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Growling had me opening my eyes to see the One I brought along being constricted by a tentacle.
“Ah, you’re up. That’s a pity,” Cordis mused as the tentacle released the Umbra. “I was kinda hoping to watch the damn thing pop like a balloon.”
“Why are you –”
“Before you blame me, I had nothing to do with what you’re thinking. The lil shit was trying to eat your foot while you were sleeping. I swear, all these lil bastards are opportunists… And they always go after the damn feet... like chihuahuas or something.”
“Cordis—”
“Check if you don’t believe me but I already said I wouldn’t lie to you.” I raised my leg with a bit of difficulty to see the teeth marks on my shoe before looking at the One cowering behind a piece of rubble. “So, how’d you do that?”
“Do what?” I grumbled as I got to my feet. Stumbling as my body ached, I looked over my shoulder to see the tentacle pushing against my back to keep me upright.
“How are you doing that?”
“I don’t know,” I replied irritably as he repeated the question again.
“Fine; play stupid then. I’ll figure it out for myself.”
“Cor—”
“Jayden.” I tensed before looking over at Ignatius. He seemed somewhat curious about the tentacle looming behind me before another reared up to point at him. “I was thinking that I could take care of your arm and see if you’re alright. You’re also paler than before.” I grimaced at him. “Can we have a little talk?”
“The guy wants to talk?” Cordis questioned. “Is he gonna preach about working together again? Look the other way and not be angry, right? It’s unlike you to be angry after all.”
I scowled at the idea of what he was implying before focusing on the caster. He looked exhausted from what I guessed to be him spending so much energy tending to Vandal’s wounds.
But why should I have cared about that?
“There isn’t anything to talk about and I don’t need you fixing my arm. I can take care of it myself,” I replied as I curled the blackened fingers. “Why don’t you just go to sleep? You’ve exhausted yourself and look like death.”
“We can make you dead if you like,” Cordis suggested.
“I’m talking to Jayden,” Ignatius yawned. “Not you.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “You’re not exactly able to tell us apart, you know?”
“Perhaps but I want to talk to y—”
“Get it through your head that I don’t want to talk to you!” I snapped as I whirled around to see three tentacles directed at the caster.
The one closest to him had a sharpened point aimed at his throat and inched closer as I took a step towards him. He looked a bit pale but I wasn’t sure if it was from fear or his exhaustion.
“Jay—”
“I don’t care for whatever it is you have to say and I don’t need your help,” I clarified. “The living shouldn’t interfere with the dead. I remember you agreeing to that much.”
“I also said under certain circumstances the two could work together,” Ignatius pressed as he took a step forward. “That being said, trust me enough to let me heal your arm.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my arm,” Cordis chided as he held up the darkened limb. The fingers then sharpened to fine points. “If anything, it’s better than what you could possibly do.”
“Jay –”
“Stop talking to me,” I growled as the tentacle pressed against his throat.
“Animae.”
“There isn’t anything you can say of interest by this point! You keep saying you want to help me and I should trust you but why should I after what you’ve done?!”
“Jayden, please calm down.”
I felt my eye twitch as Cordis mused, “Doesn’t he know telling someone to calm down never works?”
“Calm down…” I muttered.
“You’re not supposed to be angry. You don’t get angry,” Cordis snickered. “That’s not like you at all…”
The tentacle at Ignatius’ throat retreated as I bowed my head. “I need to calm down…?”
Ignatius took a step forward slowly while extending his hand. It gave off an orange glow as he reached for my hand before the tentacle looming over my shoulder grabbed a hold of his wrist. It yanked him forward before the tentacle that was once at his throat was pressed to his chest. The third tentacle reared up from behind him before the end curved then flattened to resemble that of a blade. That then rested under his chin before pressing into the skin as he uttered my name.
“Do it.”
“Stop talking.”
“Do it.”
“Jay–”
“Stop talking!” I growled as several other tendrils reared up around us. “I do not want to talk to you!” The curved tendril pressed against his skin to draw blood. “There’s nothing you could possibly say to make me listen to you!”
“Do it, Animae.”
“Jay–”
“Both of you shut the hell up!”
The tentacle lined up with the caster’s neck reeled back before slamming into a barrier. A faint orange glow appeared around the caster before the tendril recoiled before trying again. The second and third then did the same until the glow started to flicker. A fourth then flattened then curved to swing at Ignatius before withdrawing as the glow pulsed. I was knocked back but two of the tendrils caught me to set me back on my feet before my scythe appeared in hand.
