Chapter 17: Eyes that do not see, hearts that feel. Part 2 (Darkness)
"I am what roars from your window, hungry in the dark of the night. I am what watches you from the dark corners of your dwelling. I extend my claws from your closet and under your bed, and I whisper your nightmares in your ear.
Fear me, for this is what resides in everyone.
"I am the fear" (unknown)
Forty meters underground, in an underground arena, the Battle of Drakoviam was underway.
The battle was between Lincoln and a representative of Globoday Industries, a burly man with sharp teeth and long hair known as "The Cannibal"
The man lay on the ground, unconscious, his teeth broken. Standing in front of him was Lincoln, covered in blood with bite marks all over his body.
"The fight is over! Winner: Lincoln Loud!"
Lincoln accompanied Professor Lincoln to the mobile infirmary to be bandaged and treated for whatever he had encountered.
"It took you a long time to defeat him, Lincoln."
"I know, sorry, boss."
"This isn't the first time. The same thing happened in your fight with Horace. Is there something distracting you?"
"My sister. I'm worried about her. Ever since the attack, she hasn't woken up from her coma."
Venom knew he had to do something to improve his fighter's performance.
But another worry consumed Lincoln's mind. His name was Hideki.
-The next day-
The second day was no different from the first. The tension between the Asian boy and the albino boy was palpable.
Andy and Clyde watched as the boy calmly walked to his seat. They could sense the conflicting aura emanating from both of them, like two monsters in a cage about to kill each other. A fact that went unnoticed by the students and the teacher.
The first class is over.
While the other students went to their activities, some of the female students were gossiping about the new student.
"He's very nice."
"And his complexion is flawless."
"It seems like he works out."
"I can't decide who looks better, him or Lincoln Loud."
"I prefer Loud. I really like his hair color. Though his friend Andy isn't bad either."
"Do you like a guy without arms?"
"Yes. His voice is very sensual."
"But no one is as handsome as our Clyde," Emma concluded, with Chloe and Penelope agreeing.
The girls' comments caused some of the boys to reconsider, especially those on the soccer team.
During lunchtime, most of the girls at school didn't take a single bite, except for a few who were fans of Hideki.
However, our favorite group of friends kept a close eye on the Asian boy.
"What do you think this crazy guy is doing here?" Clyde asked.
"I don't care; I'll take this guy down," Andy replied.
"I think someone beat you to it, Andy," Clyde said, pointing towards Lincoln, who was heading towards Hideki's table.
"Shit. We have to stop him before he causes chaos."
The boys went to Lincoln. However, he dodged them, and they fell to the ground. He finally arrived at Hideki's table.
The boy ate alone until he noticed the albino.
Hideki said with his trademark sarcastic calm, "Dear Lincoln. It's an honor to have you approach me."
"I thought I was done with you."
Hideki stopped eating and wiped his mouth with a napkin as he laughed. "Unfortunately for both of us, it wasn't."
"Unleashing your divine power that day was great. But it wasn't enough to end my existence."
"Then, let me fulfill your wish." Lincoln prepared to attack Hideki, but his wrist was grabbed by Clyde. "Clyde. What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing. Lincoln. Don't do anything stupid."
"Clyde, let go of me."
"Dude. Leave him already. They are watching us."
The students saw the strange scene between the boys. Because Hideki's table was the furthest away, no one could hear what the boys were saying.
"Calm down, Lincoln. Clyde's right. It's not good to attract so much attention in such a public place."
Lunchtime is over. The rest of the day passed normally, with a few looks, both from girls interested in our opponent as well as from older, more mature students who were annoyed that someone else was stealing the girls' attention since they had enough of Lincoln.
The school day was already over.
The school was almost empty.
Hideki was one of those who took his time the most. This was the first time he had attended a school in a long time. The Asian boy was hanging out at the soccer team's practice field. On that day, there was no practice, so the place was free. Or partially.
Suddenly, two people took Hideki by the arms. They were running back with the tackler. In front of him was the team leader. Hideki didn't flinch. He just smiled softly.
"Can I help you with something, gentlemen?"
The leader approached the boy and punched him in the stomach. "Do you think you can come here and steal our girls?" He hit him again, but this time on the cheek, causing his mouth to bleed. "I'm going to destroy your pretty face, pretty boy."
Feeling the taste of his blood, Hideki changed his calm expression to anger. "How dare you?" The boys looked confused. As he made a quick movement, Hideki changed his position, holding the boys by their wrists. "My body can only be harmed by my God. You have defiled it."
Hideki began to press harder until he heard the sound of bones breaking. It caused terrible pain for the boys.
"And so... you will pay." The last thing heard was the boys screaming.
That night, someone moved in the shadows. It was White-Flame, which Lincoln was riding.
The animal sniffed the ground and air, looking for something. Or someone.
"Nothing yet?"
The wolf let out a howl of disappointment.
"well. It doesn't matter. Tomorrow evening, we will continue the search." The wolf and his owner returned to their home.
All the way, Lincoln was thoughtful, with only one thing on his mind.
"I know you're hiding somewhere, you bastard. Pray to God; I don't find you. Or the devil to catch you before I do."
Next morning.
Clyde was giving the news of the day.
"The mystery of who placed a burned paper bag filled with dog feces in front of the manager's door remains a mystery. The principal announced the following."
"Unfortunately, I still have seventy-five days to retire."
"In other news"
"Center: Adam Gray"
"Striker: Kevin Mons"
"And the runner: Mort Anderson."
"They were found yesterday afternoon, half-dead on the football field, by a passerby who was passing by. He quickly called an ambulance, and the boys were taken to the hospital, where, after medical intervention, they were able to miraculously save them. Unfortunately, their career in sports was over."
"Tests will be held next week to replace these three boys on the team."
