Square one

You're Next

Josie's POV:

I wait fifteen minutes or so before Uncle Kai starts to stir once more, groaning. He finally starts to move around, trying to bring himself to his feet, "Well I should've seen that coming- ok, but if you think this is- I'm- Oh Josie! Oh, I didn't see this coming." He eyes me, seated next to my father, chained up and zonked. "I didn't want him to try and stop me," I murmured, letting on that I was going against him, and up to no good, something that Kai enjoys immensely, from what I've heard. "Stop you from doing what?" He smirks, stepping forward. "From doing whatever it may take to get every out of here, even if it means risking a partnership with you." I step forward looking at him. 

-

"The apex of the celestial event, Bennett blood, and duplicate ascendant, got it. Did you find the duplicate ascendant, by chance? It would make things much easier for us." I say, keeping track of the things mentioned by Kai, following him through a field. "No answers for free." He turns towards me, smirking. He then becomes increasingly serious, "I assume you have the Bennett blood, correct?" I pale, knowing that I didn't have it at all, and that it was key for all of this. He gets cross a moment, "How is it even possible that you could've come into a prison world without Bennett blood? Of all things?! It's the one thing you need to escape this place." I sigh, "I did tell you, this trip was not at all planned." I roll my eyes as he goes on, "So what will you bring to the partnership, because far as I can tell, I am the most useful, right now." I growl, 'no answers for free', following with asking about the celestial event. Kai had no idea what it actually was, using the process of elimination to sort it out. "That's it? Process of elimination? We are so royally fucked." He clicked his tongue disapprovingly, "Why Miss Saltzman, how unladylike of you. For shame." He cracks a smile. "I like a challenge, and I have nothing but time, kid. We come to the possibility of the sandclock being able to help, rather than that of the supposed celestial event. When I didn't tell him where it landed, he realised my lack of trust, pulling the ascendant out of his pocket, laying it at my feet. "Consider it a sign of good faith." He gives me a wink, standing up and moving away for me to pick it up. I pulled out the sandclock, Kai impressed at how quickly and efficiently I was learning to act around him. He takes my hand, "THe next place we need to go is to the hospital. Just trust me, I know it's difficult, but, well, we're family. Suck it up." I follow reluctantly as we make our way to a small, dark hospital, Kai kicking the door in. "Why are we even here?" The same answer as usual: no answers for free. "Hmmm how about you tell me more about the Malivore pit and the monsters you and your little friends fend off. And you know what- for the record, I never lost faith in Santa being real." He turns back around, while I briefly explain it all, jumping to different points as we walk. "Malivore...pocket dimension... closed... but monsters. Fascinating. And to answer your pesky little question, we're here, in short, for Bennett blood. Tada!" He opens the door for us to come face to face with ripper Jade, and emptied bloodbags everywhere. She gets up, groaning, "Thank god you're here. I'm still a little hungry. You look lovely for nibbling." Kai immediately shuts the door, locking it. "I thought you'd killed her?" I sputter, perplexed. "Yep, but remember, bound to world, coming back, that whole thing? Is it clicking now?" I roll my eyes as he makes little gestures with his hands, like I'm a toddler, trying to be taught how to do something vaguely boring. Jade continues to slam on the door, as we run off once more. 

Hope's POV:
I get up from my crouch, sniffling, hearing something from outside, and then within moments a swish, and excruciating pain piercing through my abdomen. I look out to see the Cherub demon, then looking down I see the arrow plunged in my midsection, crumpling to the floor. I see a shadow creeping through the room, meaning that he'd now made his way inside the room from my window. "I thought I killed you." I growl, trying to pull the arrow out, "Nah, you thought you killed Cupid, sweetie, but I, am his older brother, Pothos." He smirks, gesturing to himself proudly. I finally pull the arrow out, him inhaling, smiling, "Can't imagine burning love arrow feeling so good right now does it? Burns you inside and out, til you're reduced to ash-" He steps closer looking down at me, as I groan, clutching the pierced area, whimpering. "Save your juicy, delicious heart, that's all mine for the taking." Landon storms in, flapping his arms, telling the freak to eat him instead, making me want to chuckle a bit, and just let the being eat me. "Eat a limp, weak, loser heart, over a powerful, badass bitch witch heart, tenderized to perfection by one of my arrows? I'm good thanks." He laughs looking back to me. Landon pulls an arrow, causing me to roll my eyes, watching him stab himself, a feeling, somewhat satisfied, though also bored of his antics. "Epic love arrow, huh? You brought out the big guns." He smirked, looking half surprised. "You certainly haven't ever eaten a heart as full as love for her before, have you?" I groan, rolling my eyes. "UGh no." I mumble, getting a side glance from Cupid. "The love Hope and I have for each other is more than I ever dreamed of finding in my lifetime." God dramatic much? Also who the hell is letting this guy go on?! Kill him already for fucks sakes. He keeps going on and on, leading him out of the room. I grunt, crawling to the threshold to keep an eye on the situation, as the monster's hand plunges through Landon's chest, pulling his heart right out. Landon crumbles, Pothos staring intently at it, his teeth sinking into it, promising that I had my spot next in line for the all you can eat buffet. He starts to gag and stumble, face turning ashen and crumbling to the floor, flesh slowly falling from his face, and dissipating in front of me. I slowly get up, the pain just tolerable now, dragging Landon's body to the tub in my room, and dropping him there, only to wait for him to come back to me in a burst of flames. When he comes to, I give him a quick hug, but he pulls me in for a kiss, one I do not dare return, frankly repulsed by it all. "Landon. No. I can't. Thank you for stopping him, but I can't kiss you, I won't we're done, ok?"