Regular Show: Final Infection Part 6

You don’t need me to introduce myself in order for you to know who I am, so I’ll just cut to the chase.

Right now I’m walking away from what was once the park that Mordecai and Rigby used to work at, and to be honest, I’m in a very hurrying mood.

Yet this fortunately doesn't mean I'm not able to tell my side of the story; but instead of starting in Ibiza like everyone else, I’m going to start from the after events…of where Craig had left off.

Now then, let’s begin.

 Chapter 2: Bad Meetings

Let me just get one thing straight to you people; when this chapter reads ‘bad meeting’, I think it’s better for you to know that it’s a different kind of meeting.

I was walking with Craig, Sarah, Serena, Hailey, and Mitch and his pals. We had managed to get out of the Mexican border and were on the way to a place to eat. No one wanted to get anything fancy, so we were just going to ‘Wing Kingdom’ to get some wings, and relax.

But we were in America; and I mean no offence to America in any way, but there are some parts of it that has gotten me disappointed.

Let me show you what I mean.

…

We were waiting in line, and Mitch was getting hungry.

Muscle Man: Hey Craig, what are you gonna get?

Craig: Hm, well let’s see; what do they have? Oh that’s right, they have spicy chicken wings. What else do they have? Oh yeah, they have spicy chicken wings. What else am I supposed to get?

I could tell from this response that he was in a bad mood, so I counter acted.

Me: Is there a problem Craig? Because if there is, why don’t you say it?

Craig: We were supposed to be going to Spain and then back to the park; that was it. And here we are with three little girls and a bunch of people that look like horror movie spin-offs waiting in line for chicken.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: You didn’t complain last week.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: And that’s because I was in the middle of a gunfight, what would make you think I’d be able to argue or protest against anything-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Would you idiots shut up already?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We turned around to see an old lady with a bunch of make-up on, in front of a short old guy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Old Lady: Some of us are hungry, so how about getting you and your little monsters over there out of the line, so some of us can dine?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When she said ‘monsters’, you’d think she’d prefer to Mitch, but she was actually talking about the girls.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Now a wise person would do as she’d say, a calm person would just keep moving forward.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I was none of the above.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Monsters huh? Oh I’m sorry, I thought that I was just having a good time with my daughters and niece.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Wait, no Tony-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: But I forgot that people have been getting rather unable to do such.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Old Lady: Yeah, well I don’t see any woman around here, but I'm pretty sure that there’s a reason for that.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh is there now? Well it would seem obvious to me that your little pet over there is blind. And that so clearly means that he obviously sucks, at the picking process.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Some of the people heard this and stopped talking altogether, staring at me as they did so; but I wasn’t done talking yet.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh, and let me explain something to you, if you’re going to try and make yourself look pretty, I think the least you could do, is get a brand, that would actually work.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Now everyone was silent. No one had ever heard someone say such a thing to an old lady before, but there it was, and the words I spoke caused the old lady to surprisingly stop talking.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Crowd: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Don’t you people have anything better to do? Quit crowding!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">They did so, and people just went back to whatever they were doing.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We eventually made it to the front of the line, and we were now going to order our food.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Hello?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The lady behind the counter looked up at him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: I’d like half a dozen please.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Counter Lady: Oh, sorry sir, but we only have orders of six, nine, or twelve.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: And that was why I don’t like going to places in America.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Muscle Man: It’s just something that you’ve got to put up with, that’s all.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yeah, he knows that, it’s just that it’s really hard to do so.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Starla: Oh I’m sure it is, especially for you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I shot her, and made her shut up.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">High Five Ghost: So what do we do now?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I guess we find ourselves another place to rent out or something.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: I’ve been in this area before, and I think I might be able to find somewhere for us to go.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig led us to a hotel in the city’s suburbs, and it was quiet for us too, so everything was fine. We also managed to get some clothes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I was now in a reddish brown hoodie, a black winter jacket with red stripes on both of the arms, teal jeans, and black boots.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig was wearing a black turtleneck, a white vest with an orange zipper, and grey jeans.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mitch was wearing a blue sweater in place of his normal shirt, but it didn’t matter to us as long as he had a shirt.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Starla was wearing a pink winter coat, and black pants, after all, it was now winter time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We got some rooms and relaxed for the night, we were very tired after getting out of Mexico, especially Craig and I since we left it for the second time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">During the night, something woke all of us up. It was an odd sound; something that Kinda sounded like a shattering of wood.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Hailey, did you hear that?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: Yeah, it sounded like it came outside the hallway.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Why would anyone even be up at this hour?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I don’t know, but I don’t like it. We should probably-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I was cut off by an odd sound down the hallway, I wasn’t sure what it was, but I was pretty confident that it was a scream.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …patrol the hotel. Craig, Mitch, Fives, with me; girls, stay in the room and lock the door.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">They did as I said and we slowly made our way down the hall. Mitch had his Jungle Carbine, Craig had his Judge magnum and I had my Megatron pistol. We were looking everywhere and examining every room, but to our confusion, no one was there, the place was deserted.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: The hell’s going on here?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: No idea.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We continued down the hall with Craig taking point; but as he was about to enter the stairwell, something suddenly tackled him, and kicked Mitch in the face. He didn’t knock me out, but I was shocked to see who it was; it was John, wearing a white hoodie with black sleeves, brown pants, and black shoes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Hello Craig. How are you doing tonight?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Check Tony.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I used my hidden blade to stab the now confused Infected in the arm, but this of course had no effect on him, yet I continued to attack him anyway.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig soon joined in and led us to trying to kill our former friend, but he was doing no attempt to attack us, instead he simply blocked our attacks and tried to disarm us rather than kill us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But we failed to understand.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: What are you doing? Shouldn’t you be trying to kill us?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: When I tackled you I wasn’t intending on killing you!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig paused, giving John a chance to disarm him of his mace. But instead of trying to finish him, he then grabbed my robot arm and pinned me to the wall.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Look. I don’t want to kill either of you, okay?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: If you have no intentions of killing us, then why are you here?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Because, I have a problem.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Which is?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Someone has been stalking the boss…someone with a mask and hood. He’s asked me to get rid of him while he goes on business.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Oh sure. You look like you really need assistance.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Well it’s not that I need help or anything, I just…wanted some company is all…and what better of people to give company than my two amigos Craig and Tony.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: All things considered John, we’re not sure if we’d want to help you after that incident in Spain.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Oh come on guys, it could be just like old times. Just you guys, me, and I even know a place where we can drop off the beats. Whaddya say?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He released his grip on me and extended his hand for us to shake.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After about a few minutes of looking back to him, and then ourselves, Craig grumpily shook his hand.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: If anyone is hurt or killed during this…it’s gonna be on your head. Understand?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Don’t worry, I know what to do.

