Unexpected Reunion

I ran into Scia again. Haven't heard from her since that shit went down in that cult town. I kind of just... bumped into her on the street. What are the odds?

Anyway, we're I'm gonna be staying with her for a bit. Not like I'm doing anything else right now...

God Damn Card Games...

I swear, these card games happen at the most bizarre times. I enjoy a good game of Yu-Gi-Oh, but come on!

I was sitting thinking about my fight with Red Daniel, when this man approached me. He didn't look right. He was clearly insane.

“Hell!” he said, ecstatically. “You must be the great Dan Ferris!”

“Yeah, and who the hell are you?” I asked.

“You're opponent!” he announced, as a duel disk appeared on his arm.

“No!” I said. “I'm not in the mood! I'm not fucking doing this right now!”

I got up and started walking away, but the scenery suddenly changed. I was at the edge of a floating rock in an endless expanse of soft purple sky.

“Where the hell are we!?” I demanded.

“I'm sorry!”the man said, grinning broadly. “But I insist! You and I will duel!”

“Ugh, fine!” I said. “But you'll regret bringing me here. I'm seriously not in the mood for this crap right now.”

“Very well!” the man said. “Let us begin!”

“I'll go first!” I said, drawing. “I set one monster in face down defense osition, then set another spell or trap card face down and end my turn.”

“My turn!” the man said. “I summon Rogue Doll in attack mode!”

A twisted looking toy doll appeared on his field. It was level 4 with 1600 attack points.

“Next, I play the spell card Tribute Doll!” he said. “Now, by tributing a monster on my field, I can special summon a level 7 monster from my hand! I summon Double Doll!”

A porcelain figure appeared on his field, wearing a black dress with red lace. It was level 7 with 2200 attack points.

“I use Double Doll's effect!” he said. “When she's special summoned from my hand, I can summon another of her from my deck!”

A second doll appeared, this time with blue lace instead of red.

“I build the overlay network with these two level 7 monsters!” he said. “Now, I can xyz summon my ultimate monster! Come forth, Nightmare Toy- Destructo Doll!”

A giant toy doll appeared on his field. It looked like a man wearing a nice suit with combed hair. It was rank 7 with 2500 attack points.

“I attack with Destructo Doll!” he announced.

His monster lifted its right arm, which transformed into a cluster of machine guns and began firing at my face down card.

“My face down monster is Gyroid!” I said. “Once per turn, it can't be destroyed in battle!”

“I use Destructo Doll's effect!” the man said. “Once per turn, if he fails to destroy a monster in battle, he can battle that monster a second time!”

His monster attacked my Gyroid again, this time destroying it.

“I then set a card and end my turn!” he said.

“Hold on,” I said. “During your end phase, I activate the continuous trap card Machine King 3000 B.C.! This card will now be treated as a monster card and will be summoned to my monster card zone!”

“Okay then!” he said.

“I draw!” I said. “I summon Genex Controller in attack mode!”

A small machine with 1400 attack points appeared on my field.

“I tune my level 3 Genex Controller to my level 4 Machine King 3000 B.C.!” I said. “I synchro summon level 7 Manufactured Newborn!”

I heard a loud rumbling noise as the tower of machine and flesh rose up beneath me.

“I activate a trap card!” the man said. “Draw Doll! This card will now equip to my Destructo Doll, and each time he battles with a monster that's the same attribute as him, both players draw one card from their deck!”

“I attack your Destructo Doll with the Manufactured Newborn!” I announced. “And since my monster's a Fear card, it won't be destroyed!”

“Don't forget!” he said. “Since both our monsters are Dark attributes, we both draw a card!”

Wires lashed out at his doll, knocking it to the ground. It got up afterward.

“What!?” I said. “Why is it still there!?”

“You see, my Destructo Doll can survive one battle each turn, provided he has at least one of his overlay units! Also, since your monster wasn't destroyed in this battle either, they have to battle again! And do to Draw Doll's effect, that means we'll both get another card!”

“I set two cards face down,” I said.”And then I end my turn.”

“And since this turn is over, Draw Doll will be destroyed!”the man said.

“Fine,” I said.

“My turn!” he said. “I activate the spell card Bait Doll!With this card, I can force the activation of one of your face down cards! And if the timing is incorrect, it gets destroyed! Now, let's see what the card on the left is!”

My card flipped face up, revealing it to be Mirror Force.

