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Chapter 7: Ellis

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Another rainy night fell upon Alcadon. The gathering gloom had driven most indoors while the few who remained on the streets invariably had something nefarious in mind. The only place that wasn’t barren of people was the enormous red light district in southern Alcadon, Nicky Town. The buildings in Nicky Town weren’t as tall as their neighbors and seemed to be falling apart even quicker, the roads were potholed and rough. One didn’t drive in Nicky Town, if the road didn’t claim your car the people surely would. If one were to skim past the many fights muggings and other petty crimes, and down an unassuming alleyway between two crumbling tenement buildings they would find a door. Beyond this door was one of the many bars festooning the streets of Nicky Town, there were no signs, no indicators of there being an establishment, you had to be in the know to find this place.

 

The bar was a tidy little place, the floors and walls were clean, the alcohol wall was immaculate, and so was the clientele. It was quite a juxtaposition to the dirty dingy exterior. This nameless bar was visited by the highest in society when they felt at their lowest, and right now one of these high society folks, sitting at the bar, was feeling quite low indeed.

 Ellis Schultz sat slumped at the counter face buried in a large bowl of shelled peanuts; he’d been drinking that night, heavily drinking. Fellacian absinthe was one of the strongest alcohols known to man, a single shot would get you drunk, two will black you out, and three would make you pass out, Ellis was on his fourth before he finally lost consciousness.

Ever since they found his sister’s body he’d been making regular visits to the ‘gentleman’s bar’ to forget, to forget who he was, who she was, and just everything in general. On top of his now crippling alcoholism his performance in the military had spiraled, he was on the verge of dishonorable discharge after being demoted from Sergeant to Private First Class.

 

“Barman… Another…” Ellis drunkenly said to his bowl of peanuts.

 

The bartender looked up from the fancy drink he was mixing, “Sorry lad, I’m not giving you another; you’ve already had too much already.” He returned to his art. “The only drink I’ll give you now is something to clear your head.”

 

Ellis roused from his drunken stupor, “more booze?” He inquired drunkenly; he was barely coherent with the amount of slurring he was doing.

 

“No lad, quite the opposite.”

 

“I’ll take two…hic… please.”

 

“Alright, but don’t blame me if your head explodes.” The bartender turned around and opened a small specially labeled refrigeration unit and pulled out several ingredients. A thick purple liquid that stunk of fish, blended Algaeon root (the spiciest naturally occurring substance known to man), sweet pickled beef, and a drop of clear liquid from an opaque black bottle were all dumped into a blender and made into a fine puree. A spritz of whipped cream and a cherry on top completed the horrendous grey concoction. “Here ya go lad.”

Looking dumbly at the mixture, Ellis gave it a little sniff.

 

“Don’t smell it, drink it, now!”

 

Frightened by the stern bartender Ellis downed it in one gulp. He sat dumbly for a moment, whipped cream on his nose, and then it hit him. Almost as if struck he flew off the barstool and writhed on the ground; the few other patrons looked down with pity at the wretched soul dancing a horizontal jig on the floor. He looked almost as if he was seizing, a dark stain appeared on his pants. As suddenly as it started, the jitters ceased and Ellis lay still on the floor. He peeled himself off the floor and waddled back to the counter.

 

“Gimme another.” He slurred.

 

Just as the bartender was about to mix another shot the door opened and two well dressed men stepped inside. Both were tall and clad in high ranking military garb. A tense air filled the bar as the men approached Ellis.

 

“Mr. Schultz if you would please come with us. Your uncle would like to have a word with you.”

 

Ellis ignored the two and sat back on the barstool, “I said gimme another, now!” His drunkenness had seemingly been coupled with anger as he twisted himself in the stool and threw a sloppy right hook at one of the men. “Oops!” Ellis overturned and flopped out of the barstool landing in an unconscious heap on the floor.

 

“Gentleman,” the bartender interjected as the two hauled Ellis up between them, “I hope you have a good cleaning service for your car, ‘cause in about fifteen minutes you’re gonna need one.”

 

“What’s wrong with him?”

 

“He drank the ‘wake-up’ shot, took it like a champ, I don’t need to explain to you what it does to a man.”

 

“No, you don’t,” the two were intimately familiar with what made that particular drink ‘tick’. “I’m sure you have a bathroom.”

