Chapter 3: Welcome to Jurassic World:
The man jolted awake as the plane touched down on the runaway. He glanced out the window just in time to see the thrust reversers deploy, the roar of the A330-200's General Electric engines filling the cabin as the plane decelerated. Closing the window shade, the man stretched his arms and leaned forward, several satisfying pops coming his back. He gently nudged his friend beside him, who slowly stirred awake.
"We there yet?" he asked.
"Yeah, we're here sunshine," the man replied.
"Sunshine, huh?" The other man said, "Aren't you just precious?"
The man chuckled and lifted the window shade, watching the plane slowly taxi into the gate. The engines shut down, followed by the seatbelt sign flicking off. Both men stood from the seats and grabbed the luggage, following a line of passengers to the exit. Walking through the jet bridge, the two men emerged into the terminal. Scanning the room for their contact, they finally spotted him standing on the far wall. They walked across the room, the man looking up as they approached.
"Josiah Hill, Cole Walker," he greeted.
"Reagan," Cole greeted, shaking the other man's hand, "Nice to finally meet ya."
"Likewise," Reagan said, "How was the flight?"
"Long, shitty," Josiah replied.
"Sounds about right," Reagan chuckled, "Well, let's not keep our driver waiting. Follow me."
The three men walked through the terminal, pushing past crowds of oblivious adults and screaming children. Though it was January, the terminal was as packed as if it were summer. Eventually, they exited the terminal and climbed inside the black SUV that was waiting for them.
"Why the hell are so many people here?" Cole asked, glaring at a group of kids as they left the airport.
"The park's got some New Years special bullshit going on," Reagan replied.
"Business can't be that bad," Josiah muttered.
"It's not, but corporations love money," Reagan said.
"As do I," Cole chimed in, "But even I know when somethin's a bad idea."
"Well, you wouldn't be here if that was the case," Reagan countered.
"Are the rumors true then?" Cole asked, staring him down.
"They are," Reagan replied, "But if you want this to work, we'll have to keep that quiet. For now."
"You sound confident it will work," Cole said, "What we're doin' is beyond anything mankind's ever done."
"You wanted something better than drones, this is it," Reagan said.
The driver turned onto a rough dirt road, carefully steering around the low hanging branches. The SUV's tires bounced over the large rocks embedded in the dirt, jostling the occupants.
"Where the hell are you taking us?" Cole asked, gripping the handle above his seat.
"The control room," Reagan replied, "The doc wants us taking the back way."
"And why's that?" Josiah asked.
"Fuck if I know," Reagan replied, bracing himself as the SUV hit another bump.
They drove over the rough road for a few more minutes before they emerged from the jungle and into a large field. The road smoothed out, making the ride more pleasant. The roof of a large building could be seen above the tree line on the far side of the field. Entering the second tree line, their driver steered onto a paved road that led to a checkpoint. The guards scanned his card and let him through. He drove down a ramp and into a large parking lot filled with identical SUVs. He parked the SUV in the far corner and killed the engine.
"Why're we parkin' all the way in the back?" Cole asked.
"Give us a little more time to talk," Reagan replied, opening his door, "Unlike the building, these cameras don't have audio." He slammed his door shut and waited for the two men to join him. They took their time gathering their bags and followed him towards the other side of the garage.
"Now," Cole began, "You said this would work better than the drones."
"Absolutely," Reagan replied, "You've heard the rumors. To have these things hiding in plain sight, disguised as your friends, family, striking when the time is right. Think about it, we can take anyone down from inside."
"Like Cole said, that's if we can control an alien," Hill said, "How do you know this won't backfire on us?"
"I've got the best man on the job," Reagan replied.
"Who?" Hill asked.
"You'll see," Reagan replied, "He's so convinced he's God."
Cole and Hill shared a glance, with Cole shrugging it off. The three men soon arrived at a large door. Reagan scanned his card on the pad next to it and the door opened. He led them through a short hallway to a narrow staircase. Climbing the stairs, the three men came upon an unmarked door.
"Where you takin' us?" Cole asked, eying the door.
"Like I said, the back way," Reagan replied, swiping his card on the pad on the wall. A loud beep echoed through the staircase and the door slowly opened, revealing another dimly lit hallway.
"Naw, you tryin' to kill us," Cole said.
"If it makes you feel better, I'm not carrying a gun," Reagan said, stepping into the hall.
"Ours are in our luggage," Hill said, he and Cole following him down the hall.
"Looks like we've reached an impasse," Reagan said.