“Mirror Force only works when I attack!” he said. “So now Bait Doll will destroy it! Then, Bait Doll will return to my deck for future use! Now, I use Destructo Doll's effect! I detach one of his overlay units to increase his attack power by 1000 until the end phase!”

“Oh shit,” I said out loud.

“Now,attack his Newborn!”

The attack hit and I took 1000 damage.

“Next, since your monster survived, They must battle again!” he said.

He attacked again, and I lost another 1000 life points.

“Now, I set two cards face down and end my turn!” he said.

“I draw!” I said. “I switch My Newborn to defense position and set two cards face down. Then, I end my turn.”

“My turn,” he said. “I activate the trap card Strike Slash! Now, my monster gains 700 attack and deals piercing damage for the rest of the turn! Then, I use Destructo Doll's effect, so by using his last overlay unit, I can increase his attack power by 1000 again! Now, attack his Newborn!”

His monster had 4200 attack points, and my monster had 1300 defense, so I took 2900 damage.

“Now, I attack again!” he announced.

“I activate the trap card Defense Draw!” I said. “Now, I negate the damage from this attack and draw one card!”

“Okay, then!” he said. “You must be thinking you have a chance now that my monster's run out of overlay units, right? Well, hate to break it to you, but I'm using the spell card Overlay Regen! This card will now become and overlay unit for my monster! Now, I set a card face down and end my turn!”

“I draw!” I said. “Now, I play my face down Reload, so I shuffle my hand back into my deck and draw new cards!”

I drew some new cards. I finally had something I could use.

“I set four cards face down and end my turn!” I said.

“My turn!” he announced.

“I activate the trap card Destruct Potion!” I said. “Now, by destroying the Manufactured Newborn, I can gain life points equal to its attack power!”

My Newborn was destroyed and I rose to 5600.

“Now, I activate the Newborn's effect!” I said. “I can now increase my life by 1000 and special summon it to your field!”

I gained even more life and the Newborn appeared on his side of the field.

“Next, since the Newborn was just summoned to the field, I can play the trap card Torrential Tribute!” I said. “Now, Every monster in play!”

Both Destructo Doll and the Manufactured Newborn were wiped out.

“Next, since Newborn was destroyed by a card effect while under your control,I regain control of it!” I said.

The Newborn reappeared on my field.

“Clever strategy!” the man said. “But it won't be enough to win! I activate the trap card Xyz Reborn! Now, I can revive Destructo Doll and attach this card to him as an overlay unit! Then, I use his effect, so by detaching his overlay unit, He'll gain 1000 attack points! Also, I use the trap card Reinforcements! Now, he'll gain 500 attack points until the end phase! Now, attack!”

“I play the trap card Draining Shield!” I said. “Now, your attack is negated, and I gain life points equal to your monster's attack points!”

His attack was negated and I gained 4000 life points,bringing me up to 10600.

“I activate another Overlay Regen!” he said. “Then I end my turn!”

“I draw,” I said. I glanced at the card I had drawn. “Finally here, huh?”

“What's that?” he asked.

“I activate both of my remaining face down cards,” I said. “Tiki Soul and Tiki Curse! Both of these cards will now be treated as monster cards.”

“And what good will that do?” he asked.

“What do you think?” I asked. “Swarm tactics? Increasing life points? What kind of card do you think I've been building up to?”

“I don't...,” he paused for a moment. “No, you couldn't have that card, could you?”

“I tribute all three of my monsters!” I announced. “I summon the Egyptian God Card, The Winged Dragon Of Ra!”

“Shit!”the man shouted. “Not That!”

A giant, golden, bird-like dragon appeared. It was level 10 with 0 attack points.

“When Ra is summoned, I can pay life points until I only have a hundred left, and I can add all of that to my Dragon's attack points!”

Ra's attack power rose to 10500.

“Now, end this!” I commanded.

The dragon released a flashed of lightning. Although his monster was able to survive it, his life points couldn't. They dropped to 0. I won.

The man collapsed and fell unconscious as the scenery returned to normal.

“Good job,” said a voice. I turned to see Jack watching me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Just stopped by to give you a little challenge,” he said.

“So you're the one who sent this clown to duel me,” I said. “Why? What the hell is up with all these fucking card games!?”

“I discovered this card game a few years ago,” he said. “I found it interesting, and decided to put my own twist on it. I created hundreds of new cards, based on the monsters that mankind is ignorant to, including the Fears and the Old Ones.”