 

“Oh aye, you’re welcome to it, I’m not the one cleaning it up anyway.” The bartender jerked his thumb behind him toward a dimly lit hallway “second door on the left.”

 

25 painful minutes later the two men finally had Ellis outside and were bundling him into their waiting car. “Alright get us out of here, back to base, quickly before people see.”

The drive was painfully bumpy; the two were having a difficult time keeping Ellis from flopping around like some sort of possessed marionette doll. Eventually the roads smoothed as the car exited Nicky Town, a sharp left was turned, away from the center of Alcadon, towards the industrial district.

#

Ellis awoke, blurry eyed, sitting in a comfortable chair opposite a homely grey haired, heavily mustachioed, man. The room he was in was empty apart from the two chairs, a small table, and a bright light set in the ceiling casting an amber light over the whole affair. Upon seeing Ellis drifting back into consciousness the old man leaned forward and gave him a few gentle slaps to the cheek to expedite the process.

 

“You awake there, son? Didn’t think you were for a moment, four shots of Fellacian Absinthe have been known to kill y’know.” He chuckled good humouredly to himself as if the prospect of this pathetic man sitting opposite him dying was funny. Ellis was quickly regaining his senses, “but no time for that, it’s time for serious talk, think you’re up to that.”

 

Ellis nodded, sobriety had descended upon him rapidly and he was quickly taking in his surroundings. “Who are you?” he asked.

 

“Well, my name isn’t important, not as important as the group I work for at least. I am a member of the Sons of Light and Freedom, the group who killed your sister.”

 

At this Ellis slammed his hands on the table and made to get up, at this he realized that he was secured to the chair and the chair was affixed to the floor. “You murderers! My sister was innocent, why did you kill her! You bastard I’m gonna kill you when I get out of this.” Ellis struggled violently but his bonds wouldn’t budge.

 

“Now son, I understand your hatred for us, but we didn’t mean to kill her.”

 

“MURDERER!”

 

“Use your head kid!” The old man’s patience was wearing thin. “We killed her, yes, we didn’t know that it wasn’t Schultz in the elevator, she was an accident. She was as innocent in all of this as you are, and that’s why you’re so important to us.”

 

After several more minutes of futile struggling Ellis finally resigned to his fate. “Okay… why am I here? Why have you abducted me and imprisoned me here?”

 

“Well, I was just about to get to that before you had your little outburst.” The old man let out a long sigh. “First of all you haven’t been imprisoned; as soon as we’re done here you’re free to go. The Sons of Light and Freedom are a fringe organization operating out of the Halgue Flatlands to remove Laverne T. Schultz from power over the city of Alcadon. We are not the technophobic terrorists your uncle says we are though our motives are likely as unsavory to the people of Alcadon as those that we have been accused of.” Ellis made to speak, “hup, I’m not finished yet. I simply need you to answer a few questions, they may seem simple but I know for a fact that you cannot answer them.”

 

“Alright, ask away, I don’t have any choice in the matter anyway.”

 

“That’s the spirit, now… How old is the city of Alcadon? And how old is your uncle? Who are your parents?”

 

“Well… um… I-I… I don’t know.” Ellis had never thought of this before, how old was his uncle? How old was the city he lived in. Uncle Schultz had founded the city and yet… he felt a sharp pain, a pounding headache began to set in; he clasped his head with his hands pain shooting through his temples.

 

The old man pulled a tiny sphere from one of his pockets and placed it on the table.

 

“Do you know what this is son?”

 

“No...”

 

“This is control; you’ll know more soon enough, you’re free to go.” The old man pressed a button on the underside of the table and Ellis’ restraints lifted. Ellis remained seated as the old man walked towards the door, leaving the small sphere on the table, before he left he gave Ellis one last piece of advice. “Oh, and I’d recommend against talking with your uncle about this.”

 

Ellis stumbled out of the run-down factory where he was being held. After he regained his bearings he set off toward the center of the city, towards the Schultz building.

A disheveled Ellis stumbled into the main lobby of the Schultz building at around four in the morning. The walk had taken longer than expected, but the streets were thankfully empty. He made a beeline to the front desk.

 

“How can I help you sir?” The woman behind the desk asked, a very confused expression on her face.

