Chapter One-hundred Ninety-Eight: Heart Attack

Chapter 198

Heart Attack

The Pink Top City General Hospital’s Emergency Room was overcrowded with people coming for life-threatening matters, like a stroke or heart attack, to non-urgent matters like an earache or an upset stomach. A Sikh woman entered the ER with her husband, who had his arm over her and clutched his chest. He was a Sikh man with a full dark beard and moustache, wearing an orange turban and a blue suit.

Woman: “I NEED HELP! MY HUSBAND IS HAVING A HEART ATTACK!”

She cried. Just then, her husband collapsed to the floor. Nurses and paramedics surrounded him to lift him off the floor and onto a gurney.

~

The paramedics placed the man on the bed. An Asian doctor entered the room wearing a lab coat over a suit.

Nurse: “Dr. Tachibana! The patient’s name is Kahn Samra. He’s currently 39 years old. He and his wife, Japji, brought him in after he complained about chest pain at the Donati Christmas Gala.”

He explained.

Doctor: “I’ll do an EKG and issue him 325 milligrams of Aspirin.”

He instructed. The nurse nodded and left the room.

Doctor: “Can you hear me, Mr. Samra?”

He asked him and heard someone’s throat clearing. He turned around to see Ichiro standing in the doorway dressed in a black trenchcoat and fedora. He bowed his head and looked at his patient, pain evident in his eyes.

~

Fabien lay in bed, staring off into space. Fatigue and depression filled his eyes. He wore green plaid pajama bottoms and had a bit of stubble on his face. He heard a ding on his computer and looked over. Blair sent a message to his Bungle server. Fabien rose to his desktop to read the tantrum, hoping it would lift his spirits.

There was a picture of Blair in his baby blue tuxedo, bawling.

BlairDonati: It’s not every day your fiancée you love dearly, dumps you for a “richer” guy who only uses them for a fetish, but here we are.

BlairDonati: And my family doesn’t care about my suffering. They’re fretting over some guy having a heart attack. Yup, that matters more than me suffering a heartbreak after the love of my life left me for some beatnik with a gross fetish.

BlairDonati: I can’t stop crying. I can’t smile. Nothing is good about my life. Grandpa said he hopes the guy who had a heart attack makes a full recovery. What about ME?! I AM RIGHT HERE! I FEEL LIKE I COULD DIE BECAUSE ASHLEY USED ME FOR MY MONEY.

BlairDonati: I am done with love. Ashley wants a nice guy, and when they had one, they left me for a jerk.

BlairDonati: I do for my family, and no one checked in on me. I am not happy, and I hate my life. No one knows how hard I have it.

BlairDonati: Aunt Maria said she is giving me a garbage bag for Christmas, and it’s all I am grateful for. This is what I needed to hear after Ashley ripped my heart to shreds.

BlairDonati: I could use someone to make me smile. I just need to smile, and no one on this server cares.

BlairDonati: Ashley is an ungrateful gold-digging bitch.

Fabien clicked “Mute server for eight hours,” then shut down his computer. Doesn’t this fucker ever shut up? I’m not in the mood right now, he thought and crawled back into bed, pulling the sheets over his head.

~

Jaxon drove down the highway, leading Deimos, Tristan, and Jordi to Ichiro’s warehouse. As he went, he was chain-smoking and lost in thought. Celeste sat in the passenger seat, glancing at him and watching the trees rush by as they moved.

Jaxon kept his right hand on the steering wheel as he smoked with his left hand, with a pained look on his face. Celeste glanced at him and then out the window.

Celeste: “Do you want me to put some music on?”

She asked. Jaxon heaved a deep sigh.

Jaxon: “If you want, babe. I don’t want to go here. I don’t know why Tristan wants to come here. What is coming here going to prove?”

He asked, his voice cracking as tears welled in his eyes. Celeste shifted her eyes.

Celeste: “I guess he sees some angle to use against Ichiro.”

Jaxon: “We already know he turns people into those monsters!”

He cried as he banged his hand on the steering wheel.

Celeste: “We didn’t know about the body double.”

She drawled.

Jaxon: “What will that prove?”

