He'd been conversing with Clive for a while now and nothing he had learned from this sadistic prick had made much sense. On the upside, he could move his lips even if no sound came out. RotBaby had apparently gotten bored and fell asleep at some point. This gave him a little control he presumed. Wondering to himself "if he could keep RotBaby happy and snoozing could I control more?". This would have to wait, he was starting to work out a way to deal with Clive's untasteful attitude first.

Sighing he asked again for the third time, he knew the answer already. They had been talking a while now after all, but whenever he thought it was starting to make sense. A healthy dose of reality would come in and kick his ass and his logical thinking would fight with the illogical crap Clive was spewing out...

One last time, he promised him...

"I'm dead and because of that you and RotBaby are stuck in my body with me? Is that right"

With a long groan, Clive started speaking again...

Clive.... Yes if you want to simplify it down to idiotic, but sure, yeah let's go with that just to move it on.

"You see there's the problem" he responds back. He got that part kinda, even if he was still leaning more towards some form of brain injury crossed with trauma creating auditory hallucinations. It was all so insane so far.

So far the part of Clive's story he was willing to accept was that the solar flare wasn't actually as harmless as the media had said. He was already starting to suspect maybe some radiation was making them sick but, the story Clive was spewing so far was batshit crazy. Even if the fact he was listening to a voice inside his head the rest was still nuts!

The Solar Flare was the cause of the virus and with the chain of events, this made sense. He was even willing to go as far as saying the being dead part was reasonable maybe? This wasn't because it made any form of sense nope. This was because the rest was so utterly bollocks being dribbled into his mind, that the dead thing was just acceptable.

Clive... what don't you get? I've tried making it simple but you can't seem to even grasp basic English from my impression? Or?... Maybe you're just trying to torture me? Is that it?

Feigning a "me idiot you so smart" attitude he replied...

"No look, this is! It's just so insane, could you try and dumb it down just a little bit more, start at how you and RotBaby got trapped here and why again please", he asks a little too nice for his liking. But getting ratty with clive so far had been pointless to the point of leading to petty arguments. Pleading to this egotistical son of a bitch's need to be superior just worked better and he was willing to exchange a little groveling for more info.

Clive.... hahaha, that's your problem idiot, you blame everything on other stuff. It's not that this is insane it's just you're not able to grasp it. That's a "You problem!" not a "Me problem!", maybe you could start with some self-help books?

Feeling the rising annoyance at this latest smart-ass dig at him, he had to really fight his anger this time. He counted to three and bit back his growing rage at it all! He needed to keep the conversation going, it wasn't often but Clive kept slipping up. Every now and again he would say something he didn't mean to, he didn't always understand what but Clive would try to back peddle made him hold onto it, maybe later he could understand past the bullshit if he got enough.

"Haha yeah you're probably right, ill try to work on that when I'm not lying here! unable to move! But please for now can you answer the question I asked, I wouldn't want to make this any longer after all..." he had to really pull back not letting himself get too sarcastic!

"The ass wipe actually sighed in response, like I was the problem here and he was doing me a favor" he didn't voice any of this though, for now, it was stored with the rest of his growing annoyance.

Clive.... Ok, ill try just because I want to move this on and not because you told me to! The important part to remember is Its mainly your fault and you caused me this insufferable torment. But for now ok, So after the solar flare as you meatbags keep calling it, lit up this mudball.

"You're talking about Earth right?" He interrupted.

Clive.... Yes, Earth! When the power "Solar Flare" hit this dump "Earth". Anyone outside or in the direct light of the power got cursed. Before you go interrupting me with stupid question's, when I say curse I mean the thing you call a virus. Which is totally wrong by the way, do your scientist really believe a virus could work that fast? Idiots!

Trying to stop this derailing again he sighed...

"Clive, can we continue past your opinion on scientists?"

Clive.... Fine but they are idiots! sooo...The curse is kinda like a Supreme being's wipe everything, slate all clean button. It isn't the first time this type of shit has been done here either, it's just you guys make everything into a story and forget the truth. Most of the time though it's just smaller, your more typical run-of-the-mill stuff like a plague or big flood kinda thing. But this time the big shiny doofus went all reckoning on your asses and decided zombies were the way.

And this is where it all starts going nuts with talk of supreme beings, he worked out this meant kinda like a God but that's just a name humans use apparently. "Typical" he laughed out mockingly.

