Hello everyone, Paradigm of Writing here with the 2nd chapter of Pluto Vacation. Let's see, it's been two and half weeks since I've last even touched anything fiction related, including my stories. School has kicked my ass quite hard and I'm not necessarily struggling to keep up, but to just get my toes on the ground firmly. I apologize that I've been away for so long, leaving nothing new on my profile for you readers to enjoy and I'm so sorry. I also have to note that this story is no longer for Metroid-Killer's contest as my current inspirations are lacking and I've got so much more to do before this story is finished that I won't have it complete by due date, so I'm dropping out rightfully. Good luck to everyone else competing though! Here's chapter two, Vanity is Only Skin Deep.
7:30 PM, Road to Husen Lodge, Denver Colorado, December 19th, 2015
"It's been a year. One year, and time flies by so quickly nowadays that we can't even take a moment to sit back and think about our last movements." Samus thought to herself, head pressed up against the frigid window of the bus taking her to the Husen Lodge, the same location where, last year as she hated to remember, sisters Lucina and Midna disappeared into a snowstorm to never be heard from again.
Of course, their disappearance was spurred by one of the worst pranks her group of friends, dare she even call them that, did. Toying with Midna's heart like that, thinking it'd get them somewhere. Disgust primarily flowed to the main ones in charge, Zelda Friedrich, Marth Lowell, Sheik Boeing, and others who so willingly participated in such a cruel joke.
She absentmindedly flipped through her phone, the bright screen hurting her eyes in the setting sky that now took an amber hue. Tapping the news station app, one that she recently downloaded, Samus Adderage took a moment to drown herself in the history of the Husen Lodge and its surrounding area. A cheerful, happy-go-lucky voice broke through the static.
"Howdy everyone, it's Pit Icarus here, live from 99.5, ready to get down and dirty on current news and stories that have been brought up through the week." the chipper announcer spoke.
Samus rolled her eyes. "Just what I need, huh?"
"Today, as the Denver area knows full and well... is the tragic case of the Husen sisters, Lucina and Midna Husen who are still missing." Pit continued on.
That caused the blonde to sit up, wide eyed and startled, shock coursing through her veins. Case... missing. "Unbelievable..." she whispered.
"For some background info on this case, we have here detective Rosalina Vinnus, one of the two officers charged with the study of this case. Rosalina, welcome." the radio host greeted.
A warmer, female voice this time, poked onto the air, rich and sweet. "Thanks for having me Pit."
"Anytime. But, now, care to refresh our audience's mind on what I've mentioned?"
"Of course," Rosalina agreed. "Last year, on this date, early in the morning, sisters Lucina and Midna Husen vanished into a snowstorm at their parents lodge, visiting with friends for a simple getaway. After nearly half an hour, the duo never returned to the cottage, frightening the teens who stayed behind. Calling 911, we did a search of the area, and we have not found them since."
"Isn't this the same mountain that the old serial killer only known as The Freak stayed at for residence?"
"Yes, that's the more unsettling factoid about this case. However, his staying was before the Husen family even decided to make the ski resort. Long ago in the 80's. The Freak killer would be in his near sixties or seventies now, should that be the case. There was a person of interest in this case, but that person's whereabouts to our agency is currently unknown."
"There still is the old sanatorium on the mountain. Could that be a place for concern?"
"Not necessarily. It's abandonment happened during the construction of the ski resort."
"What would you say was the cause of the girls disappearing? Foul play?" Pit prompted.
"Possibly," Rosalina mused. "However, that's just a theory. There could be a multitude of reasons behind any such thing vanishing on the face of the planet. We have many ideas, foul play included, but the simple case of getting lost and not having cell surface is one. It was near below zero on the mountain that night, the girls could have died from hypothermia. A wild animal could have killed them, no matter how distasteful that is. One may have fallen and gotten hurt, immobile from pain. The answers are very slim, but it just requires patience."
"All things do. Well, thank you very much for your time, detective."