<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Chapter 3: The Original Amigos Reunited

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John had let us outside to a truck. Yet it looked rather odd.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: What model is that exactly?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: I don’t know. I found it in my father’s old home after I returned to Scotland.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: There’s only three seats.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Don’t worry; I’ll go slowly until we get to the spot for your buddies.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My: And my daughters?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: They’re gonna stay at the hotel until we get back. We’re just going to drop off your male buddies at this other spot where there’s also a likely chance for this guy to be, then we’ll go off to a more confidential area, and we’ll just do this like old times. And when we’re done, we’ll just go back to the hotel, I’ll drop you off, and I’ll go to the boss, and it’ll be like I never showed. And even if something happens (which it won’t) I’ll take the responsibility as promised. Okay?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We looked at each other as we got closer to the truck, yet we couldn’t help but feel a little confident ourselves.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Alright, if you really want our ‘company’ for this, then let’s get it over with…amigo.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: That’s the spirit Craig!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I rolled my eyes and prepared to enter the passenger seat while Craig went into the back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Whoa Tony, what’re you doing?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Uh…I was gonna get into the truck.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Yeah I know but why are you going into the passenger seat when you’re always the one who drives?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Wha-? Oh. Oh uh…right.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then got into the driver’s seat as John got into the passenger’s seat. We actually felt a little safer knowing that I’d be the one driving instead of John.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…The site for Mitch and Fives…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: …it’s right over there.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: The forest?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Yup.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Alright then.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I stopped the truck as Mitch and Fives continued to follow us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: You guys are supposed to go over into that forest over there.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Muscle Man: Okay. We’ll see you guys in a few right?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: If everything goes according to plan.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Muscle Man: Keep a sharp eye out fellas.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Don’t have to tell me twice.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We then left them, and John directed me to another location where we were supposed to actually find this ‘Man in the White Mask’.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We spent fifty minutes in the truck, yet John’s directions were precise as we approached a gate to what seemed to be a large cave.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Is this it?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: This is the very first spot where he attacked the boss. I wanted to see if this was where he lived.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Okay…ya got any guns in here?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He responded to Craig’s question by opening a compartment under his seat. He then pulled out a Scar-L with a grenade launcher and handed it to Craig, then he handed me a MOSSBERG-500 shotgun, and then he pulled out a silver Welrod and his Spanish sword.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: So…who’s taking point?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: That would be me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He did so, and we cautiously entered the cave. It was surprisingly warm inside, and we were able to briefly relax for a few seconds.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As we continued to walk deeper through the cave, we began to hear noises coming from somewhere nearby, so we put our guard up a little more until we saw someone nearby; someone in a hood.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Is that him?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: No.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John approached him and we followed. We were a little confused as to why he was there all alone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Hey you!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He turned to us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: What are you doing in here all by yourself? Don’t ya know there’s a stalker in here somewhere?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Come on…I know you’ve had to have heard of him from somewhere. Ya know…the guy with the white mask.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Your well seen intelligence is respected.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: ???

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Tell me; who are you and who are your friends?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: You know Tony Lear’s and Craig Caracara?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Yes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Well those two over there are in fact them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Interesting. And you?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: I’m the one who taught them everything they know; John Gallinule IV.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: I know who you are Mr. Gallinule; your record of insanity has gone forth to everyone who still remembers your kind.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Remembers? What-…what do you mean?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: That’s right, you haven’t heard have you?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: The Infected died over six to seven years ago. All those who left Spain after Tom White’s death, they either were killed or died of starvation. Infected creatures don’t exist anymore.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Well here we are, existing; and look at us now.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: He’s right. Do you know what I am right now?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I’m a father, that’s what. And with a success such as that, repopulation is sure to follow.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: You’re sure that they’re yours?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: The DNA checked out, and they call me dad and daddy. I did it, and the rest of us can do the same.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: All in all, this is not why we’re here. Where’s the man in the mask?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Answer me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Why would you be after the boss?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Your boss was stalking my boss, and I was sent to take care of him; now for the last time…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John pulled out his Welrod.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Where is he?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Who is your master?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: uh, if I remember correctly, I’m the one asking the questions.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: There must be a reason as to why our master stalked yours.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: This guy’s hopeless dammit, let’s just go.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: I’m with Tone-Tone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: …Thanks for nothing pal.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We turned to leave the cave…only to come face with another man in a hood. And sure enough, dozens of people in hoods surrounded us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: The hell?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Take their weapons.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: SCATTER!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We did so immediately before they could catch us, and we each took out a melee weapon.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig had his mace, John had his sword, and I had my hidden blade.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As you could imagine, the fight didn’t last that long; and we were able to reach the first guy in about two minutes. Yet he was a little more experienced and was able to put up a more decent fight with John, who was now enjoying himself.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: You’re more fun than you look.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: I do what I can.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The two of them began to crusade deeper into the cave, while we took care of other hoods with our guns. Unfortunately, there were more than we expected.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Just as John was getting the upper hand, we were surrounded by hoods. But then John’s head sprouted a light bulb. He presented one of his craziest smiles, took out a frag grenade, took off the ring, and tossed it to the first guy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Oh…Fu-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">'''BOOM!! '''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We made our way out as fast as we could. Yet the fires seemed to consume an oddly large amount of the cave. But when we jumped to dodge it, the fires turned blue, and then everything disappeared, only to have us reappear in front of the truck.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: It’s the truck!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Quick, inside!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We did as he said, and I began to drive us away, only for the wheel to suddenly turn.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Whoa, whoa, what the f-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The gas pedal suddenly slammed on its own, causing the car to uncontrollably drive us off.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: What are you doing?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: This isn’t me, I can’t even steer! Don’t just sit there Gallinule, HELP ME!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He did so and tried to get the wheel back under control, only for the truck to unexpectantly take a sharp swerve to the left, and cause us to fall in our seats.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The truck eventually reached the spot where we had left Mitch, Starla, and Fives, but all we saw was a mutilated body which almost looked like Starla.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: What do you make of that?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: I don’t know. And if I did know, I don’t think I’d wanna know.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Then a tall figure suddenly appeared near Starla’s body. It had a purple, black and silver combat vest with purple sleeves, and black pants with a white belt. He wore a black hood, had dual Katanas on his back, and had a white metal mask.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: THAT’S HIM! RIGHT THERE! RUN HIM OVER!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: THE CAR’S NOT! TURNING! ON!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Oh my God, this is UNBELIEVABLE!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Okay okay, everyone cool it; he’s not doing anything right now! He’s just standing there!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The lights suddenly turned off.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Did you do that!?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: No! I don’t have any control over the truck-!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We were cut off as something heavy hit the front of the truck, we look on to see that it was the upper half of Mitch’s body, with a terrified Fives right next to him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Fives?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">High Five Ghost: Guys…run…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: What?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">High Five Ghost: RUN!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He was then incinerated by a large blue fire. And then the man in the mask was right in front of us, holding one of his swords.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh my god!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: HOLY SHIT!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The landscape then disappeared into a colorless spiral, yet he didn’t move, until he suddenly disappeared into nothing as everything went black. But then we suddenly saw what appeared to be my face with red and green eyes, furiously screaming into our faces, so much that the entire force around us shook.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And then it was all over.

