Pigsy prided himself on having the best noodle shop this side of Megapolis. It was clean, full of satisfied customers, and had a phone ringing off the hook.

Lately, however, more of those calls were his regular customers after they had received their deliveries. Most of his customers were used to MK's antics and rarely called to complain anymore- they knew he'd get their noodles delivered eventually. It seemed as though the kid had charmed a lot of the elder folks, and they had begun taking an interest in his overall well being.

Pigsy hung up the phone, having finished a call with one such patron. She ordered the same thing every Thursday, and had noted that MK looked "peeked", and why was he working that poor boy so hard?

Normally, Pigsy would have managed to politely disconnect the call and then blown a gasket. How dare anyone tell him how to treat his k- delivery boy?

But even the stubborn swine knew the woman had a point. MK had been looking rough the past few weeks. Maybe it was time to talk to him.

A noise at the back of the store tore him from his thoughts. The young man in question had just rolled down the stairs from his apartment, his jacket hanging half-off his body.

"MK! What happened?"

The kid popped up, trying to appear as though he hadn't just fallen face first down a flight of steps. Pigsy could see the heavy bags under his bloodshot eyes.

"I'm good! Just tripped! Sorry, had dumb brain there for a minute!"

"Kid, are you feelin' okay? You don't look good."

MK tried his best to look insulted, but lost the effect when he broke into a yawn. "Yeah, Pigsy, I'm fiiiiine. Got any deliveries for me?"

The demon's ears flopped as he nodded. "Yeah, I've one for the other side of town. Why don't you take it out and stop by Sandy's while you're out that way? He said he had somethin' for ya."

MK's eyes brightened, and he almost looked normal, if a little suspicious. "Are you sure? Friday's one of our busiest days..."

Pigsy carefully placed the wrapped order on the counter. "Hundred percent, kid. Now get outta here before these noodles get cold!"

The change of tone from concerned to rough seemed to settle the kid, and he leapt forward to grab the bag on his way out the door. A few moments later, he heard MK shout a greeting to Tang before the tuk tuk pulled away.

The scholar entered the shop, concern in his eyes. So Tang had seen it, too. Picking up the phone again, Pigsy rang Sandy. He didn't actually have anything for the kid yet, but it was obvious that something was up. Maybe Sandy could give him some of that sleepin' tea?

MK was not okay.

The noodles had been delivered to another one of the regulars, Mrs. Ming. She had fussed and fretted over MK, worried about the bags under his eyes.

"You're missing your spark, MK dear," she had crooned while pulling her change and an extra hard candy from her purse. Mrs. Ming had handed him the payment (and the candy), catching hold of his hand and patting it gently. "Now, dear boy, run on home and tell that Pigsy of yours that you need rest!"

He had nodded, dragged himself back to the tuk tuk, and sped off toward the docks. One last errand to run.

The whispers had started as soon as he turned the key in the ignition.

Mrs. Ming's words floated through his head, something in them refusing to leave the young man. He swerved through traffic, barely taking in his surroundings.

"...your spark, MK..."

"Dear boy...

"Run and tell..."

"Run, boy..."

"Boy- run!!!!"

MK stared into the frightened but determined eyes of the Spider Queen. There was no way! If he ran...

If he ran, she was dead.

The world went white as the Lady Bone Demon launched her attack. Spider Queen blocked with every ounce of power she had. MK was close enough still to see her shake against the strain.

"Run!"

The world turned white again, and suddenly MK was back in the tuk tuk, barreling toward a lightpole. Someone was screaming a warning to get people out of the way.

And then he hit the pole, and everything went blissfully black.