I reviewed the past week, slowly, eyes watering over the facts. I was confused, hurt, tired… I ached inside and out. The town had begun to fall apart…

The dead girl’s neckless was in my boyfriend’s hand. He was crying; long, hard sobs as his fingers ran over the locket.

The school creep, Jenson, cut her eyes out of the yearbooks, stalked her behind the bleachers and stole her underwear. They were last seen arguing.

Her jealous friend was caught laughing over her death, saying it was what she deserved.

My cousin was in a relationship with her, make-out sessions in the woods…

I think about the noise in the woods. The laughter. How it was playful. Her higher voice was heard over the river. The lower, deeper voice had been too soothing to make out.

Then I remember how her laughter turned to screams. Melody…

Melody. Her screams. I remember how I had covered my mouth and ran, called the police. How they had laughed and chuckled at how distraught I was.

Now I sit in Pab’s car. The junk on his floorboard making it impossible to sit comfortably. My foot crushes something. I jerk it up and look down.

Her…

Diary?

…What?

My eyes widen, my head snaps over at Pab. He smiles, touching my hand, the other on the steering wheel.

“Pull over,” I blurt. “What?” “Pull. Over.” “What about coffee?”

I jerk the handle, it pops open- he slams on the breaks as I roll onto the wet grass of Seattle, a heavy mist clinging in the air as I get to my feet and run like hell to get away from him.

The killer. Pab.

I scream until my chest hurt, the wet air drowning me as it fills my lungs. Pab’s footfalls are right behind me. I stumble into a clearing- the same place as Melody was found...

This was his plan. To lure me here. Only, I ran here. I fell into the trap.

“Jacë, you’re being ridiculous!” “You- you killed Melody.” “What?” He actually looked hurt.

A scream rocketed through the forest, Pab and I exchange a glance before bolting for the sound, eyes wide, hearts hammering.

The screams continue, worsening in agony and pain. Soon- I realize I know them. I know those screams.

“Jax-“ I say quietly. Then louder, “JAX!” “Jacë, you shouldn’t-“ “My boyfriend-“

I push away and run faster, the screams leading me to him. I push into a clearing, eyes and lungs burning, adrenaline pumping. Pab is on my heels. He skids to a stop the same time I do.

Standing beside Jax’s beaten body… a man with an axe. And when he turns around, the face I see is nearly unrecognizable by the hatred in his black eyes.

My brother.

(Lock and Key are characters in the universe of More Than Blood.) ———

“Gallian Most Wanted

Locklir and Keyna

Known as Lock and Key

Wanted for breaking and entering, thievery, and assault

They are armed and pose a threat. Do not approach.”

Key stares at the wanted poster with a smirk. She turns to her twin brother, “You think we’re dangerous? Pose a threat?”

He snickers at the phrasing. “Yeah we are a threat to all of humanity. They should throw us in a dungeon and lose the key. You know, if they can catch us.”

They leave the flyer up, enjoying the thrill of chase.

Tugging their hoods over their distinctive red hair, they make their way through the town. It may be a risk, but it gave them a chance to be normal, if only for a few moments.

“Don’t get distracted Key,” Lock warns his sister, nudging her when she paused in front of a bakery. “We deliver the medicine and then leave.”

“Yes, I know. Just like the last time,” she rolls her eyes, though he knows it is all in good fun.

The wind picks up, and Lock holds tight to his cloak, but Key doesn’t. Her hood falls from her head, revealing her bright hair.

“It’s Lock and Key!” They hear someone shout.

“Do they just accuse every redhead of being us?” Key asks, an exasperated tone to her voice. They scurry into the maze of alleyways, hoping it will be enough to lose their followers. “I guess not all redhead twins have our good looks,” Lock teases.

She shoves him, not too hard since they are still running from guards. “Haha. I almost forgot to laugh. It’s probably because our faces are plastered on every possible surface.”