He inhaled sharply.

Dread filled him as he saw the dark silhouette of that warehouse approaching. The same warehouse where he saw those corpses, as well as his brother, was where he felt his ladylove. Jaxon took a deep breath, turned on his signal, and made a left-hand turn to drive onto the dirt road leading to the derelict warehouse.

Deimos’ and Jordi’s cars followed behind him. They parked their cars in front of the warehouse. Deimos scrambled out of the car to open the door for Tristan. Jaxon, Celeste, and Jordi stepped out of their vehicles.

Jordi: “This is it?”

He asked. Celeste nodded.

Celeste: “Yup, sure is.”

Jaxon embraced himself.

They ventured inside the warehouse with only light from the two moons shining through the broken windows. Deimos glanced at Tristan, who swerved his head to look around.

Tristan: “Anyone have a flashlight?”

He asked. Deimos reached out and tickled Tristan’s tummy and sides.

Deimos: “OOOOOH, SPOOKY!”

Jaxon let out a loud gasp and clung to Celeste.

Tristan: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed and yanked himself away.

Tristan: “Deimos, can you not do this now?!”

He snapped. Jaxon trembled in Celeste’s grasp.

Jordi cleared his throat.

Jordi: “I have one in my car. Let me get it.”

He held up his forefinger and ran outside to his car. A rat scurried by, and Jaxon yelped, jumping into Celeste’s arms. Tristan glanced at Jaxon.

Tristan: “Jaxon, what’s wrong?”

Jaxon: “I don’t want to be here!”

He cried.

Before Tristan could reply, Jordi entered the warehouse and turned on his flashlight. He shone the light on Tristan, Jaxon, Celeste, and Deimos and then pointed it to the corner where several grotesque corpses lay. Tristan cupped his mouth, and Jordi’s jaw dropped. Jaxon looked away in fear. The corpses’ eyes bulged out of their heads, their mouths were large and gaping, and large claws protruded from their fingertips.

Jordi: “...What are those?!”

He asked breathlessly. Jaxon’s heart hammered in his chest, and his skin felt clammy. Tristan turned to Jaxon.

Tristan: “Jaxon?”

Deimos: “The tickle monster might get you!”

He teased as he tickled Tristan’s tummy.

Tristan: “HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed and shoved Deimos away.

Tristan: “Deimos, please stop this!”

He barked.

Jordi went to Jaxon and put his hand on his shoulder.

Jordi: “We’re here, Jaxon. It’s going to be okay.”

He reassured him as his light shone on several more grotesque, ghastly corpses. Some had tails protruding from their spinal cord, spikes on their backs, and scaly skin. Jaxon screamed and clung to Celeste. Tristan, Deimos, Jordi, and Celeste surveyed the bodies. Tristan cupped his mouth. Jordi turned to Tristan.

Jordi: “Who were these people!? What did he do to them?!”

Tristan: “He used them as his guinea pigs.”

He muttered.

They heard footsteps drawing closer. Jaxon yelped when he saw his older brother shine his light under his chin. Jordi, Celeste, Tristan, and Deimos turned to Ichiro.

Tristan: “Ichiro, what is this?! Where on Reona did you obtain all of these people?!”

He snapped.

Ichiro: “Stop asking inane questions, Tristan, and start asking why your loser boyfriend is still unemployed and leeching off you.”

He snorted. Deimos’ face contorted with rage.

Deimos: “YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE! I AM NOT LEECHING OFF TRISTAN!”

He bellowed and charged after him.

Before Deimos could strike, Ichiro pulled out Kahn, who was panting and clutching his chest. Tristan gasped.

Tristan: “DEIMOS, STOP!”

He yelled. Deimos delivered a punch to Ichiro’s nose, sending him back and releasing Kahn, who collapsed to the floor. Tristan and Jordi rushed to Kahn and knelt to him.

Jordi: “Are you okay, sir?!”

He asked.

Tristan: “Deimos, would you heal him?”

Deimos grabbed Ichiro and delivered a punch to his gut, knocking the wind out of him. Ichiro clutched his stomach and collapsed to the ground.

