Chapter Eighty-Six: Ivy's Leverage

Chapter 86

Ivy’s Leverage

Asagao was a dress boutique in one of the buildings in downtown Pink Top City. It had a carved black wooden frame with “Asagao” inscribed in gold and a vector image of an asagao flower. On each side of the black door, there was a white stained glass window with the store’s name and hours. Large windows with lunette windows above were also on each side of the black door. In each window, there were headless mannequins wearing sequin evening gowns and gorgeous ball gowns with vases of flowers surrounding them.

The inside was elegant. It had pale gold walls with columns, gold carvings on the trim of the ceiling, and crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. On the walls, classic paintings in wooden frames hung. There were various dresses of colors and styles hanging from the racks. The cashier counter was luxurious, with fine gold wood carvings and a white marble top. There was a gold call bell, a cash register, and an antique white and gold phone. The chairs were white throne chairs with gold upholstery.

At the end, through the archway framed by gold tapestry, were the changing rooms and rooms where one could stand on a platform and examine the dress and tell the customer service representative how they wanted their dress.

Jaclyn was in the mirror room. She stood on a platform, wearing a strapless blue sequin gown and admiring herself.

Jaclyn: “This dress is a bit too long. Have it cut five inches shorter and make the skirt a mermaid skirt.”

She said to the saleslady.

Ivy was in the next room, wearing a strapless purple sequin ball gown. This looks like the dress I wore in the painting I did of… Tristan and me, she thought. She ran her hands down the dress.

Blair: “It looks great on you, Ivy!”

He chirped. Ivy smiled at him.

Jaclyn scowled and peered around the corner. What is that green cow doing here?! She is much too fat for that dress, and is she courting Demetrio Donati’s grandson?! I must stop him from making a mistake, she thought. Ivy read her thoughts and turned to Jaclyn with a sneer.

Ivy: “Go away, Jaclyn! I don’t have time to deal with your nonsense!”

She huffed. Jaclyn sauntered in.

Jaclyn: “What nonsense, Ivy? Are you using Blair as a rebound to make Tristan jealous and make him see the light? Foolish girl!”

She flipped her hair. Blair glared at Jaclyn. Ivy furrowed her eyebrow.

Ivy: “I am NOT! I am SO over Tristan! I DO NOT forgive him and never will!”

Jaclyn: “If you’re so over him, why hold onto grudges, my dear?”

She smirked.

Blair: “Because Tristan used her to get to Deimos, that’s why.”

He put his arm on Ivy. She folded her arms and nodded.

Jaclyn: “But if you’re happy with Blair, what should it matter? Unless you still love him.”

She scoffed.

Jaclyn: “Save yourself the heartbreak, Blair. You have a woman standing before you giving you her undivided attention!”

Blair: “I am not interested in you, Jaclyn!”

He snapped at her.

Ivy: “No one is but stinky feet lovers! Go stink up another place, Jaclyn! I am done with you!”

She waved her hand at her. Jaclyn glowered at Ivy.

She then relaxed her expression.

Jaclyn: “Isn’t that the dress you wore in that painting you did of you and Tristan?”

She flipped her hair. Ivy froze. Blair glanced at Ivy.

Blair: “Ivy never did a painting of her and Tristan!”

He said flippantly. Jaclyn snickered.

Jaclyn: “Blair, I will have you know that Ivy did several paintings of her and Tristan! One of them was of her in that very dress you see before your eyes.”

She planted her hands on her hips and wagged her head. Ivy saw red.

Ivy: “I am done with Tristan! He can go to Deimos and that stupid Celeste and Jiro! I don’t NEED Tristan!”

She snapped at Jaclyn. Jaclyn flipped her hair.

Jaclyn: “If you say so, my dear. Blair will learn the truth, and I will be there when he does.”

She said loftily.

A Japanese woman with red-tinged black hair approached them. She wore a red double-breasted blazer and skirt, and had a diamond watch on her wrist. She was Mayumi Tachibana, the owner of the Asagao chain.

Mayumi: “How is everything, ladies?”

Jaclyn turned to her.

Jaclyn: “I live across from your son, Jiro. He’s now dating a tramp, but at least he’s not dating a two-timing fat cow like Ivy!”

She growled at Ivy. Mayumi appeared uncomfortable and wrung her hands. Ivy glowered at Jaclyn.

Ivy: “Well, Jaclyn? This has been interesting. So I have a present for you!”

Jaclyn: “What’s that?”

She asked curiously as she examined her nails.