"Finally. I want to use this space to say. Chloe, Emma, and Penelope. I love you, my princesses. Happy Anniversary," Clyde finished his report and sent special greetings to his girlfriends, forming a heart with his hands.
Waiting for him at the door were his friends Andy and Lincoln.
"Did you take the time out of the news to send a special shout-out to your girlfriends on their anniversary?"
"That's right, Lincoln. But I also bought them gifts. This will be the best memory ever."
"How cheesy."
"Andy, Andy, Andy. You have a lot to learn about relationships. If you keep your partner happy, or, in my case, partners, the reward is very 'generous.'" Clyde winked at Andy.
"You're horny often. Ha?"
"Hey Lincoln. Are you okay? I notice you're quiet. Is something wrong?"
"Is this about the team members who were found injured yesterday?"
"Yes. Honestly, it makes me feel bad too. And I think I'm not the only one who thinks he knows who the culprit was."
"Yes. I think so. That's Hideki's name written in capital letters. What are we going to do? Lincoln."
"Right now, we can only keep an eye on him. This man is very dangerous. We must consider that he is practically holding the entire school hostage. Until we know what he intends, it is best not to do anything rash."
"Ha. The donkey speaks with his ear."
"Andy's right. You may be impulsive, but what you did yesterday was just as reckless, Lincoln."
"Not to mention stupid."
"I admit it wasn't the wisest thing to do. I still feel like I must avenge the people he took from me. It affected my judgment, but... it's not like the last time we fought."
"What are you talking about?"
"Lately... I don't feel like myself. I feel... I feel like there's something trapped inside me. Something that wants to get out. Something full of anger and hate."
Clyde puts his hand on Lincoln's shoulder and says, "I understand you, bro. I know you feel bad about what happened to Leni. You feel frustrated and helpless. You feel like you should have been there for her. But soon he will get the justice he deserves."
"Thanks, bro"
In Lincoln's mind, "When I find that bastard, I'm going to make him pay for what he did to Leni."
"No matter what it takes, I will avenge Leni."
In the meantime, our hostile group of females finished watching Clyde's report on their cell phones.
"This attack has Lincoln Loud's name written in capital letters," Susie said as she put her phone away.
"I don't know girls. We can't blame Lincoln Loud for everything bad that happens" Molly had suspected for a while that maybe Lincoln wasn't the person they thought he was.
"Molly has a good point."
"Listen, Susie. I know you're second in command, and it's your job to agree with Cristina. But don't you think we've done Lincoln a great injustice already? Up until now, he's only gotten into fights with the city's scum out of self-defense. And twice of those times, we've sent them in on him."
"Cici's right, Susie. Maybe... we should try it, Lincoln. Maybe he's fixed."
"What do you think, Christina?" Susie turned to see Christina.
The red-haired girl looked frustrated and distant. She's been like this since that night when she hired Chandler. And it's gotten worse since she found out he was beaten by Lincoln.
"Christy? Are you okay?"
"There's no turning back," the redhead replied.
This confused the three girls.
They kept wondering what was happening to their friend.
"You couldn't miss Chandler. So it must have been something else."
Back with our heroes.
Classes are over.
Lincoln, Clyde, and Andy were heading into the parking lot, heading to their cars. However, there is someone waiting for them there. No more or less than Hideki. Who was leaning against Lincoln's car.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Hideki smiles before attacking the boys. But they narrowly avoid it.
"Dude. What the hell is the problem with you?"Clyde still doesn't understand what the Japanese boy's intentions are. Nor why he's obsessed with Lincoln
For his part. Lincoln stood between his friends and Hideki. "There's no one here to interrupt us. So tell me. What's your intention here? You damned one."
Hideki laughed a little and replied. "Don't worry, dear Lincoln. My purpose here is entirely investigative."
"Investigative?" Clyde was very curious about Hideki's words.
"My boss found out that there are two Dracoviam fighters studying here. I met my beloved God. However, I still don't know what kind of fighting style the other one uses.
"Okay, I'll gladly let you know." Andy took a step forward, but Clyde stopped him.
"Calm down, Andy. Don't rush." Clyde turned to Lincoln, only to see that he was grabbing Hideki by the throat with one hand, choking him. "What the hell!? Lincoln, put him down!"
The albino did not listen to his friend. on the contrary. He increased the pressure on his fist. However, Hideki seemed to like it, as his face showed an expression of pleasure.
"Lincoln, enough! Free him now!"
This time, Lincoln complied and let go of Hediki, dropping him to the ground.
Hideki got up, rubbing his neck. "This is what I love, my God."
"It's time... Round 2" Hideki punched Lincoln, making him fall back. Followed by a flurry of kicks. But Lincoln grabbed him by the foot and spun him around. Then he threw him against the wall. To finally kick him. But instead of hitting Hideki's face, his foot hit the wall only a few inches from his head, causing the wall to crack.
Neither Clyde nor Andy understood why Lincoln would waste such an easy kick.
Lincoln lowered his leg and said in a cold tone.
"This is not a good place. Come with me." Lincoln grabbed Hideki by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up.
The boys walked until they reached a closed door leading to the roof of the school.
"Andy. Please open it."
"Gladly" Andy kicked the lock with his heel. He broke it and opened the door.
The boys climbed the stairs until they reached the roof of the school. Which was surrounded by a wire fence.
Clyde and Andy got into a fighting position. But Lincoln stopped them.
"Stop it, guys. This is between me and him. Now tell me. Why did they actually send you here?"
"I can't hide anything from you, can I? You always know when someone is lying. Yes. It's half true that I was sent to spy on you and your friend. But there's another reason.
-Flashback-
In a mixed martial arts arena in a building marked for demolition, an extremely brutal match was taking place.
The referee introduced the fighters.