Deimos: “Tristan, he will NOT hurt you!”

Tristan: “Yes, Deimos, I realize this! There is a sick man here who needs your healing!”

He said flippantly. Jordi held onto Kahn’s hand and reassured him.

Jordi: “You’re going to get help, sir.”

He smiled.

Jaxon swallowed his fear and ran over to Kahn with Celeste following him. I couldn’t save Chelsea or Kristen, but I can save him, he thought. He knelt to him, and a red glow surrounded him as he healed him. Tristan and Jordi smiled at Jaxon.

Deimos: “Jaxon, Tristan asked ME to do it!”

He huffed and pointed to his chest with his thumb. Tristan rolled his eyes.

Celeste: “Well, why didn’t you?”

She asked.

Tristan: “A very good question, Celeste.”

The pain started leaving Kahn’s chest, and his heart started beating at a normal rhythm. Jaxon’s face brightened when he saw him feeling better. Celeste beamed at Jaxon and kissed his cheek, and wrapped her arms around him.

Ichiro lifted his head and saw Celeste kissing and hugging Jaxon. His face contorted with rage.

Ichiro: “Oh no, you don’t, Jiro!”

He rasped and pulled a gun out from his trench coat. Tristan turned to Ichiro and gasped when he cocked his gun and fired, shooting a syringe at Kahn’s leg and injecting the Richioprox Erokine into him. Jaxon’s eyes widened, and he jumped back, clasping his hands over his mouth. Jordi’s heart hammered in his chest.

Ichiro: “Hahahaha, serves you right for stealing MY green queen, Jiro! I am not letting you win EVER!”

He cackled. Deimos marched over and delivered a hard kick to his face.

Deimos: “Shut the fuck up!”

Kahn gasped and rasped for air as he clutched his chest. He clenched his teeth as excruciating pain coursed through his body. Jordi knelt to him and put his hands on his shoulders.

Jordi: “Sir, are you okay?!”

He asked.

Celeste: “Jordi, I know you like to help, but you gotta get away from him now. He’s going to turn into a monster.”

Jaxon embraced himself as he cried. Ichiro wiped the blood from his mouth.

Ichiro: “My Green Queen is on point, Jordi! Jiro lost, and so did all of you!”

He laughed manically. Jordi glared at him as he rose. Celeste held onto Jaxon as he sobbed into her chest, not wanting to witness Kahn’s transformation.

Kahn screamed in pain and reached out for Jordi. Jordi knelt down, but Tristan grabbed him and shook his head.

Tristan: “I’m sorry, Jordi! We can’t help him!”

He cried. Jordi cupped his mouth.

Jordi: “What if Deimos or Jaxon tries to heal him?”

He asked him.

Ichiro: “Jordi, you silly, idealistic fool! I perfected every angle so that neither Jiro nor his lazy friend, Deimos, could heal them!”

He cackled. Jordi glared hatefully at him. Tristan shot an ice blast at Ichiro, slamming him into the wall and falling face down on the ground.

Tristan: “You’re the fool, Ichiro. Your abominations will turn on you. Haven’t you played God enough with people’s lives?! For WHAT purpose?!”

He snapped at him, extending his hand to the corpses. Ichiro panted and clasped his hand over his chest.

Ichiro: “To break you and Jiro for crossing me, Tristan.”

He growled.

Kahn screamed as his mouth and nose protruded to an animalistic snout and his eyes bulged out of his head, falling to the ground, and forming glowing red eyes in his sockets. Kahn’s clothes began to tear at the seams as he grew larger and thicker; coarse fur sprouted over his body. A large spike from up from his head went through his turban, where it dropped to the ground. His hands grew larger with large claws sprouting from the fingertips, and his feet expanded and transformed into monkeyish feet.

Jaxon screamed and wailed as he heard the squelching sounds of his transformation. The sounds of skin peeling off, clothes tearing, and the smell of death and decay pervaded the air. Celeste held Jaxon close to her chest. Jordi cupped his mouth as his heart hammered in his chest. Tristan braced his feet apart, and Deimos braced for a fight.

