"Be careful on the roads. Bandits have been at their worst." Northern warned as Demonic and Fun Ghoul loaded half of the next month's supplies into the car. It was the next day; though Fun Ghoul had a bit of a hangover, he and Demonic had started loading pretty early.

"Thanks, Northern." Gerard nodded. He had already attempted to bring Ryan back several times, but his friend was trapped somewhere behind his character. "Are you sure you don't know Ryan?"

Northern's brow furrowed. "Never heard of him." He shook his head, "Are you sure you know him, sir?"

Gerard smiled sadly. "I used to."

Northern Downpour flashed a smile in return before pulling the goggles from around his neck over his eyes. He stepped to his side, looking past Gerard.

"We've got a dust storm forming a few miles out." He relayed as he tugged the wielder's goggles back down from around his eyes.

Gerard tilted his head at Northern. "Those things can detect that?" He asked, pointing to the goggles around Northern's neck.

The killjoy grinned, "Yes, sir. Fancy tech. They were designed by-" he halted mid-sentence. His brow laced in confusion, "I... I don't know, sir. Just know it wasn't Better Living."

"Don't even mention those bastards around here!" Demonic called out from where he stood at the trunk of the car. He pulled out his bronze laser gun, pointing it threateningly at the sky. "Those Dracs and Korse can all go shove this up their-"

"Calm down, Demonic. You're letting your anger show again." Fun Ghoul rolled his eyes as he slammed the trunk of the car. He shifted his gaze to Gerard, "Ready to go, my motor baby?" He winked.

Gerard didn't let the gesture fluster him, however, because Northern had commanded his attention by gripping his arm. Gerard turned, hoping to see the recognition of his friend.

He was instead greeted by a hollow stare, directed towards the sandy ground. "The game master thought you needed better living." he whispered at a level that was barely audible.

"What?" Gerard clasped his hand on top of his friend's. As soon as he did that, however, rapid blinks replaced the stare. Northern's footing began to stumble.

"D-demonic!" He cried out as he began to sink to the ground.

Gerard attempted to keep Northern on his feet, but he was pushed out of the way by Demonic. The killjoy wrapped one arm around Northern's torso while the other slid up the back of his neck. He shushed Northern as the brown haired killjoy began to whimper.

"It's okay, Downpour..." Demonic soothed as he helped the other killjoy to the ground.

"I feel funny..." Northern whispered, shutting his eyes tightly. "I wanna go home."

Those last words sounded like Ryan had spoken them. Gerard didn't have time to check up on his hunch, however, because Demonic had scooped the killjoy up in his arms. Northern leaned into the leather vest that covered Demonic's chest, keeping his eyes tightly shut and continuing to whimper incoherently.

"What's wrong with him?" Fun Ghoul asked, walking upon the scene with worry in his expression.

Demonic shook his head. "Sometimes he just gets out of his mind." He had worry on his own face as well as he looked down at the figure in his arms, "I need to get him inside, and you need to set out before that dust storm gets here." He glared at the two, trying to mask his concern for Northern. "Get going."

Fun Ghoul shrugged, holding his hands up level with his shoulders. "Alright, no need to tell us twice." He nodded his head towards the car, "Let's dust it, Party."

As Fun Ghoul moved towards the car, Gerard hesitated. He looked at Northern before shifting his gaze up to Demonic. "Will he be okay?"

Demonic's thumb swiped back and forth along Northern's arm. He nodded, not taking his eyes away from the whimpering killjoy. "Yea. It just takes time." He began moving back towards the storage's entrance, speaking softly to Northern.

Gerard frowned, but stepped back towards the car. The game master thought you needed Better Living. What did that mean? Was Better Living, a fictional corporation from Gerard's imagination, somehow playing a part in the events that had been unfolding for the past few days?

He climbed into the passenger seat of the car, turning to see Fun Ghoul pressing his palms against his eyes. Fun Ghoul looked exhausted; the alcohol from last night probably hadn't helped.

"Let me drive." Gerard offered.

Fun Ghoul shook his head, "No. My car, my driving."

"Ghoul." Gerard was surprised by the shift in his tone. He sounded authoritative, like an actual commander. "Don't make me give you an order."

Fun Ghoul sighed. "Yes, sir." He nodded as he moved to unbuckle his seatbelt.

Fun Ghoul climbed out of the car, but Gerard just slid himself across the seats. He had limited experience behind the wheel, but no barriers should be of some assistance. "Which way am I going?" He asked when Fun Ghoul slid into the seat beside Party.

"Killjoys follow the setting sun." Fun Ghoul replied before yawning and rubbing his temple. "We might hit the edges of the dust storm, but if we hurry we should be okay."