“Jay–”
Several more of the tendrils sprang forward only to be deflected by that orange glow. The scythe was swung, cutting through the man’s shirt and extinguishing the flickering light.
“You’re very hardheaded. Animae, doesn’t wanna talk to you, Iggy,” Cordis teased as he licked the line of blood from the blade.
“I…I want…to speak to J-Jayden,” Iggy huffed as he staggered forward. “We n-need to…talk.”
Cordis raised an eyebrow before the orange light pulsed. “You really are an annoyingly persistent guy,” he mused as he twirled the weapon. He then ran forward with the intentions of removing the man’s head.
The last of that warm glow radiated outward to knock Cordis back. A tentacle kept him upright before I raised my head to see Ignatius lowering his hand slowly. He looked like he was going to collapse as he took a shaky step forward.
“Jayden.”
I took a step back as Cordis said, “Kill him.”
“Jay…”
“Do it. You’ll feel much better.”
“Jay…can we p-please t…”
The caster collapsed though two of the tendrils curled around either arm to keep him falling face first into the ground. Taking a step back to sit on a larger piece of rubble, I stared at the man.
“Kill the guy. He’s annoying as fuck.”
“Ignatius?”
The sudden call startled me enough to drop the man in front of me before I looked to see Vandal holding a worn box. Talon was right behind him with several bottles of what could have been water. They looked at the caster then at me. Talon looked uncomfortable while Vandal wore a guarded expression as he looked at something past me.
Following his gaze, I turned to see at least eight of the tendrils bristled and pointing at the pair. They then shrank back and retreated into the shadows before I looked to see Vandal’s hand ease from the holstered firearm.
“What did you–”
“I didn’t do anything,” I said quickly as I wiped the corner of my mouth.
“Bull shit.” I looked down at the caster as he let out a small snore. “Seriously?”
“It’s one thing to say you didn’t,” Talon said, “but we both just saw that… or whatever that was just now.”
“Jayden.” I looked at Vandal to see the usual stoic expression. “What did y– what happened here?”
“What did you do, Animae?” I flinched at the chuckle before balling up the darkened hand to the point the nails started to cut into the skin. “Tell them you were going to kill him. Go on. Do it.”
“Jay –”
“Do it.” I buried my face into my hands. “Tell them how it’d make you feel waaaaaay better.”
“Hey –”
“Shut up!”
It was suddenly silent before I could hear what sounded like muffled voices.
“What the hell is that?” That sounded like Talon. “Hey, don’t go near it!”
Peering through my fingers, a chill worked down my spine as I took in how dark it was. I couldn’t tell where the ground started and where the sky began. I extend a hand before feeling something cool beneath my fingers before pulling it back as I heard something like quick breathing.
“Animae.” I looked around as my chest tightened. “Calm the hell down, idiot,” Cordis chided. “Take a deep breath and chill for like two seconds… Breathe, stupid.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before feeling something pat my shoulder. “Do it again.” I inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly as something patted my shoulder. “Again.”
The light patting on my shoulder had me opening my eyes to see the slightest seamline. The darkness then rose like a curtain before breaking apart into several tentacles that retreated into the shadows. The fourth pat had me looking at the tentacle hanging over my shoulder.
“Jayden.”
I tensed before watching as the tentacle bristled before rearing upwards. I grabbed a hold of it before it retreated into the shadows of the rubble behind me. My attention then went back to the gunner that was standing several meters away. Vandal and the others must’ve moved back to get away from me at some point as there was a hole in the ground between us.
It looked as it something had been cleanly stabbed into the asphalt.
Vandal didn’t say anything about it but he had that indifferent expression as his hand hovered over his firearm momentarily. My attention then slid towards the portal maker that was examining Ignatius’ injury.
“It’s not deep,” Talon concluded. “He’ll be fine after some rest.”
“Honestly, I only need like thirty seconds to make sure he doesn’t wake up at all,” Cordis mused aloud as he raked his fingers through his hair, staining part of it black.
“What’s wrong with you?” Talon asked as he glared at the blonde. “Why did you attack Ignatius?!”
Cordis hummed in thought before lowering his hands. “To be fair, he was being annoyingly persistent,” he relied, “and it wasn’t me who openly attacked him.” Talon grimaced. “Ok, maybe I did attack him but Animae did it first because Iggy was being pushy.”