"Tonight's fight will be between the representatives of the Red Rose School. Hideki Kurohana: The Shinigami
"vs. Representative of the Rivers of War School of Men. Ryan Coon: Jackal
Hideki's opponent was a man with long, shaggy hair. He was wearing a straitjacket with torn sleeves, revealing his hands, which had long, gray nails.
The man acts like an animal. Jumping and screaming inside the cage he was in. Oddly enough, he had a square, cage-like metal structure on his head.
"Ready competitors. Fight!"
The headmaster pressed a button and opened the cage where his fighter was. The structure that was protecting his head also fell. The jackal was freed. He desperately ran towards Hideki, ready to tear him apart with his sharp claws. But in a second, Hideki was behind him.
The boy had turned the man's head 180 degrees, breaking his neck.
The principal falls to his knees upon seeing his defeated fighter, while principal Maya approaches him.
"Well, Mr. Baker. I think this year's scholarship will go to my school. Again."
Maya got into a limo where Hideki was already. The boy greeted his boss politely. She congratulated him on the great job he did in that fight.
"I must admit that your appointment as my fighter was a success, Hideki. Since you represent us, we dominate the academic field. Not even the schools that once called themselves elite dare to stand in our way."
"It's been a pleasure, Dean Maya."
"For now. Here's your next job. Don't worry, you won't have to fight."
"I'm afraid it will be very boring."
"You will have to enter another school. This time as one of their students." Maya handed him a file with registration cards and the school address. "This is Royal Woods High School. One of my sources told me that there are fighters from Dracoviam. Find out if the school intends to engage in battles or if it's just a coincidence"
-flashback ends-
"That's why she sent me here. But the real reason I wanted to come is because of you," he said, pointing at Lincoln, "because I saw it; I saw your power released that night."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Lincoln asked.
"That rainy night, in that battle against the bonebreaker, I saw your divine power awaken for a moment. That merciless and implacable barbarism. I want to see it again."
Lincoln clenched his fists as blood began to ooze from his palms. "So this is what you want to see? Well, I'll be glad!" Lincoln ran towards Hideki. The Asian boy did the same, but Lincoln disappeared and reappeared behind him.
"You're getting faster" Before Hideki could react, Lincoln grabbed him by the back of the head and slammed him to the ground. Lincoln hits Hideki like a toy over and over again before taking him down. The expressions on the faces of those present were mixed. Hideki looked very happy. Clyde was terrified, and Andy was smiling mischievously. However, something happened that would change the nature of the situation.
The boys were so engrossed in the fighting that they didn't see the four additional spectators. Suddenly, Lincoln received a blow to the head, causing him to let go of Hideki.
Clyde and Andy finally see who attacked the albino at close range. It was Christina who was carrying a field hockey stick, and so was Susie. Molly and Cici watched from the door.
"This will teach you not to mess with new students."
Clyde and Andy looked shocked at Cristina. But this was nothing compared to Hideki.
Cristina extended her hand to the boy to help him. "Are you okay? Don't worry. He won't bother you again. We'll call the police to take him away."
Hideki took Christina's hand but did not get up. He squeezed the girl's hand very tightly.
"Ouch. Be careful; you're hurting me." Cristina tries to pull away. But Hideki pressed harder.
"Fucking bitch," Hideki said in a terrifying tone of voice.
This confused Cristina, who was already beginning to feel afraid of the boy in front of her.
"How dare you attack my God from behind?"
"What? I'm just helping you." Before finishing the sentence, Hideki pulled Christina out and took her by the neck without letting go of her hand.
"Dirty whore. How dare you attack my God? And get in my way. I will kill you!" Hideki began to tighten his grip even more, cutting off Christina's breath, while with his other hand he squeezed the girl's hand until he broke it.
Christina wanted to scream in pain, but Hideki's strong grip closed her throat. She slowly felt herself losing consciousness.
Her friends ran to help her.
Susie hit Hideki's back with her hockey stick, while Molly and Cici did the same with their sticks. But the blows didn't seem to affect Hideki, who broke the sticks with a kick and sent the girls back several meters.
Hideki looked at Christina again, who, before losing consciousness, could hear the boy saying a few words: "I'll break your neck, you bitch." Christina fainted from lack of air, but Hideki did not lose his grip. On the contrary, he pressed hard, preparing to break Christina's neck and cause her death. However, this deadly action was interrupted by a white flash that separated the boy from the red-haired woman in seconds.
Hideki was seen at one point hitting one of the bars that surround the ceiling, while Cristina lay unconscious in Lincoln's arms.
The girls watched as Lincoln slowly walked towards them, then gently placed Cristina on the ground.
Lincoln turned to Clyde and Andy. "Guys, protect them. Leave Hideki to me." Clyde and Andy ran to the girls and accompanied them, helping Christina along with Cici and Molly.
Hideki recovered from the blow that Lincoln dealt him. The boy's anger was evident in his face.
"Why are you defending that bitch who dared to attack you?"
"Because I will never let you hurt someone again."
The shock was palpable. Hearing that obviously didn't satisfy Hideki. "No... no... another scum is ruining my God. They won't take my God." Hideki ran as fast as he could toward Lincoln, but Lincoln grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up.
Lincoln was already tired of Hideki's religious delusions. This time, he wouldn't let him escape. "A moment ago, I promised you. I will keep my promise."
Hideki saw how Lincoln's arms were marked with those phosphorescent veins, shining like fire as his fist clenched.
Even though this was Hideki's dream, there would be nothing solemn about simply dying so easily. He wanted to fight. So he kicked Lincoln, who dropped him. After that, Hideki gave him another kick. But Lincoln grabbed him by his shirt and threw him, causing them to fall from the roof onto a car. The speed and force of the fall, combined with his muscle mass, caused the car's roof to collapse and its windows to blow out.