“So the Old Ones are real?” I asked.

“Sort of,” he said. “They exist on one of the deeper layers of reality. They can't come here themselves, but there are cults who worship them, and those like Gordon who have acquired their power and work for them as emissaries and such.”

“I see,” I said. “So, basically you created all these Fear cards just for shits and giggles?”

“Pretty much,” he said. “There's nothing I enjoy more than sowing seeds of chaos, and this card game seemed like an amusing way of doing so. Anyway, I have other people to screw with, so I must be off. But before I go, here's a small prize.”

He handed me a copy of the Destructo Doll card than vanished along with the man's unconscious body. Well, at least I know what the deal with the card games is. Still seems fucking stupid though.

Cold Blood

I found him. I'm not sure how... it's like, I just knew where he'd be. I think he did that on purpose. He drew me to him somehow, so that I could fight him.

He was staying in a seemingly empty nightclub. The doors were left unlocked, and the lights were off. I entered, and made my way to the VIP room. I could feel him there. I kicked the door open, and saw him there, sitting in a chair at the back of the room. Naked bodies were sprawled across the floor, covered in deep gashes and blood.

“Ah, Danny Boy, glad you made it,” he said, slipping on a red coat with spikes on the shoulders. “I made sure to bring my favorite jacket for the occasion.”

“What... what the fuck happened here!?” I demanded.

“Oh, not much,” he said. “Just a small party.”

“What do you mean party!” I demanded. “These people... they're dead!”

“That is correct, yes,” he said. “That tends to happen to people when we worship the Red Cap. This kind of thing empowers her.”

“That's disgusting!” I said.

He just laughed. I looked around at the people lying there. Some were around my age, both male and female. Others... young girls, who couldn't have been any older than high school.

“You sick fuck!” I snarled at him. “How can you just stand there laughing!”

“You wanna know?” he said, getting up and crossing the floor over to me. “Fine, I'll tell you. You see, though we're the same person, we have completely different pasts. I went to my first party at the age of 14, where they were serving what I assumed at the time was wine. Of course, I'm sure an guess what it really was.”

“The Red Cap,” I said.

“Bingo!” he said. “Of course, she assumed control of me almost immediately, and forced me to give in to my deepest impulses. And you know what happened next?”

“No,” I said.

He chuckled for a moment before saying “I raped someone.”

“What!?” I demanded, appalled.

“I'll spare you the details,” he said. “But it happened. The cops came the moment it ended, and I was arrested. She released her hold on me, becoming dormant in my bloodstream for 3 more years. During that time, I was left with my guilt, the dirty looks of the people who were once my friends, and the shame I had brought to my family. Eventually, I couldn't take it any more! I was prepared to end it all! To make all the guilt and shame stop! But she gave me a counter offer.”

“A... counter offer?” I asked.

“That's right,” he said. “I could go on living without the pain. I'd still get the dirty looks, the people whispering about my crime behind my back, but it would no longer phase me. I'd be free, and all I'd have to do, was let the Redness take hold.”

Those words. The same words I heard when I first entered my Vessel form.

“So I did,” he said. “I became her Vessel. I became a being above mortal standards. I became free of guilt and shame! The hateful eyes of my peers became meaningless! I no longer feel guilt. I no longer feel shame! All I feel is lust!”

I couldn't listen to him talk any more. I clenched my fist and decked him right in the jaw. He stumbled backwards for a moment, but steadied himself easily, and looked me in the eyes with a smile on his face.

“Thank you,” he chuckled. “May I have another?”

I threw another punch, hitting him in the temple. He stumbled a bit more that time, but not by much.

“How is that the only thing you feel!?” I demanded. “How can you feel nothing except for that!?”

“Oh, don't get me wrong,” he said. “It's not that I don't feel anything. It's just that my lust is much stronger than any of my other emotions, save for one.”

“One?” I asked.

“That's right,” he said. “But if you wanna know which one it is, you'll have to kill me.”

“I intend to!” I shouted, charging at him and swinging my fist as hard as I could.

This time he blocked with one of his hands, and pulled the other into a fist. The problem with fighting one handed, is that you can't block very well. He hit me right in the solar plexus with enough force that I was sent flying out of the VIP room and landed in the middle of the empty dance floor. I then felt his foot slamming hard into my broken arm, shattering the bones even further. I screamed in pain.

