by Lucky, Tobias Christopher and T5
Somewhere in the United States, a year ago:
Lucky sat in the corner and listened to his mommy's scream. He heard it every night when his stepfather came home after a night of drinking. It was always the same. First, Lucky had to listen to her screams, and then she had to listen to her son's when his stepfather went upstairs. The boy could hear his footsteps now. He didn't cry when he heard him approach anymore. He was too used to it.
The boy saw the doorknob turn, and he cringed for just a second as his stepfather entered the room. As he stepped toward the boy, Lucky wanted as always to fight back, but he knew he couldn't.
If only he had the power.
A hotel room in Uruguay, now:
"I can't believe it," Tobias Christopher said. "We come halfway across the damn world, and we wind up stuck in a fucking hotel room, keeping an eye on El Diablo."
"Ya have a lots o' rage fer someone so young," Pete Glover said. "Care ta talks about it?"
"Who are you -- my therapist?" Tobias asked. "And I'd feel a lot better if we were getting in on the action."
"Soon enough, b'y," Pete said. "Soon enough."
Tobias looked down the hole. "If I told you something, would it just be between us?" he asked.
"What, did ya kills someone and hides the body unner the floorboards?" Pete asked.
"I wish," Tobias said. "I've... got a son back in the States."
"Th' hell?" Pete asked. "But ye're only, like, twenty."
"It was back when I was on the streets," Tobias said. "There was only one way to make money, and--"
"Wow, there's somethin' new about ya every day," Pete said.
"I wound up getting a woman pregnant, and didn't find out until a week before I wound up in juvenile hall," Tobias said. "I found out she put the kid up for adoption after he was born. Never heard from her again."
"Ye've gots a kid?" Pete asked. "Wow, that's... a bit much ta take in, b'y."
"He'd be about seven now," Tobias said. "And I have no idea where he is. I just want to... see him. Make sure he's got a good life. I don't want a kid of mine growing up the way I did."
"Dinna worry, kid -- secret's safe wit' me," Pete said. "And who knows? We ever gets back ta the States, ye could puts in a few calls, an'--"
"Fuck this," Tobias said as he jumped down the hole.
Tobias landed with grace, but had to recheck his balance before he slipped in the viscous mud. The tunnel was damp and the air warm. A sulfurous smell lingered like yesterday's diapers.
Without any light, he didn't dare use his superspeed in case he missed a side tunnel or something. So he walked on down the sloping tunnel, making squelching sounds with every step.
The sounds of a roaring monster that suddenly met its end echoed through the tunnel. Its whining last gasps made him feel almost sad for it. Most likely it had met his weird giant teammate and his new friend.
I wonder if we can trust that guy? Tobias thought about Turkish Stringfellow. He seemed to make friends with Naecken awfully fast...
And Naecken himself seemed quite unfocused these days, too. Something was happening; he could feel it in his bones, an instinct honed in the years on the street.
He shrugged it off and increased his speed as he heard the sounds of talking in front of him.
Tobias managed to catch up with Naecken and Stringfellow just in time to see them squash two giant, crab-like creatures under ten tons of rock and mud. He looked at Naecken, whose red eyes seemed to glow more intensively now.
"Naecken, old buddy, are you in there?" he said, patting him on the back with a cautious hand.
"Do not worry, friend Tobias, this is merely a manifestation that has been denied me, except once in the tunnels of Mandelovia. I am regaining myself more and more with the help of friend Stringfellow here," he replied with a surprisingly charming smile. "But we must not tarry. A few more of these foul creatures are being transported here as we speak. We must destroy the source and free this community from this evil." He straightened himself and marched forward with determined steps.
Tobias looked at Stringfellow with his mouth open. "I don't know how you did that, but thanks. It was painful to see that kind spirit in such pain and sorrow. For this you've earned my respect." He smiled at Stringfellow.
"I did nothing," said Turkish Stringfellow. "I merely guided his energies within him to finally let him focus on his own persona. I think full restoration will come in a matter of days. But we must not let the man go alone," he said, picking up the pace to hurry after Naecken.
Tobias smiled. Finally a mission where things looked bright, and a happy ending was in sight.