The fighting continued until they went behind the school to a construction area on the street, where there is an opening surrounded by security fences. But a kick from Lincoln towards Hideki broke the walls.
The albino lunged at him, and they both fell into the hole connected to the sewer.
The boys kept fighting. They punched and kicked each other until they fell into the river of black water. On a very bad day, the storm from the previous night caused the current to be stronger. But that didn't stop the teens from fighting back.
Lincoln grabbed Hideki by the neck and started punching him in the face. But Hideki took him by the arm and kicked Lincoln in the stomach.
Both were dropped into a large drainage pipe that emptied into a river.
Hideki submissively took Lincoln by the arm as he tried to free himself so he could surface to breathe, but Hideki's grip wouldn't allow it until the Asian boy heard a sound like a crack. The water wasn't so cloudy that he couldn't see Lincoln's arm in the impossible position. The albino boy had dislocated his shoulder to move more freely.
In a quick motion, he launched a strike across the water, as fast as a torpedo, until it hit Hideki's face. This created a shock wave that manifested itself as a small explosion on the surface of the water, splashing as if someone had thrown a rock.
Hideki's nose bled profusely. But Lincoln, not content with that, grabbed him by the head and spun him around, causing the same cracking sound. When Hideki stopped fighting, it was Lincoln's cue to swim to the surface with difficulty. Well, it was difficult to do so with just one arm, as Hideki was swept away by the current.
After climbing and reaching the beach, Lincoln fell to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Oh, oh, oh... finally... this fucker is over. He won't bother me again." A sudden cold hit Lincoln. Well, he was soaking wet in a river in the middle of winter.
Lincoln hugged himself, shivering from the cold. "Damn it. I'm freezing. And the worst thing is that I don't know where I am."
Suddenly, a voice followed by a scream called out to him, and the boy was alerted. It was Clyde who was in his car with the girls and Andy.
Lincoln followed the sound of the engine as he walked slowly due to the cold he felt, which was not helped by the pain from his dislocated shoulder.
Before arriving, he realigned his shoulder and then fell to the ground. But Andy grabbed him, using his back as support.
"Are you okay, Link?"
"Thanks. Thanks. Uh, I need... hot chocolate." Lincoln's voice broke due to the cold he felt.
"Of course. But first, take a shower. You smell bad."
"Sewage doesn't smell like flowers, Andy."
Andy helped Lincoln into Clyde's car.
The rest of the trip was very long. Well, Clyde had to turn on the heat in order for Lincoln to regain his body heat.
The heat of the environment, combined with the overwhelming smell of sewage that lingered on Lincoln, did nothing to make the trip any more pleasant.
Once they got to school, they had Lincoln get into his own car. "Then he headed towards the hospital."
Meanwhile, in an area far from the river, Hideki was lying on the beach. Next to him was Principal Maya, who hit him with the tip of her heel, causing the Asian boy to wake up.
"Have fun, Hideki?"
Hideki sat up and placed his hands on his head, rearranging his neck in a motion.
"I'll take that as a yes. You started playing again."
"In the end, it was a waste of time. Let's go."
Maya and Hideki walked into a limo and left the place.
-Back with Lincoln and his friends-
When they got there, paramedics took Cristina and Lincoln away.
Despite more pain, his shoulder swelling, and nearly freezing, Lincoln was out of danger. As for Christina, she regained consciousness after a while. Fortunately, she only suffered a broken hand.
The doctors put a splint on her hand and called her parents to come get her. The same was done for Lincoln's parents.
The boys told the story of how they were attacked while leaving school.
Christina's broken hand was caused by falling to the ground, while they explained that Lincoln fell into the sewer through a hole in the floor while struggling with one of the attackers, which was partly true.
It was not surprising that robbery was involved in the situation.
Despite the fact that Royal Woods had become very prosperous three years ago, ironically, it attracted a large number of gangs, thieves, and shady businesses, like bees to honey.
The only thing that prevented this city from being the closest thing to a utopia was the weak police system.
Lincoln reclined on one of the hospital beds, having indulged in a lengthy, invigorating shower. Clad in attire generously loaned by the hospital—consisting of nurses' uniforms—he awaited the arrival of his concerned family, still bereft of his own clothes.
Simultaneously, the Louds entered alongside Christina's parents.
Upon spotting her son in the bed, Rita rushed to him, showering him with kisses and embraces.
"My poor baby. Are you okay?"
"Yes, Mom. I'm fine. Just a bit cold."
Meanwhile, Christina's parents, standing by the adjacent bed, inquired about the assailant.
"Who did this to you, my dear?" Christina's mother asked.
"Doesn't matter. I'll sue that scoundrel, down to the last penny," declared the girl's father, seething with anger.
Mr. Loud empathized, fully understanding the agony of seeing one's child hospitalized.
Attempting to rise, Lincoln faltered. Swiftly, his father steadied him.
"Son, you shouldn't get up. You're still too weak."
Struggling with coordination, Lincoln turned to his mother. "Please... can you give me my cane?"
"Of course, honey. I have it right here." Rita retrieved Lincoln's cane from her bag and unfolded it.
Observing the sight, Christina was taken aback. Unable to contain her astonishment, she stammered, "He… He… He… is blind!!?"
Turning toward the girl, Rita calmly confirmed, "Yes. Three years ago."
"Three years ago?" Christina connected the dots regarding Lincoln's past. She knew what Lincoln had allegedly done three years earlier.
This time, it was Mr. Loud who explained, "There was a gas leak in our house, and it exploded upon contact with a short wire. My son was in the middle of that explosion, losing his sight. But I'm grateful to him; he shielded his sister Lisa with his sled, sacrificing himself." The painful memory brought deep sadness.
