I sat there, curled up into myself, silently crying dry tears. I didn’t know what I was more upset about. The fact that Party is under the impression that he raped me, or the fact that we have already died, or maybe it is the idea that one of our friends may be used as a massive war weapon on us if we don’t get him first. I was going to attempt to tell the others, but Kobra would have none of it, wouldn’t even let me get a sentence out before shoving past me, and Jet, well I couldn’t find Jet anywhere and no one had seen him for a few hours now. Party wouldn’t even look at me when I went in to talk to him… The day had just been hell, and it has been like every time I try to change all that’s going on its gotten worse.

Here I am, Fun Ghoul, Frank Iero, curled up in the corner of my old hotel room crying into my knees, not knowing what to do. What was there to do? There’s nothing left, everything just seems to push me closer and closer to falling off that ledge and I just don’t know what to do!

“You fight back.”

“What?” I looked up but saw no one; I could have sworn I wasn’t even talking aloud, just fighting myself. I sat up a bit straighter, slightly swaying to the side trying to look past the bed. No one was in the room, the door was closed and how small the room is, I would have seen them by now… “Hello?”

“I said you fight back, Whispers…you take your life back and you go for the throat, don’t even think twice, and never look back.” The voice was there, it was louder and I sat in horror when I saw its owner looking at me. It was not human; it hid with the shadows under the bed, only to see yellow eyes glowing, a crooked Cheshire cat smile, filled with only oversized canines. I attempted to push myself farther back into the wall. “Do you fear me Whispers? Don’t fear the helping hand.”

“What are you…? No, no… I’m just sleeping. Just a bad dream…” I shook my head, closing my eyes, attempting to shield myself away from the horrific character slowly crawling out from under the bed.

“A Night Terror? No, no, not a monster, not a bogeyman. Understand, Whispers, that I’m just a being – not worth devoting any nightmares to.” It fully snuck out from under the bed, however he was still coated in black, like the shadows from the bed clung to its being. “Whispers…?”

“Why do you call me that?” I slowly looked up at it, trying to figure out quite what he was. As I said, he had an overlay of black on him, as if the night had settled onto his clothing and self. There was no detail to note about him. All that was visible was his eyes and that Cheshire grin, he had what looked to be spiked hair, but it looked like it was stone rather than hair, he was thin, very thin and quite tall. Lanky arms to match his legs, and large hands, hell he could probably strangle me with one hand if he wanted.

“What? Whispers? Well, that’s what you are. You whisper to yourself, to others! You must be one of them; you must be Whispers…though you’re so sad. All alone Whispers, does that make you hate? Make you want to kill? Not yourself Whispers! For then who would whisper to us in the dark?” I stared in awe as he spoke. The more he stared back, and spoke with a squeak in his voice but words of condolence, I began to trust him.

“Who are you?” I asked a slight shakiness to my voice, but not enough for it to seemly notice. I hesitantly crawled back on the wall, and stood on untrustworthy legs, attempting to keep eye contact with the being that stood a mere three feet in front of me.

“Oh, oh! How rude of myself, to call upon you, without you understanding me! I am Remnants.” He smiled slightly to the sound of his own name. “I’m of what remains, of what could be again.”

I thought to myself for a moment before figuring that that’s what he understood to be me whispering, “So, you’re like a ghost? Or something of the sort? A member of the Black even? My name is Ghoul by the way, Fun Ghoul.”

His face lit up, as if he was overjoyed to have learned my name, or for me to have figured out what he was. “The Black! Fun Ghoul? Ghoul? You’re a Ghoul, Whispers? How exciting!”

“No Remnants, I’m not a Ghoul, that’s just my name.” I laughed slightly, somehow he did it. His amusement and simple childlike nature made me calm down, and understand what I was missing. “Do you think you could help me on another matter?”

Remnants stared at me for a moment before nodding in response. “Do you know how to, I don’t know what it’s actually called…I guess, decorrupt, maybe, like memories? How to fix that…?” I rather mumbled to myself at the end, I barely understood what I was asking. Doubted he would understand.

“You work backwards Whispers. You go back to move forwards, you make it fit right. The pieces are still there, just need to advance them…” He gave me a slight grin, before bowing his head fading back against the wall and eventually becoming nothing more than the shadow of myself against the wall.

“Advance them –“

“Ghoul! Party is coming back up today! Graves gave him the okay to see if he can last up here without any of their special attention!”

