Chapter 4
Bloody Rose and Kitten
Before Percy “Bloody Rose” Pearson became a freelance assassin, he was on Jarlath “Jonesy” O’Hara’s payroll as his personal hitman. Jonesy was a handsome elderly Irish gentleman and one of the most prolific crime lords in the underworld of Pink Top City. He had penetrating blue eyes and thick, rich silver hair. His lips were full and he had a tanned complexion. There was an air of elegance about him. He was tall, had strong-looking wide shoulders, and was always dressed in tailored suits. Even at the age of eighty-seven years old, he looked great.
He immigrated to the United States from Talamh in 1916 with his family.
Jonesy never married and never had a family, but he loved the company of many beautiful women. He had his eye on one particular woman for a while; whatever Jonesy wanted, he got. He was attracted to a medium-height, curvy white French woman with pure white hair. She had striking light green eyes with long black lashes. Her resemblance to Marilyn Monroe suggests that she is trying to dress above her social station, but failing because it is obvious. Her name is Robin “Kitten” Rénard and her stage name is Robin Fox. She is a twenty-four-year-old former dancer and now seeking men with wealth.
He began dating Robin and took her from her job of dancing at Midnight Foxes. She was his trophy girlfriend; she would sleep with him, go to dinner with him, and be on his arm at important functions and events. Everyone on his payroll knew Robin was a gold digger and after one thing.
Jonesy’s maid found him lying dead on his bedroom floor. The autopsy report said he had a major heart attack. He was an old man and people knew he was going to die anytime now. It was just that the sudden death came as a shock to his people; he was not ill and had a clean bill of health. Nevertheless, there was no investigation.
At the reading of the will, no one was shocked to see Robin there. She was asked to leave, but Robin was adamant about staying. The surprise was that Jonesy’s hitman, Percy, inherited his wealth, mansion, and most of his possessions. Of course, Robin stormed out of the room in tears.
How dare that old bastard?! I engaged in terrible sex with that wrinkled dick and he had the nerve to not give me a cent, she thought bitterly.
However, not all was lost; Percy inherited wealth and manor. Robin would seduce him and he would take her as his girlfriend. She refuses to let her efforts go in vain. Percy is the owner of the O’Hara estate now. Nothing will change.
Everything did change, much to Robin’s chagrin. Percy sold the manor, and his possessions, and stored his inheritance in a Swiss bank account.
Percy continued to stay where he always stayed: boarding with a teacher, his husband, and two younger brothers in a trim-looking European-style one-story home. The covered porches in the front and back created a relaxing environment. Upon entering the home, there was a family room with a vaulted ceiling and an entertainment center. The kitchen was country-style, with a cooktop island, that flowed into the dining room and then into the vaulted keeping room. The right wing comprised the sumptuous master suite. Three more bedrooms, each with walk-in closets, and room for a third bedroom share space with a recreation room on the lower level.
The house was located in a small little village on the outskirts of Pink Top City. There was not much in the village; there were a few souvenir shops, one bakery, and Pie School, which is the school where Jay Osborne and his boyfriend and teaching assistant, Kelly Harris taught. Percy was boarding with Jay and Kelly.
Pie School is a school for special needs children and adults. He teaches kindergarten to grade twelve to children with disabilities and problems as well as adults who wish to get their grade twelve education.
Robin cried her eyes out for days until she could not cry anymore. This place is a DUMP, she thought hatefully.
Percy sat on the edge of his bed with his shirt off, leaning over and smoking. Robin lay face down on the bed soaking her pillow with her tears. Percy breathed out.
Percy: “I don’t know what you want from me.”
He said hoarsely.
Robin: “I hate it here, Percy. I miss Jonesy’s place. Why did you sell it? Why not buy a mansion?! Why are we at this dump with a bunch of hippies?!”
