The outskirts of the haunted circus offered a fleeting sense of freedom for Blitzo and Fizzarolli.
Before they could press forward however, the tranquility of the clearing shattered. Emerging from the shadows, Striker and a duo of minions confronted the trio, their expressions a mixture of triumph and menace.
Striker, his eyes narrowing at Blitzo, sneered, "Thought you could slip away, huh? Not on my watch."
Blitzo, undeterred, raised his gun, determination flashing in his eyes. "You're not stopping us, Striker. Back off."
Striker, with a sly grin, lassoed Blitzo's gun skillfully, yanking it from his hands. One of the minions seized the opportunity, grabbing Blitzo in a vice-like grip.
Blitzo struggled against the minion's hold, glancing at Fizzarolli. "Fizz, we're not done yet. Show 'em what you're made of."
Striker, confident that Blitzo was under control, turned his attention to Fizzarolli. "You're not much of a fighter, are you? This'll be quick."
He signaled the minions to approach Fizzarolli. However, Blitzo began coaching Fizzarolli through the impending confrontation.
"Remember, Fizz, you've got flexibility on your side. Use it," Blitzo advised, his tone brimming with confidence.
Fizzarolli, drawing strength from his partner, nodded and began a dazzling display of acrobatic moves, eluding his attackers' attempts to grab him. Striker, his eyes widening in disbelief, attempted to lasso Fizzarolli, but the nimble imp's agile evasions frustrated his efforts.
Blitzo, with a grin, cheered, "That's it, Fizz! Keep it up!"
Striker, growing increasingly agitated, growled, "Stop moving, you annoying little shit!"
His patience wearing thin, Striker rushed forward, attempting to grab Fizzarolli. Blitzo, noticing an opening, instructed Fizzarolli to deliver a powerful kick. The unexpected maneuver sent Striker crashing into a nearby pile of debris, knocking him unconscious.
Blitzo, admiring the impressive victory, whooped, "Nice one, Fizz! That's my boyfriend!" Blitzo punches the minion's nose, who lets him go. "Looks like distractions aren't the only thing you're good at, huh?"
Fizzarolli laughed and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Nope, but they do work pretty well, don't they?"
Just as the imps were about to make their escape, Buckzo's minions surrounded them, blocking their path. Blitzo, with a heavy sigh, muttered, "You've gotta be fucking kidding me."
"Blitzo, we're seriously outnumbered here," Fizzarolli said, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
However, as the minions closed in, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"Get away from my brother, you fuckers!" Barbie snarled, her gaze fierce.
"Barbie!" Blitzo and Fizzarolli exclaimed in unison.
Joy washed over Blitzo, and he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. "You're okay!"
Fizzarolli echoed the sentiment, "Thank goodness you're safe. We thought Buckzo got to you."
Barbie, with a determined expression, reassured them, "I'm tougher than I look. But we've got bigger problems right now."
As Blitzo and Fizzarolli began to move towards Barbie, ready to regroup and plan their next move, suddenly they were held back, guns pointed at them.
A sinister chuckle reverberated through the clearing, and from the shadows emerged the ominous figure of Buckzo. Draped in opulent attire, his eyes gleaming with a mix of madness and triumph, he approached Barbie with a sinister grin.
"Welcome home, Barbie," Buckzo declared, his voice carrying a twisted sense of pride.
Barbie, her expression a mix of defiance and disgust, retorted, "This is not home anymore. You ruined it. All for what? Greed and power?"
Buckzo, undeterred by her scorn, grinned wickedly. "My dear, this is just the beginning. With Mammon dead, I'll rule the Pride Ring and beyond."
Barbie, shocked by the revelation, stammered, "Y-You're going to kill him? Why?"
Buckzo, with a laugh, reveled in his delusional grandeur. "My dear, Mammon destroyed this circus. I've been reduced to a laughingstock, but no more! I will take back what's mine."
Barbie, unable to believe the extent of her father's depravity, shook her head. "Mammon didn't destroy the circus, you did! You were a horrible father and a worse ringleader!"
Buckzo's eyes darkened, the madness within him intensifying. "Don't talk back to me, girl. You'll join this circus one way or another."
Buckzo snapped his fingers, and the minions loaded the guns at Blitzo and Fizzarolli's temples. Blitzo and Fizzarolli, caught unaware, struggled helplessly.
Barbie, horrified, cried out, "Dad, no!"
Buckzo's eyes gleamed with malevolent intent. "Or, do you want to see them suffer? Make the right choice, Barbie."
"Let them go you heartless prick," Barbie demanded.
"If that's the case," Buckzo replied. "Then it looks like you need a little push."
Striker walked over to the group, his expression grim. Feeling utterly humiliated, he was ready to settle the score.
"And where the fuck were you?" Buckzo questioned.
"These two slippery fuckers managed to get away from me. I apologize, boss." Striker apologized, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"You've done nothing but fail me lately," Buckzo hissed. "I expect results!"
"Sorry sir," Striker growled.
Buckzo, his patience worn thin, barked, "Fucking dumbass! I gave you a simple task, and you couldn't even handle that!"
Striker, no longer willing to play the role of a submissive lackey, retorted, "You know what, Buckzo? You can kiss my ass. You think you can do this job better than me, you crazy bitch? I have put up with your bullshit for long enough! You were a shitty leader then and still are now."
The air crackled with tension as Striker and Buckzo engaged in a verbal skirmish. Striker, no longer restrained by fear or loyalty, spoke his mind with a brazen confidence. "This plan of yours is a one-way ticket to self-destruction, and I'm not going down with you."
