Exiting the taxi cab that take her to Imp City, Mrs. Mayberry glanced up at the building that the name was shared with. A facial expression of disdain and reminiscence glossed over her face as she walked inside and traveled all the way up to the top floor. This is where she found an incredibly and insanely violent argument between her "friend" with "benefits" and his main co-worker, the latter's wife acting as the peacekeeper; meanwhile, the wall was destroyed, having been wrecked with...something. The hellhoud receptionist, the adoptive daughter of her "friend" with "benefits", could not care less, making conversation with a young boy in the corner. This young boy did not share a demonic or monstrous appearance unlike the others (including herself) in the room. He had fair skin, black eyes, and white hair; he wore an orange polo shirt, blue jeans, grey socks with blue-and-red stripes, and white sport shoes and red stripes.
Is that him? Is that the boy Blitz was referring to on the call?
. . .
Well, only one way to find out.
Sighing to herself, Mrs. Mayberry made her presence in the room known with a sharp whistle. Almost immediately, all the commotion in the room ceased, with Millie immediately dropping Blitzo, who immediately dropped Moxxie, who was immediately picked up by Millie again.
"Tamara! Great to see you again!"
"It's Maria," Mayberry deadpanned, "Am I interrupting something?"
"Of course not! I'm glad you came on such short notice!"
"I just had to cut my classes short in order to do so. So...is that him?"
"Yeah... Which is what I wanted to talk to you about."
As she turned her attention to the boy, who turned his attention from Loona to her, Maria felt a tidal wave of sympathy wash all over her. The boy carefully scanned her from head to hoof, his expression constantly switching from fear to uncertainty to curiosity. Turning back to Blitzo, who wore an uncharacteristic look of solemn somber, Maria still maintained her resolve.
"Where did you find him?"
"In a city called Royal Woods," Loona replied, "Lincoln was bleeding out of a bench. He said one of his sisters had an alligator wrestling contest that went awry and caused his left leg to be wrapped in a cast."
Taking the admittedly outlandish story into consideration, Maria glanced back to the boy named Lincoln. She released a soft sigh before calmly and carefully approaching him, reverting to her kindhearted teacher persona and managing her best sincere smile.
"Hi, Lincoln. My name is Mrs. Mayberry, but you can call me Maria if you like."
"Or Tamara?"
"Sure," Maria chuckled in amusement as Blitzo rolled his eyes in the background.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Maria," Lincoln managed a smile of his own as he outstretched a hand for Maria to shake.
"The pleasure is all mine."
"We were hoping that you could watch him while we perform our missions," Moxxie approached with Millie by his side.
"Why me? Because I'm a schoolteacher? My experience with children makes me a more palatable choice than most?"
"Aside from the obvious, we at I.M.P. know you a little more than any of our other clients."
"A little? Is that supposed to be a comfort?"
"No, not really," Millie shook her head, "To be fair, though, you were one of our first true clients."
"Am I really?" Mayberry frowned and raised an eyebrow in suspicion, as she and Moxxie shrugged and nodded in equal order.
Glancing back again to Lincoln, who still managed a sincere smile despite the situation he unwittingly found himself in initially, Maria's hardened expression eventually softened and she nodded in sympathetic understanding.
"All right. Do you have any weapons?"
"Why?"
"Think about it. What would happen if a demon or a whole group of them found about Lincoln's very existence and presence? He could prove quite lucrative on the market. If you guys are going to be out performing missions, then I need some weapons."
"Don't worry, Mrs. Mayberry," Loona approached now with Lincoln by her side, "I'll provide supervision whenever I don't accompany Blitzo on their missions. As for the weapons... Moxxie?"
Moxxie shrugged before reaching into his coat to pull out a whole variety, "I have some assault weapons, crossbow, hunting bow, tommy gun, old-fashioned shotgun, revolvers in three colors, chainsaws, katanas…"
"This seems..." Lincoln picked up a two-tone Glock 17, "...excessive."
"Well, it can't hurt to be too prepared," Blitzo patted him on the shoulder.
"I'll take them all," Mayberry stated as she picked up the discarded weapons (including the two-tone Glock 17 Lincoln had picked up) and placed them in a duffel bag for later use, "When do I start?"
"You just did," Blitzo smirked before pulling out a large book with a navy blue cover, gold reflective pages that were separated by a dark burgundy ribbon, and golden borders with a large red gem on the spine. The front cover consisted of a moon and a few accompanying stars encircling a seal or tailsman of some sort. Meanwhile, Loona gathered her belongings and prepared to lock up.
"You're coming with us?" Lincoln asked as he helped her.
"I'm gonna have to. Mayberry can't exactly fend off ravenous demons even with that arsenal. Plus, being left by myself is so boring."
"Another houseguest? I'll have to make temporary accommodations."
