Todd Wants Key's Face

Dusk: *quietly* ... O-Okay... *he separates himself from Sarah and rubs an eye. He feels exhausted, half from blood loss and half from the day itself. Such exhaustion, such confusion, such HELPLESSNESS makes him feel like a child*

Sarah: *watches him, feeling horrible for what happened to him...* ...you can lie down on the couch or the bed if you want to sleep instead...

Dusk: *quietly* ... I'll do that instead, yeah... *he limps over to the bedroom, which he recalls sleeping in before returning to Blood Puppet before. He gets into the bed, curling himself up tightly under the covers*

Sarah: <:( .... *grabs something to eat for herself, then decides to go to bed as well... it was late, anyway... she goes into her room and gets into bed, somehow feeling just as alone as she had while he was gone*

Dusk: *he shivers, trying to sleep. His entire life has been disrupted. Stopped and torn apart by these... PEOPLE...*

Sarah: *can't wait to take him to the psychologist the next morning... she hoped they could bring him back to normal...*

Dusk: *he later pretends to fall asleep, hoping to be able to run out when Sarah does the same*

Sarah: *eventually DOES fall asleep*

Dusk: *he hastily jumps out of the bed and runs over to the window, hoping to escape through it. Unfortunately for him, the window is noisy, creaking loudly when he unlocks it and pries it open*

Sarah: *is awoken* --!! *grabs the remote off the nightstand, and presses the shock button before he can get out the window* D8

Dusk: *Immediately lets go of the window, jumping from the jolt of electricity, which was short enough to startle him more than hurt him* !!! ... *he looks over at Sarah* ...

Sarah: D-Don't leave... please... I don't want to have to use this again... D:>

Dusk: You don't understand - I HAVE to find Blood Puppet! He might need me!

Sarah: He doesn't NEED you, Sam, he does just fine on his own... unfortunately...

Dusk: Th-there you go again! You never call me by my real name! Always "Sam"! ALWAYS! D8< BLOOD PUPPET never called me "Sam", he always called me Dusk, because Dusk is my name and he's RESPECTABLE about it! Unlike YOU PEOPLE! You damned, dirty, rotten KIDNAPPERS! You evil MONSTERS! D8<

Sarah: *quietly* ...You don't mean that...

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Dusk: ... *quietly* ... I don't know... *he looks away from her, out the window as they drive back to "home"*

Sarah: *is silent the rest of the way. when they reach the apartment building, she makes sure to keep ahold of his arm as they make their way up to the apartment* ...

Dusk: *he looks down at her grip on his arm as they ascend the stairs and enter the apartment* ... <:(

Sarah: *doesn't notice--she's a bit more worried at keeping him from running away... she closes and locks the door behind them once they're in the apartment, letting go of his arm* ...Well, you were asking about home... here it is. <:/

Dusk: *he looks around the place, nervously rubbing his hands* ... I-I feel more sad now...

Sarah: ....Do you remember living here? <:(

Dusk: *he slowly shakes his head at Sarah, that brain-deadness showing through in his expression. In his eyes*

Sarah: *she can almosr feel her heart break when she sees his answer. if he doesn't remember living here, why would he remember anything except what Blood Puppet wanted him to? She didn't want to believe her Sam wasn't there anymore... but the dismay and heartbreak showed in her own expression, no matter how hard she tried to hide it* .....

Dusk: ... D:> *he hesitates, then puts a hand on her shoulder* ...

Sarah: *puts a hand over his, rubbing it with her thumb, trying very hard not to cry* ....

Dusk: *keeps his hand there, now feeling incredibly bad* ...

Sarah: ... *takes her hand off his so she can hug him instead--she prayed it would at least still feel the same...*

Dusk: *he loosely hugs Sarah back, still feeling bad, but also feeling just as empty as before*

Sarah: *lets him go after a little while, and stares up at him, hating that look in his eyes, hating Blood Puppet for taking him away from her...* ...D-Do you want something to eat?

Dusk: *he quivers all over ... I-I... I only... eat other people...

Sarah: *tries very hard NOT to look completely appalled--instead, she just sends more hate in Blood Puppet's direction* W-Well... I'm pretty sure I can change that.

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Gilder: You know, I bet we can fix him, though. I do think so. Hell, I bet HYPNOTHERAPY could work. Maybe it can help slowly bring him back to how he was before. <:/ ... You go now, though, okay? Just be happy that he's back right now, alright?

Dusk: *glaring at Gilder*

Sarah: ... *nods* Alright... Um... Do you know what he thinks his name is? <:/

Dusk: *still glaring* Dusk. >:/

Gilder: Well, there you have it. :/

Sarah: Alrighty, then..... *sighs* I guess we should get going....

