15th Wisdom Moon, 907 – Crimehallow

The shabby, nearly abandoned town of Crimehallow stood high with its decrepit, grayish buildings creaking and moaning against the sandy breezes of the desert. Windows rocked back and forth on the breeze, their eerie creaks echoing out over the abandoned town. Dried blood splatters rested along the outer walls, signs of a grueling battle left for all passing visitors.

Though the town had barely any use for living, it served as the appropriate meeting ground for Arethusa and Plouton.

With their assignment from Cain, they reached out to his hired help, aiming to introduce the team to their mission. They walked along the empty street, eyeing up the withered tavern serving as their meeting spot. All seemed quiet as expected, but both hardened criminals could since the malice emanating from within the building.

After sharing a brief look with each other, they approached the batwing doors and let themselves inside. "Hello?" Arethusa called out. "Anyone here?"

Plouton glared. "Don't tell me they're late. We instructed them to meet here by noon."

Arethusa sighed. "They're probably busy slaughtering some poor sap for his coins. Oh, what sweet tragedy expected from the heathens of this lawless land—"

"Now, now, missy, let's not make rash judgments." The duo turned their eyes up to the rafters and saw a Banette sitting atop them. He wore a dark gray tunic and trousers that were both in tatters. An eyepatch wrapped over his left eye. There were some other figures lingering around in the shadows around him, floating motionlessly with crescent halos hanging above their heads. "Some of us are actually quite pleasant."

"Order up!" two obnoxiously loud voices called out from the bar counter. The duo turned and saw a Scovillain manning the counter, shaking up a red drink in a clear glass. They wore a brown poncho with red and green stripes. The red-headed pepper wore a pair of spectacles on his snout while the green-headed pepper wore a fake, curly mustache.

"Come, come! Don't be a stranger! We sell only the finest quality of foods guaranteed to bring the pain!" the red head exclaimed.

"Try our spicy muffins!" the green head yelled, slamming a muffin covered in red specs on the counter. "Hot, hot, hot! Try them now!"

Arethusa and Plouton shared a confused look with each other. "Are these…Cain's contacts?" she asked.

"They seem crazy enough to fit the bill," he grumbled. Plouton glared at the twin-headed bartender. "Are you two…err, three part of the Deadly Seven?"

The Scovillain grinned. "Yes, yes, yes! Yes, we are! We all are!

The duo felt some shifting through the tavern and looked over their shoulders. Several new faces showed up in the empty seats, each taking a swig from the tankards they had on hand.

An Alolan Raichu and Flapple sat together, clinking their cups together and downing their drinks. The psychic rodent had a pair of goggles hanging around his neck and some makeup around his eyes that resembled blue lightning bolts. He wore a dusty brown coat that held a couple revolvers. The Flapple wore similar attire along with flames painted on the outside of his apple shell.

Sitting at the table beside them was a Kricketune who softly rubbed his arms together, creating a gentle sound akin to a violin. He wore a buttoned white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, a green vest with golden trim, and blue trousers.

Sitting on the windowsill in the front was a lone figure neither henchmen could recognize. He was a short, rounded figure draped in a heavy gray cloak, blue jacket, and black pants. Arethusa and Plouton could, however, sense the potent aura coming off the man, believing it to be suppressing an even greater presence. The only distinct detail they could make out was his piercing red eyes.

The Scovillain finished mixing the drink he was working on and slid it down to a cloaked Slowking sitting at the end of the counter. "We believe we're the ones you called for."

Plouton glared. "So, you six are the Deadly Seven."

The Banette in the rafters snickered. "That's right. When we got Cain's letters, we came over as soon as possible. We owed him some favors, so it's the least we could do." He jumped down and landed on the Kricketune's table. "Babylas Marchand, at your service. The Armory of Greed."

The Kricketune finished playing his melody before rising up in his chair and bowing. "Amadeus Rimmer, the Swordsman of Lust."

The Alolan Raichu and Flapple rose up from their seats, slamming their tankards down with wild grins. "Ulrich Hase—"

"And Vilgot Frisk—" the Flapple introduced.

"The Winds of Pride!"

"The Daredevil of Envy!"

They bumped their fists together and bellowed with glorious laughter. "And we are…the Dynamic Terrors!"

The Scovillain bowed their heads. "Alibrand—" the red head introduced.