"I heard that, thanks to a blind boy, the city started receiving funding from other companies," added Christina's mother, expressing surprise at the connection. "I didn't know this boy was your son, Mr. Loud."
"Yes. His accident triggered a chain reaction, attracting more businesses to the city. Ironically, he couldn't partake in the benefits and was sent to a specialized school abroad. All thanks to the doctor's sister; the one who treated Lincoln that day secured him a scholarship."
As the pieces fell into place for the red-haired girl, the rumors aligned with Mr. Loud's account, at least chronologically.
Since their conditions weren't severe, they were allowed to return home, though Lincoln had to remain in bed for three days to avoid catching a cold.
At Christina's house
Examining her splint, Christina rubbed it as a knock echoed. Opening the door, revealed her three friends.
"Hi Christy. We came to see how you were doing."
"I'm fine. I won't be able to use my right hand for three weeks. But I'm fine."
"I can't believe Lincoln Loud saved you. What happened back there?" Susie asked.
The question was echoed by the newcomer.
"I think I have an answer to that question." Clyde spoke up, standing by the door.
"How did you get into my house?"
"Your mother let me in. I told her I wanted to interview you about school news tomorrow. May I come in?"
"Yes. Come in."
Entering and closing the door, Clyde faced the girls with a serious expression.
"Okay... first question." Clyde's calm demeanor turned to anger. "What the hell do you think you were doing when you attacked my friend like this?" His stern tone conveyed the gravity of the situation.
"We were just defending the new guy from this delinquent," Susie replied.
Clyde's countenance shifted once more, a blend of frustration and the desire to laugh—a reaction familiar in situations teetering between anger and amusement. Finally regaining composure, he responded, "I see. That's because you still believe in these rumors."
"Rumors? What rumors?" Molly inquired.
"I'd better let me from a few days ago explain it to you," Clyde remarked, retrieving his cell phone and tuning into the school news channel on YouTube, specifically the recent report he had submitted.
The girls, now fixated on the screen, witnessed Chandler's admission that everything about Lincoln had been fabricated. The doctor's and mayor's certificates for Lincoln added weight to the revelation.
Their jaws dropped collectively. A profound sense of shame enveloped them as they recalled their actions and words against the albino, especially haunting for Christina.
"I can't believe what that bastard Chandler did," Cici exclaimed.
"I actually sensed something was off," Molly admitted.
"Oh my God. I feel so ashamed now. I hit him on the head. They are going to sue me for assaulting a disabled person."
In the reflective silence that followed, Christina bore the brunt of the emotional turmoil, her tears flowing freely.
"Are you okay, Christina?" Susie inquired, but the red-haired girl remained silent, lost in her thoughts. "Christy? Hey? I asked if you were okay," Susie repeated. This time, Christina rose from her bed, approached the room door, and opened it. "Please. Get out of here," she instructed Clyde, gesturing outside.
Clyde complied, leaving the room with his phone and offering one final remark before departing. "I hope you didn't do anything stupid against my friend. Like what you did to Zack, Liam, and Rusty. And if so, I hope your conscience has pricked you," he declared as he exited the room and then the house.
Christina returned to her bed, eyes downcast, taking a few moments before wiping away tears. The emotional release didn't surprise her friends, given the bombshell revelation. They all grappled with the magnitude of their actions, fueled by those damning rumors, and the subsequent harm inflicted on Lincoln. Shame and guilt hung heavy in the air.
"I think we owe Lincoln an apology. Don't you think, girls?" Cici suggested.
"After what we did to him, an apology wouldn't be enough," Molly acknowledged.
"This is a lot to process. All this time, we thought what we were doing was justified. We thought we were trying to ward off a violent criminal. But it turns out we were attacking an innocent boy."
"In the end, we were the bad guys."
"And it's all because of Chandler's idiocy." Susie, visibly upset, recalled orchestrating two gangs to attack an innocent boy, and worse, one who was blind.
"It's not just his fault, Susie. Neither we nor anyone at school took care to check if the rumors were true. We all share the same guilt"
"Chandler. You. Me. Molly. Cristina, and basically everyone at school."
"At least they didn't send the gangsters to burn down his house," Molly remarked, reflecting on the gravity of their actions.
Cici nudged Molly's arm before turning her attention to Christina, who remained fixed on the ground.
"I'm sorry, Cristina. But this wasn't entirely your fault."
"I mean, yes, you sent the black cobra. But they just had to scare him away. It was their idea to burn down their house."
Christina started crying this time. Her friends approached her, embracing her.
"Yes, Christy. Don't cry."
"Yes, we made a huge mistake. Perhaps the worst of our lives. But we can try to change," Susie consoled Christina while wiping away the mascara from her teary eyes.
"One day we will have to admit to Lincoln that it was us who sent those gangs"
"I don't even want to imagine how he will react when he finds out."
Christina tightly hugged her friends, crying hard on Susie's shoulder.
Her friend patted her back to soothe her. "Yes, yes, Christy. Everything will be okay."
"No, Susie. Nothing will be right. It won't be again."
"Of course. The road will be long. But we can redeem ourselves."
"You don't understand, Susie. I... I did something I could never escape. Chandler knew it was all fake. And he still won't tell me anything."
"What did you expect? It's Chandler. This idiot would sell his grandmother to the devil for a dollar." 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
"It's not just the fact that he didn't tell me about Lincoln that the rumors were a lie when I hired him to run him out of town; it's what I had to do to get him to take the job."
The girls comprehended everything, recalling Chandler's proclamation to the girls as "Christina's new boyfriend."
"Oh my God, Christina... don't tell me you..."
Christina clung to her friends, her tears flowing. "I feel dirty."
That day, the girls learned two valuable lessons.
Don't believe everything you hear.
Everything has consequences.