<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> A Moment of Criticism

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As the face disappeared, we suddenly found ourselves at what appeared to be a beach. No one was around us except for a few tourists.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We looked on to see a sign that read ‘High Cliff State Park’, which to us was unbelievable.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: High cliff?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: That’s impossible; High Cliff is all the way in Wisconsin!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We all exited the car, and did what we could to keep our balance.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Is everyone alright?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: A little shaken but I'm okay.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Let’s agree to never do that again. Cool?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then slowly turned my head to face John, and I could feel my brain grab the lever in my emotions that read horror and then switch it to anger.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: You…YOU DID THIS!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I grabbed him by his neck and forced him onto the truck.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Hey, hey, what are you doing?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Wait a second, he’s right, you did do this!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig assisted me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: what’s your problem?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: We warned you Gallinule! We warned you that if any of them were so much as hurt, it would be on your head! AND NOW THEY’RE DEAD!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Hey wait a minute here, just hear me out, I can make up for it-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: No you can’t, and no you won’t! You never make up for anything you do whenever we do something, and when you do, the only thing that you ever do is a demolition derby in a corner store!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: He’s right John! You’re never gonna make up for anything for us ever again, and the reason as to why is because we’ve had enough of you!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He signaled me to go into the truck as he threw John to the sandy ground.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: I think it’s time that you knew that you’re not part of our ‘Three Amigos’ anymore; you’ve been replaced!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Replaced? By who!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: By the other surviving clone of Tony; RT1108, aka Naji Lear’s! And he’s way more of a best friend than you ever were or ever will be!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John’s eyes went dead.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: If I may add, the reason why is because unlike you, Naji never thought playing Bonnie and Clyde was considered a ‘best friend activity’, and on top of that, he listened to us when we had to most!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I talked, Craig entered the back seat, and took his turn.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: I listened to you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: No you didn’t! You never did! And it sure as shit didn’t look like you were listening in the cave!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As John took in these words, Craig finally calmed down.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: *sigh*…look, we know that we were all friends once John, but times have changed. Tony and I? We’ve moved on…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: He’s right John, so it’s definitely for the better, that you move on too. Things are different now; I'm a father, and Craig’s positive attitude has earned him respect from others. It’s time you moved on like we have, because this childish crap that you’re doing? It has to stop; because in modern times such as now, that’s what’ll get you killed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then started the car.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">John: Wait a minute, you’re just gonna leave me here-?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Before he could finish, an orange and gunmetal arm latched onto his shoulder, Craig and I turned to see it was House, who was looking at John and shaking his head with a stern look in his eyes; and then he looked to us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: Would you prefer it if I kept him away from you?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: All things considered, I think it’ll be better if he met some of the other people in your team.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: I understand. Let’s go Gallinule.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">They then disappeared into fire, leaving us alone at the beach. And that’s when we realized something odd.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The sun was shining, and people were in their swimming suits.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This confused Craig and I since we were just starting winter, so we drived out of the beach and I dialed Hailey’s number.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: Hello?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Hailey, it’s Tony.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: Uncle Tony! Where are you?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Get this, High Cliff Wisconsin.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: Wisconsin!?! What are you doing there!?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: We don’t know, one minute, we’re in the truck in a snowy forest, the next thing ya know, we’re on a sunny beach.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Which reminds me, what month is it?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: It’s the ending of August.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: AUGUST!?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: Yeah, August. Why, what month are you thinking of right now?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: The last I checked we were in that hotel in December. How long have we been gone?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: eight to nine months. We’ve been trying to find you after we checked out of the hotel.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Okay, okay…where are you now?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: We’re on this large walkable bridge called the trestle bridge.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Okay, don’t leave from that spot, we’re coming to you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: Okay.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then hung up, and looked to Craig.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Well?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: We’re going to the trestle bridge.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">That was all we were planning, and that was all we did.

<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Chapter 5: The Trestle Bridge

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We were both quiet as we drove towards the bridge. We were able to make out the children by their colors, so that was a relief there.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The bridge however, was rather small, so we couldn’t bring the truck, so we left it near the entrance and proceeded to walk towards the children.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When we got there, we saw that they were all okay.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sarah and Serena looked the same, yet Hailey now had a black t shirt, green sport shorts, and was without shoes. As we got closer, we also came to see that there was someone else with them; a certain mole with glasses and a human resemblance.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Hello Eileen.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">They turned to face us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh thank God, you’re all alright.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I rushed to hug my daughters, which they soon returned. I almost felt bad since I was unable to be near them for so long.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sarah: Hey dad; where’ve ya been?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Serena: Yeah. We almost thought you were dead.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Me too girls…me too.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We stood there in silence for a while, until Craig spoke up.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: So…anyone want ice cream?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We were all sitting in a Dairy Queen at the time, each of us with a blizzard to enjoy. No one had anything to say, so we just sat there and ate.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But I felt like talking about something. I wanted to talk about anything; so I turned to Eileen.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: So…Eileen…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Hm?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: How’d ya get here?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: I was separated from the rest of the group; and they found me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: What month?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: April.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Ah, I see…it uh…sounds like we missed a bunch.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Yes it does.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Serena: You didn’t miss that much; it was really boring.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sarah: Yeah; just the same thing you guys were doing for seven years.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: That bad?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: Yup.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: That’s not so tough. At least you weren’t being hunted down.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Actually, that happened from time to time, but we got away safely.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Oh, that’s good.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Right…so…anyways…where are Mitch and the others? I thought that they were with you two?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig and I bowed our heads in shame as she asked this; yet she immediately understood.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Oh…I see…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I’m sorry Eileen. We were-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: No, no; you don’t have to explain anything. I get it, really.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: So uh…how about we leave?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Good idea.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I took my daughters by their hands, and Craig took Hailey’s. But as the mole rose to her feet, we noticed something that we hadn’t noticed before; her stomach seemed rather bloated.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: What’s with your stomach girl? Someone getcha pregnant?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Yup.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Who?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Take a guess.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …Rigby?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She nodded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: When did you ever sleep with Rigby?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: When the two of us were still with Naji.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Oh. So…did you have fun?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Yeah, we had a blast.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hailey: Yeah I’m sure there was a blast in there somewhere.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I couldn’t help but high five my niece as the other two giggled. That’s when Eileen turned to me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Is your brother a lot like you?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: He taught me everything I know.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Now that explains a lot.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…Illinois…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We had traveled downward, and had made our way to Chicago, where we had rented out a hotel and were now settling down for the night.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Well that was about the most peaceful of days we’ve ever had.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: No shit.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Think we’ll ever get that, and let it last?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: I hope so Tone-Tone, I hope so.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then went down to the main room and took out a headset. As I began to listen to some music, I suddenly felt as if something was crawling under my skin, and I fell back into the chair I was sitting in.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: The first step to finishing the nightmare is mental torture, and then death.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: *pant*, *pant*, what?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: When the time is right, you will see, you will feel, you will know what you must do in order to finish it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then felt normal, and everything was back to normal.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Clerk: Hey dude, you alright?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yeah, yeah I’m good. I think I might’ve just had a little too much to drink is all.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Clerk: You need any help?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Nah, I’m good.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then readjusted, and continued to listen to my music. After the day I had had, I just put this sudden outbreak in my head to remember for another time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…Through Sleep…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I was in the middle of the Trestle Bridge. Everything was black and white, and a little freaky.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I walked onward to see that the man in the mask was standing before me, and like everything else in the dream (including me), he was without color.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">To his left stood what appeared to be Tom White, and to his right stood what seemed to be a woman, but her head was covered in static.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Who are you?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He removed his mask to once again show my face, only this time he was far calmer than the last time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Tell me Tony, do you know the name, Dr. Poppet Cove?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My head suddenly raced when flashes suddenly went before my head, but everything went by so fast I couldn’t make out anything. But then in a small instant, I took notice of Jackie Red-Tail’s face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Red-Tail?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: No. But she is an important figure in the next step of your journey.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: She is?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He then took my shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Yes. The two of you need each other.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: More than you know.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…The Next Morning…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I woke up with a slight ache in my head. The dream I had was beyond weird, and I was put on edge a little bit.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Even so, the thoughts were put into my head as I made my way to the downstairs kitchen to get some food.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When I got down, I found a small bowl of cereal (the kind that’s sealed in a bowl with a label), and I went to pick it up, only to have grabbed it at the same time as someone else. Yet I was half surprised to see who it was.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Red-Tail.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Lear’s.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: We meet again.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We both had a stern look in our eyes, yet there was no reason to.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: How’ve you been during the past winter?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I’ve been rather…busy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Have you now?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yeah, it was almost as if I was off the face of the earth.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: I see.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We then continued to stare at each other until I released my grip on the bowl, allowing her to take it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Why thank you Mr. Lear’s.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Not necessary.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: You know Debra and I are sitting alone; we have some extra seats if you’re interested.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I don’t see why not.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I took another bowl and the two of us went to a table where Debra Onyx was sitting at, and we sat with her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Debra: Hello Tony, come to join us for breakfast?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Might as well.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As the three of us began to eat, we also began to talk.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: So…how are the girls?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: They’ll be down shortly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Debra: And the yellow one?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: He’s with us too. Why do you ask?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Debra: Just curious.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">That’s when Craig and the girls and Craig found me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: There you are dude, where’ve ya been? We’ve been looking for you so we could find a place to sit and eat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Debra: Well by all means Mr. Caracara, have a seat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig went silent as he saw just who I was sitting with, but he called the girls anyway.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Eileen! Call the girls; we’ve got a place to sit!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The rest of breakfast was rather quiet.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…Ten Minutes Later…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Everyone was now outside; each of us had checked out, and we were preparing to leave.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Ms. Red-Tail.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I turned, but then she stopped me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: You know Tony, Debra and I was thinking a little bit and was wondering if…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yes?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Debra: …if you’d like to come with us as we went somewhere.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …why?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: (lighting a smoke) well it’s just that you and your friends and family look like you’re at a loss of options so, why not?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: I mean we already have been in business before, and we seem to do well together so, what do ya say?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She extended her hand for me to shake. But before answering, I looked back to see the others, who looked concerned. Yet Craig nodded in support of whatever choice I’d make.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Yet after some thought, I made a half expected choice.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Deal.