Gilder: I guess so. You fix him for us, alright? <:P

Dusk: >:( ...

Sarah: I'll do my best... <:(

Gilder: Okay then... here we go. *unlocks the handcuffs and takes them off*

Dusk: *punches Gilder* D8<

Gilder: !!!!

Sarah: D:!! *tries to get between Sam and Gilder* Stop that! D:

Dusk: He captured me! Keeping me away from Blood Puppet! D8<

Gilder: D: G-get him out of here, Sarah. Have a tight grip on him, alright?

Sarah: *is actually rather worried about him hitting HER, but she nods* R-Right. D: *grabs his arm, and tugs him towards the door* Come on, we're going home.

Dusk: *is dragged out, though he doesn't struggle as much as Gilder thought he would* H-home...?? Wh-where's...?

Sarah: *walks him out of the office and towards the car* You'll see... you came to visit last night, remember?

Dusk: ... Oh yeah... h-he wanted me to kill you... but now it's okay. Now I don't have to kill you.

Sarah: *is relieved to hear this* Well, that's good to hear...

Dusk: ... Ever since I was assigned to kill you, I've felt... more sad...

Sarah: Oh.... well.... why do you think that is? <:/

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Blood Puppet: *gets away with his family*

Gilder: Damnit! ... Well... at least we've got who we came for... *he calls Sarah*

Dusk: *unconscious*

Sarah: !! *quickly picks up the phone* Hello? D:

Gilder: We've got him. We're going to go to the military outpost so we can fit him into some normal clothes and then you can come pick him up. He's incredibly disturbed, Mrs. Gatzsky. He'll be needing therapy after this. Something nice and professional.

Soldiers: *handcuff the unconscious Dusk and put him in a military truck that was arriving on the scene. They all pile in*

Sarah: Alright.... I'll start making some calls. Thank you so much for this.

Gilder: It's my job, Mrs. Gatsky. It's what I do. *he then hangs up and gets into the truck with the rest of the soldiers. They drive to the military outpost, where they carry Dusk to a room, patch up his leg, and give him an over-sized shirt and sweatpants. Then they dump the costume in a furnace. It is important to keep Dusk's identity a secret. If the public were to find out, Sam's career would be ruined. HE'D be ruined. Not that he isn't already damaged enough. John wonders if Blood Puppet's effects on the Lieutenant would be permanent. If Sam would stay a crazed zombie-like killer for the rest of his life*

Dusk: *he is now awake, though still somewhat more dazed than usual. He sits in a chair, still handcuffed. He is silent* ...

Sarah: *knocks, and opens the door into the office, peeking in before stepping inside. She only ever looks at Sam* ...Hello, Lieutenant.... How's he doing?

Gilder: Well, here's all that's going on right now with him; he has a deep wound in his thigh that we managed to fix up, but he's already lost a lot of blood, and I'm guessing trying to run away from us like he did before only made things worse for him. He's incredibly lost and confused, and he keeps insisting that his name's not Sam whenever we're to address him as such.

Dusk: *mumbling, not looking at any of them* s'not... need t'get back to Blood Puppet...

Sarah: So Blood Puppet DID brainwash him, then.... you couldn't find him?

Gilder: *Shakes his head* We did, but he ran off before we could catch him, and Sam was our main priority.

Dusk: S'not my NAME...!

Sarah: *sighs* I understand... Is it, um... Is it SAFE to take him back home with me?

Gilder: ... It's better than simply putting him in jail. We're going to fit him with a shock collar. You get the controller. If he does anything - ANYTHING - dangerous, all you have to do is press a button, and he'll stop. It might break him out of this whole... PERSONA he's been forced into. Also, please. Please, please take him to a therapist or psychologist or SOMETHING.

Dusk: ... Need to get to Blood Puppet...

Sarah: I will. I already have a few options, I'll take him somewhere tomorrow. <:(

Gilder: *he nods* Good. It's... upsetting to see him like this. Reduced to this... mindless SLAVE to Hobbes...

Soldier: *comes in with the shock collar and, despite him struggling, manages to put it on the Lieutenant*

Dusk: *growls at the soldier*

Soldier: *gives Sarah the remote - a small device with only two buttons. One to shock Sam, and one to lock and unlock the shock collar from his neck*

Sarah: *frowns at the remote* ...Is this really all we can do?

Gilder: ... I'm afraid so. That thing that Hobbes did to him... he - he's INSANE now, Sarah. Hobbes drove him INSANE! <:(

Dusk: *glares at Gilder*

Sarah: *stares at the remote, then puts it in her pocket, taking a deep breath. It... this reminded her too much of what happened to her father. she didn't like it* .....

