Hey everyone, Paradigm of Writing here with a new chapter of Pluto Vacation! It's been nearly two months since I've updated this last, mainly because I wasn't interested in the piece whatsoever... but now, because I'm in a new contest, Miss Randomblackberry's Mystery contest, I now have a new enlisted priority. I was already unable to have this ready for my last contest, and I don't want to fail again. Not an option! Last where we left off, Zelda and Link were all loving before Marth scared the crap out of them, and things got awkward, and Zelda went to 'see' Samus. She went to find Marth. Peach and Robin are up on the top of the mountain, looking through binoculars and find Marth and Zelda making out. DUN DUN DUN! Link saw. Link's gonna murder a bitch. Haha, this time, we've got some more testy interactions between characters before getting to the real action next chapter! The murder shall start in the next chapter! Enjoy #4: Tick Tock.
9:28 PM, Husen Family Lodge, Denver Colorado, December 19th, 2015
"I swear, this mountain feels like it gets larger and larger every time I climb it." breathed Luigi heavily, as he and his other two companions made it to the central lodging place for their stay. He eyed the grinning Kuro Husen a little bit up the way as he made this comment, waving a nagging finger back in forth while trying to maintain his breathing control.
"Uh huh. Keep believing that, buster." Red chortled, jogging past him. Damn the red capped boy and his athleticism.
Samus was much more jovial about it, and helped the green donned teen to the firm and solid ground of cobblestone pavement. "When is the last time you've even worked out? Jeez, you do seem tired..."
"I don't know... perhaps last year or even earlier..."
The attention shifted from the gasping fish Luigi Russo to Kuro Husen, the sole child left of the Husen family, the greatest family of all time. Well, not really, but it was nice to be laid down with compliments. His piercing amber eyes seemed light, and given the tragic anniversary of his sister' deaths, it was a surprising change. Samus gave him a hug, happy to see he was okay. Least he was functional. "I think it's just you who feels that way..." Kuro snickered, patting Luigi on the back, causing more coughs to spring from the wheezing boy. The guy was definitely bent out of shape.
"Cell towers would also be nice." Luigi brought up, straightening himself out, a light pink tint in his cheeks.
"You give me a million and I can do that for you right now. Parental authority included."
"We are getting withdrawals already, which isn't good," Red shouted from the stairs of the lodge. "I'm with Mr. Green!"
Kuro rolled his eyes only so Samus could see. "See what I have to work with here, Sam? Huh? It is killing me." For emphasis, he put his hands around his throat and mockingly pretended to choke himself.
The two had a good laugh about it, walking up. Samus waved warmly at Peach and Robin, who were both sitting on the steps, chatting softly. Link stood to the side, arms crossed over his chest, face cross, breathing low and menacing. Whatever it was... that boy was pissed. Perhaps that could even be an understatement. Kuro jutted his thumb at the boy. Samus understood.
"What's with him?"
"I honestly don't know," the Husen brother shrugged. "I thought you knew."
"She isn't a psychic." Robin rolled her eyes, standing up to give the blonde of the duo a hug.
Luigi scratched his neck from behind, embracing Peach. Oblivious to him, her face went a bright cardinal as soon as their arms crossed over the back. "How have you been? Made it up here alright."
"It was good. For both questions, actually." Peach stuttered, looking down at her feet. Robin and Samus gave each other a look in unison.
"Young love..." Samus muttered under her breath even though the two crushes couldn't hear her.
"I am happy to see you guys here and alright. We can spend a lot of time catching up. Be good for us all, right?" Luigi winked.
This caused the blonde, skittish girl to flat out yelp, covering her mouth and then falling down to the steps in a flurry of cloth. Everyone laughed. Red shook his head in disbelief. "The effect you have on people... my god." Luigi gave Robin a hug, before scooting by the others he had already met, to the front door of the lodge. Kuro was standing with an all too familiar blonde, one he hadn't spoken to since the vacation had ended last year in such dire straits.
The blonde recognized him first. "Russo?"
"Lucas Samuels! The one and only!" Luigi heartily called, throwing his arms around the youthful twenty year-old. Kindness came from birth, and this certain fellow exuded it in ten folds. Kuro grinned to himself at this exchange. He always liked that specific part of friendship, on how people who hadn't seen each other for a long time could lock eyes and explode in joyous noise. It warmed his heart sometimes. Just a pain his sisters couldn't be there to enjoy it like they used to.