She whined. Percy drew a long breath and let it out roughly. He reached down to scratch under his cat, Mickey’s, chin. Mickey is a large Norwegian Forest Cat, white with black mask-and-mantle markings. He found him and his newborn brothers two years ago. He recalled an Iranian genetic engineer who was found with a bullet through his head and another cat dead with him. She was probably the kittens’ mother. Percy took the kittens, kept Mickey, and found homes for the rest.
~
In the room neighboring theirs, a young man is blasting Countess Bathory by Venom in his dark, dank, and messy bedroom with only a small candle as a light. He took a needle and held it up to the tiny flame. He waited a few moments, before placing his left arm on the table and began carving the letter “R” into his left forearm. The young man winced in pain and stuck out his tongue as he began carving the “O” next to the letter “R.” He is a tall, skinny redheaded young man with many freckles all over his body, and face, across his long, narrow nose. He has shoulder-length hair and his bangs came half of an inch above his eyes. He had droopy light blue eyes that reflected sadness. He is Jay Osborne’s younger brother, Raymond Osborne, but most call him Ray. Ray is eighteen-years-old and has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and clinical depression.
~
Rushing down the hall is a small redheaded boy with tons of freckles scattered across his pale face. His hair was styled in a bowl haircut. He had large, bright light green eyes. Large rounded glasses with purple frames covered much of his face. He was dressed in black trousers, patent black shoes, a pressed blue shirt, a black tie, and a white lab coat over it. On his hands, he wore purple rubber gloves. He rushed down the halls with his toy gun. He is Jay Osborne’s youngest brother, Quimby Osborne. Quimby is twelve-years-old, in grade seven, and has many problems. One of them is he believes he is a genius scientist and has a difficult time differentiating reality from fantasy.
~
In the living room, two young men lay on the couch cuddling and watching cheesy Hallmark movies. The tall, tanned redheaded man is Jay Osborne. He had wide, strong-looking shoulders, and a muscular physique. He wore his long hair—which came down to his bum—pulled back in a ponytail. He was dressed in a white V-neck shirt, and jeans, and wore socks on his feet. Jay is the eldest of the brothers and twenty-five years old. He took his brothers and left his home country of Anglia when Quimby was born in 1975 after their mother died giving birth to him, their father taking his own life not long after.
His husband, Kelly Harris, is a man of average height. He wore his shoulder-length sandy blond hair parted in the middle and kept his goatee neat and trimmed. He had calm-looking hazel eyes and small square-framed glasses hung on the bridge of his nose. He is a hippie, a pacifist, and an animal rights activist. He teaches alongside his boyfriend at Pie School.
Kelly rose from the couch to go into the kitchen and stir their supper. He was preparing a ginger vegetarian stir-fry.
Jay: “It smells great!”
Jay called out from the living room.
Quimby dashed down the stairs, into the living room.
Quimby: “Let’s hope that Ray finally did the world a favor and hung himself! That would be the best Sciencemas present if you want to know some scientific facts! Besides, I don’t celebrate Christmas! Scientists celebrate SCIENCEMAS!
Kelly spun on his heels and shot Quimby a furious look.
Kelly: “Quimby, please don’t say things like that!”
Quimby drew a breath and crossed his arms.
Quimby: “Scientists don’t spare feelings, Kelly. They state facts and the fact is Ray is a waste of space!”
Jay rubbed his temples. It’s too early for this bullshit, he thought.
Kelly laid the plates on the table. He placed Ray’s plate in front of his seat and sat down.
Kelly: “He’ll come down when he gets up. Perhaps he’s napping.”
Quimby: “Hopefully taking a dirt nap!”
He spat as he stabbed his fork into the vegetables and stared at the meal as if it were something not even a prisoner would eat. Kelly and Jay ignored Quimby’s remark. They did not want to argue. They began tucking in their food.
Robin stomped into the kitchen wearing nothing but a blue dressing gown with her breasts spilling out of it. She angrily sat at the dining room table and slammed a clipboard down on the table. She crossed her arms under her breasts and pouted at the table.
