{3rd POV}

Doug groaned in pain as he woke up, he felt cold and he was surrounded by ichy blackness, Doug sat up and tried getting up to his feet, strangely enough he didn't feel any pain.. even though he remembered being caught by the Joy Joy Gang and being beaten by them.. then after that Malak had done some magic or something to him that made him go here.. Doug looked down at himself and didn't see any wounds nor did he feel any pain.. which was good surprisingly.. but he can't tell if that would change, "I'm still alive?" Doug said to himself, "But moreover.. where in the hell am I?" Doug asked himself, but there was a voice but it wasn't Bierce but it was the demon Malak..

Malak was rather pleased in capturing the mortal.. "Now we can get to know each other a little better.." Malak said, "Let's see what horrors lie in that little brain of yours shall we?" Malak continued he then laughed, Doug's eyes widened as he realized now that the demon was in his head, as he processed his words, 'Horrors? He can't mean...' Doug thought, "I'll be stepping in for Bierce for this process. You don't mind do you?" Malak laughed, "Let's see what secrets lie in the dark recesses of your memory. You're not afraid of the dark are you?" Malak asked before then laughing, Doug then noticed a little spark of light in the distance.. but it was in a source of what looks like to be a pill..

Doug was frozen, but then took steps towards where he saw it, Doug didn't see anything else considering it was pretty dark. "Just a little further..." Malak said, Doug then reached the light, but then he stopped, he saw a flashback of a memory he had. He saw his daughter, Tammy sitting on the stairs, she was covering her face while sobbing to herself.. "No... i- it can't be..." Doug muttered, "A family home? How charming... who's the cowering little girl? Your daughter, how interesting.." Malak said, a flash of light lid up.

It revealed Doug and his wife Elise arguing. "Not the daughter you wanted though. A defect.. damaged.. the same as her mother..." Malak said, "I am getting sick of her public meltdowns! Why am I always being called out of work with her huh? From now on, you deal with her!" Doug yelled as he pointed at Elise, "'Deal with her'? When do you ever do that!? She's your daughter you jerk! You don't spend any time with her! She's autistic and needs attention from a loving father! You don't give her the bare minimum!" Elise yelled back, "We both know she got it from you. You're the bipolar mess and you passed it on to our kid!" Doug shouted, "Are you happy!? If I would've known how messed up you were I would have never married you! Jokes on me I guess!" Doug continued which resulted for Elise to get annoyed and distressed.

But she spoke in sarcasm, she laughed a bit but she was pissed, "Ha-ho-ho here we go again! Yep. That's all you ever say. Yeah I know what you think of me. Sorry to ruin your life- all you really need is your money and your secretaries right?" Elise said sarcastically, "What is wrong with the two of you? Why can't you just be normal!?" Doug screamed, "You pretend we don't even exist. Even if you hate me now. Tammy needs you and all you care about is your stupid work! Tammy could drop dead and wouldn't even notice. Why kind of a man are you?" Elise asked, "All I know is you two are sucking the joy out of my life. I'm sick of it! I don't need this garbage every single day. Yeah I know- you don't wanna hear it, you just wanna hear that nothing is wrong with you and it's all my fault- right?!" Doug shouted, blackness struck again then it was silence.

All except for Tammy's sobs, Doug turned to Tammy as she kept crying. God, what was wrong with him that day.. "They really killed the joy in your life didn't they? That must've been a terrible burden for you.." Malak said, Doug just ignored the demon's words as he kept looking at Tammy, "Tammy...I'm sorry I could never love you unconditionally. I'm sorry those were the last words you heard me speak.." Doug said, Tammy simply kept sobbing. She couldn't hear him, Doug was again surrounded by darkness again.

Malak was seemingly enjoying this.. "So you were not the best family man, not much of a secret. This is small potatoes, where's the real meat?" Malak asked, Doug could see a spark of little light in the distance. He walked forward then saw himself with his secretary, she sat on the table as she stared up at Doug, "When are you going to deal with your wife?" The secretary mistress asked, "Look I said I'd take care of it. She's an idiot, I will get her out of the picture one way or the other. Just trust me okay? And don't do anything stupid." Doug said, "Your daughter is going to hate me though right? That's going to be really awkward. Does she have to live with us?" The secretary mistress asked, "Tammy is not the problem. Yeah she's a messed up kid, but she won't get in the way." Doug replied, Doug hated looking at this..