<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Chapter 6: Unwanted Partnership

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The following months were rather unpleasant. Sure we were given more action, but Red-Tail and Onyx were rather bitchy. They tasked us with rather unpleasant missions, such as torture uses and such.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Our main use of transport was a large ship, which Jackie was admiral of, but even if the food and all that were great, they were not.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Let me give you an example a little more accurate than the rest.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">One day, we were in the captain’s cabin playing a game of cards; me, Craig, Eileen, Jackie, even Hailey were all partaking in a simple game, when the cat suddenly entered the room surrounded by smoke.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Ever hear of knocking?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Debra: I’m stoned, and I'm wasted. The two parts going together put me in heat. And since you’re the one who spoke against me, I choose you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Uh, for what?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Just get your yellow ass down there.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She grabbed Craig by the collar of his jacked with her right paw as he continued to try and protest.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Hey wait a minute, I’m not a virgin!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Debra: You are, compared to the rest of us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Now wait a minute, you can’t just-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Tony. Tony…you can’t just protest into this; Debra’s made her choice, so it’s best you let her go through with it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: You’re just gonna let the kitty cat drag our friend to a private room, and hump him?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Yeah that’s right.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Now you listen here Red-Tail; that man may not be a virgin, but what he isn’t is a pimp who would just take advantage. I know this because I grew up with him for six years through childhood, and I think I’ve known him well enough to know that when he says no, then it means no. So I’d like to ask Ms. Onyx to put him down before-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then realized that both she and Craig were already gone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Where’d they go?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Off to about ten to fifteen minutes in heaven.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: What?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: What’s your problem, it’s not like she’s gonna kill him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Tell me which room it was or else I’ll find him myself!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie didn’t respond; she just kept her smug grin on me like no one else’s business.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Eileen, why don’t you take Hailey to another room?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She seemed to have understood what was about to happen, and did so quickly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Wait a second, wait a second; did you even hear anything that I just said?! My best friend won’t sleep with your-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She suddenly cut me off with the most outrageous thing she had ever done. She grabbed me by the throat and forced her tongue in my mouth.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As she did so, she proceeded to move me further to the bed, and she forced me down on it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: It would seem that you’ll have to know what exactly it is my team and I are used to; so why don’t you sit back, relax, and I’ll show you just what we do.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She then forced me against the bed as I felt her remove my pants.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But the most confusing part of that night was the fact that the feelings and sights I saw, looked surprisingly familiar.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After about another month or so, it was winter time again, only this time we weren’t gonna skip it. Craig and I learned for good that if they want to have a private night, specifically with one such as yourself, you let them give it to you before things get ugly; which for us, it did.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">On the last day of our voyage, we were sent to go to the country of Croatia, where we were going to find what Jackie described as an unknown power source.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A few days before that, we had come across Naji, who was in hiding within Switzerland, but all in all, he was safe, along with his son Naji Jr. I didn’t see such a thing coming, I will admit that, but I was just relieved that I wasn’t the only parent anymore.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As we made our way to the landing platform of the ship, Naji was arguing with Jackie while the kids talked to each other.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: …the thing’s a piece of crap, why would you ever want it? Debra and I were planning to throw it out in a matter of days.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Naji: …it might be crap to you, but it’s my property, because I'm the one who looked after it for two years.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Alright, fine, take the ship. Spares me the trouble of making another mess.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: So what are we talking about again?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Naji: The Black Mamba. It was the ship I used to fly my old team around the world when we were still working for Bill.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Oh.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: So, where is it?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: With the rest of the ships.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As we continued walking, we were suddenly attacked by unknown forces; yet we knew that they were House and his team.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">About an hour after they arrived, we were running to the platform hoping to get out of here as soon as possible.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Soldier: The engine’s been HIT!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Another explosion came off as he said this, and he and a bunch of other soldiers ran to the biggest spot of action, while we proceeded to the platforms.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When we got there, Naji was the first one to speak.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Naji: MY SHIP!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">To be honest, the ship was not in good condition. The engine was exposed the pilot’s glass was cracked, the turret on the top was cut in half, and sparks were flying off of it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: So…think she’ll fly?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Naji: Hey, she might not be as pretty, but she’s still tough.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Soldiers began to get into position as House’s troopers suddenly busted into the platform; while good as the soldiers were, the troopers were bigger in numbers, clearly meaning that we didn’t have much time. But that’s when I noticed something.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Wait a second!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Naji Jr.: What?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Where’s Onyx?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie looked around for a few seconds, and that’s when she understood.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: That little black furred BITCH!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Well criticize later! Let’s just book it!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He then ran to the ship with Naji close behind. We all followed closely, unable to shake the feeling that someone was following.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Yet as we all got in, Naji was just getting the ship into the air when someone suddenly latched onto the cockpit. I had to look out to see that it was House, who had suddenly slammed his handgun onto the glass, cracking it even more.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: Bring it down, NOW!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Naji: Are you insane?! You’ll get us both killed!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He then pulled out his sawn-off shotgun and tried to shoot him, but he let go at the last second.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The fact that the glass wasn't broken surprised me to the fullest.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…Croatia…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When we got there, it was more of a crash landing. It was obvious that Naji’s dear Black Mamba was down for the count; but even so, it got us across the ocean.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Naji: (kicking the glass open) I told you she was tough.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: You’ve proved me wrong.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The rest of us got out of the destroyed ship, and we made our way across the stony beach and towards the forest, where our final destination awaited.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: This power source had better be worth all this trouble.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: I couldn’t agree more.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The only bit of trouble was some of House’s Troopers which separated me from Jackie, Naji, the girls, and Craig. But Craig urged me to go on and finish it, but I was still able to see the girls be taken prisoner as I escaped.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When I reached the spot, I found myself gazing at a small yet odd crystal.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: That’s it? The piece of trouble I was sent to retrieve is smaller than a tennis ball?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My face turned to a hint of disgust and disappointment as I continued to look at it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Unbelievable.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I picked up the small thing, only to suddenly have immense flashes of me, the man in the mask, Tom White, and that woman covered in static.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I screamed as I fell back. But in slow motion, the colors on my body suddenly turned to liquid and fell off of my body, causing me to fall into a large pit, which I would later find out to be a mineshaft.

