The ravaged, ruined insides of what was just a mind began to play a very painful memory. A reminder, that this girl’s mind was already mutilated and sick even before losing it.
Cassie was practically groveling. On her knees, her head downwards—it worked out for two reasons. 1), she found in her life—rather back then—it told your aggressors—the people over you, that you’re submitting yourself and more or less ready for whatever bullshit their sense of right was.
And 2) was a personal thing. She just didn’t want to see the bastard’s eyes, how everyone’s twisted—when they always gazed at her. She always hated looking at their eyes.
“I-I told you, I’m sorry—I’ll keep saying it!” Cassie’s voice trembled, trying desperately to lob words out, hoping that one of the hundred she’d already spewed, at least one could stop the oncoming avalanche.
“Geeee, I’unno Carrie… ‘Miles’ seems to have a pretty big scar on the elbow…”
Those bitches always got her name wrong. Cassie didn't know if they didn't care that much, or knew how much she ended up caring herself. Bastards, literally from birth, these humans. And yet they call themselves innocent.
They were playing soccer outside, the 13 of them. And Cassie fucking remembered the fact there was 13 of them—considering how the game worked. But Cassie insisted, Cassie begged even back then. She knew that half the class still looked at her that way, still said the hushed things behind her back, in an effort to evade any so-called wrath.
It was stupid ass kids, out playing something that they had no good grasp of what the rules were—that shouldn’t have been playing so late in the first place. Fuck, kids getting hurt during a stupid fucking game was normal. It was supposed to be normal. Finally, something normal for little Cassie.
This was supposed to be her big break. The one, nibbling square of absolution in the stained tiles that created the mosaic of her life.
But it was more of the same. It was always more of the same.
Miley, or ‘Miles’—well, Cassie never knew if that was a nickname or not. But the girl who had the big boo-boo in question was holding her arm, rubbing it with a very noticeable snicker that rocked that movement as she did it. Clearly not in pain in the slightest. Cassie caught that, even back then… But she knew, even back then, that voicing that—voicing anything about anybody, it resulted in nothing.
Nothing but that look she always received.
“I’m sorry—Miles, seriously—I’d carry for stuff tomorrow, I’d do your homework, I would kiss it better if I could! Just…”
Cassie couldn’t help but to tear up, but she’d learned how to handle that. Keep the smile and jovial nature going, or else that’s something else for them to use against her. From this memory and the perspective she’s been given… God, she looked like such a psycho.
“Please don’t tell anyone…” Cassie pathetically mewled out, from her twitching, broken smile that were her lips.
Despite everyone that surrounded her beginning to spill into laughter, Sonia’s hum of thought was still heard very clearly over it.
“Well, yeah, or else the police and junk takes you to the loony bin, right~?” Sonia chirped teasingly, as if she was talking about telling a teacher that someone hit her shoulder too hard or some shit. “Not even juvie, straight to the crazy house, right? We don’t want that! Not at all! We’re friends, right Carrie~?”
Cassie’s head turned into a blur. The zeal she felt, after Sonia saying that last question, was greater than the shame of all of her orifices leaking out with tears, snot and saliva. “YAH! Yes—yeah—totally! You’re the girl, ‘Sony’!”
As Sonia recoiled from the display, that did it—the entire crew, including the girl that’s supposedly in excruciating pain, broke out in uproarious laughter. The sheer wave of such, the pressure of that sudden gush cascaded all over Cassie, rendering her still and silent.
“Alright, alright, people…” Sonia waved everyone down from their high, with a few still shaking with mirth. “Hey, I think Carrie here said what the solution is!”
The stocky-for-her-age brought forward the gangly girl, which caused Miles to do a brief double take—a clear and present shock of fear as if she was going to be the offering to the crazy demon before them. With an assured smirk that Sonia sent, Miles’ worry melted into the shared expression.
She presented the “wounded” elbow to Cassie, radiating smug energy that she could never control with such a rubbery, dopey face.
They didn’t even need to explain what was happening to Cassie.
She lurched forward, carefully reaching out and immediately started smooching the deep, thin bloody line.
As Cassie kept kissing, trying to push back the tears, the laughter that flooded her ears didn’t help. It was practically rumbling her head, and she couldn’t retreat inside of it, like always during scenarios like these. Her only refuge.
Once the monster snapped out of the trance, Cassie growled.
“Dick move, doing that shit… Super fuckin’ nasty, pulling that one out of all things…”
And doing that while the beast was in a backwater, mini convenience store that doubled as a gas station at that.
Cassie was sulking throughout the five or so stalls, walking in flickering lights that shut off so badly, there were periods of 5-second-long blackouts. Looking at the various snacks that were loaded with so much sugar, salt and fried lard—the Subsumed will end up hungry because the humans killed themselves before they will. She couldn’t even recall what any of these tasted like anymore, because it’s been that long since she’s lived on nothing but blood—so it required focus that she simply didn’t have anymore.
It was clear as day—that Cassie’s day was total shit. It was all over her face. Which was still covered in gashes and slices—blonde hair a total mess, pale cheeks still stained with crimson, and her eyes still puffy from the crying. But hey, it was still human-looking. A Cassie that was a late-20-something, still somehow human.
