Chapter 14 -- Trash

AIO: There are so many ways to phrase and format every single sentence. The overthinker within me is getting on my nerves...

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Reach: "So what was this place called?"

Reach: "Fleeting..."

Tomo: "Verandah."

Reach: "No, that can't be it."

Reach: "Fleeting..."

Reach: "...Maroon. Yep."

...

Reach: "Fleeting Maroon: Seamless Potential... Huh."

As described by the woman who had formerly passed - courtesy of Thorn, it was a scene of pure chaos.

People were running.

People were fighting.

People were hiding.

The words that came to mind were 'violent' and 'survivalist'.

This grim yet aesthetic town. A mix between eerie darkness and exhilarating flames.

Filled with the unpredictable actions of people, as well as those merely looking to traverse the next day.

Tomo: "Does it get quieter at night? Or worse?"

It wasn't too overly crowded - as if to spawn a trampling risk, but was clearly populated and active.

Despite the beaming sky above, the inner town was very much concealed. Alleys, gutters, trapdoors, and underground tunnels all marked the region.

There seemed to be at least one unconscious body around every corner - assumedly not dead. Perhaps those couriers from earlier do not offer a healing service.

...

Reach: ?

On their left was a series of messages written in pink upon the wall, overlayed by splatters of blood.

[

'We are all the products of our environments.'

'Our values are determined by the lives we live.'

'Those who lack empathy, will never break away from that fact.'

'And those who lack empathy, are the real terrors of our existence.'

]

Reach: ...

...

Reach: Whoever wrote this...

Reach: ...I doubt they are still alive.

Thorn noticed a concerning situation far ahead.

A mother in a full-length robe ran quickly - holding her baby in a tight cloth wrap.

A pursuer with a mullet attempted to grab them repeatedly.

Thorn: ...

The pursuer gets a hold of the baby.

...

BANG.

The mother flattens the pursuer with a single punch.

She shakes her bloody knuckles and continues underground.

Thorn subtly smiles.

...

Tomo - innocently distracted elsewhere, appreciated the varying depictions of art and graffiti across the buildings.

He removed his hat in the process.

And may have forgotten about it...

They continued to walk along the dirty, lawless paths. Exploring aimlessly.

A skinny man jumped out from behind a building.

He was pale with blue eyes and freckles.

????: "Let's begin... This new era!!!"

Thump.

Another person kicked him in the back. The man now in a daze on the ground.

Reach: ...

A third person - an unrelated older gentleman, sat against a chunk of debris, talking openly.

????: "How does everyone keep their teeth so white?"

Thorn: ...

The comment put Tomo deep in thought, before moving on.

They eventually found more civilised areas. Smaller groups of people that were able to coexist in hidden parts of the town.

They saw half a family scavenging, while the other half rested.

They saw a teenage person rummaging through pieces of metal, using their bumpy, dark blue finger.

They saw ill people, and the absence of livelihood that soon followed after.

Tomo: ...

Reach noticed Tomo’s mood shift - to a sadder one.

Reach: ...

...

Reach: What kind of trash...

Reach: ...Runs this place?

- - - -

Far on the other side of town.

Not the tallest building, but easily the widest.

A dark room that housed several maroon flaming rocks.

Stood there was a sizeable man with wild, bright red hair.

His skin a beautiful cream colour, yet his disposition animalistic and volatile as he struggled to articulate his low-pitched words.

????: "L-Let me... Hunt..."

He twitched and huffed as he unconsciously gripped his own fingers.

His eyes light red with yellow pupils. Ragged clothes he did not care for. Faint traces of red stubble to match his hair and eyebrows.

A set of sharp teeth...

The two others in the room were not responding.

????: "Gatriox..."

One was a man looking out the window - at a blank wall.

Gatriox: "I wonder why this wall exists..."

Gatriox: "We must ask it why."

Gatriox: "And then ask it again. And again..."

He had a wiseacre tone to his speech. A total confidence in his own philosophy.

His skin a combination of different yellows and whites. Black short hair and black glasses. A blue button-up shirt with navy pants.

????: "Gatriox!!!"

Gatriox threw a small metal spike at the bare foot of the man with red hair.

Blood spurted onto the floor.

????: "Gugh..."

Gatriox: "Who are you talking to?"

The remaining man - yet to speak, was busy stuffing his face with food.

He had thick black hair, caramel brown skin, sideburns, excess stubble, and a large belly.

His greasy clothes arguably too small.

He choked on his food before joining the conversation.

Gatriox: "Me? I'm Gatriox."

His voice a relaxing, unique medium.

The man with glasses retorted.

Gatriox: "We're both Gatriox. Why do you talk like that?"

...

The larger Gatriox went back to eating.

Gatriox: "Mmph... Food."

The man with red hair pulled out the spike from his foot.

????: "Let me hunt!!"

Gatriox: "Shut up, Vork!"

The larger Gatriox was hesitant about the final item on his enormous plate.

Gatriox: "I don't want to eat it, Gatriox. What do we do?"

Gatriox: "Shut the hell up, you illiterate."

The two bickered.

The Gatriox with glasses walked over and picked up the final item by the hair.

Yes - by the hair.

Gatriox: "So a strong woman has entered town, apparently."

The head of Veronica swung in his hands.

...

Gatriox: "Why did such a thing happen? What is the business value?"

Gatriox: ??

He threw the head to Vork.

Gatriox: "Eat up, demon."

Vork: "Gaha!"

Vork tore apart and devoured the lifeless head.

His face smeared with blood.

Gatriox: "Once you finish that, go hunt our visitors. I don't know why you haven't asked me yet."

Vork: "Mmm..."

Vork: "Yes... I will..."

[Chapter 14 -- End]