They come to a crossroad. Either right or left.

“You go right. I’ll wait here until they are within sight and bolt left. Deliver the medicine,” Key orders. Lock became used to that since she always takes advantage of being the older one.

“Fine. We’ll meet back at The Tower.” She nods in agreement and gestures for him to leave.

He runs away from the only family he has, trusting her that she’ll evade capture.

When he hears no pounding footsteps pursuing him, he knows that his sister did what she said she would.

He finds the house he was looking for. Getting to the door he bangs on the wooden door, rattling it on its hinges. “You could be a bit quieter,” a voice chastises from behind the door.

It swings open, and Lock makes his way inside. “Sorry, I was a little too busy getting chased, Waylen.”

Lock studies Waylen for a moment. The circles under his eyes are darker than the last time. Guilt flashes through him at his snarky remark.

“Look, I’m sorry, Lock. You are doing me a huge favor. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you,” Waylen says, running a hand through his messy curls.

“Good thing I don’t want any money from you.”

He fiddles with the fraying cuffs of his sleeves. His eyes avoid Lock’s gaze. “Lock, you gotta let me pay you somehow. You can’t keep doing this for me.”

Lock drops the bag on the table that wobbles from the uneven weight. “It’s for your brother.” Waylen lets out a huff of annoyance, “You know what I mean.”

Fitting his hand over Waylen’s, he says, “Spending time with you is enough of a payment.”

Waylen looks at Lock and he could see the vulnerability, the fear, in his eyes.

Just as Waylen opens his mouth to say something, the sound of horses galloping past with guards yelling directions of where Lock may be interrupts him.

He ducks his head, shying away from the window. “I should go. I have to meet Key.”

“You could lay low here. You and your sister,” Waylen offers, one that he has made several times already.

Lock simply shakes his head, “I won’t put more stress on you and your family.” “I know.”

“Until next time, Lock.”

“Until next time, Waylen,” Lock echoes.

Their hands slip out of one another’s grasp, neither wanting to let go. Both desperately wanting to chase the other.

But they couldn’t. Not with the lives they live. Not yet.

I cursed as the sleeve of my jacket got caught on the jagged edge of a metal fence, forcing me to a complete stop. As soon as I dislodged myself from its grip I started off again picking up my speed until I could no longer hear anything but the sound of my feet thundering against the pavement.

I don’t know how long I’d been running, only that I had to, according to Emory. He was about 200 yards in front of me now after I lost speed from my run in with the fence.

With each step I took, my auburn hair completely unraveled itself from the messy braid I put it in this morning. The loose, fiery tendrils whipped around my face making it hard for me to see the path ahead.

Panic spiked in my chest as Emory began to pull away from me. “Em, wait up! I yelled. I hadn’t the slightest clue of what what we were running from, much less where we were running to. If I lost him, well, I am absolutely positive that he would not come back for me.

Emory arrived at our foster home two weeks ago. We were not exactly friends, but rather we were just two parentless kids who bonded over the their hate for their foster parents and wanted a way out.

Esther was a mean old hag who had countless years of experience playing the system. We were her money makers and I was done dealing with her phony facade. I turned eighteen next week. I was basically good to leave. They were going to kick me out anyway. That’s what Em told me, at least.

“Don’t call me that!” His voice sounded farther away than I was comfortable with. His retort snapped me out of my daze and my blood drained from my face when I saw the empty road in front of me.

Where did he go? Did I miss a turn? I halted and frantically looked around. Ignoring his previous comment I yelled. “Em!”

I heard the sounds of shoes stomping to my right. I whipped my head towards the sound and gasped. It was Gerald, Esther’s boy thing who lived with us. He was no better than that witch. My heart pounded in my chest as I turned on my heels and took off towards the woods, leaving the empty road behind.

“Get back here girl!” Gerald screeched. I wondered if he heard us sneak out early this morning. Id be quite surprised if he did since he was drunk off his ass last night. Maybe he still was.

