Winning chapter?
Dave: Go see John.

Warning! This chapter has blood, violence, and depression!

Dave walks slowly along the sidewalk towards his best friend's house. The weather at night was still in the stages of being cold so small clouds floated into the breeze as he exhaled. He blew into his hands to warm his fingers for a moment before stuffing them back into the kangaroo pocket of his hoodie.

A scowl crosses his face as he tries to figure out how he's going to get his powers. He's the only Strider WITHOUT power, and that is just not cool. Not even ironically uncool. Just plain uncool!

"Who would even WANT to be the god of love? What kind of lame power is that? Hey there you two, looks like you wanna fuck. Let me make it so you'd feel bad doing anyone else. No thank you! This Strider doesn't need a lame power like that!" Dave sighs as he turns to walk up the path to John's house. He stops at the steps leading to the door glancing up to see it partially open. Dave narrows his eyes. Using the natural skills of stealth he learned from his dad, and later his brother, Dave rushed up the steps and slowly pushed the door open.

Carefully he stepped down the hall looking from side to side in hopes of spotting the thief that broke in to John's house. No one in his family would leave a door open. Stepping further into the home Dave notices light from the door to the kitchen. With swift Strider steps he rushes to the door and peeks through. Blood rushes from his face and his head spins, the smell from inside invading his senses causing him to gag.

There was blood everywhere, splattered on the tables, puddled on the floors, painted on the walls and cabinets. Smears of hand prints going across the fridge. The thick oppressing smell of fresh blood made him cover his mouth as he stepped into the kitchen. Looking around for any signs of life.

Dave walks around the table and freezes. Staring down at the wide glossy eyes of Rose's mom, John's stepmother. She lay sprawled on the ground her limbs spread wide. Her throat was slit and blood pooled underneath her head knotting in her hair. Her chest had been sliced open, probably in an attempt to get more blood for the horrid paintings on the walls.

The world spun and Dave caught himself on the table. Turning away from the body and taking slow shallow breaths. He closes his eyes to try to escape the sight but it's burnt in his memory. His limbs shaking he opens his eyes and starts walking from the room, needing to get away from all the blood.

The sound of John screaming cut through Dave's concentration. Causing him to jerk his head up and stare wide eyed at the ceiling, willing himself to be able to see through it to the rooms above him. With a scowl Dave rushes up the steps and quickly down the hall to the next closest lit up room. He pushed the door open and slowly, carefully stepped inside.

John's dad was pinned against the wall by a variety of knives. Blood ran down from hundreds of cuts on his body like a waterfall on the wall. A sword is shoved through the center of his chest. Dave swallows the bile gathering in his throat and moves through the room carefully wrapping his fingers around the hilt of the sword. Taking shallow breaths to keep his concentration he keeps his eyes on the sword. Avoiding looking at the dangling body of the closest thing to a father figure Dave had since he was seven.

Dave pulls on the sword, but it doesn't budge. With an annoyed huff he carefully positions his foot on a dry spot on the wall and yanks. John's screams pierce through his concentration and Dave jerks to stare at the door. Some of his inhuman powers coming through when the sword cracks an sends him flying backwards into a puddle of blood on the floor. Broken sword clung tightly in his hands.

Dave fights to keep the bile down and shoves himself up ignoring the blood dripping off his shirt as he runs down the hall, broken sword gripped tightly in his fists. He reaches John's room and glances inside. John's tied to the bed, tears and blood running down his cheeks. A dark man standing over him, a bushy black tail swishing behind him in excitement. His head is that of a dog, and feathered black wings sit folded at his back. He's holding a knife in his hand and poking it against his elongated snout in thought. The goddess of luck sits in John's computer chair, her eye flashing in a multitude of color as blue tears run down and stain her cheek. Her shoulders twitch as if she's fighting something, trying hard to regain the ability to move.

Another god stands behind her, a grin spread wide across his lips, stretching the thread that holds them sewn tightly together. His hair sticks out every which way as if it's never seen a brush and his horns waved up into the air similar to that of the god of music. He wore clothing decorated with bones Dave wouldn't be surprised were real. His eyes are also flashing as he watches John's torture on the bed. Movement drew Dave's eyes to the corner of the room where a third god stood. Looking older than the rest he appeared almost in his 30's. His face was drawn in unhappiness as he stared down at John, his eyes flashing even brighter than that of Vriska's. His hair and horns made him look almost like he were Karkat's dad. He wore a black cloak drawn over his head reminding Dave of the night his parents died.

John screams out again causing Dave to jerk smacking the broken sword against the door. One large dog ear twitches in Dave's direction. The rest of the face follows the turning ear and solid white eyes turn to stare at Dave. A wide grin spreading across the dog's muzzle showing a mouthful of deathly sharp fangs. "Why hello, Dave Strider."
Dave clutches the broken sword tightly drawing it up and bracing himself in the doorway. He bends his knees in preparation to flash step any way he needs. The dog man chuckles and moves closer. The god behind Vriska starts laughing, snorts coming out of his nose as he turns to watch Dave. With a quick flash the dog lunges at Dave, but he side-steps out of the way swinging the broken sword at his wolfish head. Black blood splatters out from one of the creature's eyes. It growls viciously, the god behind Vriska now bent over with laughter, hands on his sides as he wheezes in an attempt to catch his breath.

Vriska moves her arm up with wide eyes. Clenching her fist before moving her second robotic arm up to close the fingers in front of her eye like the other. Dave spots the movement as he lunges out of the way of another slice of the dog's knife. He moves to swing his sword again. "SPIDERBITCH!" Vriska's eye turns to stare at Dave, now solid blue and no longer flashing. He recoils from another slash of the knife and moves to block the blow with his sword. "You have to use your powers. Get John Out of here!" The dog growls and pushes down against Dave's sword forcing him backwards.

Vriska turns to look at John. With a nod she jumps up and rushes for the bed. The laughing god behind her was too busy on his knees wheezing with laughter as he watches Dave and the dog-man fighting to notice Vriska's escape from his control. The god in the corner's eyes slowly stop flashing, melting into a solid red and focusing on the scene in front of him.

The dog shoves Dave against a table and turns to growl at Vriska. He rushes forward towards Vriska and John. John screams out as black claws grab a hold of Vriska's hair yanking her back. The knife flashes in the light as he holds it up in preparation to plunge it into her throat. Dave flash steps up to them slicing at the dog's back causing him to howl out in pain, releasing Vriska. He turns with a horrid growl, drool dripping from his muzzle as he glares down at Dave.

Dave holds the broken sword up, ready for another fight. Black blood drips down from the jagged tip. He glares at the dog, panting slightly. "Get him out of here Vriska. NOW!"

Vriska nods and lunges for the bed. The dog turns and throws his knife at her chest. John stares with wide eyes as Vriska lands on his chest wrapping her arms tightly around him. Dave blurs and re-appears in front of the dog blocking the view of the two as Vriska screams out "HIS LUCK HAS CHANGED TO GOOD!"

A sickening thunk fills the room. Dave glances down, moving one hand up he wraps his fingers around the hilt of the knife, yanking it out of his chest. Blood splashes out of the hole in his chest. He coughs dropping both blades and splattering more blood onto his hands. He looks up to watch John and Vriska disappear in a burst of blue smoke. His eyes move up slowly and settle on the solid red of the unmoving god in the corner. "I'm sorry..." he says, eyes filled with regret. Dave's vision starts to blur, the edges clouding as he falls forward. Blacking out before he even hit the ground.

Next chapter?
Rose: Talk to Kanaya

Eridan: Stop Feferi