Ivy’s hand flew across Jaclyn’s face, delivering a hard slap on her cheek. Jaclyn glared at Ivy, cupping her reddened cheek.

Jaclyn: “You will see, Blair. Check her art study. You will find plenty of drawings of her ravishing Tristan. But me? I have eyes only for you.”

She marched off. Blair embraced himself, not knowing what to make of that encounter. Ivy read his thoughts.

Ivy: “You don’t believe her, do you, Blair? Why would I be with you if I had eyes for Tristan? I am done with that manipulative snake in the grass!”

She wrapped her arms around them, and they kissed.

~

That afternoon, when Blair was out at the Video and Card Shop, Ivy went through the pictures she took of Tristan putting his feet up for her, the drawings she did of him, and the paintings. She placed them into a box and set the combination. Goddamn Jaclyn, she thought. She looked at her emerald engagement ring and twiddled with it.

She went to Amigo that Tristan bought for her and ran her fingertips over the initials he had welded into the side of the monitor. She turned it on and smirked at the video of Vanessa with Hiroto. She remembered writing notes to both Celeste and Jaxon, as well as Tristan. I am going to have Vanessa kicked out and rule this house, she thought.

~

Tristan had finished watching the Hiroto and Vanessa video clip. He was walking to Jaxon and Celeste’s house. He knocked on the door, Noah answered, and let him in.

He saw Celeste and Jaxon watching TV on the couch. Jaxon wore his red silk dragon robe, and Celeste wore a purple silk robe with black cats.

Celeste: “Hey, Tristan. How’s tricks?”

Tristan sat down.

Jaxon: “Hey Tristan.”

His demeanor was more sombre today.

Tristan: “Someone placed an envelope in my mailbox with a URL written in cursive, feminine handwriting. I saw the video, and I take it by how you two look, you both saw it as well.”

He wagged his forefinger at them. Celeste trailed her nails on Jaxon’s chest. Tristan sighed.

Tristan: “I’m not upset… I wish you had told me. This could have saved you much sooner, but… I am not upset with you and understand this is a sore topic for you.”

He said with strain and rubbed the back of his neck. Jaxon’s eyebrows rose surprisingly.

Jaxon: “...Wait, you’re not pissed off at me?!”

He gaped at him.

Tristan: “No, not at all. I am willing to help you, in fact.”

He declared.

Tristan: “I can definitely fix this for you. I want to know WHY Vanessa went on Whitney’s talk show and why she said those lies. I don’t believe for one second she did this on her own, and I don’t think anyone in that house twisted her arm.”

He made a praying gesture with his hands and put his face up to them.

Tristan: “This has Robin written all over it.”

He said grimly. Celeste scowled. Jaxon furrowed his eyebrow.

Jaxon: “HYPNO-BITCH?!”

Tristan nodded soberly.

Celeste: “Goddamnit. Do you think she sent that URL to us?”

Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “No, this… isn’t her MO.”

Celeste: “They didn’t send one to Deimos?”

Tristan: “Not that I am aware of.”

Jaxon: “Who the fuck did then?! Why send it to you, too?!”

Tristan: “This is what I would love to know.”

He leaned back into his seat. He withdrew his cigarette case from his jacket, opened it, and took a cigarette out. He used his lighter to light it up and inhaled a long drag.

Tristan: “The person who wanted us to see this video has beef with Vanessa. Who would gain the most from Vanessa’s downfall?”

He asked and put his hand up as Jaxon went to speak.

Tristan: “No, I am not accusing you, Jaxon. This isn’t your MO. Someone else has beef with her.”

Jaxon: “What, my mom or something?!”

He laughed bitterly and shrugged. Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “Unless she knows about this affair, I doubt it.”

He stated.

Suddenly, Deimos came in. He heaved a deep sigh.

Deimos: “I saw the video.”

Tristan raised his eyebrows. Celeste glanced at him.

Tristan: “Someone sent you the URL?”

Deimos shook his head.

Deimos: “No, I found it in your room and saw it.”

He folded his arms over.

Deimos: “I completely understand, Jaxon. I know how hard this is to discuss…”

He began and sat with Tristan. Jaxon’s eyes widened.

Jaxon: “Wait, so not even YOU’RE pissed off with me?!”

He gaped at him.

Deimos: “No, but I get why you think that, if your dad is like mine.”

He said coolly.

Deimos: “That outing where we saw our dads come out of the hostess club…”

He shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Jaxon froze.

