The Grims

Chapter 9- Vitriol

Cima woke up a little while later, laying on a table with her hands folded on her stomach. She reached her hand out weakly and felt Dixie's arm.

"So you're Vitriol, right?" Dixie asked. "The zombie bum that lives in the woods?"

"I'm a traveler, ya dig? And thanks to my trips, I find out what's going down in the woods. Know what I mean?" Vitriol explained.

"We've been looking for you," Cima said, sitting up.

"Groovy! Here I am. What's up?" Vitriol asked.

"We need your help to find Nebulosa," Dixie explained.

"What?! Eh, little cats, you can forget that plan! Nebulosa has the Azoth," Vitriol said, making Cima frown.

"Nebulosa? How?" Dixie questioned. "But, why?"

"A master plan, of course," Vitriol said.

"A master plan? What master plan?" Cima said quickly.

"You know, to wreak havoc and evil to take it to the present day," Vitriol explained. "Where have you two been, man? We're all going down in a bad way. Imagine the thousands of zombies that could impact history if they follow Nebulosa's orders."

"That would mean the end of the world!" Cima said.

Vitriol nodded. "And now, if you don't mind, there's no time to waste."

"What are we to do?" Dixie asked.

"I'm going to savor this beetle juice before Nebulosa turns the lights off. Know what I mean?" Vitriol said as he poured the soup into the bowl.

"But we have to stop her!" Cima said in disbelief.

"Only the bearers of the Azoth can stop Nebulosa. And now that her cops have found the mummy chick, party's over," Vitriol argued.

"We're the true bearers of the Azoth, Vitriol," Cima said confidently.

"Eh. You've never seen the likes of it," Vitriol said in denial.

"It's shaped like a heart, broken in two!" Dixie added.

Vitriol sighed. "I'm going to have to let this soup go cold if it means saving the world."

"Where can we find Nebulosa?" Cima asked as they walked outside.

"Where the beginning meets the end," Vitriol explained.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dixie asked frustratedly.

"There's a solution. Don't despair," Vitriol assured.

"For the road back home is far, but fair," Dixie finished. "Fair! But it's on the other side of the forest!"

Vitriol got on his motorcycle, sighing. "Well, she's an old wreck, but this baby can get us to the fair."

We climbed into the sidecar, clasping hands. They were ready. "Our only hope is that you two recover the Azoth, and learn its secret! Only then can the legend play itself out like it's meant to. Ya dig?"

They started off, Cima fidgeting with her hands during the ride. They made it to the fair, nostalgia washing over Dixie as they approached the funhouse. Cima recognized the oh-so-familiar surroundings and got out.

"Here we are, Cima and Dixie," Vitriol said.

Cima jumped out of the car confidently and helped her younger sister out after. "You got till daybreak. By then, Nebulosa will have unleashed all of her zombies."

"But, what is the Azoth's secret?" Dixie asked.

"You're some cool cats, Cima and Dixie Grim. You'll figure it out," Vitriol assured her.

"What are we supposed to do?" Dixie questioned in disbelief.

"The right thing, I guess." Vitriol shrugged before he drove off.

We walked into the funhouse, and the lights turned on, startling Dixie and Cima. Dixie touched a mirror, realizing it was a dead end, and ran. Cima grabbed her wrist.

"We have to work together and not panic, or else we will accomplish nothing," Cima said calmly.

She backed up slowly and accidentally hit a mirror. They looked at each other worriedly until they noticed it opened up to a passageway. They walked through, holding hands. They heard a screechy voice talking, but Cima couldn't exactly make out the words. They found an exit. Cima grew worried as Peroshka held an axe to Gonner.

"Come back here and face me like a man, so I can squish you into pieces!" Peroshka screeched. "Get down, you scurvy bildrat!"

"Traitor," Cima said, startling Dixie.

"Now, will you please tell me why you wanted to rescue Cima and Dixie?" Peroshka questioned.

Cima looked at Dixie with wide eyes, then looked back at Gonner in fear of the answer.

"Do ye really want to know?" Gonner questioned. "Jolly Roger, Cima's a beauty. No wonder her name means treasure. She's a sight for old eyes. And her voice makes me turn into sand. And Dixie's her sister, and she's as important to me as she is to my princess."

Peroshka screamed furiously as Cima quickly put up her mask and drew her sword from her side. She jumped down from the balcony. Gonner didn't steal the Azoth for greed, he was trying to protect her!

"You!" Peroshka yelled at the two girls.

"In the flesh." Cima smirked mischievously.

"Then I'll dice you up first!" Peroshka said, tossing Dixie aside.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on my sister again!" Cima yelled furiously. She used the side of her sword to push Peroshka toward the acid bath. Peroshka tripped over some loose boards and fell into the acid, leaving nothing but a dead skull behind.

Gonner walked toward them, and Cima glared at him, pulling down her mask. "Ay, I know how ye feel-"

Cima cut him off by slapping him harshly. "I know, I deserve it."

The girl then saw the puppy dog eyes and grabbed his collar, kissing him roughly but quickly. She pulled away, noticing the sunlight coming in and looking at her sister.

"We have to get the Azoth before daybreak," Dixie said worriedly.

"Ah, follow me, Grims!" Gonner said, running off with Cima following behind him. "Let's get out of here before we lose our chance."

"We have to find Isis," Dixie argued.

"Are you daft?" Gonner scoffed.

"She's her friend, Gonner. I would find you before I did something life-changing," Cima reasoned.

Dixie took the Azoth off the holder, and it shrunk down. Dixie and Cima held it in their hands and it broke in half like before. They tucked it into their belts, Cima sighing in relief. She turned to him with soft eyes and he looked down in shame.

"I'm so sorry, love," Gonner said softly.

"Can I still trust you?" Cima asked.

"I hope so," Gonner said hopefully.

"Promise me that the next chance you get, you will go through that portal. You can go back to normal, you can go back to the way you were." Cima crossed her arms.

"Without you?" Gonner said quietly.

"If I'm still alive, we'll walk through that portal together. But we're from two different lifetimes, sweetie. We'll be together again after," Cima assured them.

Cima turned to her sister. "Let's go find your best friend."

"We're not leaving without Isis," Dixie replied, running off.

"Wait, if you're out here... then the lass trapped inside the box is-" Gonner cut himself off by running.

"She's pretending to be Dixie!" I finished.