I don't know how long I was out, but when I woke up, the sun barely shined in the sky. I shook my head and pulled myself up to my feet. I felt good about myself for some reason. The fact of killing him made me feel so much better. I picked up the box and opened it just slightly. The smell of decaying calamari filled the box, and I enjoyed it.
Me: I want some more.
I flipped open the one side and pulled out the forearm and bit a huge chunk out of it. The blood splattered onto the ground and onto my chest, but did I care? HELL NO!!! I set it back into the box and shut it back up.
Me: A little pick-me-up never hurt me.
My stomach growled loudly.
Me: I guess I can't really handle rotting meat. That, or I want more.
I opened the box again and wolfed down the entire arm, splashing blood on the ground and onto me. Once I was done, I closed the box up again and wiped my hands in the snow.
Me: What to do with the rest... I know.
I hoisted the box over my shoulder and started heading out of the alley, the taste of blood still on my tongue. I grabbed a small handful of snow and wiped my mouth with it, just so if anyone saw me, they couldn't tell that I had eaten something bloody. I carried the box of remains to the other end of town, back to Mariana's front door and knocked on it.
Mari: Who is it?
Me: Package for Mariana. It's from Travis.
The door opened, and Mariana stood there, smiling that wicked smile she had on last night.
Mari: Travis. Did you do it?
I held the box in front of me and opened the lid just slightly.
Mari: That's it? I thought there'd be more. MUCH more.
Me: About that... I...
Mari: Wait. You ATE some of him?
Me: Yes?
Mari: Oh my god. You're crazy, like me. I always wanted him to die, so thank you. For everything. That reminds me...
She walked over to the table and grabbed another stack of money and tossed it to me, which I gladly caught.
Mari: Cannibal.
Me: Hey. This counts as disposing the body.
She chuckled and tossed me another stack, which I caught again.
Mari: You're right. Not only did you kill him for us, but you're also helping dispose of him.
Me: Yeah. I have this feeling in my gut that's not that good.
Mari: It's the first time you ate someone.
Me: I'm just not used to it?
Mari: Sure. You don't feel right because you're not used to the feeling of people in your stomach. I, unfortunately, am used to the feeling.
Me: You're one as well?
Mari: Well, I mostly scavenge, not kill and eat. There's this one person I've always wanted to try.
Me: Who is it?
Mari: It's a girl that's been in a very dark place for a while now. She's been through so much already, and since the death of her boyfriend, she hasn't felt like herself.
Me: Really?
Mari: Meggy Spletzer. I've always wanted to have some of her blood.
Me: Why her?
Mari: She's done for anyways. With heartbreak and pain inside of her, she can't defend herself now.
I grew more serious with her.
Me: Mariana. She's mine.
Mari: How would you know, Travis. Or... as I should say... ORANGE?!?
Me: You know my name.
Mari: Of course I do. Everyone knows you. I knew who you were, but I wanted to play along with this game. So, it's your choice now. I can give you the money, if you can kill her in return. If not, well... I'll kill you myself.
Me: What can a nine year old girl do against me?
Mari: A lot. More than you think.
Me: look, Mariana. I'm not doing it.
Mari: Well... I want a taste of her blood. But, I suppose I could make a deal with you.
Me: A deal?
Mari: Here...
She threw a paper airplane at my feet, and I scooped it up and opened it. The title? "My most-hated enemies." They were all names I kind of knew, but I couldn't remember a lot about them. Some of them stood out a bit More than others. One of them was just named "shadow," and it was the top of the list.
Me: Hmm. I can't help but feel like I've heard these names before. Shadow, huh? Most hated?
Mari: Yep. But... your friend, Infinite, wanted it to be a, shall we say, "special request."
Me: Where are you going with this, Mariana?
She did what I never thought a young girl could do. She completely transformed from herself into Infinite, mask and all.
Me: Mariana?
Infinite: Just Infinite.
Me: What did you do to me?
Infinite: I merely incorporated my negative energy into strength. Strength that I have given you.
Me: Fuck you.
Infinite: Well, I'll give you two options. You kill your girl, or you kill five of those names and cross them out.
Me: And what if I don't do either?
Infinite: I'll kill you AND the girl. Choose wisely, for if you fail, your life is mine.
Me: So either I kill Meggy and if I fail she dies anyways, or kill five of your enemies but if I don't she dies?
Infinite: Close enough. I'll also need proof that you killed them. Here...
He tossed me a camera, which I caught and dropped the box of remains.
Infinite: A simple picture is all I need.
Me: There's always a time window, isn't there?
Infinite: 72 hours. That's three days. All I'm giving you. Three days to kill five of my enemies, or three days to kill Meggy. It's all up to you.
Me: How do I kill your five enemies? They're all in a complete opposite dimension.
Infinite: Watch.
He opened a portal all the way to his own dimension.
Infinite: I came from this dimension. You come from this dimension and kill those five. You'll be gone in three days. Nobody will ever find out.
Me: I'll choose to kill them for you.
Infinite: I'll give you until midnight to see your friends again.
Me: Thank you.
I headed to the door and opened it. Before I stepped out, I looked back at Infinite, who closed the portal. I could tell I had a sick grin on my face.
Me: Could you teach me how to use my Phantom Ruby? If I need to use it, I will. It's not just my life support.
Infinite: I'll show you some tricks. Then maybe, just maybe, you could use it to your advantage.
YOU ARE READING
The Crystal Of Darkness
Adventure(Sequel to Once Human). It's been a year since Orange had taken his own life at his hands. Infinite had a crazy idea to try and bring our hero back to life again, and it works. It soon seems detrimentally clear that all all is not well. Orange has s...