Clive.... What now? do you not understand that word too? Is that why you are interrupting again?

"No, no, I understand the word just not how wiping out human civilization is typical in any way" his facade was slipping and he knew it.

Clive.... Well, typically it isn't to wipe everything away, just punish, scare, or even to control your guys over the top breeding habits. But this isn't that, normally it's select groups, every culture has myths well not all are made up! This though, this is full burn it all down start over level, you guys must have really pissed somebody off badly, this time! Anyhow the curse seems like a troll to me though, 7 days to manifest followed by 3 days of darkness. Fucking cliches or what? How lame, couldn't even come up with an original one!

Clive was laughing like a cackling witch at some joke he wasn't getting!...

"So..., This curse is what caused you and RotBaby? is that right?"

Clive.... Shhhhhh...

After a few seconds pause, he continued...

Clive.... Hush don't "you," say its name so loud, RotBaby is asleep for now and one moron is enough for me to deal with.

"Ok, but am I right?"

Clive.... Well Kinda, RotBaby is just what the curse manifests has to take over the body once your ass leaves the property so to speak. But you kinda messed that one up "haha". You didn't actually stay out like you were meant to, instead, you came back home but with backup. Now you and it are fighting over this worthless meatsack of a body.

"So are you part of the curse too?" He was getting good at getting to this bit, it was all about pressing Clive's buttons to steer him back on course.

Snorting a harsh reply...

Clive.... Nooooooo, I'm not some super lame curse, nope! Me, I'm an all-powerful mega-awesome demon, like I've said. I know, I know, it's shocking for you so ill forgive if you can't grasp it!

"Ha ha ha, an all-powerful demon that's stuck in my head" he couldn't stop himself again and it just flew out in a snort.

It was around this point that his mind just refused to accept anymore "stupid". A couple of conversations ago they had got a little further. Clive had tried explaining his Dad was the opposite to the one who caused this curse cra... ahem, Virus, he assumed this meant devil but again human terms blah blah...

It was all insanity so far but what he had pieced together from it is, basically, Rotbaby was meant to be part of some divine armageddon curse to clean planets of mistakes, for a fresh start kinda. But Clive he's different, he's meant to be a fucking demon, he wasn't being forthright about how he got here though. Whenever he tried to ask about how? Clive would start going into these long circumvented stories with no actual answer. This demon or more likely delusion was avoiding a real answer and he wanted one, he felt like this avoided subject was the key to why he was like this...

"Here we go," he thought, the conversation was now derailed he knew it before it came. The screech from Clive almost made him want to vomit...

Clive.... How fucking dare you... You ungrateful, you disrespectful ingrate. Here I am trying to explain things so maybe we can actually move on and do something about swinging here like an old man's saggy limp willy but nope you want to insult my awesomeness. I didn't choose to get stuck here...

The rant continued but this time it started turning into a mumbling whimper...

Clive.... All I was doing was innocently feeding on your energy, minding my own business. "Snuffle" Then you went and started going nuts on me. How could I resist that sweet intoxicating taste? Do you even realize how badly that shit grips you? No no, don't answer "snort" how could you? it's just really strong. Think crack with a little meth sprinkled in. It's hard to resist, and then just one stupid mistake, and I'm punished. It's not my fault you started getting corrupted, how was I meant to know feeding on too much negative energy messes with the human mental state. "Hahaha", the funny thing is, if you had offed yourself a few minutes earlier, the curse couldn't have even taken your body as you chose to die willingly.

Unsure if id finally beat his ass or if Clive was just done with going over it so much and breaking down but he continued to let the ass rant and bitch. This was the first time he was getting anything that felt fully the truth.

Clive.... You went and died at the moment it killed you!... and just because of one stupid loophole in some ancient pact from before I was even created. That almost killed me too, how was I meant to know if a person dies from a rapture level curse it will kill anything hitching a ride too. Dad was so pissed at me, yep you heard that me, striped most of my powers, and made me a fucking familiar to you. The worst part is I get punished for breaking old ass rules but he somehow managed to place his mark on your soul without any mutual agreement. "Seems I'm not the only rule breaker hey dad!" Brought this dick back from the dead and even threw my ass into the bargain, for what hey... that's rights nothing. You didn't even give him terms, no soul, no sacrifice, no nothing! Those rules are even older......

