Chapter Two-Hundred Forty-Eight: Oakhaven Part Seven

Chapter 248

Oakhaven Part Seven

As twilight began to fall, Ichiro materialized in front of Ashley with a smirk.

Ichiro: “Hello, Miss Blimp!”

He sang mockingly. Ashley stopped in their tracks.

Ashley: “I’m not a miss, nor am I a blimp! What is your issue with me, Jaxon?”

They countered, sighing in deep frustration. The grin vanished from Ichiro’s face, replaced by a dark scowl.

Ashley: “Wait, did you get a haircut?”

They added, glancing at his head.

Suddenly, Ichiro seized their arm and forced them onto the trail, causing Ashley to gasp.

Ashley: “H-HEY! What are you doing?! You’re hurting me!”

They cried out in protest.

Ichiro: “I am not Jiro.”

He snapped, pulling them along.

Ichiro: “But what else should I expect from a fat woman who doesn't even know if she’s a man or a woman and is infatuated with someone like Blair Donati?”

He yanked their arm.

Ichiro: “Forget it, I don’t have a problem with you, or even your boyfriend, Blair.”

Ashley: “He is not my boyfriend! He's my stalker!”

They cried out in pain as they were dragged along.

Ashley: “Who’s Jiro? NO! Blair is obsessed with me! I HATE HIM!”

They snapped and cried.

Ichiro: “Jiro is my little brother who calls himself ‘Jaxon’, you simple-minded sow.”

He rolled his eyes

Ashley: “Oh, you’re his brother. That explains it! No wonder you two are so similar! Ow! Where are you dragging me?!”

Furious, Ichiro yanked them forward roughly. Ashley wept as he dragged them deeper into the forest, forcing them through the cemetery gates and into the graveyard.

Ichiro: “Listen to me, Miss Piggy.”

He scoffed, rolling his eyes.

Ichiro: “I couldn’t care less about you trying to make him jealous by using Jordi. That trick was never going to work anyway, considering he's busy running errands for that other fat woman!”

With a harsh shove, he threw them hard against a tree trunk. Ashley winced in agony from the impact.

Ashley: “I wasn’t using Jordi... I actually loved him.”

They protested, recoiling from the emotional sting.

Ashley: “I never loved Blair—I hate him!”

Deep down, they felt a pang of betrayal, wondering why Jordi was spending time with that mean girl again. Had he lied when he claimed he needed to be on his own?

Ichiro ignored them and began binding them tightly to the tree. Once finished, he stood back, pulled out his Polaroid, and snapped a photo.

Ashley: “What's your plan? To tickle me?”

They asked defiantly, shifting against the ropes. Ichiro rolled his eyes in annoyance, wondering bitterly who this fatty thought she was? Celeste?

Ichiro: “You are merely the bait to draw Blair out.”

He sneered.

Ichiro: “He’ll come to save you, and I need Blair for something very important.”

Ashley’s heart sank as Ichiro flapped the picture to develop it faster after it slid out of the camera. He grinned.

Ashley: “NOOO! I don’t want to see him!”

They cried and pleaded, struggling in their bonds.

Ichiro pressed the button in his ear to teleport away.

~

Blair strolled toward his mailbox, humming the “Fat Sunflower” tune, but his mood shifted the moment he opened the latch. A single Polaroid fluttered to the ground. He bent to retrieve it, and his blood ran cold. It was a picture of Ashley, tied to a tree, looking terrified.

Blair: “No… no, no, no…”

Sylvia and Stewart approached Blair.

Sylvia: “Blair, what’s wrong?”

She asked him.

Blair: “THIS! Someone kidnapped MY Ashley, and if I save them, I get to date them!”

He gestured with a Polaroid showing Ashley bound to the tree, which included a message directing him to the forest cemetery to locate them. Sylvia leaned in, adjusting her glasses to examine the note and photograph. Stewart raised an eyebrow.

Sylvia: “Blair, you are NOT going! We can have Jordi—”

Blair cut her off, stomping his feet and crying.

Blair: “NO! NOOOO!!! THAT FAT PIG BROKE THEIR HEART! I AM SICK OF EVERYONE ALL OVER THAT FATTY! I WILL SAVE THEM!”