"Don't worry. I'll be gone once Blitzo and the others get back...which, judging by them, would probably in a few weeks time."
"I honestly doubt that," Moxxie frowned at a now smirking Loona.
"In the meantime, kid," Blitzo secured his flintlock pistol, "We're make sure that some training protocols will be in line for you when we do get back. I suggest you start practicing."
"And when did we agree to Lincoln becoming a member of I.M.P.?" Moxxie loaded another handgun and shotgun in succession.
"Oh, we didn't," Blitzo chuckled, "I did."
"Ugh..."
"So...when was the last time you saw Lincoln Loud?"
It had been two weeks since Lincoln had disappeared.
Vanished.
Gone missing.
The city of Royal Woods was starting to become anxious.
Nervous.
On edge.
Many of the citizens had mixed reactions towards his disappearance. Many were shocked, others were indifferent, and the rest were grateful. Considering how much help he offered and how much they refused, the few who remained apathetic saw it as a blessing, however temporary it was. Needless to say, the chosen few received a large amount of backlash from the majority, who at least at have a sense of morality when it came to missing persons, especially when they were children.
Luna had (restricted) access to Lisa's surveillance camera system that spread out throughout Royal Woods and even the entirety of Michigan. She was currently using it to search for any evidence that could shed some light on her younger brother's whereabouts. Honestly, she could understand why the security cameras were a necessity, but how her younger sister managed to find the time to build it was a mystery that remained as such.
She rewinded...and fast-forwarded...and rewinded some more...and fast-forwarded some more. A couple of hours had passed, and she was no closer to finding Lincoln or any clues. The guilt, regret, and sorrow was eating her from the inside out and it was also driving her insane.
Nothing...
Nothing...
Absolutely nothing...
. . .
. . .
. . .
No...
Wait a minute...
Eventually, Luna's eyebrows knitted together in intrigue and confusion at a peculiar camera image. She did find Lincoln...albeit bloodied and battered on a brown bench. Any joy and relief that was mustered up over finding her younger brother dropped significantly over seeing him in such a situation. That small shred of joy and relief was immediately destroyed when four figures eventually entered the scene. These four figures...were monsters.
Living and breathing monsters...no, demons in the flesh.
Three of them had red skin, yellow eyes, distinctive horns, and a sharp sense of fashion. The fourth was a werewolf (or a hellhound?) with red eyes and a Gothic appearance. The three red demons did not seem to pay any mind or acknowledge his presence as the taller of the trio pulled a blue baroque book and used it to conjure up a portal of red energy and travel through. The hellhound was about to enter as well before she caught a scent and traced it back to the unconscious Lincoln, whom she eventually carried in her arms as she eventually entered the portal.
Horror and dread were Luna's main facial features, now fully aware that the family's neglectful treatment of Lincoln proved to be equipped with very dire consequences. That horror and dread soon paved the way for fury and determination, both of which worked in conjuction as the newfound drive to find her younger brother increased tenfold.
Magnifying and processing the paused image, Luna took a good look at the book the tall demon had in his possession; it had a navy blue color, gold reflective pages that was separated by a dark burgundy ribbon, and golden borders with a large red gem on the spine in addition to a front cover that displayed the moon and a few accompanying stars encircling a seal or tailsman of some sort.
This looks something Lucy would like...
That already troubled little mind of hers concocting a new plan, Luna needed to see her younger occultist sister, and if the students and staff had anything to say about it...then she would gladly rip right through them to get her.
"So...when was the last time you saw Lincoln Loud?"
The Royal Woods Stalkers were what they called them. Many Royal Woods residents have attributed the persons of interest as the primaries behind the disappearances of several children in the neighborhood. While many witnesses had claimed that the most common Royal Woods Stalker was a medium-sized man roughly around his mid-fifties with a greying hairline, others have also stated that a woman around the same age with brunette hair and a black mask was also one of the accused, leading the authorities to connect the cases and locate suspects or conspirators. However, they had managed to elude the department for several years, escaping with a few dead henchmen in their wake and mere flesh wounds for their troubles. Ultimately, the commissioner declared the investigation a cold case and called off the manhunt indefinitely, much to the ire of many parents who were mourning their deceased offspring. In the present day, it would seem as though the infamous child murderers died from natural causes or, at the very least, took a cooling off period. No reports of missing children...until now. Could it be that Lincoln was kidnapped and murdered by these enigmatic killers...or a copycat attempting to continue their legacy and make a name for themselves?
Sam Sharp could not care less. She just needed to be ready...which leads to our next point-of-view.
Inside her house located in her hometown of Huntington Oaks, Sam was living up to the name of her hometown by gathering many of her father's shotguns and hunting rifles and loading them with ammunition should the Royal Woods Stalkers come knocking on their front door. Loading five shells into a Mossberg 500 Persuader, Sam set it down on the coffee table before reaching for a Remington 700PSS and loading five bullets as well.