I cursed silently as my hair whipped my face. Damn I should have put it up in a pony tail. I kept running until I heard nothing but the sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet and the sound of the air whirring past me.

I was so focused on avoiding being captured by Gerald the geezer that I didn’t see the hooded figure shoot out from my left.

I slammed into it full force and it knocked the wind out of me. I lay there on the damp earth accompanied by the sound of loud ringing in my ears.

“Sol” I heard my name. It sounded like the person was underwater. Eventually I came to, blinking back the tears that blurred my vision from the impact.

“Em” I muttered deliriously. I shot him a dazed smile.

“I said don’t call me that” he snapped. He reached his arm out and pulled me up. The action made me dizzy and I bit back the wave of nausea that overtook me.

I hunched over with my hands on my knees and looked up at his tall frame. His hair was black and it reached the bottom lobes of his ears. His nose was slightly crooked but his eyes were a piercing gray.

He was average looking at best but right now he looked like a Demi-god. He stared at me with an unreadable expression on his face. I looked down at my dirty jeans and white—now brown—converse. My hair was matted against my cheeks and my shirt was drenched in sweat.

Suddenly, heat rose to my cheeks. There’s no way I was self conscious right now. Not during our getaway.

Em — Emory looked behind him from the direction I came.

“Let’s go. He probably passed out somewhere but we can’t be too sure” he stated gruffly. I nodded. Gerald was an unpredictable drunk. I stood up and followed Em.

“Where will we go?” I asked after a few minutes of trailing behind Em through the forest.

He didn’t answer for awhile. I almost forgot I even asked the question until he replied.

“Far from here”.

𝖠𝗌 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗀𝗀𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖺𝗀𝖾 The pain in his side seared but he ignored the pain and kept walking before he got to the entrance he collapsed onto the sand. The weight of his gear made it worse as he tried to get up he couldn’t,before he could do anything.

He noticed a figure standing over him

"𝖣𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉?." 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗌𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖺 𝗌𝗈𝖿𝗍 𝗌𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖺𝗄𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝖾𝗇𝗍

Ghost thought for a moment but then the girl seemed to read his mind

"𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝗈𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌𝗇𝗍 𝖺 𝖱𝗎𝗌𝗌𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝖻𝖺𝗌𝖾, 𝖺𝗇𝖽, 𝖨 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗇𝗍 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗁𝗎𝗋𝗍. 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗆𝖾." 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗂𝗋𝗅 𝖺𝗌𝗄𝖾𝖽

Ghost looked up and nodded his head

"𝖨 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝖾 𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗆𝗒 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗈𝗐𝗇." 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝖾𝗋 "𝖣𝗈𝗇𝗍 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖲𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖺𝗄𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋𝗌."

In a few moments the girl came back with two soldiers behind her carefully the soldiers lifted Ghost with his arms over their shoulders and followed the girl into the village

it took some time to get to the girls house over the sand there where hidden rocks the sometimes caught the rocks and to Ghosts ablility he tried not to trip over as many

once they made it to the stone house the soldiers sat Ghost down on the bench the girl's brothers left once Ghost was sitted For the first time Ghost was finally resting his entire body ached of the weight and exuastion when he looked up he saw the girl looking at him with a rag and a bucket off water "my name is Naomi, is it alright if I heal your wound." Ghost nodded yes

༆༄༄༄༆

"𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝗎𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝗂𝗍 𝗎𝗉?." 𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗄 𝖻𝖾𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖽𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌

"𝗌𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉 𝗂𝗍 𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝗆𝗒 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝗆𝗂𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 ."𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗎𝗉 𝗐𝗍𝗁 𝖣𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝖻𝗂𝗀 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗌 𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗋𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖺𝗍 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇

"𝖨 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍, 𝖻𝗎𝗍, 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝖺 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖠𝗇𝖽-𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗉𝖺𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖠𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇."

