-------~·°·~-------

·°· Why is this so familiar? Bill holds his stomach, a hurtful churning swallows his pride. This is weird. His smile drops instantly. A flood of memories--not belonging to him--taint his vision.

*

Flashback

A brown haired boy enters the room with stars in his eyes as he throws his backpack on the floor next to an identical one.

"Mable, I just had the best day of my life! UFO's are real, and there's one under the town, and I saved Great Uncle Ford's life, and-and-and...Hey are you okay?"he pauses to stare at his sister laying on the bed facing away from him holding something.

"Tell it's not true D̵͎̔̅̃̕i̴̗̟̬̗̦̚p̸̥̣̦͖̻̰̞̍̽̕p̴̯̦̦̣̰̄ḛ̶̹̫̫͕̫̗̀͌̀̕r̷̨̨̝̣̩͚̫̗̱͓͇͈̐̓̌̈́͌̄̐̔̓̌̕͠͝. Tell you were joking."The long brown haired girl faces him with tears in her eyes as she shows him a static noise coming from a black walkie-talkie in her hand.

He gasps as he turns around to look at the walkie-talkie in his bag peeking out.

"Ford's apprentice? Are you seriously..?"

"Look I was thinking and um...this is a huge opportunity for me."he scratches his head to look back at her.

"Well it's a horrible opportunity for me!"she yells with tears burning to leak out. She slips out of bed as the boy felt his heart crack."I had the worst day of my life. When we turn thirteen, and summer ends, and I have to leave everything behind-"

She turns around furious and points at him,"-you're the only person I could count on and now you're leaving me too?"she looks at him with a sad expression.

"Look I've been thinking about it and-she walks away from him as he continues, "-I won't be gone forever okay. I'll still visit you at home and we'll chat online and we'll make it work."

     The girl bends down only to fall down on her knees and look at the paper in her hands,"I don't want it to work."the boy looks at her in surprise."I just wish summer could last forever."she looks at her book containing memories of her adventures.

"But it can't Mable."he brother walks to her and stops just inches apart. He kneels next to her and puts his hand on her shoulder as she stares sadly at the book,"Look things wont stay frozen this way it's part of growing up."he puts his hand in his pocket ashamed and disappointed then looks at his sister with hope. "Things change."

"Summer ends."she looks at him about to burst.

    She turns on her back and sprints out the room her brother falling on his face in surprise at her act. He raises his head and watches her rip the door open,"Wait Mable! I didn't mean it like that!"

The girl picks up her backpack and runs out the door.

He runs to the door after her only to stop knowing he can't catch her,"Mable come back!"

*

•°• The mad demon shook his head in frustration. What are you doing to me Pine Tree? Wincing at the pain, he groans holding his head. If you really want your body take it. I'm not stopping you kid. Be my guest~! "Where the hell are you,"Bill yells.

Startled, Finn glances quickly at his comrade in concern. He too felt unease in the situation, but it wasn't because of the psychopath. Something in the back of his mind banged the forbidden door in his mind. Could the reason for this feeling be betrayal? Maybe Bill had a similar feeling-I get headaches often while I try to destroy villages. Maybe this witch in disguise triggered something in our memories. Finn peeks over a few soldiers on his tippy-toes. He spots the fair maiden wearing a sly wide grin plastered on her frail face. She isn't the sweet, doll-liked, defenceless creature they first met anymore; she's a filthy traitor! Finn glares daggers at her.

Lorna squints her eyes to see past the tall soldiers in green and grey, her simper widens when she sees the small child. General Iron steps between Lorna, and Finn's view. His cold eyes glue to the ice prince,"Feeling troubled Finn?"he taunts.

Finn doesn't answer, not wanting to make things difficult for the three of them. "I should've butchered that ragged doll's head."Bill hisses digging his nails into his palm.

"I'm sorry Wirt, I truly am. Please understand that this is for the good of the universe. I'm sure you're beyond mad than confused, but if I turn you three in I'll get the universe's bliss." Lorna squishes through the crowd of men next to Iron.

"Bl-Bliss?"Finn asks.

"A Timewish."Bill rolls his eyes.

Finn looks from Bill back to Lorna knowing to keep his gaze away from Wirt. "Yes."Lorna proudly answers."My apologizes sincerely Wirt, but those two are my ticket to getting a wish. I think you know what it is-"

"It won't bring her back."Wirt interrupts.

Lorna glares at Wirt then at the general then back,"Ha! It will, that's what it does. Gives you the wish of a life time. I'll fire sure bring her back-."

"She won't be the same."

"I-"

"Think about it. They're here for me and these two imbaciles-"

"At a time like this Wirt, really?"Bill looked at him bored as he went to go take a seat in the soft cushions behind him.

"-Is this how you repay the one who saved you? Once I took that spirit out of your body, you vowed that you'd go and be free with your so-called Auntie. You stayed in place and let her walk over you which is why you didn't have the courage to stand up for her and free yourself from the demon's curse. Will you let them walk over you again?" Wirt asked.

Lorna bursts in laughter,"I remember you were quite sappy pilgrim. Unfortunately, I don't subdue to monsters like you-so no. I won't let you walk over me."

      Wirt sighs,"I tried."He throws his extended machete on the ground, and carefully places his lantern on the wooden floor.

      General Iron grins, He's surrendering. The blond teen at his side stares at Wirt figuring out what he's doing. Wirt locks eyes with the general before putting both hands in front of him. An invisible rope circled around his wrist in a figure eight. "Take us in."