"Wigbrand," the green head introduced after.

"We are the Caretakers of Gluttony."

The duo turned their attention over to the unknown Pokémon by the windowsill, who merely glared at them with his blood red eyes. "…Absalom. Incarnation of Wrath."

Arethusa glared back. "Lovely name…"

Plouton looked around the room and glared in puzzlement. "Wait a minute, you're all the Deadly Seven, right?"

Amadeus bowed. "That would be correct."

"Then how come there's only six of you? Unless you mean to tell me the Scovillain counts as two."

Alibrand laughed. "Oh, don't be ridiculous. We are one of two minds—"

"Buy our muffins!" Wigbrand exclaimed.

"But we are only one mercenary."

Plouton raised his brow. "So, where's the other one?"

Babylas sat himself atop the table and laughed. "You must be referring to Helmut, the Assassin of Sloth. Oh, he's around here. He just…has one of those faces."

"…" Plouton looked up at Arethusa and just shrugged.

The Milotic sighed before glaring at the present members. "Well, since you're all supposedly here, we'll just get to the point. Cain reached out for all of you to run a couple errands for him while he's preparing for a little dinner party for his boss and his arriving council. I'm sure you're aware of Cain's connections."

Absalom huffed. "I am associated with one of their contacts. I am aware of Last Autumn's existence."

Ulrich laughed. "To think we'd get a big score like this instead of hunting down rival gangs! We'll be swimming in gul at the end of the month!"

Vilgot cackled. "All the drinks we can stomach at our fingertips! This is our biggest job yet!"

Plouton glared. "Well, it's best you pursue with caution. Your target is incredibly dangerous regardless of your infamy."

Babylas smirked. "You don't have to worry about our safety. We're the best of the best in the Outlands. There isn't a whole lot out here that can scare us."

Amadeus crossed his arms. "Enough talk. I have business to attend to back in Skeleton Water. I have an election to win." He raised his brow. "Now, what are Dr. Underhill's orders?"

Arethusa glared. "Are any of you familiar with a family of alchemists known as the Fauchers?"

The name immediately lit up in the group's minds, a variety of reactions on their faces. "Eh, I know those guys," Alibrand said. "They used to be the criminal masterminds behind the illegal potion trades back in the day."

"They don't appreciate a good muffin!" Wigbrand exclaimed, slamming his fist down on the table.

Amadeus leaned back in his seat and hummed softly. "The Fauchers. Yes, yes, I recall their activities. I did business with them at one point."

Ulrich rolled his eyes. "I only hear about them here and there. Kind of lame, if you ask me. Vilgot and I plan to overturn the Outlands with our sweet skills and tricks!"

Vilgot threw his arms up and laughed. "We'll conquer the Outlands with our sick tricks!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! WOOOOOOOOOO!" the duo exclaimed, pumping and shaking their fists in the air.

Absalom rolled his eyes. "Idiots." He sipped from his tankard.

Plouton raised his brow. "What about you?"

"Never met them." He glared at the Skuntank. "Though, I could've sworn they were all killed five years ago when their hideout was raided. The entire building came crashing down over them. The fire that broke out should've incinerated their remains."

Babylas smirked. "You're not as informed as you think, old man. Someone did survive that fire. The only living survivor of the Faucher family was their youngest daughter, Evelot Faucher."

Arethusa glared at him. "You know our target?"

"I'm familiar with her, I suppose." Babylas chuckled. "So, you want us to capture her?"

She nodded. "The knowledge she wields would prove beneficial to the rise of Last Autumn. The raid against her family was performed by Last Autumn itself, and we stole barrels of a special formula the Fauchers created." She shook her head. "We don't have much left, and we need a greater supply of the potion to complete some projects for the leader. The girl is the only creature in the world who can replicate that potion, and we plan to take it from her by force."

Alibrand smirked. "No wonder Cain needs our help. We can get the job done in no time."

Wigbrand laughed. "Yeah, yeah, yeah! We'll get that muffin recipe from her in no time—"

Alibrand slapped his twin. "Potion recipe, you twit."

"That's what I said! Muffin recipe!"

Alibrand rolled his eyes. "Good grief…"

Plouton scoffed. "Don't get ahead of yourselves. According to Cain, she might be allied with a dangerous mercenary escorting her through the Outlands. You don't want to underestimate him. He and his crew managed to elude us, and they're still on the run."

