"Ow!"
"Can you stop being such a baby."
"I'm not being a baby it hurts!" I yelled, swatting her hands away.
"You're so soft, braids would look good on you."
"It ain't worth the pain." I said, crossing my arms.
"You don't even take care of it, it's all tangled." A mischievous grin grew across her face, "We should cut it."
"Uh uh, I'm not cutting my hair and you're not braiding it!"
"Fine, be boring then." She complained with a pout, "The all great Simon who never touches his hair!"
"Hey, what is your last name anyway?"
"…"
"Don't tell me you don't remember that either. Well mine is Marsh, cool isn't it?"
"The one and only Runi Marsh!"
It really did take me a while to learn her last name, same with the others.
Runi Marsh, Alex Laurece, Jackson Harrow.
Luther Faran, Cleo Havara, Dahlia Ida.
Marcel…
**
"Simon! Get out of that room for once aye? I got a present for you!"
"…"
"Come onnnn, you can't be sad forever."
There was a clear shift in his tone.
"Ms. Valeria isn't coming back."
My heart sank as I fully pulled the covers over my head.
"Go away!"
"Fine." He murmured, "I'll just leave this at your door… but remember what father says."
"We don't have the luxury of being sad."
I heard a clunk at the door, followed by fleeting footsteps.
Peeking from behind the covers I waited for a brief moment before rolling out of bed.
I slowly walked to the door, reaching for the knob as I cracked it open.
Peering into the long hallway there it was.
A small wooden box sitting at the base of the door.
I quickly grabbed it, pulling it back into my room.
This wasn't an ordinary box. There was a logo in the center. A lion… with its paw on a cheetah's neck, and a snake dead in its mouth.
It stood atop the edge of a mountain with lines that depicted sun rays shooting from the sky.
The rest of the box had golden patterns filling up empty space.
Walking back to my bed I placed the box down, flipping the lock on the side.
I hesitated, running my fingers along the top of the box before opening it.
**
"YOUR PRECIOUS PAINTBRUSH WON'T SAVE YOU SIMON!"
He's aiming for the face!
Raising my guard I noticed Marcel's other fist come burrowing through the air.
A faint!?
Only spit could escape my mouth as a heavy jab dug into my rib.
Stumbling back I struggled to catch my breath, falling to a knee.
Before I could react a kick came barreling towards me.
I see it! But I can't block in time!
**
"You're a special case Simon."
"Hm?"
He raised his fist with a smirk before setting his feet.
Closing his eyes he took a deep breath, and with a sharp exhale he jabbed at the air.
Turning to me with a smile he rested his hand on his hip. "You were able to see that, yeah? The punch I just threw?"
I nodded my head.
"How good could you see it?"
Looking to the sky I tapped at my chin. "I saw it like a normal punch."
He laughed, hunching over as he slapped his knee. "Oh man, I feel sorry for the sucker who pisses you off one day."
"You wanna know something Simon, that was my fastest punch, not even father can punch that fast… and look at you."
He poked my forehead. "Your biggest advantage is here."
"Now, let's go a round." He said, stretching his arm.
"With you?!" I panicked.
He smiled once more before taking his stance. "What? Don't tell me you're scared of big brother Zef!?"
**
Grasping at the grass beneath me I attempted to push myself up, but to no avail, slipping and falling once more.
I'm so weak…
With a couple of coughs the green blades of grass I once looked down at turned to a crimson red.
My heart began to race.
"I-I'm.. bleeding…"
"You're so pathetic." Marcel said as he walked past me.
Kneeling over he grabbed the sack of cans, throwing it over his back before looking at Jackson.
"We're going back. You're either with him… or us."
I watched his silhouette as he began to walk back to the cabin.
My heart beat so fast it could nearly explode.
I punched at the ground, using all the strength in my body to push myself up.
"Wait…"
Getting to my knees I took a sharp breath.
"I SAID WAIT GOD DAMNIT."
He stopped dead in his tracks, slightly turning around with a face of disdain.
"What do you gain from this?"
The air was still, but it still felt as if a chill shot through my spine.
"Wh… what?"
"You still don't get it." He said with a scoff.
Fully turning he gently laid the sack of cans on the ground, wiping his hands on his shirt.
"What do you gain from stealing food and running away… because it sure as hell isn't freedom."
"Have you even, and I mean for a second thought about what happens after you pass through these woods."
"After you reach beyond our small cabin lifestyle, what's gonna be there for you?"
"You don't have the mind, the energy and strength, the stamina and most importantly that grit."
"… It's not in you man."
"You're not a survivor."