"𝖨𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖺 𝖻𝗈𝖽𝗒?." 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽

𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖺𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗎𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗋𝗉𝗌𝖾 𝖶𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗌

"𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍?" 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖿𝖾𝖺𝗋𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅𝗒

"𝖣𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝖺 𝗆𝗂𝖽𝖽𝗅𝖾-𝖺𝗀𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎?" 𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖽

"𝖨 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝖾𝗅𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖾𝖽𝗂𝖼𝗌, 𝖻𝖾𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗌 𝗂𝖿 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝖺 𝖻𝖺𝖽 𝗌𝗇𝗂𝗉𝖾𝗋." 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗍𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝗎𝗆𝗈𝗋 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖼𝖾

"𝖴𝗀𝗁... 𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝗎𝗆𝗈𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇."𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖺

"𝗐𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝗐𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝖱𝗎𝗌𝗌𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗍𝗐𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗒-𝖿𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝖼𝗅𝗂𝖼𝗄𝗌 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾, 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝗌?" 𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇

"whoops, dont be mad but i used them for thr sandcastle." Loon said sheepishly

"Oh $%# my life." Dar said as he started backtracking.

𝖺𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗌𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇, 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖺𝗇 𝗄𝗂𝖼𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗎𝗉 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗉 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗅𝗎𝖼𝗄𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗒 𝖼𝗅𝗂𝖼𝗄𝗌 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍, 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗉𝗁𝗒𝗌𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗆𝗌 𝖾𝖼𝗁𝗈𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗎𝗌𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝗎𝗇 𝖿𝖺𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗀𝗅𝗂𝗆𝗉𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖿𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗁 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽. 𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗌

𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝖿𝗎𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝖽𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝗈𝗋𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝖿𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗍

𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗇𝖾𝗆𝗒 𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇'𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗍. 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝖺 𝗌𝗆𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗅𝗅𝖺𝗉𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗈𝗅 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝖿𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗅𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗄𝗒 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗅𝗈𝗐𝗅𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖽𝗎𝗌𝗄 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖻𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝗈𝗋 𝖻𝖺𝖽.

𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝗅𝖾𝗐 𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖿𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗉 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗎𝗇𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌. 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇'𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗒 𝗌𝗈 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝖾𝖿𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗍. 𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗅𝗒 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖽𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌.

༆༄༄༆

"𝖢𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽, 𝖣𝖾𝗅𝗍𝖺 𝗌𝗊𝗎𝖺𝖽 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗎𝗌𝗍𝗈𝖿𝖿 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋."

"𝟣𝟢-𝟦 𝖣𝖾𝗅𝗍𝖺 𝗂𝗌 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖿𝗈𝗋?."

"𝖭𝗈 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽, 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾."

𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗂𝖼 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝖾

"𝖢𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋, 𝖣𝖾𝗅𝗍𝖺 𝖲𝗊𝗎𝖺𝖽 𝖲𝗇𝗂𝗉𝖾𝗋 𝖨𝗌 𝖬𝖨𝖠 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗐𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝖾𝖺𝗆?." 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗍𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝖾𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆

"𝖦𝖾𝗍 𝖣𝖾𝗅𝗍𝖺 𝗌𝗊𝗎𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖸𝖺𝗏𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗏 𝖻𝖺𝗌𝖾,." 𝖢𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗂𝗅𝖾𝖽

"𝖢𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋, 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍?"

"𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗅."

"𝖣𝖾𝗅𝗍𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖽𝖾𝗅𝗍𝖺."

///\

"𝖣𝖾𝗅𝗍𝖺, 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾."

"𝖽𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝗌?."

"𝖭-𝖭𝖾𝗀𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾, 𝗐𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝗌. 𝗐𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗅."

