🥀.

"The darkness that surrounds us cannot hurt us. It is the darkness in your own heart you should fear."

-Unknown

Blocked Italic letters ~ ❦ -----> ???

------------------------------------------------------------

🥀.

別の障害

Wirt's POV🗿

The host's head bobs back. His back hits the moist earth. His tender eyelids cover like curtains over his dim golden sight. He doesn't move after that. I raise a brow at his action and bend down, despite the heavy discourage groaning from my bones. I crouch pinching lightly his wrist. No response. I then sigh looking up. Moving his hair out of the way, I place two fingers over his neck, and trail down his collarbone until I find a dissatisfied pulse. I stand.

The fool is asleep.

"Get up.", I command lifting my heel to press over his bloody injured arm. To my surprise the waiter didn't respond. My eyebrows peek down a bit. He plays the part of dead rat well.

"Die."

"D-Don't hurt m-ma-me. . . .", a stuffy sniff comes from the blond haired splotch from the corner of my eye. I turn - Finn was it? I slip out my lantern. Hopefully Iron won't notice it's warm luminosity from the abyss. - I see Finn drooling saliva from his hinged jaw. His glossy sapphire eyes complement the faint pink flush surfacing the tip of his nose and cheeks. He hiccups. More snot trails down followed by tears. His stare glues on the treasure before him, his crown. It was gold bearing rubies. He's waiting for something. That something seems to require him to cry. Is he connected to the crown in a way? A family members? Is he royal? Is it an heirloom? Perhaps deeper than special? Is he talking to it?

"D-Don't!", he shouts clenching his jaw tight. His eyes arc as more tears pour out.

Clearly, he's got something going on.

. . . .

I should probably leave him here.

Finn gasps between his desperate loud sobs. His pure nose is a cherry shade of runny red. He roughly tries to wash away his pathetic act by rubbing his face with his hands. I look around. Iron might hear his sobs. I have to go. There's no point in aiding this child. He looks barely in his teens. Contrast.

I glare down at the lantern. I need to get away from him. The Beast for sure might hear his howls. I'll run out of oil as well if I just keep standing here. It's the perfect ambush.

I turn to the dark sky. I don't see that UFO looking thing anywhere. Where did it even come from? It entered the Unknown out of nowhere. What do they want? Why does that man know me? I've never met a brute like him. He's so. . . .

He shot me.

"S-Stop.", Finn whispers to his treasure touching his forehead with the circlet in gold.

I have to go.

As for these two. They can die for all I care. No need to waste anything here. They'll find peace in the adelwood trees.

I lift one heavy limp leg over the black earth. My boots have never weighed so much. I note my messy hair dripping sweat from the peaks of my bangs. I also notice what I failed to before. As I lean over my machete for balance I spot several quick stripes decorating all over my clothes. The loose pieces of fabric on my shirt curl flaying in the wind. How could a simple gun fry me this bad? That technology is unheard of.

I'm fatigue. Drained. Exhausted. Thirsty. I need water.

"H-Hey", a shaky voice calls out from behind.

This blond head is weird.

"Wha-Why are you-you leaving m-m-me. . . ?"

I halt.

Is he talking to me?

No.

I take a step forward ignoring the annoying strain in my neck to turn back. It's persistent, but it won't satisfy my to just look back at him to see if I was correct. The blond head is probably talking to the crown as a way to console.

". . . . we-we-we've been i-i-in s-s-solitude for. . . . so long. . . . d-doesn't it bite you sometimes?!", a desperate cough escapes followed by the shrill. He's shaking.

I stop again.

"It n-n-nibbles. . . . a-a-and it's annoying! You l-l-l-love it though d-don't you!"

. . . .

"B-But you'll never know h-how it truly feels because y-you've never been the-there before!"

My lips part.

"Sh-Shut-Shut it!"

I pull my fabric away from my belt and unsheathe the machete out.

"Ha-Have you e-ever had a pill to keep-keep you from dying? From s-s-suffering in a cold, desolate, barren world. . . . it's white. It's blinding. You-You see it though. You-You see through it-it. . . . and-and you have no problem with what it's doing to you. . .", he stutters. His reprimand comes to a halt when he croaks his last sentence. I picture him leaning forward to hold his stomach from so much coughing.

