BATIM AU chapter 10 - The Projectionist

Instructions

lowkey dislike this chapter lol Aubrey's POV. "I've just one more chore for you helpful little errand runners... Have you rested up?" "Yeah, Susie, just tell us what to do already," Sammy replied, obviously mad. Buddy nodded in agreement. She chuckled and sighed. "Oh, Sammy. Temperamental, arrogant, narcissist Sammy. Whatever would your friends do without your... Endless support?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Oh, jeez, you guys really have it out for each other huh?" Lucky laughed and punched Sammy's shoulder a little harder than she meant to, making him turn to glare at her. If looks could kill, Lucky would've been stabbed in the chest. I smiled and crossed my arms. "Y'all are cold. Anywaaaaays! Alice, what'd you want us to do? Also, thanks for the room, since ol' Samster over here decided to be an ungrateful little jerk." Lucky made an imitation air horn sound as Buddy shook his head, knowing I went too far. Sammy growled indignantly but didn't say anything. Alice chuckled over the intercom, "Well, dears, I just want you to say hi to an old friend. You'll need this." She was sending us something the same way she sent the axes for me and Lucky, and the syringes for Sammy and Buddy. But I don't think any of us were expecting what she sent next... A Tommy Gun. We all stared at it silently, until Sammy had a moment of realization. "Isn't that mine?" "Hmm... Well, I do recall it being yours once upon a time, yes." Sammy squinted his one eye suspiciously and reached out to grab it, but the gun turned into a puddle of ink before any of us could do anything. I looked at his shocked expression and broke down laughing. I couldn't help myself. "Oh my god you fell for it-- You fell for the CLASSIC- How could you not see that coming?" Alice joined my laughter, and so did Lucky, until Buddy and Sammy were the only ones not laughing, but even Buddy was giving him a funny look. Eventually she gave us the actual gun. -- Sammy explained to me who the "old friend" Alice mentioned was. Norman, the Projectionist. Always skulking around, had a projector for a head. Said it wasn't always like that. "Gee, wasn't she nice? She gave us a gun!" Lucky giggled and started skipping through the puddles of ink on the ground. "The gun that no one else will be touching. I can't trust any of you with an axe, let alone a gun." My face shifted to an obvious expression of sheer, utter betrayal. Sammy noticed and just shook his head. "You'd go mad with power, Aubrey, don't even try to deny it." Then I heard it. The sounds of a whirring projector and footsteps. Apparently everyone else heard it too, because they stopped in their tracks, Sammy raising the gun slightly. "Careful. Just stay out of the projector light." We nodded and carefully followed him through the maze, collecting the ink hearts the angel asked for. -- I whsiper-yelled "Found it!" across the room, picking up the final heart. Lucky nodded and then gasped in horror at something down the hall, and I could only guess what it was: Norman. Buddy ran over and put his hand over her mouth, shaking his head. Apparently he hadn't seen us yet. We carefully crept towards the exit, Sammy trailed behind with the gun in case Norman spotted us. Then we heard an ear-piercing scream. I saw him start to chase us out of the corner of my eye. We booked it to a miracle station, somehow all fitting inside. Norman stopped in front of it, the projector lens narrowed, confused. He opened the door. A crackly voice escaped from a speaker embedded in his chest. "Why... did you..." He seemed to be struggling to finish his sentence, static and humming ensued between each segment. "Run...?" Sammy set the gun down and stepped out of the miracle station. "Norman?" Norman's lens flickered twice, like a blink. His head cocked to the side, giving us all once-over glance. "...Good...?" Sammy nodded. "We're good." "Angel... Killed me... Created.." he looked at his hands and made a sobbing noise. "Monster. Sent you people... To kill." He nodded at the gun. Every word seemed to hurt him. I shook my head, confused. "Slow down. What do you mean?" "Mistake... Fix... Mistake." " 'Mistake'?" He nodded. "Angel... Made a... Mistake. Made... Monster. Sent good... To kill monster... And fix... Mistake..." Buddy nodded in understanding. "Alice sent us here to not only get her hearts, but to kill Norman in self defense. She made him the way he is, but considers him a threat. She spread rumours about him so people would come and eliminate him. He would kill them, giving himself a bad reputation... I know I heard multiple times from lost ones to stay away from him." "Wolf... Correct. Please... Leave me... Alone..." (continued below)