But since the demon is in his mind and he can't do a thing.. "She's at that age where she doesn't like her mother at all that much either. She'll side with me" Doug said, "I hope you're right. I'm getting tired of waiting for you to keep your word. Remember you promised me!" The secretary mistress said, "Oh yeah? Well how's that new car treating ya? Just like I promised. So I'll meet you there tonight. Elise thinks I'm going out of town for a conference for three days." Doug replied, "Okay but don't expect any monkey business in some hotel afterwards, you owe me a nice night out." The secretary mistress said, Doug looked at himself as he was with the mistress.

He cringed at himself of the memory.. seeing that disgusting daming man who used to be him, "Till death do you part eh? So much for wedding vows. I can't say I blame you. They were all upgrades weren't they? There's no shame in indulging yourself, you only live once." Malak said, "That's not who I am anymore." Doug said, he clenched his fists and looked down at himself, 'He's reading my memories. I have to escape before he finds out too much..' Doug thought, Doug turned to notice a spark of light in the distance.

Doug quickly walked away from the memory of him and his secretary, he tried seeking for a possible exit out of this place, but only ended up finding another memory, 'No! He found me already?!' Doug thought, he saw himself on the hospital bed.. it was his real self, it revealed his real appearance. He looked upon himself as he was on the bed, he was on life support and was bald and had wrinkles, he had cancer and he was battling it, "Ah! Now we're getting warmer.. Doug Houser, how pathetic." Malak said, "So this is what you really look like, quite the contrast. Your soul looks so much younger, is that how you see yourself on the inside? Must be the narcissism." Malak said then he noticed the blood ritual under Doug's head on the hospital bed.

He seemed impressed.. "Nice blood ritual! Did you look that up online? Quite a desperate act." Malak said, "What motivated you to do it? Was it the cancer? Or something else? Something more painful perhaps? Tell me Doug, what's really eating away at your soul? Why are you so full of regret?" Malak asked, "Show me." Malak demanded, Doug tensed up, he shakened a bit as he could feel the physical force of Malak digging deeper in his memories, "Stop it! Get out!" Doug grabbed at his hair, "LET ME GO!" Doug shouted as he clenched his eyes shut.

He tried hitting at his head in a attempt to get Malak out, "Ah! There is it! Let's go deeper and take a look shall we?" Malak said, "No... not that place! Please! Not that place! Please!" Doug begged, he kept his eyes shut, but then he opened them and he first saw a car, and a pair of two police cars with their bright lights flashing. Doug grabbed at his chest and could feel the tears threatening to come out, "Well now! This is more like it!" Malak said excitedly, "No! Don't bring me here!" Doug begged, his voice cracked as he felt his eyes tearing up. He clenched as his chest and hesitated.

He took a couple of steps back, "Don't back away Doug, come closer.." Malak said, "No! I don't want to! Please get out of my head!" Doug yelled as he grabbed at his hair once more, "C'mon now Doug.." Malak said, "There's no where to go. No point in resisting." Malak continued, Doug then found himself stepping forward, he walked past the cars and gave a glance at the two body bags on the ground, he then walked near the car near at the edge of the bridge.

He stared down to see a car in the water, "What's down there in the water Doug? A car? Is that them? Is that your family?" Malak asked, "No.. no.. n- no! no!" Doug stuttered, he then felt tears falling from his eyes. "T- Tammy.. Elise.." Doug muttered, "How tragic.. but why would you feel regret for that? You hated them didn't you? Accidents do happen. You can't blame yourself for that.." Malak said then there was a short pause, "Unless, was it really an accident? Did you have something to do with it Doug?" Malak asked, "What did you do?" Malak continued, "I.. I- I didn't mean.." Doug stuttered, but Malak then spoke, "It's time to wake up Tammy! Your dear father has come all this way to see you!" Malak said, Doug noticed something coming up of the surface of the water near the car.

