evading her right now? Did they go through one of her doors?

PETER B:
No. It's something else now. Something much... worse

[CLICK]

[CLICK]

ESMERALDA:
Miguel! Miguel please wake up. Wake up god damnit! [smack]

[static, deep growl]

[sound of struggle.]

Okay, okay I'm sorry for hitting you- Miguel?! Miguel the thing is gone-

[breathing, static]

Por dios, Miguel stop! ¿Por favor? Miguel...

[Esmerelda inhales sharply. Static intensifies]

She's in a corner of a alley way. They had bolted from the cafe as soon as Miguel had slashed her free from the tar like creature that attacked them. Esmerelda had looked behind them, following the trail of blood up to Miguel as he staggered forward. And then the thing barreled through the door, saliva dripping from what Esme thought was a row of jagged teeth.

"Come back here. We hunger for you."

Despite its limp it was catching up to them, cornering them at the end of the alley way. Esme froze, unsure of what to do when Miguel stepped forward. She hadn't even noticed when he had grabbed a metal pipe, but he held it carefully in one hand as the creature confronted him.

She payed attention as everything slowed down. She payed attention to Miguel's face, the way his eyes darkened and glowered at the creature. The twitch of his mouth, the clench of his hand around the metal pipe. She understood that face all too well.

With a scream it slashed at him with its giant hand, claws long and curled. Miguel ducked with ease before he slammed his shoulder into the creatures chest- a sickening crunch echoed through the alley as its ribcage collapsed in on itself. A grotesque gurgle left it's mouth while it's hands gripped Miguel's shoulders- deep gashes ribboned down his back.

Miguel didn't say a word though, just clenched his jaw and swung the pipe, aiming the jagged end right for the creatures neck. It met its mark with a loud, wet sound. It hurled Miguel away and grasped at its neck, looking for the thing as it cried and gurgled.

Miguel landed on his side with a crack, Esme quickly dragging him away from the thing as it pitifully sunk in on itself in pain. It looked at her suddenly, white eyes staring into the pit of hers. She felt anger and rage boil over as she gazed at it. This thing that had tried to kill her- that had hurt Miguel.

She just wanted it to stop. To. GO. AWAY.

It took a step back, groaning and clutching at its face as steam began to melt from its inky flesh. It clawed at itself and screamed- and then vanished.

She looked down at an unconscious Miguel, her heart beating rapidly. Blood trickled down his arm. Her heart dropped.

"Miguel- Miguel wake up!" She tried to shake him. She had no clue where the nearest hospital was- she didn't have a phone to call an ambulance. He needed to stay conscious- to tell her what to do! "Miguel please wake up. Wake up god damnit!"

She did the only thing she could think of and slapped him, hoping it would wake him.

Immediately his hand gripped her wrist, eyes open. The part that killed ant relief she had, was the fact his eyes were a darkened red.

She gasped and tried to pull away from him, but his grip was firm. His lips parted as if to say something, but all she could hear was a growl echo around her. He couldn't have made that noise, could he?

"Okay, okay I'm sorry for hitting you- Miguel?!" His eyes focused on her and she felt her stomach drop. His mouth twitched and she fought down terror. "Miguel the thing is gone-"

Suddenly she was on her back, her wrists painfully held above her head as Miguel towered over her. If she had any tears left she made have cried.

"Por dios, Miguel stop! ¿Por favor? Miguel..."
He inhaled shakily, his eyes blinking. Esme felt her chest tighten. "Miguel it's okay. It's okay. You're alright. It's just me- the annoying dancer you had to save."

He stared a bit longer, taking one shaky breath at a time before his grip finally loosened. Several more minutes, and his eyes had reverted back to his amber, moving off of her slowly.

"I'm sorry. I don't..." he glanced at his hands, a crack in his voice. "I-I almost lost control."

Esme searched his face. "What... happened?"

He closed his eyes. "The creature got away. I didn't get a kill."