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Dusk: *tries to hide the pain in his voice* Y-y-yeah...?

Annabelle: ! *doesn't hear any orders from her mother, so she assumes their conversation is over--she goes back into the room* Hi, Dusk! ^^ ...Dusk, are you okay? D:

Dusk: ... I-I'm fine... I-I'm okay... *he shakily gets up, fists tightening as he tries not to yell out from the agony shooting up his leg* S-see...?

Annabelle: No you're not. D: What's-- *notices the growing stain of blood on Dusk's pant leg* D8!!!!! Y-YOU'RE BLEEDING! W-WHAT HAPPENED?? D8>

Dusk: ... ... Nothing. N-nothing happened.

Annabelle: Of COURSE something happened, you're BLEEDING EVERYWHERE! D8> Oh my gosh oh my gosh we need to do something what do we do? D8>

Dusk: W-we don't do anything - I'm not bleeding. Not bleeding at all. I'm fine. *he puts his mask back on and limps out to the main room, trying to avoid Annabelle's worry*

Blood Puppet: *comes back* Here I am!

Annabelle: *goes after Dusk* DAD--DAD, DUSK IS BLEEDING I DUNNO WHAT HAPPENED!! D8>

Blood Puppet: Oh, that IS a problem. Dusk, ARE you bleeding?

Dusk: N-no! I'm not!

Blood Puppet: Why, Dusk says he isn't! I suppose he's not bleeding, then.

Annabelle: Y-YES HE IS, LOOK! *points at his wound* THAT'S BLOOD! D8>

Blood Puppet: Why, I don't see a thing. Must be the light playing tricks on you, dear.

Dusk: *touches his injured, shaking leg lightly* ...

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Gilder: *with a bunch of soldiers, he gets closer and closer to Blood Puppet's hideout*

Annabelle: *carefully touches the blood spot on Dusk's leg, and holds her slightly bloody fingers up to Blood Puppet* SEE IT NOW?? D8>

Blood Puppet: I see absolutely nothing, Annabelle - wait - ssshhh. Hang on. *he peeks out the window* ...! Soldiers! We're going to sneak out the back door! Come on, Celine! *he runs out*

Dusk: !! *follows him*

Annabelle: !! *follows Blood Puppet, pausing for a moment to make sure Dusk is keeping up* D:>

Celine: !! *rushes out of the room she was in, and follows right after Blood Puppet* Annabelle, hurry!

Blood Puppet: *RUNS*

Dusk: *limps behind them*

Soldiers: *they quickly catch up to Dusk and surround him*

Dusk: *draws his knife, panting from exhaustion. From the lack of blood* Noo...!

Gilder: Easy, Sam... we don't want to hurt you... D:>

Dusk: *lashes out at him, ready to stab him* NOT MY N - !! D8<

Soldier: !! *quickly hits him in the back of the head with his gun*

Dusk: !!! *he blacks out*

Soldiers: *catch him*

Blood Puppet: KEEP RUNNING! *runs*

Annabelle: D8!!! *refuses to move*

Celine: *is forced to pick her up and carry her so they can get away*

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Celine: *has to look hard, but eventually finds him and Annabelle. She very lightly nudges the girl awake* Anna...

Annabelle: mmh...?

Celine: *quietly* mommy needs to have an adult talk with Dusk, could you maybe go sleep in the chair?

Dusk: *remains asleep, not waking up from Celine's intrusion*

Annabelle: *looks rather disappointed* ...okaaay.... *gets up, and leaves the room, closing the door behind her*

Celine: ... *nudges Dusk* Dusk. Dusk, wake up.

Dusk: *he groggily wakes up from his nap, his small smile turning into a frown when he sees Annabelle gone and Celine there instead* ...

Celine: *quietly* Hello, Dusk..... it's that time again....

Dusk: ... Oh. Okay. *he stands up and starts taking off his pants. It feels more wrong than before*

Celine: *waits for him to finish--she eyes the sheathed knife on his belt--yes, that should be enough* ...Could you close your eyes for me, Dusk?

Dusk: ... Okay... *he doesn't question her. He's been programmed to not question her. Dusk does as he's told and closes his eyes*

Celine: .... *takes the knife from his discarded belt, and steps around him, putting a hand over his mouth to muffle any sound, and stabbing the knife into his thigh*

Dusk: *he cries out as Celine had predicted, though his sounds are muffled by her hand. He bleeds*

Celine: *DOES regret that she had to do this... she nuzzles him, almost apologetically, before removing the knife from his leg* ....I'm going to let you go, Dusk.... if Annabelle asks you any questions, you won't tell her the truth....