A girl came floating up dripping in water, Doug recognized the girl, it was his daughter.. Tammy, "Ah, there she is." Malak said, Tammy's body was floating upwards coming to Doug, "Oh. I can see why you were so disappointed in her Doug, not much to look at. Below average in every way, it must've been embarrassing to call such a dissapointing girl your daughter. After all a man as great and accomplished as yourself deserved better!" Malak said, Tammy's body was now infront of Doug, he tried reaching out towards Tammy but hesitated.

Doug was loss for words, "No? Am I wrong?" Malak called out, "What do you think Tammy?" He asked, Tammy then shot up and looked forward, she floated straight, her eyes glowed red, but then dissapeared. She was then standing on the street of the bridge, the cars had disappeared, "You did this!" Tammy screamed, her voice was distorted, Doug froze, "Go and give your daddy a big hug!" Malak said, "Tammy! I didn't want this!" Doug called out, "I didn't know she would drive! You were never-" Doug was interrupted by Tammy, "Murderer!" Tammy screamed, she growled before charging at Doug, she swung at him and a physical force struck Doug.

Doug fell back and landed harshly, he could hear Malak laughing, "You're my puppet now Mortal.. and I've got a job for you." Malak said, Doug then saw himself surrounded by the Joy Joy Gang again.. but he saw his friends struggling to get out of one of Hangry's clones grasp.. "It's time.. just a little present for Bierce." Malak said, "Wait, what about the other two?" Penny called out pointing to the detective and the doctor, they were still being kept in a grip by Hangry, "Oh? The detective and doctor?" Malak then turned to Evans and Damian, "Hm.. you both are new, and the detective seems to have history with Doug. Perhaps I should have you show me everything and maybe I'll do the same thing to the doctor.." Malak said, Doug coughed and choked up.

He gasped before then immediately speaking, "Wait!" Doug said before he tried sitting up, but he groaned in pain, but he still tried to speak to the demon, "You- ugh! You can do whatever with me.. but leave Evans and Damian be! They haven't done anything wrong! Let them go back to Bierce, please!" Doug begged, "Please, I don't care about what you do to me.. but just leave them out of it.." Doug begged again, "Oh? You're begging for me to spare the detective and doctor?" Malak said tauntingly, "How desperate.. well, since I have you as my puppet. I'll gladly let the detective and doctor go for now. I have some matters to settle with Bierce. Go ahead and toss them.." Malak said, "What?! You said I could eat one of em!" Hangry whined, "You heard the boss Hangry! Take out the garbage!" Lucky said, "Arrgh! Ugh- alright. At least I got a bite.." Hangry said, "What a waste of good meat.." Hangry muttered to himself, "Wait! Doug!" Evans called out, Hangry finally let them go.

Evans and Damian ran towards Doug, "Don't we get a say in this? What about you?" Evans asked, "Yeah Dougy.. what if they hurt you..? Or what if they do something worse?" Damian asked, "I'll be fine you guys." Doug said turning to Evans and Damian, before he coughed once more, "I do deserve this after all.." Doug said, "But-" Evans was cut off by Doug, "Just take the ring piece and go." Doug said, he handed the ring piece to Evans. Evans hesitated but took it, "Well. Catch ya both next time buckaroo!" Lucky said turning to the detective and doctor, he waved and giggled creepily, "Bye bye squishes!" Penny waved, "Well.. Boss says ya gotta go.. so adios!" Hangry said as he lifted up Evans and Damian, he then tossed them straight to the portal.

Doug watched as Evans and Damian were thrown into the portal, "What do we do with him boss?" Lucky asked, "You'll be watching over him. I don't care what you do to him, just don't kill him. I'll be back to take him with me." Malak said, "Aww c'mon!" Hangry whined, Doug was unable to stay wide awake, he was beaten badly by the gang. He was on the edge of passing out, but before he lost his consciousness. The last thing he heard was the demon rabbit saying, "Nighty night sweet prince." Lucky said, then Doug blacked out.

