#I just added everyone from the manor on this cuz I’m curious and I want the devided answer

[jolienjoyswriting]

The Maze of the Manor, Ch. I

Chapter 1 of "The Maze of the Manor," an Essence of Ragnarok story.

Oh… hi, Mark.  I didn't see you, there. So, I actually wanted to write a completely unrelated story… but, I'm kind of scared that, after all the pre-production work I've done (character models, research, lore, etc.), it wont turn out like I want it to.  So, I've been writing other things, instead. This, in particular, is a story I've been mulling over in my head.  It's one of those "seems like a fun idea, but I've got other things to do" sort of ideas.  But, like I said… I've got cold feet about the story I actually want to write, so I made this, instead.  x:

Word count: 17,853 – Character count: 2,939 Originally written: May 29th, 2019

A pushy bat and a reluctant fox go out to see a spook-house!  Zoinks!

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    “This ain’ what I expected t’ find, at all…!  Of all th’ things ta– un… believable!”

    Joseph softly panted, his ears flicking as he looked up from his… rather compromising position.  Seeing his best friend standing at the door gave him relief… until he realized why she covering her face and shaking her head.  Slowly, he turned his attention back to the person that had led him to being in such a predicament… only to see sweet, red eyes and an innocent, white-furred face… albeit, with some red stains around the mouth… staring back.  It was like they were looking to him for answers, as well.  Unfortunately, all the fox could tell either of them was…     “I– I can explain…  Uhn… I think…?”     The black-furred bat rolled her eyes.  “Oh, this ought’a be good…”     But, what, exactly, happened?  And, how did get to that point…? –––––

    “C’mon, Josey!  It’s Masquerade Week!  What better way t’ join th’ festivities than by goin’ to a real, live, spooky house…?  It’ll be fun!”

    That was the story Jessica sold her companion, the one-eyed, golden-furred fox by the name of Joseph, as she dragged him out of his house.  Truthfully, he really didn’t feel like going out… or, really, doing much of anything.  Two years prior, he’d lost his girlfriend in what could only be described as “a series of injustices.”  It really messed him up in a number of ways, such as leading him to stay indoors more often and lose motivation with his freelance music compositions.  Still, his friends wanted him to get out and have some fun, once-in-a-while – it was “good for him,” they said – and, for-better-or-worse, Jessica was the most adamant about it, often dragging him to one place or another… sometimes, completely against his will…

    “But, I don’t want to have fun!” Joseph protested as he found himself dragged by the arm of his black turtleneck sweater.     “Sure, ya do!” she immediately countered.  “Everyone likes fun!”     “You’re lying!”     “Nuh-uh!” the girl in the turquoise sweater and hip-hugging denim jeans further countered.  “What’s life without a li’l fun?”     “Safe…” was Joseph’s guess.     “Boooring!” was his companion’s correction.  “Now, siddown, strap in, ‘n let’s gooooo!”     “Doesn’t seem like you’re giving me much choice…”     That observation was a little self-evident, all things considered.  She had already pushed him into his car’s passenger seat, pulled the seat belt over, and fastened him in.  Once she slid over the hood of Joseph’s green compact car, she hopped into the driver’s side.     “This’ll be a hoot!” she told him while pulling the key from the fabric rolls of her cowl-neck sweater.  “I promise!”     “If you say so, Jess…”     “Hey… would I lie t’ you?”     Joseph grunted as she started the vehicle.  “Only if it was for a good cause…”     “Exactly!  Now, let’s get’a goin’!”     With that, she pulled out of his driveway and onto the road some meters away.  Not long after, they were on their way to her so-called “spooky house.”