"You seen my arms?" Cole asked, "I can snap your twig ass in half."
"I ain't a damn twig," Reagan mumbled.
Cole and Hill chuckled, high fiving each other. Reagan rolled his eyes at them. After another five minutes of walking, the three men can to a large set of doors labeled 'Control Room.'
"Finally," Cole said.
Reagan scanned his card and the doors opened. He led Cole and Hill toward a security checkpoint. Through the large windows, they could see numerous computer consoles, a bored technician sitting behind each one. At the front of the room was a massive screen. Several different camera angles of the park filled it, each showing park guests and dinosaurs going about their daily routines.
"Look at this," Cole said, stepping up to the window.
"Just like Auroa," Hill said, joining him at the window.
"Gentleman," Reagan said, getting their attention, "The view's better inside." Cole and Hill left the window and followed him through the checkpoint. Reagan swiped his card and opened the door. Like he said, the view was better inside.
"Holy shit," Cole said, "Got the full set up in here."
"That we do," Reagan said, "Now where... ah, there you."
"Who?" Hill asked.
"Our contact," Reagan replied, leading them across the control room.
They walked up a small set of steps and towards another door. Leaning on the wall beside it was an Asian man, his eyes skimming over the file in his hands. He looked up when he heard them, tucking the file under his arm.
"Reagan," he greeted.
"Dr. Wu," Reagan greeted in return.
"Oh, damn," Cole said, looking Dr. Wu up and down, "You're him. The famous Dr. Henry Wu."
"That I am," Dr. Wu said, "You must be Cole Walker."
"Yup," Cole replied, "Guessin' you've heard of me?"
"Of course," Dr. Wu replied, "You're a man with a vision. Like me."
"Like all of us," Reagan chimed in, "Let's go to your office. Don't want our plan to be heard by stray ears."
"Good call," Dr. Wu said, "Let's go."
He turned and opened the door, waving the others through. Dr. Wu closed and locked the door behind them and took the lead, escorting the three men to his office. After walking through a long hallway, Dr. Wu pushed open a set of doors at the end, revealing the cloning facility. The facility was packed with people, scientists moving between rooms while carrying files and equipment. Weaving in between the crowds, they came to a stop when they reached the hatchery.
"My office is through here," Dr. Wu said.
He strolled inside the room, looking into the many incubators as he passed. Reagan paid no mind to them, no longer fazed by living dinosaurs. Cole and Hill stopped in front of one incubator, watching a pair of raptors break through their eggshells.
"So, these are the famous raptors," Cole said, gazing in wonder at the infant predators.
"Indeed," Reagan said, turning back to the men, "We do have time for them later, but first, we have more important things to discuss." Cole and Hill left the incubator and followed Reagan to catch up with Dr. Wu. He'd just opened the door to his office when someone called his name.
"Henry."
Dr. Wu turned to the voice, seeing two familiar men walking towards him. He inwardly sighed, not wanting to deal with them at the moment. He put on a fake smile to greet them.
"Robert McCready," he said, extending a hand.
"Dr. Wu," Robert greeted shaking his hand.
"And you must be, James," Dr. Wu said, eying the younger man next to him.
"I am," he replied, "I've a lot about you and your work. It's nice to finally put a face to the brains behind Jurassic World."
"Indeed," Dr. Wu said, feeling a bit of pride fill his chest.
"So, who are these guys?" Robert asked, staring at Cole and Hill.
"Cole Walker and Josiah Hill," Dr. Hu replied, "They want to... join the team here and would like to discuss some business."
"Oh, well should I contact Masrani?" Robert asked, suspicious of the doctor's intentions.
"No, it's fine," Dr. Wu replied, "Me and Reagan can handle this."
"If you say so," Robert said, "I'm taking my son to the ACU firing range. We'll be there all day if you need us."
"The firing range, huh?" Dr. Wu asked, "Your son's joining the ACU?"
"Sure am!" James happily replied.
"Well, welcome to the team!" Dr. Wu chuckled, "See you around."
"Catch ya later, doc," Robert said, he and James departed the room.
Dr. Wu waved them off and walked inside his office. Reagan led Cole and Hill inside, closing and locking the door behind them. Dr. Wu sat down behind his desk while Cole and Hill took the two seats in front of it. Reagan stood by the door, staring through the blinds that covered the window to make sure no uninvited guest interrupted their meeting.
"Alright," Dr. Wu began, "Reagan informed me of your intentions today, and unfortunately, you've caught us at a bad time."
"And why's that?" Cole asked.