 

“I need to speak with my uncle!” Ellis began frantically searching his pockets trying to find his ID card.

 

“And who would your uncle be?”

 

“Hah! There it is! I need to speak to my uncle Laverne T. Schultz!” A triumphant smile played on his lips as he showed the Special gold ID card to the clerk.

 

The woman’s eyes widened, “yes of course right away Mr. Schultz, you do realize your uncle is liable to be sleeping at this time though, it woul-“she was cut off.

 

“My uncle never sleeps!” he was already running to the elevator.

 

“Fair enough,” she mumbled under her breath, she clicked an intercom button on her desk, “Mr. Schultz, your nephew is here to see you, and it sounds urgent.”

 

 The elevator ride had never seemed so long, Ellis furiously spun and paced around the small metal box, waiting, waiting, waiting. After what seemed like an eternity a small ding sounded and the doors opened, his uncle was waiting for him.

 

“Ellis! What’s wrong? No, no, let’s speak in private” Schultz indicated the two Indra standing at the door at the end of the hall. “Come on, in my office.”

 

 Walking briskly past the two guards Schultz dismissed them with a wave of his hand, the two Indra, War and Pestilence stood to attention and made their way to the elevator. Closing the door behind him Schultz let out a large sigh, “alright, what’s wrong?”

 

“I just had the most unusual encounter with some ‘old friends’ of yours.”

 

“Oh? I have plenty of ‘old friends’ which ones were they?”

 

“The Sons of Light and Freedom.”

 

“Oh, them, come let’s sit down.” Schultz ushered Ellis to a comfortable sofa as they sat Schultz offered Ellis some liquor, Ellis refused. “Now I want you to be honest with me… What did they say, what did they want from you and what did you tell them?”

 

“Well that’s the weird thing, they didn’t torture me, they didn’t even lay a finger on me, all they did was explain who they were, what they wanted, and asked me a few questions.”

Schultz squinted in confusion, “that’s very unlike them… what did they ask you?”

 

“They asked me how old you were and how old Alcadon is, uncle… I couldn’t answer them. Just thinking about it gives me headaches. The more I thought about it the more I realized… just who are you? Who are my parents? Are you my uncle?”

 

Schultz grabbed Ellis in a rough hug, as he pulled away Ellis could see tears streaming down his cheeks. “Oh, my boy, they got you too…” Schultz stood up and began pacing around the room.

 

“Your parents, both of them, died when you were very young. Your mother was very close to me, she worked under me for many years, and asked me to be your godfather, I gladly accepted. It broke my heart when they died; I don’t think I’d ever gotten so close to anyone as I did your parents, they made me feel… normal. I adopted the two you, their children, as my own. I wanted to protect you from what was out there, but it seems I failed, with both of you. The Sons killed your sister; I don’t care what lies they’ve told you to the contrary.”

 

“No, they admitted to killing Shelly. But uncle, the city… you say you founded the city and yet…”

 

Schultz sat down and poured some water from a pitcher on the side table. He offered Ellis some. “Please, let’s talk about this in the morning, it’s very late and I know for a fact that we’re both tired. I’ll lodge you in guest quarters for now; the Sons are liable to be after you tonight, I’m sure they told you not to talk to me. Before you go, do you remember the address of the factory you left? Could you write it down for me, I’ll send my people down there right away.”

 

Ellis nodded and wrote the address on the paper Schultz offered him.

 

“Here use my private elevator.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be suspicious for all those people to see me enter but not leave?”

 

“I’ll explain it to them tomorrow as soon as you’re safe. You can’t stay in Alcadon, after we talk tomorrow I’ll send you to a safe house to the south.”

 

The door noiselessly slid open and Ellis stood inside.

 

“Guest Level B.” Schultz said to the elevator, the doors closed and Ellis was whisked away. Schultz wandered back to the couch and poured himself a tall glass of booze.

 

“Marge…”

 

The elevator ride was taking longer than expected. Ellis was beginning to grow nervous, soon though it drew to a stop, the door opened to a wall of darkness, and indescribable stench poured in.

 

A scream, and that reedy whistling laugh once more.