"And thank you for inviting me to say a few words." the officer acknowledged. A break of static disrupted the normal flow of the show, before returning to normal.
Pit cleared his throat. "And, with an extra tidbit to give to you viewers, a video was posted earlier today by the only surviving child of the Husen family, Kuro. We're going to play the audio, and those tuning on cellular devices, the actual footage of the reel filmed this morning. Here's Kuro Husen."
The regular black screen was replaced by a video, like Pit had said. Samus furrowed her eyebrows, trying to make out Kuro on screen when suddenly a face popped into view, scaring her half to death. She let her freak out settle quietly so she could assess her friend. The two hadn't talked for over a month, it was the first time in a long while where Samus would get such a good look.
Kuro's amber eyes shone with the gleam of an insect in amber, a radiant smile, which was rare, glistening across his face. His normally untidy midnight hair was combed for this occasion, streaks of violent amaranthine dapping the tips. Samus frowned as she watched his lips move, yet no sound came out. Kuro must've cussed on screen before walking back to the camera that was filming his talk.
"... Lemme try that again," Kuro's voice popped through Samus's headphones, startling her again. She scoffed. "Ah, much better," the Husen child chortled, before stepping back into frame. "Welcome!" he shouted.
Samus silently clapped in her head. "This'll be momentous. I can already tell."
"Friends and fans," Kuro was speaking, overriding the blonde's thoughts, "I have to say hello for the thousandth time. It's been quite awhile since activity has been spotted here on this account, but those desolate days are no more. This is the day where I happily announce the return of the Husen Winter Vacation getaway! I've been stoked for this, more than any of you watching know," he grinned, raising his hands in the air as if to signal 'raise the roof'. "My heart has been beating so fast for this moment."
"I bet it has." Samus giggled aloud.
"First off, I am super excited to welcome back all my pals."
"Pals? Might not be the best word to use..."
"I know, I know... it would be respectful of me to address the elephant in the room. Lucina and Midna, my sisters, will not be returning. They have not been found, and I can't give an exact on when or if they will be. I can assure the rest of you, those that have least been thinking about me, that I'm fine. Having my friends all around me will ensure that, as well."
"We can only hope, we can only hope." Samus said.
"People come to me and give their condolences, pretty much useless or the same old same old as I don't need it anymore. I've found other ways to grieve," Kuro stated. "It would mean so much to Lucina and Midna that we, counting eleven total, are all together thinking of them. I, out of all the things during this vacation, just want to spend some quality time with each and every one of you, okay? We'll make memories that none of us will ever be able to forget," he grinned, the somber tone of the video brightening in a flash. A wicked smile, one that terrified the blonde currently sitting in a bus seat, rippled across his face. Kuro did a fist pump. "All I request tonight, you guys, if you're watching, is that we party like we're fucking porn stars! Let's get it!"
The screen turned to black once more, meaning that the reel was over. Samus turned her phone off, removing her headphones from the jack. Pressing her face against the window, she sighed. "How much longer will this ride take, again?"
Someone tapped her shoulder, causing her to jump. Samus whirled, about to clock the person in the face when a gentle hand grabbed the fist currently swinging at her unknown intruder.
"Easy there, easy. I was just about to ask you what was playing on your phone. I watched over the seat. No need to act like a meerkat on me, do you?" a second voice on the bus said, calmingly.
"I haven't talked to you for that long on the bus, I forgot you were even here."
"I guess I am pretty forgettable, aren't I?" the voice chuckled.
"Hell to the no, Luigi Russo. Have you met yourself?" Samus disagreed.
Said person, Luigi Russo, rubbed the back of his neck, almost wanting to nod along to the complement. He laughed weakly.
Samus smiled to herself, going back to face the front of the bus. "I see that you have a mustache growing in, or are my eyes tricking me?"
