Arcane: Incubus

Scarecrow opened his eyes, his head ringing.

 "Ah... what happened again?"

He groaned, lifting his head. Everything was red. Flames stirred below. Silco's goons groaned—well, the ones who'd survived.

"Oh, right. Silco's goonies."

Shimmer-jacked Deckard was the first to recover. He shoved himself off the ground, breathing hard. Veins pulsed purple beneath his skin.

Silco staggered to his feet, bracing against a door. He growled, "Kill them."

Deckard turned toward Vander and Vi.

More goons began to stir, picking themselves up to join the fight.

Vander, pinned under rubble, spotted them closing in.

Vi was crying, trapped beside him.

He grit his teeth and tried to lift the debris from his back.

Scarecrow raised a hand lazily. "Hey, I'm not with them. So I don't count, right?"

He swayed a little, dizzy, sing-songing the words.

Everyone paused.

Deckard stopped.

The goons turned, staring.

Vander blinked, shocked—but used the moment to shove himself free from the rubble.

Silco turned slowly.

His eyes widened.

A jagged metal rod pierced clean through Scarecrow's chest.

Scarecrow glanced down at it, squinting.

"Actually—never mind. Eat a bag of dicks."

He turned and began stumbling away. "I'm outta here."

——————-

Silco's eyes flicked to Vander—now freed from the rubble.

"Kill Vander. Now!" he barked.

Deckard turned back toward Vander, the goons following.

But Vander moved first.

Using twisted metal as makeshift brass knuckles, he slammed a fist into one goon's face, sending teeth flying.

He pivoted and dropped another.

Then he walked straight to shimmered-up Deckard.

—————————————-

Meanwhile, Scarecrow staggered forward, nearly tripping. He looked down—and burst out laughing.

"Pfft—ohhh that cracks me up."

Lying on the floor was Sevika, barely conscious, blood pooling beneath her. Her left arm was gone. Only the right remained.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Man... I'm So boring."

He turned to glance at Silco.

Then, without another word, Scarecrow limped over to the broken window—and jumped.

___________________________________

He hit the ground hard.

 Flat on his stomach.

The impact punched the metal rod clean out of his back, clattering to the pavement behind him.

Scarecrow wheezed, stunned.

Something inside him shifted. He felt sharp jabs—syringes, needles, bits of equipment he'd stashed inside his torso, now jostling and scratching at his insides.

He groaned.

"It hurts… it hurts…"

He blinked. "...It's not that bad."

After a few seconds, he stopped noticing it.

From somewhere nearby, he heard movement. Crying.

Scarecrow slammed his tail against the ground, launching himself upright with a pained grunt. He staggered forward, following the sound.

It grew clearer—desperate, frantic sobbing.

He turned a corner.

And froze.

——————-

Powder was on her knees, clutching Claggor's body.

His chest rose in shallow, shaky breaths.

"Don't… please don't close your eyes," Powder begged, her voice breaking.

"I'm sorry—I'm sorry—I'm so, so sorry…"

Tears streaked down her face.

Scarecrow stared. Then snapped.

"You—you—YOU! You shouldn't be alive!"

 His voice cracked as he stumbled closer, startling Powder.

She clung to Claggor, shielding him with her small frame.

There's no other choice, Scarecrow thought.

I have to murder Claggor.

 And the longer he thought about it…

the more he liked the idea.

———————

Powder refused to move.

She held Claggor tighter like her arms alone could shield him from death.

Tears kept coming, but her eyes didn't leave the hole in Scarecrow's chest.

"…It's you again," she whispered.

Scarecrow raised his arms theatrically.

"Yes, yes—it is I, the Scarecrow. Be amazed."

 His voice flattened.

"Now. Move aside. I'm going to murder that boy."

—————————-

Powder didn't budge.

She just sat there, breathing fast, eyes shut tight.

Scarecrow groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

"If you don't move… I'll torture him before I kill him."

Scarecrow stared through the hollow eyes of his mask.

.

.

.

Then shrugged.

"Ah, hell—I'll torture him anyways."

 He threw his hands up with a wide grin.

———————————

CRASH!

"Huh?"

 He paused, looking up as flaming debris rained from above.

Someone dropped out of the building—

Vander.

 Bloodied. Mutated. Shimmer pulsing through his veins.

He crashed onto the ground, clutching Vi mid-fall, shielding her from the fire and impact.

Scarecrow's grin faded.

He tilted his head.

I can't miss this, he thought, frozen in place.

Vander lay on his back, breath hitching—barely alive.

Vi coughed, eyes wide, scrambling up beside him.

"Vander…" she whispered, panic breaking through the soot in her voice.

She grabbed his face, trembling. "Vander…"

Vander turned his head with effort, one last breath held in cracked lungs.

"Take care of Powder…"

 And with that, his head went still.

Dead.

——————————————-

Powder said nothing—just cried quietly, arms wrapped around Claggor, her whole body shaking.

"This is not real. It's not real, it's fake… please be fake," she whispered, over and over.

Scarecrow stood motionless, watching.

Vi's scream tore through the burning air.

Her tears are so pretty, he thought. I want to see more.

"Alright, now—where was I?"

 He clapped his hands with mock enthusiasm and turned toward Powder and Claggor.