Chapter 8: Arrived

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At such an early hour nobody paid much attention to the lone ATTV weaving its way through the mostly barren streets to the Schultz Building. Maneuvering its way to the rear of the building it pulled into a large garage, the loading and storage dock for the Department of Engineering and Archaeology. Quietly and precisely the ATTV pulled into a parking space and stopped. It was a few minutes before anybody actually noticed this extraneous vehicle. Two technicians approached the vehicle.

 

“Alright, run the numbers, where the heck did this thing come from.”

 

“Yeah alright Jon, J7-65-I14, hmmm,” The readout on his palm computer read ‘Dr. L Tryel, Kidjii Dig’. “This sucker’s from Kidjii, what the hell is it doing back here?”

 

“What? Okay, we’re cracking this thing open, what the hell is going on here? Radio Brummel to get down here, he should be in.”

 

“Dr. Brummel to Loading Bay Alpha, Dr. Brummel to Loading Bay Alpha.” The call went out over the PA system. The second technician Jhosh turned to see his friend struggling with the door. “It’s probably locked from the inside; don’t you have the master key?”

 

“Of course I don’t have the master key, if I did I wouldn’t be struggling with this door, do you have one?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then shut up! We’re going to need the torches; this thing needs to be cut open.”

 

“Isn’t there anyone inside?”

 

“If there was somebody inside the sensors would have detected them, the readout was negative this thing is empty.”

 

Jhosh returned with the cutting torches followed closely by Dr. Brummel who stood back to allow the two to cut safely. There was a solid clang and the door slowly raised, its hydraulics hissing. The three immediately recoiled at the stench that rushed out of the open vehicle. Death, the odor of festering, moldering, decay assaulted their noses.

“Okay you two,” Dr. Brummel addressed the techs, “you go fetch a hazmat team, I’ll download the computer memory, get out of here before you get any greener.”

 

As the two fled, Brummel hoisted himself into the ATTV. Placing his palm computer on the vehicle’s display the two paired and automatically began exchanging data. It was taking longer than expected, there seemed to be a bunch of personal log entries, this was very unusual. Brummel placed the entries in the compound computer and flagged them for immediate review. As he turned to leave Brummel saw into the cargo area, what he saw was stomach churning.

 

It was the body of Dr. Tryel, that much was unmistakable, as the head was the only part of the body that hadn’t been meticulously dissected. Every organ in Tryel’s midsection had been carefully removed and dissected, sections of muscles and ligaments had been severed, and his arms had been partially flayed. Brummel was simultaneously impressed with the precision of the study and appalled at it having taken place on his close friend. Covering his mouth he quickly exited the vehicle. Leaning against the ATTV Brummel tried to catch his breath, Schultz had to be notified. This wasn’t the Sons, this was something different.

 

“If it’s any consolation my little round friend, he suffered… greatly”, Brummel whirled around to see the grotesque form of Medusa emerging from beneath the vehicle. “I flayed his arms first, and then cut every tendon in his body, his screams were...” Medusa gave a shudder of pleasure and began advancing on Brummel who slowly backed away, “I took out his organs one by one, from least important to most, he was alive to some capacity by the time I took his liver. Such a strong little man, it was almost a pity to see him go. Will you be my new… plaything?” by this time Brummel had begun to flee. The spiderlike Medusa quickly followed.

 

Fumbling with his palm computer he tried to set off the alarm, in a flash it wasn’t there anymore along with the rest of his hand. Brummel screamed in agony but kept running, he had to get to the coordination office at the end of the loading bay, he could raise the alarm from there!

 

SNAP

 

Brummel fell heavily; his Achilles tendon had been severed by Medusa. A wet rattling scream tore from Brummel’s mouth before Medusa silenced him forever.

 

Turning from its most recent kill Medusa set off down one of the spotless white corridors in search of its fellow Indra.

#

 

LE was getting tired of sparring, that’s all she ever did, day in and day out. Her only source of enjoyment was Kid and her odd ways. Currently LE was doing agility training with Famine and Kid, ducking, dodging, and weaving through their punches effortlessly eventually her mind began to wander. A sharp jab to the face brought LE back to reality.

 

Your mind is wandering again little one, please take this seriously.

 

“How can I take this seriously? It’s the same thing day after day; I’m just not being challenged anymore. Can we do something a bit more stimulating? Weapons training perhaps? Something with a little bit of risk involved.”

 

It would be a good change of pace, but unfortunately you don’t have a weapon.