"Look, I've got a whole line of people to say hello to, so when this is all said and done with, we can chat?" Lucas offered.
"I can accept that."
"Good. Always a pleasure," the blonde nodded. He cupped his hands around his mouth, seeing another specimen of the same hair color. "Sammy! Hey, Samus! SAMUS ADDERAGE!" Lucas called, running down the steps, nearly trampling Red and Robin as he bolted by.
Kuro looked at Luigi, chuckling the whole time. "He's quite the character, isn't he?"
"I suppose so. Are we going to get moving or what?"
"Yeah. Hold your horses Russo. We've been at the summit for only five minutes." Kuro made an 'at ease' motion with his hands.
"Look, before we start..." Luigi shuffled a foot in the snow. "I need to ask. Are you alright? Since the whole thing with your sisters and-"
"Don't even go there," the onyx haired teen interrupted his friend with a swift cut of his hand. "That is my only rule besides having fun. No one mentions last year, unless they want me chopping their body parts off or something. I know what you meant, but it still was not necessary. I invited you all back here so we could have some fun times like we used to. Two people are missing, that's all. We grieved already. Let that headache rest, okay?"
"I- uh... okay."
"Son of a bitch..." Kuro hissed, working away at the door handle.
"What's wrong?" Luigi frowned.
"Lock is iced.
"Any other way in?"
"A million ways in. Just locked."
"Don't you have like... a window you could get open or something?"
Kuro turned back to face Luigi, his face priceless. His amber eyes were questioning, angry, yet kind all at the same time. "Are you suggesting we break in?"
"It isn't breaking in if you own the place, right?"
"Not if he doesn't report you..." Lucas chuckled, bouncing up the stairs again to resume his conversation with them.
"See, this blonde boy actually gets it."
"He's having trouble." Luigi explained.
"Kuro, you're turning the lock the wrong way. It goes left. Not right." Lucas deadpanned.
The world stilled then, only for the moment of hilarity that came with it. The simple turning of a lock caused more trouble than a Calculus problem. Luigi raised an eyebrow at this, though he didn't say anything. If his best friend had trouble with sometime so simple as opening doors, where did that say his mental capacity was truly at? Was he okay like he said he was? Luigi knew Kuro for a long time, Kuro Husen never lied... but things could change, just like people do. He knew that was a question for a different time.
Kuro said a long string of curse words before turning the lock the proper way, satisfied to hear a click meaning his actions had successful meaning to it. Lucas patted him on the back, smiling warmly. Kuro did a little victory dance, before opening the door. He did a swiping motion of his hand to allow his friends to enter. "And now, Casa de Husen is open for business."
"Hey, look. The brick head finally knew how to work locks." Robin joked, being the first person to race by.
Lucas opened his mouth to rebuttal. "Actually it was-" His words failed, as the instigator in question had vanished into the dark main hall of the lodge. Peach, Samus, and Red trudged up together, sharing pleasantries, Link sulking after them, not saying a word. The night seemed off to a great start! Not. Even. Close. Luigi gave a dutiful clap, followed by Lucas, before Kuro slammed the door shut.
Husen Family Lodge. Those three words repeated together in the same sentence once gave those who heard it warm peace and a sense of familiarity. Now, those who heard it had cold shivers sent down their spine, and the tears started flowing. When a place had the resemblance of death... not so good things happened there once it happened. There was a dry feeling sitting in the lodge, and those inside could tell. It was left exactly like Luigi remembered it last.
Cobblestone walls that lined up three stories of wooden staircases and floors. Several Native American rugs and linens were draped or hung across the wall and floors, giving anyone inside no reason to wear shoes, as their feet would be comforted by cotton and wool and other soft textiles. A desolate fireplace sat in the middle of the wall facing two of the couches in the living room. A flat screen TV used to sit there, but it was ripped off the wall it seemed, from the tangled mess of wires.
The sense of love was gone from the place. Kuro kneeled by the fireplace, fishing in his pockets for a lighter. Link sat alone on the couch, everyone else deciding to stand. Unless someone acted crazy, died, or well... anything, the vacation of friends would soon come to a screeching halt. Except... it didn't last too long.
"Anybody home?" came the egotistical and boisterous voice of Marth Lowell. The boy basked in blue emerged into the living room, hair dirty, face tinted a dark purple. Robin and Peach flashed him glares, but didn't say anything. Their deep rooted hatred and disgust would mellow out and be quiet. Link's hands formed fists, he wanted to punch it pretty boy's face for more than all the money in the world. Normally, with Thing 1, came Thing 2. And there she was, right on time!
