Nightmares... 'Markimash'

4

"So...... You're telling me Chilled wasn't overreacting about the dropped call?"

"Well, maybe a bit, but you know how he is. Either way, the threat is real, so we're preparing for a fight, because I know he'll bring it to our court. Or force us into his. It's how he's always played."

It was now mid-morning, and Mark, Adam, and Ken were all sitting in Jordon's spacious living room, watching as the element paced around the room, attempting to piece together the information he was being told. He had been shocked to find out about the others, but was quite elated to discover that they were family. He didn't have much family to begin with, so adding some of his friends to the ranks was joyful. But, just like Chilled, he had been pissed that neither Ken or Adam had revealed themselves earlier, especially after they had said that they had known for a long time now. 

Sighing as he leaned against the counters, Jordon eyed the trio once again, as if he was searching for any details he may have missed about them. He had never really met Ken before, but he had met Mark in person before, and had even gone on a road trip with Adam, making the secrecy sting a little more.

"I really wished I had known about you all earlier..... I knew about my brethren because we are able to sense each other, just like in the past, but because we never saw you again after you left us with the seasons... Anyway, so you're telling me that this guy is the reason behind what happened before? And he's gonna come and try to kill me?"

"He's killed Air and Earth, what's stopping him from trying to kill you or Chilled?"

"Good point.... So, I guess I'll pack my bags?"

"Pack light, don't want too much baggage, eh?"

"I guess you're right... Feel free to look around, although there's nothing much to look at.." 

As Jordon went to go back his bag, the others decided to take up his offer and observed the rather large condo, the view breathtaking. The home was still quite bare, but it was apparent that he was beginning to furnish it with small appliances and such. It had an air of coziness, but it was also tinted with loneliness, one that each had experienced at one point in time or another. But none said a word to the element, who had returned to the living room once again, bag in hand, ready to head back to Mark's home.

Within minutes, they were back at Mark's front door, and immediately they sensed something was off. Placing a finger against his lips, Adam took the lead as he slowly opened the door, the scent of scorched fabric and blood hitting their noses instantly,, masking the scent of the rain immediately. He tried to turn on the lights, but the power no longer worked for an unknown reason. Entering the living room, the cloudy light from outside illuminated the disaster that was displayed before them.

The couch had been gutted essentially; the stuffing littered the floor, along with springs and other bits. Some were still smoking from what they could only assume was Chilled's panicked touch. The coffee table had been smashed, as well as the T.V and many of the paintings in the room. Stepping over the debris, Mark's heart lurched as he saw what laid in the middle of the mess: a rather large pool of thick, black, blood.

"Check the rest of the place for them, I'm calling Ryan and Michelle to alert them of what's happened."

Ken commanded, and the others complied wordlessly. They knew the situation was far worse than they had expected. In less than an hour, two more of their family had been attacked, and by the damage it was apparent that one or most likely both had been injured in a struggle. After scanning the whole home, they found nothing else, not even a gloating message from the assailant,  causing the mood to darken even more. 

"This is all my fault... I knew Aron was weak, and I couldn't have expected Chilled to fend for the both of them against something so forceful...."

"Hey now, no need to beat yourself up Mark... We couldn't have expected that he knew where we were, or when he would attack... Could have been any one of us. Now, we need to be strong, because if there are no bodies, it means he's taken them somewhere, which means they're alive, alright?"

Adam had placed a tender hand on Mark's shoulder, trying to soothe the distraught man. Wiping away his tears as more fell, Mark pulled away, wrapping his arms around himself as he tried to stop shaking. He hated showing any sort of weakness, but without Aron by his side,it was as if his armor had been reduced to shards, leaving him unstable and weakened.

"You don't know how much it hurts.... I almost lost him once, and I could lose him for real this time.... I wasn't there for him last time, and I wasn't here this time.... Both of them must be terrified, feeling betrayed and abandoned by us.... How can I ever look Aron in the eye again when we get him back? If we ever get them back..."

"I'm sure that they'll forgive us, it's not our faults that they were targeted..."

"Maybe for Chilled, but I brought Aron into our world... If he dies, his blood will be on my hands..."

"Then lets go stop the fucker, eh?"

"But, where do we look for them?"

No one said a word. They may have have had the moxie to go after such a villain, but they had no idea where to look. It had no real home, and it could've chosen any country to hide in. The likeliness of finding their friends before it was too late was slim to none. As reality settled in for the group, Jordon began to clean up a bit, feeling a bit useless in the situation, while Ken called the others to inform them of what had just happened. Meanwhile, Adam was doing his best to calm Mark, but it obviously wasn't working too well.

"Maybe... Just maybe he'll have them in a secret and isolated area, and Aron will call for you... Or, hang on, Jordon!"

The element, who had just pulled out the vacuum, trotted over to the pair, who were now in the kitchen, boiling water for tea to soothe their strung-out nerves. As Mark selected the tea for the pot, he watched curiously, wondering what Adam had up his sleeve this time.

"So, you and Chilled had said that you guys can kinda sense each other?"

"Sort of. It's like that feeling that twins get, ya know? I guess since we were quadruplets it does the same thing... Why do you ask?"

"Well, I was thinking that we could use you to find them. If you're attached to Chilled in a way, then you'd be able to lead us to them!"

"But, what are we to do when we get there? If you couldn't beat it in the past without the season, how do you plan to destroy it now? The seasons have vanished, and we're not as strong as them..."

"Well, I never got that far ahead in planning...."

Sighing as he returned to cleaning, Jordon left the pair to make their drinks, only to have Ken enter the kitchen moments later. His face was somber as he leaned against the counter, his arms crossed against his chest as he looked down at his feet.

"Krism and Minx should be here in a few, but Cry won't come until Felix joins him, which won't be for another 10 hours, give or take...."

"I'm thinking that we sneak in, get the guys, and leave before he notices. What do you guys think?"

Adam suggested, pouring the boiling water into the kettle as Mark got out the milk and sugar. Ken shrugged, as did Mark, causing Adam's smirk to die swiftly.

"Well, I don't know how well that work... I mean, this beast is pretty freakin' intelligent and methodical, so sneaking past it would take a lot of planning and time, which we don't have."

"I think that we should wait for Cry and Felix, and then go with as many people as we can. We don't want to lose anymore people. And before you even try to protest Mark, I doubt he'll kill them without us there. That thing, loves to toy with people's emotions. I know they're alive, after all, what's a show without an audience?"