Robin: “How can anyone stand this dump?! Doesn’t anyone want to live richly anymore?!”
She sniffled through her crystal tears.
Kelly: “Robin, would you like any of this?”
Jay shot him a look of fury as if to ask why he would offer her anything after she insulted their hospitality.
Robin: “This is crap! I only eat food prepared by French chefs or food prepared by the best chefs in the world!”
She whined.
Quimby: “Gee, I guess Ray is out, then, huh?”
Robin: “I hate that stupid kid! He’s just a loser! He will never have money like Jonesy!”
She buried her face into her hands and started sobbing. Jay’s jaw tightened, suppressing his desire to strangle her.
After she sobbed for five minutes, she took out her clipboard and examined it.
Robin: “I could ask Dr. Mark Koks to date me… but he’s gay!”
She said with a sniffle and continued.
Robin: “Seymour Donovan III likes Asian girls only.”
She flipped the pages.
Robin: “I’m down to Raijin Bodacious and Blair Donati. If I ask them to be my boyfriend, I am leaving this DUMP!”
Percy came down after she screamed those last words.
Percy: “You’re leaving me?”
Robin rose and threw her clipboard at him. She wailed and stomped her feet.
Robin: “Percy, this place is a dump! I hate it here! Where are the maids?! Where are the pedicurists and manicurists?! Why isn’t a French chef working here?! WHY ISN’T JONESY ALIVE?!”
She whined loudly. Percy clenched his teeth and jaw.
Ray came down dressed in just his gray plaid pajama bottoms. He had a pair of blue lacy panties stuck in the waistband of his pants. Everyone turned around to stare at him. On his left forearm, he carved the name “ROBIN” on it. Kelly’s jaw dropped and he slowly cupped his jaw staring in disbelief.
Kelly: “Ray, what on Reona is that on your arm?!”
He breathed.
Ray: “Robin’s name.”
Percy pointed to the panties sticking out from his pants.
Percy: “And those?”
Ray pulled them out and rubbed them on his face.
Ray: “My fair Robin’s panties…”
He said softly. Percy bared his teeth and pointed at Ray.
Percy: “There, Robin! There’s Mr. Perfect! I can’t think of many men who would carve your name into their skin or steal your lingerie!”
Jay angrily rose from his seat.
Jay: “That will be in your skin permanently!”
His voice rose. Ray shrugged and shook his head.
Ray: “I don’t care! My love for Robin is eternal! I stole these panties while she slept and watched her sleeping! While I did, I masturbated!”
He cried. Percy laughed bitterly.
Percy: “And they say romance is dead.”
He said dryly.
Robin: “If he were rich, I would take him, but since he’s a loser, he will never have me!”
She shrieked. Her words stabbed Ray’s heart as if she drove a rusty sword through it. He began to weep.
Robin: “I’m going to find a real man, Percy! I hate this dive! I hate these losers! ESPECIALLY THAT ONE!”
She howled as she pointed at Ray. Ray began sobbing uncontrollably. He sat down at the kitchen table and began drowning his food with his tears.
Quimby: “Well, you heard her, Ray! Maybe it’s time to end it all!”
Jay: “QUIMBY!”
He shouted at the child. He angrily turned to Robin, but before he could say anything, she stormed off to Percy’s bedroom. Percy had a look of defeat on him.
~
Later, Robin sauntered through the foyer. She was dressed close-fitting jacket over a body-hugging black dress, with black patent leather heels and a wide-brimmed sun hat.
Robin: “I’m getting a new man.”
She said loftily as she adjusted her hat.
Kelly: “Robin, Ray, and Percy are very upset!”
He cried. Robin shook her head.
Robin: “They can cry to you two. I don’t care. I cannot and will not live beneath my means!”
She spat before she stormed out. Kelly drew a breath.
Jay: “Why on Reona does Ray love that?”
Quimby: “Sadly, that is something not even the top five scientific geniuses in the universe can answer. As you know, I’m one of them.”