༆༄༄༆

"𝗂𝗌 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗀𝗈𝗇𝖾?." 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗌𝗄𝖾𝖽

"𝖶𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆, 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇." 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗄𝗌 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗀𝖺𝗓𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗒 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗅 "𝗅𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗅 𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗅𝖽" 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝗀𝗈𝗍 𝗈𝖿𝖿 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗄𝗇𝖾𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗄𝗌

𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝗄𝗂𝖽𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖺 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖽 𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝖣𝖺𝗋

"𝗐𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗆𝗉." 𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗐𝗎𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗀𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗈𝖿𝖿 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝖾𝗋

"𝖶𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗅?." 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗌𝗄𝖾𝖽

"𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝗌𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗇, 𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖻𝖺𝖻𝗅𝗒 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗆𝗉 𝖺𝗌𝗐𝖾𝗅𝗅." 𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗇𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇

"𝖸𝖾𝖺𝗁 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝖾'𝗌 𝖺 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖻𝖻𝗈𝗋𝗇 𝗆𝗎𝗅𝖾, 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖻𝖺𝖻𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗋𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉." 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇

"𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖻𝖻𝗈𝗋𝗇 𝗈𝗋 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗍, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗈 𝖽𝗈 𝗐𝖾." 𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽

"𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗀?." 𝖧𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽

"𝖡𝗎𝗂𝗅𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝗈𝖻𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗅𝗒," 𝖫𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖾𝖽

𝖣𝖺𝗋 𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗌 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗉𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄𝗉𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝖻𝗌 𝖺 𝖬𝖱𝖤

༆༄༄༆

𝖠𝗌 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗏𝖾𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗌𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗎𝗇𝖾𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗉 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝖼𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗒 𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖭𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗁 𝖲𝗍𝖺𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗌𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝖽𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖨 𝗋𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗓𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗉 𝖣𝗎𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝖾𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝖺𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗉 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝗌𝖾𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗎𝗌𝗍𝗈𝖿𝖿 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝖳𝖺𝗇𝗀𝗈 𝗌𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝖺𝗋, 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖬𝖺𝗅𝖺𝖼𝗄𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝗌𝖾 𝗈𝖿𝖿 𝗂𝗇 𝖲𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖺𝗄𝗂𝖺. 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗍 𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗎𝗍. 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗀𝗋𝗂𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗎𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝖺𝗐 𝖺 𝖱𝗎𝗌𝗌𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗎𝗇𝖾 𝗁𝖾 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗌𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝖿𝖾𝗐 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗎𝗍𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗀𝗈. 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗉𝗎𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗉𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗅 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗀𝗁 𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗈𝖽.

𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖼𝗅𝗎𝗍𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝖺𝗌 𝗐𝖺𝗋𝗆 𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗏𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗀𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗀𝗀𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝖻𝗂𝗍 𝖿𝗎𝗋𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖩𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖺𝗌 𝖾𝗑𝗎𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗅𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝗌𝗆𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗏𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝖼𝗄𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗀𝗎𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖺, 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖱𝗎𝗌𝗌𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗍𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗇𝗈𝗇𝖾, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝖿𝗅𝖺𝗀𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝖿𝗅𝖺𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖲𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖺𝗄𝗂𝖺𝗇. 𝖦𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗉𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗀𝗎𝗇 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗅𝗈𝗐𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗄𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗎𝗇𝖾

Before you read: This is a scene I have kinda had planned for my future book but I am fitting it to the prompt as well. Enjoy!

“Welcome child.” Nicolai found himself staring into the white maze that was the silky exterior of a giant cocoon. The boy could not seem to find the man who he heard speak. He almost could have sworn it was his father, but mother had pounded the fact that dead men tell no tales into Nicolas’s small head. Suddenly the cocoon started moving. “Welcome child, step closer, young one.” Nicolai could hear being spoken by a firm voice. It was coming from the cocoon, wasn’t it? Pounding rang from the cocoon as the boy slowly approached it. He didn’t understand why he obeyed the call of the voice, but he could almost sense something important would occur if he stepped closer. The pounding rang louder and more frequent. The child moved close enough so he could reach out and touch the cocoon. As he did two large claws with dagger-like talons reached out and dug into his shoulders. It didn’t hurt but the boy’s heart pounded and his small body filled with adrenaline. “Run.” Nicolai ran. “I would have ran even without your commands!” The boy thought to himself, mostly to convince himself that it was true. The trees and forestry around him dissolved, as they were replaced with a more familiar landscape. Large brick buildings and roads just like home, although there was no inhabitants in sight. As the boy flew through the empty streets, he heard the screams of the beast that was chasing him. He couldn’t see it, but it was there. The screams got louder. He could hear them through covered ears. “Hide.” The boy stopped in his tracks and located a building he could easily hide in. “Wait, what am I doing?” Nicolai thought back to his running from the beast. He couldn’t feel his bare feet against the pavement. He touched his face. He couldn’t feel his fingers brush his hair or poke at his eyes. “I don’t need to listen to him.” Nicolai decided. “Clever boy.” The screams ceased, but I new sound began. The flapping of many wings was heard in the far distance. They were moving quick. “I will use my magic. I will stand my ground. I will not hide!” Fire formed in Nicolai’s childish hands as swarms upon swarms of moths flew, covering the entirety of the road in front of the boy. The fire shot from Nicolai’s palms. It was easily the strongest blaze he had ever produced, but the moths engulfed him in a matter of seconds.

