Chapter One-Hundred Two: Carnage Carnival

Chapter 102

Carnage Carnival

That night, Celeste was sleeping with her head on Jaxon’s chest. Jaxon lay on his back, sleeping. He dreamed about Kristen approaching him by the tree where he smoked. Kristen morphed into Celeste, and Ichiro appeared behind her. The moonlight in his glasses obscured his eyes, and he formed a creepy smirk as he stabbed Celeste’s neck with his needle. As she started to transform into a monster, he let out an agonizing scream, snapping him out of his sleep. He bolted upright with tears streaming down his cheeks.

Celeste fluttered her eyes and looked up.

Celeste: “Jaxon?”

She yawned and she reached to caress his face and felt tears on his cheeks. She paused and looked up at him. Jaxon melted to her touch and smiled a bit when he saw her.

Jaxon: “Celeste?! Oh, you’re okay!”

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She kissed him back and sat up, wiping his tears.

Celeste: “Why are you crying?”

She asked softly. He paused when he realised and wiped his tears.

Jaxon: “Oh?! I just had a bad dream, is all.”

He assured her.

Celeste: “Wanna talk about it?”

She asked him. Jaxon sighed and shook his head.

Jaxon: “I just… don’t want Ichiro getting his hands on you!”

He said doggedly. Celeste looked away and then looked up at Jaxon.

Celeste: “You think he will rape me?”

She asked him. Jaxon twisted his mouth.

Jaxon: “That… or turn you into… that thing.”

He shuddered, thinking of Kristen. Celeste blinked.

Celeste: “You think so? He seemed… into me.”

She embraced herself and looked at Jaxon.

Celeste: “I can tell when someone is… into me.”

She gazed at him. Jaxon smiled a bit.

Jaxon: “Who wouldn’t be into you?”

He said loftily, stroking her cheek. Celeste bit her bottom lip.

Celeste: “When he kidnapped me, he didn’t hurt me. He touched my boobs… and feet a lot. And licked my feet and told me he loves it when I wear nylons and fishnets. Oh, and when I dangle my shoes.”

She relayed what she remembered. Jaxon waved his hands around and winced.

Jaxon: “Oh, god! No, babe, no! I don’t wanna hear anymore!”

He huffed, feeling his ire soar at the thought of his brother touching his lady the way he loved to touch her. Celeste put her hands on his arms softly.

Celeste: “I’m sorry, Jax.”

She kissed him and sighed, looking at her dresser, and noticed her bottle of perfume was gone.

Celeste: “Did you take my perfume? The one you bought me?”

She asked him. Jaxon quirked an eyebrow at her.

Jaxon: “...What?!”

He looked at the dresser where it should be and frowned.

Jaxon: “That creepy fucker!”

He rasped.

Celeste: “I know I misplace things, but I noticed bras and panties I bought are missing, some of my make-up is gone, that bikini you bought me is gone, and now this.”

She hugged her legs. Jaxons’ eyes widened, and he put his arm around her.

Jaxon: “No, babe, it’s not your fault… It’s fucking ICHIRO!”

He huffed.

Jaxon: “He’s been stalking us!”

He said through clenched teeth. He wondered when he had the time and when he did that. Celeste grimaced.

Celeste: “Well, some of those things meant something to me ‘cause you bought them for me.”

She sighed.

Celeste: “It was when you were chasing me and… I never had anyone do that to me before. It meant something to me.”

She traced her fingernail over the sheets. Jaxon smiled at her and wrapped his arms around her.

Jaxon: “Aww, babe, don’t worry. I can get you new ones, and I’m here right now!”

He assured her. She smiled and leaned into him.

Celeste: “I know, and you’re right.”

She leaned into him and kissed his chest. Jaxon shivered and kissed her chest back and blew her a raspberry.

~

The next day, Mrs. Blevins’ Shadow Big Top was in the city. They set up the carnival right by Wallam Pond. There were stalls for games and food. Ashley and Lazaros set up a food stall there to sell Ashley’s baked goods, Lazaros’ honey, and Ashley’s wreaths. Lazaros wore a light purple pressed shirt, gold tie, a purple waistcoat with gold swirls, black trousers, and black loafers with a gold clasp. Ashley had prepared colorful macarons with cat faces on them, cinnamon rolls, and blueberry muffins.

Lazaros had asked Deimos, Tristan, Celeste, and Jaxon to show up in support for Ashley and their business. He wrung his hands, looking for them. Ashley noted his expression.

Ashley: “What’s wrong, Laz?”

They placed their hand on his and rubbed against him like a cat. Lazaros held Ashley.

Lazaros: “I asked Deimos, Tristan, Celeste, and Jaxon to show up and support you. I want them to support you!”

He kissed their head. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “Aww, that’s so sweet! Thank you, Lazaros!”

They reddened and kissed him softly.

~

Fen Huang strutted through the carnival. He wore a dark green velvet coat with an off-white fur trim, and a peacock on the back, a teal silk shirt with the buttons undone exposing his chest and thick gold necklace, tight leather, dark teal pants, and black monk strap shoes. Walking beside him was Lily, wearing a strapless pink ball gown with matching opera gloves and a tiara on her head. Walking behind him was a tall, fat Asian man who wore his dark green hair short. He was dressed in a red changshan with a gold peacock on it, black pants, and shoes. He was Fen’s bodyguard, Min Feng.

