|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:09 am
He’d been bugged enough about this by the old geezer that he was going to do it. Roch shoved his hands into his pockets, slumping his shoulders slightly as he made his way down the path leading out of school. It was a beautiful day, the sky was clear, the pumpkin sun shining. It was even a bit warm, which was odd at this time of the year. He really didn’t want to spend the day doing this.
The thing was, Roch thought as he strolled along. The path he took led to town, but he veered to the left, heading for the massive wall that had the gigantic G on the fence. It wasn’t Amity, but it was still pretty big--the thing was, he’d started doubting whether he belonged at Amity a while ago. Sure he had friends, but... well, being their friend, it was sort of like screwing them over, right? First he’d gotten involved with Mot and Lizzy, and wound up making her cry needlessly--wait, no, that wasn’t first.
First he’d chased poor Xiu around for who knew how long, like a complete idiot, THEN he’d made Lizzy cry, THEN he’d beat the living crap out of Danny’s friend-- Wait, no, he could go back even further, the punk boil thought with self disgust. He kept going too far, even if the little jacker had deserved it for slapping Rikki. His temper was going to get him killed--probably often, it had before.
The full truth of the matter was, he didn’t need a new school, he just needed a break from the old one.
Maybe after he checked this one out he would skip out, head home. He didn’t care if he got in trouble for it, if they kicked him out of school for taking a week off, hell, he would miss the next field trip! That was always a benefit. And seriously, a guy could only take dissipating so many times in just a few months. With that thought cheering him up he headed for the ickycom, pushing the button.
“Hello?” he said. “I’m Roch Scythe, Vegas Scythe’s grandkid? I was supposed to take a tour of the school.”
The gigantic gate swung open slowly and Roch headed in, a bit hesitantly. He almost jumped as the gate slammed shut behind him, locking closed loudly. For a moment he wondered if he hadn’t gotten the wrong place--wound up in a prison, instead of a school. Then a tall, thin grim reaper came forward with a wide smile on his face.
“Roch!” he said, holding out a hand. “Thomas Grimm, I’m an old friend of your grandfather’s,” the silver haired man told him. “Welcome to my school. Had I known you were of the age I would have sent you an application form before you went to... that place.”
“Amity,” Roch said.
“A dangerous place to be at lately,” Grimm said seriously. “I’ve heard some things. Don’t worry, everyone will understand why you’re changing schools.”
“I’m not--“
“If you would come this way,” Grimm said, interrupting him, “I’d be happy to show you around. This is our courtyard,” he said, motioning to the well kept area they were standing in. There was a huge fountain in the middle, that wasn’t running, and fancy patterns in the bricked walkways leaving areas of black grass showing beside them. “This is a popular place for the students to do their homework or play games, frisbee is rather popular here. We’ve got a court for other games behind the main building and in front of the dorms. Casketball is one of our most popular sports.”
“You’ve got a casketball court?” Roch asked.
“Of course. And since everyone here is a grim reaper our teams are always even,” Grimm said. “Over there is the gym,” he went on, pointing at large building to the left. There was a ton of ground between the buildings and the gigantic wall that surrounded the campus, Roch noticed idly. And--
“Are those search lights?” he asked, pointing to one of the poles that stood out in the middle of the grounds.
“No, of course not! It’s just to keep the grounds from getting too dark at night,” Grimm said. “We wouldn’t want anything bad to happen--someone to hurt themselves by tripping over a rock, or anything.”
“In a school of grim reapers.”
“Rocks do not discriminate! And we value the well being of our students over everything else,” Grimm told him with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Come, let’s see the dorms!”
“Actually I think I’ve seen enough--“
“Your grandfather, he was looking forward to you coming here,” Grimm said, starting forward. “Which amuses me, since he was so anti-schooling when he was your age.”
Ohhhh, right, Roch thought with surprise, this man knew Vegas from when he was a kid! That meant-- “What was he like back then?” he asked, chasing after the taller man more enthusiastically. “I bet he was a pain in the a**, wasn’t he?”
“He was a very interesting man to go to school with,” Grimm said as they headed for the large building behind the main. “This is our dorm building. Because this is an all male school we only have one. It’s spacious without--“
“Wait, what?” Roch asked as he stepped into the building. “All male?”
“Did your grandfather not tell you?” Grimm asked, opening one of the doors and pushing Roch inside. “This is a school for troubled grim reapers. Boils like you.”
Roch stumbled forward two steps, turning just in time to see Grimm close the door behind him. “Now, I suggest you don’t make any sudden moves,” Grimm said. “Get your phone out. You teenagers always have those phones on you, wouldn’t know how to wipe your noses without them.”
“No,” Roch said. The slap he got across the face sent him flying backwards, hitting the wall and sliding down it, even though it had looked extremely casual.
“Your phone, please,” Grimm repeated. “I would hate to have to do that again.”
“I would hate for you to have to do it again,” Roch said, gingerly rubbing his jaw. That hit--that single hit--had taken out half of his FEAR shield, he thought. Was this what his granddad was? A trickle of blood crept from his nose, falling to his lips. He pushed himself to his feet, wobbling slightly. Before he could react the man was pulling his cellphone out of his vest.
“I’ll be taking this,” Grimm said. “If you’re on your best behavior I might possibly let you eat,” he added as he started for the door.
“What... the jack just happened?” Roch asked as the door slammed shut behind Grimm. He reached up, rubbing the blood off of his face with the back of his forearm. “Hey! HEY!” he bellowed, crossing to the door and trying the knob. It was locked--but there was no keyhole. “HEEEYYY!! LET ME OUT OF HERE YOU JACKIN’ b*****d!!”
He slammed on the door as hard as he could. He reached out, trying to summon his guitar--
Nothing happened.
“CANDLEJACK!” he bellowed, starting to slam himself against the door. “GIMME BACK MY GUITAR!!”
((Word Count: 1,209))
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:39 am
The teenage boil was named Harris. A lot of the others had nicknamed him Hardass behind his back, which he preferred to the “Kissass” which quickly caught on after that. He looked at Grimm for a long moment, hesitating. “Sir--“
Then he stopped as cold black eyes bore into his head. “Yes sir, I’ll go do so,” he said, turning on his heel and heading out of the spartan office. He had made it through his first year, he was well into his second. Not once had he been stuck in the nullifier room, and it was a matter of pride with him. The nullifier room, he thought with a scowl, was an evil place that he had no desire to go to. Unfortunately, that was where he was headed.