She furrowed her brows. "And that matters because...?"

"If I don't kill for a long time, I get sick. That's why I help Eden. I hunt down creatures and kill them, so I don't end up killing someone else." Miguel slowly looked at her, pain etched on his face. "Sometimes though, the line between something and someone blurs. And I end up losing myself to... to the hunt."

She nodded slowly. "So... how did you... prevent yourself from getting lost?"

He clenched his jaw, looking away. "It's... best you don't know."

Esme reached for his arm. "What if it happens again? I think I can help if you tell me."

Miguel shook his head, his shoulders relaxing at her touch. "I... promise not to judge. No laughing."

She nodded. "I promise."

"If I don't want to kill someone I... pretend that..." he sighed, looking up. "I pretend that they're my family. There. It's stupid."

Esme paused, placing a hand over her lips. Miguel groaned. "You promised..."

"I-I'm not laughing. I think it's... cute. Is there a reason why you..." one look from Miguel cut her off, and she sheepishly looked away. Maybe they weren't at that point yet.

They sat quietly for awhile. The rain was a welcome relief but soon Esme was beginning to feel the cold finally seeping into her skin.

She fumbled with her flats, the soles worn and beginning to tatter. There was a hole on the left side of one of them. She sure hoped the institute had extra shoes for her.

"My brother died." Miguel suddenly spoke, catching her attention. "We were homeless and on the run after our mother was killed by my father's abuse- and his drinking led him to his own demise. Gabriel was all I had. And he was all I needed."

His eyes looked down at the small puddle accumulating near them, the reflection murky and surface disturbed by rain drops.

"We were young boys when we had our first encounter with those... creatures. I used to call them vampires until I learned what they truly were. It had a hypnotic effect on us. And I was too late in breaking it by the time it had led us to it's flat in Manchester. It separated me and my brother. And when I finally broke out of my room, I saw it devouring his blood like nectar to a fly." His voice grew shaky, eyes beginning to water.

Esme reached forward, gently guiding her hand down his arm, mindful of his cuts. He looked up at her and swallowed.

"I saw Gabriel's pocket knife laying on the floor. And I knew what I had to do. I didn't know if he was still alive or not, but I killed nonetheless. I could feel nothing but rage and vengeance surging through my veins. And when it was all over, I realized Gabriel's eyes were glassy. And I was all alone."

Esme covered her mouth, eyes pricked with sorrow. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that..."

He nodded slowly, his gaze traveling to her hand on his shoulder. "I... I would have done anything to protect Gabriel. And anyone else I care about."

His eyes glanced back up, piercing into hers. Her chest tightened.

"So when you were about to kill me... what did you pretend you felt towards me?" She whispered.

The eyes so scrutinizing and serious slowly melted into a softer gaze. He leaned closer to her, hand gliding with ease to her cheek. Her lashes brushed against his cheek as his lips met hers.

Esme's ears rang with thunder, her fingers carefully curling around his forearm as he kissed her. His thumb traced her cheek before he slowly pulled away, gaze searching hers.

"I wasn't pretending."

A/N:

AAAAAAAAAAAH NO WAY CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED-

Not the kiss I mean, I mean the fact I finally sat down and wrote this after battling art block for two weeks.

Hope you lovelies enjoyed! I don't know if I'll continue this AU but it exists and I might come back around to it. It was a total blast though and I really liked the world building and playing around with it. I'm a happy endings kinda gal and I will say as much as I appreciate the ending of Magnus Archives, I am definitely not going that route because while I love angst, too much of it gets me down in the dumps.

I will leave this open ended though for anyone to interpret how this universe can go, but I head-canon that they defeat the fears somehow with the power of love and live happily ever after 🫶🏼

But horror fans can totally head-canon that they all die in the end! Whoo! Neither is technically wrong!

Anyway thanks for reading and expect the interactive 1950s AU I'm doing on Instagram to release on here soon.

Caio!

~𝓔𝓭𝓮𝓷