"As I'm sure you've guessed, the rumors are true," Dr. Wu said, "And we had a sample that was retrieved from the Station 14."
"No shit," Cole said in disbelief, "You have it? Here?"
"Yes," Dr. Wu replied, "But it's now under lock and key. I doubt we'll be able to get it now without anyone noticing."
"They finally heightened the security?" Reagan asked.
"Originally, it was in possession of a survivor of the 1982 incident," Dr Wu replied, "But apparently, someone had tried to take it from him, and he had it sent here to be locked in the Archives."
"That was one of our guys," Cole said, "He was one of our best men, too."
"And that's why you're here?" Dr. Wu questioned.
"Yes," Hill replied, "Figured we'd get much closer on the inside."
"Pose as new clients, and no one asks questions," Cole said.
"As I said, that might be more complicated now," Dr. Wu said, "But I think we can make it work. Unfortunately, I'll have to talk to McCready again."
"What? Don't tip him off," Reagan said.
"We may not have a choice," Dr. Wu said.
"What's so special about this guy?" Cole asked.
"He's the grandson of Russell McCready," Reagan replied, "the other survivor of the incident."
"And I take he's the guy that put it in the Archives?" Cole asked.
"He is," Dr. Wu replied, "But don't worry, I have a plan to get past him. So, here's what we'll do..."
POV Robert and James:
James' eyes widened the second the armory doors opened, a small drop of drool appearing on the side of his mouth. Robert chuckled at his son, gently pushing him inside. He led him to the far wall, where a long gun rack sat, each slot holding a rifle. Robert reached in a pulled one out, setting it on a nearby table. James stood on the other side, his eyes scanning the weapon. The rifle had an ODE green frame, a long barrel, and a scope attached to the top rail. The side rail held a flashlight, while the bottom had a vertical foregrip.
"This," Robert began, "Is a Bren 805, the standard rifle of the ACU. This is the standard variant, which has a 14.5in. barrel."
"Nice," James whispered, still drooling over the rifle.
Robert returned and pulled out to more rifles. One resembled the first, but with a shorter barrel. The other had a longer barrel and was fitted with a large rifle scope.
"This is the CQB model with a 10.5in barrel," Robert said, placing it beside the first, "And this is the DMR model, 20in barrel."
He set the rifle next to the other two, allowing James to get a closer look at all three. He picked up the standard model and shouldered it. He aimed at the wall, slowly adjusting the scope. He set it down before doing the same to the other two. Once he was done, he grabbed the standard model again.
"I like this one," he said.
"Great," Robert said, "Now, let's get you a sidearm."
He led James past the rifles to another set of gunracks, each slot holding a handgun. Grabbing three different types, they returned to the table. James watched his father lock the slide open on each gun before laying them down.
"This here is standard issue for the ACU," he said, pointing at the first gun, "Sig P226R, 9x19, fifteen round mags."
James picked up the pistol. He armed the gun at the wall, focusing the night sights on a small picture. Closing the slide, he checked the trigger pull, surprised to find it quite heavy. Locking the slide open, he set the gun back down on the table.
"What do you think?" Robert asked.
"Trigger's a little heavy," James replied, "But it's nice."
"You want that one?" Robert asked.
"Maybe," James replied, "I wanna check the other two before I decide."
"Alright," Robert said, picking up another gun, "This is a Gen 4 Glock 21 SF, used mostly by security. Forty-Five caliber, thirteen round mags."
James took the gun from his father and inspected it. It had similar night sights as the Sig, and a burnt bronze cerakote on the threaded barrel. While the trigger pull was lighter, it was a little mushy. Sending the slide home, James aimed it at the wall. Though top heavy, it pointed more naturally, the grip molding well into his hand.
"This one's pretty good, too," James said, "Let's look at the last one."
"Ok," Robert said, grabbing the final gun, "This is the HK45-I, made specially for Ingen. Comes with night sights and threaded barrel as standard, an extended slide and frame, and custom twelve round mags."
He handed James the gun, who promptly repeated his previous actions. The gun was larger than the other two, and much heavier. The grip, while ergonomic, was quite thick, barely fitting in his hand.
"I think one's a little too big," James said, "So, maybe the Sig or the Glock."
"Let's head to range," Robert said, "Best way to make your choice is to try them out."
