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FUCK YOUR CULTURE

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"Under-?" Erebus glanced up, trying to figure out what Shein meant. The grin that was spread across the officer's face unnerved him ever so slightly. "How do you know my name?"

Shein huffed. "Oh, I know a lot of things," he said, dismissively waving a hand through the air. "How I do is not your concern right now. The only thing that is important is the fact that I know you, and I know what you have done." He took a step forward, his expression unreadable behind his sunglasses. "You are under arrest for murder."

An invisible hand of dread clutched at Erebus's insides. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, stepping backward. "How did you find out about that?"

"Don't move," Shein snapped warningly. It was a harsh command, one far too sudden for Erebus's liking - it reminded him of Malacoda. "Unless you value yourself, you will do as I order without hesitation."

Erebus's eyes narrowed. "Who are you to speak to me in this way?"

Shein was unfazed. He took another step forward, one of his hands going to his waist and curling around a black, rectangular object in one of the holsters on his belt. "You have the right to remain silent," he sneered. "I suggest that you take advantage of it, before you get hurt."

Stunned, Erebus desperately tried to think of a comeback to Shein's words, but found that he was unable to. It didn't make sense - why was he freezing up? This was just a stranger, so why did he sound so familiar? The way he spoke bore an uncanny resemblance to Malacoda, the taunting comments and harsh orders driving memories into Erebus's mind, memories that he had prayed that he would forget. He didn't understand why this was happening - he was safe, wasn't he? He was safe, he had Angel to look out for him, he was no longer in danger from Malacoda, or anyone else-

He was shaking.

Looking down at his hands in disbelief, he watched as they trembled ever so subtly, that now-familiar growing panic within him causing them to do so. It was happening again, that unstoppable dread that Erebus knew was like a wave crashing down on him again and again and again, determined to drown him, just as it had back in Minecraft when his fear of Malacoda had gotten too much for him to handle, just as it had when Erebus had been tempted to shove his hands underwater to see if they would burn.

No, no, no, why was this happening again? Was he really that-

"Pathetic."

A sharp pain erupted in the side of Erebus's face, causing him to stumble slightly, caught off guard. Shein's mocking smile spread wider on his face as he watched him straighten up, lowering the hand he had used to hit him with. Gathering every ounce of remaining courage left within him, Erebus let out a screeching snarl, dashing forward.

"You don't get to fucking hit me-"

He only got two steps in before the rectangular device that Shein had threatened him with was pointed directly at his chest. A pop sounded through the room, followed immediately by an awful crackling and a shrill, agonized scream.

Erebus collapsed to the ground, every muscle in his body feeling as though it were ablaze with white-hot flames. This was beyond anything he had ever experienced before, far unlike the burning of water at his skin - no, this was inside him, so unbearably painful that he no longer knew where he was. He couldn't move, couldn't fight, couldn't do anything other than howl in anguish as the excruciating pain tore through him-

And then it was over, ending just as quickly as it had come. Lowering the taser, Shein chuckled wryly, shaking his head.

"I can do what I want with you, Erebus," he said. "Stand up, get off of the ground, before I hurt you again."