"AND YOU ARE?" I screamed, my vocal cords burning.
"Nah… I'm not… but she gives me the strength to believe I am."
"I wouldn't be standing here right now if it wasn't for Ms. Valeria."
"I'm not a survivor because I want to be—no, I have to do this."
"I'm a survivor because I can stand up and lead my family."
"Thats what separates us Simon, the best call is always the hardest one."
"I would never lay down on my back and put my loved ones at risk, that… that is what makes me a survivor."
"Bullshit." I snarled.
"This didn't start now, this didn't start because I wanted to stay."
"This started when Ms. Valeria first collapsed."
"You keep trying to push this on me—push everything on me… but it's you who's really weak!"
"You walk around acting like you're our savior or something. You aren't a survivor, you're just a phony version of Ms. Valeria."
"You were too weak then, just like I was."
I grit my teeth, pushing through the pain as I stood on my two feet.
"But what separates you and I Marcel…"
**
"You want a stance like me?"
I quickly nodded, trying my best to imitate his foot placement.
"You can't steal my stance, it only works so good because it's mine."
"Here, you see my feet? You wanna plant your left foot forward, like this."
"And make sure you're always moving."
I tried to imitate his practice, but it ended in me falling and tripping over my own heels.
"Hm, maybe a fighting style like Shaki's would suit you better, she's more patient and powerful with her strikes."
"Here, try this."
**
I lifted a knee in the air, wincing from a pain in my chest.
I readied my hands by my face, perfectly balanced on one leg.
"WHAT SEPARATES YOU AND I IS THAT I WONT ALLOW MYSELF TO BE WEAK ANYMORE!"
Marcel's eyes widened as his nostrils flared with rage.
His slow steps forward turned to a sprint as he bursted through the air.
"SIMON!"
A fist came flying towards my face as I parried it, retaliating with a swift kick to the side.
He's getting sloppy!
Charging at me again he swung a powerful left hook.
I slipped his strike, sweeping his leg as he lost balance.
Stumbling Marcel fell to the ground for the first time. He looked up at me with such resentment.
It felt good, being on top. Looking down on someone. It made my stomach knot up, but in a good way.
I'm excited!
He shot up from the ground, charging at me as I readied my stance.
Going for a strong kick he grabbed my leg, pushing me backwards as I fell to the ground.
Jumping on top of me he let out a barrage of punches.
"YOU… YOU TRIED TO BE JUST LIKE HER TOO."
An unexpected elbow broke my guard as another punch flew right towards my nose.
**
"Boom, and just like that you're dead."
"Dead?" I groaned.
He laughed as he stood from atop of me. "You're lengthy Simon, you can't let people close the distance."
"If the fight isn't flowing at your pace then you're at a disadvantage."
"You need to control the flow of the fight with your length. The very second someone stronger than you gets you down, at your weight?"
"You'll lose."
"Losing is as good as death."
**
My eyes are too heavy to open.
There's voices…
A girl, maybe two… a few guys.
I can't make out all the details but, it sounds like they're all out here now.
I can barely move.
Did I… lose?
How… could I lose… to him.
"Simon… Simon!"
Damn this is embarrassing.
Huh?
Wait…
I feel something… something good, soothing my body.
I forced an eye open as a blurred figure stood hunched over me.
"S-Shaki?"
Managing to roll on my side I let out a few coughs.
Each rumble of my throat made it feel better.
The aching pain in my nose faded away, along with the sharp sensation on my rib.
Blinking a few times my vision slowly began to clear.
Looking up I saw a familiar face, Dahlia kneeling over me, her vusk open in hand.
"Looks like that training with Alex paid off." I groaned.
She smiled. "You can still joke in a time like this, that's good."
She helped pull me up as I leaned against her shoulder.
"Simon!"
Cleo ran towards me, grabbing my shoulders as I jerked from the pain.
"Oh, my bad." he apologized, quickly letting go, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I murmured, "Where's… Marcel."
Dahlia's eyes shot downward as Cleo nodded his head to the left.
Turning with her help, there Marcel stood.
His bloodied hands were in a surrendering motion as Alex held his vusk to his throat.
I could just barely see Luther in the distance, walking as he guided a shaken Jackson back to the cabin.
I glanced to Dahlia. "W-wheres Runi?"
"When we saw what was happening we told her to stay inside."
"I see."
Pushing off of Dahlia's shoulder I limped over to Alex.
He looked so mad it made me smile.
"Alex, you can stop. This is my fault as much as it is his."
"He wasn't on the ground getting beat." Alex hissed, poking his vusk into Marcel's throat. "That's supposed to be your brother!"