Arethusa smirked. "He may not look like much, but he caused quite the commotion in Scornpeak last month."

Absalom set his drink aside. "So, that's the cause of Scornpeak's destruction. I thought I smelled death coming from that direction." He raised his head and sniffed the air. "Hmm…I smell the scent of death wafting through his very tavern."

Amadeus sighed. "Enough of your superstitions, good sir. We have prey to acquire." He rose from his seat, finishing the last of his drink off, and bowed to Cain's henchmen. "Rest assured, you'll see results soon enough. The girl will be captured unharmed."

Plouton glared. "Good. As for her allies, feel free to dispose of them anyway you see fit."

Alibrand rubbed his hands together and chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. We have plans for them."

"MUFFINS!" Wigbrand yelled, earning him another slap from his brother.

Arethusa sighed and turned to the door. "Then I guess there's no use prolonging this meeting. Your target is Evelot Faucher, and you are to execute her accomplices, specifically one Amos Lancaster, a Gligar. That is all. Come, Plouton."

The Skuntank chuckled as he followed her out the door. "We'll be checking in on your progress. Don't disappoint us." The duo exited the tavern and made their way out of town.

Absalom jumped down from the windowsill and stretched his arms. "Hmm, I never knew one of the Fauchers survived. I could've sworn their hideout was efficiently raided."

Ulrich glared. "What do you mean by that? Do you know the bastard who fucked them up?"

"…" The cloaked Pokémon crossed his arms and sighed. "I know of the creature who terminated them. Perhaps one of the most powerful Pokémon to ever grace this region. She isn't a force to be trifled with, something the Fauchers learned the hard way. Still, I wish to meet this Evelot myself. I wish to know what destiny awaits her."

Vilgot scoffed and hovered out of his seat. "Good luck with that, old man! Ulrich and I will find her first and get all the glory from Last Autumn!"

"Then we'll be swimming in the riches and bitches!" Ulrich exclaimed as the duo broke out in laughter.

Absalom rolled his eyes. "Fools." Sliding his hands into his pockets, he kicked open the batwing doors and let himself out.

Babylas glared at the doors for a moment as they swung back and forth before smirking at the rest of the group. "So, who gets first pick of the bounty?"

Amadeus raised his brow. "You're usually jumping at the chance to call favor first."

The Banette waved it off. "Nah. I'll give you all a chance first. I wouldn't want to steal the glory as usual."

Ulrich floated out of his seat and growled. "That a challenge, buster?! Vilgot and I will find her group first and kill her whole party before they can even blink!"

"Yeah!" Vilgot exclaimed.

Babylas gestured out the door. "Then by all means, stop running your mouth and do it."

"Oh, it is so on! Let's go, Vilgot!" The duo took off flying out of the tavern, though Vilgot struggled to keep up with superiorly faster Alolan Raichu as he frantically beat his wings.

Amadeus pulled a pocket watch from his vest and tutted in disappointment. "Well, feel free to claim the bounty first yourselves. I've got an election to win. Lord Kinnaird won't be holding onto his lordship over Skeleton Water much longer. Good day, gentlemen." With a bow to his allies, he retrieved a coat off a nearby coatrack and left the tavern.

Babylas reclined on the bare table, unzipping his mouth and pouring an entire tankard of alcohol down. He swallowed, zipped his mouth shut, and belched with a laugh. "Evelot, Evelot, Evelot…"

The Scovillain bartender walked around the tables and collected the empty tankards. "You're not in much rush, Babylas. What's on your mind?" Alibrand asked.

The Banette stuck a finger under his eyepatch and played with it. "Nothing much. I think I'm just going to chill and let the others run themselves ragged trying to get that bounty."

"Well, if you're going to laze around—" Wigbrand produced a muffin from behind himself. "Have a muffin!"

Babylas glared at the treat warily. "Yeeeeeah, no thanks. I know what's in that shit."

The green-headed pepper shrugged. "More for me!" He tossed it into his mouth and happily chomped on it.

Alibrand chuckled. "Well, in all seriousness, would you mind helping me with something?"

Babylas raised his brow. "Hmm?"

"Considering the circumstances, chances are the girl and her party will eventually find their way here from Scornpeak. So, I was wondering if you could…help me set this place up for their eventual arrival?"