The creature opened its mouth and let out a mighty roar as it beat its chest. It shot its fist out at Celeste. She jumped back and tripped over a can, causing her to fall and let Jaxon go. She and Jaxon crashed to the floor with Jaxon rolling over and facing one of the corpses on the floor. Jaxon screamed when he saw the bulging eyes, gaping mouth, and blue skin. The corpse reached out and grabbed his arm. Jaxon’s screams filled the warehouse.

Celeste gasped and scrambled to her feet.

Celeste: “Jaxon!”

The corpse pulled Jaxon toward it.

Corpse: “H-HELP ME! H-HELP! I-I AM IN S-SO MUCH PAAAAAIN!”

It wailed. Jaxon screamed and sobbed as he tried to pull away. Celeste’s fist went through the corpse’s head.

Jaxon: “GET IT OFF ME! GET IT OFF ME!”

He screamed as he tried to wrench the hand grasping him. Celeste pried the fingers away, snapping them off the hand, and Jaxon slammed his back to the wall, sobbing.

The creature charged after Jaxon and Celeste. Tristan shot his hand out, forming a boulder of ice and slamming it into the creature. It roared and threw it back at Tristan. Jordi formed a bolt of lightning that struck the boulder, shattering it.

Tristan formed an ice arrow and shot it at the creature, where the ice bounced off the fur and embedded into the ground. Tristan’s mouth was ajar. Before he could attack, several pairs of hands grabbed him and pulled him to the floor. Tristan was taken aback by the sudden action and screamed when he was met with the corpses on the floor, holding him down.

Tristan: “WHAT THE HELL?!”

He screamed. Deimos charged after him.

Deimos: “Tristan!”

He bellowed. One of the corpses clawed at Tristan’s face, drawing blood. Tristan gnashed his teeth as he tried to pry away. The hands grabbed at him and tore his suit jacket off. Deimos punched one of the corpses away.

Deimos: “GET THE FUCK OFF HIM!”

He roared as he repeatedly punched at the corpses and slammed his foot into one of the faces. He grabbed the fingers and yanked them back to free Tristan.

The creature charged after them. Celeste rammed into the beast, grabbed its arm, and slammed it into the ground.

One of the corpses grabbed Deimos’ arm and squeezed it, plunging its claws in. Deimos clenched his teeth and tried to pry them away from Tristan. Tristan panted.

Corpse: “H-HELP! H-HELP ME!”

It cried. Tristan struggled against their bonds and turned all of the corpses into ice. Deimos ripped the hand away, as his blood spilled to the ground. He grabbed Tristan’s hand and helped him up, reaching up to heal him. A purple glow emitted from his hand as he healed Tristan, and then he healed himself.

The creature threw Celeste into the wall, and she fell face down. Jaxon panted and crawled to her. Celeste rose to her feet.

Celeste: “Get Jaxon out of here!”

She called out. The creature shot its fist out at Jaxon. Celeste blocked it and grabbed it, baring her teeth. The creature roared, lifted her up, and threw her into a stack of metal drums, where she crashed and fell to the floor.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He cried and tried to get up to heal her. Celeste staggered to her feet.

The beast lunged at Jordi and slammed its immense body into him, embedding him into the ground. He spat out blood from the impact of the blow.

Tristan: “NO!”

He cried and shot out various icicles at the creature, which bounced off its fur. Jaxon panted and wheezed as he clutched his chest.

Jaxon: “No… No…”

He whimpered and sobbed. Celeste delivered a hard blow to the creature’s face, dislocating its jaw. She grabbed Jordi, lept and brought him to Deimos. Jordi groaned in pain. Deimos knelt before him and placed his hands on him, healing him.

Tristan panted as his fear soared. My ice doesn’t do any good, and why isn’t Jordi using his electric powers? He wondered. He glanced at the metal drums by Celeste.

Tristan: “What’s in those drums?!”

He asked Celeste.

Celeste: “Uh, I dunno, oil or something?”

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “Celeste, try to deliver one of your suplexes on it. Buy us some time.”

He ordered. Celeste nodded.

Celeste: “Gotcha!”