"What's up, party people?" Sheik waved, as if she won a beauty pageant or something. Robin snorted. Sheik Boeing knew nothing of real beauty, unlike her.
"Hey guys..." Kuro said half-heartedly from the fire.
"Am I allowed to make myself at home?" Marth asked.
"Sure."
Sheik took a seat down at the couch. "Well..." she opted to change those plans.
The bluenette had a different idea. "I'll do just that."
Link couldn't help it. "Yeah... take a load off. Kick your feet up on the table, run around the walls stark naked... kiss a duck. Take whatever you want. KISS my girlfriend for all I care! It's all you do!" He was standing now, screaming. A tension built from zero to sixty real quickly. Sheik pursed her lips, ready to partake in whatever battle was about to go down. Before anything could get started, Lucas however, made sure to make his opinion vocal.
"Before any of you decide to start yelling and reintroduce this stupid fucking bullshit that angered me last time, let me go to sleep first. I had a very taxing day, and I really want to get to chat with you all, but if this stupid shenanigan nonsense crap is going to start five minutes in, count me out. I'm going to bed. Keep your bloodthirsty cries at a minimal. If someone gets hurt, and there is excessive bleeding... you know what to do. Call 911, yadda yadda yadda. I don't give a shit anymore. Good night." he practically preached, before turning to the staircase and stomping his way up them.
The uneasiness still sat, but Link gave an angry huff and plopped his butt right back on the couch he leaped up from. Wherever his anger lied, he'd save it for Zelda. That was the true culprit in all this. Marth gave a long sigh. "Okay..." He took a seat next to Sheik, who had sat down in the midst of Lucas's rant. Peach, Robin, Red, Luigi, and Samus all stared at the events going around them. One would be speechless in such an occasion, and they had the right to. Kuro hadn't given it any notice, grumbling at the lighter in his hands. Sheik and Marth cuddled up close to each other, the former kissing the latter on the nose. Before anyone else could say anything, in walked prime bitch.
Zelda shuddered at the sight of her ex. "Oh my gosh... guys, that is so gross. Do you really want him swallowing your face whole?"
"Zel..." sighed Link from his seat, face sinking into his hands.
Sheik locked her jaw, giving Marth a glance. She stood. "I'm sorry. Were you saying something?"
"Oh... did you not hear me? Or was your slutty love making too loud?"
"I dare you to record this..." Red whispered to Luigi, who elbowed him.
"Right..." Sheik rolled her eyes.
"Nobody wants in on your territory, hun." Zelda sneered.
"You're just a bitch on crack."
"And you're a fat cow."
Sheik scoffed. "Cuts real deep calling Miss Homecoming a cow."
"This isn't necessary you two..." Link tried cutting in like the good guy of it all, only for Zelda to give him the bird.
"I think you need to back off before someone makes you learn." Zelda threatened.
"I don't care what you think." Sheik dismissed the brunette.
"Least I can think. 4.0. Honor roll, bitch. Suck on that when you're trying to work your way into a job."
"Who needs a job when you've got all the natural advantages you can handle? You couldn't even buy a moldy loaf of bread with your skanky ass."
"You're such a fucking asshole!" Zelda screamed, claws a-swinging.
"Stop it! Both of you! Right now! You guys are acting like fucking lunatics!" Kuro screamed, diving in between the two girls, pushing them apart before weaves went flying and cusses were screamed. Red tried hiding his phone the best he could, Samus smacking him on the head. Peach had her mouth covered, Robin and Luigi sharing a terse glance. Link and Marth actually looked at each other and shook their heads together in unison at the dismal, atrocious behavior of girls who hated each other.
"She started it!" Sheik hissed.
"If we can't get along for more than five minutes, then perhaps coming up here was wrong. This isn't what I wanted," Kuro scolded. "I wanted us to have a nice time, being buddy alongside buddy like we used to. The death of my sisters should not change that. I am still Kuro Husen, and we're all still the same we were before. So, shut it up, and get along or I'll kick both of you out. That airplane money sure will be going to waste if I have to do that. Boyfriends won't be coming home with you either."
His terms were harsh, but realistic and needed. Zelda gave one last glare, before backing up. Marth let out a heavy sigh, dragging Sheik back to his lap. "That was... rather needed."
