Jester Book 1: Abduction

Ch 6 Part 2: Razor-Sharp Retreat

In the midst of his anguish there was no respite. He wasn't granted the grace of recovering or preparation. The onslaught showed no sign of halting.

He could hear Dynamike's laughter in the background. He checked his torso and felt a wave of liquid drenching his vest. He threw some dirt on it like Colt would for his bruised knees. Even if it was effectless the placebo of healing helped him think. Run. He had to run away. To flee. That's all he felt he could do. He hadn't a moment to think since this ambush had begun. As he tried to walk away, he turned back and saw Dynamike standing where he dropped the barrel. There was a massive crater below him and the front of the building had been destroyed by the explosion. Dynamike's insistent cackles were only enhanced by his glowing pupils.

Spike refocused on running. His feet dragged through the dirt threatening to kick up a second storm. Then came the subtle strumming of Poco's guitar. He played a melodic tune under nature's spotlight. His fingers flew across the strings at light speed. They were red hot from the energy he was creating. Red bubbles began to float from his tips. They morphed and transformed into hovering notes straight from a music sheet. They had little teeth with close-eyed smiles all shining at the juicy cactus before them.

Poco's face creaked into a massive grin matching the notes. In the dark of the night, his pearly white teeth glistened like stars. Spike tried to back away but choked once again. Emz had gotten within range once more. From a few meters away she shook up another can and matched her crush's smile.

Spike rolled back only to bump into the prospector's legs. Beneath their looming shadows, he could only see the white in their eyes and their haunting grins. Their devilish cackles rattled his brain as they prepared a final attack. A stick of dynamite, a can of toxic spray, and sentient music with razor-sharp teeth.

In the black of night, Spike's body quivered until he couldn't take it anymore. He curled up into a ball, gripping his head and tucking his knees to his chest. Then with an explosive stretch, his body ejected a storm of needles in all directions! The squall effectively returned the constant volley the trio had been raining down upon him. They ran off in different directions hollering as they tried to remove the pins and needles from their frames.

Poco switched from red to glistening green notes. He played a few chords that rushed to Mike and Emz. The music picked out the tiny needles at incredible speeds and even closed up any wounds that may have opened. Poco was not as lucky as the others didn't have a way to heal him. So when the other two rushed back at Spike, Poco kept his distance.

The miner-zombie duo released their artillery onto the cactus. His body ripped apart as green bits flew into the air. Poco joined in with a wave of fiery red notes that screamed as they bit through him. A massive cloud of dust flew up behind their onslaught. They only stopped when they heard wood splinter behind him.

When it was over the clouds gave way to a surprising sight. Just as they assumed there were the shattered remains of a cactus. Beneath that was a shattered pot riddled with fractured wood.

The previously lost trio searched for any remnants of Spike. His substitution trick with his potted plant was well known but this ploy wouldn't stop them. Dynamike barked out an order to the others. He pointed at opposing ends of the road and they rushed down the street. He looked east and west to decide which way Spike ran then rushed off down a random alley.

On his path, Dynamike unknowingly rushed clean past a garbage can. One that had an absurd amount of trash on the floor beside it. When Dynamike disappeared into the night the can tipped over. Spike spilled out to the floor with an inaudible groan. He stumbled to his feet and removed the discarded banana peel from his shoulder.

Spike checked the alley that Mike rushed into. He didn't see him or anything in the black crevice. Then he peaked his head around the fake house at the street view. Emz and Poco were also missing.

If he could breathe, he'd let out a deep sigh of relief. Instead, he just sat down and massaged his head. The network of cells that made up his brain was splitting.

What did he just witness? Dynamike, Poco, Emz. All the Brawlers that had once gone missing were still in the park. And they attacked him. Why?

He entered denial. That couldn't have been them. They wouldn't attack their own friends. He rolled his palm over his knees and hissed. It definitely felt like them.

His massage therapy on his knees transitioned to his stomach, then his shoulders, and his arms. He felt a chill run down his spine, but this one was different. It wasn't like before when he first ran into the missing Brawlers. This wasn't a nervous whisper down his spine but a frigid rain rolling over his back.

Spike was freezing. He could feel the air change. Frostbite nipped at his pudgy plant toes. Why was it so cold?! Starr Park regulated their temperatures with an underground climate machine that heated and cooled the floor. For advanced issues, they would construct massive walls to partition different sections of the park. The Brawl Mountain sported massive obelisks all around the snowy peaks that deposit artificial snow onto the ground below. Or in the greenery where a massive flying machine sprinkles down a never-ending mist of rain.

The Wild West was made like a savannah in the youth of spring. As such even at night when it was cool it never got cold. Not like in a desert where temperatures can get below freezing. He was sure that if he had lungs, he'd be able to see his breath in the air.

Spike decided he should get going while the going was good. He tried to stand but fell on his face again. This time he lacked traction below his feet. He looked down and noticed the ground had a light sheen. He rubbed his palms against the floor. It was frigid and covered in a thin layer of watery ice. Spike's eyeholes doubled in size.

It couldn't be.

Spike tried to stand again and helplessly stumbled deeper into the alley. He had to focus on his feet with metered steps. If he lost track of his stride again he'd end up eating the frozen floor. He was so focused on his toes that he didn't notice the person standing in front of him until he bumped into them.

He felt around and scoffed at the rotund body. How its chest had the same consistency as an icicle. The cool breeze generated from just below.

Spike's thoughts caught as he realized who he was standing against. As he realized how screwed he was.

~-~--~-~

Chester made his way into the Wild West late that night. He had to pull some overtime stocking inventory at Mandy's Candy. During his deliveries for the day, he had to drop another package off at the Greenery. While there he and Rosa had another conversation in the rain. She mentioned that she was going to stop by Shelly and Colt's later in the day. He thought that it would be a good idea to join them. With all the disappearances it was best the Brawlers stick together. Knowing where everyone is means they can help keep an eye on each other.

As he made his way through the park he had decided to take a shortcut to Shelly's. It ran through the artificial brawl street. They put on tons of shows at the fake road and it was a quiet place where Brawlers collected their thoughts.

So imagine his shock when he saw the devastation. No brawls were scheduled for the day and any fights that do transpire are nearly immediately cleaned up. So why was a house caved in? Why were there remnants of gunpowder on the floors? A crater in the middle of the street. Worst of all, the remains of a tattered cactus.