“Ah, music to my ears,” he said, moving away toward the DJ booth. “This seems a little too quiet, doesn't it? Let's liven things up, shall we?”

He turned on the stereo, playing Bruises and Bitemarks by Good With Grenades. The song fits him, to be honest. I got to my feet and drew my wakizashi. Which burst into flames. I charged at him just as he was turning around. He raised a vodka bottle, using the neck of the bottle to block the attack. The impact caused the cork to pop out. Speaking of which, what the hell kind of vodka uses a cork? Don't the usually use bottle caps? Okay, that was off topic. Anyway, he quickly snapped kicked me in the jaw, knocking me back to the ground.

“Thanks for getting that for me,” he said, downing the entire bottle in just a few swigs. Seriously, who drinks vodka like that!?

I got back to my feet and swung my sword several times. He effortlessly parried with the empty bottle, before smacking me in the face with it. He then hooked kicked me in my bad arm a couple times and then palm struck me in the chest with enough force to send me crashing into the opposite wall. A normal person wouldn't be able to fight while being that drunk. The opposite was true for him. His drunkenness wasn't making him worse; it was making him better. He was using drunken fist martial arts. He was too good. I was definitely no match for him.

Not as you are now, said a voice in my head. But you can beat him, with my help.

You! I thought. You're...

The one person who can help you right now, she said. The only way you can win is to let the Redness take hold.

I was cornered. Red Daniel was closing the distance between us quickly, and I could barely move. I shouldn't have done it, but at the time I could see no other options.

Okay, I said. Just this once, I need your power!

I immediately felt my blood moving faster than normal. It flowed through my damaged arm, forcing the bone fragments painfully back into place and fusing them back together.. I could feel the cold red fluid encasing my arm, and all my wounds sealing shut. The strength flowed through my body. I could feel it passing through my hair and eyes, causing them to change color. I got to my feet. Or, rather, she did. I could feel my control slipping away. My body was under her influence. She grabbed my sword with my now healed arm, and lashed at him. His bottle shattered as he tried to block with it.

“Ah, so you're in control now, are you?” he asked.

“This ends now,” she said. “I'll kill you, and you're universes copy of me!”

“You think killing me will work!?” he laughed. “Don't be ridiculous! What do you think I've been doing this whole time!? My Red Cap is already spreading throughout your universe! Killing me won't stem the flow of her blood!”

Of course. It's been so long, I had forgotten. The two Red Caps, in one universe. And with the new one spreading its power, it was only a matter of time before all out war broke out between the two of them.

“In that case, I'll track down all of the other Vessels, and kill them as well!” She said.

She swung my sword again, but he jumped backwards. He then clutched his shoulder, allowing the spikes on his jacket to dig into the palm of his hand. The blood dripping from the wounds expanded and shaped into the form of a sword, before solidifying into a deep red crystal blade.

He charged, and he and the Red Cap fought each other savagely. I could hear a voice calling to me.

Daniel! Can you hear me!?

I opened my eyes. Or, I entered my subconscious, then opened my eyes. I was trapped. Engulfed in red slime. The Red Cap had my soul stuck inside her. Justin was standing a few feet away, calling to me.

“Daniel!” he said. “Don't let her control you!”

“It's useless!” she said. “He can't escape from me!”

She was right. No matter how much I struggled, I was trapped there, unable to move. Until a bunch of birds came and hit her with bolts of lightning. That loosened her grip on me a bit, and I managed to get an arm free. Justin summoned his scythe and slashed at her. I got my other arm free, and tried to pull myself out of her. Justin grabbed my arm and started pulling, while the birds kept her busy.

“Are those the Convocation?” I asked.

“Not quite,” Justin said. “We call then Dreambirds. Their subconscious replicas that he can summon.”

Justin glanced off to the side, and I followed his gaze to see the Faceless Bastard standing a short distance away. Justin managed to pull me the rest of the way out of the slime. I got up and drew my flaming sword, and slashed her with it. She recoiled in pain, as Justin and Faceless simultaneously attacked her with their scythe and machete.

“When I say 'I need your power', it's not an invitation to take over my entire body, you bitch!” I yelled.

She faded away.

“Thanks, you two,” I said.

“Whatever,” Faceless sad, turning and leaving.

“No problem,” Justin said.

“I'd better go,” I said. “See ya.”

I woke up to see Red Daniel standing a few feet away, panting.

“Ah, good, you're you again!” he said.

“That's right!” I said. “Let's finish this!”