James nodded and grabbed the two pistols while his father grabbed the rifle and a suppressor. The two grabbed several magazines for each weapon along with several boxes of ammunition, stuffing them inside two metal ammo cans before leaving the armory, waving goodbye to the guard. A short trip down the hall and the two arrived at the range. Robert scanned his entry card, which unlocked the door. He pushed it open, happy to find the range empty. James followed his father out, sweat appearing on his forehead from the humidity. The range was an outdoor one, the perimeter surrounded by thick glass wall, similar to the dinosaur holding pens. In fact, the range seemed to have been converted from an old holding pen.
"What's this?" James asked, "I thought we have an indoor range."
"We do," Robert replied, slipping the suppressor on the muzzle of the Bren, "But it's always crowded. Here, it's just us."
He flicked a switch on the wail, activating a warning light. Digging through a nearby cabinet, he pulled out several targets and walked onto the range. He attached the target to a post at the fifty-yard line before returning to the range. Both men put in their hearing protection before Robert placed a large rubber block at the firing line and motioned his son forward. Lying prone, James set the 805 on the block and lined the scope up with the target. Taking a deep breath, he slowly squeezed the trigger.
A loud pop emanated from the suppressor, followed by a puff of gray smoke. A small hole appeared on the edge of the black circle. James sighed and turned the adjustment knob on the side of the scope. Realigning the crosshairs, he gradually pulled the trigger. He stopped before he fired, seeing someone familiar in his peripheral. He looked up from the scope and sure enough saw Octavia walking with her father. Robert noticed them, too.
"Well, well," he said, "Wasn't expecting to see them again."
"Me neither," James said, his eyes never leaving Octavia.
"Looks like you got another chance to get her number," Robert chuckled.
"Dad," James groaned.
It was then Octavia's father noticed them through the glass, a surprised look appearing on his face. He smiled and waved at them. Octavia noticed them as well, her eyes widening when she saw James. She smiled and shyly waved at him. He happily waved back, a strange feeling filling his chest. Robert walked over to a door built into the side wall and scanned his card. Octavia and her father strolled over to the door to meet him. James unloaded and cleared his rifle and joined his father at the door.
Stolas and Octavia, five minutes earlier:
Octavia wiped sweat from her forehead for the third time now, her annoyance growing. Stolas happily skipped along, brushing his fingers along some nearby plants. There were no people around, suggesting they were somewhere off limits, but Stolas didn't seem to care.
"Dad," Octavia said, getting his attention, "I think we're lost."
"Nonsense, Via," Stolas said, stopping to look around, "We're... somewhere?" Octavia rolled her eyes, wiping more sweat from her forehead. Stolas did the same, his shirt nearly soaked in sweat.
"Man, it's hot," he said, "We should keep going, find some shade."
"Why is this guy meeting us here, anyway?" Octavia asked.
"Well, we when spoke over the phone last night, he certainly didn't sound stable," Stolas replied, "But I've got a job to do, so here we are."
Octavia sighed in annoyance. They'd been wondering around for about fifteen minutes now and seemed no closer to finding their destination. Another minute of walking passed before they spotted a building. Finally deciding to ask for directions, the two of them headed for the building. When they were about a hundred feet away, a sharp crack made them jump. None of them recognized the sound, but they assumed it meant people were nearby. They walked towards the sound, rounding a large bush when they came upon a massive glass wall. At one end was a large dirt mound, at the other were several booths. Occupying the middle booth were two familiar faces. Octavia froze on the spot, her eyes locked on James. He smiled and waved at her, which she waved in return. Stolas happily waved at his father, clearly just as excited to see the two of them.
"Wasn't expecting to see them again," he said, "But at least we have some friendly faces to talk to."
He watched as James' father pointed to a door built into the glass wall. Stolas and Octavia headed for the door while James and his father went to greet them. His father opened the door and waved them inside, closing the door behind them.
"Didn't expect to see you two again," James' father said, "What brings you two here?"
"Me and Via were looking for a new vacation spot," Stolas replied, "We saw the park was having a holiday special and we decided to visit. See what all the fuss is about."
"Well, you've come to the right place," James' father said, "Come inside."
"Are you sure?" Stolas asked, "This looks like a gun range."
"It is," James' father replied, "But no one really uses it."
Stolas smiled and led Octavia inside. James and his father walked back to the booths, the shade from the overhang providing some relief from the sun, but it did little for the humidity.
"Oh, I almost forgot," James' dad said, extending his hand toward Stolas, "I'm Robert McCready."
"Stolas," he replied, shaking Robert's hand.
"Stolas, huh?" he said, "Interesting name."
"Quite," Stolas said, "So, what are you two up to today?"
"James is joining the ACU," Robert replied, "We're sighting his rifle now, then he'll practice with his handgun. You two wanna join?"