Lily: “Daddy, I can’t believe you’re moving here and got this circus for my birthday!”

She hugged him.

Fen: “Anything for my little bà bǎo!”

He hugged her back.

Lily: “Daddy, why does it say ‘Mrs. Belvins’ Shadow Big Top and not Princess Lily’s Wonderland?”

She asked him. Fen shifted his eyes.

Fen: “Oh, Kělè, the… printers made an error! I’m so sorry, princess! Rest assured, I got this carnival just for you, bà bǎo!”

He laughed awkwardly.

Lily: “Did you find Borko yet, Daddy?”

Fen tilted his head and gaped at her with confusion.

Fen: “Uh, who is that?”

Lily: “My dommy grandpa! He’s still missing, Daddy!”

She whined. Fen shifted his eyes.

Fen: “Oh, THAT! Yeah, I was looking very hard and never saw him!”

He laughed.

Lily: “Did you get me a cake, Daddy?”

Her brown eyes sparkled. Fen shifted his eyes, and they darted to Ashley and Lazaros’ stall. He ran up to them.

Fen: “Hello, dollface! Do you have a cake for my princess?!”

He asked Ashley and leaned over.

Fen: “Can you pretend I had this made for her? I forgot to do it.”

He whispered.

Ashley: “Uhh, my name isn’t dollface, it’s Ashley!”

They tilted their head and laughed.

Ashley: “Oh, a princess cake?”

They asked.

Fen: “Don’t be so modest, Miss! I know a pretty face when I see one.”

He purred. Lazaros chuckled.

Ashley: “Oh? Haha, thank you!”

They reddened at being called “pretty.”

Ashley: “What kind of cake did you want?”

They smiled. Lazaros picked up a cake Ashley made with crowns and ballerina slippers.

Fen: “That one! Look, princess! The pretty lady made a cake just for you! Like this whole carnival is for you!”

He spread his arms out. Lily jumped for joy and clapped.

Lily: “Did you tell her about Borko?”

Fen: “Oh, did you two see some Dorko?”

He asked with some annoyance. Lily held up a picture of Borko naked in a bathtub. Lazaros winced and shielded his eyes. Ashley screamed and covered their eyes.

Lazaros: “GAH! MY EYES! No, I never saw that… thing!”

He groused.

Ashley: “Oh god, NO! I only wanna see Lazaros in the bathtub!”

They whined. Lazaros blushed and cleared his throat.

Lily: “Daddy, it’s not fair! Borko has been missing for weeks!”

She sobbed.

Fen: “Oh, I am sure he will crawl out of whatever hole he came out of, bà bǎo! Daddy will still look!”

Lily locked her gaze on her father.

Lily: “Really, Daddy?!”

She gasped.

Tristan and Deimos showed up. Tristan wore a white pressed shirt with the buttons undone and a red cravat with gold paisley designs tucked in the neck of his shirt and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a black waistcoat, black trousers, and black wingtip Oxfords. Deimos wore a denim jacket over a Midnight massacre shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. Fen stopped focusing on Lily and shoved her aside to bolt up to Tristan.

Fen: “HELLOOOOOOOOO, MY ICE PRINCE!”

He whistled. Tristan glared at him indignantly.

Tristan: “You again! What are you doing here?!”

He hissed. Deimos stood in front of Tristan protectively.

Fen: “I was… looking for you, gorgeous! What’s a hottie like you doing in a place like this?”

He purred.

Lily: “D-Daddy! This is my carnival for my birthday, and we have to find Borko, too!”

She tugged on his coat. Tristan flicked his gaze to Lily and rolled his eyes.

Fen: “Uh, yeah, did you see this Dorko guy?”

He asked with annoyance. Lily showed them a picture of Borko in a bathtub. Tristan gaped with disgust, and Deimos gaped at it and Lily.

Deimos: “That’s the best picture you could find? That’s what you show people when looking for a missing man?”

He asked dryly.

Lily: “Yes, it’s when Borko and me did our dommy grandpa fun and we would play games and take off our clothes. If I was good, he would give me cake to eat off his penis.”

Tristan and Deimos both gaped at her. Tristan’s right eye twitched, and Deimos blinked.

Deimos: “...I could have gone the rest of my life without knowing that…”

Tristan: “The last time we saw him was at your sister’s engagement party.”

He looked away uncomfortably.

Celeste and Jaxon showed up. Celeste wore a white leopard print bustier spiked choker, a leather jacket, a leather skirt, black pantyhose, and black knee-high boots. Jaxon wore a white leopard print shirt with the buttons undone to expose his chest tattoo, tight black leather pants, and chelsea boots. Fen gaped at the two with large eyes and zipped up to them, shoving Lily aside.

Fen: “BOING! Hello, sexy man and sexy lady! You know how to light up a carnival and bring something up in my pants, if that makes sense!”

He winked. Tristan let out a rough sound. Celeste blinked at him. Jaxon groaned.

Jaxon: “Ugh, not this guy again. Yes, we’re very hot. We know.”

He huffed.

Fen: “Hey, sexy man, I love the tattoo… I have one on my back of a peacock…”

He purred as he looked at Jaxon’s dragon chest tattoo.

Jaxon: “Dragons are cooler than peacocks.”

He scoffed and laughed. Fen laughed.