"Would you mind doing me a favor?" Kuro asked.
"Anything."
"There's a guest cabin for two up the road. You remember where it is. Not even a ten minute walk from the back door. I would like if you, Sheik, and Robin could go check it out. See if you want to stay there, unless someone is sleeping on the floor and that would make none of us happy. Sounds like a plan?"
"Sure. Anywhere without that whore." Sheik jutted a thumb at Zelda on the other side of the room. Grabbing Marth by what seemed his crotch area, she dragged him outside. Robin made a 'kill me now' gesture with her hands directed at Samus before standing up to stalk over to Kuro's side.
"You really are making me go with them?" she asked, voice incredulous.
"So they don't start the pre sex activities before they even get to a bed." Kuro explained.
"That totally wasn't needed." Zelda shuddered.
Samus stood abruptly. "I'm going to go take a bath. I'll be upstairs if anyone needs me."
Just like that, the group had already begun breaking up and dispersing. Nothing wrong with that, right? Not at all.
9:45 PM, Husen Family Lodge, Denver Colorado, December 19th, 2015
"So, you've been to this cabin before? It's what it sounded like..." Sheik said, leaning against the wooden railing on the back porch of the lodge.
"Yeah. Last year," Marth cleared his throat. "It's where I took Zel. We didn't do anything though. She's honestly terrible at that type of stuff." he added hurriedly, seeing his girlfriend's pointed glare.
The door to the outside opened, Robin stepped out, following a cheeky Kuro, who tossed Marth a pair of keys. "Hey, porn stars!"
"Porn stars?" Sheik raised an eyebrow. She had been called a many names in her youth, that was not one of them.
"I'd pay to see it." Kuro winked.
"You are really making it hard for me to not hate you." Robin groaned, practically slamming her face into the wall.
"I am sorry for kicking you out like that." the organizer of the trip apologized, making a shameless face.
"Nah, it's fine." Marth waved off the sincerity.
"Have fun with the peanut gallery." Sheik giggled.
"I'll make sure of it." Kuro winked.
The couple locked hands, turning the moment the door to the lodge shut. Robin pulled herself out of the state of bitterness and trudged down the steps after them. The cabin was literally right behind the main one, and it didn't look all too festive. "He really couldn't have done this himself..." Robin groaned, seeing how in a matter of half a mile they'd have done their mission.
"Who can blame him though? With the type of people we're friends with..." Marth scoffed. "I'd take this as a sign of good graces."
"You know, you didn't really have to dive into that argument with Zelda, back there." Robin said to Sheik as the trio started walking.
"Maybe I didn't have to. She just knows what bugs me, what drives down deep and stabs at everything I care about. I don't let those who do that walk all over me, nor my boyfriend for that matter. Zelda wanted to come in and case trouble."
"It worked." the bluenette snorted.
She slapped him on the arm. "Who's side are you on?"
"You mean the front or the back?" Marth's eyes were very telling.
"Oh, that is just foul! You guys need to lower the sexual innuendos here!" Robin paled, covering her ears with her hands.
Marth kissed Sheik hard, feeling every crevice of her mouth there was to explore. He didn't care where he was or who he was with. Sure, Zelda Friedrich looked inviting, but she didn't know how to satisfy. The fiery blonde? Had spit and swear trails from a mile back, and she made for a great time. He lost his way and went back on past transgressions. He didn't mean to. No one meant to cheat. He'd tell her, Sheik that is. Just needed the right time. And he also knew Robin saw him do it. The way she glared at him, the way her lips parted whenever he and Sheik kissed. He did something bad... least he could own up to it. Zelda? She'd keep it a lie until the ends of the Earth.
In his thinking, there was the little cabin Kuro asked the trio to see. It wasn't particularly comfy, but it could work for whatever, whether it be sex, a cook out, a harmless sleepover. Anything was possible out in the winter escapades of Marth Lowell and Sheik Boeing. Chapter 938853355. He lost count on which number he had stopped taking a tally of.
Snow covered the shingled roof, collecting in moonlit patches around the steps of the front porch. A coniferous tree hung menacingly over the steps, and Robin shuddered as they passed under it. The air was cold, the view gorgeous. The moon shone in the sky with the amplifying power of the sun, which was a backwards thought when delving into the science and facts behind it all.
Marth jumbled with the keys for a moment. Finding the optimal one, the trio entered the cabin.