    “Say, Jessie…”     The red-head with the pink fringe hummed to her companion.  Her red-and-green eyes were focused on the road, but her ears pivoted toward him, showing that he had her attention.     “Where did you say this place was?  We’ve been driving for a while…”     “It’s way-way-waaay out ‘n th’ boonies!” was her cheerful reply.  “Ever hear of a place called ‘Talwar Village?’”     “You’re… you’re talking me to Talwar Village?”  Joseph scowled.  “Jessie, that’s… like… almost a day’s drive over!”     “It’s a good thing we’re leavin’ now, huh?”     Joseph looked at the clock on the dashboard.  It read “11:20 AM.”     “No– Jessie, stop the car,” he said as he whipped his head back toward the driver.  “I did not agree to a road trip!  Stop, turn around, go back.”     “Oh, don’t be such a whiner, Josey!  It’s not like ya had someplace t’ be!”     “Jessica, I’m serious.”  He glared at the perky bat.  “Stop.  The car.  Now.”     Jessica didn’t respond to his stern order and just kept on driving while quietly humming a song he recognized as one of his own.     “Stop.  The.  Car.”     Again, she didn’t respond.  Joseph was starting to get angry…     “Jessica U. Ingmann, if you don’t stop this fucking car right now, I will–”     “You’ll what?” she finally snapped.  “Bail?  Yank th’ wheel outta my hands?  Go ‘head!  See what ‘appens, bitch!”     The fox’s ears folding into a somewhat-hostile position and he growled, baring his teeth at Jessica.  Clearly, he didn’t appreciate being encouraged to cause a car accident.

    “Jessica…” he eventually called in a much calmer voice.  “Please.  I don’t want to go on a road trip.  I’m asking nicely… turn the car around and take me home.  Okay?”     At that point, the bat-girl finally glanced his way.     “Gods damn it, Joe…” she said with a sigh.  “Yer such a big baby sometimes…”     “You all-but-kidnaped me to go on some mystery road trip with you, Jess!  You won’t even tell me where, specifically, we’re going!”  He sighed, as well, before calming back down.  “I didn’t want to come and I don’t want to go…  I just want to go back home… where I can’t upset or hurt anyone.”     “Dunno if ya noticed, kiddo… but, if ya ain’t drove me off, by now… nothin’ ya say ‘r do’s gonna bug me, none.”     Joseph blinked, his ears perking.  Jessica was grinning at him.

    “Yer gonna have t’ trus’ me on this trip, Joe.  Ya know I’d never do anythin’ that’d make ya miserable!  ‘cept eat all yer food, that one time.  Buuut, heeey!  I promise, this trip’ll be worth it.  Jus’… ya know… be patient?”     She paused, retrieving a small device from her collar, which she handed over.     “Play some cell phone games ‘f yer bored?  Ya dun have t’ talk ta me ‘n it’s okay ‘f yer mad at me.  Jus’… ya know…  I want’cha t’ see this place.  I been.  It’s worth it.”     “I…  Of course, I trust you, Jess.  It’s just…”  He gave another sigh before looking down at the floor of the car.  “You’re just so impulsive, sometimes…  I barely even had time to get dressed, I didn’t brush my teeth or comb my fur…  I’m surprised you even grabbed my phone.”     “‘course, I did!”  She grinned a little more.  “We migh’ get lost, where we’re goin’!”     “Really.”  When she gave a nod, he lightly chuckled.  “We’ll see, I guess…”     “Tha’s th’ spirit!  Ooh, speakin’ of… hope we see some’a them!”     “I’ll keep an eye out.  And, Jessie?”     Her ears gave a flick.  “Mm?”     There was a brief pause… then, Joseph told her, “Thanks.”     “Oh, dun thank me, love!”  The bat-girl wiggled in her seat.  “I’ve been dyin’ t’ get’cha inta this place!  Watchin’ ya react t’ all th’ obvious spookums is gonna be so much fuuun…!”     “Heh.  If you say so…”  The fox flipped open his phone and booted up a game before telling her, “Just don’t be surprised if my reaction to jump-scares is pretty dull…”     “Weee shaaall seeeee, mwa ha ha ha haaah!”     Her “spooky voice” finally got Joseph to crack a smile… which made her smile even brighter!  She always enjoyed trying to cheer him up, but it really made her day when it worked!