"Hoohoo, you wish it was deception, don't you?" Luigi exclaimed triumphantly. His azure eyes twinkled mischievously, something was always up his sleeve. His oak hair was covered once more by a green cap with the pallid insignia 'L' on the front. More emerald winter clothing donned his body, new tan lace-ups at his feet. The length of his hair was a tad bit longer, a little bit more wild than usual. A bushy, brown mustache spread itself from one cheek to the other on his face, making Luigi look ages older than usual.
"So what if I do?"
"Then it's perfectly fine by me," he said. "But, answer my question. What was it that you were watching? I never knew you took a liking to Kuro's Facebook streams and things."
"I don't."
"Why was it playing on your phone then, if you say you don't like it Miss I-Don't-Watch-Kuro's-Facebook-Videos."
"For your information, I was listening to a radio broadcast," Samus turned beet red. "The host wanted to show one of Kuro's videos, and since I'm viewing this on mobile, I was able to actually see it. Happy now?"
Luigi still prodded despite the answer. "What was the broadcast on?"
"The Husen family."
"Anything more elaborate?"
"Lucina and Midna's disappearance."
The green-clad teen in the backseat went silent, his face crestfallen. "Talk about beating a dead horse over and over again, huh?"
"I guess you could say that." Samus shrugged.
"Anything special about it?"
"Nothing that we haven't heard before."
"Had a feeling."
"Do you have any idea what time we'll be reaching the resort? I forgot how long it took to get up there, damn." Samus muttered.
Luigi checked his phone. "Should get there in about half an hour. Take a nap, if you want. I'm going to listen to that broadcast you told me about. Can't be anything too terrible, right?"
"Knock yourself out." Samus rolled her eyes, resting her had against the frosty windowpane.
Dreams of ice crystals and earthquakes visited her during the passing slumber.
8:30 PM, Husen Family Ski Resort, Denver, Colorado, December 19th, 2015
Luigi was the first person of the duo off the bus, taking the quick opportunity to stretch his legs and give out a hearty yawn. Samus handed the bus driver a twenty, paying for her and his fare. She stepped into the snow lauded ground, soft crunching noises echoing into the air as her hiking boots smashed the icy ground. The bus roared to life and sped away, leaving a wake of smoky exhaust in its trail.
The blonde coughed, swiping grime and dirt out of her hair. Luigi stood, hands on his hips, staring up at the hanging sign over the entrance to the resort.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Luigi nodded.
"You mean the sign?" Samus raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah."
"It's just a sign."
"Just a sign?" he scoffed.
"How about... wooden piece with a word on it hanging over snow. Better?"
"This sign, my dear Adderage is a greeting card to the most wonderful resort on the planet!"
"You only say that because you and Kuro are best friends," Samus pointed out. "Don't know if that'd be the case should the friendship be otherwise."
"Touché." Luigi smirked.
"Probably should get moving, huh? Dying of hypothermia is not the way we want to go."
"Roger, roger." the green clad teen laughed.
The two walked on in silence, moreso to just observe the beauty of nature and its amazing characteristics that gave it such a name. The sun had completely set, the sky a rich and impressive navy blue as the high elevation meant a better and closer view of the faraway stars. The night twinkled, glittering with multiple constellations that gave personality to a quiet presence. A daft wind blew through the vicinity, causing the two friends to hug their sides tight. Luigi's mind drifted to thoughts of hot cocoa, and hugging one particular person. He hated to admit it, but he had a growing crush on Peach Tydal, someone he had gotten much closer to over the intermediate period of last year to now. Samus let her thoughts wander aimlessly. She contemplated, more than anything, on how she'd feel seeing the others again. Kuro had the possibility to be some glass cannon, Sheik and Zelda would more than likely be smug and bitchy... she didn't even want to imagine how Marth was- knowing his willful participation spurred a horrendous tragedy.
A gate stood in the way of the duo, one that led to the cable car station of the resort, which would help take them to the top of the mountain where their main lodge for the party sat. Luigi walked up to it, yanking on the metal bars. A reverberating clang echoed through the area, but the gate stood solid and didn't open. A pallid piece of paper fell from above to the snow, causing Samus even with her 20/20 vision to blink rapidly at the ground to find the note.