      The general smiles and nods. His men circle around the trio.

"What?! Branches I didn't agree to this!"he grabs his coat objecting.

"W-Wirt?"Finn trembles.

      Remaining calm, the Lantern Barrer motions the soldiers to move quickly before he runs out of patience. If we get captured, we'll get to see the 'toddler'. Then we'll attack. I might be wrong though-he might be strong, but everyone has a weakness. Two tall soldiers in grey pull out a pair each of glowing handcuffs.

"We will take extra precautions on you especially seeming as if you always have a plan."Iron sneers.

     Didn't always. Wirt's body sinks as the handcuffs are clicked on. A wave of exhaustion covers over him as he knelt down to catch his breath. It's as if the cuffs were taking his life.

     Finn's bottom lip quivered. He didn't want to be taken in, but if his guide through the literal Unknown was going to be taken then he was practically useless. His navigation skills weren't the best.

     The prince sighs turning himself in, the same handcuffs were clicked on him and he too fell into exhaustion. Bill looked skeptical at his two acquaintances. I think I'm catching on; if we go to that toddler then we can attack. That's what Branches thinks,but it won't work. That toddler will just make us kneel--I AM A KING! I don't bow to any one~! Bill watches as three men carefully approach him. He snaps. He yanks the broken lamp nearby and crashes the artifact at the line of men. They back away as the lamp shattets.

"You're out of your mind Branches! You can go party high up with a peasant, but I am not going to get dragged into the dance floor at this state. A king should be fitted nicely to dance. "With that Bill tosses pillows at the men then sprinting down the hallway.

     Ten soldiers run after him. Wirt rolls his eyes glancing at Finn who shakes his head confused. "What is it with you three running?"General Iron asks.

     Wirt steps on the edge of his machete and snatches it with both hands tied behind, swiftly swinging it at the two guards in front of him. Finn gawks at the older's graceful form and proceeds to do the same. He kicks both guards in the middle before running up the wooden stairs, three steps at a time. Wirt snatches his lantern with one antler and goes after Finn. Iron stands there dumbfounded,"Um.."

"Sir,"a soldier asked.

"What are you staring at you idiots? Get them! I can't believe it-and under my nose!"Iron yells in frustration.

•°•        Screw you Branches, Bill shakes his head as his human brain kept thumping in anger. Humans are so infuriating. To believe they have a brain of a small pea they make a lot of noise! He digs his knuckles into his ear to stop the infernal noise. "Ow!"he takes his hand off his ear.

    He switches the door knob to close, and searches hysterical for an exit. Bill then notices he's in Lorna's bedroom.

    Right after the doll was knocked out the tall gnome had carried her and put her in a bed to attend to her wounds. Once he did, he came back to fix theirs without a word despite Bill nagging to know the story between the two.

    Bill looks around. Boom! "What is it now,!"he hollers as the door cracks almost breaking. He looks at the window with a smile forming.

•°•        Finn and Wirt halt to see a hard triangle wall in the giant attic room. Lorna's aunt must've lived here, Finn concludes. The guards climb up the stairs,"Throw them stuff and take a gun."Wirt commands as he kicks a chair down the stairs.

     Finn panics but follows his guide's orders in order to be alive. Even though the two teens are tied, hands behind their backs, they put up a fight. Finn kicks down several books from the small shelf in the corner and sweeps them down the stairs. Wirt scoots with his hips a desk. He harshly kicks it down. The soldiers retreat back for a moment. The few soldiers in the front fall down. Once the desk falls to the first floor they continue.

    The soldier in the front climbs up quickly only to be kicked in the side by Wirt. Finn shoves a chair down the stairs. Wirt jumps on the soldier and slips out his gun. He kicks it to Finn who keeps throwing books. The soldier drives a hard punch into Wirt's cheek. The boy falls down,"Finn shoot it!"the soldier climbs up Wirt's chest and continues beating him. The shackles rattle and dig in the boy's skin as he helplessly tries to get out.

    Scared, Finn dives to the floor and sweeps up the gun. He glances at Wirt,"W-Where?"

"Anywhere!!"Wirt yells as he's hammered in the chest. "Ah!"

    Finn doesn't look back as he points the gun at the stairs and pulls the trigger. A green blast hits the end on the stairs and breaks the floor. He then points it at the roof. Boom! The roof break letting in wind and rain. A giant hole forms, an opening! Finn beams.

    Wirt kept getting hammered with hits, and his body seemed to wheeze in exhaustion as the handcuffs glow overpowering him. Finn points the gun at the soldier's head above Wirt and fires. Blood spats on Finn's back and Wirt's face."Plah! W-Wirt!"Finn turns around and picks up Wirt. Wirt shoves him away with his shoulder. "Get the keys.."he whispers.

     Finn's body suddenly remembers the handcuffs. His body collapses to his knees as he snatches the soldier's keys on his side. Quickly while looking away, Finn unlocks his handcuffs and Wirt's.

"You seem to have skill with this. "

"I p-practice a-a lot. "Finn answers.

      Wirt takes no excuse and grabs the ice prince's hand and jolts out the enormous opening. Below them, Bill slips down the window and falls on the floor. He chuckles picking himself up only to be brought down again because of two teens falling on his head."Gah!"

"Get up you idiots and run!"Wirt drags both kids up and sprints into the forest.

* * *

"Sir they got away again."

"Tell Iron to pull back and get the hell over here. Now."

------~•°•~------

Words: 2139

Happy Thanksgiving! 🐥