“Yes! Let's!” he said.

We charged at each other. I blocked his attacks and managed to strike him in the ribcage with a kick. It didn't phase him. He swung at me with his crystal sword, and I ducked into the Godsway to avoid it and reappeared a distance away. With my arm fully healed, it didn't hurt quite as much any more. I then got an idea. The same trick the Fury used to defeat Enhanced Daniel. I vanished into the Godsway again, reappearing behind him. I grabbed onto his coat and pulled him into the Godsway with me. I immediately felt an intense burning pain throughout my entire body. Apparently, pulling other people into the Godsway isn't as easy as I thought it'd be. We reappeared bak in the club and I released him. We both collapsed to the ground.

“Damn,” he said. “Even I thought that was painful.”

“That's the Godsway for you,” I said, grabbing my sword.

The flames had extinguished when the Red Cap took control. Red Daniel also got to his feet, weakly. We were both in pain after that, but I knew he'd get over it quickly. He formed a new sword and turned to me. I raised the blade of my sword to my lips and whispered to it.

“I need you to work for me,” I said. “I need your flames, now more than ever.”

Something appeared in my peripheral vision, gazing at me. A large, muscular man, whose features seemed blurry, except for his glowing eyes.

“Very well,” he said, snapping his fingers.

The man disappeared, and my sword burst into flames again. Only this time, the flames were brighter and hotter than they'd ever been before. I almost couldn't handle it, but I ignore the pain and face Red Daniel any way. We lunged at each other, swinging our swords. His crystal blade shattered like glass as it struck against mine. He was taken aback by this, and I took the opportunity to stab my sword through his chest. The flames died out, and he stared down at my sword in disbelief. He stepped back as I pulled my sword out, still staring at his open wound, looking completely shocked. Then, he smiled.

“Finally,” he said, letting out a soft laugh. “It's happened.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “What's happened?”

“The strongest thing I can still feel, besides lust,” he said. “Is grief. A pain even a Masochist like me can't enjoy. I've wanted to end this for so long, but she wouldn't let me. But now... now...”

“What are you saying?” I demanded.

“What I'm trying to say is...,” He dropped to his knees as he spoke. “Thanks.”

“What do you mean thanks?” I asked. “Thanks for what!?”

“For killing me,” he said, softly. “I'm finally... free...”

He fell forward, onto his stomach, breathing heavily. That didn't last long. In a few moments, the breathing stopped. I checked his pulse. Nothing. It suddenly sank in, what had just happened.

“What.. What the fuck have I done!?” I asked myself.

I knew exactly what I had done. I had killed him, in cold blood. I had let my anger consume me, and I had murdered someone. I had killed myself, without even hesitating.

And he wanted it. That was his reason for doing this. Why he antagonized me. Why he assaulted Seraph. It was all to make me angry at him, so that I'd end his life.

But it still didn't feel right. I hadn't just killed my alternate self, but a piece of myself had died as well. MY arm had been healed, but I feel more broken than ever. I feel empty. I feel sick.

As I sat there, a figure appeared. A figure dressed in violet armor. The same man I had seen on the Path Of Chaos. He was only there for a moment, before disappearing along with Red Daniel's body and all traces of our fight. Even the bodies and blood that were in the VIP room had vanished.

“Wait!” I called out. “Who are you!? Why are you taking him away!?”

“I have my reasons,” I heard a voice say. “My name is Sentinel, and we will soon meet again.”

And that's it. I started typing this immediately after that. I'm... not sure what to do next. I know I should go back to the others, but... I don't think I an face anyone right now...

Oh my, Daniel. Going off about how much you hate me, without telling your readers what happened. Such an unreliable narrator you've become.

Would you people like to know what I did to him which outraged him so much? Oh, I'm sure you would. All right, my little pets, I'll tell you.

I crept aboard that ship of theirs. It wasn't hard. Not at all. A few characters were on deck, steering the ship. The pirate, the samurai, that SMSC agent, and that cute Kyle guy... But none of them noticed me. They didn't see me sneak below deck.

I passed by a room, where I could hear my other self chatting with that Tony person about whatever... I was tempted to stay and eavesdrop for a moment, but I chose not to.

I kept moving, until I found her room. That lovely Seraph girl you're so found of. She had left the door open as she slept, as if she wanted someone to enter. I stood over her bed, watching her. She seemed so peaceful, lost in her dreams about ponies and kittens or whatever the fuck girls dream about.