She seized it, with her eyes and hands, lifting it up from a snow bank. "What's it say?" Luigi asked.
"Gate's busted. Have to climb around." Samus read, her face twisting into a scowl.
"From?"
"Red." she stuck her tongue out, flipping the note over. Indeed, written in fancy manuscript, was the name Red Kyne.
"Typical." Luigi shrugged.
"Guess we really do have to climb over. This ought to suck."
"Or it could open from the other side. Ever thought of that?"
"A gate, when it doesn't work one way, won't work the other way. Simple logic, Russo."
Luigi, who hated being called by his last name by anyone other than his parents, stuck out his tongue. Samus ignored him, instead opting to climb up and over the wall. "Come on, one year of gymnastics... don't fail me now." she pleaded to herself. Taking a running head start, she leaped up and grabbed onto a rock wedged out of the formation. She cussed, her fingers barely glancing the stone as she plopped into the snow.
"Why can't you just climb it like a normal person?"
"Do I look normal to you?" she retorted.
"Good point."
Samus sighed, cracking her neck and wrists. The laxity in her joints felt relaxing, allowed her more mobility. Running towards the wall again, she hungrily, if her actions could be described in such a manner, clamped onto a stone, resembling a spider latched to a boulder. Hoisting herself up to where her feet could be placed comfortably on other rocks, she climbed the about seven foot wall till she was sitting cozily on the snowy top.
"Come on trooper!" she called at Luigi from below.
He scowled, taking the more pleasant route, and just to be mean, climbed up the other side of the wall, rather than the right, but the left. For a total whopping minute and a half, did the two then drop over to the other side. Samus brushed more snow off her pants, Luigi shuddering heavily from the coldness that covered his body.
"Why can't Kuro just hold these parties in the summer? When no one comes... it's actually warm, and we're not bundled up heavier than a soldier."
"He'll do that whenever you stop complaining." Samus smirked.
The two walked away from the gate, seeing the cable car station up ahead. Lowly dimmed lights kept the rather small station company, where no one else was to be seen. Two benches were under the station's awning, yet no one was to be seen. Samus eyed a backpack sitting on one of the benches, a phone sticking out of one of the pouches.
"Isn't that Red's bag?" Luigi asked.
"Yeah. I think so."
"His items are here, but not said person. Odd."
"He left his phone. Shouldn't have gone far."
"Will you look at his phone? Seems to be ringing."
"Luigi, no! That's snooping," Samus scoffed. "Besides, it's rude. Impolite... millions of other words." She promptly zipped up the bag, shoving the phone deeper into the carrier.
"For a minute there I thought you were honestly going to see who was calling me." a third voice entered the scene.
The two friends whirled to see Red Kyne, leaned up against the side of the station. His trademark cardinal and beige cap was stuck over his bushy head of mahogany hair, somewhat lighter than Luigi's tone. Two piercing diamond eyes gazed from under the bill of his hat, the darkness surrounding his corner making the ambiance even more deadly.
"He was going to. I put a stop to it." the blonde of the trio pointed.
"It was just a helpful suggestion." Luigi held his hands up in innocence.
"How long have you been waiting?" Samus asked the newly arrived friend of the group.
"About ten minutes. Called Kuro to have him send the cable car down. Won't be here for another five minutes or so." Red answered.
The boy in green groaned. "How long will this go on for?"
"As long as you make it." the other two responded giggling.
Red wised up moments later, a bright idea turning on some imaginary bulb. "Hey, while I was waiting, I found something kinda amazing. Since we've got time to kill, why don't you see it for yourself?"
"Details?" Samus prodded.
"It'll blow your mind." was all the red capped male responded.
"That was so descriptive." Luigi muttered sarcastically.
Red turned to walk around the station, Samus and Luigi curiously following him. Whenever it came to surprises, this particular group of friends were notorious for pulling out all the stops with each one, causing heavy reciprocations to made later on. Samus had never seen the back of the cable car station, mainly for she never needed to. The thick clump of trees seemed to tighten, making the forest beyond seem opaque.