Dusk: *he bites his lip, trying not to cry out again from the intense pain in his leg. He just nods his head, shivering*

Celine: ...I really AM sorry about this... *lets go of him, and sets the knife down* ...Put your pants back on....

Dusk: *still shaking, he manages to get his pants on, only for it to cause him more pain, as the clothing wrapped around his wound, putting pressure on it*

Celine: .... *leaves the room, feeling terrible about what she had to do. but no, Annabelle could never know*

Dusk: *he sits in a corner, bleeding quite a lot through his pants-leg* Nnngh...!

Celine: *goes and sits in the next room, now feeling rather guilty*

Annabelle: *hadn't been able to fall asleep again... she decides to run back over and see if Dusk and her mother were done talking* Dusk? Hulloooo?

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Blood Puppet: Next time you see him, after you have sex with him. Which I know will be soon.

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Dusk: *he smiles, feeling... odd. No. This is genuine happiness*

Celine: ........alright....

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Annabelle: *also smiles. she snuggles into his side*

Blood Puppet: ... He won't be getting between us... alright?

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Dusk: *he smiles a bit wider and combs his fingers through her hair*

Celine: *nods* ....

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Annabelle: *smiles wider and closes her eyes, feeling comfortable*

Blood Puppet: Good. I'm going to go out. When I get back, I will see if you've done as asked. If not... I will be sure to tell Annabelle of your actions.

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Dusk: *he just hugs her and strokes her, enjoying their moment together*

Celine: D: ...... *nods*

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Annabelle: *is very close to simply dozing off*

Blood Puppet: *he leaves*

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Dusk: *also dozing off and ends up falling asleep*

Annabelle: *ends up falling asleep as well*

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Celine: .... *goes to find Dusk*

Dusk: *asleep. He is happy, for once*

Blood Puppet: Oh, you SHOULD feel bad, dear. It's not something to be proud of.

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Dusk: *he hides in a place he is sure Annabelle cannot find him in. And this gives him time to do something he rarely does. Think. He thinks back to Sarah. He'll have to kill her eventually. But... he doesn't want to. And he doesn't know why. This troubles him, more than he realizes* ...

Celine: *doesn't look back up, feeling horrible. Blood Puppet was right--what was she thinking?*

Annabelle: *finishes counting--she leaves the room, and starts searching for Dusk, scouring the entire building*

Blood Puppet: ... We have a daughter, you know... by doing this, you're hurting her...

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Dusk: *he stays hidden, but takes off his mask, playing with it between his hands. He doesn't even realize that tears have started to form and are now rolling down his cheeks*

Celine: *quietly* She doesn't know....

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Annabelle: *eventually finds Dusk* ! Found you! :D *notices his expression* D: .... Hey.... *sits next to him in his hiding place* What's wrong...? D:>

Blood Puppet: But she could.

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Dusk: ... I - I-I don't... ... I don't... know a LOT of things... do I...?

Celine: !! *looks up* You wouldn't. D:>

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Annabelle: I don't know about THAT..... but... I do hate seeing you all sad like this.... <:(

Blood Puppet: *almost whimsically, with a little laugh* Oh, I would ~

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Dusk: ... I don't know who I am... WHAT I am... *to Annabelle* Wh-what am I...??

Celine: Please don't...! D:>

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Annabelle: You're a person, like me...! D:>

Blood Puppet: What would you do to keep me quiet?

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Dusk: ... Then how come I can't remember ever BEING a person...?

Celine: ANYTHING! D8>

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Annabelle: ....I don't know..... <:(

Blood Puppet: Alright then, dear. Next time you do whatever you do with Dusk... I want you to hurt him. Not like a little cut either. No loopholes. I want you to seriously injure him.

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Dusk: *He gives her a sad look. A real look*

Celine: ....H-How serious is "serious"...? D:>

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Annabelle: *stares back. she really wished she could help him..... she hugs him*

Blood Puppet: *hissing at her* Make him BLEED...

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Dusk: ! ... *he hugs her back, grateful for her company*

Celine: .... *hesitates, but nods*

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Annabelle: *is willing to hug him for as long as he needs her to* ....you're my friend, Dusk....

Blood Puppet: Good... very good. *he then leans in and kisses her*

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Dusk: Then... I suppose you're my friend, too... <:) *he tightens his hug slightly*

Celine: *kisses him back* ...when do you want me to do this?

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Annabelle: *also tightens her hug, glad that he also considers her a friend*

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Gilder: Well I know... but it just seems so odd... to think he was dead...

