How long has it been? Too long.

- ML

Chapter Six: January, Part Two

January 6, X792

I got a new journal. It doesn't have that code lock, thank god. I l forgot what the code was so I broke it off. Back to prison food. I think. I probably ate better than before Giving Thanks to nobody. Minerva's belly got a little bigger. Mollison and Sayla spoil her, it's kinda. It's so annoying. Don't they know childbirth in this place is deadly? I don't even think about sex with Lamy right now because of that other shit!

We could be undead or fertile as fuck like Minerva. We don't have hearts, but the fuck does that do? If Minerva can grow a little bastard without a heart, any of the female Tartaros can. My skin crawls

Tartaros Fairy.

Silver was a genius. Was. He's gone. Like, GONE.

He literally perished in thin air. Even the last clothes he wore were left behind. Tempesta's still alive. He was self isolating with cell cough. I guess the herb didn't work on him. Fucking loser.

Found another note in that same handwriting btw

They just won't quit! Keep 'em coming!

(A small piece of old sticky paper was placed over the entry:

(I caress your face in my dreams. My thoughts linger on your laughter, bathing in the sun.)

January 6, X792

My Kyôka wants to learn how to write, how nice. Jackal gave us permission to use the last page of this book. You see, we finished the first journal in just a few months. We do not know the next time books and pens are handed out. It was a fine quality book to write on.

Ever since Jackal defeated that man called Garrot, starved in isolation, and witnessed Minerva's abuse, nobody has approached him but us. He complains so much about the baby. I think he's scared for Minerva. He saw what they did to her. I don't understand why he won't talk to us. We're his friends, right? Those beasts are gone, but the trauma is embedded.

Kyôka doesn't like children, allegedly. There is a sowing group every other week in the humans unit now. Her baby clothes are quite cute. She is such a bad liar. I will certainly punish her later!

Silver is gone, yes. Perhaps there was an error in his existing here in between Hell and Earthland. Or maybe the labyrinth has claimed another one of us. Such is the natural selection of this genocide of "anomalies." I just hope that wherever he is,

Angelic is next to me, waiting very patiently. She is such a good girl. I do not understand why she lives in this desolate place. She might just fill this book again.

January 6, X792 6:48 p.m.

The one who writes thine notes is right under thine snout, feline :\ Well, he doesn't write them himself. I hope he will reveal himself soon. Lamy thought my grammar was confusing to read, so I'll just write like this. Art thou satisfied?

They haven't yet completed exploration of the underground tunnels. What be the purpose of it? Graves? Hiding places? The food quality is changing too. I believe guards are dispatching hunting parties. No more shipments of resources. Daywalker took charge mere days ago, following the isolation punishment discontinuing. There have been no new additions to the living itinerary, only deaths and terminations. I think Tartaros were the last ones to come or go.

I believe that these camps are being ushered into its final stage. There are tens of thousands in the land of Magnoramus alone. They may have all of us killed to honor the will of those in charge.

Mollison will go soon with the last of the human unit. I can't physically protect anyone. I can't let her know. Do not let her write unsupervised or she will be sad. It's better that they die ignorant than live with more anxiety. Tartaros are not any less vulnerable, but we are not easily destructible. I just hope you all will realize you're not entirely powerless.

January 8, X792 8:13 a.m.

Hi journal, it's me Lamy. I want to talk to Jackal later. An inmate told me someone is into him. I don't know who it could be, but they don't stand a chance. Personally, I don't mind Jackal having multiple women. Two hunks for myself would be great! But I just want to know if I'm still with him too. He neglects me :( He's scared of holding my hand more than a few minutes! I bet he stopped masturbating too. He doesn't open up to anyone, not even his journal...

(On the rest of the page are stuck figure drawings of Kyôka, Minerva, Sayla, Mollison on one row, and Jackal, Tempesta, Lamy, Angelic, and an unknown figure with big round eyes and a sharp tooth grin. It has a tiny paper and writing utensil in its hand)

January 9, X792 1:28 a.m.