He bawled and shoved Sylvia aside to rush into the deep forest.

Sylvia: “BLAIR! GET BACK HERE! IT’S A TRAP!”

She called out.

Stewart: “Sylvia, I can alert—”

Before he could finish the sentence, she ran after him. Stewart knit his eyebrows, fearing for her safety. Do I tell them? He wondered and began following Sylvia into the deep woods.

~

Blair came rushing into the woods, where he saw Ashley tied to a tree. Ashley frowned when they saw Blair, hoping it would have been Jordi or Celeste instead.

Blair: “ASHLEY! I got a picture saying you were being held hostage, and I have to come get you! Here I am! Now, we have to date!”

He beamed and nodded.

Ashley: “NO! I’m not going anywhere with you, and I’m not dating you! I’d rather die here!”

They protested and struggled in their bonds.

~

Tristan, Celeste, Fabien, Deimos, Jaxon, and Jordi trailed deep into the woods.

Tristan: “Since the note was intended for you, you should go first.”

He said to Fabien.

Fabien: “Yeah, I’m game. I know how to rile Ichiro up.”

He smirked.

The two moons cast their light upon them, reflecting in the water as they went across the bridge. The crickets, owls, and their own heartbeats were the only sounds. Dreading what he would have to face, Jaxon embraced himself as he crossed the bridge.

They went up the trail until the sound of Ashley’s protests with Blair’s whining grew louder. Tristan crept into the bushes and silently instructed everyone to do so. The group saw Ashley tied to a tree with Blair ready to save them. Tristan flicked his gaze to Fabien and gave him a nod.

Upon hearing the squeal of the opening cemetery gates, Fabien walked inside. Ashley let out a sigh of relief at the sight of him.

Ashley: “Oh, thank the stars! Would you please help me, Fabien? I’ll bake you some cupcakes!”

They pleaded with him.

Fabien: “What is this?”

Blair: “Oh, it’s my best friend, Ashley! He thinks we should date.”

He beamed. Ashley frowned at Blair.

Ashley: “Only you think that, Blair!”

They snapped.

Ichiro grabbed Blair from behind and pressed the injection gun against his neck.

Ichiro: “Hello, Mr. Troll! It seems Blair’s girlfriend wants to die with her beloved, and she will when he is turned into a richonoid!”

Ichiro laughed softly. Blair wept aloud as the weapon remained jammed against his neck, Ichiro's finger tightening upon the trigger.

Fabien: “...Did you fuckin’ set this whole thing up?”

Ichiro: “Yes, Fabien, I did! I intended to kidnap Miss Piggy for bait to lure your precious Blair!”

He smirked.

Fabien: “No, I don’t mean that… I meant this group outing. No one is getting along, your brother sucks, and Ashley and Jordi broke up. Did you make them break up for Blair?”

He laughed. Ichiro’s jaw tightened.

Ichiro: “Don’t thrust YOUR plans onto ME! I couldn’t care less who this manchild dates! He will NEVER date anyone, but that fat pig over there!”

He nodded to Ashley. Fabien laughed.

Fabien: “I dunno, man, you come up with elaborate plans just to turn Blair into a monster. Are you doing this for Blair or for me?”

He said, gracing him with a saccharine smile. Ichiro seethed at him.

Ichiro: “I am doing this because YOU stole MY Green Queen from ME!”

He bellowed, thrust his gun at Fabien.

Fabien: “Man, you and Jiro think Celeste is a prize to be won. You two are alike.”

He scoffed. Ichiro saw red. Jaxon heard enough. He was sick of Fabien comparing him to the man who destroyed his life.

Ichiro: “SHUT UP! I AM NOTHING LIKE HIM!”

He screamed. Jaxon rose and marched into the cemetery.

Jaxon: “I AM NOT LIKE HIM!”

He shot his finger at Ichiro, bellowing at Fabien.

Tristan: “Jaxon!”

He whispered hoarsely.

Ichiro turned to face his younger brother and rolled his eyes.

Ichiro: “Disobeying your lawyer, Jiro? I know you’re there, Tristan! You can come out!”