Celeste grabbed the creature and struggled with it as it grabbed at her hands. She delivered a powerful headbutt, flipped it over, and slammed its head onto the ground.

Jordi sat up after Deimos healed him.

Deimos: “Why the fuck aren’t you doing anything or moving?!”

He anpped.

Tristan: “Jordi, if Celeste throws them at that monster, would you strike them with your lightning?”

He asked him. Jordi snapped out of his daze and paused.

Jordi: “I know Ichiro said Jaxon’s and Deimos’ healing can’t heal them, but can we try?”

Tristan knit his eyebrows.

Deimos: “For fuck’s sake, Jordi! The man is dead! Did you see those corpses come alive and grab Tristan?!”

He snapped at him.

Tristan: “Deimos, please don’t snap at him! You can’t fault him for wanting to help or try anything.”

He chided him and turned to Jordi, who embraced himself.

Tristan: “I know you want to help, Jordi. I don’t blame you, and I would love for that, too, but until we can figure out how to beat this virus Ichiro created, the kindest thing to do is put him out of his misery. As you saw, those corpses were clearly in pain.”

He cried.

The creature groaned as it began to stagger to its feet.

Tristan: “Jordi, if Celeste throws those drums, I want you to strike them with your lightning.”

He said firmly. Jordi pursed his lips.

Jordi: “If there is oil in it, that will make this entire place go up in flames.”

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “I know, but I believe fire is the only thing that will kill this creature. I just have this hunch.”

Jordi looked away and rubbed his eyes.

Deimos: “Pfft, you didn’t even know him!”

He scoffed. Tristan turned to Deimos in a fury.

Tristan: “That’s enough, Deimos! An innocent man lost his life for NOTHING! Have you no compassion?!”

He snapped at him. Deimos shrank away.

Celeste carried Jaxon in her arms.

Celeste: “Deimos, get Jaxon out of here.”

Deimos: “Who will protect Tristan?!”

He snapped.

Celeste: “Uh, Tristan? Can you get Jaxon out of here?! He’s a mess!”

She fired back at him.

Tristan: “Deimos, you better do that now.”

He hissed through clenched teeth. Deimos bowed his head, sighed, and relented.

Deimos: “...Fine.”

Deimos grabbed Jaxon from Celeste’s arms and carried him out. The creature roared as it roared. Celeste lifted two drums up.

Celeste: “Okay, let’s rock ‘n roll!”

She threw them at the creature. Jordi froze and hesitated. Tristan put his hand on his shoulder.

Tristan: “I understand, Jordi. This is the kindest thing to do.”

He smiled sadly at him. Jordi nodded. Celeste threw more drums at the creature. Jordi took a deep breath and shot his hand out, striking the drums with lightning, causing them to explode, splatter onto the creature, and erupt into flames.

Tristan grabbed Jordi and Celeste and formed a sheet of ice so the three of them could slide out of the warehouse. As they slid off the ramp of ice, the warehouse exploded, sending debris flying everywhere, and Celeste, Tristan, and Jordi crashed onto the ground. Deimos rushed over and knelt to heal Triatan first and then Celeste and Jordi.

They heard the creature’s wails from the warehouse and saw orange tongues flickering in the windows. The creature wailed and crashed to the floor, wreathed in flame. Fire leaped through the rooms. It roared and crackled as it danced inside and charred the corpses. The glass in some of the windows burst, and a column of smoke and flame billowed into the night sky.

Jaxon cried and trembled in Celeste’s arms. Tristan knit his eyebrows and cupped his mouth. Jordi looked away.

Deimos: “I managed to save Tristan.”

He smiled.

Tristan: “An innocent man lost his life, and those dead bodies were still alive and their humanity still somewhat intact, but please boast about your achievement.”

He said dryly.

Deimos: “Where is Ichiro anyway?!”

He looked around.

Jordi: “Ran away. He didn’t want to face accountability.”

He muttered.

Jaxon: “I don’t want to be here anymore! I never wanted to come, but you kept insisting!”

He cried at Tristan. Tristan sighed.

Tristan: “I apologize, Jaxon. I want to be able to help you beat him so he doesn’t do this again!”

He said gently.