I slowly turn around to meet his gaze. His glossy eyes drain an ocean and his red nose shows it, he's letting something bother him. His defiant look says it all. He's not one to be influenced so lightly. But he let's it. His eyes are so empty. Cold blue. They're glowing. His small smile grows saliva dripping.

"The-The addiction soothes me.", he sniffs fully lifting his head.

. . . .

I catch behind him something dark red. I flash my lantern up to see a hollow tree. The twisted bare trunk holds sharp edges in every hole across its body. It looks like a face. Harp almond eyes. Combo with a simper bearing thick edges for teeth. The dirty red branches come together from each side meters tall from the ground. I lift my light up. In surprise, I take a step back to see the whole picture. The large branches hover feet above the blonde almost covering him from the sky as if embracing him.

An adelwood tree.

I raise the lantern above my head. Examining the trunk, I take note of the flimsy, curled back, bark splintering off the large scratch marks decorating upward. Obviously, it wasn't an animal it's too big. I walk closer before noticing the blonde again. He's choking on sobs.

Just shut up.

"W-What the hell are you-you looking at?!"

I tilt my head slowly to him. Finn's eyebrows arc. His peppered nose scrunched up. His left cheek tugs up forming a disgusted snarl, "Take-Take that stupid thing away from my-my face!"

He proceeds to chunk his crown at the lantern. I swat the pest's trash away and lower the light. The treasure is caught by a nearby grey tree. The rim circles the droops on a lower branch, hanging.

"It's-It's all your fault!", the boy yells roughly swiping away the his saliva from his chin. He gets up and stomps barefooted to me.

"Mn?", I hum raising a brow. I saunter over to the dangling treasure and prick the dirty crown off the branch. It needs to be cleaned. I walk back over to stomping Finn who halts in front of the adelwood tree. I bring the crown up to his eye level. He frowns and reaches to snatch it. I pull it back and flick my hand sending the treasure to smack him in the face like a frisbee. The blonde steps back in alarm and covers his face. The crown rolls in a circle below him before settling down. Finn hisses massaging his temples, "H-HEY!"

"Hi.", I wave at him.

"Sh-Shut up you damned bastard!", Finn shouts, "It's all-all your fault!"

"Shoo.", I wave away.

Unexpectedly Finn still in tears, bears his teeth and swings his fist at me. I catch the weak attempt with my left hand and roll my eyes. Then the blonde kicks the -

My eyes widen when his foot is close to the lantern. I accidentally let go. I pry up my leg and catch the light's hook with the tip of my boot. Relief washes over me. Finn kicks my other leg. I flinch. Stupid.

"Inferior.", my face scrunched up. The revolting smell of defiance got to me. I swipe my lantern then swiftly turn to give the blonde a good kick in the gut. Water sprays out of his lips. Finn goes flying into the adelwood tree. His body bounces a bit off. He slides down the tree holding his shoulder. It doesn't stop him from yelling back in pain.

I march over to him taking my machete out. I step on Bill's back for good measure. It's fine. He won't feel a thing when he's dead.

And I'm going to kill.

Right now.

Blood will have to just suffice instead of oil for the lantern.

I stop in front of groaning Finn. His head bobs and the hood over his eyes sets in diming his blue irises. I put one foot next to his hip on one of the creepy tree's root. I click the lantern to my belt and switch hands with my machete. I pull the boy's hat back to yank his hair. His head bangs against the tree. I raise the blade up to his neck breathing heavily.

My head feels fuzzy.

I squint one last time at goldilocks' melting face then tilt my chin down to glare.

"Die.", I snarl.