At Lincoln's grandparents home.
The boy peacefully slumbered after taking spicy chicken soup.
Once again, Lincoln found himself in one of his dreams, wandering through the forest.
The snow transformed into a storm, with hurricane winds bending the trees. Snowflakes resembled icy glass shards capable of cutting through flesh. Gray clouds turned black, and lightning and thunder shook the earth.
Lincoln stood with the black wolf, while the gray wolf watched sternly in the distance.
The black wolf approached the boy to ask, "What do you think? Isn't power great?"
"Unbelievable. When I fought Hideki, I've never felt so good and so strong before."
"And, of course, you want more."
"Yes. I want more. Give me more power."
"Hohahahahahaha. Of course, I will give you more. Follow me."
The wolf led him to a pool of red liquid that had grown into a lake. In the center of this was a black obsidian throne, surrounded by black obsidian wolf statues. The obsidian trail also started on the lake shore.
"There. Power worthy of a king." The wolf kneeled before Lincoln.
The boy walked across the obsidian bridge, followed by the wolf. When he reached the throne, he sat on it.
On the rest of the arms, there was a cup made of the same material. The boy filled it with the crimson liquid flowing from the mouth of one of the statues. Then he raised his glass in a toast and proceeded to drink it.
Lincoln woke up from this dream feeling better.
Lincoln came downstairs, where his trusted pet greeted him with a lick. Lincoln reciprocated his pet's affection by stroking the wolf's chin. They both sat on the sofa, and suddenly his phone started ringing again.
Lincoln had to take it. He already knew who it was.
"Hello, Professor."
"Good morning, Lincoln. I heard you had a fight this afternoon."
"As always, you're well informed, Professor."
"Anyway. The reason I called you this time is not to fight."
"Okay. You already have my interest. What do you want to talk about?"
"I did you a favor. I'm sure you'll love it."
"I'm all ears."
"Found. The man who raped your sister."
Lincoln jumped off the couch. "What? Really? Where is he?"
"Hiding out in a hostel in the adult section of town."
"Does Royal Woods have areas like this?"
"Yes. It surprises me too. I will send the coordinates to your car."
"Wait a minute. I want to know first why are you doing this? I doubt it is an act of provocation."
"Simply because this kind of rubbish spoils the name of Royal Woods. If the place is unsafe, it means fewer people live or move here. This means fewer potential consumers."
"So you just want to get the cockroaches out of your kitchen."
"I couldn't have said it better. Consider this a business. I handed over the person who pissed you off. This is how I get rid of other vermin. Everyone wins."
Lincoln wasn't stupid; he knew that wasn't the only reason Venomus was doing him this favor. But he couldn't pass up the chance to punish this bastard. "Deal." Lincoln ends the call and falls silent as he pats White-Flame. "We already know where this bastard is."
Lincoln went back to his room to get some rest. Since that night, he has been "going hunting" again.
He was introduced back to the dream world. But this time, he didn't dream of the forest. This time, he dreamed that he was in a completely different room. It was clearly a dream. Since he could see perfectly.
The boy got out of bed and looked around.
The place looks like a castle. On the table, there was an obsidian cup filled with a crimson liquid. An inexplicable thirst conquered the albino. Who drank the entire content in one gulp.
Lincoln walked over to a mirror covered by a red curtain. He didn't know why. But he felt the need to discover what it could show.
Lincoln grabbed the curtain and pulled it back, revealing the glass. Lincoln's eyes widened. Because the reflection showed a being that could only be described as a werewolf. An object of black color with some white threads.
Lincoln fell to the ground, and the creature followed him. Then he crawled on all fours to the mirror. He touched his face, and the monster imitated him again. Then he realized that this monster was his reflection.
Lincoln woke up. At the same time, he heard someone else. This meant there was someone else in the room with him.
"Lincoln. Are you okay?"
Lincoln recognized that voice. "Lucy? You?"
"Yes. The grandparents went out and asked for one of us to come here to take care of you."
"And they chose you?"
"Indeed. You've got that right."
"You had a fight with Lynn, didn't you?"
"Hahahaha. Yes."
"And what were you doing in my room? Are you watching me while I sleep?"
Lucy blushed and scratched the back of her neck as she looked away. "Maybe."
Lincoln moves a little. He left a space in his bed. "Aren't you coming in with me?"
Lucy's ears warmed upon hearing her brother say that. Without a second thought, she kicked off her shoes and climbed under the covers.
Lincoln hugs Lucy and supports her against his chest. Lucy looks up at Lincoln's face and brings her lips to his. They both covered their heads with the sheets and started kissing and caressing.
Lucy put her hands under Lincoln's shirt, feeling the hardening of his chest and abs.
Lincoln only enjoyed the taste of gothic lips. Interestingly, he tasted the grapes from them. Maybe put some flavors of lipstick on.
Lucy was still caressing Lincoln's stomach when she felt something harder underneath him. Looking down, she noticed a straight bulge, like a tower, rising from the fabric of Lincoln's pajama pants.
"Lincoln!" Lucy separated from him when she saw the involuntary reaction of her brother's member.
"Oh, I am. I'm sorry, Lucy. It felt so good, I couldn't."
Lucy covered Lincoln's mouth and smiled. "Don't worry, it doesn't bother me. In fact, I'm flattered." Lucy grabs the belt of the pants with one finger and begins to lower it. "You gave me a lot of happiness last time. It's time to return the favor" Lucy licks her lips at the thought of what she was doing. Maybe this was the step she needed for her and her brother to finally become one in the act of love.
Lincoln's hand resting on her head indicated that he was willing to let her do this. But the sound of the front door opening and Myrtle's voice signaling her arrival forced them to separate.
Myrtle knocked on the room's door and entered immediately.