"CRACKK..."

Abruptly his mind filled with a high-pitched screeching drowning out all his own thoughts on what he had managed to get this time. Just as the vaults were opening and he thought he'd got the gold Clive's rambling turned into screaming ear-bleeding madness.

Clive.... ahhhhhhhhh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I'll shut up. Ahhhhhhhh, please... I know, ahhhhhh, please...

The screeching started to turn into a quiet sob, all he could do was stare around his darkroom in shock. The sound was like that of an animal being tortured and he was shaken from it. It was like being at the scene of a murder happening but there was no actual murder insight. His mind was reeling from it, confused...

Realizing nothing was actually there, he let out a breath and began talking.

"Clive" he spoke the words softly, "What happened? Are you ok?" He asked

Clive still sobbing in his head sniffled an overly emphasized snorty sound and his sobbing ended. It felt like he straightened his back up, but this was most likely his imagination.

Clive.... "Snort" what? Oh, that was Dad showing his love. I might have started talking about stuff I wasn't meant to there, haha.

The laugh came out forced like it was hiding actual pain, not like he was harmed by what had happened more so his feelings?

"Hmm, What? What does Dad showing his love mean? It sounded like you was being ripped apart like a defenseless animal."

Clive.... Look, I said some shit I wasn't meant to and Dad got pissed. Best to just accept it and carry on, you're part of the family now too so as long as you follow the rules...

He interrupted him feeling the direction this was going.

"Dude if you're telling me by family, you mean your Dad is gonna do whatever the fuck that was to me, let me tell you one thing, fuck him and fuck you!"

He wasn't this douche's kid, "what even was that it did, it sounded really painful?" he wondered.

As he said these words he realized he was actually buying this crap, when had he started accepting the word of an imaginary thing as fact! "Oh, God I'm going nuts arent i..."

He heard Clive try to interrupt him with something...

Clive.... No, Don't say that right after he's already pis...

His voice got drowned out by that large sound!

"CRACKKK...." The sound was lost on him though, pain flared everywhere.

Thrashing to life his entire body started to violently jerk, his neck still suspended in a now wet sticky belt started whipping side to side. It felt like every nerve was on fire, his mouth was filled with foam but still unable to pass air from his lungs up through his restricted windpipe to scream. All he could do was lie there while his eyes rolled and his body thrashed in agony.

RotBaby.... STOPPPPPPP, AHHHHHHH

Abruptly without any warning, his entire body numbed, the pain didn't quite stop so much but rather, it just stopped hurting? It was hard for him to describe.

Feeling shocked at what had just happened, he started shouting...

"Holy fuck, what was that just now?"

Clive.... Stop it, don't keep pissing him o...

Again Clive's voice was cut off, his again numb body started vibrating and the pain ramped up to new heights. The little bit of reprieve given by numbness was short-lived replaced by pain accompanied by a deep laughing voice bellowing through it...

?????.... Ahhhh, it's been such a long time since any fool dared tempt my fury twice in a row.

It was hard to focus on the voice though, with more force this time his body thrashed held in place by his secured throat. He felt it though, soggy sticky carpet, after the sudden shock of the last time he was more aware now. He was aware of the fact it was his body thrashing, not a body he could see but his own, he felt himself jerking, the carpeted floor banged with every thrash, but he felt it. This sudden realization didn't last though. He was starting to figure something out, but he needed to test it more, this was made hard though...

RotBaby.... ENOUGGHHHHGHGH PAINNNNNN, STOPPPPPP NOWWW!

This pain whatever it was, was enough to force his mind to move his body. But somehow twice now it stopped with RotBaby's voice. "Was he able to stop the pain somehow?" he pondered.

Wait clive had said something earlier, "it had control" mind putting things together, does "it" mean RotBaby. Speaking quickly mind racing from everything...

"Clive, is RotBaby in control of my body? Is that why I'm paralyzed?" As he was saying it though, it felt right like it somehow made twisted sense. It was like he was onto something but he needed a little more...

Clive.... After what just happened, you ask that? Are you a masochist? Does pain make that brain work?

Frustrated at being halted in a moment of clarity, a moment where this shit was making sense he cut Clive off...

"Enough bullshit, answer me!"