    Time moved on as the numbers on the travel meter added up.  Two pit-stops and dinner at a truck stop delayed their journey ever-so-slightly, but as the sun swung from one side of the sky to the other, they knew they were drawing closer to their destination.  That, and there was a road sign signaling “Talwar Village” being ten kilometers away.

    “Man, when I said this place was ‘almost a day’s drive,’” Joseph commented as he noticed the sky, “I wasn’t thinking it really would be!  But, yeah.  It’s getting dark.  I can see the stars– well, I could see the stars, I mean.  All these trees kind of make it hard.”     “It’s okay, Josey!” the driving bat told him.  “Soon, it’ll be completely dark ‘n ya can look out th’ window at th’ beaaautiful night’s sky right above us!”     “I also kind of forgot that Talwar really was out in the sticks.  Uh, no pun intended.”     Jessica snorted with laughter.  “Suuure, it wasn’t!”     “My brain’s just wired for puns, sometimes – you know that.”     “Mm-hmm, jus’ like my brain’s wired fer tacos.”     The fox tilted his head.  “Uh… I don’t think that’s how–”     “Here’s our turn!”     Joseph hadn’t been full paying attention, but…     “Huh?  Wait.  What did that big sign say?  It looked important.”     “Dun worry ‘bout that, Goldie!  Jus’ settle in fer a long, bumpy ride!”     “What do you mean, ‘a–’ guh-uh-uhh!”

    Before he could finish repeating her thought, he got his answer.  The road had suddenly turned rough and bumpy – and, for good reason!  In the glow of the headlights, Joseph saw that…     “This road isn’t paved.”     “Yep!  Rather, nope!” Jessica corrected herself.     “Jessica…”  Joseph looked at his companion with concern.  “Why isn’t this road paved?”     “‘cuz, it’s a primitive road!” was her overly-simple answer.     “Is this a road…?”  He gave a heavy grunt as the vehicle hit something that made it jump.  “You sure someone didn’t just cut a swath through the woods and call it a day…?”     “This is a recognized road, hun.  It’s even on maps!” she assured him.  “But, it just ain’ maintained by Talwar.”     That made Joseph curious…  “Why not?”     “Well… it’s partly ‘cuz th’ owner’a this land won’t give th’ township permission…  ‘e kinda jus’ wants t’ be left to ’is lonesome.”     “Oh.  I see.”  Joseph paused… then, he hummed.  “Wait.  he wants to be left alone… but, he has a haunted house?”     “‘Spooky house,’ Joe!” she corrected with a grin.     “Okay, ‘spooky house.’  Still, it seems a little suspicious that–”     “This road ain’t really s’posed t’ be driven on by modern vehicles,” Jessica suddenly interjected.  “It’s s’posed t’ be driven by carriage!  Adds to th’ atmosphere!”     “Oh.  That… actually makes a lot of sense.”  Once again, he had to pause for thought.  “Wait, if this isn’t supposed to be driven… why are we driving it?”     There was another pause, though it was Jessica’s, instead of his.     “I know th’ guy what runs th’ house,” she eventually told him.  “‘e invited me over t’ see what’s what, ‘n… stuff!”     “Wait, but you said…’”  The fox narrowed right eye…before remembering that it was hidden under an eyepatch.  He narrowed his left eye, then, before saying, “This sounds a little–”     “We’re here!!”     Joseph gave a blink, staring out the windshield.  Situated ahead of their vehicle was a rather large, rather imposing manor that took up quite a lot of real estate within a grassy clearing within the deep woods.

    Just from what he could see, the large building was roughly the width of four-or-five normal houses and it appeared to have at least three floors to it, including the ground floor…  It was also painted in shades of brown, ranging from dark chocolate to cocoa with some of the trim being sand-colored.  There were many windows in front and one-or-two balconies on the second floor, as well as a large porch in front with six steps leading up to a massive double-door.