Fen: “Peacocks are prettier. I set up a mansion here… Wanna come with me and I’ll show you my… peacock?”

He winked. Jaxon glared at him.

Jaxon: “NO!”

Lily: “Daddy, can you ask that man and lady if they saw Borko?”

She tugged on his coat. Fen rolled his eyes.

Fen: “Yes, my Kělè is missing some old man named Dorko Dumbass and she wants to know if you see his wrinkled dick.”

He said as his anger rose. Tristan raised an eyebrow at Fen. Lily showed Celeste and Jaxon Borko in the bathtub. Celeste blinked and gaped.

Celeste: “Fuck, that’s ugly! It looks like a corpse in a bathtub!”

She groused. Fen laughed.

Fen: “Yeah…”

He muttered. Jaxon recoiled in disgust.

Jaxon: “EWW! What the hell?! Why do you have a pic of your grandad in the tub?! That’s nasty!”

He groused and gagged.

Lily: “He’s my dommy grandpa! We get naked and play games and if I am good, I can eat cake off his penis!”

She whined. Celeste looked away. Jaxon shuddered.

Celeste: “Oh, wow, I don’t know what to say to that!”

She laughed awkwardly.

Jaxon: “I’m going to be sick.”

He gagged.

Deimos: “Yes, Lily, this is something we all needed to know. It’s informative for finding this old sack of shit.”

He said dryly. Jaxon shuddered and rushed to the trash can where he threw up. Celeste dashed to him and held his hair back as he got sick.

Lily: “Daddy, I don’t know what happened to Borko, but no one has seen him!”

She cried.

Fen: “Princess, Daddy made this carnival just for you! Can you focus on that instead?!”

He asked with some annoyance.

Tristan: “This carnival came to town. How is it for her?”

Fen: “Oh, silly ice prince, the printers made an error in the signs!”

He laughed.

Tristan: “I am so sure they did.”

He said dryly.

Deimos approached Jaxon and Celeste.

Deimos: “Hey, man, are you okay?”

He patted his back. Jaxon nodded.

Jaxon: “Yeah, that was fucking gross!”

He laughed.

Deimos: “Tell me about it.”

He muttered.

Sylvia approached Ashley and Lazaros’ stall.

Sylvia: “Greetings, friends! Hello, Ashley! I miss your presence at the Donati manor! It has not been the same since you left, but I understand why you left.”

She said gently. Ashley’s face lit up, delighted to see Sylvia again.

Ashley: “Hey, Sylvia! Aww, I miss you, too!”

They smiled at her. They then frowned.

Ashley: “Yeah…”

Their voice trailed off when they thought of what went down.

Lily thrust a picture of Borko in her face.

Lily: “Have you seen my dommy grandpa?!”

She cried. Sylvia adjusted her glasses and raised her eyebrows.

Sylvia: “Dear me!”

She drew back and cupped her mouth.

Sylvia: “Wasn’t he at Ivy and Blair’s engagement party? I did see him speaking with Ichiro Tachibana, and they left the party in his car!”

She replied.

Sylvia: “Ichiro came back to say goodbye to his parents, and Borko had already left.”

She added. Tristan gazed at Sylvia and raised an eyebrow. Jaxon huffed. Ichiro… he thought.

Jaxon: “Sorry, little girl, your grandpa is dead.”

He waved his hand. Lily’s bottom lip trembled.

Lily: “NO, HE’S NOT! STOP BEING MEAN!”

She bawled.

Sylvia: “Now, now, I am sure he is just away on vacation!”

She reassured her. Tristan bowed his head. If he went in Ichiro’s car and didn’t return, I don’t think he’d be alive, he thought.

Sylvia took the other four to one side.

Sylvia: “Jaxon, why would you devastate that young girl like that? Even if it’s true, there is a way of approaching this issue!”

She said firmly. Jaxon shrugged.

Jaxon: “Hey, she devastated me with that gross photo.”

He groused. Sylvia drew a long breath.

Tristan: “How can you word it, Sylvia? Jaxon is right; I believe he’s dead. If he hasn’t shown up after Ivy’s engagement party after riding in Ichiro’s car, he’s not alive.”

He shot back, his tone just as firm. Jaxon nodded. Sylvia drew a breath.

Sylvia: “Ichiro is a very kind gentleman. Why would you two say such a thing?”

She asked with skepticism. Jaxon gaped at her and threw his head back with bitter laughter.

Jaxon: “Nice sarcasm!”

Tristan: “No, Sylvia, that is a front. He’s not kind and gentle. He’s a monster.”

He said darkly.

Jaxon: “That’s right! He’s a PSYCHOPATH!”

He snapped.

Sylvia: “Tristan, I know Jaxon is a good friend of yours, and I am glad you want to support your friend, but do not make such accusations without proof.”

She said sternly. Jaxon gaped.

Jaxon: “Proof?! You don’t know him. I know him, and he’s a monster! He assaulted my green queen and turns people into monsters!”

He huffed. Celeste nodded in confirmation.

Tristan: “I wouldn’t make baseless accusations! I knew he was before he killed my nephews’ nanny and turned her into a monster!”

He hissed and braced his feet apart. Deimos stood in front of Tristan.

Deimos: “I can confirm this.”

Celeste: “Ditto. I was there.”

Syvia: “Emotions are running high with you and Jaxon, Tristan.”

She said evenly. Tristan glared at her.