Deimos: “That wasn’t his first rodeo.”

He confessed. Tristan quirked an eyebrow. Jaxon gaped at him.

Jaxon: “WHAT?!”

Deimos: “I don’t know if your parents have had a stillborn or a kid who died from SIDS but… since my little sister died from SIDS, it wasn’t the same for my family.”

He cupped his mouth with pain in his eyes. Tristan placed his hands on his.

Deimos: “My mother has been depressed about my sister’s death for almost twenty years. Her nursery is STILL next to my bedroom, where it always was… locked up, collecting dust, and nothing being taken out. It’s just an unused shrine for her, it seems.”

He sighed.

Jaxon: “Okay… that’s really weird and creepy.”

Deimos nodded soberly.

Deimos: “So my mother was depressed and moping around, and I guess my father needs companionship, so he seeks it elsewhere because Mom is busy feeling sorry for herself. Our nanny, Monica, who is now our maid, raised Lazaros and me because Mom would lock herself in her room, weeping and moping.”

He heaved another long sigh.

Jaxon: “Wow… that’s… something.”

He gaped at him.

Deimos: “And in some way? I understand him. In other ways? He disgusts me. My parents disgust me.”

He admitted with a growl. Jaxon understood him.

Jaxon: “Well, yeah, who wants to be around a moper? My parents suck too! My dad fucked some whiny girl.”

He scoffed.

Celeste: “What if she gets pregnant?”

She finally asked. Tristan sighed and rubbed his temples. Deimos gaped at her.

Tristan: “Why would you ask that?”

He asked with some irritation.

Jaxon: “NO! Don’t even say that!”

He huffed.

Celeste: “He didn’t use a condom, and if I recall correctly, Ash said to me she told them she wasn’t on the pill.”

She twisted her mouth. Jaxon gaped at her.

Tristan: “I am fixing Jaxon’s problem because he’s my client and my friend. I am not fixing anyone else’s. That’s on them.”

He said firmly.

Jaxon: “Thanks, Tristan, you’re the best!”

He patted his shoulder.

Celeste: “Not asking you to. Just wondered if she would use this as a ploy for ‘child support’.”

Tristan heaved a deep sigh.

Deimos: “Nah, more like Hiroto would pay her to abort or shut up.”

He rolled his eyes. Jaxon frowned.

Jaxon: “He so would.”

He huffed.

Celeste trailed her nails on Jaxon’s chest. Jaxon shivered.

Celeste: “What will you do to help my man, Tristan?”

Tristan: “That video of Makayla and Brad will be published, for one. Then I will have to prove Robin pushed Vanessa to lie on that talk show.”

He explained.

Jaxon: “Oh god, you’re going to subject the world to THAT?!”

He nodded.

Tristan: “Fight fire with fire, I suppose.”

He gazed up at the ceiling.

Celeste: “And Makayla fucked off like the coward she is.”

Deimos: “She better stay gone.”

He grimaced.

Jaxon: “She can ride off on her piggie into the sunset.”

He grimaced.

~

After Tristan and Deimos left, Celeste lay on Jaxon. She looked up at him and smiled.

Celeste: “How do you feel, handsome?”

She caressed his face. Jaxon smiled at her tender touch and loving words.

Jaxon: “Been better, beautiful.”

He laughed.

Celeste: “I have a surprise for you…!”

She batted her eyelashes. Jaxon brightened.

Jaxon: “A surprise, huh?”

He grinned, locking his gaze on her. Celeste went into their bedroom for a few minutes and came out dressed in a white tie-under crop top, purple hot pants, and white leg warmers.

Celeste: “Ta-da!”

She sang and lunged at him, landing on top of him. Jaxon licked his lip, delighted at the sight before him.

Jaxon: “Oh my, is it hot in here, or is it just you?”

He fanned his face with his hand and purred at her. Celeste bit her bottom lip and kissed him. Jaxon kissed her back.

Celeste: “Carry me to the bedroom? I have another surprise.”

She whispered into his ear. Jaxon shivered at her whispers.

Jaxon: “Ohhh, another surprise? Aren’t I already spoiled?”

He purred, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her to the bedroom. He gently placed her onto the bed. Celeste lay back on the bed, a bit of her areola showing from her top.

Jaxon’s eyes widened, and he licked his lips.

Celeste: “Ever get a footjob?”

She purred.

Jaxon: “Footjob? What, like a blow job but with your feet?”

He laughed. She bit her bottom lip and nodded.

Jaxon: “Go on then.”