    “What… hang on…”  Joseph squinted.  “Is that… are those…  Jessie?”     “Yeesss?” the girl asked, grinning as she turned off the engine.     “This place… doesn’t look spooky, at all.”

    A closer look around revealed to Joseph that the porch was decorated with some colorful paper lanterns and, curiously, there was a swinging bench on the porch with some floral-print cushions.  Some of the windows of the manor also had small plants on their shelves and several of them had elegant curtains on the inside.  However, there was a distinct lack of bats… ravens… dark clouds or lightning… anything even remotely “spooky!”  In fact, it just looked like a fancy mansion that didn’t even look that old, much less imposing.

    “Oh, dun let th’ cheery exterior fool ya!” Jessica told him as she exited the vehicle.  “It’s th’ real deal, ‘nside!”     “No, seriously, Jess…”  The fox frowned as he left his car and followed the excited bat up onto the porch.  “This place just looks like a hidden millionaire’s house… or, something.  I mean, did you see the potted plants?  Look at this cute little swing!  Jessie, this place is not spooky…”     The bat-girl tilted her head, giving her companion a curious, almost innocent look.     “In fact,” he continued, “if I didn’t know better, I’d say you just hauled me to some random location, far away from town!  Are you even sure this is the right place?”     “‘f this wasn’ th’ right place…” Jessica started with a smirk, “would I ‘ave th’ key?”     Joseph gave a blink as the girl withdrew something from her pocket.  It did, indeed, look like a metal key… one that was perfectly ordinary and seemed to match the modern lock on the right-hand door.     “I dunno…?” he said as she unlocked the door.  “Knowing you, you might’ve got a key from some dude you were dating, then decided to go raid his house while he was away on vacation…”     “Joseph.  Really.”  Jessica gave a look of disbelief.  “Would I do that?”     “I dunno.”  The fox smirked.  “You tell me.”     For a few moments, Jessica didn’t respond.  After that, she gave a wink and a grin, wrapped one hand around the old-style door handle, put a thumb on the lever, and gave it a push.  Not long after, the door opened inward, revealing the interior of the manor to them both.

    Joseph had expected the inside of the mansion to look a little different from the outside… but, he hadn’t been expecting the radical difference between the styles!  The outside looked like it had been maintained and updated with the times, but the inside almost looked like something from the era of magic and superstition!     The foyer led straight ahead and onto another set of double-doors at the end of a colossal hallway that, to Joseph’s view, might have been even bigger than the entryway of the Tower of Masamune!  The hall, itself, looked wide enough to house several vehicles side-by-side, and the number of doors on the ground floor, alone, was astounding!  There must have been a good thirty doors on that floor, alone… which made him wonder how many more doors were up on the first floor, which lay at the end of a tall flight of stairs on either side of them.     Aside from the doors, there were also all the hallmarks of a stereotypical “spooky mansion,” such as suits of armor beside some doors and statues of various figures he didn’t recognize resting on pedestals beside others.  There were a couple of velvet-cushioned chairs, here-or-there, and many paintings of people – mostly fancy women – on the walls.  Finally, hanging above them was a massive, elegant chandelier made of crystal and gold.  He wasn’t sure if it was powered or had candles… but, it lit the entire room without trouble, either way.

    “Gah!!”     Suddenly, a resounding thoom from behind caught Joseph’s attention!  When he spun around to see what it was, he noticed… Jessica was grinning from-ear-to-ear, clearly trying not to laugh.  It was pretty obvious that she’d been the one to slam the door, trying to scare him.

    “What the Void, Jessica?!” he half-screeched as he put a hand over his chest.  “Are you trying to give me a heart attack…?”     “Told’ja this place was spoooooky, kiddo!” she laughed.     “That wasn’t ‘spooky!’” he protested.  “That was just… just… startling!”     “Jus’ gettin’ ya ready fer th’ spooks t’ come!”     The fox huffed and grumbled.  “You’re an ass, Jess…”     “‘n, yer adorable when yer frightened!” she retorted with a grin.  “Looket yer fur all stickin’ up ’n stuff!  I jus’ wanna pet’cha ’n tell ya everything’s aaall okay, aww…!”