A clearing opened up behind the lone steel structure, which then made Red turn around, arms to the sky. "Tada!" he chuckled.
Luigi whistled. "This is sick."
"I- what?" Samus started, then abruptly frowned.
"What's wrong? You seem confused." Red said.
"Well- yeah," the blonde nodded. "What's this even doing here?"
"It's cool!" Luigi defended the new zone.
"Sure, call it whatever you wish. But, why is a shooting range at the base of a ski lodge?" Samus reiterated.
"Have you ever met Kuro's dad?" Red asked.
"Who hasn't?"
"Well, the Husen family sees him to be like Grizzly Adams or some soldier from Call of Duty. Decided that when building this place, they'd be built a shooting range. Guns for him, archery for the ones who had a distaste for metallic weapons and the like."
"So, I suppose you want to get off some steam by firing bullets smaller than the size of my pinkie at sandbags and beer bottles?" Samus laughed.
"She knows me so well, doesn't she?" Red nodded, eyeing Luigi.
"The archery part does sound quite interesting, should I say so myself." Luigi admitted, rubbing his chin.
"Dare yourself to take a shot?" Samus challenged.
"I sure will," Red took up the offer. "The shotgun suits me much better than some pesky bow."
The teen, who Samus noticed at the moment was chewing gum, grabbed the weapon in his right hand, lowering it to his eye level to see through the eyepiece. With bated breath, the chilling silence of Husen Ski Resort grew quieter still as Red fired a bullet, the shockwave causing him to step back nearly a foot as the kickback surprised him. To his dismay, the bullet went whizzing past a bottle perched about twenty yards away on an empty oil can.
"Good one." Luigi whistled.
Red turned scarlet. "You can do better?"
"Yeah. My father has taken me hunting more than once. I can handle myself around a gun. Can't call me quite the sharpshooter, but I'm alright."
The miffed male handed the shotgun off, standing next to Samus, grumbling and whining the whole way, which was promptly five steps. Luigi took Red's position, reloading two shots back into the barrel. Giving a mere ten seconds to line up his shots, a deafening boom rocketed from the gun as a shell shattered the same beer bottle Red looked at before. Samus opened her mouth to rebuttal when Luigi took an extra shot, hitting one of the sandbags hanging by a tree branch a good ten yards behind the oil can. Bulls-eye. Luigi grinned.
"Must admit, that shooting hand is somewhat decent." Samus said nicely.
"Far enough to call me a badass?" Luigi fared the question.
"No." Red growled.
"You're only saying that because you're pissed that you missed." the blonde of the trio pointed out.
"So what if I am?"
"Just saying." Luigi laughed. He went to take another shot when Samus turned.
"Hey, sharpshooter, our ride is here." she said.
A half whine, half moan came from the lad clad in green's throat. "Awwww come on, I was just getting the hang of it!"
"Luigi, the cable car!" Red snapped.
The trio left the shooting range as it was, Luigi frowning as he clenched his hands, miming the holding of the shotgun. Having the metal weapon between his fingers gave a thrill of sorts, an exhilarating rush not matched by many other things in the world. Peach Tydal may have been the only person to rival such a feeling- and it honestly spooked him. Was that the trait of a killer?
Samus, who made it first to the cable car station door, yanked the knob. It didn't budge. "Hey, why's this locked? Is everything around this mountain locked nowadays."
"Oh, I forgot. It needs a key," Luigi piped up, his face lightening as he dug in his jacket pocket. "Kuro mailed it to me last week, asked me to bring it."
"Why?"
"His parents found people sleeping in the station over Thanksgiving break. Rather not go through that same trouble again."
"Creepy." Red shivered.
"That's what I said when he told me," Luigi agreed. "He didn't give me any names, but Kuro seemed troubled by it. Promised him that no one would get in as long as I had the key."