"Okay... now what?" Robin drawled.
"I have no idea." Sheik confessed.
This was just going to be great, wasn't it?"
9:53 PM, Husen Family Lodge, Denver, Colorado, December 19th, 2015
"I was just about to get into the bath. What can I help you with now?" Samus asked Kuro in a passive aggressive manner, arms crossed over her chest.
Kuro raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Did you need any help with that."
"Hah, you can be a comedian," the blonde snarked. "But, seriously. What is it?"
"He wants to start up the generator down in the basement and is too afraid to go alone." Luigi said from the couch in the living room, behind them. He had his feet propped up on one of the sides, a decent sized book in his hands. On further examination, the book read Deaths on Mountaintops- The Killer Edition. Fitting.
"People make books about that type of stuff?" Peach couldn't believe her eyes, scanning over the book title.
The boy in green laughed. "You'd be surprised. You'd be pretty surprised."
"So, is this a date you're asking me on?" Samus winked.
Kuro blushed down to his neck. "NO! It's not anything like that, but-"
Like earlier before in the evening, the pair was once again interrupted by queen bitch overlord Zelda Friedrich. "Link!"
Poor boyfriend in question raised his head up at the calling of his name, seeing his girlfriend standing in the same exact spot she had been standing at before, during the big blowout. "What?" he whined.
"Where's my bag?" she questioned him.
"It's not there?"
"No it isn't. God, you're such a dunce. You left it down by the mountainside somewhere, didn't you?"
"Which one..." Link hated when she insulted him like that.
"The floral. Purple material, pink flowers? You don't remember it do you?" Zelda insinuated.
"Sorry. Excuse me, your highness." he rolled his eyes.
"Can you help me go get it?"
"Why can't we just leave it there and get it tomorrow, when it is much lighter outside. Nobody is on the mountain except for us, and we all know no one finds that much interest in your designer bag." Link suggested weakly. Her voice gave him a headache.
"Link Dillon!" Zelda drew a sharp intake of breath.
"Dude, just go get it." Kuro whined himself.
"Otherwise she will never shut up about it." Luigi reaffirmed.
Link sighed, running a hand through his hair. Looked like he wasn't winning this battle. There'd be more. "We'll be back soon." Zelda assured him.
"Then we can get warm?"
She smiled at him cutely. "We can get very warm."
Peach stopped Link before he made another step. "This'll be a good time to ask her about the whole kissing Marth thing, as well..." she whispered lowly.
Link's eyes flared, the slight grin peeking at his cheeks from the innuendo made moments earlier vanishing into a frown. "Right." he nodded, sullenly. He grabbed his girlfriend's hand, and the duo exited out to the front of the lodge.
Silence overtook the living room again, only the sounds of Luigi turning the page in his book to fill the void. Now, all that were left in the room was Samus, Kuro, Luigi, Peach, and Red, but he had disappeared from the group shortly thereafter the cabin trio left to the kitchen, for he could already tell that the starting encounters required a few shots of tequila.
Kuro's eyes twinkled. "Does my offer still stand?"
"You being a scaredy cat, or a hopeless romantic?" Samus joked.
"Both, if that's how I can get you to play along." he smiled wickedly.
"Sometimes your jokes make me want to gouge your eyes out."
"Don't we all?" Peach opined, taking a seat on the carpet so her head was resting against Luigi's leg.
"You two should do it already." Luigi spoke up.
"Go turn on the generator in the basement?" Samus frowned.
"No. I meant sex."
Both Kuro and Samus turned a deep shade of violet, and decided then and there that it would have been the most amazing time to go and perform the dauntless task of getting the lights back on in the lodge. Down the stairs they went, where the basement awaited.
Samus observed Kuro silently, trying not to say much as he rummaged for a flashlight in numerous drawers lining the walls of the lower floors. He seemed to be a loose cannon for the evening, taking swings at those who dared ask him about Lucina or Midna, who she still missed. His amber eyes were bright, although they sometimes shifted dark. He had to be at war with himself, she concluded to herself. On one hand, he wanted to grieve, to just lose his fucking mind and see where it got him. On the other, he had to keep it together. He was the last Husen sibling alive. If he couldn't keep his cool, no one else would. Kuro Husen was the center of the eleven man group. They all loved each other, though some relationships were strained.
Kuro paused, left hand pausing above the doorknob to the door that led to the basement. "You know Samus... I've been thinking."
"About?"
