The Broken Egg (Discontinued)

Chapter 10

Cross shouldered her pack tenderly as she followed Nightmare to the city gates. The ink splattered girl and her black haired companion followed angrily behind and Savior and Rayla took the lead.

"We've already checked the city," Savior said. "So we'll be heading outside and searching in the surrounding forests." Nightmare nodded. He'd left his crown and fancy clothes behind and was now wearing simpler black clothes.

"We'll be splitting up," He elaborated. "Savior and Rayla will be going west, Ink and Error will be going east and I was supposed to go alone but Cross here is coming too." Cross nodded stubbornly and Nightmare sighed. "If you find Dream, mark its location then return to the city. Nina and Luma will be running it in my stead, as unwise as that is, and will contact the rest of us. From there we can make a plan." The group nodded and paired up. Nightmare looked at Cross with a raised eyebrow. and gestured north, where'd they be heading. She followed him, careful of her still delicate back and looking regretfully back at the city in which she'd lived her whole life. "Regretting your decision?" Nightmare asked. Cross turned to him and shook her head.

"No, it's better this way." Nightmare turned and threw a bag at her. Catching it, Cross frowned and opened it. Her knives lay in it. She smiled.

"So that's what happened to them, " she muttered.

"Hey! Hurry up!" Nightmare called. "If you lag behind I'm leaving you!" Realising that he'd been walking faster and was now far ahead of her Cross ran carefully to catch up.

The bodies at the tower had not yet been cleaned away and the horrible carnage still stained the now settled dust. The smell of decaying bodies was beginning to permeate the area and blood and gore was beginning to dry. Geno covered Incubux's eyes and saw, out of the corner of her eyes, Lust do the same to Blue.

"Whatever did this," Dust said. "I hope I never have to fight it." Geno felt herself nod in agreement and looked at Reaper.

"Is she here?" She asked. Reaper shook his head.

"No one named Cross," he answered. "There are a few memories of someone named Cross but no spirit of that name." Geno nodded.

"She's alive Incubux," She told the little boy. "Which means she was probably picked up by someone." Incubux nodded.

"But where do we start looking? This city is huge," he asked.

"Well, I don't think it was anyone around here considering no one has been outside since the attack and most of them won't be able to afford to take anyone in."

"You think it was a noble family?" Blue asked. Geno nodded and Lust winced. "But why would they pick her up?"

"Not sure. We'll have to find out."

Ink and Error walked together in a grumpy humour, neither looking at the other. Ink's chest felt tight at the lack of the communication she'd been so used to during these travels but her bitterness at being told to stay at the castle kept her mouth shut. Error was still apparently angry at her for insisting on coming with him, he hadn't teased or complained about her once and it was unnerving.

"We should rest soon," he finally said. "It's getting dark." Ink nodded silently from behind him and they soon found themselves a clearing to set up a fire and enjoy their resentment and mutual irritation. Error chucked her the food bag while he moved around the clearing to collect firewood and kindling. "You're cooking," he ordered.

"Why? Because I'm a girl?" Ink asked snappishly.

"No," Error snapped back. "Because you're the better cook." Ink already knew that but her anger was stifling her logic.

"So I'm gonna be your personal cook because you couldn't get rid of me?" Error glared at her, stomping over to drop the supplies he'd collected next to her.

"I wouldn't need to chain you to that position if you'd just stayed behind," he growled beginning to start the fire.

"So you admit you wanted me to stay behind and do nothing while you went alone to find the murders who terrorised an entire city for a whole night?" Ink asked, triumphant and disgusted.

"Yes!" He cried.

"Why?!" She exclaimed, angry tears coming to her eyes. "Am I that weak in your eyes?!" Error opened his mouth to answer when a howl followed by many others resounded from the woods beside them. Standing up, he readied his hands to fight, positioning himself in front of Ink and their supplies. Still angry, Ink got to her feet and drew out a paintbrush, in less than a second it grew to her size and red ink coated its tip. The first wolf jumped out and almost hit Error right in the face. His strings appeared from his fingers and wrapped around the unfortunate wolf, choking the life out of it. Many others followed and Error turned to get them all but they speedily evaded his attacks and charged for him. He dodged but just barely. Ink's lips tightened and she crouched for a jump. "Error! Get the hell out of my way or I'll burn you!" She yelled, leaping up to swish her brush down. To her surprise, Error jumped out of her way and the ink landed directly on the pack of wolfs, splashing over their eyes and paws and causing them to leap back in pain and shock. Error, aware they'd simply attack again if not contained, used their distraction to tie them all up, leaving them to suffocate. He rubbed his temples and looked at his companion, who was still panting from the exercise.

"Stars Ink," he panted. "You really think I didn't want you to come... because I thought you couldn't handle yourself?" Ink looked at him, her eyes asking "Why then?". "I didn't want you to come... because I didn't want you to die. You said it... yourself. We're chasing murderers... who almost halved a city population in one night. You didn't think maybe... it'd be better if you stayed behind... where it's safe?" Ink wiped tears from her eyes and shook her head.

"There is absolutely no way," she said, her throat dry from the fight. "I would ever let my partner go off without me on a dangerous mission like this." Her gaze met his and he chuckled.

"What's for dinner Squid?" He asked. Ink smiled.

"You if you ever try to leave me behind again," she threatened. Error chuckled again.

"Alright, that's fair. I'm sorry Squid."

"Apology accepted. I'm sorry for being an ass about it." Error nodded.

"So stew?"

"Yep."

"Sounds delicious."

Kaya smiled softly as she beckoned Marrionette over. She grinned in excitement st the idea of being given something to do and practically leapt over.

"Am I going to kill someone?" She asked excitedly. Kaya shook her head.

"Not exactly. I need you to slow someone down," she answered. Marrionette groaned but shrugged in defeat.

"Alright what am I doing?"