Jay rolled his eyes, but he had to agree that Ray’s reason for loving Robin was beyond anyone’s comprehension.
Percy was in the foyer looking out the window at Robin as she got into the cab.
Percy had enough of her. He does not know why he agreed to date her in the first place. She used Jonesy for his money; that was abundantly clear. What would make Percy any different? He wondered whatever happened to Robin’s suitors before Jonesy. He glanced down at the bottle of Frojune Clairet. Tristan, huh, he thought.
~
Percy drove through Little Tokyo and parked his car in front of a small building with a glass door and two windows. The windows have bars over them. Above the windows was a large neon sign that read, “Wu’s Medicinal Shop.” Two other neon signs read, “OPEN” and “Medical Marijuana.” His shop sold medicinal marijuana, herbal medication, and other things to the black market.
Percy stepped out of his car and entered the little shop. He greeted the little Chinese man holding his Siamese cat. He is a short Asian man with a Fu Manchu mustache He is dressed in a changshan and a mandarin hat.
Percy: “Bonjour, mon ami! I need to make a special purchase from you, sweet pea…”
He merrily sang and placed the palms of his hands on the counter. Wu only smiled.
Wu: “Of course, Percy. Anything for you. What is it?”
Percy: “I need something to cleanse…”
He chuckled and batted his eyelashes. Wu gave him a curt nod, placed his cat down, and turned around to go through his inventory.
~
Celeste walked in and roamed down the aisles looking for taro bubble tea. As soon as she found what she was looking for, she took her purchases to the counter to pay for them. Wu bowed to her and smiled.
Wu: “Hello, my dear, need to make any special purchases today?”
He asked her. Celeste shook her head.
Celeste: “Poisoning isn’t my specialty; you got the wrong Marcella.”
Wu: “I sold her a special ‘potion’ to cleanse life not too long ago. It is a special poison that cannot be detected in an autopsy.”
He stated as he rang her purchases through. Celeste did not reply. His white bushy eyebrows rose at the purchases Celeste made.
Wu: “Is this for a special someone?”
Celeste: “N-No… I am doing someone a favor…”
She reddened.
She walked out of the store, her face red as a beet. Before she got in her vehicle, she spotted a box with “FREE KITTENS. TAKE ONE” scrawled on it in black. She slowly approached it and saw a tiny black tuxedo kitten all alone mewing. He had an all-black face, a small triangular white patch on his chest, white feet, and white tips on his paws. Percy snuck up behind her and looked down.
Percy: “I shall take you.”
Before he could take the kitten, Celeste pressed the muzzle of her gun to his temple.
Percy: “Hello, my warrior princess… Hehehehehehe, I do like your way of greeting people.”
He quipped.
Celeste: “That kitten is mine…”
She said icily.
Percy: “I never took you for a cat lover.”
Celeste: “…He’s not for me.”
Percy: “Oh? Someone special?”
He sniggered. There was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. Celeste felt the blood rush to her face.
Celeste: “Stay out of this, you goddamn prick!”
She barked at him and snatched the kitten out of his box.
Percy: “Darling, you could get over the time I took your job and we could end your contract with that dump.”
He took a step towards her and held out his hands apologetically.
Celeste: “Mind your business. Now fuck off. I’d kill you on the spot, but people are watching.”
She cradled the kitten and stormed back into her car.
Percy: “Hehehehehehe, doesn’t take much to spite her… I kind of like setting her off… She’s a ticking time bomb ready to go. Nyehehehehehe…”
He laughed as he hooked his thumbs into his pockets. He looked back at the empty box.
Percy: “I wonder if the rest went to good homes.”
He caught of glimpse of something in the corner of his eye. He pivoted on his heels and saw two teenage boys go with a bicolor gray and white tabby kitten and a tank of gasoline. Percy’s smile faded. He then pursued them.
~
Celeste brought the kitten home. The kitten was sniffing around the kitchen, learning about his new surroundings, and meeting the other cats.