He grinned widely at her, sitting down on the bed and untying the sash of his robe, opening it up, and exposing his naked body. Celeste scooted over and took his member between her feet, stroking it up and down, and wiggling her toes on his shaft. Jaxon closed his eyes and hummed with pleasure.

Jaxon: “Mmmm, that feels nice.”

He sighed happily as his shaft hardened the more she rubbed it. Celeste stroked her vulva through her hot pants as she stroked him off with her feet. She gripped her toes around his cock and rubbed the tip with them. Jaxon moaned.

Jaxon: “Oh… Celeste…”

He quivered with arousal, biting down on his lip.

Celeste: “Oh, Jaxon… Mmmm!”

She reddened as she vigorously stroked him off with her feet. She untied her top and slid her hot pants off. She rubbed her tiny clit in a circular motion as she stroked him. Jaxon fixed his gaze on her delicate fingers as they circled that knot of flesh, and he felt himself getting harder.

Jaxon: “Mmmm, o-oh fuck!”

He rolled his head back and moaned with pleasure.

Celeste kept her feet on his hardened cock and leaned over sucking on it as she stroked him off with her feet. She used her flexibility to do both. Jaxon moaned and felt his body soar higher and higher, stroking her head as she pleasured him.

Jaxon: “Oh wow… you’re amazing…”

He moaned breathlessly. Celeste purred and resumed stroking his cock with her feet and sucking him off. Jaxon reddened all over and bit down on his lip, moaning as he felt like he was about ready to burst. His eyes rolled back as he reached climax, releasing his warm hot cum into her mouth. Celeste’s eyes rolled back into her head as he released his load. She pulled out and swallowed his cum.

Celeste: “Mmmm…”

She lay by him and held him close. Jaxon stroked her head.

Celeste: “Glad you enjoyed that, sexy.”

She looked up at him with her violet eyes. He locked his gaze onto her and grinned widely at her.

Celeste: “I’m glad you’re smiling again.”

She brushed his cheek with her fingers.

Jaxon: “You always know how to make me feel like a million!”

He smiled at her, kissing her. She kissed him back.

Celeste: “So do you.”

She rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

Suddenly, the house shook for a few seconds, and Celeste held onto Jaxon tightly. Jaxon gasped and instinctively wrapped his arms around her. They heard several vases knocking on the floor and smashing, and their TV in the living room crashing onto the floor.

Celeste: “Wh-What was that?!”

She held him close.

Jaxon: “What the FUCK?!”

He gasped, holding her close to his chest.

Celeste: “Wanna see what it is?”

She asked him. Jaxon nodded.

Jaxon: “Uhh, YES?”

He did up his robe and rose from the bed with her. Celeste threw on her robe and had him lead the way. She held onto his hand. Jaxon gripped her hand.

They entered the living room to see that the TV had crashed down on his NES, breaking it and the games, and several vases were smashed.

Jaxon: “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

He gasped, cupping his cheeks. Celete lifted the TV off the broken NES and smashed game cartridges.

Celeste: “Oh, no! I can get you new ones!”

She knit her eyebrows.

Jaxon: “It’s not your fault, baby… It’s this Reonaquake or whatever it is!”

He kissed her head. Celeste smiled and wrapped her arms around him as he held her close.

~

Fifteen Minutes Earlier…

Craig and Fabien were in bed watching TV. Craig was naked, and Fabien was in his green plaid pajama pants. He was smoking in bed as they watched the Makayla and Brad video of her disgusting fetish, wanting to kill Jaxon, and aborting Brad’s baby. Craig was vomiting in the toilet.

Craig: “FUCKIN’ GROSS! TURN IT OFF!”

He gagged. Fabien shut the TV off.

Fabien: “Your bitch of a sister never visited you once when you were in the hospital but Tristan, Deimos, and Celeste did. I never liked that fat cunt.”

He shoved his cigarette into the ashtray and exhaled smoke.

Craig: “...Holy shit, you’re right!”

He frowned.

Fabien: “I got in touch with someone who can give me the serum to give you special powers. If she is on the run and loose, you need them more than ever.”

Craig’s eyebrows rose with intrigue.

Craig: “OOH?! I GET TO BE A SUPERHERO TOO?!”

He grinned widely.

Fabien: “YUP! You get to be MY superhero!”

He threw his arms around him, kissing him. Craig grinned widely at him and kissed him all over. The house shook. Fabien yelped and held onto Craig. Fabien’s trophy case toppled on the floor, smashing. Craig gasped, grabbing Fabien and holding him close to him, in his big, strong arms.