Darkness. Nicolai was alive, but it felt like he wasn’t. He walked forward. Darkness and more darkness was in his path. Everywhere he looks was pitch black. He had found himself in a void of nothingness for as long as his eyes could see. “Hello, my child.” Two claws grabbed the boy just like they had before. Nicolai struggled as he was picked up, but the beast didn’t attack or tear at the child. The beast set the boy down on his lap and patted the young boy on his head. “Those are hands, and not claws. What is happening! Who are you!” The monster answered only his last question. “Vinimars.”

Why did they always run…?

“Damn it, Larry.” Stskai sighed as she watched the lowlife fledgling bolt through the warehouse door. All he had to do was answer one simple question: “Who’s running the show, Larry?” But no, Larry had to run… and that meant that she’d have to chase him. That was her least favorite thing. She preferred her prey to be lured in, mesmerized, and stricken down before they ever knew what had happened. She hated running.

Larry tore through the ally way. He scaled a chain fence. Trash bags cushioned his fall. Panicked, he ran. He ran as fast as he could. That damned dame was asking the wrong questions. Questions that could get him killed. She didn’t know who she was fucking with. He was glad he didn’t need to breathe. Not since he’d been turned.

Larry’s feet pounded against the asphalt. He couldn’t stop. Not until he knew he was far from her. He could pretend she’d never cornered him. He could tell the others she was snooping around. Get back up. He’d heard of her. She was just as much a threat as Vinny was. He knew he couldn’t take her alone. He turned a corner. A well lit street. Main Street. People were always present, even this late at night.

Slowing to a jog, Larry dared to glance behind him. A sigh parted his lips, the sight of red hair and caramel skin was nowhere to be seen. A few teenagers were hanging out at a late night convenience store up ahead and a few other adults were walking, probably to sober up before heading home. Larry continued to walk as he shoved his hands in his pocket. Of course he’d outrun her, he was a vampire now after all, fresh as he was. The curse of never seeing the sun again came with unimaginable speed and power; though he was starting to feel quite a big hungry now after exerting so much energy.

He passed the teenagers: there was too many of them, it wouldn’t be easy to pick one off. Larry scanned the street as he walked, attempting to find the perfect prey; someone alone. His eyes landed on the perfect target. A woman, a pretty looking thing, walking alone in a darker section where the storefronts ended. He realized how dry his throat felt, how much his teeth ached… He kept an even pace as he moved towards the woman. He didn’t want to draw suspicion to himself. Women were suspicious of most men nowadays thanks to that ‘Me Too’ bullshit.

The woman was about to pass an ally. Larry grinned, fangs visible from behind his lips. He had almost caught up with her. She was just an arm’s length away. He reached out to grab her. The click of a gun sounded behind him. The woman turned and screamed at the sight of him. Stskai stood behind him, a handgun pressed against the back of his head.

“Get out of here.” Stskai’s green eyes met the woman’s. As if on cue, she ran, loosing her high heels in the process. Larry went to move and Stskai pressed the gun harder into his hair. “Not you.” She hissed before she took Larry’s arm in her free hand. “This way.” She instructed as she practically pulled him into the ally way.