He shouted, pressing his gun against Blair, who wailed. Tristan put his hand out to Jordi, Celeste, and Deimos.

Tristan rose and entered the cemetery to face Ichiro.

Tristan: “Hello, Ichiro.”

He pulled a photograph from his pocket and tossed it toward him. Looking down, Ichiro caught sight of an 18-year-old Noriko dressed in her bridal kimono.

Ichiro: “Why are you showing this to me?”

He rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “Look closer.”

Narrowing his eyes at Ichiro, Tristan watched him pause. While keeping Blair locked securely in his arm, Ichiro knelt to grab the photograph, only to freeze when his eyes caught the sight of Borko and himself standing in the background.

Ichiro: “...Yes, I attended that joke of a wedding.”

Tristan: “With Borko.”

He added, for good measure. Ichiro glared hotly at Tristan.

Jaxon: “You are SO busted, Ichiro!”

Ichiro: “Jiro, the adults are talking.”

He hissed.

Ichiro: “What do you want with me, Tristan?”

He asked coldly. Tristan narrowed his green eyes into slits.

Tristan: “Ichiro, you killed my good friend and my step-brother’s family’s nanny amongst other innocent people for your sick games. What on Reona do you think I want?!”

His voice rose as he stepped closer.

Ichiro: “I didn’t kill Borko!”

He snapped.

Tristan: “I never said you did, and I already pieced together who did! He’s as bad as you, so don’t think I am here to avenge him! My question is WHY was he with you at Jaxon and Noriko’s wedding?”

He cross-examined.

Ichiro: “You’re treading in hot water now, Mr. Trémaux…”

Tristan didn’t so much as blink, his gaze remaining locked on Ichiro’s eyes, devoid of any fear.

Tristan: “Hot water is where I do my best work, Ichiro. And you’re already drowning.”

Fabien let out a sharp, mocking laugh that cut through the tension.

Fabien: “He’s right, you know. The ‘mastermind’ is losing his grip, and it’s pathetic to watch.”

Ichiro’s face twisted into a snarl. He jammed the muzzle of his gun harder into Blair’s neck, causing him to let out a high-pitched whimper.

Blair: “P-Please! I just want to date Ashley! Why is everyone so mean to me?!”

Jaxon stepped forward, his fists clenched at his sides, his patience visibly fracturing.

Jaxon: “Blair, shut up! This isn’t about you!”

He rounded on his brother, his voice shaking with a potent mix of rage and long-buried hurt.

Jaxon: “And you! You killed the woman I love! You turned her into a fucking monster! The real monster is YOU! When Grandmother died, I was blamed, but maybe it wasn’t ME!”

Ichiro’s eyes darted between the group, his confidence momentarily shaken by the raw, unfiltered resentment radiating from his brother.

Ichiro: “You don’t understand, Jiro. You never did. You were always the weak link.”

Tristan: “Weakness is subjective, Ichiro. What was Borko doing at your brother’s wedding?”

Ichiro tightened his finger on the trigger, his knuckles white, his composure hanging by a thread.

In the bushes, the top part of Celeste’s head was exposed. She looked up like a cat hiding in the bushes. Ichiro brightened when he saw her.

Ichiro: “My Green Queen…”

He breathed. Tristan darted before him.

Tristan: “Don’t you DARE change the subject…”

Before Ichiro could muster a reply, Sylvia launched herself forward with a primal cry, her shoulder slamming into his ribs with the force of an oncoming train. Ichiro’s breath whooshed out of him in a sharp gasp, his feet skidding on the loose graveyard dirt as he spiraled backward. They crashed to the ground, and Sylvia scrambled to pin him, her fingers clawing at his wrists to pry his iron-tight grip from Blair’s throat. Blair sputtered, gasping for air as Sylvia fought to break his hold.

Blair scrambled away to run to Ashley to free them.

Blair: “I GOT YOU, ASHLEY!”

Ashley: “NO!”

They scrambled, trying to break free. Jordi dashed out from the bushes to Ashley. Blair growled at him and shoved him down with great force, where he crashed onto the soil, scraping his knee. Jordi groaned in pain and bared his teeth. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “JORDI!”

They gasped.