The annoying thing was putting that face back together again. It was sort of like that scene in Men in Black, where the roach dude pulled back that farmer guy’s head after the wife complained about how low it hung from the skull. On good—super fun days, that’s usually Cassie’s deal because she fed enough to piece the face back from exploding, after transforming. But she’s low now, and while she knew that she did a great job given the circumstances, Cassie felt the skin so stretched thin—smile or even frown could force the face to break open. She had to play it cool.
Didn’t help that the cashier was staring daggers at her.
Cassie’s sensibilities changed a lot, but c’mon. She was just some woman that had blood and scars on the face, clearly just wearing the huge, black overcoat that she was super lucky to find again, and wearing boots that clearly belonged to someone else. It wasn’t like she was the prime example of crazy he’d ever seen, and the red scarf covered her neck and collar bones—so she had shirt AND shoes from what he’s concerned. Humans.
All so busy being paranoid about the things in front of them, when there’s something lurking behind that had no idea about. A wimpy Subsumed was literally drooling behind his back, and he’s all focused on Cassie. Bet he would’ve changed the lights if he fucking knew, then.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
But speaking of annoying Subsumed…
She performed an over-the-top sigh, before pulling out a grey burner phone to her ear. It didn’t even work anymore, Cassie squeezed it when she ran from the Better People gig. But she needed that check-out guy off her back, because there wasn’t enough room anymore.
“The fuck do you want from me?” Cassie directly chatted with the thing that shared her mind.
You understand what.
Cassie rolled her eyes. Direct as usual—she shouldn’t have expected less. She perched the broken phone on her shoulder and against her ear, as she picked up packages of chips.
Our union has thinned. That memory was punishment, you are thinking as an individual again. What’s more, we have lost when we cannot afford to.
“Man, and I thought the feeling of my insides being pulled apart every time I breathe didn’t signal that we’ve fucked up enough…” Cassie said in a mocking huff, putting various snacks under her arms.
You jest and mock all you want—
“Coping mechanism. They’re notoriously hard to give up, y’see—because they’re new drug habits to replace the old ones—”
--But it’s telling the Fates That Be, that you’re still drenched with human sensibility. Weakness. I value your sickness, Cassie, but we must be objective here. We have to prove that we are not only one, but simply a new being amongst a rotting litter.
Cassie sighed. “I like how you continued on—it proves that you’re so stiff, I can’t call you a dick in good faith.”
If only we could erase that human perversion, as well.
“You’re the one that’s inside me, buddy--!” Cassie glanced over to the stooge, who had eyes that were wide as dinner plates at this point.
We’ve been over this. I have simply merged with your entire being. Normal—lowly Subsumed are deep within the layers of skin.
“And as I’ve said back then when you woke me up, that still sounds somehow dirtier,” Cassie just gathered snacks, lackadaisically. “Speaking of, yeah, I sort of realized what was going on the literal moment I started thinking words I would never say, in that flashback. ‘Uproariously’? Seriously?”
Pardon? It’s the proper word, to describe what was happening then.
“Honey, just because it’s the 1800’s in your little, insane head—doesn’t mean that it is out heeere,” Cassie purposefully droned, in a sickeningly sweet tone that brought to mind a nagging wife.
Regardless. The fact that you can commune with me in such a casual manner, when we should share the same thoughts, shows that our tryst is in dire straits. Intrusive memories will be the last symptom you will worry about if this continues. But at the very least, I took it upon myself to induce them to get you to listen to reason.
Cassie hummed at that—in an ambiguous manner. The under of her left arm handled a massive wad of snacks, on the verge of falling out of the grip as a result.
“Interesting!” Cassie merrily made her way to the counter, slamming her bounty all over it. The cashier practically shitting himself, and he was encased in 5-inch glass. “Well then partner, I better do my end of the deal then~!”
Once again, Cassie was plunged within the ruins of what was once a mind. But it was weird, this time. Despite these memories, these eyes that she was looking through weren’t hers—they were now.
The cracking flame illuminated what was vast nothingness. The Vampire Subsumed, “her” people didn’t need it. It was those hideous interlopers that were huddled around it, they were the ones clinging to such.
They were right there. Vulnerable, like they always were regardless of light, home, companionship or tools. Traitorous monkeys that were scared out of their minds, festering in the dirt.
And yet, it was the Vampire Subsumed that was snout deep in such.
“Poor little bat… I recall chatter, about your kind being blind. Blind to your surroundings, so let me take it upon myself to reiterate the rules…”
This thing was made of muck, as it slithered closer to “her” ear. Could barely form a head and a face to talk to the Vampire Subsumed, but was thick enough to sit on “her” back and spread across “her” wings, keeping the monster grounded. But the Blob Subsumed formed an arm along with the dribbling head, using its hand to grip the Vampire Subsumed’s head as the Blob’s mouth was pried open.
“We Subsumed… We have a sole reason to be alive. And that reason is the only reason that we can live. Stray from that reason, and the rules that were created—and we have a problem with those upstart groundlings, such as yourself. Try to attack humans without a process again, and we’ll eat you and your pathetic brood alive.”