Jaxon: “WHAT?!”

He seethed.

Tristan: “Of course, they are! I saw him turn my nephews’ nanny into a monster, and my nephew witnessed this! I will never forget what I saw! Lucas is going to be traumatized for the rest of his life! How do you expect me to take this?!”

He snapped, and his lisp started getting thicker. Deimos held onto Tristan’s hand.

Jaxon: “Emotions are NOT running fucking high! He’s a MONSTER! He KIDNAPPED and groped my Green Quee,n and he killed his patient, and he killed their Nanny!”

He snapped and stamped his feet in frustration. Celeste held Jaxon to comfort him. Sylvia gaped at the two men.

Sylvia: “I will talk to you two boys when you’re calmed down.”

She said slowly and left.

Jaxon threw his arms up in frustration.

Jaxon: “No one wants to listen about fucking Ichiro!”

He huffed. Tristan angrily punched a tree nearby.

Tristan: “Je l’ai avertie-elle ne m’a pas écouté alors maintenant je m’en bats les couilles…!”

He growled and flapped his sore hand from punching the tree. Deimos clasped his hand to heal it. He then kissed Tristan’s hands.

Deimos: “We listened to you, Jaxon.”

He nodded. Tristan inhaled sharply.

Tristan: “I’m sorry, Jaxon.”

He sighed, removed his glasses, and wiped his eyes.

Jaxon: “I know you guys have my back. Sorry, Ichiro killed Kristen…”

He offered. Tristan nodded and smiled a bit. He put his glasses back on.

Tristan: “It isn’t your fault, Jaxon. But thank you.”

Celeste: “Yeah, but she did say she saw Ichiro and that old fuck leave together and he hasn’t come back since, so yeah.”

She twisted her mouth. Jaxon twisted his mouth.

Jaxon: “Foolish woman can’t see the proof right in front of her!”

He huffed.

Tristan: “I said that. I warned her, but I can’t make her listen to me.”

He grumbled.

The four looked ahead and saw Lily dancing with someone in a Barry Bear costume and dancing around people dressed in costumes of Barry Bear characters.

Jaxon: “What the fuck?”

He gaped at the sight.

Tristan: “Yes, it’s my secretary’s daughter dancing with people in fursuits for a child’s pizza restaurant. She is supposed to be nineteen.”

He laughed bitterly.

~

Fen sat on a bench with Min smoking from his kiseru.

Fen: “I really hope this old wrinkled fuck did get killed.”

He said as he inhaled a long drag.

Min: “It would affect your daughter, sir.”

Fen laughed.

Fen: “Yeah? I can buy her some toys and stuff and she’s happy again. Lily is so easy to please. Ivy? Not so much. She’s like Rose. Rose was always bitching about something.”

He rolled his eyes and exhaled smoke from his nose.

Min: “She’s happy now, sir.”

He nodded to her dancing with Barry Bear.

~

Barry Bear spun Lily around, and she danced with the other characters, a rooster, a rabbit, a frog, and a raccoon. Lazaros watched the scene with Ashley.

Lazaros: “Thoughts, hon?”

He asked them. Ashley nestled up to him and laughed. Lazaros leaned into them.

Ashley: “She looks like she’s having fun!”

They nodded.

Ichiro stepped out of the woods and walked up to the scene, reaching into his lab coat. Lily zipped up to him with a picture of Borko in the bathtub. Ichiro’s jaw dropped.

Lily: “Excuse me, sir, have you seen Borko?”

Ichiro: “B-Borko? No!”

He glared at her.

Celeste, Jaxon, Tristan, and Deimos were walking back to head on some rides. Tristan locked his gaze on Ichiro.

Tristan: “YOU!”

He rasped. Jaxon zipped his head around and saw red.

Jaxon: “ICHIRO!”

He rasped and stepped forward. Ichiro smirked and withdrew a needle gun. Tristan cupped his mouth. As the costumed characters danced around them, he swiftly shot and plunged needles into them. Jaxon cupped his mouth.

Jaxon: “SHIT!”

He gasped. The costumed people collapsed to the ground, all screaming in pain. Lazaros cupped his mouth and stood in front of Ashley. Ashley knit their eyebrows and clung onto Lazaros.

Ashley: “Wh-What’s going on?!”

Lily drew back.

Lily: “D-Daddy!”

She cried.

The costumed people all wailed in pain. The material and fabric on the costumes began to tear as they all started to bloat. They formed into large, bloated blobs with large bumps forming on their skin, and their heads split open to resemble giant fungi. Lazaros gasped and turned to Ashley.

Lazaros: “GET OUT OF HERE!”

He cried. Ashley’s heart sank.

Ashley: “L-Lazaros? What’s going on? I can’t leave you!”

They grabbed his hand.

Lazaros: “Please, Ashley!”

He pleaded with them. Tears formed in Ashley’s eyes.

Ashley: “Wh-What about you?”

Lazaros: “I got this!”

He rushed out to Deimos, Tristan, and Jaxon. Ashley watched him go, feeling a mixture of worry and pride for him for fighting alongside the others.

In the corner of Ashley’s eye, they saw a woman with ombre hair, blue eyes in a poncho nearby. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “...M-Mom?!”

They gasped. Bright light appeared before them, and their mother appeared by their side, holding them, and the light shone brighter as they teleported away.