"Sam?"
The teenager instinctively looked up from her preparation process and took up the Mossberg, aiming it at the front door. There stood a middle-aged man with blonde hair and a Sheriff's Department uniform worn beneath a brown leather jacket. A Glock 17 rested snug in his holster as he closed the door behind him.
"I see that you took my advice."
"I had to, Dad. The Royal Woods Stalkers are making a potential comeback and we need to be prepared."
"We don't exactly know that for sure, but yes, we do need to be prepared. I'm glad you're taking my advice to heart."
"Me too, Dad. Me too."
Handing her father a M4A1 Carbine with M68 Aimpoint red dot scope, Sam then took up a Mossberg 500A Field Gun and loaded the chamber.
"So how are Simon and Meli handling this?"
"They were understandably frightened. But I assuaged their fears...by hiring off-duty officers and posting them outside the school."
"Of course you did. Classic Commissioner Sharp."
"You know me, kiddo. That's me."
RING-RING!
Sam pulled out her smartphone and glanced at the caller ID, heavily blushing as she did so.
"It's Luna, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Do you mind if I...?"
"Not at all. Go on ahead. I'll just be in the living room...loading these weapons by myself."
Sam chuckled as she stood up and walked into the kitchen for some privacy, answering the call and placing the phone up to her ear.
"Yes, Luna?"
"Sam, I... I need your help."
"With..."
"I think I know where Lincoln is. But I need your help."
"You do? Where is he?"
"I think he's been kidnapped. But here's the thing... The people who kidnapped him are...demons."
. . .
"Okay... That's not funny, Luna."
"I know it isn't, and I promise that I'm not lying to you. Look...can you come over to my house so I can prove it to you?"
"Why should I trust you after what you and your family did to Lincoln? Because I'm your girlfriend?"
"Well... Technically, I thought you were my ex-girlfriend because of what happened a few days ago. You said we needed a break."
"Just because I said we needed a break doesn't mean we broke up, Luna. I was just hurt that you never bothered to defend Lincoln even after he told you the truth. Plus, that proved to me that my trust in you was misguided."
"I know. It was a horrible mistake that I wish I could take back."
"Well, listen here. If you actually do care for Lincoln, and that the people who kidnapped him are demons, then you have to prove it. Even then, I'm only doing this for him. I'll be there in about an hour or two."
"Thank you, Sam. I don't know how to repay you."
"If we make it out of this alive...then you'll figure it out."
Hanging up the phone, Sam groaned and pinched her nose bridge as she leaned against the wall, contemplating her current circumstances.
"To be fair, you did make it seem like a breakup."
Her head shooting up, Sam turned to find her father leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed with a smug smirk.
"How much did you hear?"
"Enough. I heard enough. So, is it true? Luna's got a lead on Lincoln?"
"How did you...?"
"I'm the current Commissioner of Huntington Oaks, sweetie. When you're out in the field, you tend to develop a particular set of skills."
"I can see that," Sam chuckled, "but yeah, Luna thinks she knows where Lincoln is. It's complicated."
"Well, when things get uncomplicated, you let me know, okay?"
"I promise, Dad."
As father and daughter shared a heartfelt hug, Sam broke away from the embrace.
"Dad... I also need to borrow a few guns."
"Do you even need to ask?"
. . .
"Well, yes. Because it's the thought that counts."
Afterwards, Sam packed a Glock 17, a Glock 19, a SIG-Sauer P226R, and the Mossberg 500 Persuader and Remington 700PSS from earlier among other firearms and storing them in a duffel bag, which she placed in the front seat of her car before driving off. Peering in the rear view mirror, she watched her father wave her goodbye, prompting her to wave back before continuing onward. Sighing to herself, she built up speed, the urgency of the situation getting to her even further than it should.
Damn it, Sam...
In the depths of despair was where Rita Loud was residing at the moment. As she was, she wiped away incoming tears as a Mossberg 500 Cruiser laid in her lap. The shotgun was acquired from a storage unit five weeks after Lincoln...her only son...went missing and presumed far from okay. She blamed herself for not only failing to handle the situation much sooner and efficiently, but also neglecting to be a better mother in general.
"It's not your fault, Mrs. Loud."
Looking up from her misery, Rita's eyes widened in horror as she took up the Cruiser and took aim at the creature before her. It was an anthropomorphic Hellhound with brown fur, purple eyes, a purple leather jacket, and torn-up blue jeans.
"R-Ronnie Anne?" Rita breathed out.
"Yeah," The young Hellhound nodded in confirmation, "I'm just as surprised as you are. You're probably wondering why I look like this."
"I am."
"Well, you can blame a guy named Alastor. He granted me this appearance in addition to...demonic superpowers, I guess."
"I don't understand."
"I didn't expect you to. But understand this...Lincoln is in danger. Real danger."