"Oh no, I wouldn't want to impose," Stolas replied.
"Nonsense," Robert assured, "We've got plenty of time."
He led them to the shooting post, stopping at the 805. Crouching down beside it, he waved Stolas forward. He looked usure for a second but laid behind the rifle. Meanwhile, James led Octavia to the pistol range, carrying the P226, Glock 21, and one ammo can with him. They stopped at the far booth and James placed the weapons and ammo can on the table. He opened the can and took out a magazine for each pistol. He showed Octavia what rounds to use and how to load the magazines. James gave Octavia as set of ear plugs from the can, which she promptly put in. Further down the range, Stolas lined the scope up with the target, Robert kneeling by his side.
"Take a slow, deep breath," he instructed, "Then slowly squeeze the trigger."
Stolas did as instructed, sending a round near the center of the target. He looked over the scope, amazed by his shot. He got back behind the rifle, and upon Robert's instruction, fired a second round, this one hitting the bullseye. At the same time, Octavia lined the sights of the P226 at the old target twenty-five yards away. She squeezed the trigger, the round going wide and hitting the berm. She was clearly surprised by the report and the recoil. James placed his hand on her shoulder giving it a soft squeeze. She smiled and realigned the sides. Releasing a breath, she fired a second time, the bullet striking the edge of the target. With James' touch, she fired the rest of the magazine, getting closer to the center with each shot.
The two of them fired the remaining magazines before moving to the Glock 21. The fired several magazines through it while Stolas and Robert emptied the 805. The range's targets were riddle with holes, smoking brass cases cover the concrete shooting area. James and Robert gathered the weapons and empty magazines. Stolas grabbed a couple of cases and put them in his pocket.
"Well, that was fun," he said.
"It was," Octavia agreed, "My arms are shaking."
"That's the adrenaline," Robert said, "Happens to first time shooters. Y'all want to shoot some more?"
"I would love to, but we have a meeting to get to," Stolas replied, "Which, by the way, do you know where the aviary is?"
"The aviary? That's a few miles back that way," Robert replied, pointing the direction Stolas and Octavia came from.
"See? I told you we were going the wrong way," she said.
"The aviary closes in three hours," Robert said, "There's a tram station about a five-minute walk from here. If you're quick, you can catch on that will take you there. Follow me."
"Okay," Stolas replied, "Come on, Octavia."
"Coming," Octavia, turning to James, "Thanks for today. I had a lot of fun."
"Glad I could help," he said, "Um... you wanna, uh exchange numbers."
"Numbers?" Octavia asked.
"You know, phone numbers," James clarified.
"Oh! Uh, sure, "Octavia replied, pulling out her phone.
She doubted he'd be able to reach her once she returned to Hell, but she didn't want to turn him down. Unlocking the screen, she opened her contacts and handed her phone to James, who quickly added his number. He gave her phone back and pulled out his phone She took it and added her number before giving it back.
"Now we can stay in touch!" James said happily.
"Uh, yeah," Octavia said, a blush appearing on her face.
"Via!" Stolas called out.
"I gotta go now," she said, "It was nice seeing you again."
"Likewise," James said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze, "I hope to see you again sometime."
"Me too," she said, "Goodbye James."
"Bye, Octavia," he said, releasing her hand.
She waved bye and jogged to join her father at the door. James followed her, stopping next to his father. The four said their final goodbyes and Stolas and Octavia walked further into the park. As they did, he noticed she was holding her phone close to her chest. He sighed inwardly, unable to deny it anymore. He was able to brush it off the first time she and James met, but now it was clear she was smitten. He shouldn't have been surprised. Octavia rarely went out, and she didn't have any friends, so it was no wonder she formed a connection with James so quickly.
Stolas rubbed his temples, unsure of what he should do. He knew he couldn't leave her in Hell when went out anymore, lest he strain the relationship even further. But he knew if she kept seeing James, her feelings would only grow stronger. He shook his head, earning a glance from Octavia. He'd have to think about this later, for now, he had a meeting to attend.
Hell, Pentagram City, four days later:
The office door flew open, striking the opposite wall. Chunks of paint and drywall spilled down onto the carpet. Gareth looked up from his desk, seeing a familiar demon standing in the doorway, seething with rage.
"Hank," he greeted.
"Don't 'Hank' me!" he snarled, storming into the office and planting himself down into a chair in front of the desk.
"What's gotten into you?" Gareth asked.
"That female imp I told you about," Hank replied, "She's been harder to track down than I thought."