~

Ashley lay on Lazaros’ front lawn with her poncho over them. She was gone. Ashley staggered to their feet.

Ashley: “MOM?!”

They cried out for her. Their bottom lip trembled as tears formed in their eyes.

Ashley: “L-LAZAROS!”

They sobbed on the lawn, clutching their mother’s poncho.

~

Deimos and Tristan stood there, their mouths ajar, watching in horror. Lazaros joined them. Jaxon rushed over to Celeste, grabbing her arm.

Celeste: “Yes, Jaxon?!”

She asked him tersely.

Jaxon: “I’m NOT gonna let him get you!”

He exclaimed, standing in front of her.

Fen rushed in and screamed.

Fen: “WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!”

Min: “Get Lily out of here, sir. I got this.”

Fen: “Come on, princess! Let’s go!”

He grabbed Lily and ran away.

The creatures stepped toward them and shot out spores. Celeste grabbed Jaxon and dodged the attacks. Tristan, Deimos, and Lazaros ran. The spores hit other people. They exploded, and a burst of acid shot them. They wailed in pain as the acid melted off their skin, eroded their muscle, and their eyeballs. Tristan cupped his mouth in horror.

Deimos: “Don’t let those things touch you!”

He yelled.

Ichiro laughed at them.

Ichiro: “Is this better, Jiro?! I make these just for you and to see if MY queen can defeat them!”

He grinned. Jaxon seethed at him.

Jaxon: “FUCK YOU, ICHIRO! SHE’S MY GREEN QUEEN! STAY AWAY FROM HER!”

He rasped at him, charging at him. Ichiro glared at him and saw something else coming after them. Dougal ran after them, his giant gut bouncing and dashing after them.

Dougal: “MY SEXY SCHMOODARS!!”

He belted.

Ichiro: “What is that?”

He asked with disgust. Dougal grabbed both Ichiro and Jaxon and ran off with them.

Celeste: “JAXON!”

She screamed.

Jaxon: “SHIT! CELESTE!”

He rasped as he was taken away.

Min took a deep breath, and a blast of fire came from his mouth, breathing fire on the creature. The creatures set ablaze and let out a piercing scream as they writhed around.

Celeste looked at everyone fighting the creatures and back at Dougal with Jaxon. Tristan stomped on the ground, forming ice and shooting shards into the creatures.

Tristan: “Celeste, go get them! We got this!”

He exclaimed. Celeste nodded and ran after Jaxon.

~

Dougal ran with both Jaxon and Ichiro in his arms, his gut and man boobs bouncing.

Dougal: “OH BOY! I GET TO FUCK TWO BROTHERS!”

He caterwauled. Jaxon glared at him.

Jaxon: “FUCK NO! That’s NOT happening!”

He spat.

Ichiro: “Unhand me, you fat… thing! And would it kill you to take a shower?!”

He said acidly.

Dougal tripped over, and he screamed as the three flung in the air and then tumbled over a hill.

Jaxon: “YOU FAT FUCKING WHALE SHIT!”

He snapped at Dougal as he tumbled with him and Ichiro.

The three crashed into the swamp, where Dougal’s massive body made a mighty splash, causing a blast of water to splash all over the shore and smack against the trees and cliff like a tsunami. Ichiro and Jaxon emerged from the water, gasping for air. Ichiro’s glasses were off. Leeches were all over their faces.

Ichiro: “WHAT THE HELL!? Where are my glasses?!”

He screamed.

Jaxon: “NOOO! NOT THE LEECHES AGAIN!”

He wailed, trying to shake them off.

There was a ripple in the water as Dougal’s vast body rose from the water, grinning at them.

Dougal: “Oh my God, I found another schmoodar! I am going to fuck two brothers! I died and went to Heaven!”

Jaxon glared at him. Ichiro glared indignantly at him.

Jaxon: “FUCK NO!”

He rasped at Dougal, shoving him onto Ichiro in the water. Dougal’s heavyweight bounced onto Ichiro with a mighty splash.

Ichiro: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING, JIRO!? STOP SHOVING THIS BLOB ON ME!”

He snapped as he resurfaced.

Jaxon: “FUCK YOU BOTH!”

He snapped, swimming for the shore. Dougal grabbed Jaxon and jumped on both him and Ichiro, causing another splash. The two men thrashed against the reeds and the murky water. Dougal resembled a killer whale, tormenting its prey in the water.

Ichiro and Jaxon rose from the water, and both men were covered in more leeches. Ichiro shoved Jaxon on Dougal. Dougal grabbed Jaxon and Ichiro.

Dougal: “I’ll fuck you both! I get to fuck two brothers! Ain’t that hot?!”

He licked his lips. Ichiro glared at Dougal and leaned his head over to touch the device in his ear. Nothing happened. Fuck, it’s broken, he thought.

Dougal grabbed both of their asses and pulled them toward him, rubbing his hardness on him. Ichiro tried to pry away from him, but Dougal’s fat made it hard for him to move.

Jaxon: “FUCK YOU, DOUGAL!”

He muffled amongst the fat.

Celeste ran on the shore.

Celeste: “JAXON!”

She screamed.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

Ichiro: “My queen came to save me!”

He grinned. Jaxon glared at Ichiro with pure hatred.

Dougal: “Hey, lass! No girls allowed in Schmoodar time!”