Jaxon: “Why do you and Celeste want to beat him!? I want him gone!”

He bawled. Tristan looked away.

Tristan: “Jaxon, I understand your plight, and I am sorry. I want this to end as much as you and everyone else does.”

He said in a plaintive tone.

Deimos: “It’s not Tristan’s fault, and we’re not going to beat him by wallowing in self-pity! That doesn’t work for Blair or anyone.”

He huffed.

Jaxon: “STOP MENTIONING THAT STUPID LOSER! LEAVE ME ALONE!”

He cried. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “Deimos, I am not faulting him.”

He sighed.

Celeste: “I’ll drive you home, Jaxon. It’s gonna be okay.”

She reassured him. Jaxon’s eyelids dipped as tears dripped down his cheeks.

Tristan: “Get some rest and take care of yourself, Jaxon. I am sorry.”

He said gently.

Jaxon: “...I’m sorry, too. Ichiro would have done this no matter what.”

He wiped his eyes.

Celeste led him to his car and opened the passenger’s door for him. Jaxon climbed inside while Celeste got into the driver’s side. She slid the key into the ignition, started the car, and drove down the road.

Tristan drew a long breath and looked at Jordi.

Tristan: “Are you all right, Jordi?”

He asked tenderly. Jordi forced a smile.

Jordi: “I did the right thing, right?”

Tristan bowed his head.

Tristan: “You did the kindest thing… You did your best. There wasn’t anything else you could do.”

He sighed.

Jordi: “And how do we tell his family about this?”

Deimos: “Pfft, you don’t.”

Tristan glared at him. Jordi looked away.

Tristan: “Deimos, can you please be quiet?!”

He snapped.

Tristan turned to Jordi.

Tristan: “...A good question, Jordi. I don’t know, but I believe this ‘body double’ he uses is the key to all of this.”

He nodded.

Jordi: “Why would anyone agree to let someone use innocent people as guinea pigs?”

He knit his eyebrows.

Tristan drew a long breath and pulled Jordi into a hug. Deimos pouted. Jordi’s lips stretched into a grimace. He hugged Tristan back and cried on him.

~

As Deimos drove, Tristan sat in the passenger’s seat, gazing at the trees and the night sky.

Deimos: “Want me to take you home or back to the Donati gala to pick up your fat ‘lover’?”

He huffed.

Tristan: “After what we endured, Jasper and that party are the last things on my mind.”

He growled.

Deimos: “Is it because I saved you?”

He smiled.

Tristan: “No, Deimos, it’s because Ichiro turned an innocent man into a monster and did that to several people, and they were still alive and in pain!”

He snapped. Deimos drew back.

Tristan: “Take me home, Deimos. I need space.”

He said tersely.

Deimos: “Why?”

Tristan: “Because of what I endured and what happened, and dealing with you is the last thing I need!”

He flared. Deimos looked away with hurt and tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

~

Fabien lay in his bed and saw lights flashing through his bedroom window. He brightened, threw the sheets off, and looked out his window. He smiled when he saw Jaxon’s car roll into the driveway.

He rushed out of his bedroom and outside to see Celeste help Jaxon out of his car. Tristan was there to check up on them.

Fabien: “Hey, you two! Guess who wrote fifteen or more messages in my Bungle Server about that fat fuck dumping him!?”

He laughed. Jaxon turned to Fabien, tears streaming down his cheeks, his teeth bared.

Jaxon: “I DON’T GIVE A FLYING FUCK ABOUT THAT LOSER, FABIEN! HAVEN’T YOU RUINED ENOUGH?! LEAVE ME ALONE, AND FUCK OFF TO BLAIR!”

He bawled through hot tears. Fabien’s smile faded. Celeste rubbed the back of her head.

Celeste: “No offense, Fabien, but sometimes you have to think of others and not about Blair whining.”

She said with strain. Tristan turned to Fabien.

Tristan: “Fabien, if you can read a room, Jaxon is clearly distraught. Please think more about others and less about whatever drama Blair has himself in, which was clearly his own doing.”

He chastised him. Fabien started scowling and furrowing his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Do you two need anything?”