Blair: “BLOW OFF, FATTY! ASHLEY IS MINE!”

He bellowed and began untying Ashley’s ropes. Ashley wrenched away from Blair.

Ashley: “NO! Go away, Blair!”

They pleaded with him.

Blair: “I will get you to safety!”

He beamed as he held them tightly.

Ashley: “G-GET OFF ME!”

They protested, trying to wrench out of his suffocating grip.

Tristan gasped.

Tristan: “SYLIVA! Get away from him!”

A frosty mist began pouring from his outstretched hand.

Ichiro: “GET OFF ME, YOU FAT FUCK!”

He snarled as Sylvia tried to pry his gun from him. He aimed it at Blair. Sylvia grabbed his wrist, yanking it back.

Sylvia: “BLAIR! TAKE ASHLEY AND GO!”

She commanded.

Blair: “Okay!”

He chirped, yanking Ashley away.

Ashley: “NOOO!”

They cried, trying to break away from Blair.

Tristan: “Ashley, go with him!”

He snapped.

Blair: “Yeah, Ashley, Tristan thinks we should date!”

He smiled dumbly.

Ashley: “I DON’T WANT TO BE WITH HIM!”

They cried and glared at Blair with hatred.

Jordi: “Ashley, go with him!”

He said firmly and pleadingly. Ashley knit their eyebrows, looking hurt with that coming from him.

Ashley: “I’d rather be alone!”

They cried and scurried away into the woods.

Blair: “ASHLEY!”

Jaxon: “Yeah, let Ichiro kill that stupid fat bitch.”

Blair lunged at Ashley and grabbed them.

Ashley: “NO! Let go of me!”

Ichiro cocked the gun and aimed it at Blair.

Ichiro: “Sayonara, Blair.”

Sylvia: “NO!”

She pulled his arm toward her, and Ichiro fired the gun, where the needle went into her stomach, and the fluid was injected inside of her. Jaxon cupped his mouth. Celeste rose from the bushes to join the rest. Tristan’s bottom lip trembled. Deimos slowly walked up beside Tristan. Fabien pursed his lips. Ashley gasped and trembled.

Ashley: “S-SYLVIA!”

They cried.

Jaxon: “You stupid fat BITCH!! WHY DIDN’T YOU RUN WITH BLAIR?!”

He cried at Ashley. Ashley knit their eyebrows. It’s all my fault, they thought.

Ichiro rose from Sylvia, who was convulsing and panting.

Ichiro: “Now, look at what you two did.”

He said to Blair and Ashley. Ashley trembled all over and cried.

Ashley: “S-sylvia N-NO!”

They bawled.

Tristan: “Ichiro…”

He growled and bared his teeth.

Sylvia gasped and panted as she dropped with sweat. Professor Stewart Murphy slowly walked into the scene.

Sylvia: “Blair… Blair…”

She groaned.

Blair: “Sylvia, are you okay? Do you want Grandpa to call a doctor?”

He asked.

Sylvia: “Take… Take Ashley… and go…”

She groaned and dug her nails into the soil. Stewart slowly cupped his mouth. Tristan pursed his lips and looked away as he cupped his mouth.

Sylvia: “You… need to take them and go…”

Her voice grew deeper as she started to expand, and her clothes tore the more she grew. Her glasses dropped to the ground, and her hair fell out in clumps.

Blair: “Sylvia, what’s going on?”

Jordi: “Blair, get Ashley out of here, please!”

He said beseechingly. Jaxon panted and clasped his hand over his chest as he watched her transformation. Clumps of skin fell to the ground near Jaxon’s boots, and he backed away. Ashley fell to the ground, crying out for Sylvia.

Her body turned into a swollen mass of mottled, sickly green flesh, stretched so tight over unseen fluid that it looked perpetually on the verge of bursting. Pustules the size of human heads bulged from her torso, glowing with a murky, bioluminescent light. Thick, gnarled roots and fibrous tendrils curled around her limbs. A cluster of orange shelf-mushrooms sprouted like armor along her shoulders, and dark, thorny quills jutted violently from her back.

Her mouth stretched out, forming a gaping maw with needle-sharp, blackened teeth, and nightmarish black, compound eyes formed on her face.