She woke when she felt my fingers wrapped around her throat. She tried to scream, but she couldn't. Not with my hand cutting off her air supply. She struggled to throw me off of her, but her strength was nothing to mine.

I grabbed her nightgown by the chest and tore it. It was easy, like shredding paper. I must say, Danny Boy, you have quite the taste in women. She really did have a nice body. Curves in all the right places, a pretty nice bust, and hips that would make some guys water at the mouth.

I ran my free hand along her skin. I've felt mopre than my fair share of women before, but she was different. I've never touched a Lilim before. It was... pretty nice. The way her scales contrast with ther otherwise smooth skin. It was alluring.

I was about to feel my way up to her chest when she managed to strike me in the jaw. I didn't mind the pain much. I never do. But I was startled enough to loosen my grip a bit, and that's when she let out her cry for help.

Of course, you heard, and came running. As soon as you saw me, with my hand around her throat, you knew exactly what was transpiring. You drew your sword, a look of pure hatred in your eyes. It burst into flames as you charged at me. You swung it at a precise angle, so that you could cut me without harming her. I released my grip on her and stepped back, but you still managed to graze my cheek with your fiery blade.

I decided to leave. I jumped out the window of the room, and as I fell, I twisted in midair to look back up at you. You were staring down at me, still furious about what had happened. I smiled up at you as I descended. I'm sure the look of joy on my face only pissed you off even further.

And that, my little ones, is why Daniel is so mad. I attempted to rape his girlfriend, and now he wants me dead.

Ion other words, I accomplished exactly what I had set out to do. I've got you mad at me, and now youll come after me. You, and your Red Cap, versus me, and mine. This will truly be a glorious spectacle! And if I win... if I beat you, you'll be all mine, Danny Boy!

So come at me! Come at me with all of your rage, hatred, and vengeance, and I will come at you with all of my pleasure, pain, and lust.

Let's see where this dance of madness leads us! Let us be consumed in the rain of blood!

You son of a bitch! I'll fucking kill you for this! I don't know where you are, but I swear to whatever god is out there that I will find you! And when I do, you'll be sorry!

The Tantalus Takes To The Sky

“So would you mind explaining what's going on?” I asked. We had been sitting on deck for a while, and Hideaki had returned with food. Not very good food, but whatever.

“It's a long story,” Tony said. “I've been spending the last few months trying to learn about the Fears. I needed to get away from you for it to work.”

“Um... what?” I asked.

“That fight was fake,” he said. “I was never actually mad at you. I figured it would work out for both of us if they thought we weren't friends anymore.”

“Yeah, that makes makes perfect sense,” I said sarcastically. “So just what have you been doing this whole time?”

“I've been looking for servant hideouts, and trying to get information,” he said. “I ended up meeting a former SMSC agent, and we started helping each other out. Then we were spying on these Dolls, and the pirate and the samurai ended up attacking them. They brought us here and-”

“Wait, why would you be attacking Wood Bitch's servants?” I asked Hideaki. “Don't you work for her?”

“Not anymore,” he said. “I've had enough of her crap.”

“'Bout damn time,” I said. “But didn't you pull us through her domain to get here”

“I can still access it, but I can't stick around too long, and going there too often is dangerous,” he said.

“But can't the fear seal their domains to different people?” I asked.

“They can, but they leave it open for more powerful traitors, in the hopes they'll get a chance to ambush us,” He said. “At least, some of them do.”

“So how do you know Garrot?” I said. “I heard about him once from Black Vice. One of my ancestor's was named after him or something.”

“He's my father,” he said. “He served the Wooden Girl before I was born, but fled from her after obtaining the Godslayer.”

“The what?” Seraph asked.

“A sword that is rumored to be capable of killing a Fear,” Hideaki said. “However, it's power was never actually tested, and my father hid it away and had the memories of its location erased.”

“By the Blind Man?” Tony asked.

“Seems likely,” Hideaki said. “But the Blind Man doesn't have it.”

“How do you know?” I asked.

“It's complicated,” he said. “Anyway, he married my mother, but was kidnapped by the Wooden Girl before I was born. He betrayed her again, and she tricked me into serving her.”

“Well, I'm gonna go talk to him,” I said, getting up.

“You sure that's a good idea?” Kyle asked.

“Don't care,” I said. “I have questions, he has answers. End of story.”

“The door's locked,” Hideaki said, as I approached it.

