Month: March 2020

Coming home in the early afternoon, Joseph hangs his coat on the rack beside the door. Looking around at the seemingly empty home, he sighs quietly and heads to the kitchen. He was hoping to catch his brother Caleb when he came home, but he was probably in his room again. This past week, he’d started noticing the teen avoiding him. He had no idea what he did to cause it, but he was determined to find out. For now though, he resigned himself to cooking lunch for the two of them. He had a feeling that the boy hadn’t made himself anything yet, and neither of them were the type to just make sandwiches on a winter day like this.

Ever since he’d started college, his mom began to worry about his younger brother. With the lack of time on his hands, Joseph barely had any time to leave his dorm to come visit, or to even call to check in at times. With that in mind, he decided to take some of his classes online instead. With a more flexible schedule, he’d been making an effort to come home once a week to spend time with them both. It hasn’t seemed to do much, though. Caleb didn’t spend much time with them nowadays. He was either in his room or out all day, coming home in time for dinner but not for much else before he was off to bed soon after. Anytime they asked if something was going on, he avoided the question and brushed them off. Their mother had long since stopped asking, instead just letting him know that she’ll be there when he’s ready. While Joseph understood why…he didn’t want to give up just yet. He cared a lot about his brother; he changed up his whole schedule just to be there for him, after all. If something was wrong, he was going to get to the bottom of it. Granted, those efforts hadn’t come to much yet, but he wasn’t going to give up.

Finishing up their lunch, which was a simple veggie stew, Joseph takes out their serving tray and gets to work. The way to a sibling’s heart is a nice meal, or at least that’s what works on Caleb. He wants to make this as special as he can, even if adding one of the flowers from the vase at the window is a bit overkill. After finishing the display with a plate of toasted bread and a glass of juice, he makes his way upstairs, careful not to spill anything on anything else. He knocks on the door a few times, listening for any sort of response. As usual, though, he didn’t get one. He sighs, but doesn’t let this get to him. Setting the top that came with the bowl on top of it, he pulls out a notepad and starts writing. He’d been doing this for a while now. Whenever he couldn’t get a hold of Caleb, he’d slide a note under the door. Letting him know when it was time to eat, asking if he needed anything, or just letting him know he’s home if he’d like to talk, it’d end up on a note under the door. Sliding today’s note into the room, he sets the tray on a side table in the hall. He’ll catch him when the dishes need cleaning hopefully. Heading for the stairs, he pauses. From the bathroom he hears something hitting the floor with a clack. Curious, he ventures over to the end of the hall. He knocks but doesn’t get a response here either. Or, well, not a verbal one. He hears more things hitting and rolling across the tiles. 

“Uh…Caleb? You alright in there?” He cracks the door open, peeking in to see his brother on the floor. He’s holding several bottles of foundation and concealer and doing his best to avoid facing his older brother. Not sure what else to do, Joseph walks up and crouches behind him. He notices now that Caleb is shaking. He places a hand on his back, doing his best to keep his tone even. “Sorry, did I scare you? Are you hurt?” The teen shakes his head, though he still won’t face his brother. 

“I…I’m fine, I’m fine.” Caleb reaches up to the counter, putting the bottles onto it. “I didn’t think you’d be back so soon…” Standing up now, only a glimpse of his face seen in the mirror before being covered by a towel. “Why’d you just come in here anyway? You didn’t even knock.” The strain in his voice was clearer now, making his brother come closer. 

“I heard things falling in here, I was worried about y-”

 “Well I’m fine! Just go already!” Cutting his brother off, Caleb’s raised voice sounded more panicked than anything. He tries to push his way to the door, but Joseph quickly grabs his arm. 

“Caleb.” A pause. “Please, tell me what’s going on.” Another, longer pause. With a deep breath, Joseph continues. “Why are you hiding your face?” 

“I’m not, I just…” Caleb pulls his hand away, backing up. “Just…leave me alone! Why do you even care?!” Joseph answers almost immediately. 

“Because I’m your brother!” He places a hand on Caleb’s shoulder, easing his voice. “I didn’t change up my whole schedule just to end up leaving you alone. I care about you, Caleb. I want to help you.” 

The teen steps back again, a quiver prominent in his voice. “I’m perfectly fine! I don’t know what you’re trying to get by bothering me so damn much!”

“Caleb, I’ve known you your whole life. I know how you act when you’re quote unquote fine.” Joseph reaches forward, grabbing his brother’s hand. “Please, tell me what’s wrong. I don’t want to let you deal with whatever this is alone.”

Caleb is quiet now, racking his brain for whether he should admit it. Eventually, he lowers his hand, taking the towel with it. His face was covered in makeup, though it was quite smudged now. He didn’t meet his brother’s eyes, instead choosing to look down at the messy towel. “There. Go ahead and laugh or freak out or whatever…” With his head down, he doesn’t notice the soft smile on his brother’s face.

“You were practicing, Cal. I wouldn’t get on your case over that.”