    “What… ever.”  Joseph sighed, shaking his head.  “Anyway… what do we do, now?”     “First, I wanna show ya somethin’ cool…”     “Okay.  Lead o– h-hey, what are you–?”     “Take my hand, Joe,” she warned in an oddly serious tone.  “Dun want’cha gettin’ lost.”     “How could I get lost?” he asked as she led him toward the left staircase.  “This place doesn’t seem like it’d be hard to navigate…”     “Oh, trus’ me!  I been lost ‘n ‘ere, plenty!  Had’a wait fer Ro t’ come ‘n find me.  Was kind’a embarrassin’.”     “You had to wait for who to come find you?” Joseph asked.     “Ro,” she repeated as they sped past the first couple of doors on the first floor.  “Ya know!  Th’ overly-dramatic batty-bat what–”     Jessica came to a sudden stop – both in vocalizations and in motion.  Joseph had yanked on her arm.

    “I’m sorry…  Did you say… ‘Ro?’  As in, ‘Count Arturo Moretti?’”     Jessica’s ears fell, but she didn’t turn his way.  “Uuuh…”     “Count Moretti, Lord of the Moretti Clan of Vampires?”     “Uuuuuhh…”     “The same Vampire Lord who wants to flay me alive just because we’re friends?”     “Uuuuuuuuuuhhh…”     “And… this is his manor?  His home?”     Jessica didn’t repeat herself a third time.  Instead, she just gave an audible swallow.     “You brought me to the home of a guy who wants me dead?  You brought me into his domain?  You willingly put me into what could possibly be the most danger I have ever been in?  All because you were… what?  Bored?”     “I… th-thought you’d think it was neat…?” the bat skittishly responded.  Once she gave a nervous laugh, though, she had to turn around.  Joseph had wrenched his hand free from hers.     “Welp,” he said as he spun around, “this was a waste of time.  I’ll be outside.  In the car.”     “No, wait, don’t–!” Jessica called.  When the turned, though…  “Shhiiieeeet…”     It was too late.  Joseph… had vanished.

[blurrymango]

Chapter Two

           Masks are symbolic mystery, meant to hide the features of the wearer and enabling them to commit acts which have been shunned by society. Blitz’s half-sister always wore a mask, so to speak, one which let her hold false ignorance of her misdeeds. Yet in a masquerade, her true self is revealed when she puts a mask on.

Blitz stared at his mask as they rode in the carriage, it was quite a simplistic design, one which he made himself. There was only one eyehole, and in the place of where the other one should be there was a cartoonish eye design, the kind with three lashes on top and three on bottom. He had no real use in making an eyehole for a blind eye. The eye had been painted in a crude attempt to simulate a galaxy. The design surrounding the eyehole was of sunflower petals, painted on with care. He looked around at the masks his friends wore. Sundae’s was detailed like an angel. Intricate gold designs that covered the mask in all kinds of patterns as an obvious attempt to distract from the girl’s horns. The mask was very lowkey in design but powerful in effect, Sundae had obviously spent a lot of time on it. Amber’s mask was subtle yet extravagant all at once. A simple black mask with red wax that had been dripped in a way to look like blood splatters, even a cartoonish red tear was added under the eye. Midnight’s mask had the zodiac signs carved on it in various colors, the sign for cancer being the biggest one, in the center of the forehead, yet oddly, the color chosen for it was grey. PoisonBerry’s mask was slightly tacky. Shiny fake gems in the formation of a cat face against plain black, and a fake heart shaped gem on the cheek to represent the small black heart shaped birthmark she had in the same place. Blitz tugged at the dark blue sun-scarf around his neck, the scratchy fabric not only irritated the sensitive flesh of his neck, but it also had a texture that he despised. Honestly, he wished he had stayed home with Luci. He hissed as the fabric pulled at the rot. He contemplated jumping out of the window, but alas, the carriage slowed as they pulled up at a well-lit manor. The group got out, Amber first, Sundae second, PoisonBerry and Midnight together, and finally Blitz.