Harris scowled down at the shaver in his hand, wondering just what sort of poor idiot had gotten himself into trouble this soon after joining the school. Usually it took a week, at least, for the poor little lambs to do something to piss off the big man. Weaklings, all of them. Freshman idiots that thought they were badass.
He knocked twice at the door of the nullifier room then swung it open, stepping into the oddly silent room. “Time for a haircut!” he said cheerfully--
The metal pole came out of nowhere, slamming into the back of his head with astonishing force. He grunted, reaching out to summon his scythe. Nothing happened except the metal pole came down again, hitting him hard across the shoulders.
Then whoever had done it was gone. Out the door and GONE, leaving only a poof of smoke. Harris grunted, wobbling as he shoved himself to his hands and knees. “We got a runner!!” he bellowed. “Get the dogs!!”
How had a weak little freshman hit so hard??
------------
Roch stopped, barely managing to keep from running into a wall. He had shadowstepped too early, and he knew it. But he had to get out of this jackin’ place, and the sooner the better. Because, seriously, a haircut? That jacker had pulled a SHAVER on him!!
The sound of dogs barking caught his ears and he cursed, turning to the left and running as fast as he could. His hand shot out, summoning his guitar. He could take out a few dogs, he thought, he would be free--
Grimm appeared right in front of him, a dark expression on his face. Roch dodged to the left, only to be knocked back again. This hit was harder than the one before, slamming through his body and sending him flying once again. “Shadow step,” Grimm complained. “Such a dirty natural ability. It’s just perfect for criminals and thieves,” he said. “Go BACK to your ROOM.”
“That’s what I’m tryin’ to do!” Roch said, wishing the three minutes had passed. He shouldn’t have used it then, he’d panicked. Jackdammit that was stupid. “I’m goin’ back to Amity!”
“Oh no you aren’t,” Grimm said, grabbing him by the vest and hauling him to his toes. “I haven’t dealt with your grandfather yet. You’re staying right here. I suggest you cooperate if you want to get out of the nullifier room.”
“You can’t do this,” Roch growled. “Someone will notice I’m gone any moment now.”
“Who? Your school mates? Really, do you think they’ll be able to do anything against a man like me? I come with an entire army.”
Roch stared him in the eye. But the image of his bros-- or of his ghouls--coming here to save him after all the s**t they’d been through recently--he couldn’t do it. “Don’t even think of shavin’ my hawk,” he said. “Or I’ll dissipate the next jacktard you send after me.”
“Will you cooperate, then?”
“For now. Until you deal with whatever problem you supposedly have with the old geezer. I suggest you do it soon,” he said. “I ain’t goin’ back to that room.”
“Fine. I’m glad you’re so willing to cooperate. Harris, put him in room 215,” he called as one busted up looking boil came limping towards them.
“Room--but that level is for--“
“Second years, yes,” Grimm said. “Which is exactly what he is. When you’re done with that, you might fix the bed in the nullifier room.”
“What?” Harris asked blankly.
“What else do you think I used to give you that headache?” Roch asked dryly.
-----------
Harris was a d**k. Roch caught on to that quickly. “You will be up and dressed at four forty five in the morning, you will keep your room clean and your bed made, there will be NO late night visitors, no loud music, and no--“
“Anything,” Roch finished for him.
“No anything,” Harris agreed. “I don’t know how you came to this school, or who you think you are, but you will follow my rules--“ He turned, staring at the guitar that Roch was carrying. “Did I give you permission to summon your weapon?” he demanded in a bark.
“Do you want me to kick your a** again?” Roch asked.
“Dissipate that weapon RIGHT THIS INSTANT.”
“Look, jacktard, I don’t know how far up Grimm’s butt you got your nose, and I don’t jackin’ CARE. If I wanna summon my jackin’ guitar, I WILL, you prissy candycorn lickin’ waxer, and I’ll take you to town if you think you can stop me,” Roch snarled.
“Just because you launch a dirty attack doesn’t mean you’re a badass,” Harris said coldly. “This is your room. I suggest you get used to it.”
There was practically nothing in the room. A bed a desk and a dresser drawer. That... actually that was about the same as he had in his room--“Jack, I forgot about my fish,” he said. “I want my phone,” he told Harris.
“I don’t have your phone.”
“No, but Grimm does. Tell him I want my phone. If no one feeds my fish they’ll kill each other!”
“Then you’ll have less fish to feed soon enough,” Harris said. “You’ll be provided with a uniform soon. Dinner is at six. There will be a five minute warning bell. If you’re late, you won’t eat.”
Roch headed for the bed as Harris left, dropping down on it and making a face as he realized just how uncomfortable it was. He had to escape, but right now Grimm was on full guard.
He wondered how long he would have to stay... He wondered how long he would survive, he added, reaching up and touching his jaw again. Jackdammit, at least at Amity the teachers never slapped you around like you were their b***h--
Well, no... they just ate you.
((Roch part WC: 806))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:06 am
The sound of a gong jerked him awake. Roch stopped, wondering what was going on for a moment before remembering. He’d fallen asleep. Well, no wonder. The two hits that Grimm had landed on him had almost completely wiped out his FEAR shield. He was still low, he realized. He needed to eat and recover, and possibly try using his C chord to heal himself up a bit. But he couldn’t. Who knew how thin the walls here were? And something was nudging at the back of his mind--a memory about the gong. The sound of people heading down the hall outside his door made him remember.
Roch got to his feet, reaching up and touching his swollen jaw. He’d thought he’d hit Yin hard, but Grimm had made his hit look downright pathetic. He ran his tongue over his teeth, trying to wiggle them. At least he hadn’t lost a tooth, he thought with a hint of self disgust. His nose might have been broken, had it hit at more of an angle. It was just luck that kept his jaw in one piece. A twisted little smile pulled at his lips as he headed for the door. This reminded him of his childhood.
The startled look from the other students wasn’t lost on him. A few of them discreetly summoned their weapons, moving closer as if to attack the moment he did anything. Then one of them spoke. “Did you really beat up Hardass?” the smaller male asked from beside him.
“Who? If it’s Grimm, then no,” Roch said, touching his jaw again. “That jacker hits seriously hard.”
