Jackals in the Night:

Chapter XXIII—Satan and The Maniac

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A/N: Have I lost all of my readers?!  How sad…perhaps I won't update until I get more reviews.  That's all.  ^^;; I feel so unloved. BTW, does the title sound like some movie?

Disclaimer:  Jhonen has yet to beat me down!!  He's currently chasing Kurumi-sempai around with a …very sharp object. ~sweatdrop~  Oh well…Sempai!  ~tosses her Vopaul Blade (American McGee's Alice)~  Fight fire with fire I suppose!

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            I followed after Nny in my human form.  It was almost light out [19] anyways.  How droll, I have to stop my schedule for him.  Ah well…I give myself a vacation.  Why thank you, Me.  You're welcome.

            …..  I've been spending too much time around these homicidal maniacs….

            "So, Mr. Devil," Johnny continued walking ahead towards the 24/7.  "Why are you up here?"

            I blink a few times.  How can he be so calm when he was almost killed?  I sigh loudly.  Oh well…this is coming from a man who shot himself in the head, disemboweled a whole restaurant with a spork, and did other unspeakable things with salad thongs.  This is probably just a walk in the park for him.

            "I reside up here."  I give a wave of my hand towards the street around.  "I have to keep getting souls for Hell, you know."

            "Why would you want that?" 

            "To keep the balance."  I reply and watch ahead as the 24/7 comes into view.

            Mr. Johnny looked as if he was going to ask about "the balance," but when the store was in plain sight, he soon took off seeming to forget my presence—yelling something about "cherry brainfreezies." 

            I soon enter the store to see Johnny happily trying to get some slush out of the machine.  Some soon pours into the cup he has and the young man starts making noises of contentment.

            I had thought they turned these machines off at 2am, but then…what Johnny did to the last person who turned it off too early…I can see why they keep them on all the time.

            Glancing around the store, I see the normal druggies and the completely drunk sitting in booths making fun of everyone who they think looks stupid.  Really, how immature. 

I'm glad Pepito has more manners…when he isn't trying to kill someone.

While passing a table of three seemingly-stoned people, one of them grabs my coat tail.

            "Hey…aren't you that survey guy [20]?" One of the stoned men asked.

            "Survey guy?" I raise an eyebrow and politely reply, "No, I don't believe so."

            "Wait, duuuuude, didn't he die?" His friend poked the first with an index finger. Oh please, let Heaven have these retards.

            "No way, dude.  He's right here, isn't he?"

            "Didn't I just say—" I begin but it seems they don't hear me.

            "Maybe it's his ghost, dude.  Like in that movie…with the friendliest ghost..."

            "Casper?" I help out.  Though I don't think I want to be considered the same as that wussy ghost.  In fact, it's almost humorous to think someone would compare me to it.

            "See, he admits it."

            I feel annoyance creeping up on me.  I can almost guess how these retards die—accidental overdose.  Idiots.

            "Come on, Mr. Devil." Johnny appears out of no where, holding two of those horrible slush-like drinks. "We have to go to see Squeegee."  As if I was the one to think of coming to 24/7.

            "Devil?" Stoner#1 looks around. "Where?"

            "Dude, he's everywhere.  He's spooky." Stoner#2 replies.

            "Yeah, really spooky."

            "Look like you have some fans," Johnny has amusement in his voice.  At least, he's enjoying himself.

            "Hey look, it's that faggot from before." The last one looks at Johnny.

            "Oh right!" Stoner#1 commented. "We're going to beat you down, you…uh…"

            "Faggot?" The second helped out.

            "Yeah!"

            "Johnny, I'm going to wait outside now." I comment quickly. 

            As much as I love blood and gore, I would rather not get my new white suit stained.  Johnny doesn't seem to notice, but he does hand me the brainfreezies.  Uh…thanks? 

            I move out the door and turn to see Johnny holding a plastic knife at the stoners.  Oh well…either I or him would kill those idiots.  Waste of skin those three.

            I do hope he hurries up.  Who knows what Pepito is going to do to Reverend.  Or Squee for that matter. 

Teenagers.  I sigh again as a loud fluid sound smacks against one of the windows in 24/7.

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TBC?

C&C are welcome.

[19] Anyone else curious why it is still night-time?  Yeah…me too.

[20]  If you have seen Squee's Wonderful Big Giant Book of Horrors, you'll see Senor Diablo look a lot like that survey guy in JTHM#1..er…before Nny killed him.