Clive's response came back a little stunned, but he answered.

Clive.... I told you before about that, yes. And now RotBaby's awake again you'll see!

Getting his answer, he was already back in his mind thinking, so pain let him get control, "what had even caused the pain?".

Dawning on him "wait was that what happened to clive?" Wondering if Clives Dad was doing it he spoke again, it sounded like clive was still speaking but he had ignored it all in his contemplation.

"Clive, what caused that pain?", after a pause a sighing response came

Clive.... Were you really not listening to me, I was just saying after you saw what happened to me you went and pissed him off too, it's like you enjoy punishment...

Again the voice was in the background, "his Dad caused it, but why?", he needed to know exactly how, a plan was coming to him but he needed a bit more.

Asking him the one last thing he needed to test his theory, "how did I make him angry?".

Clive.... Hmmm, what's wrong with you, you're distracted and no longer asking dumb shit, what are you thinking about?

Sighing, he asked again "How?"

Another short pause interceeded with sounds of self mumbling a response came.

Clive.... Fine, I won't force you to tell me what, but just a warning Dad hates being used like a fool. It was you saying his rival's name, but a number of things can piss him off, things like not following orders, trying to trick him, or even just saying anything he dislikes in general as I did.

Giving thanks this time actually impressed he was cooperating, the plan was set, he knew how but wasn't sure if it could work.

Hell if it didn't, what was the worst that could happen? He died? Haha laughing to himself he started...

"Sooo... if I was to say something like, GOD DAMN IT, HOLY HELL, BURN IN HEAVEN YOU CUNT OF A DAD... that would really get him pissed right?"

Clive.... Oh, no, no no, you shouldn't have said that! you've lost it, he's gonna be so pisse...

My mind was ready, he braced himself teeth clenched in anticipation but nothing came.

While lying there thinking maybe he had done something wrong a deep angry growling voice, clear as day boomed out, making his head hurt from the sound alone.

?????.... You dare tempt my wrath? You insolent Fool, I expected Clive's foolishness was the peak of the mistakes I would have to deal with. But even now this situation is still here causing me pain. You spit in the gift you were given with this disrespect.

Clive.... hey, hey what's dad saying? I cant hear him but I know that booming crackle anywhere, tell him I said hi!

?????.... Tell that sniveling idiot, he will hear from me when he does the job I set him correctly and stops messing it up.

Talking to him, Clive interrupted again

Clive.... Hey Fool, did he say something or not? Is he super pissed at you?

"Is this your Dad Speaking to me?" Confused he addressed Clive first hoping to piss off his Dad some more if it was him. He needed the pain again, he was so close!

Clive.... I'm pretty sure it is, but there is a buzzing stopping me from hearing his actual words.

A Booming voice filled my ears again...

?????.... Don't ignore me like I'm some common bein...

He ignored the rest, "Clive your Dad says hi back, and he loves you lots!".

The reply back wasn't Clive's voice but icy venom, it made his body prickle at the words...

?????.... You insufferable moron, do not ever put words into my mouth, have you any idea what I could do to you? Was it Clive's slipup about the un-termed pact? is this the reason you think you can be so disrespectful now? While true I can't directly take your soul, I can still hurt it!

There it was and all he could do was grin, "Father like son" he thought. This guy was falling for the same trick Clive had. "Yeah get angry fool, keep ranting," he thought.

He knew he was pushing it, if this really was Clive's Dad then wasn't he an all-powerful evil that could devour entire human civilizations too? But he needed the big baby to throw another fit, to get angry and start the pain again. He just hoped that the last slip was true, if right, un-termed meant he didn't have a payment waiting for him.

Clive.... Did he? Is he ok, Dad isn't the loving type normally, wait did I do something right? Tell him I said I love him too!

Ignoring Clive he was deep in thought again...

He wasn't an expert in any of this but he had read comics with demons plenty of times before and watched enough satanic horrors to have an idea what this pact was now. He was pretty sure it's one of those cheesy "sign here and ill give you power things a camp red horned man would try to tempt people with like a used car salesman".

The difference was why he had punished Clive though, it was probably why he was even still alive "or dead" he thought. He never signed so maybe this meant he was missing the hand over your soul part. He grinned big at the thought, could this be why this crap suddenly started for him.