The inside was full of faceless people with fake smiles and tacky clothes who danced to music that was too loud and too quiet all at once. The interior itself was all too perfect, floors polished so much that Blitz saw his own nervous reflection staring back at him. Twin staircases that the coiled around the walls lead up to a balcony that overlooked it all. It was all so perfect, so unnaturally picture-esque that it looked like a set. He caught with the one person who remained maskless, with a pig-like nose and poorly dyed bleach-blonde hair, sea-green eyes peered at him from over squared glasses. She smiled at him with blood-red lips and suddenly he was sweating, despite the room not being hot at all. She waved at him and he fell to the floor as the world around him disintegrated into static noise. He threw up, blood and bile filling his senses and rotting the oh so perfect floor. Through the static he saw them, everyone he knew stared at him with blank faces. In the back of his mind formed an image, a face that he knew all too well, one that he despised.

He closed his eyes (were they even they even open in the first place?) and saw a million lifetimes pass by. He opened them again and saw the face of Death staring back at him with dead eyes. Blitz rubbed his eyes and he was almost naked on a soft bed. Across from him, an angel sat watching him with curious dark brown eyes, combined with a pretty face, short dirty blond hair and a dark goatee, had Blitz met him in any other scenario, he would try to flirt with this man like his life depended on it. But in Blitz’s current state of nausea and disoriented confusion, he wanted to hide.

“Hide from me, you’re kidding, right? I’m the one who saved you.” The angel told him. So the angel could read his thoughts? Save him from what? What made this man think he needed to be saved.

“I f-feel vio-vio-l-lated.” He blurted out before covering himself with a blanket. This man had stripped him down to just his boxers and binder.  Suddenly he heard a chuckle and the man pulled the sheet off of him. Blitz looked anywhere but at the angel standing above him. Looking at the angel made his mind feel foggier than usual. He looked down at his hairy and scarred body then up at the man. Then back down. Right, yeah, he had an impressive happy trail, but he was fat and the trail led nothing he wanted. He sighed and found the man staring too.

“H-how a-are—l-like, d-do you h-h-have any—anything to—to s-say to me?” He asked as the man walked back to his chair. “Y-y-yo, l-like, wh-wh-what is y-your name—or—or where—where are w-we?” Blitz scratched at his patchy stubble.

“Tell me yours, first. Then I’ll tell you mine.” He smirked, leaning forward in his chair.

“Blitz. Blitz Creed. N-n-now yo-your t-turn.”  Blitz glared.

“That’s you chosen name, Blitz. I’m asking for your given name.”

“Go to—go to—go to h-hell.” Blitz sneered.

“We’re already here. Now, I need to know your given name.”

“W-wh-why?”

Lucian sighed. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Blitz.

“One more time, baby boy, tell me your name.”

“Blitz f-fucking Creed. That—that’s my n-n-name.”

“Fine then, I’ll say it.” Then the gun disappeared from his hand. “Your given name is Magnolia Creed. Right?”

Blitz just stared ahead. Right, yeah, his name was Magnolia, but that was when he was still- back when he wasn’t himself. He- no- Magnolia was a bad person. He is a different person.

He felt tears stream down his face. The other person sighed.

“Look, Blitz, I’m sorry. And to answer your question, my name is Lucian Ceren.”

Blitz looked up at the man with black wings and scowled. And then Lucian was right in front of him. He put his hand on Blitz’s chest, even through the fabric Blitz could feel how could the man was.

“We both came face to face with the beast. Though the scars he left on you-“ Lucian breathed. “They may not be visible. Yet I can still see how much he hurt you.”

And Blitz collapsed into him.

“I-I’m—” Blitz sobbed. “H-he—he was m-my f-f-father. Wha-wha-what—what k-kind of-of pa—” His words became whimpers. It had been so long since any mention of the man—no, the beast, the stole away his innocence. The only other person in this world who can understand even a of what he went through, he finally found him.