"Your his lucky savior." Samus mocked.
Luigi stuck out his tongue, as he inserted the key into the lock. The door heaved open with a moan that resembled Kronos growling from Tartarus, the trio filing inside. Samus pried open the cable car door, letting Red in before her. Red and Luigi sat on the same side, Samus across from them. The cable car door shut, and after a minute or two, it groaned as it shimmed out of the station onto the durable cables that kept the teens from nearly falling to their deaths.
The three sat in a mutual tranquility. Red scratched the back of his neck, Luigi yawned, and Samus opted to staring out the window again.
A light bulb went off in the makeshift gunman of the night. "You know, Sam, did I ever tell you of how Kuro and I met?"
"No, can't say you have. I know that you're best friends and all, but beyond that, nothing."
Red chuckled. "It's quite the story Adderage, almost didn't believe it myself."
"I've known Kuro Husen since the third grade, so roughly twelve years or so. At nine years old, the two of us didn't know each other existed. He sat in the back of the class, I sat in the front by the board as my vision wasn't the best. Kuro, man he had 20/20 for he always knew what was being written on the board and often acted like our translator." Luigi explained.
"What does this do with you and him meeting each other?"
"Mario Undith, class romance man, always antagonized this girl in the same row as I. Mario sat behind the hottest girl in our school at the time, Daisy Quina. Daisy had luscious autumn leaf hair, and a smile that caused all the guys to have their knees knock together. Except for Kuro, but I don't think he dates. Anyways, poor Miss Quina, she hits puberty like three years earlier than all of the other girls, something freaky with her body that no one could explain. She had a training bra of sorts on, it peeked through her clothes. Mario, also taking the title of Monsieur Funny Guy, decided it'd be hilarious to cut the bra strands on Daisy's back in half so her bra would fall, exposing her back. He did. Our teacher promptly got pissed, and moved him up to the front. To my seat."
"So?"
"Natural selection," Red said. "Mario and Luigi traded places. Luigi was now sitting next to Kuro Husen. Bam, the two now had factual record that each existed."
"We hit it off," Luigi grinned. "Became the best of his friends. I grew close to Lucina and Midna as well, and we formed a great quartet."
"That's nice." Samus replied, although the tone in her voice seemed as if she didn't care all too much.
"It just means that some things are meant to be. Had Daisy Quina not been wearing some training bra on that day, or had she not hit puberty way ahead of the mark, he and I would probably not have met. I may not even be here today had that not happened. Or someone else entirely. Or worse, you'd be alone with Red Kyne!"
"Yeah, because I'm so terrible." Red rolled his eyes.
Samus grinned at this. "You don't know the half of it."
The trio laughed, not necessarily knowing that in just a few hours, the great moments of friendship and camaraderie would soon be their last as the night grew.
8:52 PM, Cable Car Station, Denver, Colorado, December 19th, 2015
Sheik Boeing absolutely despised cold. It riddled her to the bones, causing nasty shivers and disgusting sores to sprout on her skin. In all the places, Kuro Husen and his family picked Denver, in the frigid state of Colorado as their vacation spot. And naturally, as no there was no place like home, all their gatherings happened there. Absolute fucking horseshit.
She rolled her eyes, thinking of icy weather and disrupted occasions, while bopping her head to the song that played from her headphones. Jamming out to a song by some miscellaneous pop star, a loud shriek of metal on metal interrupted her music. The sound was so grating and heavy, it caused the headphones to pop out of her ears. "Seriously?" she glared at the station. The sound of a slide glass door opening and shutting caused her to stand up from the bench she was sitting on.
"New people, I guess. Time to meet and greet!"
She was the first one to get to the top, not that admitting it would do her any good. Having already said hello to Peach and Robin Jett as they came up the mountain together, there was just one, one boy that her heart was yearning for. A slamming of a fist against the glass door behind her caused her to jump. Luigi, Samus, and Red were all pushed together in a tiny corridor, waving hello.