What did this pact even get him? He knew Clive had said he was turned into a familiar and dumped, and also presumed the being brought back from the dead thing was definitely part but why? He wasn't special, was he?

Calling up to the sky he tried pushing it for a little more...

"Hey, Big Guy are you still bitching about all that stuff? you really shouldn't punish Clive it seems to me you are the one who fucked up really! Maybe The other guy can fix it for you, should I ask?"

He started shouting the last part like trying to talk to someone far "Hey big God person..." cutting off abruptly he laughed "actually nope, that douche can suck my balls too, You both suck!"

When he ended, there was no furious outcry, no booming sound, everything was silent.

Laying there listening, a small timid-sounding Clive broke the unnerving silence first.

Clive.... Oh boy, this is bad, I hope you know what you're doing! Your stamping on cracking ice, an ice over a pit of never-ending hellfire. Be careful!

His reply to Clive got cut off mid-word...

"I'm not too scare..." it started with a tingling slowly moving from his head to his feet, the tingling turned into vibrating and continued ramping until his body was almost spending more time in the air than on the floor. It was weird though he still felt no pain, his body wasn't his own yet, he needed more!

"Is that it?" He shouts out, the sound came out jittery and broken but he perceived "I bet you have heard this from a lot of your ex's but I can't even feel it!" He roared in laughter at his own cringy joke but someone didn't find it funny. The thrashing increased, the tingling sensation became more prickly feeling, his vision started to go white at the edges now too.

"Still nothing, big Guy, or should that be small Guy? I mean is it even in" his laughter turned almost maniacal. He could hear Clive in the background shouting... but he continued, was RotBaby the reason the pain wasn't affecting him? He needed more!...

Clive.... You need to stop! This is getting out of hand.

He was too far now, no way but through he thought. The ramping up continued and he was definitely feeling it. His head was bouncing side to side violently tugging at the belt holding him, he strained to focus "a little to the left..."

"THUMP"

His head hit the floor hard but other than the sound the pain was nothing compared to the burning sensation the prickling had become. He was gritting his actual teeth now though and he could hear his own voice coming out in grunts and shouts.

His body still wasn't completely his though, could he overload RotBaby with this pain and get control, he needed to continue until he was sure.

The mocking tone faded from his voice as he started letting his anger out.

"Why did you even bring me back, I didn't ask for this so-called gift, if anything shove the gift up your arse mate!"

?????.... "hahaha" But you did! When you groveled like a snot-covered hanging baby wanting to live. Your entire soul begged to live and now you cry and whine like a foolish dog getting beaten by its master for biting.

"Dog?" He screamed out in rage-filled agony, "you think my soul begged for this you fucking monster!" His hands were clenched into fists and he started smashing them into the ground in a violent deep rage, he had lost it at the thought of being treated like a worthless animal, he didn't want this, and from his understanding, it was a demon draining him that made him do it. He was gone into a cloud of red mist. His fist crashed into the floor over and over, carpet and wooden splinters were flying around him now but he saw nothing.

"Fuck you whatever the Hell you are and that other guy, I'm not yours to play with, think you can treat humans as toys to break and disregard when we don't please you? I hate you so much, I'm done with your bullshit, end me now if you don't like it or shut the fuck up. But I'm done"

With one last kicking punching fit of rage, he shrieked out the last bit of his anger smashing his body into the ground.

"AND THAT OTHER DICKHEAD CAN SUCK MY DEAD NUTS ASWELLLL, YOUR BOTH ASSHOLES"

Blood, carpet, and wooden splinters flew everywhere, the floor was crumbling and breaking with every strike now. He didn't care about it, the rage was peaking and his vision had gone red, everything was becoming a blur. He was acting like a spoiled child throwing a fit on the floor when their parent said no, he knew but he didn't care! Kicking and slamming his hands into the ground.. all he could think was...

"I'M NOT PLAYING BY YOUR FUCKING RULES, I'M DONE!!!!"

A dark laughing response came cutting off his rage.

?????.... We will see!

Then it all ended, just 3 words, but as the laugh faded the pain vanished too. It was sudden and unexpected. He was still angry and this threw him off, "did I win?" He wondered.

With all the anger and stress of this past few days built he gave one last huge jerk and slammed all his limbs together into the already sorry-looking floor in triumph.

"CRASHHHHH" he fell into utter darkness while laughing like a mad man.