Marcel sighed. "Still with this brother crap."
"No brother of mine will stand and watch as his grandmother struggles."
I bit at my lip, lowering my gaze.
Marcel continued. "You know it, I know it, even he knows it."
Alex sighed, stabbing his vusk into the ground. "How are we gonna make this work?"
"It won't." Marcel replied with a lifeless chuckle.
"Just go." He said, rubbing at his knuckles.
"The food?" I questioned.
He looked at the sack, and then back at me. "Leave half."
Alex went to argue, but I interrupted. "Fine."
"Fine?!" Alex blurted out, "You won't survive!"
"I'll be fine."
"No, you won't!"
As Marcel went to collect cans from the sack Alex grabbed my hand. "I'll go with you then."
I couldn't help but chuckle at his earnest expression. "And leave everyone in Marcel's care?"
Tightening my grip on his hand I shot him a soft smile. "I need you to keep an eye on him. Keep him in check."
He didn't look satisfied with my answer.
"What if we all went with you—"
"And leave Marcel?" I said, cutting him off.
He lowered his head in frustration.
"Look Alex, there's something I need you, and everyone else to understand."
"I'm not the victim here… and I hate being treated like one. There is no victim."
"We both knew what we were doing, and I lost."
"But!—"
"Alex, If the roles were reversed… and I was atop Marcel… would you not have your vusk at my throat?"
Hesitating, he dropped his shoulders in defeat, pulling me in for a hug.
It hurt, but not as bad as leaving them.
Alex sniffled with a playful smile. "What now, do we have a farewell party?"
Laughing at his sarcasm I looked to the others. "I think some hugs are in order."
Patting Alex on his shoulder I walked to the trail.
I opened my arms with a bittersweet smile. "Dahlia!"
Upon seeing me, her face broke down, like she already knew what was next.
She sprung into my arms, holding me so tight my body ached.
"Woah, don't kill me now." I joked.
She weeped on my shoulder. Seeing her this sad because of me, it hurt.
My throat swelled up. My eyes burned.
"You just had to cry." I said, my voice shaking.
Cleo soon followed, a soft grin on his face as he hugged us both.
Alex put his hand on my shoulder, giving me a nod.
I could feel my lips begin to quiver, water overtaking my eyes.
I cried with them, all four of us, together.
**
"And that wraps up Zef's fighting class. Learned a lot didn't you?"
I gave another head nod as sweat dropped from my forehead.
"It was fun Simon, but now I have to handle big boy things."
"Can I go!"
Zef laughed, scruffing my hair with his hand. "You know, sure, I'll make sure you get your own special seat at the table."
"Now, let's get going before we're late."
He extended his arm out. "Shall we?"
**
"W-what about the others." Cleo sobbed.
I grinned. "They have all of you, they'll be fine."
"What about us then?" Dahlia joked.
"You have Alex, and Alex has that vusk of his. You all are gonna be fine… I promise."
Alex lowered his gaze. "What about Runi?"
I froze, my body drooping with a splash of dread. "Runi will be fine."
"I mean you." Alex said, patting my back."
"I'll try… that's all we can do, right? We'll all try."
"Yeah, we will." Cleo said, his smile as proud as ever.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about Jackson… but something tells me he'll be alright.
He's strong.
I limped forward, looking at the sack of cans.
Throwing it over my back I continued down the trail.
"Wait!"
I turned as Runi stood in the distance, her hands behind her back.
Dahlia smirked. "She just couldn't stay inside huh."
Our eyes locked as her expression softened. She ran to me, leaping into my arms as she wrapped her legs around my waist.
"I don't want this."
"I know… but it's for the best."
"The best for who!?"
Her words stung more than any punch Marcel could throw at me… more than any pain my body might've been in.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "This… this is the worst."
I smiled as I set her down, bending over and kissing her forehead. "It'll be—"
Before I could finish my sentence her lips locked with mine.
My eyes widened as we stood there. Time felt slower than it should've been.
I closed my eyes, feeling, enjoying her touch. Her soft lips felt like the best feeling in the world.
Stepping back she wiped tears from her eyes, forcing a smile.
"We'll see each other again, right?"
Sticking out my pinky I smiled, a genuine smile. "Pinky promise?"
Her eyes lit up as she extended her pinky.
"We may be apart for a bit." I said as our pinkies joined, "But there will never be a moment I'm not thinking of you."
She hugged me one final time before stepping back. "Dont think about me too much, okay? Thats a little weird." She giggled.
Her eyes widened. "I almost forgot, I got something for you. I can't believe you forgot it."