“He was probably trying to help!”
“You don’t have the best track record when it comes to the term ‘help’,” Cordis pointed out as he wiped away the black liquid starting to leak from his mouth. “Don’t come at me with that self-righteous crap.”
“Cordis.” Gold eyes panned towards Vandal. “Let us talk to Jayden.”
“He didn’t want to talk to Iggy so what makes you think he’s gonna wanna talk to you?”
“Have him say that he doesn’t want to talk himself.”
Cordis sneered at that. “Now you’re valuing his word? You didn’t give a shit when you were at the h—”
“That’s enough,” Vandal interjected as he took a step forward. “Jayden, can we talk for a moment?”
I scowled at the idea of it before folding my arms. “You have some explaining to do if you expect me to listen.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP09NfVg76
It was hard to focus with how much my body was aching, but I sat through the explanation of what happened at the hospital up until I had shown back up. Cordis had long since filled me in with his half and he didn’t lie about anything seeing how the other testimonies lined up but that didn’t make me any less pissed off.
Talon stayed at a distance and said it was to look over Ignatius as he rested. Vandal stood in front of me while his gaze seemed to follow the tentacle looming behind me. It bristled and held a rigid position when I looked back at it.
“Jayden.” My gaze went back to the gunner. “You’re angry.”
“Waaaaay past that to be perfectly honest,” Cordis pointed out.
“I’m talking to Jayden.”
“Really? He’s just been glaring at you this whole time. Wouldn’t this conversation be way more exciting if you talked to me instead?” The gunner scowled at the man only to receive a smirk as the blonde leaned forward. “You know, you’re pretty cute when you get all annoyed.”
“You’re wasting your time,” Talon stated. “If Jayden wanted to speak, he would’ve done so by now.”
“Actually, it’s a matter of how I should say what I’m thinking,” I mused. “It’s a matter of being tactful or blunt.” My eyes wandered between the two before settling on Vandal. “However, bluntness may be the best way.”
“Well?”
I took a deep breath. “You all are assholes.”
“Jay-”
“Shut up. You wanted me to talk so I am,” I growled. “I’m far beyond pissed off at what you – ” I glared at him then at Talon and Ignatius. “–all did. How – why would you do something like that?! After everything we already had to deal with, now I had to worry about my frie–” I balled my hands into fists. “I didn’t expect to be stabbed in the fucking back.”
“The situation was dire,” Talon chimed in, “and we were wasting time. Kind of like right now!”
“You know why I did what I did,” Vandal replied.
I waved my hand dismissively before Cordis said, “Ah, yes. It was so imperative that you saved your little mistress.”
Vandal narrowed his eyes. “What did you just say?”
“Did I stutter or are you just hard of hearing?” he questioned as he got to his feet. “You can go on and drop the chivalrous act, Vandal. All you wanted to do was finish playing house with your little girlfriend which is strange when you think about it. You didn’t show this much enthusiasm when I was fighting your wife and you two were fucking married.”
The man winced as he quickly started towards the blonde. “What are you getting at?”
“Til death do you part, huh?” Cordis shrugged as he turned away, wiping the corner of his mouth. “Or maybe you’re in a rush because you’re just trying to replace dear Leonette.” Cordis then peered over his shoulder. “You’d think someone as chivalrous as you would at least protect your girlfriend to avoid repeating previous events.”
Vandal took another staggered step forward as his hand ghosted over his weapon. “My damnable chivalry?! We’re trying to save a friend’s life and you think I give a damn about—
One of the tentacles darted out to snag the long gun left leaning against an abandoned car before a second snake around the gunner to retrieve the holstered weapon at his side.
“Trying to save a friend,” I said quietly as the weapons were kept out of reach.
“Give them b—!”
“Shut up, Vandal.” Cordis snickered before I told him the same. “You tried to save a friend by betraying someone else.”
“You know why I did what I did,” he replied.
“Oh, I know,” I replied as I looked at him. “You wanted to save your girlfriend and your price was betrayal.” A third tendril then yanked him forward as I glared at him. “And for what!? You didn’t get shit accomplished!”
Vandal grit his teeth before exhaling quieltly. “You already know what I’ll say. It was all for Nu.”
“And your singlemindedness and lack of tact got Carlos killed.” The gunner nodded solemnly. “Not only did you fail in that aspect but you were well on your way to dying from your wounds! What good would that do?!”
