–
Chapter 22
–
There was a long and bitter sigh.
“Renner?” Cordax asked, genuine concern plastered on his face as he squeezed out from under stupid Diero and his stupid hat. “You okay?”
“No, it’s just- ugh.” He kicked at the much nicer vehicle parked in front of him. “It’s custom-fitted, too. This shaping doesn’t come on the newer model, unless they’ve released an even newer one under my nose. I never had the cash to afford it.”
“…What did you just call me?” He turned about suddenly and locked eyes with Cordax.
“Um, your name?” Cordax shrugged. “Sheesh, I don’t know how it’s so unfamiliar to- wait. Oops. I wasn’t supposed to call you that.”
Renner vaulted across and grabbed Cordax by the throat. “WHO TOLD YOU?? DOES MONOPOLY KNOW?? HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THIS??”
“Please stop choking me I don’t like it” Cordax gasped, struggling for a breath. “It was T-Tott - he-”
“TOTT?!” Renner whirled about, throwing Cordax aside. “WHO TOLD YOU?! HOW DID YOU KNOW??”
“You did, you anodize airhead.” I said, picking up my slightly spent cigarette only to find it had extinguished. “Finally got to say that again. I overheard you talking to your associate Jethryn while Diero went on a tirade about touching his stupid hat. You’re really bad at whispering, in case nobody’s told you before.”
Renner stopped in disbelief for a moment or two and then turned towards Diero with a scowl.
“Eh.” Diero shrugged, still collapsed on the ground. “Way I see it you should’ve just used an alias from the getgo if it matters that much to you.” He slowly stood up and brushed himself off. “Say, uh, should we be worried about whoever drove this here?”
“Don’t change the subject.” Renner growled. “You were under strict orders to-”
“Hush!” I whispered, motioning with one finger over my mouth and using my buster arm to point - only thing it was good for nowadays - towards the roof of the building. “I think that’s him.”
There was a thin silhouette of a figure standing triumphantly atop what could be referred to as the roof of the large dome structure. He was surveying the landscape, but it was impossible to tell if he was looking towards me or away from me. No, I’m not saying ‘us’, just in case you thought I would be doing that again.
“Do we stop him, or-?” Diero asked, one hand on his revolver.
Renner squinted. “He’s looking the other way. Diero, get up there and see if you can get us- no wait, hold on.” He took out a note and began scribbling something down, stuffing the piece in Diero’s mouth as if he was feeding a toddler and also as if this wasn’t totally weird. “Okay you two, hop on.”
“Should I stay here?” Sonus asked, still sitting on the vehicle I arrived on. “I don’t want to cause any trouble. And how are you making your voices so quiet?”
“Fine, stay here then!” Renner hissed back. “And if you can’t whisper then stop talking!”
“What’s a whisp-”
“SHHHH!!” Renner hissed out again.
“Why exactly are you bringing us with you, again?” Cordax asked as Diero began to ascend the wall like some kind of spider-based superhero of nondescript appearance.
“Because I don’t trust either of you and I’ve forced you to come along with me thus far?” Renner responded, one eyebrow raised.
“Right, sorry.” Cordax grumbled. “Forgot you were a total jerk.”
Diero made extremely quick process, hopping along and nearly throwing us off as he climbed. It seemed he was too enthralled in completing his task during his ascent that he was paying little attention to the forces of, y’know… Physics, especially on the neck.
Oh for the love of song, I did it again! How many times do I have to reiterate to myself it’s not WE, or US, or OUR, or any kind of pronoun grammatically referring to multiple individuals - it’s JUST ME. ME. ALONE. NOBODY ELSE. I am NOT associated with these MORONS and I NEVER WILL BE.
Get the wrong idea at your own peril. I’m watching you.
Anyway, we ascended- AUGH. I’m not even kidding, that just ran out from my fingertips like it was my full intent. I’m not even sure if I started this as a bit or not, but it’s grown into a legitimate problem. People might mistake it for comradery or something. Focus, focus… I’m just going to jump ahead if that’s okay.
W- I HAD ARRIVED THERE. ME and the MORONS. And… Yes. Let’s continue.
The figure standing alone had some kind of black jacket with a large wing embroidered on the back. The whole thing looked like cheap, artificial leather, which is surprising since such a character could clearly afford the bike. Maybe that was the intended look. Anyway, Diero shook me off and Renner cautiously removed Cordax, allowing the cadaverous cowboy to sneak up on his tiptoes like a cartoon character and prepare to club the stranger over the head.
I was thinking at the moment of how, despite the dome being spherical in nature, it was still large enough for me to have a flat surface to be collapsed into a pile on, when a memory suddenly stirred in the back of my mind - and I must confess, I once again did something decidedly un-calculated.
“WAIT!”
The figure jolted and turned about - long enough for him to look at everyone present, including the deadsperado, who had paused in mid-strike. There were a few tense seconds of silence before Diero awkwardly finished the motion and knocked him flat on the ground.
“Ow!” The stranger ow’d. “What was that for? Who are you?”
“You alone around here?” Renner asked, walking forward and leaning in to produce some effect that I don’t even care anymore why does he keep doing these things.
“Uh, yea- I mean no! I’ve got friends and they’re totally gonna come kick your head off don’t hurt me!” The stranger yelped, reaching around his pocket for a weapon he clearly didn’t have. Diero smiled and waved the fancy-looking black sidearm he had swiped from him during the seconds of silence, drawing it out of reach when the stranger swiped for it.
“Winger.” I stood up and threw my functioning hand in my pocket. “Your name’s Winger. The jacket is stupid.”
“You-!” Winger gasped and looked from be to Diero and back again. “How did you know? I thought this helmet-”
Oh right, I forgot to cover the helmet. It was like that one from the french robot music group, I forget the name. Well, it covered his entire face, but it left the scalp open and tapered towards the chin. A tuft of black hair stuck out the top, clearly trying to be a mohawk of some kind without actually being a mohawk. His uniform was almost entirely dark, muted colors - mostly just black - with a vibrant highlight here and there. I personally think it looks tacky.
“You’re the only person I’ve ever known of going around with a jacket of a single wing.” I remarked. “Sane people have two. What, did you think branding yourself entirely around your name was going to keep your identity hidden?”
“You- your mask-” Winger continued, completely ignoring the conversation.
“I’m from the dark wall.” I responded, pointing at the wooden mask. “It’s not a real mask, it’s made of wood. It’s just a fake, calm down.”
“YOU’RE a fake.” Diero responded.
“Can we not do this?” Renner rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Look, Winger, we’re kind of on an important mission looking for a wanted criminal. Calls himself Monopoly - you haven’t heard of or seen him, have you?”
There was an odd cracking sound, which echoed across the entire dome.
“Uh.” Diero said. “You know, I don’t think this dome was meant to be stood on. Standed on. Y’know.”
“We might want to run.” Cordax said.
I, however, had different plans. “Oh, you’re all just scared.” I responded. “It’s probably just old and creaky from the weight. See?” I stomped a couple times and the splintering sound got significantly worse.
“Tott, don’t-!” Renner almost screamed, but it was too late. I threw my full weight upon the dome and a shrieking crack sounded out, the top of the dome falling completely inward. Down we went - all falling, spiraling downwards towards what appeared-
No, it didn’t appear to be. It very much was a gigantic pit filled with stone-grey bodies.
Dreamers.
–