Craig: “Wh-What the fuck?!”

He yelped and trembled, wanting to be the protector, but didn’t want to let on how terrified he was. Fabien caressed his arms, and his heart sank when he saw his trophy shelf and some of his trophies destroyed.

Fabien: “My trophies!”

He cried, pointing to his destroyed trophies. Craig knit his eyebrows.

Craig: “SHIT! Sorry, Fab! I’ll super glue ‘em ‘n fix ‘em for you!”

He held him in his arms, trying to comfort him. Fabien smiled a bit. It wouldn’t fix it, but he loved that he tried.

~

Deimos and Tristan were up in Deimos’ bedroom, making out on his bed. Deimos and Tristan wrestled their tongues with each other as Deimos tasted Tristan’s hot guy breath. Tristan rested his hand on the nape of Deimos’ neck as he lowered him to softly kiss his neck and down to his chest. Deimos pulled his tank top off, revealing his toned, sculpted body. Tristan reddened and rested his hands on the wall of his masculine chest. He kissed his abs and kissed up to his chest. Deimos shivered as he felt his soft lips pressed against his skin. He bit his bottom lip and hardened.

Deimos: “Tristan…”

He whispered. Tristan glanced down, and his face turned red when he saw Deimos’ hardness. Deimos and Tristan gazed into each other’s eyes. Deimos swallowed and took Tristan’s hand, placing it on his hardness. Tristan’s breathing hitched. Deimos threw his head back, feeling Tristan’s slender hand over his hardness through his jeans. Tristan flushed, feeling hot and aroused. He felt himself harden in his pants as he rubbed Deimos’ hardness.

This wasn’t like the first time they made out when Dougal filmed them. Tristan didn’t want to think of that and ruin this special moment. It’s him and Deimos. No Dougal. Tristan felt safe and loved.

Tristan: “Deimos…”

He whispered. The two gazed into each other’s eyes, and they deeply kissed.

Suddenly, the house shook. Deimos wrapped his arms around Tristan protectively. Tristan yelped. Deimos’ shelves of videos were knocked over and crashed onto the floor. The cats dashed in and ran under the covers. Tristan trembled in Deimos’ arms. Deimos froze; his heart thundered in his chest.

Deimos: “...What was that?”

~

Ashley and Lazaros were in the living room watching the segment of Makayla with Brad, the feederism, the plot to kill Jaxon, her aborting Brad’s baby, and her plots to ruin Jaxon. Lazaros cupped his mouth.

Lazaros: “I should have known.”

Ashley’s heart sank, stroking their sun tattoo.

Lazaros rose, pacing around. Ashley embraced themself, overwhelmed by all the racing thoughts on their mind. Borealis? Murder? That weird fetish?!

Ashley: “...I can’t believe she’s a murderer…”

They were too shocked to process that.

Lazaros: “Makayla was using this fat man to kill Jaxon! He is a friend of my brother’s, and now he is going to join us in watching you feast! As much as I would love to think of you feasting on my food, we have more important issues at hand.”

He said proudly. Ashley laughed awkwardly.

Lazaros: “Deimos lost his band—again. My brother will be devastated, and I don’t know how to fix this!”

He cupped his mouth. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “Don’t worry, Laz, he will make a new band and he will be better off without her! He’s really talented, he’ll be okay!”

They assured him, pulling him into a hug. Lazaros smiled and hugged him back.

Ashley: “As for Makayla… I… don’t even know what to think…”

They stared off into space.

Lazaros: “Well, you shed a lot of light into my life!”

Ashley smiled up at him.

They heard a high-pitched wail. Lazaros winced and collapsed to the groun,d screaming in pain.

Lazaros: “MAKE IT STOP!”

Ashley gasped and rushed over to him.

Ashley: “LAZAROS?! What’s wrong?!”

They cried, kneeling to him. Lazaros panted.

Lazaros: “I’ll be fine.”

Ashley turned in the direction of the noise and gaped at Maxx.

Ashley: “Maxx?! What the hell?! Why is HE back?!”

Maxx: “FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATLEY!”

He caterwauled outside of Lazaros’ house.

Maxx: “GET DA FUCK OUT HERE, YOU FAT ASSHOLE!”

Lazaros stormed out. Ashley followed him out, staying close.

Lazaros: “What do you want?! It’s not a good time!”

He hissed. Ashley clutched onto Lazaros’ chest and glared at Maxx. Lazaros put his arm around Ashley.