"Mr. Scared Wad and Mrs. Clueless upstairs."
"You mean Luigi and Peach?" Samus frowned. The harshness wasn't needed, especially talking about such close friends. Where'd it come from?
"Yeah. They tick me off."
"What for? They haven't done anything."
"Yes, they actually have," Kuro corrected, wrenching the basement door open. The lock wasn't going to fool him a second time! "They both have apparent, apparent feelings for each other, and still don't act on it. Peach just laid her head down against Luigi's exposed leg of all places to rest her head. Not a pillow, not lying down on the carpet. His leg. They hug and blush like no other when they're together, and they still don't do jack shit in that department." he shook his head in cluelessness.
"Well, maybe they just haven't gotten it yet." Samus shrugged.
"Then they need to hurry the fuck up with it. We'll all be married to each other before they decide to notice each other. You never want to be the last one to get married in a group. That's just wrong."
"Anything you have to remediate the problem?"
"Was going to give Luigi a pep talk on talking her to the bone zone, but I know he won't do it."
"The bone zone? What kind of fucked up place is that?"
"You know... don't you," Kuro furrowed his eyebrows together. "Putting the ham into the bread. Make some snow angels. Rip off the parkas... I wanted them to have sex!"
"That would have been perfect to just say it right then and there, you realize." Samus pointed out.
"Maybe we needed some elaboration on my part."
"I bet you we needed none of that."
The two had found the generator, broiler and all that snazzy stuff in one little lucky spot down in the basement. The two coughed. From the looks of things, the place hadn't been cleaned in years, nor had there been a checkup for the aroma of the world below the ground. It stunk with the fumes of a skunk, moldy pizza, and far worse things Samus would choose not to describe if given the chance later to tell someone of the time she and Kuro went lurking into the basement.
"So, what do we have to exactly, with this... thing?" she asked, hands motioning over the breaker.
"Yeah. We just need to reattach a few wires, and fire up the generator. First grade stuff." Kuro teased.
"Sounds complicated."
"Not as hard as you think," he assured her. He lowered himself to one knee, opening the breaker. "Would you mind showing the light over the center of this so I can see what I'm doing?"
"Sure." Samus agreed.
He worked away, the halcyon beam illuminating the dark chest with an eerie, ghostly feel. The basement was cold too. Whoever ran the temperature unit upstairs loved keeping the place more frigid than an ice block. It was almost as if a malevolent spirit resided down there. As Kuro worked, Samus noticed his hands. They were muscular, even in the joints. They were also dirty. Dark crimson splotches and onyx lines of soil ran underneath his fingertips. She raised an eyebrow. This was different.
Kuro stepped back to admire his work. "There."
The sound of a can being kicked over echoed throughout out the basement. "Did you hear that?" she asked him, uneasy.
"Probably a rat. We are in the basement, after all."
Samus gave Kuro the flashlight, eyeing something sticking out behind the boiler. Walking towards it, she saw the sleek and slim figure of a baseball bat. She picked it up. The weight surprised her, Samus almost dropped it immediately. It seemed brand new, given the glossy tan shine on the wood, with an emblazoned F in the middle of the bat. "Baseball in the snow?" she joked.
Kuro looked up at the sound of her voice. "Huh? Oh, that. Yeah... not in the winter times, obviously. In the summer, couple years back, sometimes we'd come up here and play games out in the yard. Daisy flowers would grow on the grass, that bright sun. Good times, I tell you. Just me, my mother, my father, Midna, and Lucin-" he stopped short, shaking his head. "Like I said... we used to."
She silently kicked herself for being so stupid, bringing up a seemingly harmless activity such as sports. "You just ruined everything."
He didn't look at her, instead starting up a knob on the boiler. It rumbled down low, and the lights in the basement flickered on. Kuro turned to her and high fived Samus. Their camaraderie would be noteworthy. "Thirty love." she said.
Kuro frowned. "What? Where did you get the first point?"
"Doesn't start at thirty?"
"No. Fifteen."
"Oh... well..." Samus hung her head low.
At this, a low rumble came from the basement. This was no knocked over can, or a simple rat. Whatever this was, it was guttural and menacing. The two froze, eyes searching for whatever it could be. The noise continued, this time repeating. "Rather creepy..." Kuro thought. He inched forward, slowly, ever so slowly. His hand was moving for the bat.
"Kuro..." Samus whispered, getting closer to her friend.
"What?"