“Harris,” a taller male said. “The jackass that goes around telling everyone what to do.”
“I didn’t beat him up, I just got a few little hits on him,” Roch said. “He’s a real jacktard, isn’t he?”
“Micah,” the shorter male said, holding out a hand.
“Roch,” Roch told him, shaking it.
“Jonah,” the taller boil said, repeating the little handshake. Roch nodded. “We’re supposed to be making sure you don’t make a run for it again.”
“I don’t belong here,” Roch said.
“You got a juvie record?” Micah asked.
“Well, yeah.”
“Then you belong here,” both boils said.
He scowled, shoving his hands into his pockets. “But I got a school. I got friends. I got a jackin’ weekly fight night, for Jack’s sake,” he said. “I’ve got parties to throw and pals to give a hard time, and fish to feed and Danny to goof off with--“ Why was he only thinking of this stuff now?
“Sorry, man, but you can make new friends, right?” Jonah said.
“All guys, all the time,” Roch drawled. “I don’t know about you, but more than half my pals come with curves. They’re a hell of a lot cuter than you guys, too,” he said with a snort. “Well, maybe not you, but that’s disturbing all in itself,” he added to Micah.
“d**k,” Micah said, giving him a dirty look. Roch grinned back shamelessly.
“One of my best bros is prettier, though,” he bragged, ridiculously. “Jove beats you hands down, and Calder--well, he ain’t really a bro, but he blows you out of the water, man. So it could be worse,” he assured him. “We’re going to dinner, right? Where’s the cafeteria here, anyway?” he asked as they headed down the stairs. He paused as he sensed someone watching him and turned, looking up. Harris stood at the top of the stairs, an expression of hatred on his face which was directed right at Roch.
Roch waved at him, cheekily. Now was not the time to show how weak he was. Jack this sucked. Of course, he’d been in this sort of situation often enough--but at that time he had at least a handful of buds at his back. Right now, though, he knew no one. Every single guy in the school could turn on him at any moment, and there would be nothing he could do about it, except dissipate. Even the two at his side right now were really there as guards.
“Hey, can I borrow someone’s phone?” he asked. “I need to call someone in to take care of my punkeesh,” he told them. “If they don’t get fed regularly they’re gonna eat each other.”
“Sorry,” Micah said. “We’re not allowed to.”
“Grimm said himself, no one can lend you a phone. We don’t know why, but--“
“Well, we really hate the nullifier room,” Micah finished for Jonah.
“Then can you call someone for me?” Wait... he didn’t even know their numbers, they were all programmed into his phone. He cursed. “Never mind,” he said quietly. He had to get his phone back. Even if he had the chance to escape, he still couldn’t leave without his phone. There was too much on it to let it go.
He had that picture of Taryn on it. The pictures of his bros, and Danny and-- Hell, his entire life was on that phone, practically.
They exited the building and headed for another one. It was one story high, but larger inside, and it was packed with boils all wearing the same charcoal dress shirt and pants. Most importantly, they all wore sleeves. He was going to have to wear sleeves. “This place is hell,” he muttered as he followed the others to the line, grabbing one of the trays.
“Why?” Jonah asked. “What school did you go to before this? You had to, right, you’re a second year.”
“Amity,” Roch said. The people around him went silent, turning to stare at him as if he was a freak on display. “What?”
“Shouldn’t you be glad to be here?” Micah asked. “We’ve heard all sorts of stuff about Amity. It’s like... the worst school to be in in the world.”
“It has its moments,” Roch muttered, feeling defensive. “It’s a good school, it’s just the s**t that happens there that sucks.”
“MICAH!” someone bellowed, crossing the room. “You son of a b***h! How DARE you show your face around here?” the tall grim reaper with long black hair demanded. He didn’t even pause before slamming his fist into the short boil’s face.
“Oye!” Roch snarled. “What was that for?”
“Stay out of this porcupine boil,” the attacker snarled. “You have nothing to do with it.”
“You just decked him right in front of me!” Roch said. “How can I not have something to do with this?”
“You have NOTHING to do with it, outsider.”
Micah stumbled to his feet, wiping the blood trickling from his mouth off with the back of his arm. He glanced at Roch with a hint of worry. It made Roch’s blood boil and he turned on the newcomer. “Don’t,” Jonah said. “He’s a third year. He’d kick your a**.”
Roch stared at the long haired boil, his jaw tightening. But something was bothering him about this--something felt oddly familiar.
(WC: 1,159)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:20 am
“So... what happened?” Roch said as he sat down next to Micah on the steps of the cafeteria. He had a tray of food with him, which was his second helping--what? A guy had to eat to recover! He shoved a handful of fries into his mouth, gulping it down happily. “Gotta admit, the food here’s better than that slop at Amity--but don’t tell the chef, she scares me,” he said.
“His name is Aaron,” Micah said. “He... y’know, he’s not really hated or anything, in fact I hear he’s got a lot of friends, but, well, he’s also got a sister.”
A hamburger went down Roch’s gullet, disappearing into the vast nothingness of his stomach.
“You know, it’s really hard to talk seriously when you’re gulping food down like a gluttony demon,” Micah complained.
“I took two Grimm hits, I’m in recovery,” Roch said around another mouthful of fries. “Go on.” Micah gave him a dirty look, then stole one of the burgers on the tray, unwrapping it.
“She decided I was cute,” he said. “And started writing letters, sending pictures of herself, all that creepy stuff, y’know? She was a total stalker. But I couldn’t tell Aaron that, so he thought we were, well, dating or something. But then he caught me with my ghoulfriend in town--“
“And figured that you were cheatin’ on his sister,” Roch finished for him. “Sucks to be you, man.”
“Thank you SO much for the sympathy,” Micah drawled.
“I don’t got a sister,” Roch said. “But I do got a friend... a couple, actually, who I consider like sisters. I’d probably be pissed off if I thought their boilfriend was cheating on them, too--“
“But I’m NOT cheating on her! There’s nothing between us! Not on my side! And you wouldn’t just start PUNCHING the guy without hearing his side--“ He looked at Roch. “Man, you look guilty.”
“This ain’t about me,” Roch muttered, grabbing the last burger and munching down. “Do you think it’s about fifty feet to the top of that fence?” he asked.
“What? What are you planning?”
“Oh, right, I need my phone first...”
