Ningyo slid the manhole cover off the street, grunting in effort. He climbed out, the pitch darkness of Sweeney City blinding around him. "Come on, hurry."
The rest of the crew climbed out with him, holding their weapons nervously. The night was not reassuring, and they kept hearing something in the distance, like a whine.
"Why's it quiet?" inquired Dion.
He stopped breathing for a second, his vision shifting. He was staring at something's face in front of him, the creature pressed right up against him. It was screaming in his face, its mouth full of rotten teeth.
Then it disappeared, leaving nothing behind.
"Did anyone else just fucking see that?!" he yelled panicking.
"We need to find shelter," spoke Ningyo. "Or light. I'm seeing it too."
They began running through the streets, noticing entities from the corners of their eyes. They appeared like pale figures in the distance, only visible in their peripheral vision for a second before disappearing. They all looked the same: long distorted limbs, pale skin, and a screaming face. They made no noise except for the whining, which increased with every second.
"Light!" warned Sven, sand bleeding behind him steadily.
Dion dived through the alley, bathing himself in the yellow glow. He glanced to the side, his eyes widening.
Ningyo yanked him up a second before a passing car nearly tore his head off.
"T-t-thanks," spoke the Titan recuperating from his near death experience.
"Don't mention it," stated Ningyo.
They glanced at the lit street, noting the large yellow lamps that covered it. There were cars flying down the street rapidly, making sharp turns down more lit streets. Apparently someone was racing, even at night.
"Huh, the light must keep those things away," murmured Paula.
A few grease monkeys appeared, all of them carrying machine guns. They stopped a few feet away from the Vault Hunters, trying to appear civil.
"You the new guests?" spoke the leader.
"Yeah," stated Bartholomew walking forward. He offered his hand.
The leader declined it. "Our boss wants to see you. Apparently he knows you."
"Who is he?" asked Dion curiously.
The leader snickered. "If you had to ask that, you clearly don't know much about this place."
BREAK
Nitro burst into laughter, leaping out his chair to hug Dion and Paula. "Old friends! I am so glad to see you again!"
They hugged back awkwardly, curious as to his change to them.
"You're…friendly?" asked Dion.
"I thought you worked for the Carnival," stated Paula.
"Oh, that was my old job," insisted Nitro. "Now I'm the head of an underground racing cult. In all honesty, this job fits me far better!"
He gestured to the race track. "I mean, look at this! It's perfection! It's like Christmas for people like me!"
Dion smirked. "I thought the Octanes were in Ward C."
"We're in any Ward we please really. Anywhere we can race," argued Nitro. "Ward A had the widest streets, so we use these streets. Most other places involve either the rooftops or the sewers. Night is always dangerous though."
"I imagine. The hell were those things?" inquired Dude.
"Eddy's guards, the Eridians," explained Nitro. "They aren't…like anything I've ever seen. They…mess with your mind. It's like static on a television, but with your brain. Hard to describe."
"Agreed," spoke Ningyo. "So I assume you heard about our agreement?"
"Oh, sure. You can stay with me as long as you want. You aren't part of this competition, so you have no need to fight me. I'm still going to fight your comrades in Ward C though."
Nitro shook excitedly, literally hopping. "Oh, exciting times to be alive! So many good fights before me! I can hardly wait!"
"Oh my God he's so cute," whispered Paula. "Especially since he's bald."
"Agreed," spoke Dude.
"Even I'm feeling it," stated Ningyo.
"Gay," grunted Dion.
"Hey, it's legal now."
"It was just a joke! Honestly, I've been around Alan too much to be homophobic."
"Are you saying Alan is a homosexual?" inquired Bartholomew.
"And that you can tell him to his face."
"Are you all ready to head out?" asked Nitro. "Or would you prefer to watch the race? There's still five laps to go, and I think it's going to be an exciting one!"
Bartholomew grinned. "I'd love to. Where's the beer?"
"Alright! Come my large cyborg friend!"
The two boisterous men walked off, their arms over each other's shoulders like best friends.
"How is it he can make friends with everyone?" asked Dion.
"It's called not being a little asshole," stated Ningyo.
"Huh, I might want to try it sometime. But not today. I'm getting something to drink."
"Right behind you," agreed Dude.
"Can you even drink? You're a zombie."
"Of course I am. By the way, what's the first thing a zombie eats after getting her teeth pulled?"
"Uh…I have no idea."
"The dentist."
Dion groaned and smacked himself in the forehead. "Let's just find the drinks."
[Scotty "Roundhouse" Dale] "So…I guess the Eridians are a little different than what we're used to."
[Richard McGuinness] "That's a fucking understatement. That was some Slender shit right there."