"The beat is like... weirdly regular." she noticed.
He blinked. "Nothing- nothing regular about it."
"Perhaps we should check it out." Samus suggested.
"Why?" Kuro questioned her motives. His heart did a little flutter as her hands wrapped around his back arm, as the two inched forward in the basement towards where the sound was coming from.
"Well... what if it is a pipe about to bust or-"
"Highly unlikely."
"Problem with the furnace?"
"Higher chance of finding aliens on Mars." Kuro shot back.
"If it was me, I wouldn't want this place burning down on my watch- OH MY GOD!" Samus said, before unleashing a scream.
The reason she screamed was because, as the two moved closer to the noise, someone with a knife had lunged out from behind a shelf of paints and other mechanical items. A low cry came from the stranger, the blade missing Kuro where his foot would have been. The two turned, bolting for the door.
"Run!" Kuro yelled. There was a mattress propped up against the wall, which he threw down as they ran be.
"Who is that?"
"I don't know!"
The stranger tripped over the mattress. "Fuck you!"
Samus and Kuro thundered up the steps to the basement door, where she kicked and wrenched at it with futile, feverish strength. It didn't budge. "What the fuck? Why are these doors are always locked? She kicked at it again."
"Doors are locked to keep out strangers..." Kuro cried weakly.
Their attacker... or whomever it was had stopped in front of them, stepping up to them closer and closer, blade dancing back and forth. The person's face was covered by a hood and a hockey mask, so their attacker would remain a mystery, only until... the mask came off. "Gotcha!" cried Red eagerly, dropping the weapon to the ground.
Kuro and Samus looked at each other, then back at Red before screaming, "What the fuck Kyne!"
"Why would you do that?" Samus groveled.
"There was all this amazing movie crap down here. A mask, fake weapons, this robe. Was I not supposed to take advantage of the opportunity?" Red's face was pure innocence.
"I cannot believe you," the blonde griped. Then, she whirled on Kuro. "Were you in on this putz?" she demanded, thumping him in the arm.
"No... but I wish I was. That was too good." Kuro laughed, fist bumping Red.
Samus didn't even wait for the door to be unlocked by a key. She slammed her foot into it as hard as she could, splintering off the lock and everything else necessary with it. She stepped into the hall. "You guys are royally fucked in the morning!" she hollered.
"No way. Admit it. You were too scared."
"Kuro!"
Red doubled over laughing, then saw his hand. Somehow, the knife had cut him. Cuts lined his palms, each bleeding. Crimson rivers pooled together, and the stinging was unbearable. How he hadn't noticed before...? "Hey- hey... Kuro? I thought everything down in the basement was fake?"
"It is. Why?" the dark-haired adult frowned, placing the flashlight back on the drawer where he found it.
The hooded prankster showed him his hands. "My hands are bleeding. All I did was hold this knife, and steady myself when I tripped over the mattress. The knife glanced my palms once or twice, but they didn't hurt then."
"Are you sure you didn't trip and get the upside point of a nail?" Kuro asked.
"Positive."
Samus reshowed her face. "Hey guys, I'll admit, the prank, not the joke, was funny... but Luigi found something I think will make your day a whole lot more interesting. Even though I one hundred percent disagree with it, I still think you should take a gamble."
The two boys shared a glance, jogging up the steps after her. They stood together in a line in the middle of the living room, Luigi holding something unseen behind his back, grinning wickedly.
His hands shifted to reveal a Ouija board. "Look what I've got."
"Now you've really fucking done it..." Red whispered.
"You're batshit fucking insane, I tell you." Kuro shook his head.
"I think we just found ourselves the one way ticket to the spirit realm." Luigi said, eyes darkening visibly.
There we are guys! That was Chapter 4 of Pluto Vacation; Tick Tock! Man, it really feels nice being back in the swing of things. It has been too long with this piece and I am super sorry about the absence. I am ready for the story to take off next chapter, as our first murder since numero uno will be coming up. But who is getting chopped? Ya'll lovelies shall find out soon enough! Did anyone notice the reference to The Freak in this chapter, during the basement scene. It is extremely subtle, but still super basic and eye catching at the same time. Blind to miss it, perhaps? What were your thoughts? Review, let me know what they are. You know I love them, and I love responding to them. It'll mean a million. Thanks you guys, for reading! I'll see you all on the flipside for Chapter 5: First Signs of Danger. Love you all! Bye!
~ Paradigm