He bellowed. He withdrew a needle gun, pointed at her, and shot her. A needle hit Celeste’s knee. She cried in pain as she fell on the ground. She gritted her teeth as she pulled the needle out. Celeste felt herself losing consciousness. Her vision was blurry. That fat piece of shit is going to hurt Jaxon, she thought. She crawled on the ground to try to get to the swamp. Celeste’s eyes fluttered, and she lost consciousness. Jaxon’s heart sank.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He cried out.

Ichiro: “What did you do to her?! Where did you get that?!”

He snapped.

Dougal: “Doesn’t matter, love. NO GIRLS ALLOWED!”

He bellowed in their faces.

Jaxon: “YOU FAT PIECE OF SHIT!”

He screamed in his face and headbutted him. Dougal drew back with a bloody nose and glared at him. He grabbed both of the brothers by the groins. Ichiro winced and glowered at him. Jaxon tensed up and shuddered.

Jaxon: “GET YOUR SAUSAGE HANDS OFF!”

He snapped, biting his arm. Dougal wailed in pain and grabbed the back of Jaxon’s head, glaring at him and baring his ugly, brown teeth. Jaxon shuddered and shut his eyes.

Dougal heard a gun cock. He slowly raised his head to see Cedar pointing a gun at him.

Cedar: “Let him go now.”

He warned him.

Dougal: “Or what?! You can’t make me, love! It’s sexy schmoodar time and I want to fuck these two brothers!”

He laughed.

Jaxon: “GET THIS BLOB OFF ME!”

He whined.

Ichiro: “Shoot this fat whale piece of shit!”

He nodded to Cedar. Cedar shot at Dougal, hitting his fat face with a dart. Dougal blinked and ripped a giant fart in the water, causing it to bubble around him. Jaxon gagged with disgust.

Jaxon: “GROSS!”

Ichiro: “Oh, God, disgusting!”

Dougal fell back, making a mighty splash. Cedar went to the shore to help Ichiro out of the water.

Cedar: “Are you okay, sir?”

Ichiro winced as he peeled off leeches and flicked them off. Jaxon gaped at him.

Jaxon: “Hey! What about ME?!”

He pouted.

Jaxon: “And what about my Green Queen?!”

He gasped and rushed over to her.

Ichiro: “No, she’s MY queen, Jiro!”

He hissed at him. He went to rush to her, but Cedar stopped him.

Cedar held up a high-frequency sound device.

Cedar: “He hit her with some KO. Just heal her, Jiro. She will be fine. I will press this if you do anything else.”

He warned him. Jaxon gaped at him.

Jaxon: “What the fuck?! Who are you?!”

He kept his eyes on him as he knelt and pressed the palms of his hands on Celeste to heal her.

Cedar: “I’m Dr. Cedar Garafano. This is all I’m authorized to tell you.”

Ichiro: “We’ll see each other again, Jiro. I’m not done with you. Sayonara.”

He smirked. Cedar pressed a button on a device in his ear, and he and Ichiro teleported away. Jaxon sat there, his mouth ajar.

Celeste’s eyes fluttered open, and they snapped open.

Celeste: “JAXON?!”

She screamed and saw him. She held him close. Jaxon beamed happily to see her.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He held her back. Celeste felt leeches on him. She peeled them off.

Celeste: “Are you okay, Jaxon?”

She removed the leeches, and it drew blood on him. He shuddered and winced. He healed where they bit into him.

Jaxon: “I am now!”

He smiled at her and kissed her. She raked her fingers through his damp hair and kissed him back.

A vast shadow loomed over them. Celeste looked and saw Dougal with a high-frequency sound device. He pressed the button, and the ringing began in Celeste’s and Jaxon’s ears.

Celeste: “AUUUUUGGGHH!!”

She screamed. Jaxon cupped his ears and winced.

Jaxon: “ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!”

He screamed. Dougal grabbed Jaxon by the scruff of his neck, yanking him off Celeste and throwing him on the ground. He turned the device off and flopped on Jaxon like a blubbery seal. He grabbed his wrists and pinned him down, licking his face. Jaxon recoiled in disgust and shuddered.

Jaxon: “OH GOD, NOOOOO! GET THIS DISGUSTING THING OFF ME!”

He rasped.

Celeste rushed to Jaxon.

Celeste: “JAXON!”

She screamed, jumped, and kicked Dougal right off Jaxon. Dougal screamed as he flew across the pond. He hit a tree and crashed into the water, causing a mighty splash that blasted Celeste and Jaxon with water. Jaxon winced and panted.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He rushed over to her. Celeste threw her arms around him.

Celeste: “Are you okay, handsome?!”

She asked as she held him close. Jaxon wrapped his arms around her.

Jaxon: “I am now!”

He assured her. Celeste scooped Jaxon in her arms, carrying him.

Celeste: “Let’s get back!”

She said as she ran with him in her arms. Jaxon nodded.

Jaxon: “Oh fuck, the mascot monsters!”

He groused and shuddered at the thought of those things. She nodded.

Celeste: “Okay, hang on!”

She ran, jumped from tree trunk to tree trunk, and ran across branches. Jaxon felt an exhilarating rush as if they were on a thrill ride together.

Jaxon: “Whoa, babe, you’re so agile!”