"…" The Banette sighed and sat himself up. "Well, I've got nothing better to do." He unzipped his mouth a bit and whistled. Floating down from the ceiling were ten Shedinja, each hovering loyally around their master. Babylas stood up, stretched his arms and legs, and grinned down at the jolly, two-headed pepper monster. "So, what do you need from me?"

Alibrand smirked. "I just need you to get the word out through the Outlands that I'm planning…a little party~."

20th Winter Moon, 907

The days rolled by for the Broken Glass Alchemical Company, riding along the snow-covered plains of the Outlands. With the slave trading grounds in ruins and floating at the back of their minds, the group set a course for their destination of Copper Gorge. With nothing to impede their journey, they should arrive at the gorge in a matter of days.

There was, however, one slight obstacle holding them back.

"I'm telling you, we're lost!"

"Quit being a backseat navigator! I know where we're going!"

"I don't even have the map, and I can tell you we're going the wrong way!"

Magni, the newest addition of the company, pulled along the once opulent carriage, now withered and scuffed from their escape from the trading grounds. He occasionally glanced back at the coachman's seat where Phoebe and the Flaaffy-form JoJo fought over possession of the map. He kept his eyes on the path ahead, trying to block out their arguing.

He would've offered his own input on where they were going, but growing up in the Subterra Kingdom didn't offer much in the way of surface-level geography. He just followed whoever gave the soundest directions, which was…rare, to say the least.

JoJo pushed against Phoebe's face while trying to pull the map away. "You're taking us north, you idiot! We're supposed to be heading east! Southeast, specifically!"

The Aipom kicked her off and scooted to the far side of the coachman seat. "I've lived in Virdis far longer than you have. I think I know my home turf better than you do."

JoJo laughed. "You kidding? I've been traveling Virdis more than you, and I've only been here for over a year! Maybe you've been spending one too many summers in the Outlands!"

Phoebe growled. "I can read a map just fine! We're definitely heading towards Copper Gorge!"

JoJo pointed at the sky, where the sun was barely visible through the clouds. "Here's a little navigational tip for you: the sun rises from the east! We aren't traveling toward the sun! Ergo, we're traveling north!"

"I know where I'm going!"

"Oh, you have a sense of direction more on point than the ball of fire with a daily routine?!"

"Will you just—AGH! Magni, stop the carriage!" The Scolipede ceased walking, and the girls jumped down into the snow. Phoebe tapped pointedly against her map. "Look, I've been keeping an eye on the map ever since we left the trading grounds! We've passed every landmark taking us toward Copper Gorge!"

"What landmarks?! There's nothing but snow out here!"

"I know where we're going!"

"How about you stop making excuses and just let me see the map?!"

"You want to go, bitch?!"

"I'm a sentient pile of goo! Come at me, you three-armed monkey!"

As the girls argued on their exact location, things were relatively calm inside the carriage. Amos and Evelot sat across from each other in near-complete darkness with the former's shades hanging loosely over his forehead. With nothing but time on their hands, Evelot decided to teach the mercenary a staple of her company.

She held a swirling mass of darkness atop of her hand, holding it out in view for Amos. "Focus on the energy radiating off the Phantom Force. Let yourself become connected to it. Feel the vibrations in the air as you link your own internal energy with my external energy…"

Amos focused on the Phantom Force with his pincer extended out in front of himself. He narrowed his eyes as a faint purple energy flickering within his pupils. He snapped his pincer a couple times until he generated a spark of darkness. Soon, he projected the same mass of swirling darkness atop his pincer.

Evelot squealed. "You did it, Ammo! You mimicked my Phantom Force!"

He released the breath he was holding and fell back against the cushions. "That took forever…"

Evelot cancelled her Phantom Force and giggled. "Once you get a hold of Mimic, you'll be able to make your own custom bullets without me. Oh, well…you know, provided you have some of my treated bullets on hand."

"Hmph…"

"Um, n-not that you have to learn Mimic or anything. I mean, y-you didn't have to sit through these training sessions to be nice or—"

"Shut up."

"S-Sorry…"

He sighed and shook his head. "Razor Wind wasn't cutting it, anyway. Besides, if MacGyver can really fix me up, being able to use multipurpose bullets sounds like an upgrade."

Evelot nodded timidly. "He should. He's one of the best inventors I know. G-Granted, I've only met him a handful of times, but…h-he should be able to help you, yeah."