He asked.

Jaxon: “I need to get away from HIM! I don’t want to even look at him!”

He cried and stormed inside. Celeste sighed and followed Jaxon.

Tristan turned to Fabien.

Tristan: “I suggest giving Jaxon space. He’s not in the mood to discuss Blair or anyone. To be honest, Blair is the last thing on most people’s minds… except yours.”

He said sternly and walked away. Fabien glared at him and looked away with hurt.

~

Tristan walked into his house. He untied his shoes, took them off, and strolled into the kitchen and into the living room, where he saw his father and Jasper chatting. Victor turned to face his son and smiled.

Victor: “You’re back!”

Tristan: “Yes, Papa, I am. I’m going to bed. I’ll leave you two be. Have a good night.”

He nodded and ascended the stairs. He walked down the pedway and into his bedroom, where he closed the door. He removed his glasses and wiped his eyes as he leaned against the door, silently sobbing.

~

Celeste stepped out of the shower after Jaxon had one. She wore a black tank top and panties, and he was nude in their bed. She climbed into bed and snuggled him. Jaxon put his arm around her and held her close.

Celeste: “How do you feel?”

Jaxon: “Not good, babe. I never am after he does this shit, and it’s not getting easier.”

He sighed.

Celeste: “It’s not your fault, Jax. Ichiro was doing this for a while.”

Jaxon: “How long?”

Celeste: “I guess as long as those mangled bodies were there.”

She shrugged. Jaxon sighed.

Jaxon: “All because of me. Ichiro wants to terrify me. He always did, but now it’s at the expense of others’ lives.”

He heaved a deep sigh.

Jaxon: “Right now, I want to be held. Don’t let me go.”

He pleaded with her, his gaze beseeching. Celeste wrapped her arms around him and held him close to her chest. Jaxon nestled into her breasts and wept on her.

~

Deimos stormed into his bedroom after having a shower. He wore a dark gray tank top and black plaid pajama bottoms.

Deimos: “Sick of everyone, except Tristan. I could have done that myself! And Jordi is fucking useless as tits on a bull!”

He huffed as he logged onto Bungle and clicked on the logo for Fabien’s server.

When he entered the general chat channel, he read the array of messages Blair had left and seethed.

BlairDonati: The lesson of today: girls don’t want nice guys. They want rich jerks who use them for fetishes. Lazaros put me in a coma, and Ashley didn’t care. They still chose Lazaros over me when I treated them like a princess.

Deimos began typing.

DeimosK: Listen, you sniveling, craven son of a bitch: it’s convenient you’re leaving out that you blackmailed Ashley into being in a relationshit (not a typo) with you, and Lazaros didn’t put your sorry ass in a coma. If he did, he would be doing the world a huge favor.

BlairDonati: I was trying to protect Ashley from someone who tried to kill me. Why am I being punished for being so nice?

DeimosK: Stop lying, fucker! You blackmailed Ashley! There is no way in Hell they would ever enter a relationship with you! No one wants you!

BlairDonati: Because girls don’t want nice guys, Deimos! I was fired from Fred’s Burger Castle for being nice to girls!

DeimosK: You were fired for being a fucking creep. Don’t think you’re pulling the wool over our eyes, shithead. I was there when you made your stupid Donald Duck voices to girls and cut someone’s French toast for her. No one fucking wants that or likes that, you socially inept dipshit.

BlairDonati: You don’t know that, Deimos! You don’t like girls! Me? I hate hearing a girl tell me “I have a boyfriend!” Nothing breaks my heart faster and worse? Ashley gaslit me into thinking we had a chance only for them to say “LET’S BE FRIENDS!” My heart shattered down to -100%!

DeimosK: I am so sick of your “Woe is Me” attitude, and when people call you out on your bullshit, you start your childish drama queen bullshit.

~

Fabien sat in his bedroom with a blank stare on his face. He gazed at the computer screen, staring at the argument between Blair and Deimos, and looked across the street at Celeste’s and Jaxon’s house. It all changed when that monster ripped my arm off, he thought. Why would that make her not want to talk to me? He wondered and hugged his legs.