The children of the Crimson Mist finally settled, having traveled as far as they could from Marcus. They rested on the forest floor, shrouded in the ever-present haze. “Do you think we’re far enough away?” a soft voice asked from within the mist.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAUmRwnBzvUU
“Yes, Lisa,” another replied.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAlH6BE7mYZO
“I can’t believe Father thought he killed Kella so easily,” Lisa said. Within the mist, their voices carried freely, untouched by the outside world.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAkKfBVv5A7A
A young boy named Reggie chimed in, “Master said one of us had to die. Father needs to feed Master pain.”
44Please respect copyright.PENANAun01n5rbky
Tina, a quiet girl, whispered, “Does that mean any of us could die for Master’s pain?”
44Please respect copyright.PENANAiwBfxJlFFU
“I don’t like it when Master talks like Father’s wife,” Paris said hesitantly. “When Master speaks like Father’s child, it feels... safer.”
44Please respect copyright.PENANAWUTnaS0UEk
Lisa shook her head slowly. “Did you see how hurt Father was when he saw what we did to Kella?”
44Please respect copyright.PENANAQPWcE6BUqh
There was a long silence. And then, one by one, they began to giggle, soft at first, then louder, as the mist around them thickened like a curtain drawn to hide something terrible. “I say we go back to Father. I feel bad lying to him,” said a boy named Stew, glancing nervously through the mist.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAHNvfJJJAvv
“We can’t go back yet!” Paris snapped. “I say we go find some people and play with them!”
44Please respect copyright.PENANAsmiv0AcmlO
The other children giggled and cheered in agreement. But before they could move, a voice cut through the mist like a blade. “Children.”
44Please respect copyright.PENANA2sYm4kvZIT
The Crimson Mist fell instantly silent. They knew that voice. And they feared it. “Yes, Master,” they responded as one.
44Please respect copyright.PENANA61H2idDQOK
“Do not stray from your mission. Marcus Obsidian must feed me,” the voice commanded.
44Please respect copyright.PENANA4fmLSvoOOC
“We will follow your orders, Master Annihilation,” the children chanted in eerie unison.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAvrSRqXcJ21
“He must be ready when he kills the Harbinger,” the voice continued, colder now, hungry. “I need you to lead him to the town of River Hallow. Torture every step he takes. Call out to him. Make sure he feels nothing but pain. Break whatever is left of his heart.”
44Please respect copyright.PENANArRb6d7H828
The children cheered with glee at the thought of breaking their Father's heart, all except Stew, who simply smiled. He didn’t like hurting Father, but he knew defying Master would be worse. “We can kill another one of us! That should really hurt him!” Paris squealed, wringing her hands together as she pictured the tears streaming down Marcus’ face.
44Please respect copyright.PENANA2yxHrV4vjQ
Then, the voice of Annihilation returned—cold and final. “No... no more killing each other. Lead him to River Hallow. You must all be there for my ascension.”
44Please respect copyright.PENANAx8yjl6xP0x
The weight of that command settled over them like a storm cloud. The children could feel the threat buried in its silence. “Yes, Master!” they cried in unison.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAlwB8HHTOii
When the force lifted from their minds, they turned and began their journey back to where they had left Marcus.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAZGqjJ9XVgb
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44Please respect copyright.PENANApHTA28rb11
"What the hell is taking them so long?!" Tyler barked. It had been days since he’d sent Father Eli with the message. "Surely they got the damn thing by now." His voice cracked with equal parts frustration and disbelief. He turned to one of the corrupted townsfolk, throwing his hands up. "Seriously, what’s the holdup? Plot momentum?"
44Please respect copyright.PENANAcXFc9wvaZ8
The woman lowered her head. "No, my Master."
44Please respect copyright.PENANASRum8Lxzso
Tyler sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "For the hundredth time, call me by my full name," he grumbled, exhaustion creeping into his theatrics. "Are there no competent people left on this godforsaken dirtball?"
44Please respect copyright.PENANAziqBbZNXF1
"Sorry… no, I have no idea, Lord Grand Marshal of Annihilation, Champion of Darkness, and Wielder of a Thousand Handkerchiefs,"** the woman replied flatly.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAmNqsfZimPh
He stared at her for a long moment.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAJs7dqdMflg
"You're mocking me."
44Please respect copyright.PENANAsQn6ERSl9I
"Only a little, my Sovereign of Slightly Overwritten Titles."
44Please respect copyright.PENANApLQ4Fn96sC
Tyler slowly turned his head, eyes narrowing. "Did I give you permission to be a smartass?" he snapped, dabbing his brow with one of his many handkerchiefs, this one embroidered with little skulls.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAk3F8MUBG1x
Another corrupted soul approached, head bowed. "We've lost contact with the two you sent to capture the girl. Elle."
44Please respect copyright.PENANAWtEx4CDztq
Tyler rolled his eyes so hard it was a wonder they stayed in his skull. "And now this. Brilliant." He tapped his forehead with two fingers, as if trying to keep his patience from escaping. "Is there a bottom to this well of incompetence, or are we just free-falling forever?" He let out a growl of frustration. "If the next person who speaks to me says anything other than 'we fixed it….I swear…I will throw you off that waterfall. Personally."