"And this is the letter H in Braille." Lincoln was sitting on his bed next to Lucy with an open book. "Oh. Hello, Grandma. I was teaching Lucy how to read Braille."
"Oh. How lovely. Thanks for taking care of your brother while we're away, darling."
"It's no problem, Grandma. Lincoln and I had a great time."
Myrtle left the room, and the siblings sighed in relief.
"It was close. I felt the balls going up my throat."
"I guess there won't be another chance for that... you know."
Lincoln hugs Lucy from behind and kisses her on the head. "Who said that?"
"You. You said I wasn't ready yet."
"To hell with what I said, Lucy. Next time we're alone, we'll do it."
"What?! Really?!" A smile spreads across Lucy's face.
"Of course I do, my little vampire. So you better get ready. Because this wolf is hungry for you."
"Lincoln." Lucy pounced on her brother and kissed him on the lips.
They both hugged each other. When suddenly Lucy felt Lincoln's hands on her ass, she said, "HEY, control your hands."
"Ho ho ho. sorry. I couldn't help it."
"Good. I understand it's fine. After all, you'll soon be doing more than just touching it."
Lincoln hugs Lucy, and they both go to bed "Shall we keep kissing?"
"I would like nothing more than that, baby. But with the grandparents here, I'm not sure."
"Such a pity. Can we at least stick together?"
"Yes, of course" Lucy says as she hugs her brother. Sarcastically. Lucy gave Lincoln a small beam of light. Before the darkness that was coming
-It was already night-
In an area of Royal Woods full of themed motels. Night clubs. Adult movie theaters and brothels. An orange car cruises the streets bathed in neon lights.
The car comes to a halt in front of a club. Lincoln confidently strides towards the entrance, where a guard, towering at about two meters, halts him with a grip on his shoulder.
"Stop there, kid. Minors aren't allowed in. Also, you should be on the list."
With a nonchalant smile, Lincoln replies, "Good. Maybe I'm not on the list. But my friend Grover Cleveland is." He takes a thousand dollars from his wallet.
Glancing around, the guard takes the cash, allowing Lincoln to pass.
Seated at the bar, the boy attracts attention. The waiter, surprised to see a child, approaches.
"Aren't you too young to drink?"
"I'm not looking for drinks. I'm looking for information."
"What kind?"
"Do you know someone named Scoods?"
"I don't seem to remember someone like that."
Lincoln places a hundred-dollar bill on the table.
"I remember. Yes, he comes here every night."
"Is he here tonight?"
"I don't know."
Another bill appears on the table.
"Yes. He's here. On the back table."
"Can you hand this to him?" Lincoln hands the waiter an envelope with another hundred-dollar bill.
The waiter takes the envelope and the money.
At Scood's table,
The boy sits with three scantily clad women. Bills change hands periodically.
"Your time is up, buddy. If you want us to stay another hour, it will cost you another two hundred dollars."
"They're the ugliest bitches in the world. And I pay them for the drinks. They still charge me," Scoods grumbles. Seeing the waiter, he adds, "I didn't order anything."
"That's not why I'm here. That young man over there is sending this to you."
Scoods takes the envelope and opens it. There's a typewritten message. "You'll pay for what you did to Leni. If you want to stop me, try it."
Scoods recognizes Lincoln.
Fortunately, he didn't spend enough time with Leni to know that Lincoln was blind, or so he thought. Lincoln gets up and walks towards the exit.
In the parking lot,
Lincoln opens his car door when he feels cold metal on the back of his head. Scoods points a gun at him.
"Get in the car."
Lincoln remains calm. "Try driving it; don't waste your time. It only works with my voice command."
"Don't tell me. Well, you're driving. And don't try anything. Or I'll blow your head off."
Lincoln complies, sitting next to Scoods. "Where do you want me to take you? Buddy," Lincoln asks like a taxi driver.
"To the industrial zone. Hurry."
"Alexander. Go to the industrial area."
The computer complies, and Lincoln engages in a conversation.
"It's a nice car, Linky. It's definitely worth a lot of money."
"Two hundred and fifty-nine thousand dollars. To be precise"
"I won the lottery with this family. At first, I thought Leni had money because of the house they had. That's why I seduced her. But when I found out they got it all thanks to you, I decided to leave her. But not without getting a little profit first. Oh, it sure was tight. And it smelled so good. How poetic it all was! Two Louds met their deaths in a car. By the same guy."
"Leni's still alive," Lincoln responds with a fist bump.
"So? Good. At least she managed to lose her innocence. I was so amazed. With her body, and she was still a virgin. I had to change that."
Lincoln clenches his fist.
"Oh. Are you angry?" Scoods hits Lincoln in the mouth with the gun. "Don't forget who has the gun here."
Finally, they reach the industrial area.
A place surrounded by factories, some in neglected condition and others recently purchased for remodeling.
The boys get out of the car and walk behind one of the factories.
Scoods pushes Lincoln against the wall and points the gun at his head.
"Okay. I guess that's the end of it, Linky."
"Your biggest mistake was coming here alone."
"Who said I came alone?"
"What?" Scood is confused. Suddenly, he hears a roar behind him. He turns around, and his heart jumps into his throat. "What the hell is that thing?" In front of the boy was White-Flame.
Scoods begins firing, but the wolf evades the shots until the gun is completely discharged.
White-Flame rushes towards him, trapping his arm between its jaws. "Ahhhhh. Fuck. This hurts. Lincoln. Lincoln, take that thing off me."
Lincoln snaps his fingers, and White-Flame releases Scoods.
Scoods falls to the ground, clutching his injured arm. But Lincoln picks him up and squeezes him. "Ahhhhh. Damn it, let me go."
But Lincoln doesn't let go; he presses harder, his fingers penetrating the holes left by White-Flame's fangs.