Amos crossed his arms and glared up at the ceiling. "Was he a friend of yours?"

"Oh, um…we weren't really friends. He only ever interacted with my parents. We might have said hi once or twice, though I was…t-too terrified of strangers to say anything more." Evelot scratched behind her head. "I…well, obviously haven't seen him since the hideout got raided."

"…" Amos glared. "Some friend…"

"I…don't blame him for not checking up on Phoebe and me. He went through a lot himself, being chased down by some bounty hunter for a while, even as a young kid." Evelot narrowed her eyes. "It's sad. Kids shouldn't be growing up in the Outlands. I heard his mother abandoned him, and that he never knew his father. He was raised by thugs. When everyone realized his gifts for tinkering, he was like a prize to be won. Then he just disappeared and flies around the Outlands by his lonesome."

"…What about you?"

Evelot looked up at him. "Hmm?"

Amos glared at the covered windows. "Must've been rough living with that trauma for five years. Losing your parents. Your family."

"…" Evelot looked down at the floor. "I…don't remember much about that day."

"Repressed memories."

She nodded weakly. "So much happened. I remember my right side stinging all over like I was crushed by something, I remember the fire breaking out, I…" She shuddered. "I remember a lot of things from that day…except who."

"Hmm?"

Tears trickled out from the Mimikyu's costume. "I remember watching my parents being slaughtered by the killer who led the raid, but…I-I don't remember their face. I was so terrified by everything that I just can't recall their face. I just remember seeing them impaling my dad with a single punch. I remember my mom's body being crushed under their foot. Their minions slaughtered my brother and sister. I…I thought I was going to die, too, but then I remember the ceiling caving in on top of me."

"…It's a miracle you survived."

"I…still don't remember how I survived. I got separated from Phoebe a-and…" Evelot covered her right eye and shuddered. "I-I don't like thinking about it, I'm sorry."

"…Uh huh."

Evelot tapped her fingers awkwardly against the cushioned seats. She gulped and looked up at the Gligar. "W-What about you?"

"…Hmm?"

"How come you wanted to become a mercenary?"

"…" He sighed and leaned his head back. "No special reason. I didn't have the best relationship with my family, so I just took off one day, worked some odd jobs, and eventually took up bounty hunting."

"B-But…what about later in life?"

"…" He glared. "Look, I don't like talking about what happened. Some bitch screws me over with a bill, I get jumped with glass and some chemicals splashed over my eyes, and I end up with some reputation that I'm a misogynist or some crap because I have a low tolerance for women. End of story."

Evelot hummed softly. "You don't…seem that bad."

"Tch."

"No, I-I mean it. You're a little a-abrasive, sure, but you don't seem like you want to be a bad person. You just…haven't had anyone to really trust."

"…" He closed his eyes and sighed.

"What was your team like? The one you're trying to find?"

"…Annoying." Amos waved his pincer around. "Marsaili's a backstabbing bitch always picking a fight. Rogier's a dumbass still thinking he has pride as a knight. Ainsley…was a psychotic cultist. Terrick's an irritating clean freak. Frank's an asshole always ready to brawl. And Althalos…" He paused for a moment, glaring hard at the ceiling.

Evelot leaned forward. "Y-Yeah?"

"…" He sighed. "I still don't understand why he gave me a chance. I only took the job to support myself, but I made it clear I didn't care about any of them. I never understood why he cared so much about protecting us. He went to a lot of lengths to keep the operation going, betting on his success so he could eventually break us all out of jail. Eventually got caught himself, but…he was still thinking about protecting us."

"S-Sounds like he thought of you guys as family."

Amos scoffed. "Family? What a joke."

"Have you never had someone in your life you cared so deeply about that you'd…well, go to any lengths to protect them?"

"Did you?"

She looked aside. "I…I'm not strong enough to avenge my family. I just don't have a bad bone in my body."

"I've seen the way you execute people."

"Th-Those were accidents! S-Sort of…" She shook her head. "S-Still, I…think you're not a bad person."

"…" He grunted, shifting himself deeper into the seats.

Evelot looked down. "I've lived in the Outlands long enough to know that cruelty is the norm, but why does being cruel come so naturally? Why do we always resort to hate and violence? I sometimes wish I'll wake up one day, and everyone in the Outlands will get along."