“Damn it, Kai; I don’t want no trouble.” Larry slurred behind his elongated teeth. He was still getting used to them. “Then you shouldn’t have fucking run, Larry.” Stskai pursed her lips as she glared towards the poor excuse for a fledgling. “Good thing you stopped for a meal. I might not have caught up.” Stskai snorted as she lowered the gun. The ally only had one exit and Stskai had made sure to position herself in the way of it. “Let’s try this again; who’s the one that’s been turning so many of you bastards?”

For a petite woman, there was something dangerous about her. The way she stood, the confidence that radiated around her. Then there were the stories… Of all the hunter’s in the city, she was one of the few that the night creature’s feared. Larry swallowed. His eyes darted around as if trying to think of a way to escape. “You know I can’t answer that. He’ll kill me if I tell.” Larry practically cried. He was a trapped animal. She could smell the fear from him. “It’s Vinny, isn’t it…” The disappointment on her voice dripped like venom. Larry’s eyes grew wide and he visibly shook. “I ain’t say that!” Even though he didn’t need to breathe, Larry was panting from fear. A habit from life perhaps. “Fuck, it is him…” Stskai said as she slipped her gun away into a holster on her hip. “Damn, ok… Listen Larry, we can help-“ Stskai was cut off mid sentence as Larry stabbed her in the stomach with a pocket knife. Her eyes grew wide before anger overtook her face. Her pupils turned to slits and a hiss escaped her throat. Larry’s panic doubled as he watched her face change into something less human…and more snake-like. “The fuck are you?” Larry’s voice quivered along with the rest of his body as he dropped the knife. He took a step back. “Run.” Stskai hissed before she lunged towards him. Her caramel skin had begun to look scaly. Her mouth had become a little too wide as long fangs extended from hidden sheaths. Larry went to run. A dead end. He jumped. His hands clawed at the wall. He tried to climb. He felt something pierce the back of his leg. His body went numb almost instantly. His fingers gave way and he fell back onto the ground. He couldn’t move. Larry looked up in horror at the giant snake-like creature that hovered over him. Red hair, green eyes, but scales and fangs where human features had been before. Stskai’s secret? She wasn’t human…

He darts towards his prey, A single woman scared to lose, Which he intends to take today, She runs, But his pace more steady, He catches, Her but not her treasure. Angry, He made her labor and labor, Labor until her exhaustion shut her body down. He made her part with time, and money, and body and mind to make what he owned, So that she would not have time to make what she owns, He would own what she depends on And this is how he’d get her to give her prize. After all she will die. But there was something he did not know, The prize could only be found inside, Of her. And it could not be pried from her soul, The treasure inseparable with her life, To possess her is to destroy the light.

“Ethan-“ Akiva grunted out, voice tight and limbs trembling. Her pupils were blown wide, blacking out the flame-red eyes she begun to sport after the turn, and she couldn’t stop staring at Clementine. Her lips quivered, upturning just enough for the unnatural pointed canines to peek from their hiding spot. “Get. H- Her. Out of here.”

Just as Ethan hastily reached out for Clementine’s arm, Akiva snapped. She hissed, surging towards them with unnatural speed.

Before she could reach them, however, another blur came from out of nowhere and slammed into Akiva’s side with a high-pitched whistle.

“Noah!” Clementine gasped, wincing as Ethan tugged their arm and started running. The duo stumbled, tripping on the lip of the doorframe as Ethan slammed open the slab of wood.

“Come on, Clem!” Ethan growled, pulling open the car door and shoving her inside. Once she was secure, Ethan hopped into the drivers seat, patting his pockets with a growing look of panic. “Shit. Shit. Shit!”

“Here!” Clementine called, the jangle of keys following soon after. Ethan grabbed them from her with a nod of thanks and jammed them into the ignition.