"There's still Verosika," Gareth said, "She'll be here in two days. Won't be as easy as an imp, but we'll still get what we want. How 'bout it?" Hank sighed and stood from his chair. Strolling over to the window, he rested his hands on the sill, gazing over the city's skyline.
"I don't know, man," he replied, "There's too many witnesses."
"Well, we'll tag them after the show," Gareth said, "That was the original plan, was it not?"
"Yeah, guess it was," Hank replied, returning to his chair, "So how are we gonna play this?"
"I got a couple of guys who are willing to help," Gareth replied, "With their help, we can have a guy watching each exit. We'll sneak in backstage, wait for the show to end, then grab one on their way out."
"That's risky," Hank said.
"You wanna keep tracking down that imp, go ahead," Gareth said, "We can't keep dragging ass on this. If we don't strike soon, we'll lose our chance."
"No, we'll go with your plan," Hank said, "But I'll still try to find that imp in the meantime. The more of those crystals we get, the better."
"Alright," Gareth said, "I'll give you a call once concert is about to start."
"Appreciate it," Hank said, standing from the chair and turning to leave, "By the way, these guys of yours. Can we trust them?"
"No," Gareth replied, "But they know better than to cross me."
"If you say so," Hank chuckled before leaving the office.
He sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Strolling toward the exit, his mind lingered on the imp. How she managed to evade him was beyond his comprehension. Last he saw her was three weeks, leaving through a portal near Imp City. Again, she was greeted by that human male, and this time they shared a kiss. He hadn't seen her since, though that last sighting confirmed that her and the human male were a couple. Maybe once he contacted his friends again, they could track down that man. And since the imp seemed to travel to the surface frequently, she must have connections here, ones that could be exploited.
Hank smiled to himself. Once they got the crystal from Verosika's crew, he and Gareth can pay that man a visit. And once they had him, everything else would fall into place. Digging into his coat, he pulled out an old picture. In the center was him, in his human form. Beside him were two men, his closest friends: Josiah Hill and Cole Walker. The three of them were already hard at work on their plan before his demise, and once he had the crystals, they could continue their work in earnest. He just hoped they already made contact with Dr. Wu.
Stuffing the picture back inside his coat, he flagged down a cab and quickly climbed inside. He slipped the driver and few bills, and the cab him drove back to his warehouse, the ride lasting ten minutes. Once home, Hank made his way to his office, locking the door behind him. He laid down on his cot, staring at the ceiling. Since it was late, he wouldn't bother searching for the imp tonight. Pulling out his phone, he set an alarm for 8am. Placing it on the desk beside him, he rolled himself in his blanket and soon drifted off to sleep.
Truckee, California, the following morning (short lemon):
A loud clap of thunder echoed through the house, pulling the young man from his sleep. He rubbed his eyes and plucked his glasses from his nightstand, slipping them on the bridge of his nose. Glancing at the window, he could see a heavy blanket of rain pounding the ground. He sighed in annoyance. It had been raining for the past four days, and while they really need it, it was becoming tiresome.
The bed shifted beside him, catching his notice. He looked down, watching his girlfriend roll in her sleep. He smiled at her, entrance by her beauty. He loved how her red skin contrast against the white bedspread, and the perfect curl of her horns. While her true form startled him the first time he saw it, he'd come to like it more than her human disguise. He reached down and gently cupped the side of her face. In response, she leaned her head into his touch, her eyes fluttering open. He rubbed her cheek with his thumb.
"Morning Barb," he said.
"Morning Jimmy," she said, stifling a yawn.
Another clap of thunder filled the house, this one strong enough to vibrate the walls. Barb turned to the window, watching the rain splash against the glass. Her face fell in disappointment.
"Raining again, huh?" she said.
"Looks like it," Jimmy replied.
Barb sighed and sat up, the blanket sliding of her chest. As usual, she was topless, her pert breasts exposed. Jimmy smiled at the sight, loving how her much darker nipples contrasted with the lighter red of her skin. Barb stretched her arms above her head and pushed the blanket the rest of the way off. Still in her black panties, she shuffled off the side of the bed.
"I'm gonna take a shower," she said, "Wanna help me wash?" She bent over and shimmied her hips. Jimmy smiled and eagerly hopped off the bed.
"Sure, Barbie," he replied.
She smiled and slipped out of her panties before heading to the bathroom. Jimmy dropped his boxers and followed her in, his eyes locked on her shapely buttocks. Turning on the water, they waited for it to warm before slipping behind the curtain. The two staid in an embrace as the warm stream flowed over their bodies. Barb gently scratched Jimmy's scalp with her claws while he rubbed the smooth skin on her back. She then dipped one hand down and grabbed his hard shaft, carefully peeling back his foreskin and rubbing the head with her thumb.
