Chapter 31: Stepping out

"Life is like stepping onto a boat which is about to sail out to sea…and sink" -D'Angelo Spencer.

The lights flickered on and off as his grip tightened on the doorknob. This was it. Trap or no trap…what if he looked everywhere and she was here all along? The vampires weren't that stupid, though. But what if that's exactly what they tried to do?…Fuck, screw whoever created that reverse phsycolo-whatever bullshit.

But it as also instinct that told him to go in there and instinct never failed him. Sure, instinct was the one who told him to put the urine sample in the fridge but it turned out for the better--and a couple of fractured ribs. He pushed open the rusted iron door and immediately wished he didn't.

His ears were met with an horrific screeching sound, similar to metal-on-metal, but more piercing…more pained…as if made by a living thing.

"Holllyyy Lord…"

King looked inside and it was something he definitely did not expect.

Kasumi fumbled backward and tried to get one punch in. The vampire quickly grabbed her fist and twisted her hand. She had always hated vampires but she had also hated…killing. It didn't matter whatever it was. She couldn't stand the thought of ending a life…ending something. Change was too much for her.

…Enough to kill her mentally…

She received another punch and began to sway, dizziness and pain suddenly striking her.

…And physically…

But for once in her life, she finally opened her eyes. Like he told her to…

"G'dammit, newbie!" His voice rang in her mind. "You couldn't hit water even if you fell out of a boat--punch him already!"

One punch changed the whole thing around. The vampire fumbled back and she grabbed the silver stake from the ground. He charged and she slashed it across his chest, drawing blood. And then, fucking poof! Ashes everywhere.

"See? All you needed to do was believe in yourself---and then actually hitting him!"

He had always been the supportive type.

It was a bright, deliriously colorful realm visually reflective of things that were in kid's movies. Unusual trees, rock formations, totems, statues, and a brilliant pool of water with a waterfall. The pond ripples as bewildered King passes it.

Who the fuck lived here, Willy Wonka?
"Mr. King?"

King turned, gun leveled. For some reason, he was totally freaked out. Was it about the fact that this place looked like dolls were gonna come out of nowhere and attack him? Or was it the Patricia coming towards him?---alive…happy.

"You came for me." She smiled even more.

Maybe she was just happy to see him-- or maybe he should haul ass right now!
He ran for the door but was slowed down…black ooze creeping up his leg. The atmosphere grew darker and ominous.

"I am sorry mister." Patricia said, with a much different accent. "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you…"

Her human skin turned to blue-green scales, then back to human flesh--this time, taking in a different form.

King's eyes open wide with silent terror.

The person wore a police officer uniform as it swung the pipe in it's hand, grinning.
"I think this'll be fun…" Spence said. "…don't cha think?"

Spence sat leaning on the wall, unconscious but still alive. It had been a long time. You could barely see him through all the blood flooding the room and then-- his flesh momentarily shimmered into blue scales.

The bright colors vanished, the walls suddenly blazed, steam coming out from under their feet. It was another version of hell. "Welcome to hell, my friend." Spence smiled, the ooze beginning to melt away from King's legs.

"Just to…oh, 'spice' things up. We're going to invite the real Spence to come play. You see, while you and I beat each other up- which I'll do, really -Spence is gonna be feeling all the pain you give me…" Spence explained. "And I'll be laughing my ass off."

Spence was alive?--No wait, Rephrasing: Spence is alive?

A can of beer appeared in Spence's hands and he drank it, before crushing the can and throwing it over his shoulder. Man, this clone was like the real one.

Shit--Gun. Gun. Fuckin gun!

King saw the gun on the ground and tried to grab it but steam erupted from the ground, boiling the gun as if it was boiling an egg.

Next thing King knew, he was looking at the ground. He felt Spence's boot on his head. "You know, Hannibal. I've never really believed in that 'God is my saviour' bullshit. 'Cos beer is the only proof that god wants us to be happy. Do you know what I'm saying?"

Holy shit. It is like Spence.

King reached up, grabbed his boot and pulled him down to the ground. Instantaneously, they both got to their feet, Spence grinning, spinning the pipe like one of those cheerleader batons. Whatever.

And Spence does a very odd thing…he relaxes his grip on the pipe and throws it away. King shifts. Blinks. And Spence springs...Foot coming out like a shot, King jerking back a few inches. King countermoves, spins, tries a back kick, no dice ..Spence was no longer there, where is he ... ? Shit--! Spence comes up behind him, darting a punch to the back of King's head.

"Your not letting me go easy, are ya, King?" Spence laughed.

Spence pulled his arm back for another punch--King blocks, punches and kicks. Spence doubles over. King grabs his ears and pulls his face into his bent knee, breaking his nose.

As blood flows from his nostrils, Spence grins...

"'Bout damn time, Suzy." Spence affronted.

King leaps, avoiding a shot to the knee, spins, and slams the knuckles of his hand into Spence's nose.

The real Spence winces, eyes fluttering. Lungs no longer aching.

Spence snickers and drops--catching King's arm over one shoulder. Ladies and Gentlemen, it's that time of the day again!---the time when King fucks up.

CRACK! His arm breaks. He screams with pain. Screams with anger. Frustration. "Ouch, Shirley. You okay?" Spence chuckles.

"Yeah. Oh, and bide away: Fuck you."

King and Spence falls away, both staggering. "You know, you were a bad influence on me." King said, they were both circling each other. Sweating. Pale. Watching each other's hands.

"Really?" Spence smiled. "That's exactly what my teacher told me…but for some reason, all my classmates turned out all right. 'Cept little Kevin of course, he don't look right."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah."
Spence charges. King sidesteps and smashes him in the ribs as he passes. Ribs splintering. Spence grabs King's broken arm, hammering into it. King screaming with pain. Spence pushes him down to the ground, pulling at his arms, his boot to the back of King's neck.

"This is for pouring ice over me every morning!"

"Ah! Fuck you, I'm still not apologizing! It's your own fault!"

"How is it my fault, Shirley?"

"You kept stealing my fucking alarm clock!"

Spence chuckled. "It's not as if you slept anyways…"

King hits the back of his head with Spence's nose. "Aw! Why, Hannibal? Why?" Spence faked hurt.

King scrambled up, cradling his broken arm with the other one. "Heads up." Spence said.

"What?" King was hit at the back of the head. A rugby ball? What the fuck?
"Aw." Spence laughed. "I'm sorry…I couldn't help it."

Using the odd distraction, Spence's boot strikes, shearing the knee, maybe bursting the cap. "Fuck!" King shouted, falling to his knees. Spence hopped up and tilted his head to the side. There was a small crack. And then he looks at King, no longer smiling. Playtime was over.

"King."

"Yeah."

And then, it came. The unusual breakthrough. "Teach the brat a lesson."

A moment ... and then, my fellow humans, King does a peculiar thing: He smiles. He rises up...standing. Standing up straight. How could he do this? There was no way he should be able to do this.

"Give up."

There was a flicker in Spence's eyes. The eyes turning to emerald green. "No."

"No dijo que no le advertí." King said.

Spence runs at him, angry. There was a sick-sounding crack--and Spence was dead before he hits the ground, a silver stake sticking out from the side of his neck. King hovers over the corpse... breathing spastic. "Game over."

The steam melted away into the air and the room returned back to one of the cells.It was all an illusion. Ash. He had enjoyed seeing it. It was always a good sign.

But Spence…he had been alive. But when the vampire died, had he died too?

And the sound that snaps him out of it…a girl crying.