"Aaaaaahhhaaa, PLEASE, LET ME GO"
"Does it hurt?" Lincoln asks.
"Yes. It hurts so much!"
"That's good. I'm happy!" Lincoln lifts Scoods into the air and then slams him to the ground, breaking the arm he was holding.
"You bastard. You broke my arm. I'll kill you, you bastard."
Lincoln throws Scoods to the ground and stomps on the broken point of his arm.
Scoods looks up and sees something that fills him with horror. On Lincoln's body, the same bright markings are seen as embers. Only this time, they reach his face.
Lincoln raises his bangs, revealing his eyes. They are different from what he had imagined.
Lincoln's eyes have lost their cloudy appearance. He seems to have been cured of blindness. But they are not normal. His pupils are black, and his irises are yellow.
Scood's horror is palpable. The boy tries to escape, but Lincoln steps on his right leg and shatters it.
"You won't get away easily, Scott."
The boy is paralyzed when he hears that name. "How did you know my real name?"
"Please, only someone so stupid would swallow that identical cousin's story."
"I asked my boss to find out everything about you from the samples you left in my parents' car."
"You can't have Leni in Scotland. You were just a summer love. A teenage fantasy. But you refuse to believe it. You're obsessed with her, and you become a disaster in your town"
"Finally, after a long time, you found her, and you couldn't get her at all. You drugged her. But when you finished your act and couldn't feel her breathing, you thought you had gone too far with it, and you thought you killed her by mistake."
"But no. She's alive. In a coma, but alive."
Scott grins, enduring the pain in his arm and leg. "Well, it looks like you already have me."
"Good? What are you waiting for? Hand me over to the police."
"Police? Oh hohohohohohohohohahahahahahahaha. No. I've prepared something sweeter! For you." Lincoln smiles, showing off his huge fangs. But it doesn't end there. Behind Lincoln, a wolf-like figure begins to materialize. This one seems to be made of thick black smoke, with a few balls that look like burning embers where its eyes should be.
If Scott wasn't scared enough by then, now he will be afraid. "What the hell are you?"
Lincoln grabs him by the hair and lifts him up, then takes him by the neck. "I am the executioner; I am the executor."
"I am the Fang of Darkness. The Claws of the Night."
"I am power, lust, and darkness."
"I am. White Wolf!" Lincoln punches Scott in the stomach and pushes him into the wall behind him. The impact causes him to bounce back toward Lincoln, who meets him with another blow that sends him back to the wall.
A series of punches at full speed saves Scott from falling. Lincoln's arms and fists seem to multiply and distort the speed of his movement.
The Scottish boy bounces like a ball against the wall, being thrown over and over again by Lincoln's powerful fists.
The blows the albino delivers to Scott cause the wall to shake, and the paint on the other side peels off.
Scott's bones ache from the force of the blows.
His ribs and bones are literally beaten to the core.
Bone fragments are torn apart, and his internal organs are also receiving massive damage. They are crushed and beaten.
Scott's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth begin to bleed.
With a final strike, Scott breaks through the wall that is already soaked in blood. The boy flies into the factory until he crashes into an iron staircase.
Scott's body is left in an unnatural position. His torso is bent at a 180-degree angle. A paralyzed ragdoll with stuffing removed and twisted.
A torrential river of blood, bones, and limbs drips from his mouth onto the ground, accompanied by an expression of suffering on his face.
Lincoln rubs his knuckles, which are red from the hits.
Once satiated, his eyes return to their normal cloudy appearance. "Justice has been served."
Lincoln gets into his car and drives home, with White-Flame in the back seat. Unaware, he is being spied on by a small drone.
The next day is Saturday.
Lincoln wakes up feeling better than ever.
He goes downstairs, strolling into the kitchen to make breakfast. Just a bowl of cereal and some juice. Then he turns on the TV. Even though he can't see, he loves hearing the news. The report that day is interesting.
This is Catherine Mulligan, reporting from Royal Woods Industrial Park, where the body of a young man barely 20 was found in a factory being remodeled.
The body was found by a guard who had started his morning shift.
An anonymous source informed us that the young man identified as Scott, coming from Scotland, entered our country under the assumed name of Scoods. He is wanted for sexually assaulting a young woman, whose name we will not give to protect her identity.
It is not known what method his killer used to leave him in the state in which they found him.
Lincoln eats his breakfast with an evil smile on his face.
His phone rings again.
"Good day, Professor."
"Hey Lincoln. I have a job for you."
"Hmm? And what's in dispute?"
"It will be eight tonight. Against the Energy Labs. The battle will take place on one of the abandoned sets of the Fear TV channel. I will send the coordinates to your car."
"Got it, Professor." Lincoln hangs up, very confident of his certain victory. Ever since he saw that black wolf in his dreams, he feels invincible.
Suddenly, he hears another phone ring. But this time, it's the home phone. Lincoln answers. On the other side, he hears Lucy's voice.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Lincoln."
"Oh. Hello Lucy. How's my little vampire doing?"
Lucy blushes at her brother's words, "I want to ask you something. Are you free this afternoon?"
"Of course. Why? Do you want to ask me out on a date?"
"Something like that. I've entered a contest where the prize is to attend the taping of the season finale of Vampires of Blues. It's at 4pm, but Mom and Dad won't be able to take me because they're going to visit Leni in the hospital, and I don't trust Lynn to not screw it up."
"This show was taped for Fear TV, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"Great. Tonight I have a business meeting at that place. I can take you."
"You don't have to lie. I know about your fights."
"Oh yeah. I forgot. Well, I'll pick you up in my car at three o'clock. So we'll be there on time."
"Thank you, Lincoln."
"You're welcome, Lucy. Bye. I love you."
Lucy blushed again from embarrassment and then ended the call.