The Stitcher grabbed Mortuus by the back of the neck and slammed him to the ground. It dragged his head against the background and threw him.
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"DO YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THESE WRAPS ARE!?" Mortuus shouted, rearranging the wraps and ignoring the fact that his chin skin was now on his upper cheek like some sort of clay figure. The Stitcher just grunted coldly at him in response, and it did not seem to care.
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The Stitcher made a running bound toward Mortuus, its claws digging into the ground as it moved. It raised upward, slashing his stomach and getting its claws stuck in a tree trunk. It shrieked angrily at him and yanked on its lithe hand, trying to get unstuck.
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Mortuus pointed at it, laughing smugly, his entire upper half sliding off and hitting the ground with a loud and wet thud. It had done more damage to him than he realized. He kicked his upper half up in the air, placing himself back together with unnerving skill. The muscle and bone weaving back together in seconds.
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The Stitcher ripped its claws from the tree trunk, sending large chunks of bark scattering through the crisp forest air. It barreled into him, throwing him off his feet and into a tree and twisting his head backward. Mortuus stood up again, turning his head back around with a sickly wet cracking of bones and flesh.
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"Motherfucker! I think there's a stick in my scrotum!" Mortuus turned around with annoyed pain and removed the stick. The Stitcher circled him ominously as it waited to jump him, its shoulders hunched over.
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The Stitcher snarled, thick saliva dripping down its smiling face and crystal sharp teeth. It barreled toward him in a rapid accession, sinking its teeth into his back and tearing out his shoulder blade with perfect skill.
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Mortuus pulled his revolver out and threw it at a branch. The branch cracked as it triggered the gun, sending a lead bullet straight through The Stitcher's skull.
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The Stitcher reared back in shock and ran off into the woods, leaving Mortuus to collapse beside his revolver and shoulder blade. He stared up at the sky, shaking violently and without ease, his arm lying loosely.
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Death walked toward Mortuus, poking his side with his scythe. "Get up, Noodle Arm." he pulled the cannabis pen from Mortuus's pocket and threw it on his stomach. He flinched at the sudden feel of it hitting him.
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Mortuus picked up the pen, puffing heavily on it and sending a thick cloud of smoke into the air. His uncontrollable shaking eased with each puff. His mind cleared as he huffed on the substance.
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"You ever just... just want to say fuck it and stop collecting the souls, Death?" Mortuus muttered as he stared emptily forward, his one arm still completely limp and unmoving at his hung from the socket.
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Death sat beside him, taking the pen and puffing on it with a heavy cough before handing it back. "Sometimes. But Life and Death are acatalepsy."
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"I guess so."
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Mortuus puffed on the pen and handed it to Death, who did the same. The two stared up at the moon, the beautiful mångata shining in front of them. The two sat by the river's edge, their minds getting higher with each subtle puff.
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Death looked over at Mortuus questioningly, "So you do not remember your old life, huh?"
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Mortuus puffed on his pen before responding. "Not a thing. Was it halcyon?"
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"You could say that." Death responded, the smoke from his pen puff forming a heart that cracked into two halves, floated away into the night sky, and dissipated.
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Mortuus stared quietly at the smoke heart as it faded. He knew he should be sad, but it's hard to cry when you do not understand why. Mortuus grabbed his shoulder blade and popped it back in place.
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"I should find that thing. See ya around, Death." Mortuus exclaimed, taking another hit of his pen before walking away.
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Death waved him off before vanishing in a veil of thick black smoke. Death's scythe spun on its tail and toppled over in a cloud of smoke as it also disappeared.
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Mortuus walked the desolate dirt road, puffing his pen and blowing smoke into the air. He studied the ground for signs of The Stitcher, a footprint or drop of blood—nothing- not a single thing.
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"Where'd you go, you lonely son of a bitch." Mortuus whispered as he scanned the horizon for The Stitcher.
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He continued walking, the trees morphing into houses as he walked, and the sound of crying was so clear it felt unreal.
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Mortuus noticed a woman lying in blood just a few feet from him, a man suddenly brushing past him and over to her. Blood soaked the hoodie she was wearing.
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"Maria!!" He shouted, tears on the edge of his eyes. She weakly hugged him before going limp. The humid air steamed up her glasses.
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Tears welled up as he parted the strand of hair in her face and sobbed deeply as he hugged her.
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The man held her in his arms, tears streaming down his face. "Please don't leave me!" He cried into the sky, rain pouring down onto his face.
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"Please! I CAN'T LOSE YOU!!" He fell to his knees, cradling the girl in his arms. "This world means nothing without you-"
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The sadness turned to anger as he stared at the bullet wound that ended her life. His heart felt heavy and shattered. They had taken everything from him, but Maria was the final straw. That awful day would forever be burned in his memory.
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Mortuus ran toward them, a strange feeling guiding his legs. Just before he could reach them, a hand grabbed him and began pouring a liquid all over his face. The liquid burned so badly it was as though he had landed in Hell.
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The mysterious man poured it down Mortuus's throat and ran off. Mortuus lay there, the world spinning before he finally blacked out.
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