"Dreams aren't real," Amos grumbled.

"Maybe not, but do they have to be?"

"…"

"I hold onto my kindness praying that one day, even if it's just one person, my actions will help the worst of people change for the better. If I can at least help one person, maybe there's hope for everyone else."

"…" Amos sighed. "People aren't eager to change. The world's full of cruel people who simply believe they are superior. That kind of pride in oneself is toxic. I don't believe there's a future where this region isn't set ablaze from its own cruelty. Frankly, I wouldn't give a shit if war broke out, and everyone died in the aftermath. It's what monsters deserve."

"…" Evelot narrowed her eyes sadly. "Oh. I see."

"…" Amos felt a twinge of something in his chest when he saw the Mimikyu's downtrodden expression. Annoyed by this feeling, he sat up and scooted over to the window. "What the hell's taking those bitches so long? Why aren't we moving—"

He carefully drew the curtains back, and his eyes widened at what he saw standing outside.

"With your dumbass ability to perceive directions, you should be paying me to get you back on the right track!" the Linoone-form JoJo exclaimed, pointing furiously at the sky.

"I'm telling you, Copper Gorge is in that direction!" Phoebe yelled.

JoJo rolled her eyes. "And I'm telling you that you couldn't read a map to save your life. Copper Gorge is over here. We've been traveling north this whole time, not east."

"I can read a map just fine!"

"You can't even read your own shoddy handwriting, much less directions!" She scoffed and looked up at their steed. "You with me on this one, Magni?"

"I…know not," he mumbled, hoping to stay as far away from the conversation as he could.

"Bah! You're no help!"

Phoebe, growing frustrated with the constant accusations, shoved JoJo into the snow. "We're not getting anywhere with you being stubborn!"

JoJo picked herself up, shifting this time into a Flareon with an annoyed grimace. "I just needed a ride to the Wick Kingdom's prison in the Outlands! I'm generously offering my assistance so you can find Caractacus, because we both know you can't read a map."

"You wanted me to pay you!"

"I don't read maps for free, especially to the stupid." She reached out and tapped the monkey on the nose. "Boop."

Phoebe snarled. "Sometimes I wonder why Evelot puts up with you—"

"JoJo?!"

The girls ceased their arguing as a group of wanderers marched up to them. Confused, they studied the travelers, especially the shapeshifter as she tried to make sense of the people who seemingly knew her name. They consisted of a Spinda, a Hakamo-o, and a Drilbur who was…holding a bucket with a scary-looking face carved into the front.

Phoebe carefully reached for her rifle and a handful of bullets stashed in the pouch on her side. If these are people this idiotic merchant scammed, I can't afford to get into a fight right now.

JoJo squinted at the group for a moment, ticking through her memories until she placed faces for the supposed strangers. As soon as she registered a face to them, she smiled. "Oh hey, it's you guys!" She bounded over to them, excitedly wagging her tail.

Phoebe's eyes widened. Eh?! She actually knows these people?!

"Fancy seeing you folks all the way out here!" JoJo greeted.

"Y-Yeah, no kidding," the Drilbur mumbled as she seemed to study the shapeshifter's form. "You…are JoJo, right?"

She grinned. "How many Ditto do you know?"

"Hard to say, actually. You're the only confirmed one," the Spinda joked. He then slowly turned away from the group and winked. "I told you there would a potential spin-off explaining all of this."

Valentine. Shut up.

JoJo shrugged. "Eh, fair enough." She turned back to Phoebe, taking note of her tense posture. "Chill Phoebe, I know these chumps. They're those…other friends of mine."

Phoebe narrowed her eyes, almost hesitant to trust her word, before letting go of her rifle. "Riiiiight." She crossed her arms, allowing herself a brief moment to relax. "I should've guessed you made friends with drifters."

JoJo smirked. "I'm friends with dirty rats like you and Evelot, right?"

"Watch it. We held up our end of the bargain, but I'm not hearing any of that shit from your mouth."

JoJo sighed and shrugged. "Fair."

The Spinda stepped up and tilted his hood in a friendly gesture. "Sorry to butt in, but may I ask who I'm in the presence of?"

Seeing as they could be trusted, Phoebe rolled her eyes and curtsied to the strangers. "Phoebe Burkhard, assistant to Evelot Faucher, founder of the Broken Glass Alchemical Company. The big guy tugging us is Magni."