She brought him into Blair along with the bubble tea and aloe vera juice. He let out a long sigh.
Celeste: “I got you another surprise.”
Blair: “Wh-What is it?”
She reached down and held up a tiny tuxedo kitten. Blair smiled widely and sat up in his bed. He took the kitten and cuddled him.
Blair: “Awwww… Thank you!”
Blair glanced at a poster of Blake Samson—the protagonist of Dork Norkem.
Blair: “I’m gonna call him Samson!”
He gazed at the poster, which featured Blake Samson, a fat guy with a red T-shirt, ponytail, neckbeard, sunglasses, and fingerless gloves. He has dual machine guns spraying bullets at aliens.
Celeste: “Hehehehe, interesting name.”
She smiled and began twirling the locks of her hair between her fingers. Blair saw her smiling.
Blair: “I-I-I like that…”
He stammered as he started twiddling his thumbs. Celeste arched an eyebrow, baffled at his statement.
Celeste: “Like what, your kitten?”
He nodded.
Blair: “And seeing you smile.”
Celeste felt the blood rush to her face, embarrassment sweeping over her. She looked away.
Celeste: “Uhm, thanks…”
Blair: “No, thank you.”
Celeste: “D-Don’t mention it. Well, uhm, hope you feel better from the other day.”
Her voice quavered as she left the room.
Blair: “O-Of course…!”
Blair sank back into his pillow cuddling Samson with a big smile on his face. Celeste marched down the foyer still uncertain of what happened. Maybe I should tell Tristan or Deimos to get Ivy a kitten, she thought.
~
Deimos was home in his backyard patio reading and occasionally looking at Jaclyn’s house wondering what that wailing sound was. He looked around for Ivy, so she couldn’t read his thoughts. These powers are a blessing and a curse, he thought. He thought of the night he rescued Tristan from Dr. Nim Rod’s clutches and took him out for some aftercare.
He then thought of when he and Tristan were seventeen and making out. He covered his face with his hands. Why did I let a good thing slip? He thought. Tristan went to finish law school and Ivy comforted me, he thought. Ivy just left an abusive asshole and I was there for her, he thought. When Tristan graduated and came back, my feelings came back but I think it’s too late, Deimos thought.
Someone put his hand on his shoulder. Deimos gasped and saw Tristan smiling at him. Deimos brightened when he saw him. Tristan sat by him.
Tristan: “I can tell something is troubling you. Talk to me.”
He said softly. I wish you could read minds, Deimos thought. He said nothing and put his arms around Tristan. Tristan hugged him back.
Deimos: “I just… want you in my arms.”
He blurted. Tristan nodded.
Tristan: “Weren’t we supposed to be here for dinner with Ivy?”
He asked as he looked up at Deimos. Deimos glanced down at him.
Deimos: “Oh, last night! Well, you got kidnapped and I was caring for you after that.”
Tristan looked up at him. He felt touched Deimos tended to him after an hour of being tickled but felt terrible for Ivy.
Tristan: “She went through all this trouble to prepare a meal for us. I think we owe it to her to compensate for our absence.”
He said gently.
Deimos: “But nothing that happened was in our control.”
Tristan: “I know and you’re right but she went through a lot of trouble to make something special for us and we owe it to her to make it up to her.”
Deimos’ expression darkened. Tristan knit his eyebrows.
Tristan: “Deimos…”
He whispered.
Tristan: “Your feelings for her are unclear now or fleeting but we still owe this to her. I feel terrible for my absence. She went through a lot of trouble to prepare something for us.”
He said firmly but gently. Deimos wasn’t sure if Tristan had feelings for Ivy, did this out of guilt because he was still with her, or just being a good Samaritan.
Suddenly, the door burst open and there stood Ivy with tears down her cheeks. Tristan knit his eyebrows and rose.
Tristan: “Ivy, what’s wrong?”
He asked softly.
Ivy: “Why don’t you say it to my face? Just tell me you don’t love me anymore!”