Buckzo, infuriated by the sudden display of insubordination, roared, "You ungrateful bastard! You would've been nothing without me!"
Striker, unperturbed, scoffed, "And what exactly have you given me besides a fucking headache?"
"How dare you turn your back on me! I took you in, gave you purpose, and this is how you repay me?" Buckzo snarled.
Striker, unyielding, shot back, "You've lost touch with reality, Buckzo. Your ambitions are delusional, and you're dragging everyone down with you."
The heated exchange escalated, their words cutting through the haunted air of Buckzo's circus. Striker, no longer willing to endure the madness, made a final declaration. "I'm done taking orders from a madman. Find another lackey to do your dirty work."
Buckzo, his face contorted with rage, fired back, "You're fired, Striker! If you won't follow my orders, I'll deal with these imps myself."
Striker, undeterred, scoffed at the proclamation. "Fine by me, Buckzo. This circus is dead anyway, and so are you."
"See dad? Even your own hired muscle doesn't like you." Blitzo said, smirking. "No wonder you had to go and kidnap people."
Buckzo's gaze fell on the trio of imps. His eyes blazing with fury, he roared, "ENOUGH! I'll deal with you three after I deal with Mammon."
"You called?" a sly voice asked.
To the surprise of everyone, Mammon, the embodiment of greed itself, appeared from the shadows.
Buckzo's face twisted in fury. "So, you finally show your face. Mammon."
"Ah, Buckzo. What a delightful surprise," Mammon greeted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "This was a fun watch, but I'd like my boys back now. You know, the ones you kidnapped for your stupid revenge plan? I mean, come on, you were bound to get caught eventually."
"They're not going anywhere, and neither are you!" Buckzo grabs an angelic gun from one of his minions and points it at Mammon.
"Oh Satan fucking dammit, what the hell is he doing?!" Blitzo whispered, his tone frantic.
"He can't be that stupid, right? He can't possibly think that's going to do anything!" Fizz muttered, equally panicked.
Mammon, unfazed, chuckled. "Oh, come on, Buckzo, you've got to be kidding me," he said with a roll of his eyes.
"Die you motherfucker!" Buckzo shoots Mammon in the chest. And yet, Mammon remained unfazed.
"Okay, now you pissed me the fuck off! First, you steal my employees, and then you have the audacity to shoot me?" Mammon's voice boomed across the clearing.
"Bullshit!" Buckzo fired several shots at Mammon, but the bullets simply bounced off his demonic body.
Mammon, his patience wearing thin, snapped. "That's it! You're done, Buckzo!"
Mammon transformed into his demonic, spider-like form, a traumatizing sight. His massive arachnid body loomed over the clearing, casting an ominous shadow. Buckzo, frozen with fear, dropped his gun.
"W-What are you?" Buckzo stuttered, his eyes wide with terror.
"I'm your worst nightmare, Buckzo," Mammon said with a sinister chuckle.
Without warning, Mammon massacred all the minions in a gruesome display of carnage. Striker, horrified by the brutal violence, scrambled for cover, narrowly escaping death. The trio of imps watched the massacre, paralyzed with shock.
Mammon turned his attention to Buckzo, who cowered helplessly before the massive demon. "Any last words, Buckzo?"
Buckzo, realizing his demise was imminent, let out a scream of pure, unbridled madness. "CURSE YOU, MAMMON!"
With one final sweep of his claw, Mammon ended Buckzo's life in an explosion of blood and gore. The twisted carnage left a gruesome reminder of Mammon's unwavering power.
Blitzo, Fizzarolli, and Barbie stared at the scene, overwhelmed by the sheer brutality. Their thoughts raced, trying to process what had just occurred.
"Holy fuck," Fizzarolli breathed, his eyes wide with shock.
"Yeah, no shit. That was fucking terrifying," Blitzo agreed, his tone laced with disbelief.
Barbie, shaken to her core, trembled uncontrollably.
"It's alright, Barbie. He can't hurt you anymore," Blitzo reassured her.
"Come here, girl," Fizzarolli beckoned, extending a comforting embrace.
Barbie, still struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the ordeal, was silent. The trio of imps sat together, the haunting aftermath of the battle looming over them.
"I missed you guys so much! It was awful! I was so worried that you were gone forever. I don't know what I would've done if he had killed you," Barbie sobbed, clinging tightly to her friends.
"Hey, don't worry about it. We're fine. I mean, yeah, things were pretty fucking terrifying there for a while, but we made it out," Blitzo said, trying to console his distraught sister.
Fizzarolli nodded, adding, "Yeah, don't be too hard on yourself, Barbie. You did what you could."
"I'm so glad you guys are okay. I can't lose you, not again," Barbie whispered.
"You're not losing us, Barb," Fizzarolli promised.
The three imps huddled together, drawing strength from each other. In the midst of the carnage and chaos, they found comfort in their bond, knowing that, despite the trauma, they would emerge stronger than ever.
The trio's reunion was short-lived, however, as Mammon, his monstrous form towering over them, demanded, "Alright you three, let's get out of here. My work is done, and I need a drink. Besides, we have a lot of catching up to do."
The imps, despite the lingering sense of dread, felt a sense of relief. Finally, they were free. They followed Mammon out of the horrifying circus, a newfound sense of hope filling their hearts.
With Buckzo dead, and their bond restored, the trio of imps was ready to embark on a new journey, one filled with possibilities. Their past may have been filled with hardship, but their future was bright with endless potential.
They had survived the haunted circus, and now, the sky was the limit.