Artistic Slashing Ch.10 (Patreon)

Chapter Ten

Snatch and Grab II

You have died…

Betty wasn’t sure what she was expecting when she died. Various faiths had theories and beliefs about the subject. All of them, she was sure, consisted of more than three words and three dots.

She waited for something to happen.

Nothing did.

An age passed as she rested in comfortable silence. It was not what she had imagined. It felt… soothing. In the quiet, her mind turned to the past few days. The blood and violence of it. With the danger and the adrenaline removed, she was horrified.

Her mind rebelled at her actions.

SHE HAD EATEN SOMEONE.

Her old self struggled to the surface, cursing her actions. In the blankness of the space, she began to see the two versions of herself. Betty, the human, was a crying mess. She damned the mists, the world, and herself. Called herself a monster and demon.

Betty the Slasher sneered at the woman, calling her weak and pathetic. Asking what she would have done, what she would have chosen.

The Human and the Slasher argued back and forth. Betty insisted there was another way. She cursed the Slasher, wishing she had killed herself when she had the chance. The Slasher responded with an offer of Hacky, telling her to do it now.

Betty the Human shied away. The Slasher followed. She offered to kill the human if she was too weak to do it herself. Still, the Human backed away. Finally, the Slasher gave Hacky to the human, telling the human to strike her down. The Human buried the axe in the Slasher’s skull in less than a second.

The Slasher laughed as the Human became the Slasher’s twin.

The twin Slasher Bettys looked at each other and grinned, blood running from their eyes, ears, and mouth.

The old her was dead.

Maybe she never existed, and Betty was always going to become this…

Personality Synthesis Complete….

Resurrection in 5…

4…

3…

2…

1…

Sound and light returned to the world. The pain came with it. Flames licked around her body as she sat up, fire burning at her even as she climbed to her feet, shouldering aside the logs piled around her.

The night air was cool as she patted at the fire, wincing at the scorched nerve endings that screamed with each impact. Once the worst of the fire was out, she ran through the forest, teeth clenched to keep the screams inside. The lake was like ice, a salve for her tortured body. She swam frantically into the middle of the lake and SCREAMED deep below the water. She screamed until she ran out of air, surfaced for a deep breath, and swam once more, heading for her cliffside retreat.

Slasher’s Regeneration was just finishing its work as she stepped out of the water, naked and shaking. She dropped to her knees and crawled to the smoker, grabbing handfuls of meat, ignoring the burns as she gulped it down.

Finally, she lay back, her mind clearing as the pain and hunger receded.

Betty looked at the sky above her, taking deep breaths as she calmed down. She died. She had died. She was dead.

She was an ex-parrot.

And now she wasn’t.

She let the messages she had been ignoring come forward, hoping she could learn something from them.

Level Up!

Level Up!

2 points to assign…

The recommendation is…2 Body.

Betty accepted, always ready to put the points into her Body stat. Light and pleasant tingles ran over her body, taking the last of her pain and tiredness with them.

That was it? She died and came back to life, and it said nothing.

“How the fuck am I alive?” Betty sighed.

Class: Slasher.

“What?” Betty said, “I know I’m a slasher….” Her eyes widened. “Can a Slasher die?”

Betty Jewel

Class: Slasher.

Deaths: 1

Betty rolled her eyes. “Duh, but do Slashers ever stay dead?”

Slashers absorb energy from those they kill, this powers

Their healing AND resurrection abilities.

A small amount of the energy is generated passively, even while dead.

A slasher ALWAYS comes back.

“I’m fucking immortal!” Betty grinned.

Betty Jewel

Class: Slasher.

Deaths: 1

“Yeah, yeah.” Betty waved the message away. This was fucking incredible. A faint mental pull called to her.

“Hacky?” Betty realized she had woken up not only on fire, which sucked, but unarmed, which was not acceptable. “Hacky? Mommy’s coming for you, don’t worry.” A second faint pull called across the lake. “Yes, Stabby, I’m coming for you too.” She smiled. Betty did not play favorites.

A fierce leap propelled her out over the water, a splash sounding in the night as the reborn Slasher moved through the water at dizzying speeds. She wanted her weapons back.

She just needed to get some clothes first…

Betty moved as fast as she could with no shoes. They were lost to the fire. She slipped through the forest and into the Counselor’s Cabins area, seeing no life signs. She moved cautiously as she searched for anything that would actually fit.

“All the worlds there must be in the Multiverse, and I end up on the one with clothes too small to fit,” Betty grumbled. Eventually, she struggled into a pair of shorts way too small for her and a camp tee from Jock’s wardrobe. Also too small.

“I look like the slutty one who gets murdered sucking someone off!” Betty moaned. She would have to make a trip to her mineshaft and see if her old clothes were salvageable. But first…

Betty trotted along the worn paths towards the nearest pull. It led her back to the bonfire. She had a few flashes of the pain, the confusion of her resurrection but squashed them. A glint of metal showed at the edge of the burnt-down bonfire.

“Hello, Stabby.” Betty grinned as she fished the spear tip out of the ashes. He was a little scorched, his lovely colorful wrapping all burnt. She would fix him.