<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Chapter 7: The Mineshaft

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I had fallen into the mine, and I was struggling to keep on my feet. I felt like total shit after my color was taken from me, but I had to keep going; I needed to find that man in the mask. I didn’t know who he was, but I was very sure that it was someone who would answer my questions.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…two hours later…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The opening to the mine was trailing behind me as I went deeper underground, I could tell I was getting close to my target, but I was still a little nervous since the only things I had to defend myself were a knife and my hidden blade.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I continued to go downwards into the crust of the earth, I began to sweat as I remembered the first time I had seen that mask, but I knew it would just slow me down thinking about it, so I did all I could to keep it out of my head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After a while, I had finally found him, in the same form I had seen him before: with his white metal mask which was only covered by his hood, his metal suit which was being worn like a coat, and the two swords that were on his back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But the thing I was really curious about was the eyes I could see under the mask, which were red in the Celera, green in the irises, and had dragon-like pupils.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: You’ve nowhere to run; it’s time to face me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He didn’t answer at first; he just looked at me as if I was something he just threw away.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Are you sure that this is what you want?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yes I’m sure! It’s what I’ve been sure of this ever since I knew you going to be another problem in my god-forsaken life!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: …so be it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He then tossed a sword to me, which I barely managed to catch, but I still had energy to fight as I charged at him; but to my shock, he dodged or blocked every attack I threw at him as if I wasn’t even there.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: How-how are you-?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: I know everything you will do Tony, because I’ve always known.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: !!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: But this is not how it’s supposed to work, and if you are to end this, you will have to listen to me, but this is not the correct location to do so.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After he said this, he disarmed me and slammed his fists into my face, knocking me out.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When I woke up, I found myself in what appeared to be an old bathroom, which was very dimly lit.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My legs were in iron chains, my arms were chained to the ceiling, and my feet were cuffed together.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: *groan*…hello..?...hello…?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I attempted to grip my head from the pain, only to see my chained arms; and then I vomited on the floor as a terrible feeling rose up into my stomach.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But that’s when my head suddenly squeezed itself, forcing me to scream at the top of my lungs for what seemed to be forever, but I wasn’t in true pain until I saw the man in the mask appear at the door to the bathroom, but then another image of him appeared while the other one disappeared into a faded silhouette.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This continued until he was face to face with me, and while this was happening, I was screaming even louder as my mind began to show me things that I didn’t even see before.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: The pain is difficult, isn’t it?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: The first step to finishing this is to finish Anderson…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Anderson?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: He’s here Tony…in this very mine. And if you want to understand the things you were seeing, he must die.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And then every last chain was broken as I was released to the ground, and then he was gone, disappeared.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I tried to rise to my feet, I saw two pistols appear in front of my hands.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">They were USP Matches, tan on the bottom, and black on the top. They both had silencers and blue laser sights, and even had extra mags nearby.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I picked them up, I suddenly heard mumbles coming from nearby, so I supplied myself and investigated.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">There were three troopers, each of them with AS VAL SMGs, and were speaking of something.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Trooper 1: I’m telling you, I heard screaming from somewhere over here.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Trooper 2: Where exactly?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Trooper 1: I think it came from somewhere over there.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As they proceeded to enter the bathroom, I followed closely behind, in a dear desire for one of those rifles.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Now fully armed, I was ready to fight against whatever was behind the mineshaft doors, which turned out to be more troopers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Trooper: INTRUDER!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">They all took aim, but I fired first, watching them fall one by one.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This continued until I ran out of ammo, and I proceeded to exchange my rifle for a machete which was on one of the troopers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The second to last door was dark, and had a light that was as dim as the one from the bathroom. But when I saw three figures appear, I was surprised to see who they were.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It was Mordecai, who had a Katana, Margaret, who had a fire axe, and Rigby, who had dual Sais, each of them looking at me with a stern look.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mordecai: Hello Tony.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …Hello Mordecai.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mordecai: You have made quite the mess.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: And I need to finish making it, so get out of my way.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Rigby: You’ve already done enough damage; we will not let you pass.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I could feel my face turn into an angry sneer as they all took fighting positions.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Rigby: Now put the Machete down.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: You want it? Come and get it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mordecai was the first to attack, sending his sword directly into my stomach.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This was supposed to be more than enough to kill me, but I felt some unknown feeling pull at my saddened life.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: You will not die by any of their hands…you will live…you will get up…and you will finish it…!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I coughed up blood as these words filled my head, and I felt this force guide my free hand as it grasped the katana from Mordecai’s hand, and proceeded to punch him in the face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Margaret: Mordecai!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She then attempted to charge me with her axe, but to everyone’s surprise (including mine) I ripped the katana from my gut, and used it to break the fire axe into pieces, which caused Margaret to tumble over.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Rigby was next, and attempted to send his Sais into my chest, only for me to block them with the machete, disarm him, and knock him out with a kick to the face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As he fell to the floor, I dropped the swords, and looked at my hands in complete shock, I was only supposed to be good with a rifle, I was not ever this good with a blade of any kind, yet I just knocked out three people who had obviously had more practice then I ever could, and this scared me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But then I remembered Anderson, so I pulled out my pistols and proceeded to exit the room to see that Anderson was only a few doors away, and this excited me.

<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Chapter 8: Death of Anderson

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I was on the verge of total excitement as I went deeper and deeper underground. I was still unknowing as to why those three park-dwellers tried to kill me a few hours ago, but I didn’t care at the moment, for I was a mere steps away from taking down one of the people I hated more than House; and the same guy who I fought back in Rio de Janero back when I was fifteen.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When I opened the doors, I saw him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He was indeed, Cordell Anderson.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: Tony Lear’s.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: You need a shave my friend.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I thought that we agreed that we were not to be friends.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: We did.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I reloaded my USP pistols, and took aim as Anderson pulled out his signature TMP. I waited as he loaded it up, for I wanted this gunfight to be special, and I wanted it to last for both of us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: So Mr. Lear’s…Shall we begin?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I’d be delighted.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It began. I fired first and scored some to his chest, but he was a vampire now; so it would take a lot more than that to kill him. As I continued to shoot, Cordell used his TMP to rapidly shoot me; I could’ve sworn that my pain tolerance was the only thing keeping me alive.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After a while, Cordell had walked up to a mine cart and pulled it down for cover.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: I heard off of the street that someone’s making an attempt to mentally torture you to death!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: That’s why I have to make the most of my time!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: So I see!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">That’s when he did the last thing I expected: He came out of cover with a heavy machine gun and opened fire. Fortunately, I was able to dodge the attack by jumping in the air behind a cart of my own, which was almost immediately mowed down by the heavy caliber fire.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Knowing that this would be pointless, I ran out of cover and began to run all around the room, hoping that Cordell’s machine gun fire wouldn’t kill me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Just as Anderson’s fire was catching up, I heard the sound of another gunshot through the machine gun’s buzzing, followed by a grunt of pain, a change in the gun’s direction, and the next thing I knew, Anderson was gripping his liver in pain as he started to run up a stone staircase leading to another location.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But I had turned around to see the source of the other gunshot: It was Jackie Red-Tail, with a Galil in hand, and a chest with several bullet holes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Jackie!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I quickly ran up to her, but I knew that it was too late for her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Dammit. I thought I had him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Jackie…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She looked into my eyes, and touched my cheek. But it was there that I finally recognized her…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…she was the woman from Beirut eight years ago. And if this was the same woman, then that could’ve only meant one thing; my two little girls also belonged to her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But before I could truly understand this; she said her last words to me while she put her Galil in my hand.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: Leave me…don’t let your target escape.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And then she fell back, dead. I could only take one last look at her as I proceeded to go upstairs and finish off Anderson, who was limping with a bleeding liver.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">By the time I had caught up to him, he was standing on a slippery stone bridge that rested in the center of a family of waterfalls only lighted by the lights of the mine.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Well…I think that this as peaceful a location that this mine is gonna offer.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: Indeed it is.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As he reloaded his rifle, I took this time to adjust to the rifle that I was carrying, and we both fired until our ammo was depleted.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After standing statue still while looking into each other’s eyes, we both dropped our guns, but only Cordell fell to his knees.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: Would ya look at that.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: Hey Tony…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yeah?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: Could you do me a couple of favors?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: Go to that man in the mask, and see if he can tell you anything about that mysterious ‘Dr. Poppet Cove’…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My head suddenly began to screech at me as this name entered my ears. I fell to my knees as sudden images entered my head, images of beautiful landscapes which I never seen before, and flashes of people whose faces were covered up by strong static.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell: And take that camera off of your head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After he said this, he fell off the bridge and into the waterfalls as I felt my still aching head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Camera?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I felt around the headset I was wearing, and felt something that felt as if it was wired to it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I removed the headset to see that there was indeed a camera strapped to the headset with strong wires.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">By now I had finally understood what he had meant by mental torture; he wasn’t talking about me, he was talking about the people who had watched through that tiny little camera lens as I went into depths where the screaming never stopped.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I knew that I had to do something about this, so I after a while, I turned on the camera and began to speak into it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Hello, to all those who saw this never ending footage of a…slice of my miserable life. Since I now have confirmation that I won’t be dying from mental torture, I’m going to find a place in this mine to lie down, and I’m going to get some well-deserved sleep, since I haven’t slept in like…five to seven Fu**in weeks. And when I wake up (,and God forbid what the f**k is gonna happen when I wake up), I’m gonna make sure that this camera is destroyed for good, and I’m going to get the hell out of this mine, and look for my two children to make sure that they’re still alive and unharmed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then pinched the bridge of my nose as I felt the strong arm of sleep try to pull me into a slumber.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: So…until you see me again in some stupid news report, my name is Tony Lear’s, and I’d like to say that I hope I didn’t disturb you guys, too much…and also, thank you, for…making it this far without getting thrown in an asylum; so…goodbye.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then turned the camera off for the last time and found a stone bed to lie down on. It wasn’t the most comforting piece of material, but I didn’t care, I was far too tired to care.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After shutting my eyes for the first time in weeks, I finally went to sleep and thought how painful tomorrow was gonna be.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Oh God…why do have a 100% feeling tomorrow is gonna suck?