Jackal sat up in his bed, resting against the corner. He could not physically muster up the urge to move. He wasn't sure what kept him so restless. It felt exactly like the weeks long darkness in that chamber. His body did not belong to him in that moment. The moon still shined its grey light through the window close to the cell ceiling. Tempesta occupied a bed across from him. His shirtless back faced him. Jackal's right brown eye burned into his cellmate's backside.

Look at that asshole. How can anybody sleep so soundly? Jackal found he'd been more and more restless everyday. He wasn't crazy, just restless. His mind ruminated on lots of things at this hour: his body feeling butchered and violated, Minerva's rape, the darkness... At least he remembered Lucy.

I want to back. I miss Earthland. I'd rather be a dusty old book of Zeref. At least then, I didn't know what defeat was like.

Jackal felt a tightness in his throat as tears burned his eye. Eventually, Tempesta turned over. His left eye narrowed, then he sat up.

"Hey, Jackal. Oh shit," he whispered as he urgently got up. Jackal watched himself getting wrapped in a blanket. He thought it was a little odd that Tempesta still cared about anything, let alone his crying cellmate. The tears fell instantly, having felt warmth of some kind. Tempesta sat beside him, watching him cry. He was unsure what else to do.

Jackal whimpered through tears, lowering his head to Tempesta's shoulder. The brown demon was lost for words.

What is wrong with him? I've never seen him in so much pain. Tempesta frowned sadly.

Ask if you can lay with him, I whispered to Tempesta only. Jackal is afraid of having no one.

Maybe he has become soft as a human. I narrate to study, in a way.

"I'll stay with you," Tempesta said as he laid next to Jackal. The feline demon looked puzzled. He wiped his wet eye while gently scratching the other scarred side. "I, I'm not a baby."

"It wasn't a request," Tempesta grunted. "You don't lean on anybody, idiot. Let me be with you." Jackal reluctantly shifted into a fetal position. The bed was a little bigger than a twin, so Jackal's position turned to legs straightened out so that he wasn't too cramped. He kept his back facing the other demon.

"If you touch me weird, I'll kick the shit out of you," Jackal grunted. Tempesta chuckled lightly.

"I'm not a damn creep. How is your toe?"

"It healed, obviously."

"That's good."

"Dude, we heal faster than ever. Don't be stupid."

"The sound of your funky rasp is soothing-Ouf!"

Jackal elbowed Tempesta in the stomach, followed by two pawed feet kicking him off the little bed. Tempesta landed on his side on the floor, bursting with laughter. Jackal hissed aggressively. Then they both stared at each other. Jackal turned red as a tomato.

"I-if you tell anyone, it didn't. Fuckin'. Happen," he glowered through gritted teeth.

"Aye, sir," Tempesta laughed as Jackal yelled a few more choice words at him. Suddenly, something slammed against the wall by the door. Jackal and Tempesta froze up with alarm.

"SHUT UP, YOU EARTHLAND FAGS!" a cellmate shrieked. A couple of other demons groaned audibly about the noise. Tempesta and Jackal stifled their childish giggles. At least Jackal wasn't sad anymore.

January 13, X792 6:30 a.m.

It's Jackal, obviously. Everybody treats my shit like a free for all, so apparently we have to state names now!

(angry pouting cat face)

I think I dreamed about me and Tempesta. My brain makes him look way too human, it's so creepy! Sometimes I still think I'm drawing on the walls with dirty pipe sludge. I hate writing about my delusions, I don't want the others thinking I'm crazy or something.

Minerva still can't talk above a squeaking mouse. Ever since those monsters did THAT she practically lost her voice. idk if she's built different, but she's huge. Kinda looks like an egg. I hope it's a girl so I can teach her how to kill a fucker with her thumbs! That'd be awesome. I'm such a great uncle already.

(A rough sketch of an older Jackal with a rowdy girl child identical to Minerva. Jackal doesn't draw, so it was probably Sayla or Mollison)

(Same package contains writing practice by Kyôka, writing her name over and over on every last line of that page)

(on the back of that filled page is a new sketch of a stick figure with pig tails and a small key, standing with a mermaid holding a vase. Jackal also drew himself as a small pup, scribbled over and lying under the pig tail figure's small feet. The mermaid and girl are crying)

January 14, X792

On this particular morning, Jackal note found on top of his journal.