She dug in her back pocket, pulling out my paintbrush.
"I thought I felt something in there." I joked.
I extended my hand. "Thanks for the save, great Runi Marsh."
With a smile she placed the paintbrush in my hand before stepping back further.
"I guess this is it."
"Yeah…" I replied. "And look out for Jackson for me, alright!"
She nodded as I grabbed the sack of cans, tossing it over my shoulder once more.
As I began to leave, my footsteps didn't feel stuck to the ground.
Something about leaving… felt right.
I took a final look at the cabin. So many memories were made here.
I cried here… laughed here, made a family that I will never forget.
I loved, I even hated.
So many emotions spawned from this old wood cabin.
I wonder how Ms. Valeria would feel… I think she'd be proud.
Proud of the person I've become.
I kept looking back as I walked. Their silhouettes got smaller and smaller until they were eventually gone.
I made my way to the old oak tree. This is where Alex first told me… I thought he was going insane back then but.
He's smarter than he leads on.
I wonder what will lie ahead of me. A world with no life, an abandoned battlefield, maybe even monsters roaming the streets.
Whatever's out there, I'll see it with my own eyes… just how she would want me to.
Just how I want to.
**
???
The rocking of this wagon makes my stomach turn, damn peasants… they even smell like manure.
"You're making that face again sir."
"You know I hate it when you call me that."
"That's why I go out of my way to say it just for you."
Shaki, only she could make this trip any less… unbearable.
The splintered wagon came to a screeching halt, causing a random shoulder to brush against mine.
My skin crawled with disgust. Glancing at Shaki she gave me that "What am I gonna do?" look.
All I could do was bear it as the loud mouthed driver's yell filled the wagon.
"We're at our stop, everybody off!"
"Thank God." I mumbled beneath my breath.
The wagon would shake with each body that exited.
The driver held his hand out as we got off, expecting a tip of sorts.
I glared at him as I jumped, extending my hand for Shaki as she leaped from the wagon.
This town was different from the bustling streets back home.
More dirty, less fortunate.
I got used to the taller buildings and vibrant colors, but this?
It's almost like taking a trip back in time. Everything's so dull, the buildings void of life.
And that damn odor… it makes me sick.
"You're making that face again sir."
"Damnit Shaki didn't I say—"
Hm?
I paused, tapping at my right pants pocket.
"Shaki, check my left pocket."
She groaned. "You know you never keep anything in your left pocket."
"Yeah…"
"Everything alright?"
"No, it seems some rat has sticky fingers."
"Your pendant is gone again, isn't it."
"Yes." I said with a sigh of defeat.
"Hmph, it's almost like I told you to stop wearing nice clothing when we have to go to the boonies."
"Nice clothing? All I'm wearing is a suit!"
"Please, have you seen anyone else since leaving home wearing a suit."
"… No, I haven't."
"Exactly." Shaki said with a proud smirk.
"Pfft, you win alright? Now could you please—"
"Already on it."
Always interrupting me.
She pulled a monocle from her chest pocket, wiping it against her dress before holding it to her eye.
"Hmm…Bingo!"
She pointed to a man in a baggy, stain ridden shirt. His pants were so long he stepped on the ends.
"Filthy."
"Don't be like that. He may look a bit… dirty, but I can admit the man has style, for a bumpkin at least."
"Yeah well I don't care anymore. After we complete this mission, he's dead."
"Sir yes sir!"
"Shaki…"
"My bad my bad, let's get to work, Zef!"
**
"Phew, that went well, didn't it?"
"As well as it could've gone." I replied, holding onto an old stopwatch, "Why do you think father wanted this anyway?"
Shaki looked to the sky, as if the answers were painted in the stars.
"Hmmm, your dads weird so who knows. Oh, what if its an ancient vusk!"
"Something so precious out here? I doubt it."
I spat from the edge of the building we sat on, standing up as I slid the broken stopwatch into my pocket.
"Anyways I'm about tired of not feeling my pendant in my pocket. And no, the watch doesn't do it for me."
Shaki giggled before pulling out her monocle.
In a moment's notice she pointed to a small house on a corner of the road.
"There!"
I sighed, extending my hand to her as I jumped from the building's roof.
"Let's get this over with, father is waiting."
**
"Should we knock at the door?"
I turned to Shaki, slightly amused.
"How about my idea?"
Lifting my leg I kicked the door in, it flying inside and crashing with a boom.
Shaki smiled. "Aww, you dirtied your shoe so I didn't have to dirty my hand, you do love me."
Ignoring her banter I stepped inside the house, its odor making me queasy.