“Don’t even THINK about running,” Micah said quickly. “They got these dogs--wardogs, kind of, but they look like they’re on drugs, and they got search lights and--“
Roch stood, picking up all the trash and taking the tray inside, not bothering to let the boil finished. He headed for the trash shoots, a look of satisfaction on his face as he realized they were a lot like Amity’s. He knew how to get out. But before that, he needed to get his phone.
“Hey! New kid!” He hadn’t spoken to the guy directly, Roch thought, but it was pretty obvious who it was. “Hey, I’m talkin’ to you,” Arron snarled, grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around. “What did that lyin, cheatin’ jacktard tell you?”
Roch looked him straight in the eye, then looked down at the tray he was still holding. “Let me throw my trash away before you start drillin’ on me, man,” he said with narrowed eyes.
“Are you tryin’ to start a fight?” Aaron demanded.
“Nope. I’m tryin’ to throw my trash away.”
Slowly Aaron’s hand dropped and he stepped back. “Fine, throw your trash away, then tell me what he told you.”
“You already told me this ain’t any of my business,” Roch said as he turned to the side, sliding the trash into the shoot while keeping one eye on the other boil. “I’m gonna be gone soon, I ain’t gonna get involved in someone else’s fights. Hell, that kept getting me in trouble in my old school.”
“He cheated on my little sister,” Aaron snarled, grabbing Roch’s vest again.
“I didn’t, I don’t even know your little sister, so don’t take it out on me. And a friend of mine made this vest, man, don’t get it dirty.”
“Who ARE you?” Aaron demanded.
“A prisoner,” Roch said. “And seriously, man, let go of my vest.”
“Fight! Fight! Fight!!” the students started chanting, gathering around them. Aaron’s eyes narrowed slightly and Roch saw him make a fist. If this guy hit him, he thought, he would definitely be knocked out, considering the state of his FEAR shield.
He was so jacked. But--there was something in Aaron’s eyes that made him look more closely. “You know, don’t you.”
Aaron’s hand pulled back and Roch reached up, summoning his guitar as fast as he could. He was too late. The fist slammed into his face, hard.
Roch was knocked out.
--------------
“Would you wake up already, you little p***y?” The words were accompanied with a light slap to the face, jerking Roch awake. “How in the hell did a single--LIGHT hit take you out that easy? You look tougher than that!” Roch stared up at Aaron a bit blankly, trying to remember who he was and where they were. Then, because he was starting to get cold, what he was laying on. “You busted the bed in here, or that’s what Harris said,” Aaron muttered. “So we’re on the floor.”
“I was almost down for the count before you hit me,” Roch muttered, reaching up and touching his eyes. Yeah, that was definitely black Great. He looked around at the bland room groaning. “Not this place again!”
“Yeah, it sucks,” Aaron said, leaning back against the three legged bed and resting his elbows on his knees. “Who are you? We don’t usually get new second years.”
“I was kidnapped,” Roch said, wincing as his face hurt from speaking. “Jackdammit, I’mma kill that old geezer for this.”
“I busted your nose,” Aaron told him. “You’re just lucky they let me fix it before they tossed us in here.”
“You fixed it?”
“I’m ah... good at FEAR healing,” Aaron admitted.
“Oh. Thanks.”
“Welcome,” Aaron muttered, not looking at him. “Look... I shouldn’ta--“
“I get it,” Roch said. “It’s fine. Ain’t the first time I’ve been knocked out, won’t be the last. But why are both of us in here?”
“Usually it’d just be me, but Grimm himself came--he REALLY don’t like you, man. Why’s that?”
“My granddad and him grew up together, I guess.”
“Oh... So what DID Micah tell you?”
“That you caught him with his real ghoulfriend and figured that he was cheating on your sister--but he ain’t even dating her, she’s just crushin’ on him and chasin’ him around. And to be honest, I get ALL of it,” he said, sighing and moving to sit next to Aaron so he could lean back against the bed as well. “I get where you’re comin’ from, I get--sort of--where Micah’s comin’ from, and I get where your sister’s comin’ from, too. So how in the hell am I supposed to take a side?”
“Pick the side that didn’t break your nose?” Aaron offered.
“You really want to be the one sayin’ that?” Roch asked him dryly. “Look, your sister’s got a crush. It happens to all of us. I thought I was in love with a ghoul for MONTHS before I realized it was a bad match. She got a boilfriend, I got a clue. Then just the other day my best friend dumped one of my bros because it wasn’t workin’ out. So whose side do I pick? I woulda pounded on him if she wanted me to, but I wouldn’ta liked it. And obviously I can’t pound her--“
He groaned, seeing the fascinated look on Aaron’s face. “But it’s just so jackin’ FRUSTRATING not bein’ able to DO anything--And then this jacker who just showed up recently DID do something--he slapped my bro for hurtin’ my best friend’s feelings--and I got pissed at him cuz he slapped my bro! What the hell, man?” he asked. “I don’t jackin’ know, even. I’m as confused about what I should be doin’ as I am about what everyone else should be!”
He blinked as Aaron draped an arm over his shoulder. “Yeah,” the older boil said. “Yeah.”
“But you can’t go around poundin’ on Micah,” Roch told him. “He’s a year lower, so he ain’t as tough as you--which is why I shouldn’ta pounded on Yin, even if he DID bitchslap Rikki--Or, no, I shoulda waited till the jacker was a year two, THEN pounded him, see?”
Aaron looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “So I should wait for Micah to get to year three.”
“Nah. What you need to do is find a better guy for your sister to crush on,” Roch said. “Sure he’s pretty, but there’s lots of pretty boils out there! Or just let her find one on her own, y’know? Now arm off, man, I’m still not happy with you for knockin’ me out.”
Aaron snorted, dropping his arm and letting out a sigh. “Now we just gotta wait till they let us out.”
“Got any poker cards?” Roch asked.
(WC: 1,502)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 5:13 pm
They wound up sleeping on the floor, one having the sheet, the other the blanket. Roch grunted as the door swung open, shaking off the facsimile of sleep. He had healed a good deal overnight, but he wasn’t at top form, probably eighty percent at most. He was in no mood to find that he was using Aaron’s leg as a pillow and Harris was looking at them both suspiciously.
“Get up,” Harris said. “It’s time for morning drills.”