"Come wayward souls. Who wander through the darkness. There is a light for the lost and the meek~❦ "

Eyes agape in dread, I miss my mark and instead drive with full force the raw blade into the rotten tree trunk. The lovely flame in the lantern flickers. My back arcs. I rip the machete off the red adelwood and take my foot off of Finn. Noodles for legs, they too give in followed by my slumping shoulders. D a m n i t . I stab the machete next to the blonde's thigh and slap my palm over his quivering lips. His hands claw mine and try to pry them off. I hang my head and lean closer to him. I feel his desperate gasps near my face. I look straight into his dim eyes. I see my reflection through the glossy ocean. My eyes are burning and intoxicating red. I lazily look behind to spot Bill shaking his head. He raises his shoulders to make way for his arm. He tries to stand, but I quickly put my leg over his neck and slam his face down in the earth. He groans. I turn back to Finn and give him the cruelest glare, " Talk and you die. "

The invisable overwhelming force makes me get on my knees. I grunt, " Think nothing. "

The wind suddenly picks up and howls across the tallest of trees. I hear the unsatisfying crunching of leaves trail closer and twigs snapping. The branches above us sway violently.

" Sorrow and fear are easily forgotten ~❦ "

The husky, gravely, low voice sings a well-known yet disturbing theme over the hooded trees. It's closer. Too close.

Finn's glimmering blue eyes dilate. I watch as he stiffs. Despite the fear he managed to break free a little and snatch the crown under my legs. I tense up and push down with pressure over his mouth. He clutches his crown then freezes up again. I drape my cape securely over the lantern drowning us completely in darkness. Now I can't see anything except for Finn's eyes.

He's here.

F***

He's here.

F***

The Beast is here.

What do I do?

I have two hostages. One asleep - praise the heavens - and the other one. . . . is a complete sloth. He could cry at any moment. Cry at any. . . . Shit. Finn brought him here.

I'll kill him.

I hover my hand over the glass rim of my lantern. I can sense the warm heat contained. By now the swirling flame must be hungry. Molasses. I bite my tounge alarmed at the sudden though. Do not think. Finn grips the edge of my coat tighter.

"When you submit to the soil of the earth ~ ❦ "

Blow the lantern. No. I can't. I can't do that to him. Stop Wirt. Stop. Think nothing.

" Lantern ~ ❦ ", the gallow voice speaks through the murky black. The cunching of leaves stops. Eerie, the fierce breeze escalates. I drag as quietly as I can the possibly dead boy behind him closer to us. I scoot him under me. I mouth the word ' pray ' to Finn and close my eyes. I peek to see the blonde closing his. He nods. I close my eyes. I hold my breath. I can feel the cooling lump in my throat sticking out.

Crunch! My ears twitch and my head bobs when the sharp noise erupts alarmingly close. He's around here. Don't move. It will all be. . . .

The same screeching sound of nails clawing through tree's bark creates tension around my shoulder. My breathing starts to hop. Skidding and skidding. The soft breeze combs my hair. Then. . . . I hear it.

" Blink ~ ❦ "

The husky voice growls in my ear. The host of such horrid act, I can feel, is smiling.

" Flutter them ~ ❦ "

Crunch! He's next to me. I gulp down the thick layer of saliva down my throat.

" Your eyes are mesmerizing ~ ❦ "

The breeze hovers around us. From the end of my hand, I can tell Finn is backing further into the tree's red bark. He too is shattered by this creature's aura. It's so black. So dark. It's . . . .

overwhelming.

I need to run.

No, stay still!

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying not to break my concentration. I can't fall for stupid words like these. Crunch! And I cannot be moved by them either.

" Mmmh mmh hm hm ~ ❦ ", the monster hums his atrocious tune as he circles us. The leaves swish and twigs snap at his bold movement. He's provoking his prey.

" Mm ~ ❦ "

It knows.

He knows.

" Adelwood ~ ❦ "

The air suddenly swishes violently pulling me down. My elbow crashes against Finn's knee. He jolts foward. I press my hand hard over his mouth. His head bangs against the adelwood tree. I bite my tounge slowly getting up. Crunching leaves follow after the creature's footsteps. They get softer and softer. Until I can't hear them anymore.

I lower my head. Is he gone?

My head cranes. The strain is becoming insufferable. I let out a low groan as I turn my head back facing the pitch black sky. Quietly, my muscles creak while I fix my position between the blond boy and the open area. I sit up with my eyebrows knitting together. After a few seconds of utterly nothing but disturbing silence, I peek.