Maybe when she caught up to that bitch Trashy, she would give him a new wrapping made from the little bitch’s skin.

Betty grinned as her hand tightened. “Let’s go find your big sister, shall we?” Betty said to Stabby as she turned and moved toward the other pull; this one was coming from the center of the camp.

She was just passing the cabin of the late and delicious Bossy, when she remembered the calendar on the wall of her cabin. She hesitated for a second before pressing on.

Hacky first.

Betty frowned as she found Hacky. Betty realized Hacky was undamaged other than a few bits of flesh, probably her own, stuck to it. But…

“They left my baby in the dirt?” Betty whispered as she bent down and picked up the axe. Cradling it in her arms and wiping the blood and dust from it. They had left the thing where it fell. “That’s just rude.” Betty scowled at the Cafeteria, where two life signs glowed softly.

This was just not acceptable.

Betty walked calmly up the stairs and slowly opened the door. She was not surprised to see the two girls asleep on the little stage. They had made a little nest for themselves in the middle.

Awww, bless.

The surviving twin was a little bit away from Trashy, with her injured leg propped up on a bundle of clothes.

Betty Slasher stepped over to the twin, standing astride her chest. She sat down on the girl, trapping her arms as she grabbed the girl's neck and squeezed.

Twinsy’s eyes snapped open, her face twisting in terror as she looked up at Betty. Her mouth worked, trying to get any air past the hand around her throat.

She thrashed about as Betty put a hand over her nose and mouth. Her thrashing was muffled completely by the piles of clothes they used as their bed.

Betty took her time, letting the Twin thrash and gasp rather than snapping her neck.

Level Up!

1 Point to assign.

The recommendation is…

Betty didn’t bother to wait, just slamming the point into Body as soon as the notification came. Betty looked over at the sleeping Trashy.

It looks like they had a Final Girl, after all. She stood over the sleeping form, considering whether to bury Hacky in her head while she slept. It was an efficient kill, but… it was just not fun.

Betty walked back to Bossy’s cabin, confident she would hear when Trashy woke up. It was one thing to wake up to a killer; it was another to know one stood over you while you slept, killed your friend, and then left. She grinned as she kicked open the door to Bossy’s place.

She would definitely hear when Trashy woke.

Betty plopped down on the bed, enjoying the softness after sleeping on the floor for so long. Leaning back against the wall while she wiped the dirt, mud, and ash off her feet on Bossy’s pillow.

Studying the calendar didn’t reveal anything new, but it did confirm one thing… she was almost out of time. That bus would be here later tomorrow. All she needed to do now was finish Trashy, but it would be nice to have time for a shower and some laundry before she got a head start on the investigators, police, or whatever they would turn out to be.

She idly stared at the calendar as her mind wandered a bit, eyes flicking randomly around before she remembered her Investigate Skill.

Sitting forward, she activated it as she scanned the map…

Scanning….

Decimalized Calendar-

10 days in a week, 10 weeks in a season, 4 seasons…

400 days per calendar year.

Numbers 1 - 10 added to Rosetta Stone.

Betty gaped at the calendar; several of the symbols had changed, replaced by numbers. Or was she just understanding them now? It was difficult to tell. The symbols were still there, but her brain interpreted them as numbers.

That was ridiculously cool.

Moving on, Betty pulled out the sketches again. She scanned each page, trying to get any information she could. Yet again, she was struck by the ridiculously detailed sexual drawings.

Scanning….

Sex-positive Culture -

Sketches were drawn from live models suggesting voyeurism is

Common and culturally acceptable.

Suggests a non - monotheistic religious structure.

The oppression of sexual desire is a common theme in the vast

Majority of monotheistic religions. The openness and closeness required for these drawings, combined with their number and varied couplings, suggests that society is absent from those teachings.

Information added to Bovinian Culture.

“Holy shit,” Betty laughed, “Who knew you could learn so much from porn!” She turned to the last few pages.

Scanning….

Corroborating Evidence Collected.

Multiple different groups of officials are depicted, all led by female members.

Suggests a strongly matriarchal society.

Subject - Bossy showed signs of leadership, replaced by Subject - Trashy in a leadership role.

80% likelihood of female lead society

60% likelihood of a female-dominated society.

“Huh, I guess I was right.” Betty shrugged. She was about to look through another book when an ear-splitting scream shattered the comfortable silence.

“Morning, Trashy,” Betty grinned easily as she got to her feet and made her way to the door.

It was time to finish this little horror movie.

Betty walked casually down the path, listening to the screaming die away. It was kind of nice to know someone appreciated her efforts. It would have made her life easier to kill the girl while she slept. But this was so much more… satisfying.

She stood at the end of the path and watched Trashy stumble out of the doors, falling down the stairs as she cried. When the girl looked up, Betty was standing there, head cocked to one side.