<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Chapter 9: Mental Torture

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I woke up in the exact same spot I was on when I went to sleep, so there was no problem there; but then I looked downward to see that the two pistols I had used to battle Anderson were at my feet, and were reloaded and even polished.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Confused, I picked them up, and looked around the stone room I was in.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …Hello?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I was walking around the mine, keeping myself at as much alert as possible, my color might have left my body, but my skill and mind did not. And this was also coupled with the fact that my mind was now a lot clearer since I had actually managed to get some sleep.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After a few hours of walking, I heard a noise. I quickly turned around with my guns in the air and saw the one sight I had waited to see for a long time. And one with a chrome desert eagle in his robotic hand.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: House.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: You have made quite the mess Lear’s…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Their deaths are your own fault.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: I was actually referring to the video.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Wait, you saw it?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: Saw it? I was mentally tortured non-stop ever since you wired it to your headset.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh, no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no, no. I did not install that, your stalker did.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: Uh, yeah, right. Why would he ever want to go anywhere near you?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: You’re lying House. You know he turned the camera on, I saw it in my dreams; he did it in your dreams too.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: What the f**k are you talking about? The only time I ever even saw him was in that stupid cave in-you know what? I’m not having this; you’re just stalling your own death-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Before House had time to even finish his sentence, he paused; and I don’t mean like that kind of pause, I mean like someone paused the TV paused.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I looked at him in total confusion, and then looked around to see that the waterfalls had stopped as well, in fact everything had just stopped, almost as if someone pressed the pause button on the TV remote.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I looked on to see that House had been replaced with that same figure, only he no longer had his swords, or any weapon for that matter. But he did still have his mask and all the rest.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: You…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Hello Tony. Still without color I see.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">His voice still had that dark, digital tone, but I didn’t care.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Listen, I don’t know who you are, I don’t know what the hell it is you want, but I do not want ANY PART OF IT!! ALL I WANT IS TO GO, AND FIND! MY! CHILDREN!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: So I can see, Mr. Lear’s. But as much as it pains me, I’m afraid I cannot allow you to do so yet. We need to have a discussion.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: About what?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: We’ll speak more when you awaken.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: What?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He disappeared, and I blacked out.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When I woke up, I was alone, and standing in the middle of a forest under a pale winter sky. My clothes were torn and covered in blood, my left hand had a combat knife while my right had its hidden blade extended, and my memories of anything that could’ve happened were not amongst me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Ah good, you’re here.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I turned around to see he was behind me, but his metal mask was gone, exposing a ski-mask and a pair of abnormal eyes with red Celera, green irises, and dragon-like pupils.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Okay…so what are we talking about?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: It’s about something that must happen to you; in order to finish what was started, you must die one time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I have to die? One time?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: I know that it sounds odd, but it must be done.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: But what about my daughters?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: They’ll be with you again once it’s all over, but death needs to come first.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: After you come back from death, you and I will be reformed with each other, and you will finally be able to free yourself from this mental prison.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Reformed with each other? What-what do you mean?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: This is not a good place to speak of it, we must find another location.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Will you show me your face?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: You’ve already seen it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I woke up again, this time on a bridge. Yet when I began to look around, I saw that it was the Wisconsin Trestle Bridge.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I looked around to see that he was a few feet away from me, so I walked towards him, but when I saw his face, I finally began to understand.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I now understood why he said I had already seen his face, because it was my face, my color, even my former hairstyle; the only exception was his eyes. He also had a plain black shirt, blue jeans, and similar boots to mine.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This also made sense as to why he had my face in my first dream, he wasn't mimicking me, he was showing his true identity; one which I   could not expect.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Other Me: Are you now ready to hear me out?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Other Me: There is much that I cannot yet reveal to you, but there is one thing I can: while House must die, you will not be able to do it alone. You need an army, you need weapons, you need to find those who can stand up to him; but you can’t do it in this body; which is why you have to die.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Other Me: When you are brought back to life, your body will become reformed while the remains are left behind; but you won’t be able to go finish House immediately.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Because I have to get an army or whatever.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Other Me: That, and there is someone you need to find.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Who?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Other Me: Do you remember when Anderson mentioned a Dr. Poppet Cove?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yeah?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Other Me: Well you have to find her, and you have to reunite with her. After all, that is what Tom wanted you to do.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Hang on; what about the army? Where should I start?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Other Me: There was a man who helped Craig after you were separated from him: Sebastian Albino. Once you meet him, you have to gain his trust; you’ll know what to do from there.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I see.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Other Me: Now that you know what you must do, I will go to Craig once you’re dead, and I will guide him from there. First thing’s first: Death.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then found myself teleported back into the mine; yet I was found to be cornered, and House was standing above my heavily breathing body.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: It didn’t have to come to this Lear’s; we could’ve had an excellent partnership.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I looked down my body to see that my stomach had a bullet hole in it, and my side had a nasty cut on it; yet this wasn’t a concern for me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I don’t need your partnership; I think I’d rather have you finish me off.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">House: …so be it.

<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Chapter 10: Life in the Afterlife