Jimmy shuddered from the touch. He moved him hands to her chest and squeezed her breasts, pinching her nipples. A moan escaped her lips. She squeezed his cock tighter before moving to his balls, rolling the orbs in her fingers. Jimmy moaned and slipped a hand between her legs, gently rubbing her wet folds. Barbie sighed in pleasure and braced herself against the wall of the shower. She wrapped her tail around Jimmy's waist and pulled him close, his erection sliding effortlessly between her cheeks.
In response, he began to thrust, his precum providing lube for his foreskin as it slid back and forth over his glans. Pulling his hand from her folds, he firmly gripped one of Barbie's cheeks and pushed it aside. He grabbed his cock and slid it down her crack, the tip leaving a glistening trail of precum over the smooth skin of her crack and the wrinkled skin of her anus before slipping between her thighs. Lining his cock up with her entrance, he slowly pushed himself inside.
Jimmy shuddered as the intense wet heat of Barbie's sex engulfed his cock. He stood still for a moment, savoring the sensation before inching his cock back out to the tip and thrusting back inside. Barbie gasped and dug her claws into the wall of the shower. Jimmy grabbed her waist and continued his thrusts. They had only been going a couple of minutes when both felt their climaxes fast approaching.
Keeping his cock snuggly inside, Jimmy carefully moved Barbie from the wall and spun her around. She slipped one leg from the tub and onto the bathroom floor. She lowered her chest and raised her hips. Grabbing her hips again, Jimmy resumed his thrusting, his climax nearly upon him. Barbie tightly gripped the side of the tub to keep herself up, her arms starting to numb. A tingle filled her groin, her release imminent.
"J-Jimmy!" she panted, "I'm gonna cum!"
"Me too, Barb!" Jimmy moaned, his sac becoming taut and the head of his cock swelling.
He began thrusting even harder, the slapping of his hips against her ass filling the bathroom. Only a few seconds later, she reached her climax. Her claws cracked the plastic of the tub, a deep moan escaping her lips. At the same time, her vagina squeezed Jimmy's cock with powerful contractions. The sensation triggered his climax. With a loud moan he slammed his hips against her and emptied his load deep inside her. Barbie's arms gave out and they slid onto the floor of the tub, the still running shower forming a puddle around them.
The two of them laid still from a while, panting heavily as they came down from their highs. Jimmy kissed Barbie on the cheek and slowly stood up, his flaccid cock sliding from her sex. Wrapping his arms around her chest, he gently helped her up. She rested her head on his shoulder, softly nuzzling his face. After a minute or two of cuddling, they cleaned themselves up and turned off the shower. After drying themselves and getting dressed, they headed to the kitchen for breakfast.
Jimmy cooked a few eggs and bacon while Barbie set about making pancakes. Once the food was prepared, the two of them ate together in the den while watching the morning news. Barbie picked at her food, barely eating anything. Jimmy knew this as a sign something was bothering her. Setting his plate beside him, he scooted closer and wrapped her in a hug.
"You feeling ok, Barb?" he asked.
"I... there's this demon," Barbie replied, setting her plate aside, "He's been following me for the past three weeks. And I have an idea what he might be after."
"Your crystal?" Jimmy questioned.
"Yeah," Barbie replied.
"What would happen if he got ahold of it?" Jimmy asked.
"Well, he's definitely a sinner, not a hell born," Barbie replied, "My guess is he'll continue whatever unfinished business he has. But that would mean exposing Hell to mortals, and that can't happen."
"There's gotta be something you can do," Jimmy said, "Maybe lay a trap for him."
"I wouldn't risk it," Barbie sighed, "I've only seen him but it's obvious he's working for someone. Trying to take him out, especially on my own is too risky. I can kinda control where I reenter Hell. I did find place, and I haven't seen the guy in a couple weeks."
"That's good," Jimmy said, "But please stay safe. "
"Don't worry," Barbie reassured, "Risky as it is, I'm a fighter. I won't let him take me unscathed."
She stood from and walked to the far wall where she kept her bag. Digging through it, she found her Glock 19X sitting snuggly in its holster. She slipped it onto her belt and zipped up her bag.
"Heading back?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah," Barbie said, "I have a meeting with my boss today."
"Now?" Jimmy asked, sad to have her go so early.
"I'll be back before for dinner," Barbie said, wrapping him in her arms.