“Not a problem,” I said. I closed my eyes for a moment. Hey Justin, you there?

Yeah, man, He relied. What do you need?

Can you pick a lock? I asked.

Um... no, He said. I could probably break the door down, though.

Great idea, Captain Subtlety, I replied.

Sorry, He said. Give me a second.

I waited for a few seconds before he spoke to me again.

Found someone who can help, He said.

Who is it? I asked.

Been a while, said a familiar voice.

Servik? I asked.

Hey, man, Servik said. I've been meaning to thank you for getting my soul before the Archangel could.

You can thank me by opening this door, I said.

Alright, He said. But how do I do that from inside your head?

Easy, I said. I allowed myself to transform into him.

“Whoa!” he shouted! “What just happened!”

He wasn't the only one who was startled. Pretty much everyone there was surprised to see me shapeshift into another guy.

I can shapeshift into anyone whose soul I've absorbed, I told him. But it's only temporary, so you might wanna see about that door.

“Right,” he said, examining the lock. “Old school lock, but seems simple enough.”

He proceeded to pick the lock until it clicked and popped open.

“No sweat,” he said, just before I took control again.

“Okay,” I said, stepping through the door.

I though navigation would be easy, but I was wrong. Although I've seen this same ship in my subconscious, the one in my subconscious is different on the inside than the real one. It's stretched out in some laces, scrunched in others. There's rooms missing and rooms that shouldn't exist. So, it took me longer than normal to find the room Garrot was hiding in. I stopped outside when I heard the voices.

“And why would that matter?” Garrot said.

“I think it's something that should be taken into consideration,” another voice said.

“You're too hesitant,” Garrot sighed.

“And you're too reckless,” the other voice said.

“I'm a pirate, what do you expect?” Garrot said.

“Everything will be fine,” said a third voice, which was strangely distorted. “I've taken the necessary precautions.”

“Ugh, that really bugs me,” the second voice said.

“What does?” the distorted voice said.

“The fact that you do that to your voice,” the second person said. “Why are you distorting it like that?”

“Because we're being eavesdropped on and I can't risk Daniel recognizing me yet.”

The door was immediately opened by Garrot, who was smiling brightly.

“Ah, yes, Mr. Ferris,” he said. “I was just about to come get you!”

I caught a glimpse of a glowing silver figure in the corner of the room before it faded away.

“So what, you're just gonna turn invisible?” said a middle aged man in a dark suit lying on a hammock.

“Yes, that's exactly what I'm gonna do,” said the distorted voice.

“I know you!” I shouted at the empty corner. “You're that weird phantom guy that I met in that cult town!”

“Yes, I am,” the voice said.

“Just who are you?” I asked. “And why did we have to get those items from the cult?”

“My name is Marshall,” the voice said. “And as for those items, they are necessary for a ritual I need to perform here.”

“What kind of ritual?” I asked.

“A magic one,” the voice replied. “Now, if you'd be so kind as to meet me on deck in five minutes, that would be great.”

“Wait!” I said. “I have more questions!”

No reply.

“Geez, I hate that guy,” the middle aged man said. “I'm Moss Garden, by the way. Tony's told me about you.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said, before turning to face Garrot. “So what's going on?”

“Well, we're currently attempting to turn this ship into a suitable mode of transportation,” he said.

“So how do you know me?” I asked.

“Mostly from your friend, Tony,” he said. “I was quite interested in learning that you're a Devil Killer, like Leo's son was.”

“You mean Garrot Ferris, right?” I asked. “The one who was named after you?”

“Yes,” he said. “I was there when his father Leopold Ferris made the deal with the Jack Of All.”

“He did what!?” I asked, shocked.

“It's true,” he said. “In order to protect their son from the Fears, Leo and his wife formed a pact with Jack to give Garrot Ferris and all of his descendants the power to fight the Fears. Although, there is one thing that confuses me.”

“And what's that?” I asked.

“Why are you the only member of your current family who possesses Devil Killer powers?” he asked.

“Now that you mention it, that's a really good question,” I said.

“And one we unfortunately don't have an answer to,” Moss said. “We can assume that they faded away as generations passed, but why they reawakened in you is a mystery.”

“And what about this ship?” I asked. “Why is there a replica inside my subconscious?”

“Leo sailed this ship in his lifetime,” Garrot said. “Remnants of the ships memory must be inside your soul, along with other places visited by your ancestors.”