Gerard nodded, leaning forward to peek through the windshield. Just ahead in the sky, hanging at an already apparent angle in the opposite direction they needed to go.

"Turn the car around, my motor baby." Fun Ghoul instructed.

"I'm working on it." Gerard rolled his eyes, refusing to audibly admit his thanks for Fun Ghoul's sense of direction. He turned the key in the ignition, started the engine, and hit the gas.

---

Driving was fun here. There was no road limitation, no other drivers to conflict with, and no one could complain about Gerard's occasional swerving.

Fun Ghoul was asleep in the passenger seat. He had pulled his american flag bandana up over his eyes, hiding his entire face. He was feeling more of the alcohol's affects, even moving further into the day.

The car was quiet, except for the roar of the engine, but at least it gave Gerard time to think.

The bald man that they had encountered ran over his thoughts. He had drawn a villain for his comic universe, but the parallels were beginning to line up. The lack of hair, obviously, but the influence as well. It may not have been very apparent, but the man they had met on the street had stuck himself in Ryan's head. Even with the cover of whatever had happened to all of his friends, Ryan had broken through to bring some kind of warning...

The game master thought you needed Better Living.

Could the bald man be here? What if he was... This was getting really weird.

Gerard couldn't help but laugh out loud. That being weird after all of this; everything that had happened to him so far? It was funny to him. Absolutely terrifying, but funny, somehow.

He slowed the speed of the car to look out Fun Ghoul's window. The dust storm was coming increasingly closer. Even the dirt outside of Gerard's side of the car was feeling the storm's effects.

He hoped they got home soon.

Home. Funny to even call it that when Gerard had only spent one night there. He didn't even spend it in a bed. Why did he call it home?

A flash of a drawn memory flashed across Gerard's mind. An image of Party Poison and Fun Ghoul laughing with their foreheads leaned together while a large map was opened on the ground in front of them. The room was lit by candle light, due to a failure in the backup generator. How did Gerard know that? Fun Ghoul's eyes were dreamily looking over Party's face while Party was oblivious due to his close eyed laughter. They had discussed enough mission for the day. They needed a break from strategizing to just be normal; to just be human.

Gerard almost immediately stopped the car. There was a slight whiplash, as Gerard's head was slammed back against the headrest. Fun Ghoul's seat was lowered, so he only experienced a shifting of position as he continued to snore.

Gerard breaths came out heavy as he reimagined the picture. It wasn't as drawn upon a second reflection, it looked more realistic. It... Felt more realistic?

"What is happening?" Gerard asked himself, quietly, as his breaths continued their heavy pace. That wasn't his memory; hell, that wasn't even something he had drawn. Is this what Ryan was experiencing? No wonder he was so conflicted if that was the case...

Gerard suddenly felt hot. Extremely hot. The heat built up around him, becoming unbearable to the point that he had to push the driver's side door open and tools into the dust on the ground. Sweat was running down his face as he breathed the cooler, fresh air. It felt so much nicer to be out of that car. His ear drums began to echo a heavy beat in his ears as he continued to cool down. Just breathe... He thought to himself, you'll be okay...

It took several minutes, but soon the beat faded from his ears. He felt a sigh of relief escape him when the only sounds he could now hear became the looming dust storm and distant engines.

Distant engines?

Gerard pushed himself up to his feet, spinning in a full circle. He froze at the sight of dirt trails coming towards them. At the front of the trails, Gerard could just barely make out the shape of a bike.

"Bandits." Gerard let the word out with a breath of air as he remembered Northern's warning. "Shit."

Gerard rushed back to the car, practically throwing himself into the driver's seat, and scrambled to get the ignition started again. He slammed his door as the car roared back to life, causing Fun Ghoul to stir in the seat next to him.

Gerard's foot slammed on the gas pedal, sending flurries of dirt and sand up into the air before the car began to speed forward.

Fun Ghoul pulled his bandana down around his neck. "What's going on, are we home?" He asked as he swiped at his eyes with the palm of his hands.

"We've got bandits on our tail." Gerard relayed, keeping his main focus on the road ahead. However, he couldn't help it when his eyes flickered to the rearview mirror.

The bikes had gotten closer. They had somehow managed to get just three car lengths behind them, and were still gaining. Their speed was phenomenal, and concerning.

"Aw hell!" Fun Ghoul exclaimed as he pushed himself upright. His hands then shot to the glove compartment, where a green laser gun was revealed to be sitting "I'll hold them off." He grinned before turning to his window. He angled himself so that he could safely lean a majority of his figure out of the car before firing his weapon.

