The Stigma (by Koltin Scott)

Chapter XXIX

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AllFall

I sat next to the Headsman for breakfast. Everything was normal, just the extra addition next to me. Alien was eying us but I didn't pay him any mind as we ate our usual breakfast: whatever the Baron felt like having.

Today it was again eggs, toast, pancakes and a multitude of other hearty breakfast foods.

"So..." I asked the Headsman, "how has the family been treating you so far?"

He cast a glance my way, about to sip from his coffee.

"Alright."

I smirked, keeping to himself, wise.

"Actually," he added, "this might be a newbie question but is the Baron your normal serial killer stereotype super villain?"

I laughed, not at the Headsman since I honestly wondered that when I first came. But the truth of the matter was SO hilarious just thinking that way about him is just so funny!

"To be honest," I said, discreetly pointing, "Sarah kills more people than he does."

He blinked, confused, "Wait, she has powers?!"

"We," the Baron boomed, clearing his throat as everyone grew silent, "have been in some trying times. We have had several set backs and scary moments but we have embarrassed the Dragoons overall and have secured several allies. We have: the Wo Shing Wo, AllFall, and the Headsman among our ranks. I'm not even mentioning the hired help from GraveMind and Psychotic Neurotic helping Alien work out the kinks in my plan."

"And some help they've been..." Alien mumbled silently. The Baron couldn't hear him and continued,

"So today, I have planned for us to have a little escape from all the toil for a day."

"Are we going to the Rink?!" Sarah half-screamed, again reminding me of that little girl off Despicable Me. Everyone gave her a chastising look since she practically interrupted the Baron mid-speech.

Despite this the Baron smiled, "We're going to the Islands."

All the girls gasped and Doug smirked and nodded his head like, 'Ohhh yeah!'. Me and the Headsman were indifferent since the Headsman and I didn't know what these 'Islands' were. Alien shrugged and Waya, I had forgot about him... but is he ever happy about anything except killing people? His expression was that of a mannequin: null. No, a mannequin is too humble, a killer croc has more emotion than him.

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Almost everyone was in swimming attire. The Baron and I were in spandex-like full-body suits but mine was for deep sea diving (or so they told me) and the Baron's was his nuclear insulation he never ever goes without. Waya could've cared less and was floating on the waves in full clothing, jacket and all.

I didn't know that the Baron had an island. It was an island paradise in almost all the cliché ways, leaf roofed gazebos and white sand that stuck to your wet feet. Walker was helping Sarah make a sand castle because Sarah was hell bent on destroying one. Alien sat under an umbrella from the sun, on his phone as usual, sipping a tall soda can with a tropical straw. Obsidian was watching with some satisfaction as Masterlock failed to climb a coconut tree while also casting glares at me and Walker. The Baron was next to me, absorbing the strange and beautiful scene before us. It was a second before I realized that we were both doing the same thing.

"Drinking it in?"

I looked toward him, sipping from pink straw in my coconut cup.

"Yeah."