Evans and Damian groaned as they struck the ground, Bierce quickly came to their side, "There you both are- wait! Where's Doug? What happened? What did he do to you? How did you escape?" Bierce asked, Evans groaned as he stood up. Damian rubbed his head once he had gotten up, they both had made it out.. but they did it without Doug. Evans tried collecting his thoughts and responded, "Doug.. he..Malak has him.." Evans said, "What?" Bierce said, "What do you mean he has him. What he did do? Where is Doug now? Did he kill him?" Bierce asked, "No.. Malak has taken Doug as his puppet now.. but he let me and Evans go when Doug begged him.. but I think he might go after us and do something." Damian said, "And we don't know where Doug is now or if he's going to be okay.." Evans said, suddenly, the portals then exploded and turned grey.

Evans, Damian and Bierce were frozen on the spot, "What?! What's happening?! The eye- what did you do!?" Bierce yelled, "I didn't do anything. Malak he-" Evans was interrupted, Malak laughed, he appeared out of the portal, "Did you miss me Bierce?" Malak asked, "You idiots! You let him in! Do you both realize what you've done?!" Bierce shouted, "We let him in? He caught us before me, Damian, and Doug could escape! Then he literally got the gang to beat Doug up as we helplessly watch!" Evans shouted, "Don't be so harsh on the detective and doctor. I only took Doug in as my puppet and marked him as mine. He begged me to spare these mortals. You should be glad I haven't marked the doctor yet.." Malak said, "There was nothing he could've done to stop me. You always knew this moment would come!" Malak continued, he was rather confident.

Bierce was pissed however, "Is that so? Well I guess I should thank you then." Bierce said, "If I finish you off here from getting the rest of the ring pieces will be much easier.. even this fool won't miss that." Bierce said, Malak laughed, "How naive! Even now, you really believe you believe you have a chance?" Malak asked, "You think you can claim me Malak. I'm not as powerless as I was before." Bierce replied, "You've always belonged to me Bierce. Nothing will change that." Malak said as he stepped forward. Bierce then smirked, she turned to the ring altar and lifted her hands.

A flash light of purple glowed from her hands and the statue, she turned to Malak and lifted him, "Yagh! Arrrgh!" Malak groaned, "Ha!" Bierce said then shoved Malak back with the power of the ring piece. Malak hit the cold stone pillar, Bierce began strucking him to each stone near a portal before the slamming him to the floor of the ballroom. She made a pair of shards appeared above Malak, then making them stab through Malak, "ARRRGH!!!" Malak yelled in pain.

Bierce laughed as Malak growled in pain, "Hahaha! How does it feel demon?! To be beaten by at my mercy for a change. You think you're so clever and yet somehow I always win! Beaten by a mere mortal, to think I was silly enough to fear you all this time." Bierce said then she turned to the ring altar and formed a fist at her chest as she was amazed and impressed at the rings power so far, "The ring's power is even greater than I imagined." Bierce said, Malak then suddenly laughed as he layed on the floor, still having the shards on his back.

This caught Bierce's attention, "What are you laughing about?" Bierce asked, a couple more clones of Malak appeared by the portals before Bierce. She turned to look as Malak kept on laughing, "What trickery is this?!" Bierce asked, "What's the matter Bierce? Don't loose confidence so quickly." Malak said, "It doesn't matter how many clones you make!- I'll destroy them all! I'm too powerful to loose to you Malak!" Bierce shouted as she made the shards fly through towards the Malak clones, "I've beaten you!" Bierce shouted again, the shards stabbed through the clones of Malak, but they kept on reappearing through the portals.

The shards then moved up from Malak and he stood up to his feet, "Oh. One more thing Bierce, do you remember what I said before? I promised I'd be coming and that I'd be bring your worst nightmares with me. Well, I always keep my promises." Malak said he then laughed, then a monster from each dimensional then appeared by the portals. A murder monkey, Agatha, a gold watcher, a dread ducky, a clown gremblin, a reaper nurse, and the Joy Joy Gang. Bierce looked around frightfully. Evans and Damian were frozen on the spot unsure what to do or how to stop this..