“Okay,” I said. “I'll just pretend that makes sense for now.”

“We'd best get up on deck,” Moss said.

“You're right,” I said. “Weird ghost man said 5 minutes, didn't he?”

“Indeed he did,” Garrot said. “Let's be on our way.”

We got back up on deck. A sphere of silver light was floating just beneath the mast.

“Good to see you've arrived,” said Marshall's voice from the sphere. “Now, if you'd be so kind as to approach me.”

“Fine,” I said, walking up to the sphere. As I looked into the orb, an image of a circle of cult symbols burned in the back of my mind.

“Use the cult knife to carve those markings into the deck,” he said.

I did what he told me to.

“Now, place the bone at the edge of the circle.

“Okay,” I said. “Now what?”

“Now, we wait for the final ingredient to arrive!” Marshall said.

“And what ingredient is that?” I asked.

“Fear,” he replied.

That sounded familiar. I suddenly remembered the dream I had, where ParaDan triggered a magic symbol using the Cold Boy's presence.

“So a Fear needs to be here in order for this ritual to work?” I asked.

“Pretty much,” he said.

I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my right arm, and a cut appeared.

“Ouch!” I shouted.

“Sorry,” Marshall said. “I need to draw him here.”

“Draw who here how?” I asked.

“You do know what that bone does, right?” he asked.

I glanced down to see that some of my blood had dripped directly on the bone. Of course. A bone that draws Fears to it. All it needed was blood. I heard a growling at the edge of the ship, and the circle began glowing. I turned to see the Rake crawling onto the ship. It looked at me for a moment, before leaping. I was ready to draw my sword, but I didn't need to. A figure resembling the Vision appeared from no where and kicked it so hard it crashed into the cave wall.

“What!?” I said. “What are you doing here?”

“Why shouldn't I be here,” the figure said, speaking with the same distorted voice as Marshall.

“M-Marshall?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“Why do you look like the Vision?” I asked.

“Allow me to explain,” he said. “That ritual has temporarily revived me. After that, I changed my appearance. As I said earlier, I can't have you recognizing me.”

“But why the Vision?” I asked.

“Why not? “he asked.

“Because it's creepy!” I said, rather loudly.

“Oh, so she can possess any of her male Scions whenever she wants, but when I take her form, I'm the creepy one?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“Ugh, fine,” he said. “Anyway, we'd better do this before Claws over there wakes up.”

“Do what?” I asked.

“This,” he said.

A black portal appeared before us, and the ship rose into the air.

“No wind,” Marshall said. “Damn. Guess I'll have to make some.”

A strong wind filled the cave, catching the ships sails and pushing it through the portal. We were sailing in the sky above the Path Of Black Leaves.

“How did you bring us here?” I asked, as the portal closed behind us.

He didn't answer. He raised a hand to his mouth as he coughed up a black substance. He looked into the distance, smiling. I looked in the same direction, although I didn't need to. I knew exactly what was there. Slender Man stood, a distance away, watching us. He was enormous, towering over the trees like a fucking skyscraper, just staring at us. Marshall grinned even broader.

“Long time no see, motherfucker!” He said, delightedly.

He was surrounded in a Saturn-like ring of silver light, which he grabbed and threw at Slender Man. It struck Slender Man's face, leaving a gash that leaked black and blue blood. Slender Man paused for a moment, before turning to watch us again.

“Really?” Marshall said. “You're just gonna take that? You're just gonna let me scar you!?”

Marshall had gone from frighteningly joyful to outraged, as though he was insulted by Slender Man's lack of action.

“I don't think you should antagonize it,” Kyle said.

“Whatever,” Marshall said. “We've gone far enough.”

we were suddenly out of the Path Of Black Leaves and sailing over the ocean.

“The spell that brought me back will be wearing off in a few minutes,” Marshall said. “Use this ship wisely, and make sure you keep Malkator's last words in mind.”

He then vanished.

“What are we supposed to use this ship for?” I asked.

“It's our transportation to Veratis Kalohella,” Tony said.

“What's that?” I asked.

“Garrot knows,” Tony said.

“You'll see when we get there,” Garrot said. “It's kind of important.”

“How so?” I asked.

“It's where the Mirror is,” he said.

“What Mirror?” I asked.

“I can't explain,” he said. “You'll have to see it for yourself.”

So, we're on a flying pirate ship on our way to a place with a weird name and a Mirror. Fucking perfect...