Looking up in confusion over the statement, he gets a rag to the face. Joseph takes his time cleaning the foundation and lipstick off, Caleb finally speaking up when he goes to wash the makeup off of the cloth. “You’re…cool with this?”

Chuckling, Joseph turns to his brother again, cleaning the rest of the makeup off. “The only thing I’m not cool with is the shade you used. You’re way too pale for it.” Placing the rag on the sink, he comes back to his brother. “How about I help you pick a new foundation? I think that you’ll have way more fun with the right stuff.” 

It takes Caleb a moment to register this, all of this. As soon as he does though, he pulls his older brother into a tight hug. “I…I’m sorry. For hiding this, and yelling at you. I was just scared. I didn’t know what you’d say or how mom would react.” The relief washing over him brings with it tears, which try as he might, started to trickle faster than he could wipe them. “I don’t…don’t know why I’m like this, even. Putting on makeup like some weirdo…”

At that, Joseph pulls him into another hug, somehow tighter than the one before. “Hey, you’re not some weirdo. You’re doing something you enjoy, and no one worth your time would judge you for that. Especially not mom.” He brings the rag over once more, helping to wipe the tears away. “I think she’d even be impressed! The towel messed it up, but I could tell you put a lot of work into it.”

Caleb smiles, a genuine smile Joseph hadn’t seen in a few months. “Thanks, Joseph.” He wipes the last of his tears away, looking at his brother properly. “I’m kinda glad you were so nosy. I think I would’ve taken this to the grave otherwise.” Tears start to well up once more, but he manages to hold them back. Instead, he starts to put his makeup together and into a small carrying case. When he reaches his foundation, he flips it, looking at the price tag on the bottom. “I’ll take you up on that offer, by the way. I kinda…bought this in a rush yesterday anyway, so if it’s not gonna work anyway I’d like my money back.”

Joseph looks at the label as well now, eyes widening. Thirty-nine dollars spent on the wrong shade. “…Caleb, did you get this for the design or something?”
“…maybe.”

“Okay, now I’m judging you.” Leading the way out of the bathroom now, Joseph heads back to the tray he’d left on the table. “Come on, let’s eat. I’ll take you back to the mall when we’re done.” Handing his brother the tray, he laughs at the growl Caleb’s stomach gives in response. Heading downstairs, the two eat at the dining table together, spending it catching up properly and excitedly planning their list for their shopping trip later.

It doesn’t take us long to reach the warehouse, though it does take me a while to convince Ribbon to wait outside while I scope things out. Elliot was safe, that was for sure. Something was off about this place though. A quick fly around the place and I see that all the windows are blacked out. Not by wood or curtains, it was just…darkness. It recoils when I place my hand on the glass. This…this was no ordinary kidnapping. We need to act fast. I gesture for Ribbon to climb up to one of the platforms. In the meantime, I place both hands on the window now. When it draws back again, I slide the window open and coat the area around it with light. I can get a better look at the inside now, but I really don’t like what I see. The top floor clashes severely with the mess on the bottom: a clean looking (and clearly illegal) gun shop doesn’t fit well with a dreary cultist’s wet dream. Ribbon comes in through the window suddenly, also having a look around. “Is…is Ellie…” Hopper looks at me, hoping I’ll answer them without having to hear the whole thing. “No, he’s alright. We’re here on time.” They sigh in relief, though the fearfulness comes back with a loud thud. Something’s hit the floor.

Ribbon quickly lunges off of the platform, landing in the shadows. It wasn’t a soundless landing as she makes a thud of her own. It draws the attention of someone in one of the barely lit rooms below, coming out armed and ready. He looks around the room, demanding to know who’s there. Unfortunately for him, she shows herself. Before a scream can even hit the air, he’s slammed to the ground harshly, hopefully only getting knocked out before Ribbon drags him into the shadows. Two more men come out, and this time I show myself instead. Stepping up onto the railing, I dive to the floor below, pulling up and flying up to them. I land a kick to the first man’s abdomen, sending him to the ground. The other opens fire, the bullets catching between my feathers. I toss them at his face while he frantically tries to reload, following up with a spin kick to the back of his neck. The first man starts to get up again, but before he can, Hopper jumps on him, slamming his face against the concrete floor. Ribbon comes over and grabs them both, and the three of us quickly go back into the shadows before the others come up. As she sets them in a pile, I try to think. What should we do now? We won’t be able to sit by for long, they’ll notice them not coming back soon enough. On top of that, this place is not okay. There’s this…familiar feeling to it, and not the pleasant kind. Come one, focus, we need to get Elliot out of here before-

…something happened. Something just happened to Elliot.