Roch blinked, then brought up his wrist, staring at the hidden watch he kept there for a long, long moment. “It’s five in the morning,” he said stupidly.
“Seriously? Oh Jack, we’re late,” Aaron yelped, getting to his feet in a bound and racing out the door. Harris was nearly bowled over by the third year.
“I suggest you hurry. If you miss drills you’ll be stuck in here for another day,” Harris said before walking away quickly.
Roch grunted as he forced himself to his feet. He would have liked to fix his hair, brush his teeth, that sort of stuff, but it didn’t seem like he was going to be able to. Reluctantly he started chasing the other two, heading out the door that was closing even as he got there.
There was a large group of males lined up on the grounds. They seemed to not be speaking, which was explained as he noticed Grimm standing in front of them, flanked by other tough looking male reapers. Micah caught Roch’s eye, motioning him over with an urgent move and Roch headed for him.
“Stand behind me,” the reaper said quietly, taking a step forward. Roch slipped in behind him, glancing around as he tried to figure out what was going on.
“It seems,” Grimm said, his voice echoing as if he were talking over a loudspeaker. He was holding a gigantic scythe in his hand, so Roch figured it was some sort of magic, “That even with all the freedom we give you boils, you still have the gall to test our limits. We’ve been very generous with you so far, but I’m starting to think that was a mistake.”
“What’s going on?” Roch whispered. Every single kid around him gave him a warning look.
“Today we’ll be doubling your morning workout,” Grimm said. The entire school seemed to groan at that comment. “First years, five times around the campus! Second years, the obstacle course, five times! Third years! BOTH! Now GO!”
“This is all Aaron’s fault,” someone muttered as Roch joined the group he was in heading to the right. They seemed to know where to go, which was good--he had no clue. When they stopped, though, he wished he still had no clue. The massive torture device in front of them reminded him of the fire course he’d tried to go through a few times, tossed together with the warrior challenge thing. It looked hellish, and he could almost swear he saw dead bodies in the sludge underneath it. But most importantly--it was GIGANTIC.
“We have to do that five times?” he asked Jonah as the other boil came up to his side.
“Be grateful, the third years have to run the entire campus five times first,” Jonah told him. ‘Aaron really irritates Grimm, too.”
“He did seem extremely familiar with the nullifier room,” Roch admitted.
“What happened in there? Did he kill you?”
Roch raised one eyebrow at the boil.
“What, it’s a legitimate question!”
“Stop slackin’ you little pussies and get to work!!” the grim reaper that had led them there shouted, blowing harshly on a whistle that sounded like death screaming in agony. Roch winced, reaching up and plugging his ears with his fingers, only to get elbowed by Micah.
“Get moving,” the shorter boil snapped.
Roch grunted and wished, really hard, that he was at full power. Then he started forward, following the others into the pit of hell.
-----------
The fifth round through the obstacle course was something he hadn’t planned on finishing. Roch wasn’t gonna brag, he wasn’t at top shape, especially not with his eye still hurting, but he had gotten GOOD at obstacle courses at his old school, and this one didn’t come with fiery monsters attacking him, so it wasn’t nearly as hard as it had looked from the outside. But still, he’d planned on dropping out like many of the others had around the third--
But he wasn’t about to drop out when Harris was right next to him, trying to beat him. “Give up!” the other boil shouted as they jumped from bolder to bolder. “You know you can’t beat me!”
“Like hell I can’t!” Roch yelled back, landing on the final bolder and moving on to the swinging ropes. “You’re a candycorn licker!”
“I happen to like candycorn, yes, so I don’t see how that’s--“ Harris grunted as his hand slipped, barely catching himself on the rope, “an insult!”
“You clearly don’t get hit on by--“ Roch grunted, almost biting his tongue because he was talking, “guys enough!”
They finished the rope section, taking a brief second to breathe and pretending it was just so they could glower at each other menacingly. Then they looked at the final obstacle bit, the massive climbing wall that led to the ground. Roch turned, giving him a smug look.
“Wait, what are you--“
A little poof of smoke was the only thing the punk boil left behind him before he appeared on the ground again, turning and flipping the grim reaper still on the wall the bird. “That’s CHEATING!” Harris bellowed at the top of his lungs. Roch was too busy staggering to stay upright to reply. REALLY not the time to use shadowstep, he realized as someone reached out to steady him. He’d fallen a few times during the five rounds, and had to climb up the side of the obstacle course to get back on it, but he’d managed. He’d finished.
What the JACK had he been thinking?
Of course, the sound of the other students cheering their hearts out might have made up for the fact that his entire body was shaking from exhaustion...
But not really.
-------------
Instead of going to breakfast, Roch headed to his room--or the room he’d been assigned, and fell onto the bed, shaking. Slowly, reluctantly, hoping that everyone was at breakfast or lunch, or whatever they called the first meal at ten o’clock, he summoned his guitar, playing the C chord. He didn’t even have enough FEAR on hand to do jack, he thought with self disgust as it failed.
His guitar dissipated and he groaned, closing his eyes. He needed to stop doing this--he needed to get his phone from Grimm and leave. But for now, he thought as his eyes closed, he needed to heal up and get his strength back.
Jack he hoped no one was panicking over his being gone...
Nah, they’d be fine.
(WC 1,167)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:01 am
Dreaming. He knew he was dreaming the moment he opened his eyes. It didn’t help, though, he thought as he looked around his dorm room. Amity. He was back at Amity, with Riff curled up on the pillow next to where he’d been laying and Clef sleeping by his side. Jackdammit was somewhere, probably hunting scrags. He was a nocturnal creature, Roch had found. But it didn’t really matter--this was just a dream.
“So you really thought about not coming back?” a familiar voice said from behind him. The snap and hiss of a lighter caught Roch’s ears and he turned, looking at the man that lurked comfortable in the shadows. The flicker of light as he lit his cighoulette lit up the face as familiar as his own.
“Dad,” Roch said. “Why’d I pick you for this part?” he asked blankly.
“You’re still avoidin’ thinking about the little baku ghoul,” Austin drawled as he took a long drag off of his smoke. “So I was your second choice, I guess. Interesting.”
“I’m not in love with her, y’know,” Roch told him.
“I know.”
“Calder said somethin, somethin’ that sort of got to me. He thinks I should find a ghoulfriend that likes to party as much as I do.”