Agatha teleported onto Bierce, Agatha bursted out laughing as was on Bierce's back. Bierce struggled and tried to shake off Agatha, "Get off me brat! Don't you dare touch me!" Bierce shouted, "What? You're not happy to see her again?" Malak asked, Agatha then stabbed Bierce straight her heart with her claws. Bierce growled out in pain, "ARRGH!" She yelled in pain then fell onto her knees, "Bierce!" Evans shouted, "Aw? Does it hurt Biercy?" Agatha asked as she took out her claws from Bierce's back, "Should've stayed out of my room." Agatha said then she leaped off of her, "You're not sorry at all. Are you?" Agatha asked, "Well that's okay. An apology isn't going to save you. I'm gonna help daddy tear you apart. Piece by piece." Agatha said then she giggled. "It'll be fine!" Agatha continued then looked at Evans and Damian's direction.

She seemed interested in the duo, "Oh. You're both new! I think daddy mentioned you two before." Agatha called out. "Never see you two before. Are you both gonna be my new friend? And speaking of friend. All my friends that Doug took are here too. Hiya!" Agatha said as she waved at the statue, "Where's Doug?!". Evans yelled, "What have you done to him? Did you kill him?" Damian asked, "Oh. Don't worry, he's still alive. I have other plans for him.. including for you Damian but as for you detective, I'll be dealing with you very soon." Malak said, he turned to Bierce, but she spoke weakly, "It was necessary. I had to do it." Bierce said, "Ah yes, and it was beautiful work. I enjoyed your little offering, too bad you refused to know your place.." Malak said, "Can I stab her face?" Agatha asked, "Yes yes, there'll be plenty of time for that." Malak replied, "But first let's get what we came for." Malak said then he turned to the statue.

Agatha didn't want to stop torturing Bierce.. "Aww." Agatha whined, "Ah good.. all here. I'll be taking these back now." Malak said, "You filthy demon.. those are mine.." Bierce said then she turned to Evans and Damian, "He's taking the ring pieces. If you ever want to see Doug again. Stop him!" Bierce said, Evans quickly charged towards Malak, Damian quickly followed to help his friend.. Malak immediately took noticed before striking at Evans, which resulted for Evans to fall back away from Malak. Damian rushed over to his side to tend to him if need me.. Malak took the ring pieces from the statue as he laughed, "No! Those are mine!" Bierce yelled, "This is not over Malak.. I won't let it end this way." Bierce said, "Gee, are you still whining? Shut up and die already!" Agatha yelled at the woman, Bierce coughed under her breath.

Bierce looked back at Malak, "You think you've won Malak. You don't have them all. I still have the one that I took from you that day." Bierce then revealed a shard from her hand, Malak then yelled, "What?! How did you find that one!?" Malak yelled, "I will always have it.." Bierce said, she gripped the shard before then yelling, "Begone from this place! Begone!" Bierce shouted, Malak, Agatha, and the other monsters disappeared from a sudden struck of light that came from Bierce, "Evans stay there for a second.. I need to help Bierce and I need to excess the wounds on both of you.." Damian said, he got up and quickly went to help Bierce up.

Malak shouted as the eye appeared at the large doors upstairs, "You're only delaying the inevitable Bierce, The outcome has not changed and the ring pieces are coming with me! And I still have your puppet!" Malak said, "Where do you feel pain mostly and do you think you need medical attention?" Damian asked "No.. I'm alright.. but thank you.." Bierce said, "Okay what about you Evans.. do you think you might have a concussion..?" Damian asked, "No.. I'm fine, but thank you Damian.. it's good that you're here.." Evans said, Damian nodded, the long forgotten fire had finally died around the ballroom. Bierce tried gathering all of her strength as she felt a pit of pain in her chest, "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I'm not flesh and blood" Bierce said, "You're not? But you were stabbed!" Evans said confused, "I may have been.. but Malak cannot destroy me. He can only enslaved me for eternity." Bierce said, "He has Doug. Doesn't he?" Bierce said finally realizing everything.

Evans then turned to notice the eighth portal exploded, it showed an icon of a bear with a bow tie on the head.. it looked very creepy but if this might save Doug then Evans and Damian would do it, the three looked at the portal, Evans stepped towards the portal, Damian followed behind, "I'm going to get Doug and the ring pieces back, let's go Damian." Evans said, He took out his tablet, he saw that he didn't have any powers since Malak took the pieces, but he and Damian needed to get Doug back, and pieces of the ring. He took Damian's hand then he ran straight in the portal and they both prayed that Doug was still alive.