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The gunshot from House’s pistol was the last thing I heard after that. It was there that for the first time, I felt a strong weight suddenly exit my shoulders as my body slumped over, and while my eyes were closing and my vision was getting blurry, I could see House standing over me with a solemn look in his eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And then I felt my head hit the floor.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But then I saw a yellow figure enter the stone room, but I could tell it was Craig.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: (blurry tone) Tony!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I looked up at my best friend one last time as he tried to keep me awake.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: (blurry tone) Tony!! Tony stay with me!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I calmly touched his cheek, and said my last words before vision went dark.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Dr.…Poppet…Cove…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I woke up on a bed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As my vision came back into my eyes, I saw that the ceiling above me was white like paper. Then I saw that almost everything was white like paper, including my body.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My body was completely white, and any parts of it that were once darker than the other parts were now black, such as my arm.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I tried to open my mouth to speak, but instead words of royal blue outline flew above my head, and then disappeared.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Wha-wait a minute, where am I?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I exited the room to see more and more black and white, and then I exited the house I was in to see the entire world was nothing but black, white, and grey; with only tiny fragments of color in the smallest of spaces.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But that wasn’t all, not only was my voice gone, but so was all the sound, as if someone pushed a mute button on a television set.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: What is this place? Hello? Hello!?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: Would you calm down?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then looked to my left to see what appeared to be…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Samantha Spix?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha’s Words: Oh…it’s you…hello Tony.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Her words were that of a light blue, yet this wasn’t on my mind.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My words: I don’t know what this is you set up, but I’m not gonna live up to it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then extended my hidden blade, and took a fighting stance, but to my confusion, she didn’t do anything, she didn’t even smile.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha’s Words: *sigh*, just put the damn thing away Tony, please. It’s way too pointless.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Pointless? What-what do you mean?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">>>>: She means just that…that it’s pointless.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I turned around to see that someone was exiting the house, yet it wasn’t until she closed the door did I see that it was the dead Jackie Red-Tail.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie’s Words: Hello Tony; finally died I take it?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My head confusingly took in her orange colored words.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Finally…died?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie’s Words: Yeah. This is what awaits sinners before they go to the underworld.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: What?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha’s Words: She means that this is like…Limbo, let’s put it like that.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Wait, wait a sec, I’m…dead?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The two looked to each other, and nodded at me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Oh…well, that’s one step taken care of, next order of business is to get back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie’s Words: There is no way back Lear's, you’ve died, and that’s that.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha’s Words: Accept it Lear’s, the two of us already have, and she’s been here for only a few hours.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Well then, where’s everyone else?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie’s Words: Those who haven’t gone to the underworld yet are out there, in the city, waiting to gather their courage to go down to the underworld and accept their fate in Death’s realm.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then took Jackie by her shoulders, which almost surprised her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: How do I get to that city?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie’s Words: Whoa, whoa, wait a minute…you actually wanna go down there?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: I have to.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha’s Words: And why in the hell would you ever wanna do that?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Because I need to speak with Death…I have to get back to the earth.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha’s Words: And what makes you think he’ll listen to you?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: I don’t…but I still have to try; there’s something I have to do.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then took off, not caring whether or not they’d follow me, yet they did.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie’s Words: Hey wait a minute, where are you going?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: I’m going back!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha’s Words: Dammit Tony, the only place you’re going is to more suffering!! Listen to me; IT’S NOT WORTH THE PUNISHMENT!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: I DON’T CARE!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then proceeded to run to the top of the cliff I was on; to see that I was on a large mountain, and before me, there were the cities.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">There might not have been any color, but I was able to envision it with color, yet I wasn’t in the mood to draw anything since I was dead; so instead I jumped down to a wooden bridge below.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie’s Words: TONY!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I turned to see the two girls had caught up to me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie’s Words: We’re warning you Lear’s, if you do go into that city, there is no going back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Oh there isn’t, is there?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha’s Words: She’s not lying. That city has every poor sap you’ve ever killed in it, and when they see you, they’ll try to get revenge.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Definition of: ‘Try’. And besides, how can they harm me if I’m already dead?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then looked to my right to see a cable that could take me to the city.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie’s Words: Tony, WAIT!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But it was too late, I had already jumped on top of it; and upon reaching the controls, I was off.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When I had gotten into the city, I could clearly see that those two weren’t lying. Everyone I had ever killed, including Anderson, were there; all of them too afraid to go into the underworld.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But to be honest, I couldn’t blame them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">All it took them was one look at me to immediately be filled with balls of rage. But I wasn’t in the mood for long-lasting fights, so I jumped over them, and sometimes trampled them if I had to.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But they just wouldn’t stop coming at me, and I needed to get to the top of the city, I had to find the way to the underworld.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After I caught site of a fairly large building, I began to run to it. But it wasn’t until I got to the front of it did I see a depressed looking Tom White on top of it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I now knew that I had to get on top of that building, I had to talk to him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I immediately took off running, even running up the building. It would seem that being dead actually has some kind of advantage to it after all.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I continued running, more enemies tried to stop me, so I punched them, and got them to loose speed, and they fell off.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When I was almost to the top, Cordell was the only one who was still following me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell’s Words: Hey Lear’s, where do you think you’re going?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: For your green worded information Anderson, I’m getting directions to the underworld.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell’s Words: That-…that makes no sense.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I used this moment of confusion to punch him off the building, just as I came to the top of the building, which is where Tom was sitting.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: TOM!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tom turned to look at me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tom’s Words: Oh, hi Tony.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I was expecting his words to be grey, but instead they were a light yellow.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Tom…what are you doing all the way up here?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tom’s Words: Well, nobody’s gonna be able to reach me up here, and I’m pretty sure that they’re gonna realize who’s actually responsible for this.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Oh…well, listen, Tom…I need to talk to you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tom’s Words: About what?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Well…back in that mine I was in, I saw flashes of you…only you were younger…and yellow.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tom looked up at me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tom’s Words: It would seem you’re beginning to remember.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Remember?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tom’s Words: Oh, why should I bother to tell? After all, we’re both dead.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Yeah…anyways listen, I need to get to the underworld, I have to speak with Death…see if he would allow me to go back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tom’s Words: I…seriously doubt that’s gonna happen, but…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">He paused as he looked at my black and white face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tom’s Words: …if you go to that crater over there, you’ll just have to follow the tunnel until you find a cellar door. That; is where you wanna go.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My Words: Thank you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I prepared to jump to the next building, Cordell suddenly jumped behind us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell’s Words: I was wrong; that makes perfect sense.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I raised a brow as he said this, and took a step back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell’s Words: You just want to get away from the rest of us!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Then all my other enemies came up the building and proceeded to charge at me, but I was quick and jumped off of the building and to the next one, where more and more of my foes tried to stop me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After a while, I had reached the giant crater, and was ready to jump into it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell’s Words: STOP THAT KILLER!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">By now, Anderson had found his old TMP and was trying to shoot me. But it was my robotic arm that was saving me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then proceeded to jump off the building and into the giant crater far below.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I fell, I was able to read the last few words of Anderson’s mind as I entered the crater.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cordell’s Words: Well…He’s Death’s problem now.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then looked to see they had all turned around, and then everything went black.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When I woke up, I was able to hear the sound of rushing water from somewhere nearby. At first I thought that I was back in the land of the living, but looked on in minor disappointment to see where I was.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It was filled with color (much to my relief) and had grass, trees, a little fountain of clean water, and a few plants and flowers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But then there was the cellar door in the middle of the room, and I knew that that must’ve been the entrance to the underworld.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then looked at myself in the water to see myself.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My color was back, exposing my now black, colorless feathers. I also had my black jacket with the red stripes on the arms, my blue jeans, boots, and had the same shoulder length hair, beard, hell I even had the bullet wounds and cuts I had received.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It was as if I was looking at my dead body. But where there was color, there was also voice, which I also now had.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh my God…look at yourself Tony, you’re a mess.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha: Yes you are.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I turned around in shock to see an upcoming fist, which was sent to my face. After recovering, I saw that Samantha and Jackie were with me in the open space.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">They must’ve followed me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha: You just don’t get it do you?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She punched me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha: It’s over! It’s all over!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She punched me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha: You’re dead; ACCEPT IT AS THE TRUTH!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She punched me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha: NONE OF IT IS WORTH IT, ALRIGHT!! REDEMPTION, REVENGE, HOUSE’S DEATH, IT’S NOT, WORTH, THE, PAIN!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She continuously punched my face with every comma in her sentence, but after she said ‘pain’, I caught her fist.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I DO NOT CARE!! ABOUT, GETTING REVENGE!!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then delivered a punch to her face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I never cared, for any of that! I don’t give a shit about revenge!! I learned that it was pointless after White was killed! The only reason I want to go back, is so I can see my children again!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha and Jackie had their expressions turned to shock as I said this. They didn’t expect me to have said that, they expected me to have wanted to go finish what I started with House, but this was truly shocking for them to hear. It was even shocking for me in lite of the job I had to do when I got back to earth.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: You…just wanted to see your…children? Are they that worthy?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I’m surprised you wouldn’t have agreed with me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: And why would you think that?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Because of what I found out after you died; those two aren’t just mine, they’re…yours.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Her eyes went dead.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: What?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I now understand why I looked so familiar to you, it’s because I was the one who got you pregnant in Beirut eight years ago.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: That…that was you?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I was wasted and I was on Viagra, the hell was I supposed to do?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha: That’s making a good point,