“No, he said you needed to find a ghoulfriend that was just as alive as you were,” Austin corrected. “But think about that one later, we’ve got a lot to cover and only a bit of time to do it in.” He looked around the room. “So what happens if you don’t come back?” he asked Roch, lifting a hand.
Roch let him, watching as the room changed to a school hallway. People walked past, talking together, laughing together. He watched them curiously, wondering what was going on. This wasn’t like his usual dreams, he was picturing the future, letting his subconscious mind lead him. “There,” Austin said, pointing.
Taryn, Roch thought as the monster ghoul walked down the hall. Even though there were people all around her, she seemed very much alone. The nose ring was gone, the slight smile he was used to seeing looked as if it had never happened. She had her arms full of books and her chin up, not meeting the eyes of the people she walked past.
“She looks lonely,” Roch said, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“She’s head of the class.”
“So? She was before this, too.” He watched, a bit stunned, as she walked past even Xiu, not saying a word, not looking the baku in the eye or even acknowledging she was there. Xiu looked a bit hurt, but she didn’t say anything, just turned back to Levi, who she’d been chatting with. “Xiu seems fine,” he said, shrugging it off.
“You think?” Austin asked.
“Jack, I wish I’d gone through with giving her her emblem back, though,” Roch said, walking on by the baku and her friends. “You got any idea how much that bugs me?” he asked his dad. His eyes fell on Taryn again, a frown pulling at his lips. “I don’t like that, though,” he said quietly.
Someone bumped into the monster ghoul, making her drop her books, but they didn’t even bother to help her pick them up. Instead she crouched down and started picking them up as other students milled around her, practically running her over. He went over, crouching down to try and help, but he couldn’t even touch them. He watched in frustration as his fingers sank into the book, disappearing from view. “This is worse than being a ghost,” he muttered. He reached up, trying to push Taryn’s black hair behind her ear. His fingers slid through it, as well, never touching.
“Is this my fault?” he asked his dad as Austin came over.
“C’mon, you’ve got a little sister to check on,” Austin said instead, lifting his hand. The hallway scene disappeared, bringing them out onto the streets. Roch looked around with a hint of confusion, wondering what this place had to do with his Choops. Then he saw her. She was tugging on a tall demon’s pant leg, shoving a piece of paper up at him.
“Gran hermano! Have you seen my gran hermano?” she asked.
The demon gave her a disgusted look and shook his leg. “Stop bothering me,” he snapped. She let go of his pant leg and moved to the next passerby.
“Gran hermano! Have you seen him?”
“Um, no, sorry,” the woman said, frowning at the picture she was shown.
“It could be worse,” Austin said to Roch as Roch headed for the little monster. “She could be locked up in her room, determined never to come out.”
“I know,” Roch said. “But when was the last time she took care of herself? Her hair is a mess,” he complained, looking at it with a frown. “And it looks like she’s lost weight. Jackdammit, I don’t want my little sister walking these streets! Who knows if there’s a hunter in disguise around? She’s... she’s too jackin’ gentle for her own good.”
“But you aren’t here,” Austin said. “You can’t yell at her for it. Now... who next? Oh, I know.” He waved a hand, taking them to the front of the Reaper Dorm. Something seemed... off.
“Son of a witch, she burned down my dorm!!” Roch yelped as he realized what was going on.
“ROOOOOCCCHHHH!!” Danny’s bellow echoed from the top of the flaming dorm. “ROCH I KNOW YOU’RE HERE!!”
“Even if I had been before I jackin’ well wouldn’t be now!” he yelled up at her. Reapers were pouring out of every open door or window available. The sound of a fire truck came wailing in a horrible noisy manner, and boogies appeared on either side of the fire demon, making Roch curse. “Let her go, you jackin’ bastards!” he bellowed.
“You really think she would go this far?” Austin asked with amusement. “Your imagination is a bit wild, don’t you think?”
“Dude, you don’t know Danny,” Roch drawled. “You’d be astonished how often she’s caught my pants on fire.”
“So bein’ gone isn’t ALL cons, huh?”
Austin got a dirty look.
“Isn’t the fire beautiful?” Mot asked Hel, standing right next to Roch and his father.
“Oh, it could be prettier,” Hel said, snuggling up to him.
“Now I KNOW you’re messing around,” Austin drawled.
“Maybe just a little,” Roch admitted shamelessly. “It IS a dream, after all.”
Austin snorted, looking amused. “But you sure Xiu is doing fine?” he asked.
“Does it matter?” Roch asked him. “This is just a dream, I ain’t gonna over dramatize s**t. Even if I wanna imagine everyone panicking over me being missing, I ain’t gonna lie. Only a handful of people will really be bothered by it. Xiu might be, simply because she’s nosy, but I burnt that bridge, man. I know that. Hell, that’s probably for the best,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets and looked his dad straight in the eye.
“If it was, do you really think she’d be forcing you to keep her emblem?” Austin asked.
“Hell if I know,” Roch muttered as the scene changed to Xiu again. She was baking in her room, which didn’t really surprise him. “Maybe it’s some sort of personal penance or something for her--but hell, what I did...” He went silent, then shrugged. “You should never chase someone that doesn’t wanna be chased, hell, I knew that from mom. I broke one of my biggest rules with her, dammit. I can’t make up for that.”
“Seriously? Was it really that bad?” Austin asked curiously. “You did what, played a song for her, sang to her over the phone, dragged her around a bit, but not much more than you do your other pals--“
“I stole a kiss, too,” Roch said. “And tried to force my so-called feelings down her throat. Jack, man, I don’t even wanna talk to a DREAM about this one.” He walked over to the baku, watching her for a moment before shrugging and turning his back on her.
“But there is another one I’m worried about,” he said. “How is Amrita?”
Austin waved a hand. They were in Amrita’s room, which had-- “She took my fishtank, huh?” he said with amusement as he headed for it. Next to the tank, though, there was a pile of papers, each with his face on them and the word “Missing” underneath. He let out a little laugh. “I bet Chuppi has one of these, huh?” he asked his dad.
“What about Lark?” Austin asked.