'My heart yearns for your gentle embrace. Sweet nectar tears cleanse my aching soul.'

Jackal stared at the paper, a smile creeping across his face. He was only joking when he wanted the notes to keep coming. But now, he kind of looked forward to the kind messages. He wanted to think Lamy was writing them, but the writing is very different from the slight curse of this anonymous messenger.

Jackal looked over at the sleeping Tempesta, only to meet the brown demon's red eyed gaze.

"You're awake early," Jackal commented.

"Another note?" Tempesta asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah. This person must be really quiet, to sneak this into my cell of all places."

"I dunno, I jerked off last night and you were snoring like a bear," Tempesta snickered. Jackal raised a balled fist at him.

"Now that I'm eating better, I can kick your ass like that dumb human!" Jackal grimaced.

"I'll pass, I'm not a dirty masochist," the brown demon folded his hands underneath his pillow, lying on his back with his left eye closed. "Besides, it's a beautiful morning. Enjoy it while it's still quiet."

"Uh huh, whatever," Jackal mumbled. He half expected Tempesta to egg him on like usual. Then again, the crimson morning light shining through their little window certainly was pleasant to look at. A Demon Gate, savoring a fucking sunrise. Isn't that rich, blonde bimbo?

Titania Daywalker started killing off. Kyôka in particular was devastated when the humans slowly dwindled to zero. No more sowing classes and bonding time.

The elderly prisoners were not exactly a horrible loss, as they were almost always first to die. And as far as the weakest, Mollison and Minerva probably should have died.

Mollison is one of those demons with no special abilities and Minerva was slowed down by her pregnancy, even without sickness by sunrise. Additionally, all of Tartaros have no curse or magic abilities to write home about. Whatever Titania Daywalker is up to, I hope she continues to spare my friends. I simply cannot go on if they die. They mean the world to me!

Angelic, out :)

In the following couple of weeks, Jackal and continued the silent song and dance of close touch with a fear of intimacy. Minerva's pregnancy grew to nearly to a full round size. She, Sayla, and Kyôka agreed on Roma for a male, and Octavia for a female. Minerva began sharpening her metallic claws and toes as well, just in case. Kyôka showed her the best ways to sharpen them against the concrete walls.

The prisoner population continued to decline. Mollison broke down crying one day as one of her old acquaintances came and went. She spent talk much about that nice lady, Milly. Vicky. Something ending with a I or a Y. I called her Ickly because her real name was kind of confusing.

As of now, all that is left of Tartaros is Tempesta, Jackal, Lamy, Minerva, Sayla, and Kyôka. Only four Demon Gates. No matter how much I drive to dive into any of their memories, everything is blocked. Sometimes I hear names like Erza, Lucy, Natsu, Grey, Juvia, et cetera, but their memories bear no images or traces of dialogue from the past. I suppose I'm better off not learning about their full history. \(-_-)/ Whatever!

Tempesta kept his distance from everyone else. Sometimes, he discreetly visited Lamy's cell. And before you assume the worst, no, they're not having a secret affair. I'm even openly allowed to listen in, as your awesome narrator!

Tempesta talks about his feelings and true thoughts often, and Lamy too. Tempesta is about as troubled as everyone else. But unlike Jackal and the others, he doesn't write much about it. Lamy sometimes hugged the male, but not to gush and fawn about his toned flesh and beautiful face.

Tempesta bonded with Kyôka by letting her braid his hair. Cornrows, bantu knots, afro buns, three strand twists; she was incredible, despite learning to write just this month. She offered to attempt locks, but he turned her down each time. He also styles the females' hair. Variations of braids and twists and up-does. Kyôka loved braids, but Minerva absolutely hated when her hair was slightly tugged into any style unless it was styled by herself.

But enough about hair and bondage!

Titania also completely closed off the humans unit. Thankfully, servings of the sulfur scented herb were distributed to the remaining population before cell cough became an epidemic again. The demon population was downsized to just the first floors of about 250 creatures. The mental pressures were high and the beasts were itching for a break from the cage.

I'll post chapters in clusters of like 2-3. Depends on how I feel that month haha. Gotta balance three stories somehow. AGAIN :D

- ML