He smiled at her, completely mesmerised. Celeste jumped high with him in her arms, soaring through the air. Jaxon beamed as they soared through the air together. Their hair blew in the breeze, and he locked his gaze on her in midair. She did a flip as she landed on the surface with cat-like finesse.

They saw there were two blob monsters left from the five that were causing mayhem. There were stalls on fire, corpses scattered around, burned from the acidic spores, and patches of ice. Tristan, Deimos, Lazaros, and Min stood to fight them. Min breathed smoke and knelt. Deimos was panting and out of breath.

Deimos: “I-I can’t do any more!”

He stammered. Tristan knelt to him. Lazaros stood to cover his brother. The blob monster shot out spores at them. Tristan swiftly put up a barrier of ice to block them. Jaxon’s eyebrows rose when he saw his friends in peril. He rushed over to Deimos.

Jaxon: “Not sure if a healer can heal a healer, but I’ll try!”

He said to him, placing his hands on his chest to heal him. A red glow surrounded them, and Deimos took a deep breath, feeling energized. He rose to his feet.

Deimos: “To answer your question, yes! Thank you!”

He patted his back. Jaxon smiled with relief and nodded, starting to feel tired. He wanted to hold onto the last of his strength for Celeste. He watched her as she rode into battle.

Celeste rushed to the Ferris wheel. The blob monster shot spores at her. She quickly dodged them, rolled on the ground, and did a backflip. I don’t know if I can do this, but I can try, she thought. She grabbed the ride and gnashed her teeth as she tried to push it. She remembered lifting tons during her training. She has to do this. Tristan saw what she was doing. He stomped on the ground, forming an ice path in front of the monsters. He sent a blast of ice, shoving them onto the path, and the monsters slid toward the Ferris wheel.

The bolts snapped from the ground as Celeste used all her strength to pull them out of the ground. The blobs let out a piercing shriek, shooting spores at her. Jaxon gasped.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He cried. Celeste took cover and noticed that when the spores burst, they corroded the metal. FUCK YEAH, she thought. Jaxon beamed widely.

Jaxon: “SO FACEROCK, BABE!”

He cheered her on like a cheerleader on the sidelines. Celeste smirked at him. She grabbed a beer bottle on the ground and threw it at their hulking bodies. They marched toward her with heavy footsteps and shot out more spores. Celeste took cover and countered to five. They exploded and melted away the metal. I got this, she thought.

Celeste: “EVERYONE GET THE FUCK OUTTA THE WAY!”

She bellowed. She bared her teeth and shoved the Ferris wheel down using her strength. The Ferris wheel toppled over and came crashing down, crushing the blobs under its weight, and globs of flesh, blood, and acid splattered everywhere.

Celeste collapsed to the ground and panted, and Jaxon dove for Celeste, holding her in his arms.

Jaxon: “Good job, babe! I got you!”

He assured her, placing his hands on her to replenish her energy and heal her. Celeste smiled at him and wrapped her arms around him to kiss him. Jaxon kissed her back and lay on her chest, and Celeste held him close. Tristan and Deimos rushed to them. Lazaros had already left to go back to Ashley.

Celeste: “Thanks, Jax, and thanks, Tristan, for sliding them over here.”

She nodded.

Celeste: “And the rest of you for dealing with the other ones.”

Tristan: “The bodyguard of Fen did most of that. Fire was their weakness, but he could only breathe so much. Of course, they were immune to ice. Ichiro designs these things to be immune to our abilities.”

He said evenly. Deimos embraced Tristan from behind.

Tristan: “Are you okay, Jaxon? I know Dougal took you and your brother this time.”

He asked him. Jaxon twisted his mouth.

Jaxon: “I’d rather fight weird mascot monsters than fat blob lake monsters.”

He pouted.

Tristan lowered his head.

Tristan: “Yeah…”

He muttered.

Deimos: “What happened to Ichiro?”

He asked them.

Celeste: “Dougal shot something in me, and I passed out. I don’t know what happened.”

She cuddled Jaxon. Jaxon held her back and frowned when she mentioned what Dougal did to her.

Jaxon: “This green-haired doctor guy came along and took Ichiro away.”

He huffed. Deimos and Tristan quirked an eyebrow.

Tristan: “Green-haired doctor guy? Ever see him before?”

He asked him and cupped his chin.

Deimos: “Is he an enemy or an enemy of Ichiro’s?”

He thought aloud. Jaxon shook his head.

Jaxon: “No, he’s a friend of Ichiro’s or a colleague at the hospital or something.”

He pondered.

Jaxon: “He had this device that teleported them both away together. They ran away like cowards!”

He groused.

Jaxon: “And… he had this other device that hurt our ears.”

Celeste grimaced and held Jaxon close. Tristan paused.

Celeste: “...Dougal had the same device.”

Tristan and Deimos gaped at them.

Celeste: “The one that hurt our ears.”

Tristan: “They’re not working for the hospital, Jaxon. That is a front of Ichiro’s. They’re working for someone else. I don’t know who, but it’s sinister.”

He looked away. Jaxon paused.

Tristan: “And this all terrifies me…”

He said as his voice trailed off, examining the destruction and deaths caused by this. Deimos held Tristan close to him and kissed him.

Jaxon: “Me too…”

He admitted, holding Celeste closely and protectively.

~

Lazaros arrived home to see Ashley lying on his lawn with their mother’s poncho on them.

Lazaros: “ASHLEY!”