The Scolipede nodded at the strangers quietly, withholding himself from acting in defense of his friends. He didn't trust the strangers, but he trusted JoJo's judgment.

Phoebe knocked on the carriage door. "And we've got another shifty fellow hiding out inside. Doubt he'll want to talk any of you. He hates just about everyone…and sunlight. Really hates sunlight."

"Uh huh." The Spinda reached his hand out. "Well, nice to meet you."

Phoebe shook his hand in return. "Likewise."

"So, what's two feisty ladies like you doing all the way out here?"

Amos flew back from the window and collided with the other side of the wall, startling Evelot. "A-Ammo? What's wrong?"

"Shit, it's those guys," he hissed in a quiet tone.

"Th-Those guys?"

He nodded curtly. "Look, I'll be brief here. They're from the same group that got me arrested. If they find out I'm all the way out here, they'll drag me back to prison."

Evelot bounced over to the windows and peeked outside. "They don't seem threatening."

Amos hissed. "Rags, I'm telling you right now that I want to get as far away from these people as possible. They can't know I'm here."

"…" She narrowed her eyes worriedly. "You're really afraid of them, aren't you?"

"I'm afraid of what will happen to me when I get sent off to prison again."

"…" She nodded. "Alright. I'll tell Phoebe." She lifted herself up to the window and peeked her head out. "Uh, Phoebe? We should get going. Ammo's getting a little restless. I don't think he likes those three." Her eyes widened as she felt the stares of the strangers falling onto her. Feeling self-conscious all of a sudden, she ducked her head back inside the carriage. "Um…h-h-hi?"

Amos rolled his eyes. Good grief…

"Alright then. Stay out of trouble, JoJo." Phoebe opened the carriage door, letting in a blast of sunlight reflecting off the visible snow.

Amos' eyes almost instantly went red as he recoiled and hissed from the blinding light peering through. "Sh-Shut the door…!" he hissed.

Phoebe scoffed. "Don't be dramatic! You're the idiot who won't keep his shades on!"

"They're uncomfortable to wear, bitch!" he snapped before immediately covering his mouth. Shit, shit, shit! They didn't hear me, right?

Fortunately, no one from outside seemed to react, or at least acknowledge him.

"Whatever." Phoebe closed the door behind her and poked her head out the window. "Magni, you got all the Spinda's directions, right? Then get a move on!" She closed the window and sat herself beside Evelot.

The carriage started to move again, and the company took off. Amos put his shades back on and briefly peeked his head out the window, seeing the group growing smaller and smaller in the distance. With a sigh, he closed the curtains and flopped back against his seat. "Thank goodness…"

Phoebe raised her brow. "What's with you?"

"That is a long story…"

"Uh huh."

Evelot glanced up at Phoebe. "Uh, where's JoJo?"

"Oh? Right, sorry, forgot to mention. Apparently JoJo knew those people, and they're heading toward the same prison she was looking for. Sorry if you wanted to say goodbye or something."

Evelot shook her head. "N-No, I understand. I-I'm sure I'll see her again some other time."

Amos grunted. "At least we don't have to listen to you two bickering over the map."

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Oh, like you haven't done plenty of that." She then glared at the ground grumpily. "I can read a map just fine…"

"Hmm?"

"…" She pulled out her map and tossed it into the Gligar's face. "I don't want to hear a single 'I told you so' from that mouth of yours."

A smirk stretched over his lips. "Pardon?"

"…" She crossed her arms and pouted at the wall. "We're supposedly heading east now."

"Uh…" Evelot mumbled. "We are heading east now—"

"HUSH!"

Amos opened the map and skimmed the path ahead. "Crimehallow seems to be on the path toward Copper Gorge. We could swing by there and pick up supplies."

Phoebe scoffed. "No way. Crimehallow has been abandoned for years. No one but drifters live there."

Evelot raised her hand. "I-It couldn't hurt to at least check, right?"

"…" She sighed and facepalmed. "I suppose we could scavenge for supplies along the way."

Amos handed the map to Evelot. "Tell Magni which direction to go and set a course for Crimehallow."

"R-Right." She took the map and disappeared into one of her shadow portals.

Phoebe massaged her temple with a groan. "We really shouldn't be stopping for anything."

Amos shrugged. "Will you relax? What's the worst that can happen in an abandoned town?"