"Ok," Jimmy said, running his hands up and down her back, "Just be careful."
"I will," Barbie said, releasing him from their hug.
She grabbed her bag and opened a portal using her watch. She waved Jimmy goodbye and stepped inside, emerging into an abandoned warehouse. The portal closed behind her, sealing Hell from the surface. Shifting the bag on her shoulder, she exited the warehouse and began walking down the street. As she walked, she could feel a presence behind her. It must be that demon again.
She sighed in annoyance and kept her right hand near her gun. The demon seemed to get the message and backed off a little but continued following her for a few more minutes before leaving. Barbie breathed a sigh of relief and resumed her trek. She rounded a corner and entered a building several feet away. Heading to the second floor, she stopped outside her boss's office and knocked on the door. A voice answered from the other side and Barbie entered the office. An imp sitting at the desk on the far side of the room looked up from his newspaper as she walked in.
"Morning Barb," he greeted.
"Morning Will," she greeted in return, setting her bag on the coach.
"What brings you in so early?" Will asked, "I wasn't expecting you for a few more hours."
"There is something I need to speak to you about," Barbie replied, sitting in the chair in front of his desk.
"What is it? he asked.
"I think I'm being followed."
POV Hank, five minutes earlier:
Hank froze when he saw a familiar light appear in the center of an abandoned warehouse through a broken window. He rushed up to the window and saw a portal floating above the ground. Through it, the female imp he'd been searching for emerged into the warehouse. He couldn't believe it. After three weeks of nothing, here she was, not even thirty feet away. He watched her adjust her bag over her shoulder and walked toward the exit.
Hank waited for a few seconds before following her. He kept his distance but made sure to keep her in sight. He followed her for a while, quickening his pace to keep up with her. He slowed down when he saw her hand moved towards the gun on her hip. He let out an annoyed sigh. And here he thought she was unaware of his presence. He wondered if she knew he was following her the whole time. If she did, it would complicate things.
He followed her for a few more minutes before feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket. He dug out his phone, seeing Gareth was calling him. He slinked into a nearby alley and answered the call.
"What's is it?" he said.
"Hank! Where are you!?" Gareth shouted, forcing Hank to move the phone from his ear, "I need you here!"
"For what?" Hank asked, annoyed at his friend's antics.
"The concert's been moved up," Gareth replied, "It's happening tonight!"
"Seriously!?" Hank exclaimed, "I just... shit!"
"What?" Gareth questioned.
"I just that imp," Hank replied, "She was right in front of me. I could've had her."
"Forget about her for now," Gareth said, "My boys have already picked out a succubus from Verisoka's entourage they think is an easy grab."
"They think or they know?" Hank asked.
"Have some faith, Hank," Gareth growled, "If you want that damn crystal, it's now or never."
"Fine," Hank sighed, "Where're you at right now?"
"76 Darnell ST.," Gareth replied, "Look for a bar called Frenchie's."
"Frenchie's?" Hank questioned.
"Yes, Frenchie's," Gareth replied, "And make sure you're not followed."
He closed the line immediately after. Hank growled and opened the maps app on his phone. He typed in the address Gareth gave, a deeper growl escaping his mouth when he saw it was across the city. He stuffed his phone back into his pocket and left the alley. He began walking back the way he came, remembering the was a bus stop a few blocks away.
He arrived there after five minutes of walking and plopped himself down on the bench. There were two demons standing nearby, but luckily, they left him alone. As he waited for the bus, he thought about tonight. He knew taking a crystal from a succubus would be difficult, despite what Gareth had told him. A small part of him was optimistic, but he knew Gareth's plan would likely fail.
He stood from the bench as a bus slowed to a stop in front of them. He followed the two demons inside and sat down in the back. As the bus drove away, he stared out the window, watching the other demons go about their days. For all he knew, this could be the last time he did. He sighed and rested his head against the window. He'd just have to trust Gareth for now. If all went well, he'd be back on the surface, and the pieces of his plan would finally fall into place.
Author's Note: Here's chapter 3! Apologies for the long delay. Working of multiple stories at once is quite tiring. I originally planned on having the chapter much longer, but I decided to split it in half to get it out sooner. With this released I'll start focusing on chapter 8 of Haunted, followed by chapter 1 of Of Flesh and Metal. As I mentioned in the previous update, I've created an AO3 account under the name VAN171 and will be moving my stories there. I'll still post here as well, I'm only using AO3 to reach a wider online audience. Anyway, please enjoy the chapter! It has some familiar faces you may or may not recognize.