“Without me there she and Kettil will wind up dating or some s**t,” Roch said. “I already tried to pull out of that situation. And don’t try giving me some line about making up with Kettil, cuz honestly, I don’t give a s**t,” he told his dad. “Sure I was an a**, but I apologized, and there ain’t nothin’ more I can--or WILL do. Hell, I’m more likely to try and deal with the Sparrow problem. He went into that fight knowin’ he was likely to die, even after he panicked over the first time.” That... well, Roch would admit that that had made up for a lot of things in his eyes.
“Or even Herryk,” he went on. “I probably should talk to that big b*****d--whether he listens or not, on the other hand...” he shrugged. “And I apologized to Lizzy. But hell, that’s another thing Xiu should hold against me, now that I think about it. And Yin... eh, he creeps me out, man. But I’ll think about that one.”
“And your ‘bros’?” Austin asked.
“Mot’s got Hel. Jove will worry, Charlie might notice, Rikki... well, Rikki might feel relieved, honestly, since I ain’t there to kick his a** for what he did to Danny, Nahm might haveta find a new guitarist--wonder if his brother can play,” he said, thinking it over. “I’da liked to have gotten to know Sammy and Calder better, though.” And yes, Sammy totally qualified as a ‘bro’ in his eyes.
“You realize,” Austin said, “this dream was supposed to motivate you to go back, right?”
“Eh,” Roch said with a shrug. “What’s motivating me right now is gettin’ my phone back,” he said. “Now if the REAL you would come, and bring that old geezer with you, we wouldn’t be havin’ this conversation,” he scolded his dream dad. “But then I’d never live down not gettin’ out on my own.”
“You’ve already planned it out, haven’t you?”
“Part of it,” Roch admitted. “I just need a way to get my phone off of Grimm. Then I’ll take the tunnels--sooner or later I’ll find my way out. Or dissipate. Wonder where I’ll wind up if I dissipate...”
He made a mental note to ask Aaron the next time he saw him when he woke up.
(WC 1,821)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:59 am
The sound of shouting made him wake up. Slowly Roch opened his eyes, almost not surprised to see Micah and Aaron there, but a bit surprised to see them standing side by side, blocking his view of someone else.
“He don’t GOT classes,” Aaron snarled. “And after gettin’ the s**t beat out of him and dragged through the drills all morning, he can get some jackin’ sleep now!”
“It is two in the afternoon,” a cold voice said--Harris, Roch’s mind provided. “Letting him lounge around is NO way to start out as a new student!”
“I’m awake,” Roch said, yawning as he sat up. “Did I miss something?”
“Just an attempt to shave you,” Micah said. “And Aaron finished healing you.”
“What? When did you two get to be buddies?” Roch asked blankly as he got to his feet.
“We ain’t, we just hate Kissass more,” Aaron told him. “Grimm wants to see you, though. And Kissass brought your uniform.”
“No thanks, I’ll go without changing,” Roch said as he stood. “Like I said, a good friend of mine made this. I take it off, he might steal it, too,” he complained as he reached up, touching his eyes. “Thanks for fixin’ me up, though,” he said to Aaron. “I happen to like my pretty face.”
Even Harris looked a bit incredulous at that one. Micah was the first to laugh, though.
-------------
“Where is your uniform?” Grimm asked from behind the boring looking desk in the middle of the room. Roch looked down at his vest for a moment as he walked in. “I sent your uniform to you earlier today--“
“I never agreed to a uniform,” Roch said as he headed for the chair in front of the desk. “Have you dealt with Granddad?”
“I’m working on it.”
“Do you really think holding me hostage is going to do candlejack?” Roch asked him curiously. “Look, I don’t know what you think our relationship is, but you’re probably wrong. I saw him all of once during my scareling years, and now we’re just employee and employer,” he summed up. “I’m easily replaced, man. I probably should have told you that earlier.”
“You’re his grandson. His heir.”
“He’s got a smokin’ hot ghoulfriend and plenty of FEAR in him,” Roch said. “He can make another--besides, the only thing he’s got to inherit is his shady casino and a bike. Not like it’s that big of a deal--“
“Your grandfather is the head of the Scythe Family, a family that goes back to the days of Jack, the Pumpkin King, almost,” Grimm snarled. “Do you not realize who you are?”
Roch blinked. “So you’re sayin’ sometime in the past we were bigwigs, or somethin?” he said. “Well that ain’t true now. I was raised on Croost Street, y’know? Broke off my a**, playin’ on street corners for when the old man forgot to send money for food. We got nothin. It’s still a bit amazing they let me into Amity, but really I’m givin’ odds that it was those jackin’ gnomes messin’ around. See, I went along with you cuz you got my phone and you threatened my pals, but honestly, I don’t get what YOU are gettin’ out of this.”
“You really believe that’s all you are, don’t you?” Grimm asked a bit incredulously. “Heir to one of the biggest names in reapers--“
“EX biggest names,” Roch pointed out.
“And you think you can be replaced by a horny old man and a--“
“Smokin’ hot ghoulfriend, yeah,” Roch said, sprawling back in the chair. “Or maybe my dad could pick up another demon ghoul somewhere,” he said thoughtfully. “Maybe I could get a lil brother or sister, that’d be interesting. Course I wouldn’t wish either of them on any kid,” he went on with a frown.
“I see. And you really think that Vegas doesn’t care for you?”
“He stole my fish!” Roch complained. “He never did offer him back, either. Face it, mister, for bait, you picked a dud,” he told Grimm, not looking too bothered by that fact at all.
“Not according to your scores from this morning,” Grimm said, picking up a piece of paper. “You might be used to competing with monsters--who rely purely on brute strength--but here among grim reapers, you are a very prime example. You’re in good shape, determined, and sneaky,” he summed up. “You’re intelligent, and make allies quickly,” he went on, putting the paper down. “You make a fine heir. Other than the juvie record, that is.”
“You’re seein’ something that ain’t there,” Roch said flatly. “Where’s my phone?”
“You can have your phone back when your grandfather gets you back.”
“That’s not the answer I was lookin for. Where. Is. My. Phone?”
“You put more value on that phone than you do yourself,” Grimm said, sounding a bit surprised. “Why is that?”
“Because I need it,” Roch said. I need to check up on my pals. Danny’s probably going to freak out any moment now, and I’d rather she didn’t burn down the reaper dorm.”
“I see,” Grimm said, leaning back and looking at him thoughtfully. “You’re nothing like your granddad was at this age.” He jerked as a familiar guitar riff came from the desk, getting a disgusted expression on his face. “Really, how DO you deal with that all the time?” he asked.