 

In a flash Kid was off to where she’d stashed her swords, she lifted one of the many mats that lined the floors of the gym and popped up several floorboards. She pulled out her usual three swords and one LE had never seen before. Kid excitedly ran back and presented the massive sword to LE

 

Here ya go Ellie, use this one!

 

The sword was easily seven feet long and nearly six inches wide, it had a strange flat top and was perforated with holes. The hilt was very short, only allowing it to be held with one hand.

 

“Erm, where did you get this?”

 

Yes Kid, where did you get this sword? I thought you only had three, not four, you didn’t steal it did you?

 

No! Wall gave it to me, Kid was instantly defensive; he said he didn’t need it and that I should have it since I have so many swords already. It was too big for me so I hid it here in case he wanted it back!

 

Hmm, I don’t entirely believe you, but since Wall will be here shortly I don’t think it would hurt to let LE borrow it for now.

 

”Wait, he’ll be coming here?”

 

Yes, in a short while, Death has gone out and collected all of our fellow Indra, who have come specifically to meet you. In fact I think it’s about time to collect my siblings, they’re currently guarding Schultz, I wouldn’t want for them to miss this meeting.

 

Just then the elevator doors opened, War and Pestilence stepped into the gymnasium.

 

Famine waved them over. I was just about to collect you from Schultz.

 

No need, he dismissed us himself, he needed some private time with his nephew and so we--.

 

Excellent, Kid interjected, I have an idea, just hear me out, this should be fun.

 

War held his hand up to silence her. Kid we don’t have time for your shenanigans, the others are about to arrive, they’re in the building now; I felt them while in the elevator.

 

No, no, this should be perfect, Ellie’s been complaining that she hasn’t had a good challenge in a while and this should be the perfect way to give it to her, it’ll also be a really cool reveal for her. I know how dramatic you guys are, it should be perfect.

 

The three resigned themselves to their fate, there was no stopping Kid when she had an idea. Very well what’s your plan?

 

Luckily for the visiting Indra there were multiple elevators down to the gymnasium, trying to fit all of them into a single elevator would have been a nightmare. The elevators dinged in unison as the doors opened to the gym and a scene of absolute carnage. The floors were shredded and the broken bodies of War, Pestilence, Famine, and Kid were lying unmoving on the floor weapons in hand. What sort of creature could defeat four fully armed Indra?

 

The Indra streamed from the elevators inspecting the damage, could this be the doing of the new Indra LE? Weapons were drawn and all were on high alert, could this be a repeat from last time?

 

Kid shakily raised her arm and waved them over.

 

What happened!? Where’s LE, did she do this?

 

Y-yes, she got a weapon and went mad, we couldn’t even land a hit on her, she’s just too strong. Kid fell unconscious.

 

Just then a deep rumbling could be heard and the floor beneath the Indra’s feet began to shake violently. Erupting from the floor, LE sent splinters of wood and shredded mat across the room spraying the gathered Indra with debris, she landed several meters away. She cut a daunting sight, a near eight foot tall block of muscle emanating an angry red aura advancing upon the Indra twirling a massive sword above her head like it weighed nothing. She came to a stop, eyeing up the collected Indra she could feel their thoughts barraging her, but she held them at bay. Using a clever trick taught to her by Kid she blotted the thoughts of the others out entirely, soon she felt nothing from them at all. LE fell into a defensive position and with a deafening roar of her air jets she rushed them.

 

The Indra were not prepared for the speed of her onslaught, before they could even brace themselves LE was among them.  Scorn and Valkyrie were bowled over and flung into the nearby wall. Wall, the only other Indra near LE’s size, grabbed her about the shoulders in a bear hug in an attempt to hold her still. LE, undaunted, used a similar trick like the one she saw Kid use on Pestilence the day she first met her. Using the air jets on her legs LE blasted herself off of the ground in an arc over Wall’s head; the force of this sudden movement broke his hold on her. With her arms free, she took hold of Wall’s shoulders and used her momentum to fling him in a high arc across the gym.