“Blitz, I’m afraid you have to go back to your friends now.” Lucian whispered into his hair.

“B-bu-but-t I-“

“I’m sure we’ll meet again. Just stay strong, baby boy.”

The he blinked, and Lucian wasn’t there. Instead were the concerned faces of his friends, surrounding him as thin fingers combed through his hair. His vision was quite blurry but he recognized Pepper as she hugged him.

“Just when I got you back, I thought we’d lost you again.” She said, voice breaking. He smiled at her and returned the hug.

“Y-you—you’re n-not—not getting’ r-r-r-id o-of me that ea-ea-ea-eas-s-sily.” He looked around at friends, the relief in their faces and then got to Amber. Somehow, she knew.

Luci had a gig at a local bar where she would be playing jazz.  She wanted some of her friends to go with her because she needed moral support. (even though she was likely the best jazz player in town) Blitz took this as an opportunity. The bar was nice, dark woods, his mother being the bartender—wait what? He took another look, yep, that was her, and his younger brother was sitting at a bar stool with his pet cat sat atop his shoulder like a bird. Blitz ran over and almost leaped across the bar counter to hug his mom. He only let go to hug Ty. Letting go, he sat down next to the taller boy and ruffled his fluffy brown hair.

“St-still hav-ve Ma-Maziken?” He asked and scratched the chin of the black cat in question.

“And you’re still short, so who’s the real winner here?” Ty grinned.

“Me, cuz I got my boys back.” Michelle interjected. Amber took a seat at the bar.

“So I’m guessing this place is named afta’ you, Miss Creed.?” The vampire asked, gesturing to the woman’s saturated and dark red hair. She nodded with a chuckle and went back to polishing a glass. Soft jazz filled the room as the group talked. Blitz was honestly content to stay there for all of eternity. But there was a sudden shift in the atmosphere as the door creaked open. A small group of people walked in who Blitz recognized as train robbers. He remembered seeing their faces in the paper. The Thomas siblings, he thinks they’re called. He got off the barstool, feet hitting the ground painfully, and walked to them. The one in the middle, Jinx, who had purple hair and crazy eyes, looked at Blitz with confusion.

“U-unless-s y-y-y’all c-came tuh—came ta’ get a dr-dr-drink, th-then I sug-suggest y-y’all l-l-leave.” He stated. Jinx sneered at him and reached for the gun in his back pocket. Blitz grimaced. “L-look, if-if y’all are—are look—lookin’ for a place t-ta rob-b, th-then t-try the bake—bakery n-next d-door.” He ushered them out of the bar. Walking into the bakery the Thomas brothers pulled out their guns while the sister yelled “This is a robbery!”

Both Artimes and C.C. pulled out their weapons as well. Arti aimed her crossbow at Jinx and C.C. aimed her sword at the sister. Jinx clumsily put away his gun, and his brother followed suit. All patrons of the café went back to eating.

“Oi! Store’s closed for the day, ev’ryone out!” Artimes announced and the costumers quickly left. Pepper came out of the kitchen as C.C. locked the door. The Thomas siblings shook with fear and Blitz laughed from where he stood leaning against the window. Pepper stood in front if the trio with Arti by her and ready to shoot.

“Alright, clearly y’all’s parents never taught y’all right and wrong. So, my associates and I will.” She clasped her hands in front of her and smiled softly. “Got it, maggots?” They nodded.

Blitz looked at C.C. and nodded towards the door, she nodded back. Once they got outside the two of them sat on a bench together.

“Ni-nice out-outs-side today, ai-ain’t it?” He said to her. She nodded in reply. He reached under his shirt for the rings and untied the string that held them. Holding them in his palm, he looked to her.

“L-look I-I kn-know you’re not—I know y-you ain’t g-gonna.” He was stopped by a finger to his lips. C.C. cupped her hands around his and leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Oh Blitz, of course I remember who you are.” She said softly.

