Chapter 21

Everyone got inside and it was Morso who was making the meal. After he placed the food on the table, Matt looked up at everyone who was sitting there.

"I'm sorry about your shoulder." said Matt quietly.

"It's fine. I was wearing a pad Morso gave me." said Tyrone.

"Matt, honey, eat something. Don't worry." said Destiny.

Matt stood quiet and sat there looking very sad like a bump on a log. Tyrone tried to tickle him on the neck, but Matt didn't even flinch nor did he chuckle. Destiny on the other hand looked over to Tyrone and made eye contact, suggesting he'd leave him be for a bit.

After a few minutes have passed, Matt spoke up. "I'm sorry everyone." he said softly.

"It's okay little man. It's not your fault." said Tyrone, using his favorite nickname to use on Matt. He knew Matt felt at ease whenever Tyrone called him that.

"Hillsboro was where you came from right? Where bad things happened?" asked Destiny.

Matt nodded and Destiny put her hands out to Matt. "Hold my hands." she said firmly.

Matt grabbed them both and Destiny pressed them real hard.

"I come from Hillsboro too, and let me tell you that bad things happened to me too. Really bad things. I didn't want to go there either. I wanted to fucking throw up." said Destiny, using very strong language she never said before.

Both Morso and Tyrone held their shock and Destiny continued.

"I lived in Hillsboro with my uncle and my sweet little cousin, who was about your age. I loved him. So much! I loved him so much that I made his lunch for school every day and I kissed him goodbye. He was my world. In fact, you remind me of him. You remind me of my baby cousin. But then, something bad happened. He died…." Destiny's voice was breaking.

Matt never looked away from Destiny and she continued, while trying not to lose control of herself.

"He died because he had cancer. And my Uncle didn't give a shit about him. My older brother lived with us, and he was the one who told me, not my Uncle. And guess what? My Uncle used to touch me. He touched me in my private parts!" said Destiny, her voice trailing off.

Tyrone and Matt both looked at eachother, but Matt didn't let go of Destiny. His eyes grew wide as Destiny pressed on his hands a lot harder.

"I ran away from home. I ran away. I left my brother with that horrible man. My brother is like him. He's a proud arrogant asshole who laughed when my cousin died. He didn't care about him. He actually laughed! You know why? Because to him, it was like throwing away something precious of mine in the garbage. He never liked my baby cousin. And my Uncle saw him as a drag. It was my poor Aunt, rest her soul who paid for everything until she died too! She was also very sick and she…." Destiny then began to sob.

Matt couldn't help but cry too and he kissed her hands tenderly. "My Dad shot my Mom and my brother back in the apartment." he said aloud.

Tyrone rubbed Matt's shoulder. He already knew this story. When Matt first came to his world, he told him that his father beat his brother up. It wasn't until months later after he was fostered that Matt told Tyrone the whole truth about what actually happened to his family.

Destiny looked at Matt in disbelief and Matt nodded seriously. "My Dad had a gun and he shot the one person who loved me. My Mom didn't give a shit about me, nor my fucking Dad. Only Marcos." said Matt, using strong language.

Morso sat back, folding his arms. "I didn't realize Hillsboro was such a bad place for the both of you. And to think that I didn't even catch the curse that was there." said Morso.

"The Eternal Winter. We know." said Tyrone.

"No! Another one. The one that that idiot Grim Reaper put. He was looking for Matt." said Morso.

Upon hearing his name, Matt turned to Morso and let go of Destiny.

"It's true. You see, the Grim Reapers have this tendency to lure people to a trap. They use memories, fear, and hate to lure people to a bad place in their minds. It's no coincidence the Demon Hounds were there to begin with." said Morso.

"Why us?" asked Destiny, wiping her tears away with a napkin.

"In your case, Destiny, you escaped your Uncle's clutches. Death was nowhere near you. But in Matt's case, his father would have KILLED him, if not for the sacrifice of Marcos. Sacrifices and acts of love are what angers the Grim Reapers. It knew you were coming to Hillsboro and it lured you with memories." said Morso.

"That's… terrible." said Matt.

"Grim Reapers do that. That's why they are hunted down by the Sword Warriors, who are protecting people from them as much as they can. However, because of this damn curse, the Sword Warriors can't really reach out to help us, not even a Mothperson." said Morso.

"So in other words, we are on our own out here." said Destiny grimly.

"On the other hand, it's good I'm here and so is Bubbles. And hopefully the Groke, if we reach her on time that is." said Morso.

"If we all fail, this means that the winter spell or whatever this is can continue on forever!" said Tyrone.

"Then that witch can kidnap more children." said Destiny.

"And we won't see our parents!" said Matt.

"Parents?" asked Destiny.

"Our foster Mom and Dad. They are part of Rood Bridge Park and they are stuck there!" said Matt.

"You see, our foster Dad is the Bogey Man. And our Mom is like a Spring sprite of sorts. You know. Rood Bridge Park stuff." said Tyrone.

Destiny chuckled. "Why am I not surprised?" she said.

"Then we better hurry. When do we leave?" asked Morso.

"First, let's rest. We've had a long afternoon. If this is an afternoon. Have you all noticed the days are actually kind of darkish?" asked Tyrone.

Destiny looked out and nodded. "I feel like this curse is getting worse and worse." she said softly.

"My thoughts exactly." said Morso.

Tyrone yawned and pulled out a sleeping bag. Matt followed behind and whispered in Tyrone's ear.

Destiny observed the boys talking and Tyrone nodded, but it looked like he was telling Matt to go over to Destiny first. Matt came up to her and smiled.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" he asked softly.

"Oh! Well, sure. I won't mind the extra company." said Destiny, smiling and feeling loved for a bit.

Morso yawned and pulled out his sleeping bag while Bubbles slept in a small cup of water. Within minutes, everyone went over to their sleeping bags and slept peacefully.

Meanwhile, back at the Oak's household, the Mothman was healing from his wounds. But he was powerless. The snow surrounding the house was enchanted with a powerful curse. A curse that did NOT allow him to escape. He saw the visions. He saw the grim reaper who wanted Matt. He saw Destiny's sad life as she recounted it to the boy. And he saw Viscount Brion, standing on a pointy black tree and laughing as meteors fell from the sky.

The Mothman tried to get out, but the force field that the snow created pushed him back inside. "Curses." he hissed under his breath. He wanted to go out and save everybody and help in many ways. But he was stuck. He knew everyone was. Their only hope right now were the children and Morso. Morso! The laziest and most controversial Sword Warrior trainer back home! Of all the creatures in Oregon, why him?