 

The Indra formed a loose circle around her, barring her escape, Wulf stepped forward, keen to take on this new foe. Throwing his bow aside he clutched his cudgel with both hands and rushed her. LE feinted to the left holding out her sword so that Wulf would run into the flat of the blade. Wulf saw this and ducked underneath the sword, a hit like that could have torn him in half regardless if it was the flat or not. LE spun, blade outstretched, to face her foe once more. Unfortunately her unintentional strike smacked Lethe square in the chest, sending him whirling across the floor and into the arms of Wall who had regained his footing. LE did not let this accident distract her; her foe was Wulf, who was proving to be a wily foe indeed.

 

LE threw a hard left swing at Wulf, he ducked underneath the slow swing and landed a solid blow directly into her side with the cudgel. A sharp crack rebounded through the gym. Much to the dismay of Wulf it was not his foe that broke, it was his cudgel. His reflexes dulled by shock, he couldn’t dodge massive foot as it tore him from the makeshift arena. He rocketed across the gym and lay still, still holding his broken cudgel.

 

Pixia and Valkyrie stepped forward each holding their blade of choice, a thin straight sword and a massive battleaxe. Valkyrie rushed forward trying to land a direct blow; LE blew over her and caught the unfortunate Valkyrie’s head between her legs. LE twisted her body and windmilled Valkyrie to the sidelines where she landed heavily, this left Pixia. Pixia launched upwards, taking flight with her wings and attempted to land a downward strike on her foe, LE was too quick. The flat of the massive sword appeared in Pixia’s way almost instantly, catching the unfortunate head on. Pixia was thrust to the ground beneath the sword where she was left unconscious.

 

Wall rose up behind her once more and wrapped her again in a bear hug disarming her in the process. LE tried to blast out of it again but his grip was too strong. Not good, not good! Like a wave the remaining Indra began to wale on her. For the first time in a long time LE felt pain, there must be a way out of this! Well, if she couldn’t dislodge Wall she’d just have to take him with her. She inhaled deeply and directed all of the force to her feet; she was going to blast off like a rocket! The massive force tore through the poor abused training mats; foam flew everywhere, in an instant where two massive Indra once stood there was only air.

 

A massive crash could be heard above the heads of the confused Indra, large chunks of the ceiling began to fall among them. Wall was the first to hit the floor, out cold. LE gracefully landed and rearmed herself, beckoning for another to challenge her. Ghost stepped forward; this clearly meant something to the others as they all fled a fair distance. This Indra, clad in its grey cloak held many mysteries, and it was LE’s turn to learn them. Ghost whipped off their cloak and…

 

What stood before her was likely the pinnacle of the female figure, taken aback by this LE dropped her guard for just one moment. A massive blow to the stomach brought her back to reality; she could feel the force of the punch bend her flesh like clay. Taking advantage of LE’s distraction Ghost wove her way through their defensive pose in an instant and landed the mighty blow. LE was torn from the ground and landed in a clumsy backward roll into her defensive position. She cast away her sword; it was too slow and clumsy for an opponent such as this. She curled her massive hands into fists and waited for her opponent’s next move.

 

The joyful ding of the elevator sounded, followed by the scream of metal being rent asunder. The elevator doors were torn open as effortlessly as one would tear a sheet of paper. The conflict was halted, everyone present turned to this new threat. The sturdy elevator doors, now a shredded mess, were cast aside by Medusa who emerged in a spray of sparks and metal splinters.

 

“Aww, how sweet, a nice, little, family reunion.” The wet rattle that was Medusa’s voice spread across the gathered Indra like a toxin. “It’s too bad that I… was not invited, what a shame.” Medusa slithered from the wreckage of the elevator and made toward the group, everyone was on alert, this was serious. Medusa jumped a bit when it saw LE, “oh my! How delightful, we have a new, baby… sister, how they grow.” Medusa hunkered low as if preparing to pounce then resumed, drawing closer to the gathered Indra. “You know, I never could stand children, too loud, not enough mess, too… fragile. Exert any force on a child and poof,” Medusa lashed out rending a massive gash in Valkyrie’s chest, “they die.”

 

Valkyrie convulsed on the ground before going still, a thick black liquid oozed from the massive wound.

 

“See? So weak, so… fragile, pathetic.”

 

In unison Wall, and Wulf rushed Medusa in an attempt to pin it. As if it were liquid, Medusa slithered beneath them and pounced onto LE’s chest.

 

“Hello little sister, what do your insides look like? I am so very curious.” Medusa plunged its claws into LE’s chest and everything went black.

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End Part One