“W-w-wanna grab a-a dr-drink?” He asked, standing up. C.C. nodded. They walked to the bar, hands intertwined with rings between them.

Two brothers sat under the moonlight, sharing weed and beer.

“So, uh, you remember Bea, right?” Ty asked. Blitz nodded. “Well, we, uh, we finally decided to, y’know.” He put the joint to his lips and inhaled, exhaling out beautiful smoke that curled around the two. Blitz took a drink.

“So, I take my dick, and she takes out hers. And like, for a split second I panic because ‘Oh my gods she don’t have any holes.” Cause like, y’know, I forgot that buttholes were a thing.” At this, Blitz burst out laughing. “Ok, ok, yeah I get it. Anyway, so I remember she has a , y’know, but like, in my head I’m going ‘I’ve never done anal, because whether she’s trans or cis fucking a girl in the asshole is like, kinda gay’ and I ain’t gay, y’know, so we just order take-out and watch some crappy TV. Honestly, that was the most romantic night I’ve ever had.”

“Is—is there point, to-to thi-this st-story.?” Blitz asked as he traded beer for joint with his brother.

“Yeah, how do you and your wife, y’know, do it. Do you, like, use a strap-on?”

“No, we—we actu-actually ‘aven’t had s-sex yet. I-I mean like, she knows I have—she knows I’m tr-tr-trans, b-but like, y-y’know, our marri-idge is p-purely romant-t-tic.” They lay in silence for a moment, listening to the crickets.

“D-do you know whatev-ever happened to PoisonBerry’s ‘e-ev-evil twin’?” Blitz asked him. Ty grimaced at the mention of his old lab-partner, but his expression changed as he quickly sat up. Blitz felt it too, the way the air buzzed with energy. They looked over to the tree line. The subtle distortion of the light there was indicative of a being whose true form had been hidden. Blitz and Ty looked at each other and Ty stood. “Step out into the light, coward.” He commanded.

The person who stepped out of the shadows couldn’t have been much older than a teenager. Yet by the way he held himself it was obvious he was much older. Blitz shot up onto his feet.

“Tyler Creed, my family is dead, yet I remain.”

“The people I killed weren’t your family, kid, not by blood.” The kid lunged at the two yet was clouded by rage and was quickly brought down. Ty held his foot between the teen’s shoulder blades and pressed hard.

“So, would you please not go on a whole revenge spiel, it’s boring. Ty said. The kid growled in response. “I’m not the one you should direct your anger at. Your species is borderline extinct and yet your mad at me for doing my job.” He let the kid out from under his foot. “You’re inexperienced and wasting your time, you should be out there looking for your remaining brethren, yet you’re here bothering me and mine.” The kid was now on his knees, sobbing.

“Where—where would I even begin to look!?” He whined. Blitz became irritated. He knelt in front of the kid and looked him in the eyes.

“Y-you have two opt-options h-here. You can—can ei-either m-move o-on wi-with yer path-pathetic lit-little life. Or i-if you rea-really want t-to f-find your k-kin, then you-you start looking, ‘nd y-ya’ don’t f-fucking stop t-til’ ya’ find’em.” Blitz shoved the kid back to the ground, grabbed the pack of beer and started walking back to the house. Ty dug a joint out from his pocket and gave it to the teen.

“For your troubles. Good luck, dragon.” Ty followed behind his brother. Evenor layed there, watching them walk off. His body began to glitch in and out of existence until his form settles into a body. She was no longer a boy, but a girl whose skin was pale, and hair was black.

“Evenor, we’re so close. I can feel it. That witch will fix us.”

“Ok but what if she doesn’t?” the boy’s voice spoke to har from within. “Elli! What if she—what if she doesn’t?!” A tear rolled down their shared face as they lay there. “Eliza, please!” The voice screamed.

“I-I don’t know, Ev, I just… “ She trailed off, their eyes staring at the moon above, unblinking. “I don’t know.