Trashy screamed again, scrambling backward and frantically trying to run. Finally making it to her feet, she turned to sprint off into the woods. Betty Slasher Stepped onto the roof and back down to the ground, appearing a split second before Trashy scrambled around the corner. The look Trashy got on her face, seeing Betty in front of her again, was priceless. The girl dove under the building, scrambling on all fours, tail waving frantically. Betty watched her go, letting her get to the other side before she Stepped again, appearing on the roof and calmly walking to the other side with quick strides.

She looked down, watching the terrified girl peer anxiously around, looking for Betty. She had always gotten frustrated with how the killers always seemed to take their time chasing their victims. Now she got it.

This shit was fun!

Trashy finally looked up, her eyes widening as she saw Betty grinning down at her. She retreated back under the building. Betty smiled as she watched the life sign retreat to the middle of the building. Betty leaped straight up, landing with a massive overhand smash with Hacky. The roof splintered and cracked, sending Betty through to the floor of the Cafeteria. As she landed with a heavy thump, Betty heard a telltale whimper.

With exaggerated stomping of her feet, Betty stalked over directly above Trashy, slamming Hacky into the floor and ripping up a floorboard as she heard the girl scream again and scramble away. Betty punched the floor above the girl, surprised to see her fist easily pass through the wood. Holy shit, how strong was she these days.?

She was so stunned that Trashy scrambled out and started running into the woods. Looking up and deciding to go for the ‘trailer moment,’ she crouched into a runner's stance. Betty rocketed across the Cafeteria, accelerating as hard as she could before she leaped directly at the wall.

Betty exploded through the wall, boards flying in every direction as she rolled to her feet. She ruined it slightly by stopping to cheer and do a little happy dance before remembering Trashy.

The two sprinted through the woods, Betty closing every second. Trashy rolled out of the way as Hacky swung at her. With a desperate effort, the girl managed to keep ahead. Trashy arrived at the spear range and grabbed a spear, immediately launching it at Betty.

She nocked it aside with Hacky as she closed in on the defiant Bovinian.

Trashy threw one of the targets at her. Betty just grinned as it bounced off her shoulder, not even slowing. Another spear was thrown, slamming into Betty’s stomach and making her stumble. Trashy roared and grabbed more spears. Betty dodged aside from the first one, only for the second hit her in the thigh and the third in her shoulder.

Trashy was fast.

The Bovinian lowered her head and roared.

Betty’s eyes widened as Trashy charged into her, taking them both to the ground. With a roar, the Huntress unleashed a barrage of punches; each one felt like a hammer blow. Trashy’s blind rage had made her strong but blind to danger. Betty swung the butt of her axe into the girl’s side, sending her tumbling away.

Betty moved, grabbed her by the hooves, and swung her hard into a tree. Then another, then another. As a finisher, she threw the limp body through the wooden frame of the spear range.

Calmly pulling the spears out of herself and rolling her injured shoulder, Betty watched her victim struggle to her feet. Betty went to step forward, finding herself unable to move. Looking down, she saw a set of misty back chains binding her feet to the floor.

“What the fuck?” Betty tried to kick free, unable to get more than a step forward before her feet were dragged back to where she was. Looking up, Betty saw Trashy chanting quietly, a blackish smoke coming from her, as she smiled grimly. The girl stood and slammed her hands together in front of her, opening them slowly. As she did, a black, smoking spear was slowly being created. An aura of death was radiating from the spear. Betty narrowed her eyes.

Cheating bitch.

As Trashy completed her spear, she snarled and drew her arm back, putting her whole body into the throw. The spear moved forward in a blur, whistling as it flew toward Betty…

Betty clapped wildly as the spear impacted the tree, an explosion roaring through the area.

The first Slasher Step had taken her behind a tree; the second had taken her behind Trashy, where she buried Stabby in the girl’s spine. It had been a risk to wait until the last second to use her Slasher Step.

Betty had waited, afraid Trashy would adjust her aim somehow. It had been a close thing, the spear’s black tip only a millimeter from impact when she Stepped away. The paralyzed teen was currently dragging herself across the ground, her clawed fingers digging deeply into the soft ground. “That shit was impressive,” Betty complimented the girl as she walked over and pressed her foot down on Stabby, driving it deeper as the girl screamed.

Betty held the girl down and tried to think of something fitting to do. This was the big kill; the ‘Final Girl’ had to die big and impressive.

An idea came to her, and she poked Hacky’s handle down the girl's back until she found the point where Trashy lost feeling.

Perfect.

Hacky swung once, twice, three times, and it was done. Removing her foot, she watched Trashy pull herself across the ground. Well… half of herself.

Betty watched and waited while the girl struggled, then stilled.

Level Up!

Level Up!

2 points to assign.

The recommendation is… 1 Mind, 1 Spirit.

Achievements Unlocked!

Hit List -

Choose a list of ten or more targets, then execute them.

Reward: 2 Levels

A True Nutter -

Kill with a viciousness that is beyond a reasonable reaction.

Reward: 1 Level

5 points to assign.

The recommendation is… 3 Body, 1 Mind, 1 Spirit.

Betty accepted the recommendation; the tingles passing over her were almost creepily good. She was really starting to look forward to that.

She was about to move on when the world froze around her…

Class Evolution Reached!