11.h

Worm 11.h

Amy Dallon, grappling with the recent revelation of her biological father’s identity as the infamous villain Marquis, found herself spiraling in a vortex of uncertainty and despair. A letter from the Guild, intended for her adoptive mother, Carol Dallon (Brandish), confirmed Marquis’s fear for Amy’s life, hinting at a possible assassination plot by Allfather in revenge for his own daughter’s death.

The weight of this knowledge, coupled with the strain on her family due to her adoptive father, Mark’s (Flashbang) incapacitation, pushed Amy to the edge. The once-familiar comfort of her home had been replaced by a chilling distance, particularly from Carol and her adoptive sister, Victoria (Glory Girl), who seethed with resentment over Amy’s refusal to heal Mark’s brain damage.

Amy, bound by her self-imposed rule to never manipulate minds, had been trapped in this agonizing stalemate. Carol’s coldness intensified Amy’s feelings of isolation, reinforcing the dark suspicions she harbored about her mother’s true feelings towards her. The revelation of Marquis’s organized nature as a villain only deepened Amy’s fear that she, too, was inherently flawed, destined to follow in his footsteps.

Amidst this turmoil, a knock on the door announced Carol’s departure on a patrol with Victoria, leaving Amy to care for Mark. The unspoken tension hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the widening chasm within the family.

As Mark struggled with his limited abilities, Amy found herself drowning in a sea of guilt and regret. The family had never fully embraced her, and now, with Victoria’s resentment and Carol’s coldness, Amy felt more alone than ever. The only solace she found was in her resolve to finally heal Mark and then leave, a decision fueled by a desperate need to escape the suffocating atmosphere of her home.

Her plan, however, was violently interrupted by the arrival of Bonesaw, a member of the Slaughterhouse Nine. The young girl, a grotesque parody of a surgeon, had come for Amy, accompanied by her horrific creations: Hack Job (a fusion of Hatchet Face and Oni Lee), Murder Rat (a mutilated Mouse Protector), and Pagoda (a combination of failed Slaughterhouse Nine candidates Carnal and Prophet).

Bonesaw, having taken Amy’s measure, revealed her twisted desire for a “big sister,” proposing a partnership in their shared macabre artistry of manipulating flesh. Amy, horrified by Bonesaw’s creations and her utter disregard for human life, refused, clinging to her last shred of morality.

A tense standoff ensued, with Bonesaw using Mark as leverage to force Amy into submission. Bonesaw’s creations, monstrous and relentless, attacked Amy, who struggled to defend herself without killing them. Each attempt to disable them was met with a horrifying counter, revealing the depth of Bonesaw’s depravity.

In a desperate attempt to save Mark, Amy broke her cardinal rule and killed Pagoda by reversing his regeneration. The ease with which she took a life sent a chilling realization through her: she was capable of the same darkness as her father.

Undeterred by Amy’s refusal, Bonesaw, guided by Jack Slash’s twisted philosophy, sought to break Amy, to push her past her limits and awaken the monster within. She revealed the truth about powers, that they were accidents, unintended consequences of moments of extreme stress, and that Amy’s inability to affect brains was a self-imposed limitation, a mental block she could overcome.

Using a remote-controlled device, Bonesaw inflicted further damage on Mark’s brain, forcing Amy to finally break her rule and heal him. As she delved into his mind, restoring his lost abilities, Amy knew she was opening a door she could never shut again, unleashing a part of herself she had desperately tried to suppress.

Mark, now healed and empowered, fought back against Bonesaw and Hack Job, his light orbs exploding with concussive force. In the chaos, Amy grappled with a scalpel spider, her fear and desperation mounting. Mark’s ferocious counterattack drove Bonesaw to retreat, leaving behind the remnants of her horrific creations.

In the aftermath, Mark, his voice rough from disuse, offered a quiet “thank you” to Amy, a stark contrast to the condemnation she expected. He arranged for Mouse Protector’s remains to be destroyed, a final act of mercy for the mutilated heroine.

Amy, overwhelmed by guilt and the magnitude of what she had done, decided to leave. She packed her belongings, leaving a note for her family, apologizing for her delay in healing Mark and expressing her love.

As she fled into the night, Victoria intercepted her, demanding answers. Amy, unable to explain her actions, revealed her parentage, hoping to make Victoria understand her need to leave. Victoria, though initially supportive, was horrified by Amy’s confession of her romantic feelings towards her, feelings she had just manipulated Victoria into reciprocating.

The realization of what Amy had done shattered the last vestiges of their bond. Victoria, disgusted and betrayed, refused to let Amy “fix” her, choosing instead to grapple with the unwanted emotions herself. Amy’s desperate pleas were met with scorn, Victoria accusing her of surpassing even Marquis in her cruelty.

Amy, left alone in the flooded street, was broken. She had lost everything: her family, her sister, and the last remnants of her self-imposed morality. The darkness she had fought so hard to contain had finally consumed her, leaving her with nothing but the bitter taste of despair.