Two men ran in from a separate room, both gripping knives.
Taking another step forward their hands slammed into the ground.
"Agh!" A man screeched as his knife flew in the air.
"You're not low enough." I grumbled.
"Down."
Their bodies completely hugged the floor as I stepped on the head of one of the men.
"You have something that doesn't belong to you."
The man laughed. "And what fancy pants, we gots many things that don't belong to us!"
Kneeling down to the man I whispered in his ear. "Wrong answer."
With the drop of my foot his skull crushed beneath my sole.
Blood and brain matter covered the interior walls, the green paint now splattered with a crimson red.
Shaki gasped."I can't believe you did that, you got blood on my dress!"
"Who cares I'll get you a new one."
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
"Hm? Oh yeah, you are still down there. Maybe you'll actually… use your brain."
"F-f-fuck you man! S-shit! You killed hi—"
His garrulous chatter silenced with a cruel crunch, his body twitching even after death.
"Ugh, really Zef?"
"What? We're already bloody. It doesn't matter at this point."
She sighed as we continued through the house.
Empty room after empty room… where is it?
"Zef, I found something!"
Following her voice it led me to the back of the house.
An old wooden ladder leaned against the wall.
Looking up at the hatch I let out a deep sigh. "We're gonna have to scrub hard tonight Shaki."
I took the lead, climbing up the ladder, and soon forcing open the hatch.
Poking my head through a man stood atop the hatch, attempting to drive a knife into my head.
Before the blade's tip could reach me a purple aura radiated from my skin.
"Gravity Screen."
The man's arms blew completely off, his body launching into the nearest wall.
Jumping into the room I turned to Shaki, reaching out my hand and pulling her up.
"Shaki, a handkerchief please."
"Right up!"
"Thank you."
I wiped blood from my face before looking to the other side of the room.
"Well Shaki, look at this."
Seven people stood in fear, trembling at the back wall.
Three men, two women, two children.
"My arms, fuck my arms!"
"Is all you people say fuck? I mean really, shut up."
With the flick of my finger his head opened, spattering against the wall.
Shaki stepped forward with a smile. "So, one of you has something that belongs to us, and we need it back."
The silence was loud… too loud.
"Hurry this up Shaki, we're already late."
"You see that guy behind me?" She said as she motioned to me.
"He's ruthless! Big and scary! Look what he did to that guy!"
"All you have to do is give up the pendant you stole."
Her words were followed by another wave of silence.
A man stepped forward, gulping before he spoke. "You rich garbage, you can all die!"
He cocked his head back before spitting on Shaki's cheek.
"Oh boy." She muttered, wiping her face.
Before the man could say another word his body collapsed into a mush of blood and bones.
"I knew this would happen." Shaki groaned.
I reached for the nub where my left arm once occupied. "I'm done playing games."
A bone protruded from its point as I slowly pulled it out.
A woman gasped as she saw it. "I-it's you! You're the one armed man aren't you, the one who uses his bone as a vusk!"
"I've seen you in newspapers! They say he's the—"
A sharp gust of wind rushed through the room as my bone lodged into her forehead.
There was silence, followed by the sound of her body dropping— a quick thump.
Looking towards the men next I dashed forward, plunging my bone into one's chest before ripping it out and jabbing it into the other's head.
A spinning slash cut the woman's throat to the side of me as only gurgles could escape her mouth.
I stared at the two children, hands and face covered in blood.
"Get our ride ready Shaki."
She nodded before heading back down the ladder.
The two kids, a boy and a girl, didn't make the slightest peep as they cowered in the corner.
They held onto one another, gripping the tattered shirts they wore.
The smell of both dry and wet blood filled my nostrils as I took a deep breath.
"It never gets old."
I raised my bone in the air as they looked up at me with such horror.
"Blame your parents."
**
"Zef look what I got!"
Walking down the road there Shaki stood in front of a car. She sported a new, clean floral dress.
Holding onto a new suit she called out again. "Non-bloodied suit baby!"
I chuckled as I removed my blazer, tossing it onto the ground as Shaki handed me the new one.
"Well isn't this nice, rather be scolded while clean than dirty."
Shaki skipped to the driver's seat, opening the door as she hopped inside.
I glanced at my pendant, the one thing I just can't lose.
I chipped dried blood from the surface, smiling as I looked down at it—that logo so familiar to me.
Running my thumb over the engraved name gave me a sense of security, a sense of pride.
I stepped into the car, closing the door before tracing my thumb along with the letters.
The car's engine roared as I leaned back in my seat.
"The McKay Manor… I'm coming back home."