A pair of large white circles pop in front of me. Shit ! In alarm, I jolt back, curling my toes to restrain myself from running. I accidentally bite my tongue and squeeze my eyes shut. A sizzle escapes them. Hot steam warmly melts over my lids leaking off my lashes as if they were coated in warm honey. The sharp odor of gas shoots up my nose. I desperately cover my nose holding a sneeze.

He knows !

He knows !

I have to get out of here !

I have to get out now !

I need to run !

Adrenaline pumps and my heartaches. It swells. It's almost as if this Beast has it in his hands.I can picture my carcass below his brutally weighing foot, with my chest devoured open strining bright red valves as my heart is held in his claws. He would probably give it a teaseful squeeze and look at me with a wicked malice in those white eyes of his. Such ghastly vision creates infinite balls of silver inside my hands. I pray he can't see the lamp. I covered it right?!

It's too late to take a peak. If I move to tug even the untailored strings of my cape, a bit of light could outshine my cover. He hasn't done anything? Why isn't he doing anything?!

I can sense the heat radiating a harming sense over my overalls as I knees. It's getting overwealmingly hot.

It needs to get out ! What if I catch aflame ?

I need to leave !

The lantern can't go to him !

It can't !

I'll die !

I'll die !

I can't — not after all this time ! Not after all my work — not after so many callouses won, to keep him safe ! It can't end this way !

Just as I'm about to reach out for my hip, my other hand reaches for the face of the thing that has tormented me for so long. My lips part. Everything can't end here !

GRE—!

" AHHH !"

What— ? A high-pitch screech erupts from the murky black. In this abyss, I can hear the creature above lifting its head. Commanding it, the cry makes the monster creak in its movements. I picture it standing tall over the highest dry maples. A savage breeze knocks me out of balance as the creature, known as the Beast, springs away. My hands pat carefully over the starchy bark of an adelwood. Soon the breeze passes and I hear the distant tut's of the massive being wither away.

. . . . . One? I part my lips. . . . . Two. . . . . F*ck!— Three?

I let my tongue rest. My jaw unhinges. I lick my bottom lip followed by the top and let out a silent sigh. My breath hitches. I lower my head to shake it.

. . . . . Four. Five. . . . . Six? Seven. Eight . . . .

" You need to relax.", I mouth silently. I'm counting too fast. I need to relax.

. . . . . Nine . . . . . Ten . . . . . Twelve . . . .

I groan slowly repeating the number. I crane my neck back. A sudden thought intrudes my mind. Would Greg be twelve by now ? My eyebrows twitch. Or would it be ten ? Eleven ? Is he younger ? Older ? I frown. What ? That's absurd. How do I not know ? Of course, I know . . . . . I don't. The Beast's mind is wandering inside me along with other touches. I still remember the slender caresses over my head to cloud my judgment as if he was my Father . . . . .— No. Quit thinking.

Twenty-five . . . . . Twenty-six . . . . . Twenty-seven . . . . .

A f*cking manipulator contorting my will to bend the knee like a slave to him. Damn him.

Soon I hit the safety number of thirty. I shake my head.

I'll get hurt if I think.

Ignoring all the leftover flags of red, I open my irritated eyes. I squeeze them shut for a moment and rub my thumb over them gently massaging the strain. Night vision please serve me right. I open them again this time glancing around. Examining the area, I notice the Beast is not there. I let out a breath of relief. Now for the task at hand. He'll be patrolling the area. I'm assuming he'll follow the screaming for some time. Stupid child. Screaming in the woods. How delusional can you get?

I hear a sniffle below me. My eyes dart down to capture a set of glossy zircons.

" Finn, was it?", the smaller boy is slanting on a bunch of adelwood roots. He must be extremely uncomfortable. I shrug. His body is curled into a ball and his eyes wide eyes leak a glimmering streak.  I yank the waiter boy's wrist and nudge roughly the fair-haired in the shoulder. The blond holds down a whimper by biting his light nude bottom lip. He raises his stupid head and looks directly at me. He can see through the black? More of his tears crystalize like sparkling ice in a winter moat. His nose is runny and his cheeks are puffy from crying. His shoulders are hunched to his ears. In a shivering tone, he whispers,

" Is-Is it . . . . . is-is-is it . . . . . g-gone?", I nod twice before he finishes his sentence.