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Blood Puppet: Yes. ENJOYING your TIME with Dusk?

Dusk: Hello. :)

Claire: Mhmm.... *sighs* I-I can barely believe it...

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Celine: ......Not quite....

Annabelle: Still happy? ^^

Gilder: We'll find a way to help him snap out of it. Don't worry, Claire.

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Blood Puppet: Ohhh dear. Why ever not?

Dusk: Yes. :)

Claire: ...Alright... okay.... please l-let me know when you find him....

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Celine: ...Interruptions.

Annabelle: Good. ^^ Do you like being happy? :D

Gilder: Will do. Goodbye for now.

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Blood Puppet: Ahaha, yes, interruptions CAN be rather annoying, can't they?

Dusk: ... Sometimes...

Claire: Goodbye... Thank you, John...

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Celine: ...Yes they can...

Annabelle: ...oh. When do you NOT like being happy? :(

Gilder: Sure thing. *he hangs up and starts planning a search for Blood Puppet*

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Blood Puppet: Ever thought that preforming oral sex on Dusk again and again isn't worth as much trouble as it is?

Dusk: ... When it seems like I shouldn't be...

Celine: ..... *looks down* Mmh....

Annabelle: Oh... Do you want me to bring you back to normal, then? :(

Blood Puppet: I could love you more than he can.

Dusk: ... I don't know...

Celine: *somewhat doubtful* Could you?

Annabelle: ...... :(

Blood Puppet: Does he even love you at ALL, Celine? We must remember that he's nothing but a mindless slave at the moment.

Dusk: ...

Celine: He enjoys it....

Annabelle: ...Wanna play hide and seek? <:/

Blood Puppet: He doesn't enjoy anything. He just does as he's told.

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Dusk: ... If you want to...

Celine: ....Then why can't I stop...?

Annabelle: Okay. I count and you hide?

Blood Puppet: *with an evil grin* Maybe you just have a thing for sucking the dick of hollow men.

Dusk: ... Okay... *he goes off to hide*

Celine: ...... *looks down, feeling rather pathetic* ....

Annabelle: *counts*

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Gilder: ... Somehow I'm not surprised... I'll tell Claire Gatzsky the news.

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Dusk: No, not... it didn't not go well, she just... said his name is all...

Sarah: ...Okay. OH, um... one more thing... last night... he tried to kill me. He's not in his right mind... Just a warning.

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Celine: ...So, she isn't dead.

Gilder: What did Blood Puppet DO to him...?

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Dusk: ... She's not...

Sarah: He probably brainwashed him somehow... I've seen him do it before...

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Celine: ...That's..... unfortunate...... Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?

Gilder: ... I'll tell Claire. You rest. *he hangs up*

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Dusk: ... I don't know. I feel happy. But that's because of Annabelle.

Sarah: ... Okay. *hangs up, and sighs. she sits down on the couch, turning the television back on. Again, they talked about the killer she now knew was her husband... she had to change the channel*

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Celine: Annabelle? What do you mean?

Gilder: *he calls Claire*

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Dusk: She told me to be happy and now I always am. Remember?

Claire: *picks up the phone* Hello...?

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Celine: ...Ah.... I remember...

Gilder: Claire, your son's alive.

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Dusk: ... That's very good...

Claire: .........w-what? O____O

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Celine: ...Is there any way I can make it BETTER...?

Gilder: Sam is ALIVE, Claire, and he tried to stab Sarah!

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Dusk: ... No. I don't know.

Claire: Wha--WHY, HOW?! D8

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Celine: *sidles closer* I think I might know a way...

Gilder: Blood Puppet must not have killed him. BRAINWASHED him instead.

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Dusk: Do you?

Claire: Oh my god, he--d-do you know where he is?? D8>

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Celine: *lowers her voice and moves closer* Mhmm... if you'll just give me a moment--

Annabelle: *knocks on the door* Mom?

Celine: ! ...Yes, Annabelle?

Gilder: Most likely back with Hobbes, and we don't even know where HE is!

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Dusk: *turns his head to look at Annabelle* ...?

Claire: O-Okay.... please tell me you'll find him, John...

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Annabelle: Dad wanted to talk to you. D:

Celine: ...Ah. *looks over at Dusk* I'm afraid this'll have to wait...

Gilder: I promise you, Claire, I won't rest until I do. Now I know that it was probably Sam who stabbed me, though...

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Dusk: ... Okay...

Blood Puppet: *waiting patiently*

Claire: ...H-He's brainwashed, though... he must n-not be thinking....

meanwhile

Celine: *leaves the room, and goes to Blood Puppet* You called?

Annabelle: *looks up at Dusk* Hi. :)

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