Chaos Plots with Leo
1st Intermission
Chaos was sitting with a blank expression and rapt attention in the temporary residence and medical cot of Leo Cazals.
“So this ‘empathy’ thing then... it’s basically the knowledge that everyone else is having experiences and feelings too.”
“Yes.” Leo’s voice was somewhat hoarse, from recently having his larynx crushed.
“And hurting things hurts them in the same way that it hurts me.”
“Yes.”
With a sudden expression of concern, Chaos’ feet shot up off the floor.
“So I’ve been crushing the earth ever since I got a material body!”
“No, you...” Leo wasn’t quite sure to begin.
“Uh, some things feel more than others. The ground doesn’t mind it, although if you walk on plants like grass too much, they’ll die.”
“Which is bad.”
“Yes, which is bad- but it won’t feel pain. People and animals feel pain.”
”So can demonic entities.”
“Right.”
“Okay...” Chaos rocked back and forth gently for a few moments, before placing his feet back on the floor, “But wouldn’t this whole thing be, you know, unimportant anyway?”
“What?”
“Well, this whole place is a massive multiversal collision, with all sorts of strange and improbable events happening in parallel with each other. There’s probably an alternate world where you tossed my physical remains on the Judge’s lap after lighting me on fire and ripping my face off.”
Leo winced uncomfortably, and the bauble at his side let out a strange, knowing chuckle.
“So then even if I kill everyone and everything, it won’t really matter because they’ve survived somewhere else.”
“Uh...” Leo suddenly felt a resurgence of discomfort at Chaos’ presence, and began to question the wisdom of allowing the childlike, but still extremely dangerous being into his room. Not that he’d really had a choice, Chaos had taken the most direct route and scaled the wall, entering through his window.
“So, the next round starts soon.”
Leo was relieved that Chaos had, as was its tendency, completely veered away from its previous topic to follow yet another non sequitur. However, the realization that he was now out of the tournament came back to hit him heavily in the gut.
“Yeah. Good luck and all.”
“Oh, gee, thanks! But what’ll you be doing?”
“Erm... what?”
“Well, you’re here to end the conflict. You know, the judges are setting us against each other and everything?”
Confusion began to disappear from Leo’s features as the hints of a renewed plan began to weave their way into his mind.
“You’re still alive and capable, and the judges’ attention will be focused on the remaining competitors. If you want to take down Carnivale, this will be a great time to get a start! A thrilling, explosive, destructive start if you wish!”
“You... wouldn’t that present a bit of a problem for you though? I appreciate what you’re saying, but what I have planned... might be a bit detrimental for those who are still in the tournament.”
“Naw, don’t worry about it. I love surprises.”
“You might not like this one.”
“I love surprises. Good luck!”
With that, Chaos turned around and abruptly jumped out the window. Leo sat up in his bed and squinted, seeing the figure already fading off into the distance, cutting its way through the twisted paths of Carnivale.
and wants you to hate him.