Roaring to life, Ethan reversed the car out of the driveway, flattening an innocent rose bush. The sound of glass shattering and a high pitched wail was soon drowned out by the screeching of rubber against asphalt.

With the engine roaring in their ears as Ethan pushed the pedal to its limits, Clementine twisted from staring out the back window to looking up at the driver’s seat.

“Ethan, what the hell was that?! Why would she freak out like that? I thought she was doing well on her animal diet?”

Ethan lifted his head, sniffing the air. “You’re bleeding.”

“What? No I’m not-“ Clementine looked down at their finger. They’d ripped off a hangnail earlier. Barely a spec of crimson in the raw flesh. “This is literally less than a pixels-width of blood. That seriously broke her?”

“She’s new to this, Clem,” Ethan turned down the street a bit harshly, both teens having to brace themselves against their seats. “Every instinct she has is telling her to either eat or protect. When we’re all together, she must have seen it as ‘safe’. Er, her mind labeled you as ‘safe’ and moved onto hunger.”

Clementine furrowed their brows, crossing their arms over their chest. “This sucks.”

“Yeah it does-“

The road wasn’t very wide, walls of trees encasing the stretch of pavement on either side. So when something landed against the roof, Ethan swerved.

The car made a harsh screeching sound as it side-swiped a road sign and the windshield cracked and shattered as they ran straight into a tree–

…

“-em! Clem! Get up!” Something was pressed against their shoulder, shaking it. They groaned, wincing at the pain filling their senses. “Shit, Clem…”

Clementine gave a yell of pain as arms forced their way under their arms and in the backs of their knees.

“I know! I know. I’m sorry. You’re gonna be okay, but we gotta go.” They we’re sat down against something. Sharp, scratchy, rounded, and knobby. Probably a tree then. “How the hell did they manage to get here so fast…”

There was the tearing of cloth, the snapping of bones, and a gnashing of teeth followed by an exhausted growl next to their ear. Clementine wrinkled their nose at the smell of dog breath and opened their eyes.

Another pair stared back. Ethan’s. Except not how Ethan’s normally looked. They were bigger, set further apart. And, the most obvious being that they were attached to a wolf and not a human.

The wolf have a low bark, shaking his head from Clementine to his back. Clementine understood and pushed themself to their feet with a grunt and climbed onto the large wolf’s back.

There was a crash against wood and dirt a few feet to their left.

Noah was looking worse for wear. His right eye was squinted, his arm was sluggishly bleeding. Which was unfair, in Clem’s opinion. Why could Noah be losing cups of blood and just get his head slammed into a tree but Clementine gets a cut and Akiva sets out to pin and bleed them dry?

The answer is simple, in all reality: Humans are the only susceptible beings to become another species and Clementine? Unfortunately 100% human.

Ethan shook under Clementine and then he leapt forward, bounding through the trees and slipping over mud spots. “Ethan,” Clementine called, face buried deep into his fur and arms wrapped around his neck. “Wha’ bout Noah?” They slurred, shivering as the wind bit at their skin.

Ethan simply whined softly and continued forward.

They opened their mouth to ask something else, but fog filled their head. Clementine blinked harshly, slowly. Their brows pinched as they felt their arm stinging.

Looking down, Clementine dropped their jaw. “Eth’n. ‘M bit. Got her cooties.”

And their eyes slipped close.

Be quiet be still The monster hunts at night

Running jumping tripping It thunders after The shadows scape the ground Clawing at their prey

Quiet be quiet The monster prowls about Its eyes deep pits

Be still Halt breath The mist will give you away Your heartbeat will give you away

Can you get away Crash smack Run through the woods The streets Monsters hunt at night

Be still not Run until you cannot Tumbled but don’t fall Run through the bramble The monster is silent It’s bloodlust is loud

Be quiet be still The monsters are scared of the light Be loud be boisterous But only in the moonlight