Tristan broke down crying and sank to the ground. Deimos knelt to console him. Fabien gaped at the grotesque monster. Celeste braced her feet ready for battle. Jaxon shivered all over as he sobbed. Ashley fell to the ground and broke down crying for Sylvia.

Ashley: “NOO! SYLVIA!”

They bawled. Jordi turned to Ashley.

Jordi: “Ashley, go with Blair and get out of here!”

He said beseechingly.

Ashley: “Wh-What about you guys?”

They knit their eyebrows, worried for them all.

Jordi: “We got this.”

He nodded.

Stewart rushed to them and Blair.

Stewart: “Come on, you two, let’s go.”

Ashley nodded to Stewart.

Blair: “Yeah, let’s go, Ashley!”

He smiled. Ashley glared at him.

Ashley: “H-How can you smile right now?!”

They sobbed, looking at Sylvia.

Blair: “Because I saved you, and Sylvia will get better!”

He nodded. Ashley’s bottom lip trembled as they remembered that mall Santa’s doomed fate and said nothing more. Stewart didn’t argue. He guided them out of the cemetery.

Just as he did, the monster shot out spores at Blair, Ashley, and Stewart.

Jordi; “NO!”

He screamed and dashed in front of them to shield them. The spores landed on Jordi and started growing all over him. Ashley’s heart sank.

Ashley: “J-JORDIIIIIII!”

They cried out for him in a panic. Stewart took them and Blair.

Stewart: “Come on, you two!”

Jordi sank to the ground as he struggled to breathe.

Ashley: “B-BUT JORDI’S HURT!”

They cried. Stewart took them and Blair in his arms, dashing through the forest. Godspeed, he thought.

Jaxon hurried over to Jordi, his hands radiating a crimson light as he entirely cured the infection. The spores evaporated, and Jordi’s breathing returned to normal.

Jordi: “Thank you…”

Celeste: “We can’t let those mushrooms touch us!”

With every agonizing, wheezing breath the creature drew, a cloud of iridescent, toxic spores erupted from deep fissures in its hide, hanging in the air like a shimmering haze of decay.

Celeste grabbed the monster’s arm, jumped, and threw it down into the tombstones with great force. The monster shrieked—a sound like grinding metal—and the shelf-mushrooms on its shoulders pulsed violently, launching a fresh volley of quills at them. Fabien put his hands up, forming a green barrier over them. Fabien’s green barrier shimmered as the quills struck.

Tristan shed his tears. He slammed his palms onto the soil, and jagged pillars of ice erupted directly beneath the beast, penetrating its arms and legs. The creature shot spores at Tristan, slamming him back and landing on him.

Deimos: “TRISTAN!!”

He screamed and flew to him to heal him. Deimos hovered his hands out as a violet glow emitted from them as he tried to heal him. Tristan gasped and wheezed for air, gazing up at Deimos with spores protruding from his face, tears in his eyes. Deimos’ bottom lip trembled.

Deimos: “Why isn’t it working?!”

He cried. Jaxon stepped aside and put his hands out, and a red glow surrounded Tristan as he healed him. The spores disintegrated, and Deimos helped Tristan to his feet.

Tristan: “Thank you, Jaxon.”

He said sincerely.

Deimos: “Thanks, man. I owe ya.”

Celeste seized the monster by its arm, flipping the beast over and slamming it down onto a jagged tombstone. In retaliation, the creature sprayed spores directly at her. Moving swiftly, Fabien positioned himself in front of her and raised his hands to manifest a green barrier, which caused the spores to bounce away on impact. Seizing the moment, Jordi pressed his palms together, bringing down a bolt of purple lightning that struck the creature.

Upon impact, the beast let out a sharp, piercing shriek and unleashed a fresh volley of quills in their direction. Raising his hands, Fabien conjured a green barrier to shield himself and Celeste, while Tristan extended his arms to manifest a protective dome of ice. The quills tore straight through the frozen structure, narrowly missing both Tristan and Deimos. However, one quill pierced Jordi's leg; he caterwauled and screamed in agony as the weapon began melting away his flesh. Celeste dashed to his side immediately and yanked the quill free.