Vandal looked away with a saddened look in his eye. “T’was prepared for that anyway. Call me a fool all you want for that one.”
“You’re a fucking idiot but I think you’re aware of that already.”
“That’s enough.” I looked over at Talon as the tendril released the other man. “You’re angry. We get it but time wasn’t on our side. We had to –”
“Last I recall, you left.”
“To get Moryuu.”
I chuckled sardonically. “Right. You’re not a fighter type so you went to get your friend.” I took a step towards him. “Yet you show up empty-handed nonetheless and tell me that you get why I’m angry? I’m past angry, you asshole. After being a living airbag, tend to injuries, deal with roundabout flirting from a girl that’s now a tree, cooking, and trying to avoid being a third wheel for loverboy there while maintaining composure, only to get stabbed in the back!”
“Again, time was running out and you weren’t present!”
I took another step towards the man. “Well, excuse me for having to deal with sleep deprivation coupled with a fractured rib and a dislocated shoulder.” The tendril then wrapped around Talon’s arm to pull him forward. “Would you like to try resetting your own fucking shoulder? You still have the oxytocin from before, right?’
“Or we can just kill you instead,” Cordis suggested happily. “I prefer the latter.”
“Jay—”
“Then again, none of this should matter to you after all.” I looked at the scuff mark from where he had been punched and wished I had been the one to do it. “What’s the price that brought you here? You wouldn’t show up to save a handful of dead people, right? Considering how many times we’ve probably gone through this loop before you arrived, I’m sure the risk of millions was your motivation, huh? But you don’t necessarily scream hero to me so I’m assuming someone told you to come, right?” The tendril then tossed Talon towards Vandal, offsetting the latter’s balance. “Was it your friend or maybe the price of a potential promotion…”
“You don’t know anything about me!” Talon snapped back.
“Oh, Banana has some bite all of a sudden?” Cordis chuckled.
“Shut up,” he ground out.
“You’re right; I don’t know anything about you,” I confessed. “You did quite well at keeping your secrets to yourself. Play the good guy to get in and out quickly. If you do good, maybe you’d get a reward. Why else would anyone come to this hellhole, right?”
“Don’t talk like you can read me,” Talon retorted. “You’re doing a lot of high of talking to bring us down – going on about prices and whatnot! What’s your price then, huh? What would it take for you?!
“Your head on a silver platter would do nicely,” Cordis answered as he flexed blacked claws. “I could remove it for you if you like but –” He rubbed at his chin before grinning, “ –I’d settle with the simple idea of you all dying and me leaving this place to go home. I’m not obligated to give two shits about your wellbeing after all so if I could leave, that would be wonderful!”
“Typical answer, Cordis. I’m assuming that’s the same for Jayden then.”
“Of c—"
“Don’t answer for me,” I interrupted as I watched Vandal wince as he righted himself. “You want to know my price? Realistically speaking, it’s me being able to fulfill the terms of this godforsaken contract.”
“It’s supposed to be us going home!” I raked my hand through my hair at the notion before shaking my head. “I want–!”
“Honestly, I don’t care what you want,” I muttered to Cordis as the tendrils bristled then swayed. “It doesn’t matter by this point. Even if you did manage to get back, there’s nothing left so we just need a plan to get this shit over with.”
“Oh, and you suddenly have a plan?” Talon questioned.
“Do you actually think you could be useful in it?” I responded to match his haughtiness. “Time is ticking after all.”
“Hey!” We both looked at Vandal to see him clutching at his side. “Instead of fighting, just tell us what we should do, Jayden!” He then clenched his hands at his side before bowing his head. “Please, for Nu…”
“Let them figure it out for themselves.”
I looked at the gunner before taking a seat on the nearby rusted out car that held the box of canned goods. Eyeing what appeared to be peaches, I opened the can before downing the contents as my stomach rumbled.
I couldn’t taste anything much like the wine in the hotel. Opening a second can, I downed the second container before holding my stomach as it churned. As the pain increased, I leaned over the side of the vehicle to vomit before throwing the empty can aside as the smell of the sticky syrup was enough to make me nauseas. Covering my mouth as I swallowed down the taste of bile, I then scrubbed my hand across my mouth to see that oily substance. Footsteps then had me facing forward to see Vandal take a slight step forward.
“Jayden…”
“Right; you want to hear the plan,” I said before resting my chin in the palm of my hand. “I’ll tell you when the overgrown turkey wakes up since I’m not repeating it.”
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