“You’re way too excited Jet…” I couldn’t say I wasn’t happy about it either, but Jet and Kobra still don’t know what’s going on in Party’s head, and I’m not all that sure how he’s going to react to us being close again.

“Well, maybe with him coming back up, Kobra will get his head outta his ass and deal with some of the things that are going on.” I shrugged to that. Kobra has held a major grudge against us for the last few days, doubting any chance in remorse, or any concept of trying to talk out what had happened. Maybe a good slap to the head from Party is what he needs; maybe he just needs the reimbursement that everything is going to be just okay. “Anyways, I had another reason for barging into your room. Some of the others said you were looking for me. What’s up?”

Yup, good mood is officially gone. I wasn’t even sure what, or how I was going to tell them what I had learned before. Now I’m on the hot spot and I need to figure out how to voice it all. “Just…there’s a lot of, to say, odd things going on right now, and, well…I’m not quite sure what to say about it all…”

“We’re going to race the strip tomorrow.”

“Wait, What?” I looked up at Jet as he moved to sit on the bed.

“I thought that’s what you were talking about. Saw thinks that if we go in and charge the Strip that we can buy ourselves more time. More time for what? I don’t know.”

“The beacon.”

“Excuse me?” I had Jet’s full attention now. I ran a shaky hand through my hair, slightly pulling at it towards the back of my head. How was I supposed to restate what Zed had told me?

“Alright, listen, and listen closely. Zephyr has a greater position over things than we do, and what he plans on doing is lighting this, this beacon, that will drive the Black away, and render Graves useless.” Jet just sat there staring at me as if I was crazy. “What?”

“Why would he even want to do that?”

“It’s because he wants Korse he, he wants to bring a special Drac over and damn us all to our graves.” He both looked back towards the door. Party stood there, another masked Killjoy behind him helping him stand up. Party waved him off, and the Killjoy left without a word.

“Do you need help?” Jet offered but Party just shook his head. I could tell he was still in pain, his breathing was slightly off, and he crunched up his nose every time he moved a certain way.

“I need a lot of help Jet; unfortunately you can’t help with any of it though.” He moved a bit farther forward, before dropping himself on the bed, letting out a shaky breath. He rolled over onto his back catching my stare. I did not mean to be staring holes into him, but I knew we couldn’t last any longer with this bizarre idea flooding his mind every time he sees me. “Jet, would you mind giving Ghoul and me a minute. There’s something rather private we need to talk about.”

“Yeah…alright I’ll see you two around then?” I gave a small grin slightly nodding in response as Jet went to leave; Party said a practically silent thank you, and then it was just silent with the click of the door.

“Ghoul –” I didn’t let him get more than my name out even that was too much to be said. With a few quick strides, I was on the bed, on top of Party, kissing Party. I did not know what exactly the plan was here; just acted on mere instincts and they told me this was a brilliant idea.

Party didn’t really resist as much as he just sat there with me trying to make-out with him. Yeah, brilliant idea there. I could feel his lower lip undermine, trembling almost it felt like. I went to pull back, now I was the one stuck apologizing for something that I knew was not meant to happen. The trembles stopped then, the moment I went to pull back. I opened my eyes slightly and was meeting with challenging hazel ones. A hazel I came to know and love, I saw it, a flicker, a moment of peace and bliss. A moment of calling, of lust. Party moved his arms, running one up my side before meeting the other behind my neck. Slightly, oh so slightly I could feel him starting to pull me back down. I saw a slight grin on his face, a ghost sketch of a faded smile I don’t think anyone had seen in years. I leaned in, and he let me. Our lips locked and for a minute, that is all it was a simple lick lock kiss. It didn’t last though, Party ran his tongue over my lips and I allowed him in. I was not going to pass up any moment of this, no, years of waiting and then more year of near death experiences. No, Party was letting me do this, I was letting him do this, and there was no drugs, no alcohol, no anything just us. Just the passion I have been holding back for years now, and I could finally give it to him. It was weird at first, for only a second, I mean Party and I had been friends forever practically now, and the idea alone for this to be happening seemed a bit weird. However, it really wasn’t. A sloppy make-out session, but it was love, it was bliss, and after all the crazy things that had been going on, I just wanted my brain to shut off. It was an odd feeling; having my own tongue against Party’s, letting him lead, control me. It was sweet though, now the bandanna I have seemed like a little trinket of this beautiful man I hoped to finally call my own. His sent lulled me to sleep at night, his touch was always the extra encouragement I needed, and now his taste, I’d like to just call that a feeling of knowing he’s mine.