She cried at Deimos. Tristan knit his eyebrows and turned to Deimos. He hung his head. Deimos looked away.
Deimos: “Why don’t you? You made HIS favorite meal, not mine!”
He snapped at her and pointed to Tristan, who just reddened. Ivy froze.
Ivy: “You stood me up and didn’t bother to tell me what happened to him tonight!”
She fired back.
Deimos: “I was giving him aftercare! He was tickled by a weirdo and her even weirder friend for hours!”
He countered.
Tristan shrank and reddened.
Tristan: “Look, Ivy, I am sorry about not making it that night. I was fatigued and weary after that ordeal. I will make it up to you.”
He offered.
Ivy: “It’s not your fault and I’m not upset at you, Tristan, I’m upset at HIM!”
She cried, pointing at Deimos.
Deimos: “I was giving him aftercare! What should I do? Leave him after he was tickled for hours?!”
He challenged.
Ivy: “You could have called me! I can’t read your mind from miles away, Deimos! Hell, I can’t read your mind when you’re sitting right next to me! You never let me in!”
She broke down into tears. Deimos folded his arms over and sighed. Tristan knit his eyebrows and cupped his mouth. He knew Deimos blocked many of his thoughts around Ivy. Ivy read his thoughts and her hurt grew.
Ivy: “You let him in, but you don’t let me in…”
She huddled herself and drew a long breath.
Ivy: “...I met Percy tonight.”
She added, alluding to him keeping that part of his life from her. Tristan and Deimos glanced at her.
Tristan: “Percy?”
Deimos: “Who is that supposed to be? What does he have to do with anything?”
He threw his arms up.
Ivy: “Funny, he knew exactly who you are and knew things about you… things I don’t know.”
She challenged.
Deimos: “I play in a band, Ivy. I am going to run into many crazy fans.”
He rolled his eyes. Ivy twisted her mouth and cleared her throat.
Ivy: “Who is Arnold Duerr?”
She pressed him. Deimos froze turgid and the color drained from his face. Tristan faced Deimos. You didn’t tell her, did you? He wondered. Ivy swung her gaze to Tristan.
Ivy: “...Tell me what?”
Her voice trembled.
Deimos: “It’s ancient history. It doesn’t matter anymore who he is.”
He said tersely.
Tristan: “I don’t think it is, Deimos. I think he affected your life in many ways. This is why you wanted us to enroll in the camp.”
He said firmly.
Deimos: “I told you not to bring up Arnold OR the camp!”
He snapped and embraced himself.
Tristan: “But all three of us went there for YOU!”
His voice rose.
Ivy sat there stunned and paralysed wondering what else he kept from her and why he kept this from her. Then she thought of how he wouldn’t let her read his mind and felt worse.
Ivy: “Why won’t you tell me about Arnold and why did you lie straight to my face about Percy?”
She challenged Deimos.
Deimos: “I don’t know who Percy is! I don’t want to talk about Arnold!”
He bellowed at her. Ivy recoiled to his voice.
Tristan: “Ivy, I believe he’s telling the truth about this ‘Percy’. I never heard of him until today.”
He said gently.
Ivy: “Well, this Percy seems to know a lot about the both of you and has some… unpleasant history with Celeste.”
She explained.
Deimos: “I don’t know everything about Celeste! She steals food like some stray cat!”
He snapped.
Tristan: “Perhaps he has a connection with the camp? Did he display any powers as we have? Arnold had botanokinesis before he was killed.”
He blurted.
Ivy: “Well, he moved at an inhuman speed and distance—”
She then paused when he mentioned Arnold was killed and turned to Deimos. Tristan nodded. Just as I thought, he’s like one of us, he thought.
Deimos: “Yes, he was murdered! He didn’t kill himself!”
He nodded.
Ivy bowed her head.
Ivy: “...He was your lover… and your first?”She pressed him with hurt in her voice. Deimos froze again. We didn’t do anything sexual, he thought. Tristan shook his head.
