Anomalous Nightguard [FNIA] [Discontinued]

Chapter 9

"So soon, Mr. Jonathan?" Joel opens his eyes in a dark void as a person with a deep voice calls for him. "Shut up; I couldn't do anything. Besides, who would expect him to hide in his room?" A person with glowing white eyes and in golden armor with a thick white beard holding a silver staff with a sphere surrounded by eight rings walks into view. "But does that justify the number of skills and experiences you possess?" Joel looks down. "If you were a normal human, you would have died... twice this decade. Did something finally come up?" Joel nods as he gets a cigar roll out of his coat. "I found my daughter's killer." The man smiles. "Oh ho ho, so who is it? Who killed her?" The man asks him tauntingly as Joel takes a drag from his cigar. "You already know it... asshole." "*chuckles* it's not my fault that I can't tell you; it's against the rules set by the lord."

Creating a comfy chair behind him, he sits on it, makes a glass of bourbon, and takes a few sips from it. "You know, it would be nice if I could die... Some say death's embrace is sweet." The man creates a throne behind himself and sits on it. "Nope, according to the lord, you must finish your mission bestowed upon you." Joel takes another drag from his cigar before sipping the bourbon. "What is the mission then? You people never tell me anything. I feel so left out, y'know." Joel holds his heart as if hurt and acts sad. "Oh, hush you, besides it's about time you wake up. Complete your mission, Wanderer." The void around them starts cracking. "At least tell me how long I'm supposed to wait until it starts!" The man grins. "In a few thousand years!" Joel rolls his eyes and gives the man the middle finger. "Oh fuck you." The man disappears, and with him, the void as well.

Joel wakes up inside rubbles of broken and burned parts of the pizzeria with his clothes still intact. Moving the debris away, he hears someone yelling his name in the distance. "JOEEEEL, JOEEL, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU, YOU SONNUVA BITCH." Joel smiles to himself. "Joe.... you dirty bastard, you actually came for me..." Sitting up, he sees Joe outside with a flashlight, about to enter the pizzeria. "JOE, YOU DISGRACE TO SOCIETY, I AM IN HERE." He heard Joe laugh a little. "FUCK YOU!" Joel chuckles. "NO, FUCK YOU!" "COME OUT, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT, YOU ASSHOLE!" Standing up and wiping the dirt and ash off his clothes, he runs out of the pizzeria at Joe, acting as if he is preparing to punch him.

Joe does the same before they hold each other's hand and grip as hard as possible. "Thought you died for a second," Joe says, grinning as he squeezes Joel's hand harder with a hint of struggle. Joel chuckles a little. "You know what they say, bad men never die." Joel squeezes Joe's hand even harder. "Since you survived a fucking fire, does that make you Satan?" Joe tried pressing harder but couldn't because his hand started hurting. "Pretty much." Joel shrugs with his other hand and squeezes as tight as he can, making Joe whimper in pain.

He lets go of Joe's hand, making him sigh in relief while massaging it to numb the pain. "I see that you're strong as ever... Even after being inside a burning building for several hours." Joel raises his eyebrow. "Wait, how long has the building been burning?" Joe checks his wristwatch. "Ehh, about five hours, maybe six." "What time is it now? Did the fire not spread anywhere? Why the hell did they not find me?" "It's 8 am, I missed my opening time because I've been searching for you since 6 am, so be more appreciative of me in the future, got it? Also, the firefighters said that they searched everywhere for your body but couldn't find anything, so they just listed you as missing, and the reason why the fire didn't spread anywhere was thanks to the firefighters." Joel chuckles. "I bet you're lying about the searching for two whole hours for me part, but whatever, thanks I guess." Joe sighs in disappointment. "That's the best I'll get out of you, aren't I?" Joel smiles smugly. "Yup, now where is my- *looks at his van*... Van?" Joel's irises shrink at the sight of his trashed and burnt van. "N-No, no, no, no, how can this be?! MY GUNS, MY BABIES, I NEED TO SAVE THEM!" Quickly running into his van, Joel frantically searches for his gun collection under his bed and chest.