The Vampire Subsumed looked up at them. Watching them huddled, away from “her”. Giving into the miasma of shit that these coward monsters call the status quo—when they outnumber those fucking runts they try to act not scared of. Fuckers—every single last one of them.
The Blob chuckled as it wormed itself away, but the voice still carried, despite it being formless. “It’s not like you all could fight them anyways. You Vampires… The humans are savvy to you now, honor your kind, perverted them… You hold no fear over them anymore.”
The Vampire Subsumed could still hear those words, rattling in “her” fucking head—it’s been centuries, and yet it still rattled in “her” head.
And as Cassie took hers, everything came back online. Her entire vision flooded with the image of a sweating man behind a see-through shield with a grey speaker wedged within it.
Cassie rolled her eyes, but at least with this instance of the bleed through being funny this time.
“I-Is everything alright, miss?” the rest stop worker stuttered out. His greasy bangs covering most of his face riddled with ache. Must be a gig to evade college as much as he could.
“Mm, yeah, don’t worry—” Cassie looked at her nails, flexing her fingers to scope them out. “Fell down the stairs, it was very painful.”
And before he could respond, or take what would be his final breath—Cassie swiped, causing her claws to rip out of her human fingers. Breaking through the glass wall with relative ease and precisely gorged out the poor fucker’s neck.
He fell. Cassie didn’t want to see him struggle—she was bored of that old song and dance, she simply wanted to make her way out. But she did trade looks with the gravelling Subsumed that was a literal deer in headlights. The antlers, rimmed and forked to be demonic, eyes too far apart as they glowed yellow. The rest of the body was fine… Provided if one didn’t look too hard. Then they’d notice how the head was enlarged and yet flat. The body with gnarly, spider-like legs with a bulbous midsection.
“Hey, can I get a quick hit, my guy?” Cassie rose her talons. Forcing them to part, so that her human veins slithered out of the slits, beginning to writhe hungrily. “Need a bit of a pick-me-up, then he’s all yours.”
The Stag Subsumed bowed (Cassie immediately huffed at “suddenly” knowing that name), and the monster lanced out her veins through the hole she made in the glass wall. Snapping onto the corpse, immediately draining it… The wonderful sensation of being steadily filled up with intoxicating warmth followed.
A good minute passed and Cassie flicked her veins back, shaking her now “normal” hand. And with a tug on both her cheeks, she righted her human face by stretching it, sealing up most of the cuts. Blinking, Cassie’s eyes settled on the Stag practically shoving its face into the gaping wound on the clerk’s neck, which naturally has doubled in size.
With a wave, Cassie grabbed the various snacks and walked out. “Have fun, bud! Make sure to style yourself for a very terrible Terrortide~!”
Despite the façade, everything was clearly taking it’s toll. Namely the symbiosis between the two, that tearing feeling from the inside—now somehow deeper, rawer.
Cassie didn’t—couldn’t focus on getting to the hideout. She was beginning to hallucinate again, her body moving on it’s own…
But her mind. Her damn mind. She became trapped again.
Not so memories but… The moments that irreversibly broke their psyches. Impacts that resulted in pain that is ever present, emotions that are simply buried under their normal disposition so they could properly function, battered and mutilated the psyche by simply showing the key images and sensations alone.
For Cassie, it was that damn day—in that damn girls’ bathroom. A crowd of girls, not the same ones from the previous vision—but it didn’t matter. They’re all the same.
They wanted her and the other bullied girl to fight, to prove who would choke and break under the pressure first. So of course, Cassie did—and proceeded to hit her square in the stomach, before screaming at the others if they were happy or not. The two losers had a pathetic squat as the winners laughed at them.
And two days later, that poor girl killed herself. The other girls pointed their fingers and Cassie’s life was changed forever.
Mother was facing charges. While they were evaded, she took Cassie and told her that she had to be a good girl now. One step backwards, one out of line, then she will pay for her. Screamed at her to see if she understood or not.
Thus began the “life” she had until she reached her end. Trying so hard to desperately fit in, after everything… And realizing that such a world, where things like this happened and people continued on. It was sick.
Another flash. Motivated by a decaying clan, and the stagnation of those fools pressing the Vampire Subsumed into action. They gathered, devising a reclamation. Regaining their titles, their influence, everything that they were denied for far too long. Maybe even find that blob in the aftermath.
They followed those humans, after watching their way of life for months. They stormed the village, immediately attacking everything in sight—being sure to take every single thing that those monkeys might hold fear.
It was supposed to work. It was supposed to be their revolution.
The humans… They became monsters themselves, without any hide or fur or horns. They fought back with such ferocity, their pained yet primal screams still haunt the Vampire Subsumed.
They were once 100 of their number. The lowly, pathetic Vampire Subsumed was the only survivor.
Face down into the dirt once more. As she saw the other Subsumed just peer from the shadows. Almost mocking.
But once they were out of it, Cassie opened their eyes again.
“Fuck. Theeeere we go…”
With a pained smirk stretched across their face, the monster continued to march into the night. Finding the path they’ve discovered together, determined more than ever to complete their task:
To fuck the world.