"Sorry, kid. But my life plans don't really include the boy."

———————————-

Vi jerked her head up at the sound of clapping. She turned—and saw him.

Scarecrow.

Standing right infront Powder, reaching toward Claggor.

Vi's eyes widened. She grabbed a chunk of rubble beside her, got to her feet—and threw it.

Crack!

 The rock slammed against Scarecrow's head. He staggered, then slowly looked back at her.

And smiled.

"I was wondering when you'd notice me," he said, almost delighted. "I was hoping you would."

Vi's fists clenched. She stared him down, then glanced quickly at Powder.

"Powder—take Claggor. Go."

 Her voice was firm, but her lips trembled as she forced a smile.

"I'll handle him. Don't worry."

Scarecrow tilted his head, grinning behind the mask.

"She can't handle me," he said to Powder, his voice full of mock concern. "I mean, just look at her. Bruised, tired… You should worry. A lot."

Powder's breathing turned sharp and rapid. She didn't know what to do—frozen between Vi and Claggor—until she felt a tap on her arm.

Claggor twitched again, groaning as he sat up.

"Alright, you can stop holding me," he muttered. "I can stand."

He pushed himself to his feet, swaying but upright.

Vi exhaled, some weight lifting from her shoulders.

Powder's eyes lit up, a tiny smile cracking through the tears.

For a brief, trembling second—she believed maybe it would be okay.

Oh, how naïve of her.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

 Scarecrow applauded slowly, his voice dripping with venom.

"Congratulations on outliving the rest of the men in your family."

 Then he stood still—arms slightly open, shoulders relaxed—and from his entire body, a faint haze began to rise.

Fear toxin.

"Okay—let's fight," Scarecrow said, voice light like this was a game.

Then he lunged.

Vi braced too late. Her vision blurred, her limbs slower than they should be. The fear was already inside—clouding her instincts, making her hesitate.

Scarecrow's fist slammed into her gut.

"Gh—!"

 She dropped to one knee, coughing, trying to catch her breath through the swirl of panic.

Scarecrow didn't linger.

He turned, heading straight for Powder and Claggor.

Powder froze. His silhouette, his movement, even the sound of his boots made her flinch. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears—too fast, too loud. The fear was everywhere now.

Claggor, trembling, stepped in front of her.

He raised his fists.

"I… I can fight too."

 His voice wavered, but he didn't move. Still a brother. Still trying.

Scarecrow didn't stop.

He tilted his head and muttered, almost amused:

"Yeah. Barely."

Then he was in front of Claggor.

Claggor winced—eyes clamped shut, bracing for pain.

But it didn't come.

No punch. No kick. Just silence.

When he opened his eyes, Scarecrow was standing inches from him. Watching. Unmoving. The mask's hollow stare eating into him.

"I said I was going to torture you first," Scarecrow whispered, delighted.

Then he grabbed Claggor by the neck.

Claggor's feet kicked off the ground, hands clawing at Scarecrow's arm.

"S-Stop—"

"Oh, it will." Scarecrow's grin widened behind the mask.

"Soon."

He raised his other hand and clamped it over Claggor's face—then forced a thick cloud of fear toxin down his throat.

Claggor choked, eyes going wide.

"STOP!" Powder screamed, running up and hitting Scarecrow with all her might.

Once.

Twice.

"Please, stop—stop!"

 She kept striking, fists useless against his body.

He didn't even flinch.

Vi saw it all. She forced herself to stand.

Her legs wouldn't move.

Her muscles locked.

Move, MOVE! her mind screamed.

But her body wouldn't listen.

She looked down.

Her arms were twitching. Her breath came in fast, shallow bursts. Her vision warped around the edges.

And then it hit her.

"I'm scared?"

The fear wasn't just around her—it was inside her.

No. Not now. Not when they need me.

She clenched her teeth, forcing the thought away.

Then—Scarecrow dropped Claggor.

He crumpled to the ground.

Convulsing.

Screaming.

"AAAAAGH!" He clutched his head, then started slamming it into the floor. Again. And again.

Powder rushed to him.

"Claggor! No! Please—stop—it's me, it's Powder—"

Claggor shoved her away with a scream.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU MONSTER!"

Powder froze. Tears streamed down her face.

"It's me…" her voice cracked. "Please… don't…"

———————————-

She reached out—

Claggor flinched away.

Vi ran.

She didn't think—she just ran.

She dropped to her knees beside him, trying to hold him, calm him.

"Claggor, it's me—it's Vi—please, it's okay—"

His fist slammed into her face.

Vi recoiled, stunned, blood in her mouth.

She turned to Scarecrow, sobbing.

"Please…"

 Her voice cracked.

"Help my brother…"

 She didn't care how it sounded.

"Please."

Scarecrow tilted his head, eyes narrowing.

Then—he smiled.

"…Okay."

He walked over.

Knelt down.

"I'll help him."

His hand wrapped around Claggor's face.

Vi gasped—

"Wait—"

And then Scarecrow slammed Claggor's head into the ground.

The crack echoed.

Once.

Twice.

Then stillness.

"There," he said softly. "I helped."

————————————-

I want them to hate scarecrow.

Do you think this is enough for them to hate him?