Ashley: “Go AWAY!”

They hissed at him like a cat.

Maxx: “FATLEY! You fuckin’ fat traitor! YOU STOLE MY FILLY-BABE! I will fuckin’ make you pay, you fat asshole!”

He growled at them.

Ashley: “What?! What are you talking about? I didn’t steal your baby horse?! I didn’t even know you liked horses?!”

They countered.

Maxx: “LIAR! I SAW YOUR FATASS FUCKIN’ MY FILLY-BABE!”

He screamed, Lazaros winced in pain, and collapsed to the floor.

Ashley knit their eyebrows and wrapped their arms around Lazaros.

Ashley: “L-Lazaros?!”

They cried. Maxx glared at Ashley with rage. His face contorted into a grotesque snarl.

Ashley: “Go AWAY! You’re hurting him!”

They cried, holding Lazaros close to them. Lazaros’ ears bled. The ground started to tremble.

Lazaros: “N-No!”

He gently shoved Ashley away as he staggered to Maxx, as the ground shook. Maxx turned redder a small crater formed beneath him. Ashley’s jaw hit the floor, stunned beyond disbelief at what they saw.

Lazaros’ ears were burning, and he felt like his head was going to blow off. He had to stop Maxx before he killed his brother, his brother’s friends, the city, and… Ashley. He peeled his gloves off and dropped them to the ground.

Maxx: “FATLEY!”

Lazaros clapped his bare hands over Maxx’s head. His head exploded under his palms. Blood, brains, teeth, and eyes splattered all over Lazaros. Ashley gasped, cupping their mouth. Maxx’s headless corpse collapsed to the ground. Lazaros collapsed as he bled from his ears, a ringing sound piercing them. Ashley rushed over to Lazaros, holding him close to them.

Ashley: “N-No! LAZAROS!”

They cried and trembled, stroking his head on their lap.

Deimos and Tristan came out. Tristan cupped his mouth. Deimos rushed over to Lazaros and put his hands over him as he healed him. Tristan kept his eyes on Deimos, Lazaros and swerved them to Maxx’s headless body with the crater in the road. Did Maxx cause this? He wondered.

When Deimos healed Lazaros, a black car pulled up. Several men in hazmat suits came, picked up Maxx, and threw him in the car. They immediately left.

Lazaros: “Wh-What happened?! WHAT IS MAXX?!”

He cried. Ashley smiled with relief when Lazaros came to.

Ashley: “LAZAROS!”

They hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. Lazaros held Ashley close. Deimos bowed his head.

Deimos: “I don’t know what he is, Lazaros. He’s not human anymore, though.”

He said grimly.

Ashley: “He’s a monster!”

They cried, stroking Lazaros’ hair. Lazaros looked up at Ashley and sighed.

Lazaros: “I wish you hadn’t seen that, Ashley. I didn’t want you to know your best friend turned into this.”

He cried. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “The Maxx I knew is long gone. That’s not him anymore… That’s a monster. I was more worried about you!”

They grabbed his hands. Lazaros raised his eyebrows.

Lazaros: “Really? You’re not upset that your best friend or your former best friend turned into a monster?”

He asked.

Tristan: “I think Ashley has moved past Maxx, Lazaros.”

Ashley nodded in confirmation.

Ashley: “I’ve got more important people to care about and worry about now.”

They smiled at Lazaros, stroking his cheek. Lazaros smiled tenderly at Ashley.

Lazaros: “I had to do what I did. I didn’t want him to hurt you.”

He said to them.

Ashley: “I didn’t want him to hurt you either, Lazaros! He was hurting you and hurting Reona!”

They cried and pulled him into a hug, sobbing on his chest. Lazaros held them close and heaved a deep sigh.

Lazaros: “Well, he can’t hurt you anymore, Ashley. He’s gone.”

He told them, but had a look of uncertainty in his eyes.

~

Maxx lay in an empty room where Dr. Wolfgang Duerr and Dr. Cedar Garafano observed him through a two-way mirror. His head formed back and he was sleeping.

Dr. Duerr: “This ‘Fatley’... Is he the cause of these screams?”

Cedar drew a long breath.

Cedar: “It’s possible. I mean, he wrote almost every song on his album about them.”

He said dryly.

Dr. Duerr: “I want this looked into, and if this works, I will be using Fatley to elicit more screams from him.”

He grinned and patted his shoulder. Cedar stared off into space. What have I gotten myself into? He wondered.