Soul Searching: Chapter 8
Marvin gradually got used to not having a soul, and his academic and athletic accomplishments soon returned to levels more typical of him. If anything, unburdened by a soul and a conscience he became even more driven and ambitious than before, and his bullying of those he perceived as too weak or too different in some way became more unrelenting and cruel.
Bobby and Cedric decided to conduct an experiment on this new and more formidable version of Marvin Ridgeway. Whenever they stayed away from him he seemingly kept raising the bar on achievements and bullying, but when they were closer to him he changed and became tense, nervous and more uncertain of himself.
“It’s your cursed pine-cone doll,” he would accuse Bobby. “It’s getting into my head, messing with my mind. It tries to control me, telling me what to think and what to do. It’s black magic!”
“There’s no such thing as black magic,” Bobby would respond, encouraged by Marvin’s complaints. “You are probably just stressed about the upcoming exams. Maybe you’re having a nervous breakdown? Should you seek help for it?”
Over a short period of time Cedric’s crude attempts to control Marvin’s thoughts and behavior became more refined. He eventually learned how to make Marvin do exactly what he wanted him to do, while Marvin still thought it was his own idea.
Cedric was being very careful not to use his power over Marvin in ways that would draw attention to himself or to Bobby.
“I think I’m ready,” he told Bobby. “Let’s borrow some souls.”