44Please respect copyright.PENANARRxIWXaJE8
He pointed down toward the dry, cracked lakebed below. "I'm out here trying to do great things. Monumental things. Evil with style. Is it really too much to ask that it be taken seriously?!"
44Please respect copyright.PENANADr6oHD7fdy
Just as Tyler finished his rant, another corrupted soul stepped forward and spoke in a flat tone, "Lord Grand Marshal, Champion of Darkness, and Wielder of a Thousand Handkerchiefs."
44Please respect copyright.PENANAj1MLs4jnnH
Tyler stared at him, utterly drained. "You know what? I’ll just take the compliment." He walked up to the man, eyes narrowed. "Your next words..." he said, leaving the threat unfinished.. but unmistakable.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAxZ62RcfTX0
The man didn’t flinch. "A patrol you sent to find out why the Church is taking so long to arrive... has returned."
44Please respect copyright.PENANAmYFFx3UloN
Tyler’s eyes lit up with a flicker of hope—only to immediately dampen under the weight of today's repeated disappointments. "And the bad news is?" he asked, already bracing for it.
44Please respect copyright.PENANA8clfqV4Ssh
The man blinked slowly. "They found something."
44Please respect copyright.PENANAOPNjxyikht
44Please respect copyright.PENANAInVgkD3ERb
Tyler nodded, trying to stay calm. "I'm glad they found something... Now, what is this something?" His tone betrayed his irritation, as if speaking to a group of particularly dim children.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAvjMA3549ux
The man nodded back, a little too eagerly. "Yes, Lord Grand Marsha—"
44Please respect copyright.PENANAzsQCZxUahF
Tyler smacked him across the head. "Just tell me, damn it!" he shouted.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAxchxB7liQP
The man flinched, then said, "They found... a moose."
44Please respect copyright.PENANAHbQRrb2hb0
Silence.
44Please respect copyright.PENANA8DMKQQSt3O
Tyler stood there, frozen. Rage simmered behind his eyes. The only action he could manage without losing total control was to blink. Slowly. A few times.
44Please respect copyright.PENANA43AqEquGM8
The corrupted man, unsure what to do, hesitated—then cautiously repeated himself.
"I said... they found a moose."
44Please respect copyright.PENANACZLr7tgu3E
Tyler closed his eyes, as if willing reality to reset. "No, I heard you say it was a moose." He took a deep breath. "Let me guess—did the moose bake them cookies and break into song?! Huh?!"
44Please respect copyright.PENANAygwH29lFLc
"No, Lord Grand... ahem—Tyler," the man corrected himself, now visibly sweating. "It did not bake anything."
44Please respect copyright.PENANAxUsTJcf7yb
"Why are you telling me this if the damn thing didn't do anything?!" Tyler could feel the rage overtake his control.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAwgNXUFUsap
"They said…the Moose spoke to them." the man said.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAP1Biw9b6n9
Tyler pressed a handkerchief to his lips, staring blankly into the distance. "Are the people of Silver Falls... fluent in Moose?" He couldn’t believe the words had left his own mouth. "What the hell does moo moo mean in Moose?!"
44Please respect copyright.PENANAOjDKef8dsC
"I don’t think a moose goes moo moo..." the woman from earlier offered timidly.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAX0h59evIC2
The other man nodded. "It’s more like a series of grunts."
44Please respect copyright.PENANA7oxnwzrew5
Tyler slowly turned his head, watching with hollow disbelief as the two began what could only be described as a very serious debate on moose linguistics.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAvNLATO6Y9i
"Not just grunts," the woman insisted. "There’s definitely some kind of call it makes."
44Please respect copyright.PENANA32zB39XFrY
Tyler exhaled slowly, dangerously calm. "Both of you..." His voice dripped with venom. "Go jump off the waterfall. Now."
44Please respect copyright.PENANA3EF1aGucH1
Without another word, the two turned and began to carry out his command. Tyler turned his gaze to the messenger, handkerchief still in hand, as if hoping the next report wouldn’t drive him further into madness.
44Please respect copyright.PENANArE6bQpzU8L
"The moose told them that the little girl, Elle, and Eric are being protected. They should turn back now," the man said flatly.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAWunY3wh2s4
For a moment, Tyler actually considered it. "Naturally. When a moose tells you to back off, you should do so." He exhaled a long, tired breath. "Can you imagine? I’ve walked this world for thousands of years," he muttered, waving a hand dismissively. "I’ve watched empires rise and fall. I’ve killed more people than I care to count..." He shook his head slowly, hands falling to his sides. "If only a moose had told me to change my ways sooner... I might've lived a better life."
44Please respect copyright.PENANAfAXPRKcwle
He turned to the man again. Tyler wanted to scream—truly—but it just wasn’t worth the effort.
"Bring me the ones who were on that patrol," he ordered.
44Please respect copyright.PENANAguzqdY7eqH
Thud!
Thud!
44Please respect copyright.PENANAlJj8pcuxE7
Tyler turned toward the sound. Two bodies hit the rocks at the base of the waterfall. He blinked once.
44Please respect copyright.PENANA9gbkoKTpz4
"Well... at least something went right today."
ns216.73.216.51da2