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Thank you, anyways, the point being, that’s why I have to go back, I have to make sure that they’re safe! Can’t you understand that?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Or what about you Sam? You’re a mother, can’t you understand it?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha: What?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Remember when you slept with RT1108, and you laid that egg? Well it was never destroyed, it hatched into a little boy, and now it’s with his father.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The two looked at each other in total shock; I could tell that this was much unexpected news for the both of them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: So you see? We have to go down. We have to get out of here and we have to-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: No Tony, there is no ‘we’ this time…it’s just you. We’re proud of you for caring about those two girls and that boy, but we’re not just about to confront them after the mistakes we’ve made.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha: She’s right Tony. We can understand that you were expecting to have it ‘three’, like the last uncountable times; but not this time. It’s not ‘three’, it’s not ‘two’, it’s just ‘one’…and that one is you. Hey, you really wanna go down there and talk to the lord of the dead just to get even more mauled than you already are? Then that’s fine with the two of us…because you’re on your own…and that’s that.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And then they turned around so their backs were facing me, but I wasn’t done with them yet.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Samantha: …

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Why did you two follow me?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Jackie: …we wanted to keep you from doing another stupid choice.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I couldn’t help but smile, even if they weren’t looking at me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Funny…I couldn’t help but remember you two making stupid choices all the time…isn’t that how we’re all parents now?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The two of them looked up, and slowly turned to face me. After thirty seconds, I stopped smiling.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Goodbye girls.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And then I opened up the cellar door, and immediately jumped in.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I fell, I saw flashes of my memories flow back into my head, memories of cold, emotionless times with my friends and family. The memories might have been horrid, but at least I was with a friend.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When did I end up all alone?

<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Chapter 11: Meet the Deaths

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I woke up a third time in death to see that I was now in the underworld. It was something you’d see in that ‘ningago’ series, with the exception of everything green instead of purple.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I got to my feet, I saw that I was on a floating rock, with dead people looking at me. Most of them were old enemies of Mordecai and Rigby, but all of them were looking at me with an odd expression that I wasn’t expecting.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I was gonna believe that they’d be ready to rip me to pieces, but instead they were keeping their distance from me in some kind of respect.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And then they jumped off the rock I was on, leaving me alone and very confused; until a sudden figure on a motorcycle suddenly came up next to me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Hm?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The figure removed his hood to expose a skeleton face with long brown hair and sunglasses; but he also had the same expression the other dead people had.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …what?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death: That was a rather intense conversation you had with those two.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">My eyes shot up in shock as I now understood why they were looking at me like that: they had heard what I had said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: How…? How much of that did you hear?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death: We heard enough.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: We?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death: Me; my wife, my son, we all heard everything.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death: I uh, think you should get on; we need to have a talk.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I wasn’t in any mood to argue, so I did so and allowed him to take me out of that realm and into another one, which looked a lot like the realm of the living.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And then everything went black again.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When I woke up, this time I found myself in the living room of a large yet spooky manor. I looked to see myself under a blanket and next to a fireplace with a woman with four arms sitting nearby. I figured that it must’ve been death’s wife.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death’s Wife: You’re awake.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Uh, yeah.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death’s Wife: How do you feel?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I…actually, feel pretty good.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then looked at myself to see that my color had returned to my body, and my beard was shaved and my hair was neatly trimmed and combed. But that wasn’t all; I was now wearing a new pair of jeans, new boots, a light blue turtleneck hoodie, and a grey jacket with dark green sleeves.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But the features that got me confused was the fact that my scars were now gone, and my left eye no longer had its Kakashi resemblance; it was as if I had been healed of a terrible plague. In spite of this, I still had my half heart pendant around my neck, and my eyes were now totally altered; for they now had red sclera, green iris, and the pupils looked somewhat of a dragon.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I looked exactly like the other me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: I don’t understand…what happened?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death’s Wife: You earned your life back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: How?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death’s Wife: You seemed to have been a little too stubborn to stay dead.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I just stared blankly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death: Oh don’t look at her like that; you’re not the first one to refuse it. Just look at Skips, that guy’s been dodging my scythe for years.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death: Besides, it’s not exactly, ya know, bad…that you’re alive.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: It isn’t?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death: Course not! You and all those other buds of yours have sent our business through the underworld’s roof! It’s because of all of you Infected bunch that got people to be scared again.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh. I see.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death’s Wife: So…what are you going to do now?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: There’s someone I have to find, and there’s an assignment I have to take care of.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then prepared to leave, but the wife grabbed my shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Death’s Wife: We should tell you about something outside-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Relax, I can handle myself.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I calmly took her hand off my shoulder and exited the front door of the manor, only to see that a bunch of people were outside.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It was the surviving groundskeepers, the coffee girls, Craig, and Sarah and Serena; everyone was smiling.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I was confused.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …what?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mordecai: We’ll give you credit Lear’s; we were not expecting you to say something like, especially not from the state you were in.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Wait, you saw that?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Rigby: Every, last, second.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh, crap.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Why are you ashamed of that? There’s no reason to be ashamed of loving your children.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sarah and Serena smiled as she said this, and I couldn’t help but smile myself, until I suddenly realized that their bodies were translucent.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Are you ghosts?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mordecai: Sort of. What you’re seeing are our consciences, but don’t worry, we’re still alive.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh, okay…uh…so where are your bodies?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Margaret: New York; which according to House is where it all started.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: So I’ve seen.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Where are you?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Well I’m not positive, but think I’m near the park.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Rigby: Well, whenever you’re able come, we’ll be waiting for you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Wait…before you go, there was something I wanted to say to the people of the park.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Don’t take too long daddy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Then they disappeared, leaving the park-dwellers with me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Rigby: What was it you needed?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Well, this is gonna be hard for me to say to you but…well…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Yes?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: …you see, uh…being dead, even in that short time, had taught me how badly I was to almost everyone else I knew, and after thinking it through while in that city, I came to a conclusion that I…I owe you an apology for way I was treating you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Eileen: Really?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yeah. Truth is…I only said all those things and did all those things, because I thought I wouldn’t able to get hurt any more after the events of Ibiza. It wasn’t until I actually died…did I realize that I was wrong.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mordecai: Well…we truly do appreciate that, but the only one who needs an apology, is you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">These words brought me to shock.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: What? No, no you guys don’t owe me anything.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Margaret: Actually, we kinda do. Remember how we attacked you in the mine?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yeah?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Rigby: Well, we actually thought that you and House were the same person, ya know, since you’re template and clone?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Oh.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I then took some time to process their apology, and then looked back to them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Apology accepted guys.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Just then Craig reappeared in front of me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: Hey Tony.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Yeah?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: I just remembered something.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: What?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig then handed me a card, which read as an appointment for a ‘Dr. Poppet Cove’.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craig: You’ll find her in Alaska; go there, and you’ll understand everything.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Then they disappeared, leaving me alone outside of the manor.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Me: Well then, I guess I’m going to Alaska.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Epilogue

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">So there you have it. Pretty amazing, don’t ya think?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I do all in all feel however…disappointed in myself, I will admit that. But even so, I also feel pretty relieved that I have this second chance, and it puts a little hope back into my heart.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But you’re all probably thinking: This is the part when the narrator smiles. Well…not this time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">You might expect me to actually go to the park and see what had become of it and all that; but I'm not going to do so, because right now, it is time to move on to bigger, and more important things.