“Ughhh…G-Ghoul…”

“Mmghh…just…just a bit more…”

“N-no…Ghoul your – Ahh!” Happy moment over, nearly flinging myself off of Party, followed by a million “sorrys” as I rushed into the bathroom trying to figure out what I could use to stop Party from bleeding out on the bed. “Just get me a washcloth or something Ghoul! It’s not too bad.”

I walked back into the room with a damp rag, watching as Party slightly laughed at the whole ordeal. “It doesn’t hurt…does it?” I asked as I handed him the cloth.

“Not really, just stings a bit.” Party pulled up his shirt and I caught myself staring dead at the stitches that held his skin together right below his chest. I choked out a light sob as he wiped his blood away from the wound, delicately resting the rag on his torso. “Why did you do it?”

“You didn’t rape me Party! Even if that would be your intention, I’d hardly call it rape! Party, I love you…I love you, alright? You can’t hurt me like that. Whatever they said to you, whatever they made you believe…its…it’s all lies! I love you…” I knew I was on the brink of tears, wasn’t quite sure if this is even what he was talking about, but I wasn’t going to hold it in any longer.

“Hey, Ghoul…” Party sat back up, letting the cloth fall to his lap. That scar was the imperfection on the perfect canvas, and I’d kill Zephyr for it.

“What?”

“I love you.” His voice was sincere and his eyes flashed a message I would learn to decipherer.

“I love you too.” I walked up to the foot of the bed where Part grabbed my hands looking up at. Pulling me closer, it was only natural to lean in and kiss. No hesitation, just a flash of old memories and good times.

~/~/~/~/~

“What do you mean! I’m not running that strip!”

“Yeah me either!”

“You can’t honestly expect us to do this!”

“Alright! Listen up! I’m only going through this once! If you have a Hybrid, you are joining in on this run. You will run with us, and yes, we are going to Storm the Castle. I get your fear over this but it’s our last chance of survival.” Saw stood on a table in the middle of the pub. Even practically all the Killjoys were against his plan, his voice was strong and his poster stronger. Saw wasn’t going to crumble and change his mind because we didn’t like his plan. No, he’d preach it and damn us to hell if we didn’t hail to it afterwards. “I know a number of you won’t return, but this something we’ve gotta do. We’ve gotta give Shadows and the Assassins time to get to Zephyr and take out the Beacon.”

“Why does it even matter?” The voice came from somewhere in the back, though no one stood up as owner to the question.

“It matter’s because if that fuckin’ light goes on, you guys are all on your own!” There was an up rise on whispers and quick flood of rumors. “Yeah, that’s right. You guys are all gonna be on your fucking own! No Skratch, no Ӓllur, none of the Graves, hell I’ll be gone and so will all of Zed’s voodoo abilities. So, if you’d all get your heads outta your asses get ready to go! We break at sunset.” With that, everyone got up and nearly ran to go get settled for the run. “Except you Gerard, you stay here.”

“Figures I’d miss all the fun.” Saw came up shaking his head a slight, dark chuckle echoing from somewhere deep in his chest.

“Yeah, figures. You’d be dead before we even crossed the red lines, Way. You’re in no physical condition to do this.” Saw leaned back against the table behind him, eyeing Party up. Amber had made a joke earlier about getting Party to actually use the wheelchair that Graves was offering to give him. Something along with pride made him say no, however when Kobra went off on Amber scenario changed. Things would get better between them Party had said; now we can only wait for that to happen.

“I was joking Saw. Kinda happy I don’t have to do it.”

“Yeah you get to hang back here with Dawn and Joey, don’t get to crazy.” From what we had heard Dawn isn’t allowed to do certain missions seeing as he’s already faced the wrath of Zephyr, and Joey is protected by law of the Black so he’s not even allowed to leave the base. “Cuz, ya know, those two…” Everyone who was left in the bar laughed a bit to that, a bit of comical relaxing to kill the nerves before a run.

~/~/~/~/~

“Alright, Jet this is Mazmag. He’ll be yours from now on. Kobra, right across is Lexminus. He’ll be yours. And for Ghoul, this fella here is Grousam. Smaller than the rest, but he has incredible speed on those legs. He’s all yours.” Dawn gave me a smile before walking back over to the saddle room and helping another Killjoy prep the machine to saddle up her beast.