But Roch didn’t answer. His eyes were glued to the desk, much like a cat that had just found a mouse. “If you’re done here, I’m supposed to be goin’ to classes, right?” he said as he stood. “But seriously, I’d give up if I were you. Granddad ain’t gonna do anything to get me back. He’s probably thinking about replacing me even as we speak.”
He headed for the door, walking out without even glancing back. He’d found his eyephone. Now he just needed to figure out how to steal it back.
(WC: 996)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 9:29 am
Two in the morning found Roch slipping down the hallway of the main building. He moved silently, not a sound to be heard. He’d learned a lot in Invi’s class, he thought as he slid into the shadows, hearing strange clacking sounds coming down the hall. Hesitantly he peeked around the corner, just long enough to see the massive wardog like creature pace down the hall. It was huge, well past waist height at the shoulders--that was what they’d been talking about, he realized.
It was probably a familiar. That there was a familiar patrolling the grounds meant that there was a reaper other than a grim, right? He’d never met a grim reaper with a familiar. Which meant... it was an adult’s familiar. That meant that somewhere probably nearby there was an adult reaper, probably a shaman, that was patrolling the grounds.
He had to work fast. He waited until the wolf turned the corner before slipping out, heading as quickly as he dared to the office he had been taken to earlier. He almost had a heart attack as the same clacking noise came from behind him, and barely managed to slip into the room before the wolf passed--again.
Wait, what?
He peered through the glass of the door, a confused expression on his face as the exact same wolf sauntered down the hall, moving with the exact same pace, the exact same sounds-- How in the hell were there two of them? Stop, he told himself, now isn’t the time. He turned, heading for the desk and crouching down behind it, his fingers slipping his picks out of his pocket, inserting them into the tiny lock, tension set, pick sliding into the lock, gently, gently, there--
The light came on. Roch went perfectly still. Maybe if he didn’t move--
“I know your father,” a man said from the front of the room. “The old man’s so obsessed with Vegas that he forgets Austin even exists most of the time. You can stand, kid, you’re already busted. My wolves saw you hours ago.”
Roch stood. “How do you do that, anyway?” he asked the tall, blackhaired male standing in the shadows. “Is it an illusion or something? They move TOO much alike.”
The man laughed, openly. “You are quick,” he said with admiration. “Pretty sneaky, too. Give you ten or fifteen years and you’ll be an excellent reaper,” he said. “You’ll be a decent one in two or three.”
“You look familiar,” Roch said instead, ignoring the praise.
“You’ve met my son,” the man said, “Aaron.”
“Look, man, I just came for my phone,” Roch said, sliding the drawer open and grabbing the phone in question. It was blinking madly, saying he had a million and one calls. “Now I’m gonna leave. It’s for the best for everyone,” he said. “You ain’t gonna get jack out of the old geezer--“
“No, I think not,” the man said. “Come along, then, back to the nullifier room.”
“But--what--“ Roch looked at the phone in his hand, then slipped it into his vest, closing and locking the drawer it had been in as the shaman looked away casually. “Fine. Back to the nullifier room,” he said.
“Exactly,” the man agreed, motioning him out the door.
Roch headed down the hall silently, feeling a hell of a lot better even though he was about to be trapped again. He had his phone. He could call for help, he could reassure his pals, he could yell at his granddad. This would be over soon.
“Be careful who you call for help,” the man said quietly as Roch walked into the room. “This is a school full of reapers, kid. Our entire faculty has magic, you realize that, right?”
“I just wanna check my groanspring, man,” Roch said as he turned. “Who says anything about callin’ for help?”
The man gave him a small grin before he closed and locked the door.
-------
Roch stared blankly at the long list of spam Danny had sent him in the past few days, groaning and running a hand over his face as he typed up an answer. She was probably asleep, he thought as he deleted the rest of the questions. He’d forgotten how vulnerable she was thanks to Rikki. Skipping out on her seemed to have done some serious harm.
“Well... s**t.” Not like there was much he could do in the nullifier room, he thought as he switched over to his phone list. He thought about calling his dad. He stared at the number for a long, long time, then realized something flat and honest. As much as he wanted to think of his dad barging in here, saving his a**, if Austin couldn’t beat Vegas, there was no way he could beat Grimm.
No. He needed to go straight to the problem. And he had little to no hope that Vegas would do s**t. Either way, he was damn well going to get the old man into trouble for this. He brought up the old geezer’s number, pushing the dial button and waiting impatiently as it rang through.
“Hello! Casino Royale! This is Monica speaking!” Monica said cheerfully. Roch let out a breath, wondering why he felt so relieved just to hear her voice.
“Hey, Monica. Can you get the old geezer on the phone for me?”
“ROCHY!!” she squealed. “Oh screechheart where have you BEEN? We’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
“I’ve been a bit... detained,” Roch said dryly. “Can I talk to Granddad? As much as I’d love to tell you everything--“ not “I need to ask him for somethin.”
“Well, he’s in the back room,” she said hesitantly. “But I’m sure he’ll talk to you,” she went on in a determined tone that said she would MAKE him talk to Roch.
“Thanks, Monica,” Roch said, sighing in relief.
-----------
“So he has his phone?” Grimm asked his vice principal as he stepped into the teacher’s lounge. “Are you sure he’ll call him?”
“He’s smart,” Erick said, dropping down on the couch and smiling as his huge wolf familiar dropped down on it as well, resting his head on his leg. “He’ll know to call one of the two. We’ll either have Austin banging on the doors or Vegas storming the castle.”
“Possibly,” Grimm said, reaching up and rubbing the bridge of his nose. “That damn eyephone of his, I wanted to turn it off so many times. How many friends does that boil have?”
“Mostly ghouls,” Erick said with amusement. “But Aaron really likes him, too,” he added thoughtfully. “Harris hates his guts.”
“Harris is too much like I was at that age,” Grimm admitted. “He’ll make a fine school director.”
Erick just looked at him, scratching his familiar behind the ear. Grimm’s grandson was a d**k, but he was tough. The old man made sure of it. “What DOES Vegas owe you?” he asked instead.
“Revenge,” Grimm said.
“What for?”
“Stealing the only woman I ever loved.”
(Roch part WC: 985)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