The noise in my head is stopping me from thinking, so I don’t. I hardly register my friends’ calls as I speed through the rooms. The farther I go in, the bigger this place reveals itself to be. I land and slide to a halt at a dead end, doing my best to steady my breathing. Think, think! You need to find him, you need to figure out where he is. I grip the floor, forcing myself to think, to find him. Finally I have a clear picture of where he is, and just in time for Ribbon to catch up with me. And grab me before I can fly to the room. Fantastic. “Let me go Ribbon, I don’t have time to waste here!” She turns me toward her, sighing deeply. “We don’t have time to waste, you stupid pigeon. There’s clearly something wrong with this place, if you run off like this you’re going to get hurt.” She starts to walk down the hall, holding me under her arm. “Now cool it and show us where to go. I’ll hit less walls than you’ve been.” Walls? “I have not been hitting any walls.” Hopper pipes up now, jumping down in front of us. “Yes you have! Your wings are messed up because of the dents.” They then point down the hall, and Ribbon turns me so I can see. All along the walls, there are massive dents and holes down the length of them, each with a feather stuck to the cracks and under the debris. “….” I quickly point in the direction of the room with Elliot in it before my body catches up with the room and also realizes that hitting all those walls and messing up my wings is extremely painful. I have to cover my mouth with my hands for the whole walk.

We reach the room with minimal disturbance, though that’s due to Hopper going off ahead. It seems all that time spent with Ribbon paid off; every corner we turned, there was a new unconscious guard to walk around. I can finally stand on my own, the pain in my wings now a mild discomfort. The rabbit peeks through the door first, slipping through quietly. It’s not long, though, before we hear a thump against the wall, and a squeak. Ribbon now barges in after dropping me. Stumbling a bit, I manage to run in just in time to raise up a shield in front of her. Black sludge hits it and starts to spread over us. I quickly swipe it away, sending the sludge to the already blackened walls. Ribbon looks around and soon finds Hopper, running over to scoop them up. I raise another shield around them, stronger this time, and search the room. Whoever attacked us is in the back of this place, I can tell. The deeper in I go, the more tense I’m starting to feel. I knew it, I know who did this. At the back of the room, I finally see them. Elliot in a chair, tied up and asleep, and someone in the shadows behind him. “Well now, you came here fast! I thought I’d have a bit more time, but it hasn’t even gotten dark yet!” The man comes forward sporting a cheerful smile. Noticing the scars around his eyes, I can’t help but sigh. I was right, it’s him. “What, you’re not happy to see me? And after I went through such trouble to give you something fun to do!” I step forward, tightening my hand into fists. “What did you do to him, why is he hurt?” He cocks an eyebrow, humming a bit. “Whatever do you mean? I wouldn’t hurt a fly!” He glances at Elliot. “Well, I wouldn’t. I’m not sure about the guys I hire-” That was all I needed to hear before punching him square in the face. He takes my kid just to screw with me and then has the nerve to not even keep an eye on his lackeys? “I’m going to clobber you Lancer.” He ducks before I can punch him again, catching my fist with a black tendril. “Now now Haven…” The tendril tightens, and before I can react, it yanks me into the air, more tendrils catching me and tosses me hard against the floor. “A sucker punch like that was cheating!” I stand back up, wiping a bit of blood off of my mouth. “And the tendrils are somehow fair?” More rise up around him. “I’m a demon, I’m not supposed to be fair.” One by one, each appendage bears down one me, each more annoying to deal with than the last. While I dodge and block most of them, the ones I miss start to take their toll. The darkness seeping in from the wounds coupled with the walls surrounding us still being covered is bad news for me. I have to get out of here, and soon. The bastard is getting more aggressive, so I don’t think I can dodge for much longer. Grabbing and tossing them aside seems the better choice right now. 

Alternating through rolling out of the way and tossing the squirming shadows back, I start to notice something. The shadows are attached to Lancer’s back directly, and each time I tug on them he moves as well. I don’t think he’s noticed it, though, so if I’m going to take risks I should act now. When the next attack comes, I grab the tendril and yank it towards myself, slamming it to the ground. As more come my way, I do the same to each of them, bringing the demon closer to me. After clearing the distance more than halfway, the idiot finally notices what’s happening. The tendrils start to reel back accordingly, but luckily, I wrap one of them around my arm just in time for him to yank me forward too. With another quick motion, I tackle Lancer to the ground, holding him as tightly as I can. “Ribbon! Get Elliot!” Gripping the wriggling demon even tighter now, I watch as Ribbon bound towards our boy, slicing away the stray tentacles in her way and scooping the child up effortlessly. She speeds to the door now, working on cutting through the shadows still keeping us in this room. She’s not doing much damage though. Looks like I’ll have to help.

Hissing at both the renewed pain in my wings and the claws currently digging into my sides, I wrap my wings around Lancer. The effect is instant. A bright light flashes between us, and he goes limp in my arms, now out cold and mildly scorched. The wounds on my body burn as well, but at least I’m still standing. I make my way over to Ribbon, the shadows now retracting from the building as a whole. It takes some effort to climb on, but it takes even more to keep myself leveled when she takes off. Tearing down the melting shadows and concrete walls alike, she makes a path right for the exit, coating us all in dust from the rampage. She wouldn’t be a monster if she wasn’t a tad reckless I guess. Picking up Elliot, who’s thankfully still asleep, I cover him with one of my wings to keep the debris away. Time to make up with some excuse, to make him ending up back home seem more natural.