Grousam was already set and ready to run; all he needed was his rider. He was a solid black with silver lines that seemed to define certain spots on his body. I looked over to where Kobra and Jet where and noted how, indeed, he was shorter than the other Hybrids, just like me. Lexminus was pawing at the door to his stall causing the others to start to whine. Kobra’s was tall with broad shoulders, thin legs, and a more pronounced jaw. His was more of a red with a dark beige bottom. Jet’s was a dark blue, like almost black dark blue, with charcoal patterns defining its muscles and sharp lines.

Whether it was just eagerness or the actual want to see the strip, I undid the deadbolt to Grousam’s stall and got set to climb into the saddle. Pretty well the same as the last one I was in. Hitting the ‘go’ button everything sparked to life. A small chitter was coming from the radio which I left unturned. The screens and stats looked newer, the frame looked sturdier, and I had a good feeling about this run.

~/~/~/~/~

“Alright here’s the plan Killjoys,” Saw came on to the masterpiece as we reached the last bit of ground we had control of before the red lines. The Hybrids swayed slightly as they walked, bumping into each other occasionally like it was their own from of encouragement. “all we’re gonna do it line up into sections of three by five, and run the strip. Just going to chase it straight back and fight the loop around back home. Nothing too hard.”

There were some nods, and slowly the Hybrids were moved into groups. I lost track of Jet but I could Kobra a few rows ahead of me. There was a split second on stillness, I closed my eyes and asked anything, any being to help me just get back to our base alive. Then the group moved. Saw lead out with the first one, after that everyone counted back down from five before the next group took off over the line. I could hear my own heartbeat in my head as the warnings came up on screen that I stood at the red lines. I could feel Grousam’s heart rate pick up through the saddle, he knew what was going to happen and I prayed it wouldn’t end badly for either of us. Then we were off.

I didn’t know what I was exactly expecting when we entered the lines of the strip, but it was nothing I could have thought of. The hotels seemed to be intact from the outside, but I wasn’t exactly sightseeing. No, I was running for my life down this strip. There were cannon blares coming from one side, and lazer flashes coming from the other. The group I was in all but faded as Grousam but in the extra effort to keep moving faster. A quick lunge over a rolled car I saw Kobra’s Hybrid laying on the ground struggling to get up. Almost like a mental connection, he was on it, and we were soon over Lexminus and Kobra. I wanted to get out of the saddle but the security on it wouldn’t let the shield lift, instead Grousam helped Lexminus get back up and out of the garbage that littered the old highway. I could see a faint outline of Kobra waving me on, and Lexminus pushing us forward.

We ran, and god that’s all I could think to do was run. We had overstayed our welcome and it was time to split get back home. The strip was in ruins, giant cannon shots of white smoke and flames chasing us off along with the Shmigs running after us shooting and shouting unheard words. Just wanted to get back to our base, to our strip, to our home, to Party.

The desert was bleak, nothing was out there just the sand tumbling over mounds of sand and the shadows dancing past as the moon showed brighter than before. I saw something move, a shadow, a graceful creature in the middle of the sand ocean. It stood up as I past, it looked like a human’s shadow but nobody was creating it. It waved. I looked forward and noticed more, dancing about the sand to a song that I couldn’t hear. They moved with such grace but they danced to a sad song.

Grousam stopped and the latch on the saddle undid, and I watched them dance across the desert, across the night. A sudden burst of wind past me, only to realize it was Kobra and a few others dashing back to the strip. I looked back at the beautiful dancers. One held a flag, solid black with a shattered clock. We ran.

~/~/~/~/~

“You saw them Ghoul! You saw the black!”

“Yeah, I guess…I don’t really know…”

“They can’t save him you know, they won’t be able to save him…”

“Remnants, save who? What are you talking about?”

“Save your friend. The one with the Star. The Sandman got him, and the Boogyman took him.”

I ran to the hotel up to our rooms, and swung the door open into Kobra and Jet’s room. Kobra was curled into amber crying, trembling, and whispering so many things at once he couldn’t breathe. Amber held him close, one hand on his back, the other stroking his messed up hair as she whispered lullabies back, shushing him ever so silently. Party sat in the opposite corner clutching one of Jet’s spare jackets, holding back tears but saying his life away in unheard words. I ran back into Party and my room, dropping to my knees hitting the ground. Clutching my chest as I began to cry my heart out. They couldn’t have just taken him! I looked up at the quite sound of feet tapping on the ground, almost to quite to be heard over myself. There stood one of the dancers, dressed in only black rags, no face, no features, she danced in a small circle. I fell so fast.

}{}{

Notes

I regret nothing. Oh...it'll get better