Tristan: “No, Ivy, Arnold groomed him and it happened again the following year. This is how we met.”
Deimos shook his head. Ivy froze and turned to Deimos. Ivy: “...Y-You were groomed, too, and you didn’t tell me? Even after what I went through with Larry?”
Deimos: “I wasn’t groomed, Tristan! I’m not a victim! I can take care of myself! I am the one who should be protecting you! I don’t need protection!”
He cried. Ivy was too stunned to speak. What about me? She thought.
Tristan: “But Deimos, it happened to me, too, when we met through Dougal!”
Deimos: “I got rid of that fat bastard for you because he scared you away!”
Tristan embraced himself. He recalled having to change his online username and everything to get away from Dougal.
Ivy: “...Dougal?”
She pressed them. Tristan heaved a deep sigh.
Tristan: “Dougal was how Deimos and I met. I don’t like bringing him up because of how uncomfortable he made us.”
He explained and shuddered. He then realized Deimos and Ivy never had sex and Deimos didn’t like to think of sex and wondered if Dougal and/or Arnold played a role in Deimos’ hesitance. He also wondered if Dougal did the same for him and Larry for Ivy.
Tristan and Ivy discussed this about Larry and she told him about the sex tapes his sister, Veronika, released of Larry engaging in sex with an underage Felipa Flores. Tristan surveyed the patio. We all share being groomed, enrolling in a camp together as a pact, and now we all have powers. None of us were the same after that, Tristan thought.
~
In a remote, vacant field, two teenage boys are tied to a tree screaming for their lives.
Teenage boy: “I-I D-DIDN’T M-MEAN IT! I-I WASN’T GONNA DO IT!! I-IT WAS A J-JOKE!”
He pleaded, struggling against his restraints. Percy threw his head back and laughed a short, wicked laugh.
Percy: “Much like your life is a joke, little imp?”
He clicked his tongue repeatedly.
Percy: “You poor thing… Alas, all good jokes must eventually end…”
His expression quickly turned grim. He snatched the tank of gasoline and began soaking the two boys with it. They screamed and hollered for help.
Teenage Boy Two: “AHHHHH!!!!! NOOOOOOO!!! PLEEEEEEEEASE!!”
They shrieked. The corners of Percy’s mouth began to rise, forming a sinister, toothy grin.
Percy: “Like my joke, hot stuff?”
He breathed. They looked at him with fear in their eyes.
Percy: “Hot stuff…? Get it? Hahahaha, it’s what you’re about to be!”
He lit a match and tossed it on them. They quickly erupted into flames and now their bodies were afire. They howled in pain. Percy watched them writhing and squirming as the fire consumed their bodies with glee. His eyes glittered brighter than the Sudanese sun.
Percy: “I must say you all make DASHING firemen! Oh, forgive me for that—that was a bad pun.”
He quipped.
Percy: “You know they say yoga relaxes you… I disagree. This is so much better.”
He sang happily, as he skipped over to the kitten and picked him up. He gazed intently at the teenage boys wreathed in flames and black smoke.
Percy: “You shouldn’t take this much pride in your artwork, but… how could I not? It’s a treat for the ears and eyes!”
He said breathlessly.
He began cleaning the kitten. When they finished burning up, he examined the charred skeletons. He held his hands to his mouth and gasped in delight.
Percy: “Isn’t this… marvelous?”
He held his hands out to the blackened skeletal remains.
Percy: “Voila! The finishing touch!”
He giggled maniacally. Then he quickly frowned and wiped his eyes, pretending to shed tears.
Percy: “Alas, I cannot share my art with the world. The vast majority of the world will never understand the meaning of true art. Le sigh.”
He buried their remains, snatched the kitten, and began marching through the field.
Percy: “The days coming will bring more masterpieces from moi, I am sure.”
He looked down at the kitten and smiled.
Percy: “In honor of this event…, I shall call you Smokey. How do you like that, my little gray one?”
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