Arc 3, Chapter 88: Death of One, and Death of Many.

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//TW\\

DEATH
GORE








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Fries slowly stepped towards Balloon. His trembling hands more than evident, even at a distance. Fries was upset, and scared, but not as much as Balloon clearly was. He froze as Balloon's eyes shot up to him. He was jumpy... scared. Wind was blowing violently around the clearing where their camp was. Fries was scared that Balloon might kill him next, but, the last thing he'd wanted was Balloon to be attacked by the other poachers. His hands raised as Balloon glared at him, in fear of his life and Fries's. Fries bit his lip nervously, and took a shaky inhale.

"You're okay... J-Just... Calm down, kid. We can figure this out, to... uh..." His eyes trailed back to Pillow's deceased body, he grimaced while his face was turned, but forced it to soften as he looked back. "...Together...!"

Balloon stepped back, of course, this made Fries jump. Balloon took immediate notice and furrowed his brows. "Y-you're scared... O-of me..." He murmured warily, in a horrified tone. Of course he was, why wouldn't that man be scared of him? He killed someone. Dead. For good.

Fries cleared his voice, attempting to make the rasp in his throat less evident... Trying to talk soft in that sort of voice was hard. "W-well... Uhm... No. Y—? N-... No I'm not scared... Just worried." He half lied, fallacy in his eyes.

"Liar!" He responded painfully, his hand and face sparked, and he staggered back immediately, grasping at his limbs... Something was wrong with him... And he hadn't wanted to hurt someone a second time. He tried to rub away the blood and glowing aspects of his limbs. "N-no! No! Stop!"

"Kid, calm down! You'll only make it worse—!" Fries reached for Balloon slowly.

"—G-GET AWAY FROM ME!" He panicked, flailing his arm away from Fries, he shrunk back and his eyes widened as he tripped and fell down to his back. His wings weighed him down, causing him to be akin to a flipped turtle, unable to move much. The dust stuck to his bloody hands—it felt gross.

Fries frowned even more than he had already been. His eyes drawn to Paper. Who was still long out of commission. His head bloodied and attempting to reform itself. The dead flesh and metal clumped to the ground as he rested unconsciously. Fries looked back to Balloon, "Kid, please... D-don't—Uhm..." he trailed, "J-just..." another pause, "Why don't we getcha' cleaned up by the river...?"

Balloon was terribly confused and distraught of course. His offer seemed like a ruse in his eyes. Why did HE want to take a MURDERER to the river?! To get CLEANED UP at that! He struggled to get to his feet once more. Unable. "Y-... D-don't do that!" He cried his eyes narrowed of course, tears fell out of his eyes again.

Fries blinked, confused. He let out a small confused chuckle, "S-sorry? I don't—erm... Understand? D-don't do what? Approach? That's okay! I can stay right here... Yeah?" He tried to clear the rasp once more, beneath his breath, of course that didn't work all that well. His hands then raised and he stepped back. He wasn't sure which would be best... Perhaps he should test the waters more before he braved the rapids.

"N-no! Don't act like you LIKE me! I'm not a fool! I'm not a baby! I know you're SCARED of ME!!! Damn it!" He cried, anger in his tone. Buried beneath his fear. Still unable to get to his feet.

Fries swallowed his dread and shook his head quickly, "I already said! I ain't scared of you! Calm yourself... Please, kid."

Balloon didn't bother to respond. He hated all of this. He was sick of it. He was sick of being a monster... He knew they were scared, even if Fries tried not to show it, the others didn't hide it. Not one bit. he didn't want to blow the tents about—or—kill anyone else! He wished he KNEW what the hell was wrong with him. Fries took note of Balloon's silence. A step closer and Balloon would grow aggressive and fearful, a step back and he seemed like he wanted to run away... Fries was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

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