Jordi: “Oh my God, oh my God!”

He cried out as the burning pain from his searing flesh spread further up his leg. Dropping to his knees, Jaxon extended his hands, casting a crimson glow over them as he mended the damaged flesh, healed the wounds, and drew out the poison.

Tristan looked up at the night sky and at his friends and boyfriend.

Tristan: “Celeste, seize the monster and hold it in place.”

He instructed.

Fabien: “I will be around to make sure those mushrooms don’t get at her.”

Tristan: “Deimos, carry me and fly me up and fly down.”

Before they could execute the plan, the creature shot its arm out. Deimos lunged out of the way with Tristan tightly in his arms, scraping his own arm and wincing in pain from the impact. Seizing the opening, Celeste jumped over the attack and kicked its head with great force, pulling out one of its eyes. The monster retaliated instantly, whacking her hard and slamming her into the tree before wrapping its tendrils around her.

Seeing her trapped, Jordi shot his hand out, striking its arm with a bolt of lightning and severing it off entirely. As the monster roared and thrashed in pain, Jaxon rushed to Celeste’s side, put his hands out, and healed her completely.

Celeste: “Thanks, Jax…”

She muttered.

Grabbing the creature by its arms, Jordi sent several volts of electricity surging through it, while Deimos scooped Tristan into his embrace and ascended into the night sky.

Celeste lunged forward, her boots carving deep furrows in the cemetery soil as she grappled with the monstrosity. With a primal grunt of exertion, she slammed her weight into the beast, locking her hands around its primary limbs with the crushing force of a hydraulic press. The creature erupted in a series of agonizing, high-pitched shrieks that sounded like tectonic plates grinding together. It thrashed violently, its mottled green flesh rippling and bulging as it fought to throw her off, but Celeste held firm. Her muscles bunched and strained under her skin, the physical toll of restraining such raw, toxic power turning her knuckles white.

The beast’s struggle was desperate; it arched its swollen back, trying to gain leverage, while thick, black fluid leaked from the joints where Celeste’s grip was tightest. Every time it surged, Celeste let out a breathy snarl, digging her heels deeper into the ground to maintain the pin. The air around them grew thick with the stench of ozone and decay as the creature’s resistance met the immovable wall of her super strength. It was a grounded, brutal contest of wills, the creature’s limbs cracking and groaning under the relentless pressure of her hold.

Fabien and Jaxon stayed close to her while she kept it in place. Tristan gazed down at the monster with Deimos.

Tristan: “Sylvia is already dead. I’m doing the kindest thing.”

He shut his eyes tightly and turned to Deimos.

Tristan: “NOW!”

Deimos nodded and flew him down with great force. Tristan gnashed his teeth and formed two large icicles in his hands.

When he came closer, Celeste jumped out of the way as Tristan’s icicles went through the creature, penetrating its eyes and pustules. He formed an ice axe and let out a mighty roar as he slammed it down into the creature’s head, splitting it in half. The monster collapsed with a final shudder, shaking the ground beneath them. The glowing bioluminescence in its pustules faded into a dull, muddy gray. As the fluid drained from the shattered remains, the toxic stench finally dissipated, leaving only the cold silence of the graveyard. It was over; the creature that had been Sylvia lay still, a hollow shell of what she once was, finally finding peace in the aftermath of the violence.

As Deimos set Tristan down on the ground, Tristan collapsed, tears streaming from his eyes. Wailing loudly, he pounded his fists against the ground. Deimos knelt beside him and wrapped his arms around him in comfort. Meanwhile, Celeste embraced herself, her eyebrows knitting together in distress, as Fabien placed his arms around her. Jaxon also held himself close, and Jordi turned his back on the scene, overwhelmed with grief for Sylvia and dreading the moment he would have to break the news to Ashley.

Tristan: “Oh my God…”

He sobbed.

Tristan: “HOW MUCH MORE CAN I TAKE?!”

He bawled.

Narcisse watched from the woods, his gaze locked on Tristan and Jaxon. Tristan is improving, he thought. He then swung his gaze to Jaxon. And he’s exactly what I need, he thought. I know exactly what to do, he thought with a smirk as he backed away into the shadows.