"Are you guys having some sort of stroke?" Sheik frowned.
"The door is jammed." Red sighed.
"Let us in?" Samus opined.
Sheik breathed in and out, not truly grasping the concept of how metal could freeze over a short time and not work. Pressing the button that allowed the door to be unlocked from the outside, the trio locked inside pushed their way through, all collapsing in a heap against the snowy station floor.
"Thanks." Luigi breathed.
"Don't mention it."
"Man, it was cramped in there." Red cracked his neck, sickening sounds of bone popping that caused the blondes of the quartet to grimace.
"Metal really knows how to conduct cold," Samus shuddered. "Freezing inside that metal hallway."
"Had we not gotten your attention, why I might've been a goner." Luigi cracked a grin.
Red jumped in the action. "I may have eaten my right leg off."
"Gross!" Sheik's body shook, disgust causing her to nearly vomit. Bile burned her throat.
"That's gruesome." Samus agreed.
"How long have you been here?" Luigi asked.
"Nearly an hour. Got here first. Other than Kuro, of course," Sheik answered. "Peach and Robin have already come and made their way up. Haven't seen anyone else." She absentmindedly clutched the letter in her hands, one that she had been fidgeting with for nearly fifteen minutes.
Red's eyes brightened, and he seized the letter without a moment's opportunity. The letter's holder cussed, smacking the 'crook' in the back as he tossed it to Luigi, who caught it with glee.
"Guys..." Samus sighed in exasperation.
Sheik glared at the two boys. "Fuck you."
"Good to see you too," Red muttered. Then, to Luigi, "What's cooking?"
"Looks like dear Sheik Boeing has a crush on our dear friend Marth Lowell." he promptly read.
"So?"
"I thought Marth and Zelda were dating." Samus scratched her neck.
"The two broke up. Zel's out, and I'm in," Sheik blushed sheepishly. "He made it quite clear that they just did not hitch well. Terrible at sex apparently. Found it amusing that the blue-haired dweeb cares about contact and intimacy more than his image."
"Isn't that the same for you?" Red raised an eyebrow. The offended party gave the accuser the middle finger, both hands, both flip offs.
"Nothing wrong with that, I guess." Luigi shrugged.
Samus checked her phone. "It's getting kind of late. We should probably make our way up the lodge. You coming, Sheik?"
The blonde frowned, taking the time to look at her own cellular device. "No. I'm waiting for someone. Maybe I'll say hello to anyone else who comes by."
"Such as Marth?" the trio all asked at the same time.
"Like I said, fuck you all." came the response.
"Cheery." Red said sarcastically.
"Well, I guess we'll see you up there." Samus waved goodbye, the original trio starting to make the walk up to the lodge.
Sheik waved back. "Yeah, I guess so." she replied half-heartedly.
She sat back down on the bench, watching her friends vanish into the cloud of pallid snow. In the back of her mind, a parasitic thought ate at her. She couldn't rest the feeling that something dreadful was going to happen to them... but what the exact danger was and how it'd come about was all mystery to her. She shuddered. This wasn't the thought you were supposed to feel when on vacation. Right? It wasn't good, nor healthy.
Not as if the trouble that was going to fall upon them cared.
There was are, my beautiful readers. Chapter 2 of Pluto Vacation is finished, Vanity is Only Skin Deep. I had more planned for this chapter, but the story would be WAY too long in one sitting, so I'm cutting back. Ironic on how I said these chapters would be excessively giant, and now I'm like, hell no lol. We'll see more characters next chapter, such as Kuro, Lucas, Robin, Peach, Link, Zelda, and Marth. Basically the rest of the crew we didn't see. The buildup will be slow, but it'll take off soon, don't you worry. Like any good horror, you build the suspense up and have fleshed characters before doing anything. I don't know when I'll get Chapter 3 out, but it'll be before the month ends, hopefully. Thanks for reading guys, and I hope to see you for Chapter 3: Love Is a Dangerous Game. Love you all! Bye!
~ Paradigm