He rushed to them and glomped on them. Ashley’s bright eyes sparkled and grew large like a cat’s.

Ashley: “LAZAROS!”

They cried, holding him close and kissing him all over. Lazaros kissed them back.

Lazaros: “Are you okay?!”

He cried. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “Are YOU okay?! I was so worried about you!”

They sobbed on his chest.

Ashley: “Are the others okay?!”

They asked. Lazaros nodded.

Lazaros: “Yes, we’re all okay, but the people that danced with Lily… are dead.”

He caressed their hair. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “O-Oh no, that’s so horrible! Those poor souls!”

They cried and clung to him.

Lazaros: “They turned into monsters, Ashley… I don’t know what is going on.”

He sighed. Ashley bowed their head and embraced them.

Ashley: “Ho paura...”

They knit their eyebrows, clinging to him in fear. Lazaros held them close.

Ashley: “I saw my mom again… she took me here.”

They explained to him, clinging to the poncho. Lazaros examined the poncho and glanced at Ashley.

Lazaros: “Did she say anything to you? Is she still here?”

Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “No…, she just teleported me here.”

They explained. Lazaros paused and then held him close. Why is she not remaining with them? He wondered.

Lazaros: “I’m sorry, Ashley. One day, it will make sense.”

He whispered and pressed his lips to their head. Ashley smiled up at him and kissed him softly.

Ashley: “Thank you, Lazaros… I’m glad you’re okay!”

They wrapped their arms around him and held him close. Lazaros smiled down at them but felt uncertainty over the events that transpired with Ashley and at the carnival.

~

Ichiro and Cedar were in a locker room. Ichiro was muttering something Japanese under his breath while cleaning his glasses. He put them on and slammed his locker.

Cedar: “Mind telling me what you did at that fair?”

Ichiro: “I perfected the ‘richonoid’ serum. I’m making some new friends for my little brother to play with… and seeing how well my queen fares against them.”

He smiled tightly. Cedar drew a breath through his slightly parted lips.

Cedar: “This ‘richonoid’ serum turned five innocent people into those blob monsters, killed several others, and for what? So you can exact revenge on Jiro and test Celeste’s abilities?”

He asked sharply. Ichiro gaped at him.

Ichiro: “Yes, that’s right.”

He said flatly. Cedar bowed his head and laughed humorlessly.

Cedar: “I don’t understand it. Jiro was exiled from your family, and you got everything.”

Ichiro stared at him.

Ichiro: “He has my queen. Anyway, I do this to see if I can, and it’s fun. I missed playing with my little brother.”

He chuckled. Cedar looked away with a blank stare on his face.

Ichiro put on a clean pair of clothes, and the two men went into the recreation room. It was a plain white room with a light gray carpet. There was a couch, a TV, a table with a coffee machine, and a water cooler. He withdrew a package of cigarillos, took one out, and lit it up. Cedar reached into his coat and took out a package of Newport cigarettes. He saw he had one left. I think I will need it, he thought, and lit it up.

Ichiro: “When Jiro was a little boy, he collected snakes and lizards. Mother and Father never liked this much. One day, I decided to take one of his snakes and put it in my mother’s bed. She found it and screamed.”

He laughed.

Ichiro: “Mother and Father beat him with the backs of hairbrushes, father’s belt, and whatever. He cried, and it made me laugh.”

He laughed a breathy laugh as he relayed the story. Cedar stared off into space. I knew I would need this, he thought as he looked at his cigarette. He rubbed his eyes and inhaled a long drag.

Cedar: “Yep, you had fun getting Jiro into trouble and making him cry… I wish I had that relationship with my brother.”

He muttered dryly.

He then locked his gaze back onto his colleague.

Cedar: “...How did that fat, old guy get his hands on KO? And why is the supply of sole silencers gone?”

He cross-examined him. Ichiro shot him a glare.

Ichiro: “What, you think I gave that whale piece of shit that stuff?”

He asked with a trace of an edge. Cedar looked away. He’s right, he tried to rape him, he thought.

Cedar: “How did he get it?”

Ichiro shrugged.

Cedar: “No one else has access to it but those who work here.”

Ichiro: “Some criminals carry it. I know some have those EP-suppressing collars. Stuff leaks out. Criminals find loopholes.”

Cedar drew a long breath.

Cedar: “I overheard Borko is missing.”

Ichiro inhaled a long drag.

Ichiro: “He’s a con artist now. This is what he chose to do after he retired. Are you that surprised?”

Cedar: “Did you have anything to do with it?”

He locked his gaze on Ichiro. Ichiro shook his head.

Ichiro: “No. I drove him around because I was getting irritated with the fake personality I put on to make my parents happy. I wanted to catch up with him since he was my mentor many years ago.”

He gazed up at the ceiling.

Ichiro: “He has a girlfriend who is a ‘little’ and he sells people two-hundred-dollar bottles of club soda under the guise of a love potion. He just… decayed from who he was when he trained me.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Ichiro: “I dropped him back off at the engagement party, and he told me he had errands to run. So we parted ways, and now he’s missing.”

He said noncommittally.

Ichiro: “I reckon he pissed off someone who bought his expensive club soda. Not my problem anymore.”

He rolled his eyes. Cedar looked away. Seems to be the motto of everyone who works here, unless it’s tormenting your little brother or watching a manchild turn into a Xupran, he thought wearily.