"Stun, not kill!" Gerard yelled his order, continuing to drive forward.

"Yes, sir!" Fun Ghoul shouted back, continuing to fire behind the car.

Gerard turned to the rearview mirror on the cars door, but cried out as a laser blast collided with it. The mirror was sent flying, leaving only charred remains behind. As he turned back to the front windshield, Fun Ghoul cried out with a burst of swears. He slid back into the car, holding right shoulder.

"Ghoul?" Gerard stole a glance at the killjoy, "What happened?"

"Hit." Fun Ghoul hissed, "Two of them are riding one bike, giving them a decent shooter."

Gerard looked back at Fun Ghoul with concern. There was definitely a scorch mark on the shoulder that he was holding. He could only hope that the injury wasn't too damaging.

A loud 'POP' and sudden jerk of the vehicle snatched Gerard's attention. He fought with the steering wheel, trying to keep the vehicle on a straight path as another deafening 'POP' rang in the air. They must have shot out the tires.

"We can't outrun them on rims!" Gerard exclaimed.

"Don't stop!" Fun Ghoul countered.

It was hard to keep going, however. The car was already slowing and the bandits were riding alongside them. They began circling as the car stopped moving entirely. Dust encased them and Gerard felt fear welding within him. They weren't going to kill them, where they?

The sounds of the bike's engines stopped. The dust had no time to settle, before figures were stepping towards the car. Fun Ghoul raised his weapon in the hand attached to his uninjured arm, but he was greeted by several more in response.

"I wouldn't." A voice spoke teasingly as the figures stepped closer to the car. They had dark blue bandanas covering the lower half of their faces, but that was the only real similarity of their outfits.

The first one, the one that had spoken in response to Fun Ghoul's weapon, had dark, purple hair that hung in a fringe just above his eye. He wore a torn, jean vest with a rose patch on his chest. The dark shirt underneath held the image of, what appeared to be, a heart with an eye on it. His rose colored laser gun, being held up by a hand with a rose tattoo on it, tilted as he cocked his head to the side.

"Do I spy, with my little eye, a killjoy leader?" He asked with the gentle raise of an eyebrow.

"Piss off." Fun Ghoul growled, directing his weapon at the stranger.

In response, the stranger lifted his free hand, gripped the edge of his bandana and pulled it down to reveal his stubbled face. He grinned, "You must be Fun Ghoul."

"You must like hearing yourself talk."

"It is a trait I carry." The stranger winked, "Though, you're rather cranky. Perhaps you like naps?" The hand that had brought down his bandana twitched.

It must have been a signal to the others, because the nearest killjoy, one with a blotch of red in his hair, fired at Fun Ghoul. The killjoy was hit in the chest, sending his head drooping on his shoulders and his gun to fall from his hand.

"GHOUL!" Gerard's eyes immediately filled with tears. His friend was dead, oh god, his friend was dead. Did this place have nightmare on elm street rules? Would he be dead if Gerard somehow made it out of this world too?

"We've got ourselves a party, Future!" The tallest of the group exclaimed. Gerard didn't look away from Fun Ghoul, however. He was noticing a slight, but steady, rising and falling of his friend's chest. Had he just been stunned?

"Is it now?" The one with purple hair, Future, straightened himself while maintaining his grin. "Well, won't Miss Desert Hurricane be happy with us!"

"Looks like you're getting laid tonight, Villainous Pills!"

"We'll have time for that talk later!" Future spoke loudly, "For now, tie them up and get them on some bikes. Villainous, radio home base and tell them of our score."

"Yes, sir."

"On it, Future."

"We should hurry before the dust storm draws too near."

Future laughed at the last remark. At the same time, Gerard was being roughly pulled from the vehicle he was in. He struggled against whoever had pulled him out, successfully landing a kick to a groin before scrambling up to his feet to be immediately met by a rose colored laser gun.

Future smiled at him. "Hello, Party Poison. Hope you were planning an apology for my boyfriend you just hit in a very tender place."

A soft groan rose from behind Gerard.

Gerard stood strong however, speaking with a confidence he didn't think he possessed. "What do you plan to do with us?"

The smile remained on Future's face. "Easy. We're taking you to our leader."

---
THANK YOU TO THE MVP Mr-Fancy-Trash FOR THE NORTHERN DOWNPOUR FANART UP TOP HE IS ADORABLE AND I LOVE HIM ;-;

also this one!!

Look at my son
Pride is not the word I'm looking for
There is so much more inside me now

But yes, THANK YOU AGAIN & I hope y'all have a lovely day/night!

~Skittles Out~